And it continues...

So, Lynn taxes are going up AGAIN. it just seems crazy to me. an average homeowner will see an increase of $166. A condo owner will see an increase of $100.

As it is I pay almost $2K and I only own a very, very small condo. Lynn wants to attract people to live in the city and own in the city, but keeps jacking up taxes.

I think it's worse that the taxes keep going up. in my case, I dont get any services from the city as the city requires condo associations and commercial building owners provide trash pick up. So condo owners, being lucky, get to pay twice. The only thing I could get from my fees is schooling, but I dont have any kids.

can someone give the owners a break? I can't wait to move out of this city.


http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/12/12/news/news03.txt

Tax hikes big and small in Lynn


By Robin Kaminski / The Daily Item

LYNN - Fiscal Year 2008 property values were approved Tuesday by the City Council, indicating a modest rise in taxes for homeowners and a significant increase for both commercial and industrial properties.

According to Director of Assessing Peter Caron, the Fiscal Year 2008 tax rate for single family homes has been set at $10.98, up from $10.40 in Fiscal Year 2007, equaling an increase of $166 per household.

Condominium owners will shell out an extra $101 for their tax bills, while multi-family owners will pay an extra $129.

The biggest increase will affect the commercial and industrial owners with an increase of $1,037 for commercial properties and $1,384 for industrial properties.

"Commercial and industrial values increased significantly because the market is strong and the values consistently go up," he said. "We'll be seeing a tax burden shift back to commercial properties now versus residential, which have gone up the past seven years or so."

Caron said the commercial increase is mainly due to an increase of smaller commercial properties, primarily due to $34.2 million in new reported personal property assets. The city is currently in a re-certification year, which means the state is auditing the process and re-evaluating property values for 2008.

Due to the real estate market flux, Caron said taxpayers should not compare their property value to recent property sales.

"It's important to note that current real estate values will not be assessed until 2009," he said. "But for the most part, residential values remained stable and, in actuality, the average single home values have gone down."

Caron said residents have a primary misconception that their tax rates go up because their property values increase, however, he said the increase is mainly due to three factors: municipal spending, classification and valuation.
"The tax rate simply adjusts to correct the amount of money needed to support the city," he said. "Individual valuations determine each property owner's proportionate share of the total tax levy."

According to Caron, property values reflect activity as of Jan. 1, 2007, using 2006 sales and the major decline seen in the residential market will be addressed for Fiscal Year 2009.

While the residential factor was approved Tuesday, Caron said the budgeting numbers would most likely be approved and made official within 10 days.


Reader Comments

Comments so far on this story:

MOVED BECAUSE OF LYNN TAXES wrote on Dec 12, 2007 12:48 PM:

" okay, lets do this, lets look and see all the people in city hall, then lets see what they are paying on property taxes "the gang" let see, i think this would pan out....good "



george wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:07 AM:

" What this article is not telling you is that the MAJORITY of property Assessment in Lynn have gone up for 2008 , So the increase is not $166 per household. Assessments came out 2 weeks ago. The $166 is based on 2007 Assessments. Do they really think that people that live in Lynn are morons, "



C. wrote on Dec 12, 2007 9:41 AM:

" so we keep getting our taxes jacked higher and higher, while the hacks in City Hall get raises.. this makes no sense.. instead of the item wasting paper space and writing about a drug addicted loser cop, why don't u do an investigation on how many hacks are working in City Hall.. start w/ Chipster!! "



Integrity wrote on Dec 12, 2007 9:38 AM:

" I've said it so many times. There was an election. Where was everyone? "



bill wrote on Dec 12, 2007 8:48 AM:

" What the hell is going on in city hall? More property taxes???? property values have been going lower four the past 3 years know and these idiots are still raiseing our taxes?? time for a revolution. "

Again it's been a while since I last posted... and suddenly a plethora of activity!

Trump has eyes on Wonderland for casino

http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/12/04/news/news02.txt

The owners of the Wonderland Race track hope to breath new life by selling to Trump. This would allow the track to edge 'extinction'.

