Protest – Everett Leader Herald

STUDENTS FIGHTING RACISM PROTEST AT CITY HALL

**Everett High School students protest Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani’s failure to secure an extension to her contract Thursday afternoon.** (Photo by Joe Resnek)

By Josh Resnek

A large and orderly crowd of Everett High School students left their classes early and marched down Broadway, ending up in front of Everett City Hall Thursday afternoon.

They held signs denouncing the mayor in support of School Superintendent Priya Tahiliani while at the same time chanting slogans.

“Keep Priya. Get rid of the mayor,” the EHS students shouted in unison.

The protest revealed the outrage and the disappointment of largely Black, Brown and Hispanic students who supported Tahiliani in her bid to gain an extension to her contract.

Earlier in the week following a School Committee hearing, Tahiliani lost her bid for a contract extension by a 6-4 vote.

All six who voted against her, including the mayor, are white.

Tahiliani is the first superintendent of color in EPS history.

Continue reading →

Pope John out of the mayor’s mix; he changed his mind

“Pope John should be housing,” mayor insists

By Josh Resnek

At a public pre-Christmas celebration for the city’s elderly last week, the mayor apparently showed his true colors during remarks where those who watched and listened said he was “on fire.”

In one fell swoop he apparently said: “Pope John should be housing…I’m going after the newspaper…I am going nowhere.”

With those alleged statements, the mayor revealed his private thinking about very public thoughts.

Monday night at the city council, all of that coalesced.

The Pope John project right now is dead on arrival.

The mayor promised to do as the city council asked weeks ago, following months of meetings, discussions and public discussion and protest.

“If it is the will of the council, I will do it,” he said, more or less, for better or worse, in response to an outcry from the public looking for overcrowding relief in the public schools.

Peggy Serino said as much during public remarks before the Monday meeting of the city council.

Serino told the council the mayor out and “lied” about Pope John to each and every one of you. “What are we going to do here?” she asked the council.

“I have never seen a mayor lie to the common council. What is going on…I hope you will do something about this.”

Continue reading →

Mayor Scores $31,125 At Fundraiser

Leader Herald Staff

The mayor asked for donations to pay for legal fees to protect his reputation.

A recent fundraiser held by Mayor Carlo Demaria at Anthony’s in Malden netted his campaign account $31,250 according to filings his campaign committee made with the Office of Campaign and Finance.

This does not compare with the fundraisers held during the run-up to the last November election, which produced about $420,000 in campaign contributions – an incredible amount of money, nearly all of which was spent in his re-election effort against former Councilor Fred Capone.

A small group of protesters, about a dozen men and women carrying signs indicating their displeasure with the mayor, greeted all those entering Anthony’s. When the mayor arrived, he chose not to enter through the front door where the protesters were gathered.

Continue reading →

There Is a Lack of Political Leadership

Comments by Fred Capone at City Hall Protest

What you have seen here and heard here today is the real Everett, a diverse but united community – not the Everett that you are reading about in the papers, watching on TV and following via social media. The negative reflections are the actions of a few. Sadly, they originate from our elected officials – those whose primary function is to make our city a safer and better place for all of us. The recent disclosure of the disturbing city video demonstrates that racism has been rampant throughout the current administration. The fact that racism and corruption have not even been mentioned let alone go unpunished by the majority of our elected officials, underscores the lack of political leadership that has been allowed to continue for far too long.

Everett High School students marched today in solidarity, they were amazing, and the Everett High School Class of 2022 has taken a bold stand and they have done us proud. I commend them for using their collective voice in a mature, responsible, and thoughtful manner to say what our elected officials will not – “Racism in any form is wrong and will not be tolerated.” Their action shows me that the future of our city is in good hands, but we must address the current void in leadership.

Continue reading →

$40,000 a year mayor’s bonus on chopping block or not?

December 13 council meeting moment of truth

By Josh Resnek

The mayor’s $40,000 yearly longevity bonus payment will be taken up by the Everett City Council December 13.

It is an end of the year measure which is arguably among the most significant issues the council has faced in several years.

It pits the mayor against the council for the $40,000 a year longevity payment, which many in government who believe it should not be paid, and many others who just don’t care enough to take a stand.

Councilors Fred Capone and Mike Marchese will be leading the way with John Hanlon.

Capone is said to be certain that several members cannot vote on the matter because of a conflict of interest.

Councilor Anthony DiPierro is the mayor’s cousin.

Several councilors believe he should recuse himself.

Councillor Richard Dell Isola has three family members who work for the city.

Those members say the same about Dell Isola, who tends to obediently support the mayor no matter what the question is.

Marchese calls the bonus illegal, unethical and “just plain wrong.”

Continue reading →