SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Opinion

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus
January 5, 2012

Our View: Beverly: More of the same a good thing

The era of good feeling will continue in Beverly for at least two more years.

Mayor Bill Scanlon, City Council President Paul Guanci and others adopted an optimistic and cooperative tone at Tuesday's inaugural event held at the new high school, which has become symbolic of the pride Beverly residents take in their community.

Scanlon and Guanci, back at the helm of the council after an absence of four years, appear to have the makings of a good team. And after flirting with change by giving Scanlon challenger Mike Cahill a plurality in the September preliminary election, Beverly voters decided to stick with the fiscal conservatism and responsible growth policies that have been the hallmark of the incumbent's previous 16 years in office.

Renovation and expansion of the high school — completed on time and, according to the mayor, "slightly under budget" — was the crowning achievement of his last two years in office. Expect much of the focus this year and next to be on gaining approval and funding for a new interchange at Route 128 and Brimbal Avenue.

As Scanlon has often noted, the "appropriate new growth" represented by projects like the new interchange, which will open many acres of land on both sides of the highway to development, make possible the provision of quality municipal services and capital improvements like the renovation of the city's high school and elementary schools. That same strategy will be critical to the city taking care of other priorities, such as the replacement of Briscoe Middle School and construction of a much-needed new public-safety facility.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion

AP Video
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin 3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29 Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
Comments Tracker
Roll Call
Helium debate
Helium