Abandoned Peabody gas station goes up in flames

An old gas station goes up in flames allegedly due to homeless attempting to stay warm inside. Luckily no one was hurt.

This gas station has been abandoned for at least 20 years. Seriously, as long as I can remember it has been abandoned. It's an eye sore! Maybe they will actually knock it down and make it look nicer rather than look like a pit. Ya think it's time to do something about it?

A tribute to - The Daily Item of Lynn


Also, I usually base my posts off of stories from the Daily Evening Item in Lynn. I have grown up with my parents and grandparents reading it. It's been a staple in my family, and still to this day, I truly enjoy reading it and posting / reposting about their stories.

Keep up the good work folks... you're the only local paper for me!
Check out the best independent Newspaper ever -

I have posted before about the underage drinking in surrounding communities where there is generally more income than, say Lynn. Apparently one of the local liquor stores has been contributing to the delinquency of minors in general by selling alcohol to underage kids. And was unlucky enough to be caught selling to a 'planted' minor. Their luck got even worse when not only did they sell to a planted minor and get caught, but during the 'bust' they were in the process of selling to another, not planted minor from Marblehead. C'mon people... this is not helping things ... including Lynn's image. Step it up, the city already gets enough crap.

My favorite part of the whole article is about the complaint about underage people from Swampscott and Marblehead buying the alcohol. So does that mean they don't sell to underage people from Lynn?


Double whammy for Lynn liquor store


By Dan O’Brien/The Daily Item

LYNN-Not only did employees at Dymes Liquor store sell alcohol to an underage girl during a routine police sting on Monday, they were also caught red-handed selling liquor to an underage Marblehead girl when police went inside to confront them for selling booze to the volunteer minutes earlier, police said.

Dymes, located on a stretch of Washington Street between the Lynnway and Broad Street, was already under police scrutiny for selling alcohol to minors. When an Item reporter rode along in June with police who sent underage volunteers from the non-profit Girls Inc. to try to buy beer at local package stores, participants said they were concerned that Dyme’s was selling liquor to minors from Swampscott and Marblehead.

Police said their fears were confirmed Monday when Dymes was the only liquor store in the city caught selling alcohol to underage teens.

“The results of this operation suggested that Dymes was a location frequented by underage individuals from surrounding communities,” said Lynn police spokesperson Lt. David Brown. “The local licensing authority was made aware of this concern and will review the situation.”

Volunteers tried to buy alcohol at 35 Lynn liquor stores on Monday.

According to police, a short time after the volunteer was able to purchase alcohol, Sgt. Rick Carrow, who helped supervise the operation, went inside to confront the employee when he witnessed another underage girl, a 19-year-old from Marblehead, purchase a bottle of vodka. Her 18-year-old friend, also from Marblehead, was waiting in a parked car.

“Officers discussed both incidents with the Dymes store manager and the clerk,” Brown said. “Reports documenting their non-compliance were forwarded to the local licensing board for review.”

Dymes received at least one suspension in the past for selling alcohol to underage youths.

“Recently, Lynn Police received complaints that underage individuals from Swampscott and Marblehead were allegedly purchasing alcoholic beverages at Dymes,” Brown said.
The Marblehead female who purchased the alcohol will be summonsed to Lynn District Court for being a minor in possession of alcohol, police said.

Seriously, I am not so sure about Lynn these days. I mean, it seems that it is getting worse rather than better. Whether it's gang violence, drugs or robberies it spreading into neighborhoods that are normally not known for this type of violence. The city has to do something to clean this up.

Western Ave. store held up at gunpoint

By Dan O'Brien / The Daily Item

LYNN - Police scoured the city searching for suspects Sunday night shortly after two men robbed a convenience store owner at gunpoint on Western Avenue.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., police responded to the Western Avenue Market at the corner of Chatham Street after a man allegedly held a weapon that appeared to be high-powered firearm to the female shopkeeper's back and forced her on the ground before fleeing with at least $400.

Storeowner and mother of four Amy Dang, 45, was still on edge when she spoke with the Item less than an hour after the robbery.

