Salem's Mayor Kim Driscoll's Out of Senate Race

Here's her official announcement. Reading the tea leaves, I think this means we get a candidate of at least the stature of a Congressperson in the race, otherwise I don't see Kim Driscoll pulling out. We'll see. Whoever's going to declare that hasn't already will do it soon.

I'll never get Salem's Mayor Driscoll

I always hear how great she is by other party activists and I know people in Salem love her, but stuff like this baffles me.

The plan submitted to the Salem Planning Board would demolish the present Walmart and construct another building about 50 percent larger, with 611 parking spaces. The Lowe's facility would encompass 153,000 square feet, including a garden center. It would have 378 parking spaces.

Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll has been supportive of the project that the Everett-based Kennedy Development Group claims will create 105 new jobs and produce $225,000 in annual tax revenue. Aspects of the project were first proposed publicly over two years ago and informally for nearly two decades, at least where Salem's need for a new municipal water tower are concerned.

First off, the Kennedy Development Group is full of it. They can spout all the numbers they like, but until they talk about the costs, no one else should give them the time of day. The fact of the matter is the Big Box stores like Wal-Mart and Lowe's don't actually create new jobs or tax revenue, they just cannibalize what's already there in the economy, sucking it up from the small businesses and spitting it out to national and international investors and stock holders.

We know this now and we've known it for a pretty long time. That Mayor Driscoll never questions these kinds of things is a big mistake for Salem.

None of this is to say Mayor Driscoll doesn't have her strong points -- she's eminently approachable, kind and she gets out there. I can speak from experience on that. She's done lots to make the symbiotic relationship that exists between Salem and Salem State work best for both parties. Salem's been doing well over the past few years and I have no doubt she deserves a lot of the credit.

However, for whatever reason, she's unapologetic about her support for Big Boxes seemingly all over the place, many of which will compete with Salem's hugely important small business community. If she keeps at it, it's these sorts of things which could kill the uber-cool Downtown Salem. It seems like she's stuck somewhere between the '80s and '90s when it comes to this issue -- don't we know better by now? Shouldn't she?

Talk About Being Against Your Own, Best Interests

Why is Salem's Mayor, Kim Driscoll, schilling for the Massachusetts casino lobby? On behalf of the casino lobby's Massachusetts website, she sent out this letter today:

Dear XXX,

Thanks to you, our campaign is picking up speed.

On October 29, the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies will take testimony on the benefits of resort-style gaming.

This is a huge development -- and a sure sign that we need to keep up the momentum.

Will you write an email telling your state legislator that the Bay State needs the jobs and growth gaming will bring?

Thanks to your dedication, the Massachusetts legislature is moving towards a vote on gaming -- a major success for our campaign.

We can't let up now.

If we want thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars of new investment for our Commonwealth, we need to act.

Click the link below to tell your state legislator that Massachusetts is ready for gaming.

http://www.jobsandgrowthtoday.com/legislator

Thank you for all of your help,

Kim Driscoll
Mayor, Salem

Now, here's why Kim's being so shortsighted.

1. Salem's worked for decades to make its downtown area kick ass. Salem attracts young professionals and many of them stay there, something most of the rest of the state wishes it did as well as Salem. Why? Because there's an awesome community there -- tons of things to do, restaurants, beaches, the wharf, the willows, downtown, etc. However, it took a lot of work to get that community -- it wasn't there to nearly the same degree when I was younger. If even 5-10% of the consumer base left, a lot of those restaurants and cool locations would bleed or go under. Where is a casino very likely to be placed? In Revere, at Suffolk Downs or Wonderland, about 10 miles away from Downtown Salem.

2. Slots and casinos would eat into the state lottery. No one has been able to refute Rep. Bosley's numbers on this -- and why? Because they're true. The state lottery takes in a billion+ a year. The bulk of it goes directly to cities and towns. Salem probably gets millions in state lottery money. Furthermore, slot taxes would be around 25%, while essentially the whole enchilada from the state lottery goes to the state. If slots eat just a little of state lottery money, because of the differences in tax rate, there's no way the state would break even. The more slots we allow, the more it eats into the state lottery, the less money goes to cities and towns.

3. I haven't even gotten into social costs, all of which would impact Salem greatly should there be a casino in Revere. Salem already has enough challenging social issues to tackle, it doesn't need a casino on its doorstep.

While slots and casinos are, in general, a lose-lose-lose, they are particularly bad for a city like Salem. It's a great city with a lot going for it, but the success of a city like Salem is always very precarious. A casino in the area would absolutely devastate the city of Salem, possibly delivering it a death blow just after its renaissance. Why does Mayor Kim Driscoll want to play with fire, when her house is made of wood?

