Fisherman's and a Quarry

Here's a novel idea: more than one cable provider in Swampscott. Isn't that an oxymoron? It looks like Comcast is going to have some competition, with Verizon trying to scoop up costumers. Look forward to all sorts of deals to get costumers to switch, only to see rates rise about a year later. Hopefully it'll end up like credit cards - where you get a new 0.0% APR for six months card sent to you about three times a week. Then again, maybe not: it could be more oil company than actual competition.

There are a few interesting tidbits from the story, such as the fact that only 82% of the town will be able to get Verizon. If you're one of the unlucky 18%, here's why:

Jim McGrail, a consultant for Verizon, said the plan (and the contract) calls for having Verizon service available to everyone who gets cable from utility poles within a year. He said that's 82 percent of the town. It may take longer for that 8 percent served by underground cables and the 10 percent who live in large condo and apartment developments, where underground service has to be negotiated with the land owners, but the goal is still to get done within five years, probably sooner.

Lastly, the issue of public access TV was featured early in the Reporter article,

Nary a dissenting voice was heard during a public hearing prior to approval of the Verizon license. Herb Belkin said approval was "a no-brainer" while Ed Robinson said the company should provide "public access" channels, allowing any resident to bring a tape to the company and have it cablecast through Verizon. He presented a petition asking selectmen to gain such access through both Verizon and Comcast, something Town Administrator Andrew Maylor agreed the town does not have now.

Ed's been great on public access TV - and having seen some of the wide selection and opportunities Cable TV has presented as a blogger (I've been on Public Access TV in New Bedford, Worcester, Fairhaven, etc. to discuss the Massachusetts Governor's race and blogging), I think it's something our town definitely needs. People should email Town Administrator Andrew Mayor (amaylor@town.swampscott.ma.us) to complain.

Swampscott selectmen and their Committee to Study Red-light Cameras disagree on the merits of Article 4 of the upcoming special Town Meeting, which was approved for the warrant by the selectmen Oct. 18.

The article will ask Town Meeting for approval of an automated red light enforcement system, a photographic monitoring system designed to enforce red light traffic laws in town by taking pictures of offenders' license plates.

I appreciate the fact that the Selectmen want cameras at traffic lights, but they're a bad idea. Whether Selectman Paster is right - that cameras will be a "deterrent" to bad driving - shouldn't matter. Civil rights trumps bad driving - and who wants Big Government looking in on our every move? No thanks!

Town Meeting should vote against the proposition. I only regret that I'm no longer a member.