I Served With Reardon on the School Committee. Here’s What I Think of His Term

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These are troubling times. We are plagued by a chronic lack of government transparency and trust. Chaos and toxicity are causing relentless public service staff turnover. We are embroiled in avoidable litigation. There is a climate of meanness, pettiness, and unkindness that permeates interactions with elected officials and citizens.  We are polarized. There is a stunning dearth of accountability by government. 

As Tip O’Neill said, “All politics is local.”  While these issues may describe the current state of politics on the federal level, I am really referring to the last four years of Newburyport governance. 

Consider the turmoil at the Public Library and the Parks Department; the remarkable turnover in city department heads (unprecedented in my 35 years living in Newburyport). There is ongoing litigation stemming from employees whose previous work was exemplary, and who were terminated without cause, or with dubious cause. We see a lack of consistent consultation with the City Council and the schools and advisory boards. We have a right to expect more thoughtful, honest and coherent representation.

Newburyport deserves better than it has gotten the past four years. It deserves leadership that is honest, it deserves politics that isn’t cruel and petty, evasive and unaccountable.  It deserves to have its public servants and citizens treated with the respect and dignity that they bring to their own work on behalf of Newburyport. You, we… deserve better. 

I served on the School Committee with the current occupant of the corner office four years.  Sadly, I believe he has been the mayor I anticipated he would be, based on my disappointing experience working with him on the Committee. The last four years and the results are self-evident. 

Newburyport deserved better four years ago. It deserves better the next four years. 

I loved living in Newburyport and will always be grateful for the opportunity you gave me to be of service. Those ties don’t fray with distance. I still care deeply about the city.

I encourage you to choose wisely Newburyport. Please choose wisely.

Bruce Menin
Former Vice Chair of the School Committee

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