A few trendlines have collided recently that got me thinking of a former vice president, Al Gore. Remember him? For one, there is the existential threat of our climate crisis. It's been 16 years since Gore's Academy Award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" debuted. During that time, the truth he warned about — our planet's spiral toward a new climate reality, fueled by human activity and significantly less hospitable to human existence — has become only more inconvenient, urgent, and dire. Drought in the western U.S. Severe heat waves across Europe. Unusually heavy flooding in Kentucky and elsewhere. Scientists say these kinds of dramatic weather patterns will become more frequent as climate change progresses. We hear about 100-year storms or even 1,000-year floods, terms that are meant to indicate rarity. But it is increasingly clear such events are no longer anomalous. A horrific tragedy is currently playing out in Pakistan, where immense flooding is causing widespread destruction and mass death. The warming climate, as Gore warned us, will result in greater hardship and instability. It is a cruel injustice that the countries that contributed the least to greenhouse gas proliferation tend to be the poorest and will suffer the most. On a more optimistic note, the recent climate bill passed by Congress represents exactly the kind of concrete action for which Gore has long advocated. Start somewhere. In the case of this legislation, that "somewhere" is quite significant, according to climate experts. Once you've started, keep going. Change the direction. Chart a new path forward toward carbon neutrality. The climate is a grave and unending concern. It should dictate our policy choices and define our national security. Gore saw this clearly. His warnings will cry out from the history books to future generations. "Why were they not heeded?" they will ask in disbelief. But it wasn't only the climate that has had me thinking of Gore. There is also the matter of the clear and present dangers our institutions and democratic order are facing. Donald Trump is still at it about the 2020 election (here in August 2022). He just issued a statement saying he was the "rightful winner" and at a minimum, someone (not exactly sure who) should "declare the 2020 Election irreparably compromised and have a new Election, immediately!" Of course the former president is now under a serious investigation into his retention of highly classified documents (and what he might have done with them). One would have hoped that this grave matter would have Republican elected officials waiting at least to hear about findings before escalating divisive partisanship. But there was Trump's one-time critic and current sycophant Senator Lindsay Graham, alluding to violence. "If there is a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information after the Clinton debacle, there will be riots in the streets," he said. This is completely irresponsible and dangerous. Against this backdrop, let us remember Al Gore and the 2000 presidential election. Gore won the popular vote, but of course that's not how we choose our presidents. As for the Electoral College, it all came down to Florida, as anyone of memory age at the time certainly recalls. There was a lot of weirdness in that state — "butterfly ballots" and "hanging chads." To make a long and sordid story short, ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court intervened. A majority of justices, all appointed by Republicans, stopped the vote count and effectively handed the election to George W. Bush. It is hard to overstate how big an inflection point that was in American history. Unlike in 2020, when Trump lost decisively, Gore had legitimate claims. And also unlike 2020 (through today) when Trump is eager to blow up American democracy and even spark violence with his lies and refusal to act responsibly, Gore chose a path of reconciliation. His concession speech is one that should be studied for its graciousness and straightforward eloquence.  I have pulled some excerpts to provide examples of Gore's words. Recognize how difficult they must have been for a man who had long harbored dreams of the presidency — and knew he might very well have earned it. Gore addressed the finality of the rule of law:
He called for common ground:
He argued for country over party:
He ended with a recognition that our country must be bigger than our politics and any single individual:
Contrast this humility with the last president, who will never relinquish the spotlight. Contrast the passionate pleas for unity with January 6. Contrast Gore's appeal to the sanctity of our institutions with the election lies sweeping Republican politics. Contrast how he led in a moment of potential crisis with the enablers and toadies who appease Trump's destructive behavior. Contrast the appeal to reason with Sen. Graham's wink at violence. Contrast how he tried to tamp down passion with those who use their perches in right-wing media to spew divisive hatred. The Republicans rail against their political rivals for being out of control, violent, subverters of democracy. It is, in poker terms, the ultimate tell. What they complain the loudest about is often what they themselves are pushing. I have said it before: There are so many projectionists among the GOP that they might as well open a chain of movie theaters. Looking