This week, I’ve been posting Year in Review posts. Monday, I combined 2007, 2008, and 2009 into a single post, there is no 2010 article, Tuesday was my 2011 year in review and yesterday was 2012. Today, the highlights from Lowell in 2013:

Lowell Political Year in Review: 2013

With no city council meeting last or this week due to Christmas and New Year’s, there’s not much new to report on politics in the city. That’s good because with this being the final Sunday of 2013, it’s time to review the year in local politics. Here are some observations to consider:

Counter Revolution in Lowell: I’m convinced that much of the political conflict in Lowell flows from deeply held philosophical differences between those who embrace change and those who embrace the past–progressives and conservatives to use the common labels. In that the city is just a microcosm of the entire country. It’s been this way for a long time, and will continue to be so well into the future with momentum constantly shifting from one side to the other. The pendulum swung dramatically in the progressive direction in November 2012 when Elizabeth Warren defeated Scott Brown to win the election for U.S. Senate. In Lowell, Warren beat Brown by 17% despite much of the city’s power structure, Democrat, Republican, and unenrolled, being firmly behind Brown. Warren’s victory in the city was the result of a lot of hard work by people young and old, many of whom were either immigrants or just new to the city. Few of those who were most active in that campaign had ever participated in city politics. In the aftermath of Warren’s trouncing of Brown in Lowell there was much speculation that the city had pivoted politically in a new, much more progressive direction. That caused a reaction, a counter revolution if you will, by conservative elements in the city led by the Lowell Sun and radio station WCAP. Mayor Patrick Murphy, one of the few elected officials in Lowell who had vigorously campaigned for Elizabeth Warren and also the foremost proponent of progressive policies for City government, became the prime target of the conservative struggle to regain dominance. The attacks reached their peak on April 2, 2013, with Councilor Rita Mercier’s motion of “no confidence” in Mayor Murphy and then tapered off with the knowledge that Murphy would not seek reelection to the city council. But there were many others skirmishes in this struggle: backyard chickens, bike lanes, disdain for “professional” management, Jack Mitchell and his “Taliban” comment about neighborhood power jockeying, Gerry Nutter and the Election Commission, the list goes on and on. There are many explanations for the city council election results, but part of the outcome, at least, was attributable to the conservative elements in the city fighting hard to strengthen their long-time grip on city government, a grip they feared was slipping away after the Warren victory in Lowell in 2012. That 2012 election, just like the 2013 city council election, was just another chapter in a long and ongoing struggle over the city’s direction. The length of time someone has lived here has nothing to do with this conflict other than the fact that many of the people who have been drawn to Lowell by its embrace of the arts, its higher education opportunities, and the high value placed on its immigrant culture and heritage are progressive in their politics and their outlook on life. This is all about change. It’s a struggle between those who embrace change and see it as a positive thing and those who resist change and look to the past for comfort and guidance. That’s what it’s about in Lowell and that’s what it’s about across the United States.

City Council Election: City government is involved in our daily lives in so many ways that any time four new councilors are elected, it’s big news. The newly elected councilors are Dan Rourke, Jim Milinazzo, Bill Samaras, and Corey Belanger. Those who are leaving the council are Mayor Patrick Murphy ,who did not seek reelection, and Marty Lorrey, Vesna Nuon, and Joe Mendonca, who all failed to win reelection. Returning to the council are Rita Mercier, Rodney Elliott, Ed Kennedy, Bill Martin, and John Leahy.

Violence and Public Safety: Although the police and the city administration assured residents that statistically there was less crime this year than last, many residents felt differently. In some cases this was based on personal knowledge, but in others it was a perception that was fueled by a variety of sources with a variety of motives. While the most noteworthy incidents of violence involved shootings in the lower Highlands and Centralville, downtown also became the focus of the public safety debate, first in a search for ways to hold downtown bars accountable for the behavior of unruly patrons and then because of something commonly referred to as “aggressive panhandling.” A vote to enact an ordinance banning panhandling in the downtown will be one of the first orders of business for the new council. Strategies for dealing with violence and crime will also be high on the new council’s agenda.

