Sullivan Calls
Remarks by Former Councilor
“Racist”
Tom
Duggan
Lawrence
Mayor Michael Sullivan issued a press
release this week calling comments in the
Boston Globe by former Lawrence City
Councilor Carlos Matos in the Boston
Globe “racist.”
Sullivan also complained about similar
comments Matos made when he was
spearheading a Voter ID proposal at the
State House and told the Valley Patriot
that he was “furious” Matos
would cast aspersions on the people of
Lawrence who “only want to make sure
that the voting process is fair and
cannot be abused.”
“I guess if you plan to benefit from
cheating at the ballot box on election
day you will say anything to oppose rules
that make voting more fair. I just think
the City of Lawrence deserves better.
"
Sullivan said Matos has been on a
campaign to defame him for months now and
that the latest comments in the globe
were the last straw.
The article, written by Russ Contreras,
detailed Sullivan’s plan to change
the city charter and create a city
managers position which would in effect,
decrease the responsibility (and power)
of future mayors.
The Globe reports:
“But now comes the rub: Sullivan
has proposed creating a city
administrator position to help him with
the finances and day-to-day operations at
City Hall - in effect, shifting some
decision-making prerogatives from the
mayor's office to an unelected city
employee.
Some Latino politicians and local
activists are upset. They say Sullivan,
who is barred by city charter from
seeking another term, is trying to dilute
the power of the mayor's office as he
heads out the door - and just when a
Latino might have the best chance yet at
becoming mayor.
"I find it coincidentally suspicious
that this idea is coming now,"
Carlos Matos, a former city councilor and
mayoral candidate, said recently of
Sullivan's move.
Sullivan
said when he read the comments by Matos
in the Globe “I felt like I had to
respond."
“In yesterday’s Boston Globe,”
Sullivan wrote in his press release,
“in an article that appeared in the
Northwest Weekly section, I was both
alarmed and appalled by quotes that were
made by a former City Councilor, Carlos
Matos as well as Giovanna Negretti,
Executive Director of the statewide
organization known as Oiste. This article
was both condescending and damaging to
all people living in the City of Lawrence
as well as all elected officials that
have served and continue to serve our
great city.”
“I think it is repulsive that Mr.
Matos, who served on the City Council and
Ms. Negretti would use divisive quotes
such as “The city is paying for the
incompetence of previous white Mayors”.
I would encourage all of you to read the
article: on line at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/01/new_post_met_with_suspicion/
Sullivan
also urged the people of Lawrence to
contact Oiste to protest their
involvement in perpetuating racism by
opposing the measure and making it an
issue about race. contact information:
http://www.oiste.net/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3
“The
City of Lawrence has come too far,”
Sullivan wrote. “...working together
with all ethnic backgrounds, to make this
the great city that it is. I am
personally offended by the actions of
these individuals and the groups that
they affiliate themselves with. I call on
all of you to voice your opinion and
demand a public apology for these
outrageous remarks made by people who
should know better.”
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(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
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