back at what lawyers call the "fact pattern" of the 2000 election, we can see one that had all the hallmarks of bringing American democracy to its brink. But at that moment, Al Gore made the determination that to wreck our constitutional order by undermining the results of a very flawed process was not what leadership demanded. He stood there, surely believing in his mind that he should have been president. He knew that a majority of American voters had agreed. Imagining "what could have been" must have been intensely difficult. Looking back at what happened in the presidency of George W. Bush, we can see how fateful that election was. But Al Gore knew that to preserve our constitutional system, there really was no other option. He accepted his fate, and so did his party. As Trump still rages after an election that was not nearly as close, after he lost in the courts, after he spurred a violent insurrection, Gore's example is all the more striking. The Republican officials who are playing along with this attack on American democracy are old enough to remember 2000. And they're old enough to know better. Note: If you are not already a subscriber to our Steady newsletter, please consider doing so. And we always appreciate you sharing our content with others and leaving your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for subscribing to Steady. This post is public, so please feel free to share it. © 2022 Dan Rather |
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Dan Rather: Remember Al Gore?
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Aug 31, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Wednesday
9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)
- This slot features a replay of my conversation with Chris Woolf. We talk about his book "Bumbling through the Hindu Kush" -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/from-hindu-kush-to-franklin.html
10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points
11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)
This hour features Part 3 of the 3 part DPW Water Series, all about the water supply from well head to faucet. #590 in the Franklin Matters podcast archives. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-590-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY
7:30 am It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club
8:30 am Community Arts Advocacy Day: A Discussion
10:00 am Care For Ukraine
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones
12:30 pm Sandhya: Homemade Cheez-Its
1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Keeping Students Safe
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 3
3:30 pm Veterans' Call: Dale Kurtz
4:30 pm Veterans' Oral History Project: Dave Cargill
6:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Grillin'
6:30 pm 4th of July 2022: Backyard Swagger
9:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Bus-14
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY
7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22
8:30 am FHS Oskey 2022
10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports
11:00 am Public School Concert: Strings School 05-16-16
1:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v King Philip 10-27-21
3:00 pm Battleship Cove: 3D Print Lab
3:30 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18
5:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v Malden 11-04-21
7:30 pm Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 2
9:30 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Central Catholic 11-09-21
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY
8:00 am Town Council 08-17-22
2:00 pm Town Council 08-17-22
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Town of Franklin (MA): Five Year Fiscal Forecast - FY 2025 (part 4 of 5)
This continues to share the Five Year Fiscal Outlook for the Town of Franklin as published by the Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen:
FY25 Financial Outlook
It is impossible to predict the state of our economy or world next week, let alone three years from now. Regardless of those factors, FY25 is when the confluence of flooded rivers are likely to converge for a very challenging year. Those factors are:
● FY25 will be a full two fiscal years into a 40-plus year high of inflation with most costs rising;
● There will not be any remaining authorized federal stimulus money and there will be less one-time revenues to plug gaps;
● Difficult choices will need to be made regarding investments in schools, public safety, public works and capital projects and equipment;
● The full assessment of the regional dispatch center (“The MECC”) will be coming back on the town's operating budget at about $1.5 million; and, most notably
● The Franklin School Department’s financial sustainability on one-time revenues, continued declining enrollment and the required net school spending dynamic sets up a possible budget deficit in FY25. The outgoing Superintendent warned that FY25 could be facing “more [financial] challenges given the continued needs of the district, the local fiscal forecast and the expiration of the local coronavirus relief funding.”
Franklin Public School District
The Franklin School Department has three current trends that should give the community a pause for concern over the long term financial sustainability and challenges of the department.
