Folks who’ve been following my blog postings over the years know that one my very favorite short form videos of all time is this classic slice of cinéma vérité from 2009 featuring Aldermen Lenny Gentile.
At the time this clip was filmed, Newton was facing the humiliation of being compared to Somerville, which under its then relatively-new mayor, Joe Curtatone, was seen as a leader in using data analysis to drive decisions. (Gentile’s comments even inspired this parody seen on Somerville’s community access TV and this editorial.)
Concerned that the Garden City was being compared to the city once known as Slumerville (home of the Winter Hill Gang) Gentile went to far as to ask where we would sink next:
Why not Everett? Or Chelsea?
Well, it looks like Everett’s has just passed us by.
At least that’s the view from the website Nerd Wallet, which has just posted its rankings of the Top 10 Cities on the Rise in Massachusetts.
Newton is the No. 3 on the list, a considerable accomplishment, no doubt.
No. 1 is Westfield.
And, just above Newton at No. 2? Yep that would be Everett.
Gentile was embarrassing. I’m surprised that such an established city like Newton is a City on the Rise.
As a reformed journalist, I can tell you that reporters are extremely grateful to encounter public servants such as Alderman Gentile.
I mean this only partly in jest. Guys like Gentile, Paul Coletti and Sal Salvucci were willing to provide sound bites that not only made meetings more entertaining but really summarized a point of view.
The sad story her is that after years of needling members of our community under various publicly accepted media (print, blog, etc.), this lowlife Reibman has still been unable to acertain a grain of compassion on any human flaw. Take a long hard look in the mirror, although it is unlikely you will see a reflection.
He was an elected official Janet. Reibman is dead on. Guy was a humiliation. That was of his own volition. He was a big boy. His embarrassing antics are part of his legacy.
I was the alderman who made the (positive) comparison, and Ald. Gentile was not the only one to make snarky comments about following Somerville’s example (I won’t name names but rhymes with candle). Since the first time I met him at a seminar at the Kennedy School of Government 10 years ago, Mayor Joe Curtatone has really impressed me with his vision for how a city should run. He took a big chance trying to change the culture and introduce a disciplined system of performance management that really works. I persuaded the chairman of the Citizens Advisory Group, Mal Salter, to come with me to Somerville City Hall to observe a performance management meeting, and PM made it into the recommendations of the CAG. I also accompanied mayoral candidate Setti Warren to Curtatone’s office for a lengthy meeting to discuss some of the terrific things that were going on in Somerville as well as areas for improvement. The irony is that performance management made it into Mayor Cohen’s last budget, and both Ruth Balser and Setti Warren made it part of their platforms. The greater irony is that it has never really been fully implemented here in Newton, as the position of performance management director has been vacant more often than it has been filled over the past five years.
All that said, “Somerville?!?” is a priceless sound bite.
Ted: I think that you are confused about a number of things, but let’s just focus on your innuendo. As the only former alderman whose name rhymes with “candle,” I would assume that your comment was directed at me?
For the record, I do not recall having made any negative comment about Somerville or any other municipality. I happen to like Somerville. If you have the evidence to support your flaccid accusation, then please provide it. If not, then at least have the decency to retract it.
The only thing that is on the rise in Newton is its taxes, spending for compensation and its pile of debt & unfunded liabilities.