The Fly Ash Bill, Today's Globe Ed

Great bill, great editorial, great step for Massachusetts to take - if we can make her take that step.

The gist of the bill:

COAL is the cheapest source of electricity. One major reason why is that mining companies and coal-burning utilities have managed to pass many of its health and environmental costs - from the dust miners breathe to greenhouse gases - onto society at large. The latest demonstration of this came in Tennessee just before Christmas, when a lake of coal fly ash broke through its earthen dam and oozed out over 300 acres, damaging or destroying at least 15 houses.

In Massachusetts, where fly ash from the Salem power plant once contaminated the Lake Wenham water supply of Beverly, ash that is not reused in concrete production or other beneficial applications ends up in lined and covered landfills. Even in this state, though, there is no law mandating safe disposal. A bill co-sponsored by Representatives Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead and Mary Grant of Beverly would do so.

The Globe neglected to mention the fact that the fly-ash bill is revenue neutral, which is especially important in this fiscal crisis we're living in.

Disclosure: I live in Ehrlich's district and volunteered on her special election and general election campaigns, both taking place in '08.

Salem's Power Plant: Bye Bye?

There's a good story in today's Salem News about the movement to close down the Power Plant in Salem, which was originally meant to have an expiration date in the 1980s. It's lived well past its time, no longer producing nearly as much electricity as other plants in the state, all the while becoming the 2nd highest power plant polluter in Massachusetts (one of the "Filthy Five" that even Mitt Romney threatened to close!). Did I mention 3 of its workers recently died due to unsafe working environment, or that the coal-based pollution isn't exactly healthy for people in the area?

The plant pumps out 2 tons of Mercury and Lead annually. It also emits nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases that lead to global warming

A recent Harvard study concluded that those living within 30 miles of the plant are at greater risk of premature death, respiratory illnesses and cancer. There were 14,400 asthma attacks per year related to the plant's emissions.

Well, of course it isn't. It's an ancient, coal-based power plant that can't even manage to cover the mounds of coal sitting out in the open by the windy Salem Harbor, ready to be sprayed all across Salem, Beverly and Marblehead. The Power Plant's been forced to clean their soot and coal remnants beyond the historic 'header Old Town.

Yet, if people were to read some of the comments in the Salem News article, you'd think it was a Moonbat rebellion or something. Apparently, people like me won't be satisfied until every last American is eating nuts, fruits and berries, living in caves. Not.

So, let's clear up some popular misconceptions.

But, Ryan, I've lived here all my life - and I'm not sick!

Just because you have no known diseases caused by the pollution coming out of the Salem Power Plant doesn't mean everyone's fine - and it doesn't mean you won't get sick in years to come. People are effected by things differently. Some people, after living near the plant for years, may develop cancer - while others could have lived there their entire lifetimes and been fine. Just like smokers - some people get cancer and die in their 30s, then there's people like my Grandmother who have been smoking two backs a day for most of their 80 years in existance and still manage to (somehow) breathe. Just because you're not sick, doesn't mean others aren't. Try to use your brains!

But, Ryan, if you close down the plant, where will all the electricity come from?

What, you think Salem is the only source of power in this area? We've managed to survive six months without Salem's power quite well, with no forced outages because of the plant's closure (and let's not forget that it was closed because it killed people). Surely, the North Shore won't suddenly be reduced to the Stone Age because an ancient power plant that should have been closed decades ago finally rests in peace. Meanwhile, a bigger, better, more efficient facility will take its place somewhere nearby, because that's how the economy works.

But, Ryan, there's 147 jobs at stake! We can't lose them!

We need not shed tears - we're not going to lose any jobs here, even if some people will be inconvenienced. These are highly skilled workers that will be sought after from companies all across Massachusetts, New England and the country. Now, no one wants to lose a job - and I'm never thrilled with the prospect that people occasionally become unemployed, but 147 is a number we can eat, with a lot of other power plants out there. Rest assured, we're not condemning 147 people to a life of misery and poverty. The community can work with Dominion, the owner of the plant, to relocate these jobs among the many other plants across the state, as well as several new ones in the planning stages as we speak, with more to come. We can't hold a community hostage over 147 jobs, especially jobs that won't really be lost, when a dangerous facility needs to be closed.

Furthermore, let's gain some perspective here. The Power Plant isn't Salem's largest employer, or anywhere close to it. Salem employs over 23,000 people in the city, with the power plant representing less than 1% of that. Salem will do just fine in the jobs market. In fact, things could grow. Whatever comes after the Salem Power Plant will assuredly create hundreds of new jobs - both permanent and in construction. So, in effect, by closing this plant, it may soon end up being a net-plus for jobs in Salem and across Massachusetts.

But, Ryan, the Power Plant pays Salem more than $4 million in property taxes! Whatever will it do without those taxes?

