Sorting through everything rattling through my brain

Date: 7/2/2021

There’s lots of stuff rattling around in my brain this week – let’s go.

I need to extend congratulations to Bax and O’Brien for their becoming the latest broadcasters to be honored by induction into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Here’s how the Association described the pair, “Michael Baxendale and John O’Brien recently celebrated their 25th anniversary on WAQY Rock 102 as ‘the dominant radio personalities in the Springfield market,’ according to The Reminder newspaper of Western Massachusetts. ‘While [their] show may be known for its outrageous humor and commentary,’ the newspaper wrote, ‘it is also a venue for local political discussion. Area mayors, city councilors, state representatives and others are regular parts of the show.’ Bax and O’Brien are also known for their tireless charitable work. As an example, for more than two decades they have hosted and broadcast continuously the annual Mayflower Marathon, a 57-hour on-air food and fund drive that takes place each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving to benefit the Open Pantry food bank of Springfield.”

Well, if it’s in this newspaper – and I probably wrote it – it must be true!

In all seriousness, the guys are indeed broadcasting icons and they do great work in the community. They certainly deserve this honor.

Thank you for your service

Recently former Sen. Mike Gravel died. A Springfield native born in 1930, Gravel ran for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination and I had the chance of interviewing him at the home of former Hampden County Commissioner Richard Thomas.

I wish I could find the story I wrote, but I distinctly recall being impressed with him. He was an old school 1960s liberal, which at the time was not exactly in the political mainstream. I didn’t think he had a chance – and perhaps he didn’t think so as well – but his message resonated with me.

Gravel, a military vet, moved to Alaska in 1956 to essentially be a pioneer in what was at the time still a territory.

He successfully pursued a career in politics eventually serving in the Senate.  He did a lot after leaving the Senate and tried once again for the presidential nomination in 2020.

My friend Tony Cignoli wrote this about him: “Mike was indeed, a bit of a ‘gadfly’ by his own description. But Mike became one of the most interesting people in Washington D.C. He had a common-person understanding of what was truly important to people struggling to provide for their families. He shared once that he got that sense from growing up in Springfield, ‘Springfield-smarts,’ as he called it, added later to Alaskan survival instincts.

“Mike’s candidacies for the Presidency were indeed Quixotic, but the first campaign actually did some of what he set out hoping to do: focusing attention on certain issues that were ignored or overlooked. Amazingly and quite unexpectedly, his first presidential campaign brought needed young people into politics. Mike Gravel succeeded in connecting and inspiring new activists, decades and even generations younger than him, to become involved in the political process.”

Making life safer

District Attorney Anthony Gulluni scored a major blow against local organized crime last week with the announcement of a series of major arrests of members of the Knox Street Posse.

According to the DA’s office, the effort resulted in  “15 arrests of Knox Street Posse members and associates, 20 total firearms recovered, 100,000 bags of heroin, and approximately 2.8 kilograms of cocaine seized, and $70,000 in U.S. currency. Of the 15 arrests made, 11 suspects are currently being held pursuant to the state’s dangerousness statute, one is held on $100,000 cash bail, and one dangerousness hearing has yet to be conducted.”

Gulluni said, “Everyone deserves a safe neighborhood, a quiet street, and a secure home to live and raise a family. The vast majority of people in every neighborhood across this county are law-abiding people who just want safety and peace for themselves and their families. However, the lion’s share of serious street violence in this region is committed at the hands of only a few. There are a small number of individuals who are intent on violence, serious crime, and destruction. We realized that if law enforcement was able to focus on this small population of highly violent offenders, assaults, shootings, and murder would decrease.”

Thanks. All of us appreciate such actions to make the region safer.