When we were young we adored Sean Connery as 007. Today, more Betty Friedan (no! make that Gloria Steinem!) than Octopussy, we love to watch Connery in MARNIE, a great Hitchcock flick, and THE UNTOUCHABLES, another very good movie, with an excellent performance by Connery. We do, however, adore these dustjackets, specially created over the years for Ian Fleming’s first James Bond book, CASINO ROYALE.  Big guns aside, we love this swinging sixties cover! To see more art, click here! - R. Tirella

Many courts have ruled peaceful panhandling is protected under the First Amendment, and selective enforcement has targeted the poor and homeless.

WORCESTER — The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit today in federal court in Worcester on behalf of three Worcester residents to block two anti-panhandling laws enacted by the City of Worcester, claiming the laws are unconstitutional and violate the right to peacefully solicit donations in public and to engage the public in political and other speech.

“The laws are intended to prevent so-called ‘aggressive’ begging, but in fact prohibit a great deal of peaceful conduct which is protected expression,” said Kevin Martin, a volunteer attorney from the law firm Goodwin Procter LLP, which is handling the case for the ACLU of Massachusetts.

One of the new anti-begging laws prevents people from doing such things as holding a sign asking for help starting a half-hour before sunset, or performing music while having a hat or cup for donations, or soliciting donations for any cause if they are within 20 feet of the entrance to a bus stop, theater, ATM machine, or any other “place of public assembly.”

“Numerous courts throughout the country have ruled that peaceful panhandling is protected expression under the First Amendment,” said Martin. “Whatever legitimate concerns exist concerning truly criminal conduct by a few individuals can be addressed using existing laws.”

The second law prohibits standing on traffic islands, a location favored for years by people soliciting donations and engaging in protected speech, including many Worcester-area politicians and their supporters, various churches, the Salvation Army, and firefighter organizations raising funds for charity.
The lawsuit contends that this law too is not justified by any safety concerns significant enough to override the constitutional protection for expression.

In addition to raising First Amendment claims, the lawsuit says that the City is violating the right to equal protection of the laws, by enforcing the two laws only against the homeless and other poor people who seek help for themselves.

“When these laws were being considered, the City Solicitor suggested police would ignore violations by politicians and focus enforcement on those begging,” said Chris Robarge, a Worcester-based organizer with the ACLU of Massachusetts. “And since the laws were enacted, the police have ignored traffic median protesters who were acting in violation of the law, yet they have arrested homeless people who did the same thing.”

For more information about the ACLU of Massachusetts, go to:

http://www.aclum.org

For a copy of the lawsuit, go to:

https://www.aclum.org/sites/all/files/legal/worcester_antipanhandling/aclu_worcester_complaint.pdf

I won’t be going to the cinemaplex (cinemaplexes - what depressing places! A movie theater for downtown Woo!) to see the new GREAT GATSBY movie. Robert Redford’s turn as old Jay did it for me in the 1970s – and still floats my boat. Click here  to see other photos from some great Redford films. I have seen seven out of the 10. Can’t believe I missed three! – R. Tirella

WUMB 91.9 FM

Been listening to it since yesterday, while driving around town. Fabulous! Heard Lucinda Williams today, singing one of my favorite songs from her wonderful album,  ”Car Wheels on a Gravel Road”! How cool it that? The station, run out of the University of Massachusetts /Boston campus, seems to favor rootsy rock, blues, folk with some bite (yesterday they dedicated a show to Robert Johnson!!!). DJs very knowledgeable! Check them out! Here is Lucinda singing one of my favorite songs off Car Wheels! Buy it today! – R. Tirella

… Bill Randell could use this letter! … Billy, or anyone in town, PLEASE feel free to print out and USE! Mail this letter out to Claude Dorman (Wonderland blogger) 38 Sever St., Worcester, MA 01609. If Dorman has enough folks taking him to court, mailing out lets to the DA, he may have to continue to hire his lawyer – some guy from Spencer that Paul Collyer says looks like a mob guy – to defend him. Let’s make Dorman, a notorious cheap-skate, spend $$$. – “Rose”

Here is the letter:

District Attorney Joseph. E. Early
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Police Chief Gary Gemme
9-11 Lincoln Square
Worcester, MA 01608

Dear Sirs:

Recently a Worcester man used, without my permission, my business email address to send out emails in my name to a number of Worcester city officials. I believe that the individual who did this was Claude Dorman of 38 Sever St., Worcester, MA.

This is not the first time Mr. Dorman has used my business email to send out negative email about me. I have consulted with an attorney and have been advised that Mr. Dorman has violated Mass. Gen. L. c. 266 Section 37E regarding identity fraud. This statute defines “pose” in the context of identity crime as “to falsely represent oneself, either directly or indirectly, as another person or persons.”

Mr. Dorman in doing this has caused me both financial and emotional harm. I request that me Dorman be charged with violating Mass. Gen. L. c. 266 Section 37E.

Sincerely yours,

name

CC: Claude Dorman
**************

Claude Dorman, outside the Worcester Courthouse this past March. It was Dorman vs. Paulie Collyer.

Billy Breault left a message on my cell phone … says he has collected enough money to ship the dead terrorist to Russia. Good! Let’s get rid of his body ASAP. If his parents, who live in Russia, have second thoughts and decide not to take him, then the body should be cremated and deposited in the ocean a la Osama bin Laden. That way no extremist of any political strip will make it his or her mission to FIND THE BODY. If the body gets stuck in Worcester, Cambridge, Massachusetts  - or America – the burial site will be a shrine for jihadists the world over. More guns, more bombs, more violence on American soil.

