Newton City Councilor John Rice, who serves as the executive director of the Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands as his day job, has been asked to resign from his Hyde position after turning down a request from Donald Trump’s campaign to hold a rally in the Hyde gymnasium.
According to two members of the Hyde Board of Directors, the board was furious at Rice for turning the request down, without asking them first, as required under the Hyde by-laws.
“None of us are Trump fans,” one of the directors told me, “but John knows he can’t make
unilateral decisions like that.”
He said Trump’s people offered to pay $10,500 in rental fees (the usual rate is $85 hour) plus security costs to rent the gym and that the Hyde has a dire need to repair its deteriorating roof and no money to cover the work.
“We might have said no anyway, but that wasn’t John’s decision.”
The website Politico reported last week that Trump has been planning a series of campaign stops in blue states where he won the primary in an effort to pressure super delegates to support his nomination because he has the best chance to being beat Hillary Clinton.
Trump won the GOP primary in Massachusetts last month, and collected more than 2,000 votes in Newton.
I have a call into Rice and will let you know what he has to say.
Does he need to get board approval to turn down a request from the Ku Klux Klan or al-Qaeda? Give me a break. We’re dealing with nutcases here and everybody knows it; why waste people’s time? You did the right thing, John.
Also, LMAO at the fact that the anonymous board member might have said no.
I don’t know @Michael. $10,000 is a lot of money, especially if you need a new roof.
Does he need to get board approval to turn down a request from the Ku Klux Klan or al-Qaeda? Give me a break. We’re dealing with nutcases here and everybody knows it; why waste people’s time? You did the right thing, John.
Also, LMAO at the fact that the anonymous board member might have said no.
I don’t know @Michael. $10,000 is a lot of money, especially if you need a new roof.
I have much respect for John and the work he does around the city but the board got this right. John has a responsibility to advance the mission of the Hyde, one of which is community engagement. The money would go a long way to pay for the summer concerts and other events. Trump has been drawing big crowds, how better to engage the community. The Highlands could use an influx of new people to learn about our fine restaurants and commercial center, and support these business that support the village.
Fortunately Trump is a compassionate and forgiving guy so I hope the board will reach out to bring this rally to Newton.
I have much respect for John and the work he does around the city but the board got this right. John has a responsibility to advance the mission of the Hyde, one of which is community engagement. The money would go a long way to pay for the summer concerts and other events. Trump has been drawing big crowds, how better to engage the community. The Highlands could use an influx of new people to learn about our fine restaurants and commercial center, and support these business that support the village.
Fortunately Trump is a compassionate and forgiving guy so I hope the board will reach out to bring this rally to Newton.
Oh ha. Light dawns on my marble head.
Oh ha. Light dawns on my marble head.
Gotta love this city…
Gotta love this city…
I have an excuse: I’m in a far-off time zone and it’s almost Saturday.
I have an excuse: I’m in a far-off time zone and it’s almost Saturday.
This is an absolutely ridiculous situation. Making those kind of decisions is the job responsibility of being an Executive Director. It sounds to me like its the board members who are overstepping their authority.
Big picture … John Rice does a great job running the Hyde. Donald Trump events have had various types of trouble at them. If John decided it was a bad idea, the board should back their Executive Director and trust his instincts.
I wonder if the Donald is looking for any other venue in Newton or nearby.
This is an absolutely ridiculous situation. Making those kind of decisions is the job responsibility of being an Executive Director. It sounds to me like its the board members who are overstepping their authority.
Big picture … John Rice does a great job running the Hyde. Donald Trump events have had various types of trouble at them. If John decided it was a bad idea, the board should back their Executive Director and trust his instincts.
I wonder if the Donald is looking for any other venue in Newton or nearby.
Sorry John but rules are rules. If the directors of the Hyde inform Trump that they said to the presumptuous employee who overstepped his place, “you’re fired,” I’m sure he will forgive and forget. It is the way he rolls. Trump is a talented leader who has a great capacity to understand and empathize with the incompetence of the people around him.
Sorry John but rules are rules. If the directors of the Hyde inform Trump that they said to the presumptuous employee who overstepped his place, “you’re fired,” I’m sure he will forgive and forget. It is the way he rolls. Trump is a talented leader who has a great capacity to understand and empathize with the incompetence of the people around him.
I’d heard they wanted to use the one of the high school’s SOAs. They hold way more people than the Hyde.
@Jane: I’m guessing the public schools don’t allow political events.
I’d heard they wanted to use the one of the high school’s SOAs. They hold way more people than the Hyde.