"I'm okay," Dang said. "I'm shaken up."

Dang's daughter explained that the two men walked into the store and one of them approached the counter asking to buy cigarettes.

"She went to go get it and a guy came around [the store counter] and put a gun to her back," said Trinh Dang, 23. Amy Dang was alone in the store at the time.

As the suspect held the gun to Amy's back, she kneeled on the floor and opened the cash register, she said. An unsuspecting customer then walked into the store and the suspect ran and stuck the gun onto him, she added.

Despite the fact that the store is clearly fitted with security cameras, the suspects robbed the store without wearing masks, the Dangs said.

After the thieves fled the store, they jumped into a car - possibly with a loud muffler - and drove away, according to police.
A woman walking her dog encountered the fleeing suspects outside the store, Amy Dang said.

"One lady was walking with the dog and saw them," Dang said. "She said, 'They're over there!'"

The suspects were both Hispanic and one was shorter than the other, Dang added.

Police actively searched the area and stopped a handful of vehicles fitting the description of the suspects shortly after the robbery.

As of press time, no arrests were made.

The family said Sunday's robbery was the store's first since they opened it five months ago. However, the Dangs used to own a market on Essex Street, which Trinh Dang said was robbed "all the time."

"We just thought this was a safer place. This is Western Ave.," she said.

Just when you think that Pea-body is ok, it makes the news paper with a fantastic story. Apparently, car washes are the place to hang out when you want to show your 'stuff'. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "Wet Willy"...

Just nuts I say.

Man nabbed in Peabody for exposure


By Dan O'Brien / The Daily Item

PEABODY - A Georgetown man was arrested Thursday after a horrified woman called police saying the suspect just flashed his private parts at her outside Wet Willy's car wash.

The suspect was identified as John M. Kachmar, 56, of 137 North St., Georgetown. He was arrested and charged with open and gross lewdness.

Police responded to the Andover Street business shortly before 1:30 p.m. after the woman reported a man drove up to her as she was vacuuming her vehicle - with his penis fully exposed.

According to police, the suspect's black pickup truck pulled up beside the victim and the driver was staring at her. When she glanced over, she noticed his genitalia in plain view, police said.

The suspect then drove away.

The description of his vehicle was given out to police officers in Peabody and surrounding towns. He was spotted near the Shell gas station on Endicott Street in Danvers a short time later. The victim was brought to the scene and positively identified the suspect, according to police.

Anybody else having problems with their MBTA bus ride?

Read this fun story.

High-speed chase ends with rollover in Lynn
By Chris Stevens and Robin Kaminski/The Daily Item

http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/03/27/news/news01.txt

(Free account required to read full text)


(ITEM PHOTO / OWEN O’ROURKE)

High speed chase that starts in Saugus ends up in a rollover at Goodwin Circle in Lynn. These fugitives know where to run... good thing Lynn has a bunch of tricky twists and turns that outsiders aren't used to handling.

“He almost ended up in a Dunkin’ Donuts,” he said. “I’m surprised no one was killed.” Annese said a few cars were sideswiped during the chase but there were no serious injuries. He said it was also a bit of luck that the incident occurred around 2 p.m.

You like the use of "Dunkin Donuts" as a landmark. I mean, while it was great no one was hurt, they almost ended up in a DD's. Tragedies 1 & 2 averted. Phew.


In other news, Fox 25 was reporting this morning (on the news reel at the bottom of the screen during the morning news) that an unidentified man had set himself on fire at a Hess in Lynn. I haven't found this story yet, but I will follow up with more details as they come in.

Two arrested at Swampscott High over the past couple of days. One 15 year old for a class D substance and another 18 year old arrested for disturbing the school and assault and battery. Sounds like a busy couple of days in Swamp town. Police and school officials are calling for parents to "step up" and do something about it, rather than dismissing this behavior. Ain't that the truth all over the place.

