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- henningson1
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Also some elected officials were at a fundraiser for Robert Sullivan that was previously scheduled before the debate
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m.enterprisenews.com/article/20151024/NEWS/151027060/13406/NEWS
Seeking re-election, Mayor Bill Carpenter says his team 'making a difference'
m.enterprisenews.com/article/20151024/NEWS/151027061/13406/NEWS
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I think Carpenter is doing the best he can. I have never seen this much attention paid to crime in this City by any other past administration. He is being pro active but the murder rate is one thing that will take time. They more heat he puts on the streets the better it will get. I can't imagine what MacMillan's plan would be. He really didn't talk about it in the article other than offering more youth programs (sound familiar?) Youth programs are great but they can only work when you have the safety and infrastructure in place first.
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Bring back truant officers, detention centers and summer school. That will get our hands onto the bad arses, then you can watch who they hang out with and that especially includes outside drug influences. A bad arse will always seek another bad arse. Most of the shootings come from drug related incidents, so the formula is almost fool proof.
On second thought, narco knows who they are but instead choose to wait and wait for the big guy. Hammer away at the little guys and the bad guys just might go elsewhere, because what they're doing now isn't working.
If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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"Do the right thing, even when no one is looking"
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henningson1 wrote: I actually stopped by before the debate to wish both candidates good luck but I was not able to attend as I had parent teacher conferences that night for my daughter at BHS.
Also some elected officials were at a fundraiser for Robert Sullivan that was previously scheduled before the debate
I can appreciate that Ray, family should be # 1.
"Do the right thing, even when no one is looking"
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- henningson1
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My wife has a work function and I have my 9 year old that wont sit still for a debate. Easier to watch on TV since it is live
I wish both candidates good luck
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- clifton heights
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I am recording the rest of the mayoral debate so I can watch it later. So far, after 45 minutes, I willing to give Mayor Carpenter another chance.
Question #1 - Homelessness. Mayor Carpenter said he is working behind the scenes with Father Bills to shift the homeless away from the center of the city. He agrees that it is not the first thing we should see when we enter the downtown area. Carpenter highlights the fact that 80 percent of our homeless are not actually from Brockton. Interesting. He also mentioned working to develop a daytime center that will allow the homeless to be inside. He supports no homelessness for veterans. MacMillan ("Mac") says the homeless have a bad rap and he will work with pastors and local churches. He was non-specific.
Question #2 - What is your ideal Saturday night in Brockton? Mac says he rarely goes out at night because he works the third shift. When he does, he takes his wife to George's cafe. He then dissed George's by saying there is no "super" restaurant in Brockton and then retracted that, sort of, by saying, "Don't get me wrong, George's is great." He goes to eat and talks to people there. The Mayor said his Saturday night would surely involve a pizza from any restaurant that has the word "Cafe" in it - mentioning Georges, Cape Code, Home, etc. He then became irrelevant saying that the strength of the city is in its diversity, and when one person gets in trouble, others rally around them.
Question #3 - Crime fighting tactics, what will Mac do, and does the Mayor feel his are working? Mac says old technology is new again. He will reinstate a license plate spotter which is proactive in looking for those with warrants or no licenses. He says Shot Spotter is a reactive tool. Again, he was vague and mentioned working with detectives to improve technology such as computers in police vehicles. Carpenter says his methods are working. He specifically talks about proactive patrols to find prostitution, drugs, etc. He mentions motorcycle patrols, putting bicycles on the road for the first time in (I think 10 years) concentrating in parks, playgrounds, etc. It is the first of several mentions of more “boots on the ground”, a term Mac borrows later in one of his responses. Carpenter talks of the hiring of 21 new police officers with a total next year of 196, the highest in 25 years. Later in the debate, Mac nixes this by saying there is only funding for 9, so the remaining 12 will be laid off.
Question #4 – focused on how each of them would generate new revenue for the city. The Mayor supports the power plant, casino – and to that he added fees for electronic billboards and a solar project. He also mentioned 1.5 million of idle property sold by the city that will eventually result in increased real estate taxes. Mac opposes the casino and power plant but suggests a sports dome on the fairgrounds along with a Faneuil Hall-style marketplace. He says that he would approach George Carney to bring in something that will be good for residents. His other idea is expanding the wastewater treatment plant and (I think) a pellet treatment plant? Some of the audio in this debate is very hard to decipher. He suggests the creation of jobs with these ventures.
