Two from Monday

Hate to keep combining issues, but really, who wants to read three or four posts in one day?

Anyway, two from today's paper:

First, a rehash of the school funding situation. The reason it's brought up is because of this nugget from Mayor Dan Mylott:

"I think the schools are getting their fair share," Mylott said in the Sentinel.
"They're not being shortchanged compared to any other departments in the city."

Does that make it OK that the schools are laying off teachers and not buying textbooks? What's the message here, that the schools are on the same level field as everyone else, or that the whole city is in desperate need of cash and every department is hurting as bad as schools? Yech.

Second, Sen. Robert Antonioni says the commuter rail speed-up plans may get approval soon. That's good news, and the numbers in the story -- which point to strong growth in ridership over the last year -- are also good news. Unless you sit on super-crowded trains everyday that are just getting more crowded.

The increased ridership is good news, pointing to perhaps a few things. First, more people are moving to Fitchburg and the region from near Boston, and the commuter rail is a valuable asset for the city. Second, somehow the parking garage is working (more on that in a minute).

While this is positive news that the commuter rail is a strong enterprise, the city needs to keep an eye on a few things beyond the funding. It needs to make sure there are enough cars or trains to handle ridership. That ride gets tedious when it's very crowded. It needs to make sure rate increases don't wipe out the benefit of rail and make it too expensive to be worthwhile (especially for new riders who might ditch it at the slightest provocation). It needs to move that afternoon express train out of the 4:40 time slot (which helps no one who works a normal work day) and get it to after 5 p.m. It has to happen.

Finally, back to the garage. We're quoting Mylott like crazy today, so about this one:

"It was definitely a good project," Mylott said to the Sentinel.

Way back in Journalism 101, reporters are often told to treat quote marks with respect and only use really good material in them. Along the way in real practicing journalism, the need for tone and a change in voice reduces that maxim to "use the best you got." If that's the best Mylott can say about the garage, he really needs someone to help him with his messaging. Either way, the Sentinel shouldn't be using up sacred copy space for that clap-trap.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. The mayor -- whoever it is -- should be the city's cheerleader on anything and everything. Wouldn't something like this sound better:

"We knew the parking garage would be a tremendous benefit to downtown and the entire city," the Mayor said. "It's great to see the effect it has already had helping downtown become a better place to live and do business."

That's not the best quote in the world, but it has to be better than, "It was definitely a good project." We're just saying.