Well, the power plant used to pay $8 million+ in property taxes. Salem's still here, $4 million shy of old numbers. Here's the good news: the Salem Power Plant is on acres and acres of water-front property.

Let's take a nice, aerial view.


View Larger Map

One word comes to mind: Jesus! The site's roughly as large as 1/3rd of Marblehead Neck (just scroll southward), with absolutely killer views and potential for harbor space. Who in their right mind doesn't think such a large slot of coastal land, in Historic Downtown Salem and on the Harbor, with millions of tourists a year and inside the nation's 7th largest metropolitan area, wouldn't attract hundreds of millions in investments? Or millions of tourists and costumers a year?

Seriously, it's the real estate development chance of a lifetime. Properties like this aren't even supposed to exist. Whatever comes after the plant will be paying millions in property taxes, quite likely even exceeding the $4 million figure if its ever divvied up into many commercial properties that all have to pay taxes. In fact, Salem Power Plant is quite possibly not only costing Salem and the area in terms of health and the environment, but even in jobs and tax revenue. We're a bright species - we should be making better use of our space.

But, Ryan, you must be a moonbat or something!

Thanks, Howie Carr, for completely poisoning our state. Who needs a bright, hopeful society looking to the future - when we can breed a large base or residents to tear down any new and good idea, no matter how necessary it is or how much it makes sense. But, thanks, really, for protecting us from all those Moonbats!

The simple fact is Power Plants aren't built to last forever. This plant is particularly old, one of the most nefarious in terms of pollution, and doesn't bring much in return for the costs we put up with - its paltry sum of electricity could easily be replaced by a Wind Farm, or we could create more electricity, cleaner and efficient, through Natural Gas or even a newer coal plant (though, please, anything but coal!). However, none of those things can happen if we cling to our old ways, reject any new ideas and plan for the future. If we want a better society, we have to build it, which sometimes means tearing down our old, outmoded and inefficient ways that aren't contributing to society today.

A Good Project

I plan to write more about this later.

Ask Ryan Anything: The Historical Revisionism Edition

I think Ask Ryan Anything, the popular series where people get to ask me whatever they want in the comment section, will be a standard Monday afternoon event. So look forward to continuing posts every Monday, as long as I keep getting lots of questions, as I did last week. Post questions on anything you want in the comments and I'll answer them. Warning: snarky questions merit snarky responses.

Today's mini comment to potentially kick off any discussion: I just got back from visiting the House of Seven Gables, a tour I hadn't done since elementary school. Particularly interesting is the hidden staircase and the story behind it. When I was a kid and went on a field trip to the home, we were told the secret stairs were a part of the underground railroad. Exciting, right? Well, not so much. Turns out the stair case was really added around 1910. No wonder the new curator discontinued any underground railroad talk. The home of former 17th Century wealthy shipping merchants and the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous book, where he visited as a child - who wouldn't want to spice that up?

Seriously, though, do we know anything about our past? Imagine - some tour guide 50 years ago probably told bored school kids about the underground railroad story, so they'd pay attention for 10 minutes, and now generations of people no doubt believe there were runaway slaves hiding in busy downtown Salem's most famous house. No one should be shocked: we also think Paul Revere warned us the British were coming and Americans were tiny, short shrimps back in the 1700 and 1800s because the ceilings were short. Conventional wisdom!

Shut it Down

Not only has the Salem Power Plant killed three of its workers recently, but the cancer rates in the area are through the roof. I've long had my doubts that it's a coincidence. Furthermore, the plant is old, inefficient and highly polluting - all things that could be improved by shutting the sucker down. Of course, America needs energy and this region of the country is no different, but hopefully this will open up a chance to create more renewable energy - green-lighting projects like Cape Wind and others. Salem, of course, ought to get in the game and find out just where they can build several large wind turbines.

Finally, the mayor worries about losing tax dollars by shutting down the power plant. Here's both a good opportunity for the state to get involved, while also sitting back and taking a breather. The power plant is a huge waterfront property - whatever replaces it will also rake in high amounts of taxes. There's endless possibilities for high end, 1 bedroom condos and a second, even larger, Pickering-Wharf type establishment. Salem has quickly become a top tourist destination all year round, not just during the Halloween season, so why not push to maximize on that potential?

Now - here's where the state should jump in. No municipalities should be held hostage by the whims of large corporations operating up within them. Why not create a law that would cover at least a portion of a city or town's losses in property taxes if a fairly big company either shut down or moved, at least long enough to redevelop the area? Not only will it keep cities and towns fiscally sound, but it could blunt the ability for large businesses to hold communities hostage, essentially buying their own influence by squeezing a municipalities jugular. Anyone else think that a good idea?