Question #5 – both were asked about their plans to make Brockton friendly to small businesses and their ideas to inspire and attract them. Mac says he has knocked on a lot of doors and talked to many small business owners. He cites the recent increase in fees as a burden to folks who are running their ventures day to day. Once again he says he will create a team to reach out to businesses, a very vague idea. Chris is big on setting up groups to work with, but does not state specifically what will come of it. The Mayor states economic development as a top priority and explains how he already started eliminating red tape, making the city easier to navigate. He just published a “Small Business Guide” and he supports minority, female-run, and immigrant startups. He hired a Main Street manager who is working with this group and supports a micro loan program form those who can’t qualify for larger bank financing. He is putting the licensing process online, making it more user friendly.
Question #6 – What would you do to reduce high profile gun violence incidents? – Mayor says he is doing a lot. Since July 1 Brockton and state police have confiscated 40 illegal guns in 4 months. The problems they face is, though they arrest, the judges put the criminals right back on the streets. He mentions Shot Spotter, allowing them to pinpoint gun activity faster, giving police the opportunity to often gain witnesses, who sometimes leave the scene faster than the perpetrators. Again he cites “more boots on the street” as an important tool. He reinforces that 9 cadets will graduate from the Police Academy next week. Mac is again, weak. He states he will reach out to kids, devise more community programs. He says that we are unable to afford more police officers and that we do not have the money to support beyond the 9 cadets. Others will be laid off. He echoes Mayor Carpenters desire to have more “boots on the ground” but Mac will concentrate on community outreach programs. He does not discuss who will pay for all of the committees and programs he plans to create.
Question #7 – Since the Mayor is ultimately the chairman of the School Committee, what will you do to ensure we have adequate resources and funding? Mac is weak – he says he will work with the state and will bring back teachers (he does not state how) and then he belittled Carpenter by saying that he added 9 million dollars to the budget, but that it still resulted in layoffs. Carpenter reinforces that he did increase the budget over the past 2 years by a total of 8.5 million. He clarifies that the problems are at the state and federal levels and that the formulas are not equitable for the amount of students in our school system. We have very high expenses, a majority who qualify for free/reduced lunches. He will file suit against the state if necessary.
Question #8 related to our use of water and Silver Lake. I must admit I missed this question, but the Mayor had a strong response. We have a contractual right to the water that we use and we are responsible, using less water due to conservation and upgrades. He notes this as a key in the development of the city. Mac basically agreed that Brockton has a contract to use water legally, but again, he states he will work with the surrounding communities.
While the Mayor is prepared with specific responses, MacMillan sounds like he will muddy the already cloudy water by solely relying on committees, churches, and other communities. While everyone’s input is important, and I appreciate his willingness to hear the opinions of others, he will never be productive if his best suggestion is to … take the suggestions of others into consideration. I am turned off by MacMillan’s repetitive ambiguity.
<font color=BLACK>My name may be Clifton but I've never been a boy </font> <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">
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- clifton heights
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<font color=BLACK>My name may be Clifton but I've never been a boy </font> <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">
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"Do the right thing, even when no one is looking"
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If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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Keep in mind that Carpenter raised our taxes and Condon won't certify the budget without a prop 2 1/2 override.
Shot Spotter hasn't done a damn thing.
I was hoping Chris would've better so my ballot will remain blank. I will not vote for Carpenter.
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As for taxes....they are making me a failure in being able to make my mortgage payments.
I don't even want to vote anymore. No matter who you do vote for only makes false promises.
If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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- FactsBeFacts
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As for it having been successful, why haven't any of the shooters been caught?
There are your facts.
If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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Clifton did a great job recapping but there are enhanced answers by Chris with detailed plans. The exchange regarding to "thugs and drug dealers was in reference to a comment Carpenter made to Balzotti in their debate.
www.sparkthenews.com/news/brockton-final-mayoral-debate
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