It's actually about time someone did something about these kids. It seems like everyone thinks their kid is perfect and can do no wrong. From MCAS' to drinking and smoking. I mean, I know kids will be kids, but come on now. Parents, let's step up!

http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/news07.txt
(Free account required)

Two arrests made at Swampscott High

By Debra Glidden/The Daily Item


Other fun Links I found today - http://hideawaypictures.blogspot.com/2007/03/lynn-ma.html

So it's been a few days, but it hasn't been dull. Yesterday (3.23.07) the Daily Item of Lynn (www.itemlive.com) reported that while the average lifespan for Americans is increasing, it isn't so for residents of Lynn and Revere.

As a friend and fellow Revere-ite said, "Its great that they grouped us together. It's like they know!" Its a beautiful thing. I love being from this place.

But, for the record, I want to note that Lynn tops the list of premature deaths. I love being #1!



State study: Life expectancy lower in both Lynn, Revere

By David Liscio/The Daily Item

People are living longer these days, typically beyond age 75, but not in Lynn and Revere, according to a new state study.

While life-expectancy has reached an all-time high, and the overall death rate fell to a record low, the number of deaths among those age 75 and under was more common in some communities per 100,000 residents.

The state Department of Public Health (DPH) this week released a report entitled Massachusetts Deaths 2005 that indicates a girl born in 2005 can expect to live to age 82, while a boy can expect to live to age 76.

Donna Rheaume, a DPH spokesman, said the overall death rate in 2005 fell to a record low of 721 deaths per 100,000 people, down three percent from 2004 and 17 percent from 1990.

However, disparities in gender, race, ethnicity, education and community persist, she said.

Lynn, Revere, Springfield, New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton Worcester had the highest premature mortality rates among the state’s 30 largest communities. Premature mortality rate is the number of deaths among people under age 75 per 100,000 residents.

In 2005, Lynn had 329 premature deaths per 100,000 people, while Revere had 204. By comparison, Peabody had 180, Saugus 106, Marblehead 44 and Swampscott 25.

On the bright side, the death rate in Massachusetts is 10 percent below the 2004 national death rate.

The DPH study for 2005 showed a total of 53,776 people died. This reflected a decrease among those in age group 1-14, which had 24 fewer deaths. Further, in the age group 65-74, there were 221 fewer deaths that year.

Of all deaths in 2005, 23,129 occurred in hospitals. Another 16,446 were in nursing homes, 12,004 were in private homes, and 871 were dead on arrival. The remainder were listed as other or unknown.

“Unfortunately, significant disparities by race, ethnicity, and other factors continue to exist,” said Rheaume, noting for example that black, non-Hispanic boys born in 2005 could expect to live to age 73, compared to 77 years for white, non-Hispanic boys.

The report also noted that the infant mortality rate (IMR) for black non-Hispanics is more than double the rate for white non-Hispanics, or 9.4 versus 4.3 deaths for 1,000 live births. In contrast, the Hispanic rate of 7.7 is nearly 80-percent higher than the white non-Hispanic rate.

“The large difference in life expectancy between blacks and whites is a reminder that we need to develop focused efforts to eliminate disparities in health,” said Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby. “These data show that disparities also exist between groups according to educational attainment, gender and Hispanic ethnicity, suggesting that we need a multi-prong approach that addresses environmental, socioeconomic and public health issues.”

Heart disease and cancer remained the two most prevalent causes of death, accounting for almost half of all deaths. In 2005, heart disease and stroke death rates declined significantly from 2004. Heart disease declined six percent from 2004 and 21 percent since 2000. Stroke decreased by 10 percent from 2004 and by 25 percent since 2000.

Report highlights included findings that about one out of three deaths is to a person ages 85 or older in Massachusetts; that in 2005, 180 Massachusetts residents died from HIV/AIDS, the lowest number in Massachusetts since 1987.

The proportion of HIV/AIDS deaths for persons ages 45 and older remained stable from 2004, but has tripled since 1994, to 61 percent versus 20 percent, according to Rheaume.

The proportion of HIV/AIDS deaths among women has almost doubled since 1994, from 19 to 32 percent in that time span, she said.

