Lynn candidates speak

LYNN – Incumbents and challengers competing for City Council ward seats staked out their views and qualifications Wednesday night for about 100 people attending a Lynn Community Association forum in Temple Ahabat Shalom.Ten candidates attended the debate but three – Jake Keo, Seth Albaum and Dianna Chakoutis – are vying in the Sept. 17 preliminary election for two spots on the Nov. 5 final election ballot.Keo stressed his “strong business background” while Chakoutis said she is a lifelong Lynn resident and restaurant manager. Albaum, who founded the Downtown Lynn Community Association in 2008, said Lynn needs “to do a better job welcoming new businesses.”Tax preparation firm owner Ariana Murrell-Rosario said fellow business owners who “appreciate her tenacity of spirit” urged her to run for the Ward 4 council seat held by Councilor Richard Colucci.Colucci said Sagamore Street’s rebuilding and adding five homes on Union Street are city construction priorities for Ward 4 while Murrell-Rosario said tax incentives can help ward residents improve their homes.Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant Jr., challenger Jesse Jaeger and Ward 3 candidate Ronald Mendes said school improvements must take priority on city project lists. All three urged audience members to vote “yes” on the Sept. 17 bond authorization to build a new Marshall Middle School.”The state of our schools is keeping property values down. That vote is the linchpin,” Mendes said.Trahant said he routinely sends ward residents letters keeping them informed about Ward 2 concerns while Jaeger said he will host community forums and ensure information is passed on to non English-speaking residents.”I’ll be out in the neighborhoods knocking on doors every week,” Jaeger said.Ward 1 candidate Debra Plunkett said she wants to host meetings in each of Ward 1’s four precincts to keep residents informed.Forum moderator Tyron Hawkins asked candidates how they plan to attract businesses to Lynn and Lozzi said stiffer dumping fines he pushed through the state Legislature will help clean up the city and make it more attractive to businesses.”I’m proud to work closely with our legislators,” he said.Trahant said he works regularly with the Latino Business Association to help Spanish-speaking business owners understand city regulations.”We explain to them how they have to go through City Hall. I think a lot of businesses are coming right now to Lynn,” he said.Mendes said the city needs “to get out of the way” by removing regulatory obstacles from in front of businesses while Murrell-Rosario advocated attracting “anchor stores” to the city to spur business development.”They drive consumers into the city,” she said.Albaum said “mom and pop” entrepreneurs interested in renting vacant storefronts need city tax incentive support and access to a city permitting and regulatory guide. Reducing the commercial tax rate will bring businesses to Lynn, Keo said.”Businesses mean jobs, more jobs means more money to generate income for the city so that we can grow the city,” he said.He said better city anti-littering law enforcement starts, in part, by forming a “rodent task force.” Chakoutis said letters should be sent to residents outlining city recycling requirements.”We need to work with people and educate them,” she said.Mendes said an improved trash ordinance he helped draft has not been acted on by the council. Trahant said automated trash collection slated to begin next spring will help keep the city cleaner and reduce rodent infestation. Not enough is being done by the city to eliminate rats, Jaeger said.”It’s the single biggest issue people talk to me about at their doors,” Jaeger said.Lozzi and Ward 1 challenger Debra Plunkett differed over Lozzi’s claims that he has “addled” 800 goose eggs to help reduce the geese population around the ward’s ponds. Addling keeps eggs from hatching, but Plunkett said more needs to be done to eliminate goose feces from pond shores.”I’m not sure you’re addling geese or