907,283 @ 9:52 am
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO STEPHANIE ROWLAND SEEMING TO WANT EQUAL TIME: "Will you be grading each of them soon as well?"
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Grading the City Council - Michael Marks - D-
City Councilor Michael Marks was once aligned with Paul Camuso and Fred Dello Russo Jr. Then he transitioned away from "the dark side," but still seems to be indecisive. For example, Marks will take on City Solicitor Mark Rumley and they will put on some kind of hissing contest that belongs in a tenth grade gym class, not at a council where these elected officials take about 30K each home while Rumley makes over 100k. Sure, it was funny when Marks yelled that Rumley is one of two "henchmen" for the mayor (along with Lauren DiLorenzo,) with Rumley yelling back like some kind of child "Bring it on."
Great comedy skit, but how does their mutual buffoonery help the city of Medford?
Then there's the issue of Marks not running for Mayor. Michael supported Bob Penta but when the chips were down, when the election was allegedly stolen, it was reported that Marks walked into the old Panda Palace only to - allegedly - have State Rep Paul Donato stare him down purportedly laughing and saying "You picked the wrong team." (paraphrased.)
It seems to be all about them, not about we residents. Marks, as city council vice president, received an e mail from me concerning Fred Dello Russo Jr. needing to be sanctioned for his ugly behavior on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. No response. No proactive work to see that Dello Russo behaves himself for the 30k he gets.
When I'm elected Mayor I intend to initiate charter change and reduce the pay the council gets to about $7500.00 a year, not $30,000.00. This is one of the most expensive councils in all of Massachusetts and it has very little power to improve our lives. So why are we paying salaries that are not in line with the little bit of work these people do?
Only Breanna Lungo-Koehn is earning her pay and even she puts her toe in the water before making a decision. We need people who are DECISIVE and willing to FIGHT FOR ALL THE RIGHTS OF MEDFORD CITIZENS. The City Council seems like a club and Mr. Marks with all his articulate bluster still doesn't move the dial in the right direction. He, Scarpelli and Falco get a passing grade. Breanna gets a B- the only good grade ANY of these officials on the council and the corner office will receive. The only other individual worthy of a B- is Mea Mustone on the School Committee. The rest of the politicians in this city are just that, politicians. NONE of them, including Mr. Penta, have worked as hard as Cheryl Rodriguez or myself in putting our necks on the line to improve our city.
Bob Penta and Michael Marks had their big opportunity to challenge the 2015 election and they failed to do what those who supported them wanted them to do. Be strong, be decisive, and ram the stolen election down the throats of the McGlynn cronies.
They all cowered in fear and let their supporters down. So we are supposed to praise them because they make a little noise and crack a joke about some moron like Dello Russo? Please.
You can blame the voters and the residents for being apathetic, and they deserve that blame, but our "leaders" are nothing of the sort. Michael Marks doesn't have 1/100th of the courage this writer has displayed in improving life in Medford. Just because he's cordial and a great speaker doesn't mean he deserves praise. The entire city council needs to be dismantled.
Breanna should run for Mayor.
With the levers of power in her possession to do the right thing, I think Ms. Lungo-Koehn might be our only hope. Mr. Marks grade is down there with Scarpelli and Falco ("D" but still a passing grade) because much more is expected of him and instead of really showing some courage with the deck stacked 5-2 against him and Breanna, Marks does the politically expedient thing over the right thing. Shame on him and God help our city.
City Councilor Michael Marks was once aligned with Paul Camuso and Fred Dello Russo Jr. Then he transitioned away from "the dark side," but still seems to be indecisive. For example, Marks will take on City Solicitor Mark Rumley and they will put on some kind of hissing contest that belongs in a tenth grade gym class, not at a council where these elected officials take about 30K each home while Rumley makes over 100k. Sure, it was funny when Marks yelled that Rumley is one of two "henchmen" for the mayor (along with Lauren DiLorenzo,) with Rumley yelling back like some kind of child "Bring it on."
Great comedy skit, but how does their mutual buffoonery help the city of Medford?
Then there's the issue of Marks not running for Mayor. Michael supported Bob Penta but when the chips were down, when the election was allegedly stolen, it was reported that Marks walked into the old Panda Palace only to - allegedly - have State Rep Paul Donato stare him down purportedly laughing and saying "You picked the wrong team." (paraphrased.)
It seems to be all about them, not about we residents. Marks, as city council vice president, received an e mail from me concerning Fred Dello Russo Jr. needing to be sanctioned for his ugly behavior on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. No response. No proactive work to see that Dello Russo behaves himself for the 30k he gets.
When I'm elected Mayor I intend to initiate charter change and reduce the pay the council gets to about $7500.00 a year, not $30,000.00. This is one of the most expensive councils in all of Massachusetts and it has very little power to improve our lives. So why are we paying salaries that are not in line with the little bit of work these people do?
Only Breanna Lungo-Koehn is earning her pay and even she puts her toe in the water before making a decision. We need people who are DECISIVE and willing to FIGHT FOR ALL THE RIGHTS OF MEDFORD CITIZENS. The City Council seems like a club and Mr. Marks with all his articulate bluster still doesn't move the dial in the right direction. He, Scarpelli and Falco get a passing grade. Breanna gets a B- the only good grade ANY of these officials on the council and the corner office will receive. The only other individual worthy of a B- is Mea Mustone on the School Committee. The rest of the politicians in this city are just that, politicians. NONE of them, including Mr. Penta, have worked as hard as Cheryl Rodriguez or myself in putting our necks on the line to improve our city.
Bob Penta and Michael Marks had their big opportunity to challenge the 2015 election and they failed to do what those who supported them wanted them to do. Be strong, be decisive, and ram the stolen election down the throats of the McGlynn cronies.
They all cowered in fear and let their supporters down. So we are supposed to praise them because they make a little noise and crack a joke about some moron like Dello Russo? Please.
You can blame the voters and the residents for being apathetic, and they deserve that blame, but our "leaders" are nothing of the sort. Michael Marks doesn't have 1/100th of the courage this writer has displayed in improving life in Medford. Just because he's cordial and a great speaker doesn't mean he deserves praise. The entire city council needs to be dismantled.
Breanna should run for Mayor.
With the levers of power in her possession to do the right thing, I think Ms. Lungo-Koehn might be our only hope. Mr. Marks grade is down there with Scarpelli and Falco ("D" but still a passing grade) because much more is expected of him and instead of really showing some courage with the deck stacked 5-2 against him and Breanna, Marks does the politically expedient thing over the right thing. Shame on him and God help our city.