A hot rumor out there this morning has the state  “House-side” Congressional Redistricting plan slashing the city of Lawrence from the Fifth District. The city  seems to be on the wish list of 6th District Congressman John Tierney in order to fill out his expanded district numbers! It seems he prefers Lawrence over Haverhill – a city he formerly represented for ten years.

This is a harsh hit to Congresswoman Niki Tsongas who particularly understands the needs of Lawrence – a struggling Gateway city. It seems to me an unwarranted way of accommodating Tierney at the expense of  Lawrence and of the only woman in the state congressional delegation – Niki Tsongas.

I hope I’m wrong! Later today there’s a meeting that may tell the tale! Let’s hope smarter heads prevail and that the historic Lowell-Lawrence core of the Fifth Congressional District remains in tact – for the greater good of the district and the Commonwealth.

Stay tuned.