@Jane: I’m guessing the public schools don’t allow political events.
Was there no other option short of firing him? Seems like any infraction now leads to job loss.
I think some punishment was warranted, if he’s not supposed to make that call unilaterally. But a suspension or loss of a parking space (if he has one) seems more commensurate.
And as you’re mulling over the fairness of this situation, bear in mind that these decisions are meant to be neutral. Re-read the story and insert Clinton or Sanders for Trump. Would you still feel the same way? Would you then call for his job? The decision shouldn’t be made on personal political affiliations, whether or not they align with your own.
I hope we still get a Trump rally. That could be some serious political theater!
I understand where John was coming from, but Dan Foley is right. What if John had turned down Bernie Sanders? Seems like saying no opens the Hyde Center up to a law suit, that the Donald would only be too happy to pursue.
Was there no other option short of firing him? Seems like any infraction now leads to job loss.
I think some punishment was warranted, if he’s not supposed to make that call unilaterally. But a suspension or loss of a parking space (if he has one) seems more commensurate.
And as you’re mulling over the fairness of this situation, bear in mind that these decisions are meant to be neutral. Re-read the story and insert Clinton or Sanders for Trump. Would you still feel the same way? Would you then call for his job? The decision shouldn’t be made on personal political affiliations, whether or not they align with your own.
I hope we still get a Trump rally. That could be some serious political theater!
I understand where John was coming from, but Dan Foley is right. What if John had turned down Bernie Sanders? Seems like saying no opens the Hyde Center up to a law suit, that the Donald would only be too happy to pursue.
Maybe John could offer the Donald a tour of the Cochituate Aqueducts instead. He could get in a lot more neighborhoods. Of course, he’d have to walk rather than drive….
Maybe John could offer the Donald a tour of the Cochituate Aqueducts instead. He could get in a lot more neighborhoods. Of course, he’d have to walk rather than drive….
I am a big fan of John and love the way he represents us – his constituency.
However, I do not see this situation any different than those people in Indiana who refused to provide flowers to gay wedding. I wish people kept commerce separate from ideological/ political leanings.
PS – Never a Trump fan either.
I am a big fan of John and love the way he represents us – his constituency.
However, I do not see this situation any different than those people in Indiana who refused to provide flowers to gay wedding. I wish people kept commerce separate from ideological/ political leanings.
PS – Never a Trump fan either.
This is a travesty. Donald Trump is a monster, and John is a good man. What kind of a world do we live in that Donald Trump gets a man like John Rice fired?
This is a travesty. Donald Trump is a monster, and John is a good man. What kind of a world do we live in that Donald Trump gets a man like John Rice fired?
I think the straw that broke the back, and fired Rice, is that he’s a Massachusetts organizer for the American Naturist Society and offered the Hyde for free for a gathering when the weather was too cold for them to hold their planned event in the aqueduct.
I think the straw that broke the back, and fired Rice, is that he’s a Massachusetts organizer for the American Naturist Society and offered the Hyde for free for a gathering when the weather was too cold for them to hold their planned event in the aqueduct.
The Boston Globe has a story this morning about how Trump, for the first time since the campaign started, is hitting “stiff headwinds in Wis primary”.
When I first heard that he was coming back to MA it didn’t make sense. If Trump doesn’t do well in the remaining primaries, he’ll need to tie up all those loose super-delegates.
The Boston Globe has a story this morning about how Trump, for the first time since the campaign started, is hitting “stiff headwinds in Wis primary”.
When I first heard that he was coming back to MA it didn’t make sense. If Trump doesn’t do well in the remaining primaries, he’ll need to tie up all those loose super-delegates.
It seems that Newton Highlands is too conservative for a clothing optional political group. And Rice should know that.
It seems that Newton Highlands is too conservative for a clothing optional political group. And Rice should know that.
4/1/2016
4/1/2016
Rules is rules. And I bet that with the cash infusion, the Hyde center would have been bigger and better than any community center in the world. It would be huge- spectacular.
Rules is rules. And I bet that with the cash infusion, the Hyde center would have been bigger and better than any community center in the world. It would be huge- spectacular.
Guys: John is laughing all the way to the bank! He has just signed a contract with the new Chinese buyer of the Hyde who has hired him back to run the place! The sale was negotiated a couple of weeks ago when John was in Vegas, ostensibly for work. My son, who lives in Henderson, NV and is wired in to the cognoscenti told me about the details then. The new contract gives John the same responsibilities he has had, but with double the salary and twice the budget for gardening.
