Where was mayor?
One has to wonder where the mayor was while all of these alleged crimes were going on at the hand of Wilfredo Laboy. Certainly, there must have been some idea on the part of Laboy's boss that liberties were being taken. Did the mayor have any inkling of what was going on and, if so, what did he do about it? A call or letter in one's personnel file with a promise of further actions if such practices continued could, in my opinion and experience, have gone a long way toward refocusing Mr. Laboy. At the very least, it could have set the stage for a rapid administrative removal and avoided the expense and distasteful burden that is about to befall all Lawrencians from another round of negative publicity. Don't tell me that his contract prohibited such actions!
Gravy train
As far as paying for police details for the St. Patrick's Day parade and for the Spanish festival in June, all they need to do is hire six cops instead of 60. They don't need 60 cops. If you go to the Spanish festival you'll see 20 cops under a maple tree shading themselves with absolutely nothing to do and nothing else going on. It's just a simple situation of getting guys off the gravy train.
Birthday card
The good news is that I turned 60 today and I got a birthday card from Mayor Lantigua. The bad news is that it had the word "Democrat" plastered all over it. I'm a Republican. Thanks a lot, Willy.
Need insurance
Regarding the Shaw's workers that are picketing: They're out there because they feel that they're getting problems with the insurance. Health insurance is very important this time of year, it's very expensive and that's what they're complaining about. They're trying to cut it and raise it. I don't think that's fair to them. They're lucky to have jobs, but they need health insurance just like everybody else.
Find another store
I work at the Shaw's in Plaistow, N.H. Why are the guys from the Shaw's distribution center in Methuen coming to New Hampshire and picketing our store? We are nonunion. We have nothing to do with them other than getting our groceries from them and we're not getting our groceries from them now. They need to go back to Massachusetts and find a store to picket at there.
Lose their jobs
I'm calling about the Shaw's union workers on strike in front of the supermarket. They should be ashamed of themselves. They're encouraging people to shop at other markets. When this whole thing is settled, what are they going to do when they lose their jobs because no one wants to shop there anymore? It's ridiculous.
Police details
I know this is a sore subject with the police, but I just drove by a construction site in Andover and there were three detail cops there. One was sitting in his car, one was drinking a cup of coffee, and one was on his cell phone. I don't think they're risking their lives to be there on overtime. Flagmen should be there. It's ridiculous. They wonder why people call and complain, yet they put themselves out on display like this every day.
Higher taxes
I'm calling in regards to the Salem town vote. I'm confused. Times are tough, money is tight, and the voters of Salem voted just about every single article in. I just don't understand it. People were complaining about the high taxes and now they're going to be raised a lot higher because the residents just don't get it.
