One open at-large seat for candidates trying to make lightning strike

By Josh Resnek

There has not been as competitive a pack of candidates for the at-large city council spaces in an off-year municipal race in quite some time.

In fact, the number of candidates vying this upcoming September to be nominated for five seats is as crowded as Broadway is with traffic during the weekdays.

The city has certified 13 candidates for the five at-large positions.

Incumbent candidates John Hanlon, Mike Marchese, Stephanie Smith and Irene Cardillo.

In the political world where anything can happen and often does, it would appear the incumbents are safe in their efforts to retain their seats.

This leaves only the seat being vacated by at-large Councilor Richard Dell Isola as the one seat that is available for the eight candidates trying their luck at getting elected to an at large seat.

Eight candidates vying in an election for one open seat are very bad odds for nearly all of the candidates.

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How about an update?

It has been several months since the city acknowledged it would be spending about $50,000 a month at least through the summer months for lawyer’s fees connected with the US Attorney’s Office US Justice Department probe into racism and discrimination in Everett.

The people of Everett should be informed about where this probe is at.

Has the probe turned into an investigation?

Are city officials being investigated or questioned?

Have Everett government officials been called before a grand jury, and on and on.

More importantly, is anything at all ongoing with this probe or is it finished and done, with no action of any kind to be taken?

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The renegotiated Host Agreement

The city is apparently renegotiating the Encore Boston Harbor Casino and Hotel Host Agreement.

Not much public light has been cast on the renegotiation, how it is being done, who exactly is doing the negotiating and what might come of it.

We know this – the city deserves a great deal more money than it is receiving now.

In the front page op-ed published last week. Councilor Darren Costa said he believed the Host Agreement figure as it presently exists, is not enough compensation given how much Encore’s position on Lower Broadway is now expanding.

Encore will soon be taking in as much as $1 billion yearly in gaming revenues, hotel income, and the income to be derived from other entertainment, parking and commercial venues across the street on Lower Broadway.

When a new figure of compensation is arrived at, it is our belief that a vote by the people of Everett be taken in order to ratify the new Host Agreement.

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Early voting for preliminary election and final OK’d

Everett Election Commission from Facebook.

The city council has approved early voting prior to the September primary and for the November finale.

The council’s vote was unanimous.

City Clerk Sergio Cornelio told the council that early voting is a benefit, and that under state law you can vote in person or vote by mail, early.

“Under the new state law that was passed last June, you can opt into early voting and if you want, you can opt out of vote-by-mail,” said City Clerk Sergio Cornelio.

“The Election Commission did not request to opt out of vote-by-mail. We think that is a benefit to the public, and we did believe that some early voting in-person would be beneficial,” he added.

In the 2022 state election about 7,000 Everett residents voted by mail, according to Cornelio.

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Around the city…

175 Atlantic Street

Call it a sign of the inflated times. Call it part of the natural progression of prices accompanying the current and ongoing real estate boom.

Call it what you will.

A recent blip in Banker and Tradesman noted that a larger property at 175 Atlantic Street had sold to an LLC for $1.47 million!

Now that’s a very nice price for a multi-unit property on a larger piece of land on a nice corner in the city. For many longtime residents and property owners, it kind of takes their breath away when they think about the prices properties are fetching in the current marketplace.

Unbelievable is about the best word to describe it!

Mark Twain quotations

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and to remove all doubt.” “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence and then success is assured.” “In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

Ellen Pompeo

Did you know that Ellen Pompeo, born in Everett at the former Whidden Hospital in 1969, and a graduate of Everett High School, has made approximately $20 million a year since 2017 and is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood!

She is best known for her 18 year role as Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy, one of television’s most popular series. Pompeo is a major league advocate for equal pay and gender equality.

Talk about Everett success stories – she is at the top of them and she didn’t grow up with a silver spoon on her mouth.

She’s gone a long way since coming of age in Everett.

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