Dispose of this nightmare ASAP.

- R. Tirella

Slots,  dead terrorists and now … the circus! Worcester just keeps getting shit on! I was driving down Southbridge Street today and lo and behold … up on the railroad tracks were all the Barnum and Bailey circus cars. The circus has come to Worcester – again! Scores of box cars, all brightly painted, all containing beautiful wild animals – like ovens on wheels. NO air conditioning in these box cars! No windows even. Lions and tigers etc have been known to cook to death in these death traps.

STOP TORTURING WILD ANIMALS!!!

WHY CAN’T THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL GROW THE BALLS NEEDED TO BAN EXOTIC ANIMALS FROM THE CITY?! Not circuses, just wild animals that do not belong in tu tus, costumes, pens, chains, city hall common!

We will be working on protests, articles, etc … LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING for more than 10 years.

THIS BREAKS MY HEART!

- R. Tirella

LEARN MORE! From PETA:

To read more, click here!

Talking instead of Doing

By Michael Gaffney, Worcester City Councilor at Large candidate

As you are aware, the issue of foreclosure mediation has be debated by the Worcester City Council for several months with plenty of discussion, but no action.  Growing frustrated with the lack of action, I wrote to the most vocal council member on the topic as follows.  I did not seek to attach myself to the issue for political advantage; rather, I handed out a solution and would have been satisfied if any action were taken to achieve a result.  Clearly, if any action had been taken, I would not be writing.  I will let the email chain speak for itself:

On Apr 2, 2013, at 9:16 PM, I wrote to an email from my phone titled “Foreclosure Mediation” to Councilor X:

Springfield Mass program seems to work…  Looks like a settlement just made to implement the plan:

http://blog.aboutrsi.org/2012/program-management/foreclosure-mediation-upheld-against-cons titutional-challenge/

RI has plans in Cranston, Providence and Warwick:

http://www.housingwire.com/news/2010/01/12/rhode-island-city-set-roll-out-foreclosure-medi ation-servicer-fines

So, it appears we have a format to follow.  Love the fine Springfield imposes against the banks for not attending.

The RI bankruptcy court also has a plan for mediation in Chapter 13 plans.

Michael

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone

Response from Councilor X:

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone

Email sent to Councilor X on April 3, 2013

Councilor X:

I sent over some information to you last night relative to the foreclosure programs in other cities. Now that I am at a computer, I am able to forward more substantial information.  I have attended a number of conferences on the issue relative to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s program in Chapter 13 Plans that started in RI, so I have a bit of background.

Attached you will find the Springfield and Providence Ordinances.

Springfield uses a neutral not-for-cost mediation program. There are several options available. First, you could simply try the Worcester Bar Association to administer a program of volunteers (POC = Polly Tatum, President #508-795-1557.) Second, the Better Business Bureau currently administers the Lemon Law Arbitration Program under Massachusetts Law, the arbitrators get a “gratuity” of $100.00 per case (POC Nancy Cahalen, President #508-755-3340 x109.) Third, the District Court uses a mediation program formally administered by the WCAC now being administered by Mediation Services of North Central Mass (I do not have any contacts other than what is listed on the website – POC Elaine Sherrin, Director #978-466-9595.) Finally, the Massachusetts Justice Project currently runs the Lawyer for the Day Program and through  volunteers administers free legal services such as bankruptcy cases (I do handle free bankruptcy cases, but do not have a POC, the just send them over to me, the main number is #800-639-1209.)

I just don’t see where implementation of such a program would cost the city an inordinate amount of funds. Further, where we have language concerning ordinances in use, this matter shouldn’t continue to drag out in meeting after meeting. Finally, where the Federal District Court found the ordinance in Springfield to be constitutional and where the banks challenging it settled (and agreed to be bound) before the Appeals Court, passing such a measure is less likely to face a legal challenge or cost the city to defend it.

I am not trying to insert myself in this matter; rather, I been hearing the debate for several months and find it vexing that no progress has been made. This has been your issue; hence, I have communicated with you. If I can be of further assistance, let me know.

Thank you.

Michael Gaffney

Response from Councilor X, April 3, 2013:

No problem. I appreciated you sending the info.

Sent from my iPhone

Article sent to the Editor, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, May 1, 2013 (unpublished, but plenty of specious and inane comments were published on May 3, 2013)

Dear Sir/Madam:

Your recent article titled “Big Banks win again” concerning the $5,000.00 foreclosure bond ordinance showed the short falls in the current bond requirement.  We need to fix the unintended consequences of the bond requirement and strengthen the ordinance to help our citizens in foreclosure.

The cities of Springfield and Providence have passed ordinances that require the mortgage holder to mediate with the homeowner prior to foreclosure.  Springfield’s ordinance was upheld in Federal District Court and was settled on Appeal.  All the tools we need to update our ordinance are available and can be easily implemented.  We need to rewrite the current ordinance to protect our citizens.  We can’t let another month pass and another family be put out on the street without taking action.

Michael T. Gaffney

Worcester

Today is May 5, 2013.

reposting …

Speak out (for or against) the proposed slots parlor on WCCA TV 13 …

Tuesday (TOMORROW!) May 7, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.