Injuries were the leading cause of death for residents between the ages of 1 and 44, while cancer was the leading cause of death for people ages 45-84. Heart disease was the leading cause of death for people ages 85 and older.

The overall leading cause of cancer death was lung cancer, accounting for 28 percent of cancer deaths, followed by colorectal cancer at 10 percent. Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. Breast cancer was the second leading cause of cancer death for women, while prostate cancer was the second leading cause for men.

Death rates due to chronic lower respiratory disease, influenza and pneumonia and diabetes have remained stable since 2004, but have declined significantly since 2000, the study indicated.

In 2005, about five percent of all deaths were the result of injuries. Poisonings, which include drug overdoses, were the leading cause of injury death, followed by motor vehicle-related deaths. Homicides were to blame for 177 deaths. The state homicide rate in 2005 remained the same as in 2004, but the rate has increased 40 percent since 2000.

Diabetes was the ninth leading underlying cause of death in 2005, accounting for two percent of all deaths. The disease ranked as the third cause of death in 2005 and accounted for seven percent of all deaths.

The report found that the overall death rate for males was almost 20 percent higher than for females, and that the death rate for those with a high school education or less was three times higher than the rate for those with 13 years of education or more.

The entire report can be viewed at www.mass.gov/dph with a link to What’s New.

Premature Deaths (under age 75) per 100,000 people in 2005:

Lynn 329

Revere 204

Peabody 180

Saugus 106

Marblehead 44

Swampscott 25

And, without skipping a beat, my fine city is back in the news!



http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/03/20/news/news05.txt (free account required)

Lynn man shot in chest
By Jill Casey / The Daily ItemLYNN

A 21-year-old Lynn man was in stable condition after he was shot in the chest early Monday morning on Nahant Place, according to police.Police responded to a report of gunshots around 2:30 a.m. at 33 Nahant Place and found a man lying between two parked cars in the driveway.

The victim had suffered from a single gunshot wound in his chest and was not conscious.Police Sgt. Stephen Habereck administered CPR on the man until further medical units arrived. The victim was then taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital.Police Lt. Dave Brown identified the gunshot victim as Yeison Guerrero."As of (Monday) morning, he was in stable condition," Brown said.Police had not made any arrests into the shooting Monday.

"The matter is under investigation," Brown said. "It does not appear gang related."Several shell casings were recovered from the scene, but no weapon was found. Brown declined to discuss a motive.Police Sgt. Thomas Mulvey and State Police detectives are investigating the circumstances of the shooting.A woman who answered the door at Guerrero's Nahant Place apartment Monday identified herself as his girlfriend, but declined to give her name. She said Guerrero was returning home from D'Cache, a Blossom Street nightclub, when he was shot in their driveway. She was upstairs in their apartment and heard the gunshots.
"I have no idea why it happened," she said.Guerrero was still hospitalized Monday afternoon. His girlfriend did not know when he would be released.

From the Salem News ... Peabody parents and students are mad about parking fees.

Clearly there are others that think $75 for parking at the high school is excessive, but my question is... is there a bus fee in the city yet? Could it be the same thing? Parents pay for their students to ride the bus in some communities, so this could be considered the same thing. Ultimately it's paying for convenience... but if a student doesn't pay and the city has no monitor, who is going to enforce it? What happens if you don't have a permit? Is the cost of enforcing this going to be greater, especially with no lot monitor job.

Hmm... the plot thickens. Stay tuned!


http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_074094023?page=0

Hundreds of petitioners say high school parking fee is unfairBy Stacie N. Galang , Staff writerSalem News

