- *Audiophiliac "The Other Steve Guttenberg"
- *Involuntary Slacker
- *LostRemote
- *Media Nation - Dan Kennedy
- *Universalhub
Vote for Lynn as
your favorite Zip Trip on line at Fox 25’s website: http://media.myfoxboston.com/ziptrips/2008/vote.htm
EDIT: According to what I read in the Item, the time is 6pm, not 7pm as I originally stated. I will not tape tonight. I’ll save that for City Council.
I got word this morning that the Sign Ordinance Committee is meeting. My first thought was that I’d video tape this rather than wait for the next City Council Meeting. On the other hand, I’d like to see if I can speak at this meeting. It is not easy to do that from behind a camera. Yet, I do not even know if they will allow the public to speak. They should. If you know if they would, please let me know. I’ll plan accordingly. I’ll videotape if I can’t speak. Either way, I’ll report back here with something.
If you live in DTL or visit it, you should go to this.
The following paragraph is an excerpt:
“Except when a meeting is held in executive session, any person in attendance may record the
meeting with a tape recorder or any other method of sonic reproduction, so long as no active
interference with the conduct of the meeting arises as a result of the recording. The Law also allows
any person attending an open meeting of a municipal or district governmental body to videotape the
meeting from one or more fixed locations as determined by the governmental body, so long as there
is no active interference with the meeting. G.L. c. 39, §23B, ¶8.”
There is no way setting up a camera on a tripod will cause any kind of interference. In that large Council Chamber, I can set it far enough back. The Council, apparently, can tell me whether it’s ok to set up on the left, right, middle or behind a large obstruction if they wish, but they can not prevent me from recording audio and video.
I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to exercise my rights.
I also want to be clear that I’m doing this alone. I’m not doing this in partnership with or in conjunction with my involvement in any other organization. However, I am letting people know that anyone can do this.
Why? Why now? Read the following in the Item:
http://itemlive.com/articles/2008/08/20/news/news05.txt
We know that Gulu-Gulu in Lynn is looking for a buyer. Now, this news from Corey on his blog:
http://downtownlynn.blogspot.com/2008/08/downtown-bistro-to-close.html
I’ll admit to only going to the Bistro a few times. A part of the reason is the expense, but most of it has to do with being a vegetarian. Yes, they have that one item on the menu and it’s great. But, that’s the problem. One item. I’m still very sad to see it go because it is a quality place.
Now let’s pretend for a moment that everything is fine at City Hall and with the EDIC. Let’s pretend that they care about more than just the Gateway and Waterfront plans (which are nice, btw) and that they still care about the heart of Downtown Lynn as a business center beyond just their laser-like focus on the Athanas’ property. (Why don’t they get on Mayo’s case about their neglected, empty properties???) I think even in that scenerio, we need to advocate for ourselves as a community a little bit better.
We need an independent, private, informal, non-incorporated neighborhood association in DTL. (I say non-incorporated, because things get a little tricky when 501c3’s begin to advocate.) Our lack of political associations will be our asset. We can show up to Council Meetings together. Party together. Appeal to entrepenours to set up shop here. I think we can do this as a parallel and complimentary effort to EDIC and the Chamber of Commerce. What about it? Can residents themselves become salespeople for their neighborhood? At this point, what do we have to lose?
I’m disgusted. This guy collects really cool signs and stores some in one of the best maintained buildings downtown, Prime Manufacturing. He wants to light some during Third Thursday, but according to the Item, is threatened not to by the city!?!?
This is where the city gets it wrong when it comes to bringing Downtown Lynn around. It needs to focus on encouraging the talent and the people who are there, like David Waller, to make it cool again. It needs to attract artists and people who collect vintage signs… etc. You get the idea.
This is the article: http://itemlive.com/articles/2008/08/06/news/news01.txt
This is the Lynn Happens where you can more freely and instantly talk about it:
http://lynnhappens.com