UMass Lowell’s continued expansion: There are almost too many good things to say about the continued growth of UMass Lowell. There are new buildings such as the Health and Social Science Building and a new parking garage, both on South Campus, and the rushing-to-completion University Crossing on the site of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital. Then there is the increasing recognition of the university for its academic programs and the great value received for the amount of tuition paid. The University continues to raise its profile in other ways, moving its sports teams to Division I, hosting a debate between Ed Markey and Steve Lynch in the Special Senate Primary Election, and presenting a great public interview of outgoing Boston Mayor Tom Menino by former Lowell Sun and Boston Globe reporter Brian Mooney in a Lunchtime Lecture at the Inn and Conference Center. However, lurking just beneath the surface is friction between the University and some elements in the city. Some councilors have latched onto a theme that the University taking ownership of so many properties is a bad thing since it deprives the city of potential property tax revenue. Chancellor Meehan launched a preemptive attack on that notion at the Lowell Plan Breakfast with a detailed presentation and pamphlet documenting all of the economic benefits afforded Lowell by the University, but the talk will persist into the New Year.

Change in Lowell Public Schools: Steve Gendron, who served on the city council in the 1990s and on the planning board for the past few years, decided to run for school committee and won a seat. With all six incumbents running for reelection, the odd man out was Bob Gignac, who finished seventh. Gignac, who is only in his mid 20′s, certainly has a future ahead of him in Lowell politics and public service despite this slight setback. In other school news, Brian Martin, former city councilor, mayor, city manager, pro hockey team GM and Congressional district director, was hired as the new Lowell High School headmaster and wasted no time in putting his imprint on LHS. In perhaps the biggest news, the school committee embarked on a comprehensive study of all of its facilities including Lowell High School.

Senator Markey: When former Lowell resident John Kerry was confirmed as Secretary of State, it triggered a special election to replace him. Longtime Democratic Congressman Ed Markey defeated Republican nominee Gabriel Gomez in the June 25 special election. Markey beat Gomez in Lowell, 58% to 42%.

Sustainable Lowell 2025: The City Council unanimously adopted “Sustainable Lowell 2025,” a comprehensive master plan that “establishes long-term policies and a shared vision for smart, responsible development within the city.” Enormous effort went into the creation of this plan, both by the City’s planning department and many community volunteers in numerous working sessions. “Sustainable Lowell 2025” is a comprehensive and progressive document that provides a road map for the city going forward. Unfortunately, since the council voted to adopt the plan, I can’t recall it being mentioned during council meetings that have occurred since. Perhaps that’s because it’s silent on the issue of double telephone poles and similar issues that occupy so much of the council’s time during meetings.

Personnel Turnover: Chief Financial Officer Tom Moses recently left Lowell when he was hired to be town manager in Hudson. He has not yet been replaced. Ken Lavallee retired as superintendent of police in March. He was immediately replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Superintendent Deborah Freidl, and in November, the city manager choose veteran captain Bill Taylor to be the new superintendent. Although not based at City Hall, the company that had run the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for decades, Mill City Management, did not seek renewal of its contract and was replaced by a company called Global Spectrum, which may have lacked the local political connections of Mill City but which already manages the Tsongas Center for UMass Lowell. Other personnel changes with Lowell connections included Ed Davis resigning as police commissioner of Boston; Dennis Piendak retiring after 28 years as town manager of Dracut; Tom Menino not seeking reelection as mayor of Boston and state representative Marty Walsh winning the election to replace him; and Dan Rivera beating Willie Lantigua to become the new mayor of Lawrence.

Greater Lowell Vocational in the news: The Greater Lowell Vocational School Committee had much difficulty agreeing on a new superintendent for the school (although they did ultimately select one who has already started work). The school faces a more significant challenge from a dispute with the city of Lowell over the Constitutionality of the current method of selecting vocational school committee members.

No Slots: Our Tewksbury neighbors rejected a proposed slot parlor when 61% of the 2500 residents who participated in an August town meeting voted against the proposal. The Tewksbury outcome seemed to empower other communities around the state to stand up to the pro-slots momentum.