PEABODY - Students and parents have collected hundreds of signatures in the hopes of kicking the $75 high school parking fee to the curb.Parent Sue Rankin presented a petition with 657 signatures to the School Committee Tuesday night as part of the effort by Peabody High's Parent-Teacher-Student Organization to convince elected officials to nix parking fees.The fees were originally instituted at $50 to help offset the cost of paying for a security monitor whose main duty was to watch over the parking area. That job that no longer exists, and now, parents and students are asking why they should continue paying the fee, especially as the cost continues to rise."This parking fee is actually penalizing the students if they drive to school," said Rankin, co-president of the PTSO. "Their parents have already paid taxes to the city of Peabody to maintain our municipal buildings and grounds they sit on."Peabody isn't the only district that charges for student parking. Danvers High students pay $5 to park, and Beverly asks for $175. Ipswich and Salem high schools do not charge. Donna Craven of Peabody said parents are unhappy about most fees, but at least the fees for athletics go back to sports. Not so with the parking fee. With the loss of the security monitor's job, parents are wondering why they should pay at all."Kids are paying for something that they're not getting a service for," she said. "That's not fair."Decision makers have little hope the added charges passed along to parents and students will be lifted anytime soon.Committee member Mark Bartkiewicz said no one wants fees, but the School Department couldn't function without them. "We have a fixed amount of money to work with, and we have to provide education first and foremost," he said. He said the only alternative is to charge all taxpayers, but he doubted it would be a popular alternative."Is it an unfair tax? Absolutely," he said. "It's a surcharge for people using it."Committee member Michael Moutsoulas said he didn't like fees, either."It's just tough fiscal times," he said. "I'd be the first to vote down fees if we can find an alternative funding method." The fees bring in about $18,000 a year.
Committee members Anne Manning and David McGeney withheld judgment until they had more budget information. Manning said she wanted to see Superintendent C. Milton Burnett's priorities before she could commit to any reductions.But she was pessimistic. After the School Department's major costs, like health care and salaries, are met, she didn't think much money would be left over.Committee member Edward Nizwantowski said he would vote against all fees for students. Parents already pay taxes to cover these costs, he said."This is public education," he said.Instead, Nizwantowski said, the School Department should be more frugal with administrators' salaries. "I think our kids are paying for the former superintendent's raises before she left," he said.

So, as I was watching Fox News last night at 10, I was not surprised that Lynn had the leading story for the second day in a row, being that it was such a terrible thing that happened yesterday afternoon. However, what was surprising is the hat trick that Lynn got on Fox 25 news… now the 3rd story isn’t even featured on the website, but since it was mentioned and put Lynn over the top yesterday, it’s worth noting …


So first we had the awful explosion murder / suicide which seems to be the top story everywhere you look:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/15/man_sets_off_fatal_blast_in_elevator/
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2671150&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

And then we had the happy ending to the two children who were allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday were found with their mother in Boston:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2671150&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
And finally … we have the icing on the cake (but cannot be found anywhere) … “Car drives into Foodmaster on Boston Street in Lynn”.

UPDATE - Lynn has made MSNBC ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17626550/

Now that is REALLY quite the news day for one north shore city.

Have no fear though, Revere managed to stay in the news too … (can’t forget our friendly neighbors to the south) …
http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2007/03/15/news/news05.txt (Free account required)

Revere man nabbed after highway chase
By Jill Casey / The Daily Item
A brief highway pursuit of a speeding car on Route 1 Tuesday night ended in Chelsea with the driver jumping out of the car and fleeing on foot.Derek Cummings, 18, of Revere, was quickly nabbed by Chelsea Police officers and handed over to State Police who originally spotted the car he was in allegedly going 90 mph in the southbound lane of Route 1 in Peabody around 10:30 p.m."The trooper lost sight of him in four minutes," said State Police Sgt. Carol MacDonald about Trooper Peter Sherber of the Danvers Police Barracks.After losing the car, Sherber put out a call on his radio to other departments for a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix.Chelsea Police located the car and eventually the driver, Cummings, on Carter Street in their city. MacDonald said it appears the car was registered to Cummings' mother.Cummings was charged with driving unlicensed, speeding, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, driving in the breakdown lane, failing to stop for police, willfully obstructing emergency vehicles, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.There may have been another person in the car, but he or she was not located by police Tuesday night.The entire pursuit from spotting the car in Peabody to locating the driver in Chelsea lasted for about 20 minutes, MacDonald said.