Gerly Adrien – Everett Leader Herald

Adrien battles for respect

By JOSH RESNEK

In a recent Boston Globe Op-Ed and during a radio appearance on the Jim Braude and Margery Egan news show on National Public Radio, Adrien addressed how she is being treated by her colleagues and the mayor since she was elected.

She was invited to appear on the radio show based on the revelations she made in the Globe Op-Ed.

Her appearance last week on NPR caused the mayor to demand equal time on the Braude and Egan Show, a request they granted to him late last week.

During his radio appearance, the mayor said Adrien was “rude and ignorant.”

Adrien had detailed her poor treatment by her council colleagues and the mayor since her election during her earlier appearance on the Braude, Egan Show.

She described being taunted, being threatened, and being asked to resign by several of her colleagues.

She also gave substance and detail to her belief that the mayor is out to get her and isn’t exactly trying to hide the animus he holds for her.

Easy got Wayland supt. job despite the mayor

I shouldn’t have had to leave Everett. I was willing to work for $1 a year. Instead I was kicked out. Now, I’m moving on” – Dr. Omar Easy

By JOSH RESNEK

The mayor refused to give Dr. Omar Easy a recommendation for the superintendent’s position despite being asked three times by Wayland officials, it has been revealed to the Leader Herald by city hall sources who wished to remain unnamed.

Despite the mayor’s reluctance or failure to respond, the Wayland School Committee unanimously voted to name Easy superintendent of the Wayland Public Schools.

The mayor was apparently upset with Easy’s co-sponsorship with Adrien of a Black History Month event which was publicly advertised showing photographs of Easy and Adrien.

“The mayor in failing to give Dr. Easy a recommendation, if this is, in fact, true, is a repudiation of everything Dr. Easy has worked for in his life and which he stands for,” said Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien.

She revealed she was called and asked for a recommendation by Wayland school officials.

“I gave Dr. Easy a recommendation immediately,” she told the Leader Herald.

‘I’m proud to be a Black woman in politics’

By GERLY ADRIEN

Black women are commonly stereotyped as too aggressive, too hostile, too angry.

Categorizing us with these labels has caused Black women to question how we can look, dress, or even speak to provide a softer image to the outside world. These words can negatively impact our careers, our reputation, and how people look at us.

In 2019, I became the first Black, Haitian-American woman to be elected for the city councilor at-large seat in my home- town of Everett. I did not run with the label of being the first or being Black. I campaigned on issues critical to my city, and Everett needed the most qualified person in the seat. With my background, family experiences, and work history, I believed I was that person. During my campaign, I spoke about my graduating from Bentley University and obtaining my MBA from Boston University. I talked about how I had eight years of work experience in the corporate and nonprofit sector, and about being a small-business owner.

In 2020, my City Council colleagues went to the media and labeled me as too aggressive and said that my ideas were too bold for Everett. The labels reminded me of the many tropes Black women have historically heard for scores of years. I sat and reflected on whether I was too aggressive to be on the Everett City Council. I still had my career to think about and my small business to protect from the impact of COVID-19.

— Eye on Everett —

“His disingenuousness has no boundaries”

By JOSH RESNEK

“It was a tough week for me,” the mayor’s Blue Suit began during a discussion we shared Monday.

“You look terrible. What’s wrong?” I asked.

“He’s worn me over and over and over again. I’m hurting. I can’t stand it. He hurt me Sunday at his coffee hour when he slumped into his chair at city hall. He went down so hard into the chair I almost suffocated. The hurt wasn’t only physical. It was mental,” the Blue Suit added.

“Are you going to be OK?” I asked him.

“I don’t think so. The guy wearing me has no boundaries. I mean there are no boundaries to the mayor’s disingenuousness. I don’t mind the occasional outing but lately, he’s been on a tear. He is going to ruin me, like everything he touches. It isn’t just the wear and tear wearing me down. It is what he is about that gets me really down when I have to be around him all the time,” the Blue Suit added.

‘What exactly do you mean?” I replied.

“ I mean he’s a total fake. I don’t know how he can live with himself. His fakery has no boundaries.”

“Again, I am asking you. What do you mean?”

“Did you watch his state of the city address?”

“Yes. Of course,” I answered.

“Did you see the set-up?”

“Yes. Many people noticed the set-up. I assume you’re talking about the photograph of a Black man on the table behind him just over his right shoulder?” I answered the Blue Suit.

Mayoral race changes quickly for hopefuls

By JOSH RESNEK

The political landscape has been rocked by Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien’s successful fundraising effort.

The first-term councilor at large with more than $61,000 on hand in her political account has transformed her potential for higher office overnight.

“That’s a healthy sum of campaign money to run a citywide campaign,” said Council President Wayne Matewsky.

Although Adrien insists she remains committed to her position on the city council, she has asserted that she is watching the local political landscape carefully, and especially the upcoming citywide election primary in September and the election itself in November.

In the world of Everett politics, anything is possible.

With $61,000 in Adrien’s campaign account and more money being raised in a grassroots effort, she could soon top $100,000.

This would rival the mayor’s present $125,000 balance in his campaign account.

The mayor has not faced a situation such as this in 12 years.