Guys: John is laughing all the way to the bank! He has just signed a contract with the new Chinese buyer of the Hyde who has hired him back to run the place! The sale was negotiated a couple of weeks ago when John was in Vegas, ostensibly for work. My son, who lives in Henderson, NV and is wired in to the cognoscenti told me about the details then. The new contract gives John the same responsibilities he has had, but with double the salary and twice the budget for gardening.
P.S.: Rice has agreed to bring Trump in if, and only if, the Massachusetts National Guard is called to serve there during his visit. Also, the fee has been raised to $30,000 and a new roof. The Donald negotiates well, but the Chinese drive a harder bargain!
P.S.: Rice has agreed to bring Trump in if, and only if, the Massachusetts National Guard is called to serve there during his visit. Also, the fee has been raised to $30,000 and a new roof. The Donald negotiates well, but the Chinese drive a harder bargain!
As a newton highlands merchant, I agree that John should have discussed it with the board, but he absolutely should not have been fired for it! John has done so much for the highlands and this is a slap in the face. Maybe a slap on the wrist would have more appropriate. I support him and I think he should be reinstated.
As a newton highlands merchant, I agree that John should have discussed it with the board, but he absolutely should not have been fired for it! John has done so much for the highlands and this is a slap in the face. Maybe a slap on the wrist would have more appropriate. I support him and I think he should be reinstated.
The downside, which I admit, is disgusting, is that the Hyde will be renamed the Trump-Chin Community Center.
The downside, which I admit, is disgusting, is that the Hyde will be renamed the Trump-Chin Community Center.
Trump’s website says the event is now being planned for Echo Bridge. This way he can say his four or five catchphrases and have them repeat for the next hour. Far more efficient.
Trump’s website says the event is now being planned for Echo Bridge. This way he can say his four or five catchphrases and have them repeat for the next hour. Far more efficient.
Dan, in that case we need to be prepared for earthquakes.
Dan, in that case we need to be prepared for earthquakes.
No John has been consistent. He told us that we couldn’t hold a gathering for Bernie Sanders at the Hyde Center or even at the bandstand back in February. His excuse then was that the skating rink was still in operation, but we knew the real problem was that John has never really “Felt the Bern”. Now, we could have put a
black mark against his name and dealt with him after the Revolution, but in fact we forgave him entirely fer this slight; Me think the Board just cowering in the face of Trump’s money and bullying.
No John has been consistent. He told us that we couldn’t hold a gathering for Bernie Sanders at the Hyde Center or even at the bandstand back in February. His excuse then was that the skating rink was still in operation, but we knew the real problem was that John has never really “Felt the Bern”. Now, we could have put a
black mark against his name and dealt with him after the Revolution, but in fact we forgave him entirely fer this slight; Me think the Board just cowering in the face of Trump’s money and bullying.
Did you see that the MWRA newsletter discusses the downturn in federal financial bond funding, expecting to have to issue private bonds to make up the difference. If Trump gets in, Newton democrats will finally be able to put their mouth where their money is.
Did you see that the MWRA newsletter discusses the downturn in federal financial bond funding, expecting to have to issue private bonds to make up the difference. If Trump gets in, Newton democrats will finally be able to put their mouth where their money is.
I think maybe we have all been fooled! I think this is an Aptil fools day joke:///
I think maybe we have all been fooled! I think this is an Aptil fools day joke:///
@John Rice, I am so sorry about this news! However I expect you to be able to take on a bigger workload for Village Day, right? Also, since you won’t be needing those bands for the summer concert series, can I have a few for Village Day? Also, can I get Trump’s contact info? Maybe he is free on June 12.
@John Rice, I am so sorry about this news! However I expect you to be able to take on a bigger workload for Village Day, right? Also, since you won’t be needing those bands for the summer concert series, can I have a few for Village Day? Also, can I get Trump’s contact info? Maybe he is free on June 12.
@Steven Feinstein So what you’re saying is, basically, Trump for Area Council?
Make Newton Highlands great again?
@Steven Feinstein So what you’re saying is, basically, Trump for Area Council?
Make Newton Highlands great again?
@Bryan Barash, exactly. You see, we’ve been getting ripped off by other area councils because we don’t know how to negotiate. Plus I have been saying for years that what Lincoln St really needs is a shiny gold high rise apartment building.
@Bryan Barash, exactly. You see, we’ve been getting ripped off by other area councils because we don’t know how to negotiate. Plus I have been saying for years that what Lincoln St really needs is a shiny gold high rise apartment building.
lolol
lolol