1. Declining Enrollment. At its peak in 2008, the District had 6,464 students enrolled. The enrollment in 2021-2022 was 4,764 students, or a decrease of 24% in 14 years. The Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc study suggests the District is projected to lose enrollment throughout the rest of the decade. In the 2029-2030 school year, the district is estimated to have 4,458 students enrolled - a near 2,000 student enrollment drop in two decades.
The Kaestle Boos analysis also “indicates that the Franklin Public Schools facilities are currently 26% under capacity and are anticipated to continue to decline to 31% in the next 10 years. If no changes were to occur the school facilities would: all continue to operate under capacity, continue to create a financial burden in the maintenance of these underutilized facilities [and] suffer reduced educational adequacy in schools built prior to 1996.” Closing Davis-Thayer has produced some savings and space, but not nearly the amount of savings envisioned.
The Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. study released on December 1, 2020 shows plenty of data on this topic and the options before the School Committee. A Space Needs and Facilities Use Subcommittee of the School Committee has been established and will be charged to “analyze data sources and forecast space utilization to comprehensively review Franklin's school facilities' needs.” A redistricting analysis has also commenced to follow up on the Kaestle Boos study from last December.
2. Net School Spending. As has been discussed at many legislative and local forums, the Franklin Public School District is seeing a very unique dynamic in its finances relative to state aid. This dynamic is real and is a result of the extreme spike in growth and enrollment in the 1980’s through 2010, followed by an significant pause in growth and enrollment in the 2010’s continuing on in the 2020’s.
In short, due to state education finance law, the “required local district contribution” is accelerating at a pace that far exceeds the rate of state aid increases. Please view the Superintendent's slide on page 12 to see this trend. This dynamic presents some short and long term sustainability concerns.
Despite these two dynamics, local investments have continued in the School Department budget by almost $15 million in total dollars since 2015, an average of over
$1.8 million a year, despite the two lower pandemic years.
3. One-time revenues. The schools will be using one-time revenues from revolving funds and federal assistance to augment their operating budget for at least the next two fiscal years. The good news is the School Department has its highest amount of reserves in at least the past five fiscal years. Even if the Town does not have enough revenue to maintain a $2.4 million-a-year increase, which will be challenging, the Schools should have enough reserves in those one-time sources to meet their budget projections over the next two years.
Continue reading the full report in this PDF -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022-08-15_fy23_to_fy27_town_administartor_fiscal_forecast_1.pdf
Part 1 (FY 2022 closing)
Part 2 (FY 2023)
Part 3 (FY 2024)
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| Town of Franklin Earns AAA Bond Rating |
LiveARTS Concert Season Announced for 2022-2023
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Why 2290 purple flags?
"In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day, an annual observance in Massachusetts and around the world, Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Department of Public Health Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Barrelle, DPH Director of Bureau of Substance Addiction Services Deirdre Calvert, and other state and local officials today joined families, friends, and volunteers in planting 20,000 flags on Boston Common, signifying the Massachusetts residents who died as a result of drug overdose in the past 10 years. The Baker-Polito Administration also issued a proclamation declaring August 31st Overdose Awareness Day across the Commonwealth.
The purple flags were planted at the Common’s Liberty Mall in front of the State House to honor and remember individuals who lost their lives to overdose, acknowledge the loss felt by family and friends, raise awareness, and remove the stigma of drug-related deaths. An information booth was set up to offer addiction prevention and recovery support resources."
Continue reading the press release online -> https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-recognizes-overdose-awareness-day-and-recovery-month
Franklin's awareness event is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 PM on the Town Common. The SAFE Coalition is hosting the event and planting 2290 flags to recognize the number of overdose deaths in MA during 2021.
You can join the remembrance event and volunteer to help set up the flags
Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Ep. 044 - How To Handle Being Bored, Unexpected Science Discoveries, Meeting Ben Affleck and more (audio)
In this episode, The Franklin Senior Center Writers Group share stories, poems, writings plays and more about how to stop being bored when you find yourself bored, weird unexpected science discoveries, how Alice met Ben Affleck at a movie premiere, sharing poems of love, and a collection of sherkus.
