Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs…

With all the recent hub-bub about A-frames as well as the new story about the city adding a stop sign to Spofford Street, you would think we’d just about milked signs for all their worth. But a regular emailer sent me this photo today of a sign on the corner of Buck and Washington Streets, on the grass at Cushing Park. He asked a very simple question, one I could not answer, so I’m sending it out on the internet, perhaps one of the local city councilors (Ed Cameron or James Shanley, one with an interest in taking Cushing Park and making it a senior center, the other the ward representative) could answer this for us.

Does this sign have the necessary permits or city council approval to be placed on city property? After all, how would it look to all those downtown businesses who can’t have an A-frame down the street, if we as a city don’t obey our very own rules!

Further, i would imagine a permit must also be obtained to hold a yard sale on city property, so let’s pray that all our ducks are in a row!

September 11th

It’s the 7 year anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. Thankfully, we haven’t had another attack since that day, let’s all pray something like that doesn’t ever happen again.

Tangent

I generally avoid posting about national politics, but i was reading the Newburyport Blog this morning and saw Mary’s post about Rep. Barney Franks take on Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin. I think Frank should be the last person questioning someone else’s family issues, after all, he is the same Rep. whose boyfriend was running a prostitution ring out of Frank’s D.C. home. If we were to judge Palin based on the mistakes her daughter has made, then Frank deserves equal judgment. People in glass houses….

Regarding Mr. McCavitt

I thought I’d take a minute and commend Councilor McCavitt. While the comments attached to the article on the Daily News Website are overwhelmingly (as in 100%) against the Councilor’s decision to file suit against the owner of the clam shack, I have to say that if there was indeed a shady deal, or if that land is public property, then he has a duty to make sure that the law is followed and that the best interests of the city is upheld. Now many say that it’s a waste of money, and it could very well turn out to be so, but much of that rests with the ZBA, the City and the owner, who didn’t fully investigate the claims that the city owned the land. I personally am glad to have at least one councilor who is looking out for the city first, and developers second. How many times has this city been taken advantage of, simply because no one bothered to look into the deals? I’m sick of it, and I know most citizens are. Further, the statements made by the owner of the property and his lawyer seem very unprofessional, trying to degrade Mr. McCavitt’s points by attacking him personally. I’ve met the councilor a few times and he may be a strange fellow, but from the brief conversation I’ve had with him, he is out to protect the waterfront and the city of Newburyport, putting our best interests before those that would profit off of us. I can’t say I have a problem with that, I only wish more of our council acted similarly.

Also, as far as the comments go, it seems pretty clear that most of those people have an axe to grind with the councilor in the first place, especially the first comment by the owner of Licorice and Sloe, who recently had to close down his shop. Calling him a menace is a bit much.

ps. I think we’ll all be glad Mr. McCavitt and his Chapter 91 committee are around when Karp brings his plans to Newburyport.

Very Interesting…

As of 9am Tuesday, McCain/Pallin seems to be leading the voting on the Newburyport Daily News website, who’d have guessed!