>>Valley Patriot>>
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(04/04/07)
Good News on the Crime Front
More good news thanks to Police Chief Romero and the hard
working men and women of the Lawrence Police Department.
The 1st Quarter Serious Crime Numbers just came out today
and Lawrencians have reason to be happy.
Felonious crime was down 14% in the first quarter of 2007
compared to the first quarter of 2006. The Crime and
Disorder Analysis Unit of our Police Department reported
that the most dramatic decrease was in commercial
burglaries. Compared to the same time period in 2006,
commercial burglaries fell 69%! Chief Romero attributed
the significant decrease to having directed patrols in
the downtown area beginning in December of 2006. Of
course, the partnership that our neighborhood groups have
developed with the police department and the cooperative
spirit that the business community and residents have
shown towards law enforcement all play a large role here,
too. Working together, we are once again showing that the
city of Lawrence is a safe place for both families and
businesses.
New
High School Update
Significant progress on the construction of the new high
school has occurred over the winter months. After
receiving a formal notice of contract default from
Eastern Contractors on August 8, 2006, the city had to go
through months of legal and contract issues. Working with
the surety company, St. Paul Travelers, we have jointly
selected Fontaine Brothers, Inc. to complete the project.
As of this date, subcontractors under Fontaine
Brothers’ direction have been mobilized and the
remaining work on the new Lawrence High School is moving
forward rapidly. Based on numerous discussions, the
project completion date is prior to the beginning of the
upcoming school year.
New
Police Station
During the fall of 2006, the old Registry of Deeds -
Essex North Division here in Lawrence was relocated from
381 Common Street. For decades the building had also
served as the courthouse. Working together with Chief
Romero, Planning Director Michael Sweeney and Chief
Economic Development Director Thomas Schiavone, the city
has been attempting to obtain this property from the
state’s Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM).
Our state delegation of Senator Tucker, Representative
Lantigua, and Representative Finegold has been very
supportive in this endeavor.
The current police station is undersized, outdated and
prevents our fine police force from operating with
maximum efficiency. Additionally, it really does not have
the space necessary to enable our police force to
interact with the public is a good way. As Chief Romero
has relayed to me, a new police station will allow us to
adapt to the modern needs of policing. During the course
of the year my office will do everything possible to make
this happen.
Michael Sullivan is the mayor of Lawrence and is in his
second four-year term. You can email him at Sull33@aol.com or call
his office at 978-794-5858 and ask for Nora.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The March 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 12,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
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Salisbury Beach, and Lowell.
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