This episode aired on Franklin Radio for August 2022.
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| Senior Story Hour - WFPR |
Senior Story Hour - WFPR
The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group. Steve Sherlock hosts The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group for a
monthly reading of short stories, essays, poetry and more.
Franklin State Primary voters: If you have a vote by mail ballot, drop it at the Municipal Building dropbox
"Have a mail-in ballot sitting on your kitchen table or tacked up on your refrigerator?Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin advises that you fill it out and take it to a secure drop box, early voting site, or your local city or town hall before 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 if you want it to be counted for the state primary election.Because of the Labor Day holiday and possible delays on the part of the Postal Service, Galvin said it’s safer to hand-deliver the ballot, as opposed to dropping it in the mail."
Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)
Franklin has a new option for your mail ballot. The key one being to drop it at the Municipal Building where a new dropbox has been installed in the Town Clerk's office.
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| If you have a vote by mail ballot, drop it at the Municipal Building dropbox |
Notice from the Office of the Town Administrator - volunteer positions available for town boards & committees
Notice from the Office of the Town Administrator
The Town of Franklin currently has several volunteer openings on various boards and committees. The Town is seeking residents who are interested in filling those volunteer positions that are now available, or wish to have their name for consideration when a vacancy occurs.
This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to get more involved in our wonderful community! Available seats are listed below along with term expiration dates:
| Board / Committee Name | # of Vacancies | Term Expirations |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Commission | 1 (Associate) | 2023 |
| Conservation Commission | 1 | 2025 |
| Cultural District Committee | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
| Design Review Commission | 1 (Associate) | 2023 |
| Finance Committee | 1 | 2025 |
| Franklin Disability Commission | 1 | 2024 |
To apply, click the following link to submit a Volunteer Application Form
All missions and work conducted by boards and committees can be found on our website franklinma.gov
Read more -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/news/2022-08-29_boards_committees_vacancies_announcement.pdf
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| Notice from the Office of the Town Administrator - volunteer positions available for town boards & committees |
Peer-to-peer car sharing: A potentially risky side gig
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| Peer-to-peer car sharing: A potentially risky side gig |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, Aug 30, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Tuesday
9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era
11:00 AM 2 PM and 8:00 PM SAFE Radio– Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY
7:00 am Care For Ukraine
9:00 am It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club
10:00 am Frank Presents: Keith Carreiro
11:00 am Senior Connection: COVID Updates
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones
12:30 pm Sandhya: Homemade Cheez-Its
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 3
3:30 pm Arts Advocacy: Impact
4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 6 - Swinging Steaks
5:30 pm Physician Focus: Too Much Medicine?
6:00 pm Community Arts Advocacy Day: A Discussion
7:30 pm Once Upon A Town: Gas Stations
8:30 pm Electric Youth: Bon Voyage Show 1
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY
7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 2
9:00 am Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22
11:00 am Battleship Cove: 3D Print Lab
12:00 pm Public School Concert: Strings School 05-16-16
2:00 pm It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club
3:00 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19
6:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v Malden 11-04-21
8:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v King Philip 10-27-21
10:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball: v Mansfield 09-27-21
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY
8:00 am School Committee: 08-23-22
2:00 pm School Committee: 08-23-22
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
Monday, August 29, 2022
Town of Franklin (MA): Five Year Fiscal Forecast - FY 2024 (part 3 of 5)
This continues to share the Five Year Fiscal Outlook for the Town of Franklin as published by the Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen:
FY24 Financial Outlook
FY24 will be the fiscal year to monitor the new impacts of inflation and/or a recession on the quantity of town services that can be delivered. FY24 will also be the year to monitor the overall condition of the economy, consumer spending and trends on residential households and their ability to withstand the cost increases that we know will be going into effect: stormwater and the Beaver Street Interceptor. A year from now, all town officials should keep a close eye on the ability of residents to afford the increases that are coming from these mandatory projects. These projects could have an effect on other town services.
