meter, meter not everywhere

It happens every Monday through Friday in the big river.
Three to four meter maids leave the streets and stroll back into Government Center. It is usually around 4:30 to 5 p.m.
And as they do, cars citywide, get to park for free.
As citizens, perhaps it is a good thing that the city does not collect meter revenues, on weekends and at night, but one only has to wonder if the city leaders will look to fill budget deficits with the revenue lost from meters on weekends.
It could easily add another million per year in revenue, not all from the initial 5-10 ticket, but the late fee fines which can reach more than $1,000. The late Tom Sewell delighted in telling the story about a local female reporter for the Providence journal who ran up more than $2000 in parking tickets and vowed to avoid fall river forever once she was reassigned to Rhode Island.
But I digress.
The meters are also a mystery of sorts as far as which streets have them and which don’t.
For example, Both South and North Main Streets are lined with meters. But you won’t find many if any on Bedford and Pleasant, after a long ago brokered deal by local merchants apparently in the late 1980’s .
The same is true about Columbia Street and along most areas around Charlton but not all areas around St. Anne’s Hospital.
Not sure why in all cases and how much sway there exists currently about meters and no metered spots, but one thing remains true, no matter how many meters the city ends up having, it does nothing to mask the fact that the city needs more parking.
But I digress .
The point is, with lots of businesses disappearing from the commercial streets, will meter revenue drop, will parking become easier, lots go unrented, meters unfilled and city leaders left with more negative math than they can comprehend.
But at least we will be able to find a spot.

The art of the con

So Joe Perreira has been charged with two counts of larceny over $250. Felonies!
The man who hosted the barack obama campaign office for no charge, has given us a little glimpse into politics and the unseemly-ness of his exploits.
It is no secret that his office is filled wth photos of high ranking politicians which he draped across his office wall like an athlete with his trophies. He is a slick talker who comes off like a friend when people are in need and then well... best to hold onto one's belt.
His life took a bender publically when on WSAR his interactions with Dr. Stephen Cabral of LAGOA were made public on under reported with Rich Oliveira. Oliveira sounded surprised and amused when Perreira called to explain his side of the story on the air. Perreira claimed he did nothing wrong and that dr. Cabral had got it all wrong. He wasn't keeping a truck full of antiques and art hostage and that the space Cabral had given him money for, was not ready because Cabral wanted new tile. So that's why he held his two months rent and he never moved the stuff from his warehouse to the location on North main Street in a building he allegedly owns.
But the lingering comment from Ric was "the police found the truck with Cabral's stuff and a warehouse full of other stuff....but no olive oil. There.... could be alot more coming out about this."
The next day the Herald had the story. We learned about another Perreira scam of an illegal immigrant and another charge of larceny over 250. We also learn he had 36 previous arraignments.

A wall full of politicians and him.
free rent for dem office
renting building that he is not listed upon the deed
hmmmm.
more coming out indeed!

real estate values in fall river

According to two local Realtors, the average three decker in fall River has dropped more than $125,000 in two years and the prediction is that you will be able to cut another $25,000 to that price.
Statistically speaking, Fall River's real estate value has dropped 10 percent between September 07 and November 08. With more than 310 homes on the market of which 161 in foreclosure and a rental vacancy rate of 7 percent, real estate is a wild card right now.
Let's face it, while the banks are being bailed out they are the most responsible for the situation. Why, the flooding of the market with foreclosed homes, destroyed the market's value. And while they get a financial easy button, home owners are getting a shaft.
Meanwhile realtors, real estate lawyers and other periphery professions rot on the real estate vine. And average price of a fall river home keeps falling. From 225,000 in Nov. 2007 to $175,933 in Nov. 2008
It has reached a point where more than a few companies would rather not do business with some local realtors unless they pay cash up front. OH but back to the home owner and investors stuck with hand grenade homes stuck to the fingers.
The situation has left more than a few homeowners looking to cut out realtors to garner anything close to a profit. Some owners feel that with so many homes on the market, that the realtors are overloaded and underrepresented by buyers.
Let's take a look around the suburbs to put the picture in context:
There are 160 homes on the market including 15 in foreclosure in Tiverton
In Swansea there are 80 homes on the market with 16 in foreclosure. The average price drop i Swansea has been 8 percent, just under $206,000 for avg. price.
Somerset has 55 homes on the market with 22 foreclosures listed in 2008. Average price hovers at about $220,000
Which brings us back to Fall River and some of the deals out there.
Take a home on Rodman Street which just came onto the market- technically. It is being owner offered, a two family which was gutted and has two new baths, kitchens with granite tops, all new electric, all new heat and two garages. The asking price? $169,000.
A three family in the north end is under agreement for $89,000. While that property was in tough condition, From Lincoln to Rodman, owner sold homes are not counted on most of the mls listings. So the true number of homes for sale is really unknown.
The only good news for Fall River is that at least it is not Taunton which has sen more than a 20 percent drop in home values in the past year. The average home in Taunton is selling for $8,000 less than a home in Fall River. So there

fall river bugs

Terrorists could use 'insect-based' biological weapon
Terrorists would find it "relatively easy" to launch a devastating attack using swarms of insects to spread a deadly disease, an academic has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4123782/Terrorists-could-use-insect-based-biological-weapon.html

Damn those terrorists gave me crabs

The President we just didn't have to have

WE LIKE our failed presidents to be Shakespearean, or at least large enough to inspire Oscar-worthy performances from magnificent tragedians like Frank Langella. So here, too, George W. Bush has let us down. He is not a memorable villain so much as a sometimes affable second banana whom Josh Brolin and Will Ferrell can nail without breaking a sweat. He's the reckless Yalie Tom Buchanan, not Gatsby. He is smaller than life.
The last poll on Bush's presidency found that 79 per cent of Americans will not miss him after he leaves the White House. He is being forgotten already, even if he's not yet gone. You start to pity him until you remember how vast the wreckage is. It stretches from the Middle East to Wall Street to Main Street and even into the heavens, which have been a haven for toxins under his passive stewardship.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-president-we-just-didnt-have-to-have-20090105-7ajt.html

woman discovers cure for heartache...sort of

http://cbs4denver.com/local/alamosa.cannibalism.state.2.900186.html

An attorney for a woman accused of killing, dismembering and cannibalizing her ex-boyfriend says she's ashamed for doing a "horrible thing."

you think!"

joe or tom, blow we gone

Joe fast car no ring Camara
or Tom get my kids jobs in Oak Grove kozak
new streets and undisclosed conveniencies
pasta or spagetti
pimple or zit
chourico or linguica
cheese or yogurt
ethically challenged or
challenged ethically
sycophants panting or water carrier tripping up stream
box of hammers or bucket of nails rolling seven times the mills
ham and eggers or puff pastries with tails
co-fee or no fee
oh yes feel the democracy
slipping to and from incompetency

..........to be continued