Editorials – Everett Leader Herald

Everett’s money came from them too

And while we are on the subject of Sal and Joe doing what is right for the people of Everett. . .lets give a pat on the back to those who truly deserve it about getting the city the money it deserves from the state’s federal pandemic fund.

The mayor likes to take credit for getting this added money to the city.

He had about as much to do with getting this money as the possibility of a banana turning into an avocado.

That’s typical of Carlo DeMaria’s way of doing things… taking credit for achievements he has nothing whatsoever to do with.

The city will at some point be receiving millions of dollars in federal funds due to the governor redoing the math and deciding the city, and places like Chelsea deserved much more than was originally planned for.

The pandemic caused major economic disruption to this city and its residents.

At least Everett will be getting what it deserves.

Again, money decisions like these are made by our senator and our rep up on Beacon Hill because they have access to the governor, and the governor listens to them.

DiDomenico and McGonagle do the right thing

A recent bill filed by State Senator Sal DiDomenico and supported in the House by State Rep. Joe McGonagle to allow those who owe the Registry of Motor Vehicles fines an opportunity to pay them back over time instead of having their licenses revoked is big news as far as we consider it.

This is the type of bill that separates Senator Sal and Rep. Joe from the pack of big feeling public officials who think it is OK to take away a person’s license to drive because they owe money to the registry.

If this hasn’t happened to you, think about it – losing your license to drive because you owe state fines.

It tends to ruin the lives of near person this happens to, and it is wrong, wrong, wrong, for the state to have the right to suspend a driver’s license or registration because you can’t pay the fine in one lump sum the way a millionaire can pay for his boat fees or golfing membership.

If this has happened to you, you know how devastating a situation you find yourself in.

The part-time mayor

There is not a hint of doubt that Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s $232,000+ yearly salary is almost as criminal as some of his aberrant behavior.

First, as we pointed out in last week’s lead story detailing his salary, the mayor is a part-time employee.

He exhibits a retrograde work ethic. He takes extended vacations numerous times a year for the past three years – some years taking as many as 90 days or more for vacations to Aruba and Arizona.

In one of his most naked acts of greed and indifference, he put one vacation before the well-being of the city the day after he closed the city down at the beginning of the pandemic last year.

No sooner had he shut the city down than he left for Aruba for a vacation at the Ritz Carlton on the beach.

Nice touch, if you can pull it off.

No mayor in the city’s recent past ever did such a thing or came close to such an overt, in-your-face dereliction of duty to take a vacation.

Most of us have to work for a living

The mayor of Everett is paid $232,000 + a year for a part-time job.

Let’s face it, the mayor spends as little time as possible at Everett City Hall.

He spends hundreds of more days away from city hall than presiding over city hall which is the job he was elected to do.

Candidates for mayor Gerly Adrien and Fred Capone have labeled the mayor’s salary “outrageous” and about “greed,” respectively.

With these simple statements, they have slammed the mayor directly, a move very likely to cause the mayor to strike them back.

We are told the mayor has hired a big-time campaign manager.

The campaign manager has ordered the mayor to look and act like a mayor rather than a despot, as is his public tendency. Good luck with trying to keep a handle on the mayor’s tendency for excess, waste, derision, racism, misogyny, sexism, sexual assault, using ISD as a battering ram against those who don’t contribute properly to him or who refuse to attend his political fundraisers.

Facemasks cause fascination

We believe it is altogether incredible the number of men, women, and children wearing facemasks nearly two weeks since the Massachusetts State government and the CDC set us free from wearing them.

Those of us who have been vaccinated understand that we don’t need the facemasks anymore.

We can’t give the disease and we can’t catch it, either.

It is rather amazing that so many have chosen not to get vaccinated for whatever selfish and unscientific reason they hold dear.

Some believe they are exercising the right to freedom by staying clear of vaccinations.

In fact, refusing vaccinations is like tempting the fates.