As written above, rising costs will likely set up a sustainability imbalance with what the purchasing power was in FY22 versus FY24. The Town will begin its FY24 budget process later this fall where we will look at our local summer and fall revenue trends, as well as take a cautiously optimistic gaze toward how the global economy modifies over the next six months. Keep your fingers crossed!
I would expect a Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting sometime in October to check in on FY23 revenues and early prospects for FY24.
Areas of expected operational increases due to inflation include: roads, snow and ice removal, construction supplies, all basic goods and services, and personnel and labor costs. The DPW and Facilities Departments will see the greatest impacts from rising inflation on expenses.
Most departments will feel this increase as both of their departments supply basic services such as fuel, gas, electricity, water to other departments. All departments will see an increase in personnel costs due to the competitive labor market and the successful performance of our current staff.
The stormwater utility fee goes into effect townwide for all property owners on July 1, 2023. The average fee per household on a half-acre lot will be about $56. As a result, stormwater expenditures from the DPW will be transferred to the utility. A significant reduction in the DPW budget will show in FY24. This dynamic will be deceiving given the cost increases coming from goods, services, and labor/personnel throughout the entire organization, but most notably the DPW. Also, additional funds will be needed for roads and infrastructure due to rising costs. Most of the reduction of stormwater will likely give way to overall cost increases from inflation.
Lastly, FY24 is when the effects of interest rates will possibly alter town services. As I have pointed out in every budget narrative in recent years, the ratio of debt and interest as a percentage of the town budget has been slowly shrinking as old debt and interest are paid off. Of all seven major budget categories, Debt & Interest was the only category to decrease in the FY23 budget. As a result, other services are taking up a larger percentage of the budget pie, leaving less room for capital projects that require borrowing. With rising interest rates and rising project costs, future capital projects may be in jeopardy if they require borrowing. For more information, please read the Budget Narratives on Debt & Interest from previous fiscal years.
FY23 debt levels are currently at about 2.5% of recurring general fund revenues. These line items support both school and municipal projects.
The town will have some difficult decisions to possibly postpone projects. These projects will undoubtedly become much more complicated, expensive and difficult to fund based on rising interest rates and costs. The following projects will require some borrowing authority, which will increase interest in the operating budget or enterprise funds:
● Beaver Street Interceptor;
● The future of Davis-Thayer;
● A future decision on a new or renovated police station;
● A future decision on the Remington-Jefferson School renovation; and
● A future decision on a new recycling center.
Those are just the large projects that have been in the pipeline for years. This list is obviously not exhaustive and this is even before we tackle the issues of infrastructure, roads, sidewalks, parks, open space plans, staffing investments, among many other things the community has on its wishlist.
The Town recently received a 3.38% interest rate with the AAA bond rating. I suspect those rates will climb closer to five percent (at best) in FY23 and FY24.
In short, FY24 will likely begin a harsh reality in the community. There will likely be choices to postpone capital projects or move forward with those projects and operating services may need to be adjusted to reflect the costs of services. Unless the economy can hit a rhythmic state, some difficult financial decisions will have to be made.
Continue reading the full report in this PDF -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022-08-15_fy23_to_fy27_town_administartor_fiscal_forecast_1.pdf
Part 1 (FY 2022 closing) was shared previously
Part 2 (FY 2023) was shared previously
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| Town of Franklin Earns AAA Bond Rating |
#1 complaint: speeding - "Slow down, you move too fast"
In a soon to be released Talk Franklin episode, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen reveals that the #1 complaint to the Municipal building is speeding. Not parking, not zoning, speeding.
With schools opening this week, more traffic will be on the roads, more people will be on the sidewalks, please take care and go slow.
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| The new paving along King St has new crosswalk markings for the Parmenter School. |
Time for us all to
"Slow down, you move too fastYou've got to make the morning last ..."
Video link -> https://youtu.be/TJBhdKrwTOc
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