The state of the union

Many of you who take an interest in national politics understand the split that exists between democrats and republicans as the presidential race unfolds this year.

It is a very acrimonious, angry split that leaves the nation without a clear direction.

In Everett there is a widening division between residents here on which way to move forward, of what is right for the future, and what is not.

The extraordinary economic activity has transformed a bit of the future from lazy to much bolder, and with that change has come a wider bridge to gap between old-time residents trying to preserve their neighborhoods and to find parking spaces, and to developers and newcomers to the city sensing greater economic opportunity.

Bridging the gap is the key to a smoother future here, we believe.

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School overcrowding

Suffice to say, not much has been done by the city to reduce over crowding in the public schools and now a new school year is upon us.

The overcrowding situation might have been relieved partially before the opening of schools this year, or might be well on its way toward improvement.

This has not yet happened.

The city is required to reduce the overcrowding in order to give everyone who attends public school here an opportunity to be educated in circumstances conducive to learning.

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Thank you Councilor Matewsky

Councilor Matewsky’s concern for the living environment inside Glendale Towers is admirable.

The lack of air conditioning makes living through a New England summer almost intolerable for most of the residents

Why, we wonder, isn’t the outcry for improvements wider than just Councilor Matewsky?

That’s the question. And the entire city council should have the back of the folks living inside Glendale Towers.

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Renegotiating the host agreement

Councilor Darren Costa has been leading the charge among his colleagues on the city council for a proper renegotiation of the city’s Host agreement with Wynn Resorts, owners of the Boston Harbor Casino and Hotel.

There has been much water over the dam since the city negotiated an agreement to receive about $30 million a year plus room fees from the hotel about 5 years ago, shortly before the opening of the casino and hotel in June, 2019.

Costa has been aiming to renegotiate a much broader and richer money package for the city given the success the casino and hotel are now enjoying.

The casino has been generating more than $60 million a month in gaming revenues alone. That’s a neat annualized $720 million a year and frankly it will be more than this for 2023 if business remains strong.

If Wynn Resorts is taking in huge sums of money like this, then the city should be paid far more than $30 million a year for the company’s right to do so.

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A serious situation

When this edition of the Leader Herald hits the stands and gets around the city, we face a time of year that virtually none of us wish to tackle.

It’s called the end of summer.

Most of us wait all winter for the spring and then rejoice when the warmer weather arrives and summer blossoms all around. This summer has been a bust – the rainiest summer since 1872 according to the US Weather Service.

It seems as though we cannot go for longer than a day or two without rainy downpours disturbing our summer activities.

What can we do about this?

Absolutely nothing.

Some of us who live closer to the shore haven’t yet put on our air conditioners this summer. That’s not to say it wasn’t hot at times – but never for very long.

The rain imposed itself on everything – cookouts, concerts, outdoor activities of all kinds day after day, week after week.

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