The chamber was filled… a show of force. The police stood shoulder-to-shoulder row after row, ringing the councilors. The halls at the top of the stairs were also crowded.

I was pinned in the front row, first chair by the door, and could see little except the rump of some guy standing on my toes, but I could hear the chants…JOE EE…JOE EE…JOE EE! When the mob mentality was chanting the crowd from where I was sitting seemed to be swaying.

As I listened to the cavalcade of illustrious speakers, some were the same old fringe feeders at the public spout, some were not from the City of Methuen, some were relatives of police officers, (I’m guessing, but I think these relatives were of those officers who are being investigated by the Feds), to put it mildly, they have a lot to loose when the poop hits the fan.
Some of these speakers are the first string rabble rousers. They go first to stoke the mob mentality. I must admit, they did their job expertly. If didn’t know any better, I say they had been provided with a script!

In fact, I saw that one of the speakers was transported to the soirée in one of the new unmarked cruisers with the blacked out windows.

What I do know is that relatives of police officers were given a friendly jingle and were impressed upon the urgency to attend this meeting and support JOE EE.

I would be very interested in knowing when and from where these phone calls were made. You don’t think it was on the people’s time, people’s dime, do you?

The speakers spoke at the podium. They were asked by Chairman Zanni to refrain from applauding, and wait to the end of public participation to applaud. Well, that was a waste of good oxygen.

Zanni’s instructions fell upon deaf ears. The crowd proceeded to chant, cry out, and raucously applaud, at the appropriate pauses by the speaker. What struck me as funny, was that when the names of each person to speak were announced by Zanni, this group, (I am being kind), broke into a loud round of applause. It appeared that each one of these players knew the names of those to speak.

As I told you above, at times couldn’t see much, however, I could feel the crowd ebbing and flowing with crescendoed fanaticism.

One brave woman… my heroine, Toni Still made her way to the podium, as she did last week to voice her displeasure of the police chief.

Noticeably a loud round of applause was missing, not even one solo clap by mistake.

It seems to me all these players knew by name everyone that was headed to the podium, except for this little surprise.

The crowd started to boo her, and chant some nonsense!

I have never been more ashamed in my life watching this orchastrated travesty.

My sources tell me that Joe Wee stood in the back of St. Anthony’s Church after 4pm Mass on Saturday and on both masses on Sunday. It was announced from the altar that he would be greeting parishioners in the back of the church, no explanation of his presence.

It was also noted that he is a member of the parish, but yet does not attend on a regular basis. One has to ask why the surprise multiple visits of such urgency?

My source also told me that many of the people who attended were duped as to the shameful actions some would portray at this public meeting.

As I am sitting in my chair listening to the circus I cannot see, while witnessing around me such disrespect it’s amazing. Cell phones ringing, people answering them and proceeding to have a conversation, pushing in the hall, loud private conversations while the speakers were talking, and every so often a chorus of JOE EE, JOE EE with fists clenched in the air. It was hard to believe I was in METHUEN MASSACHUSETTS, when all of a sudden I look up and see a Lebanese flag!

I was also told that another Lebanese flag was on the other side of the Great Hall.

As I am processing this mob, I hear someone yell out to Councilor Jack Cronin that he is practicing racial profiling! And after accusing Jack, they go on to include the Eagle-Tribune in the racial profiling. I have never read or heard either do any such thing!

The frenzy continues, the speakers are finished, and I hear some guy up in the front of the hall, he mentions St. Anthony’s Church and begins a prayer. May all those who spoke for Joe Solomon tonight be granted eternal life.

I sat with rapt attention waiting for them to also be granted 72 virgins!

I had never heard a prayer like this before, and he had me curious if St. Anthony’s Church had sent a sanctioned Deacon to speak on behalf of Joe Solomon. The crowd was restless and loud, but I couldn’t believe my ears as to what this man had said. I called St. Anthony’s and was informed they had sent no one.

The meeting marches on and now it is time to hear from the councilors. Councilor Cronin, who most of the hate and jeering was directed to, stood his ground, and was not intimidated by this group.

Then Kathleen Corey Rahmey addressed the crowd, and as she pronounced her maiden name Corey, she uses a guttural sound. I have never heard this before; it seems it is almost to inform the crowd that she’s one of them! Perhaps kicking off her run for mayor!

Remember I cannot see, I thought it was like a secret code, you know like a wink and a nod.
I stopped listening to what she was saying after this, it was like the teacher on Charlie Brown…WAWAWW…WA.

It was becoming very clear to me what was taking place at this meeting.

Next we have Debbie Quinn, eyes shinning, addresses the crowd and tells them that they need to wear a blue ribbon and everybody needs to put a blue ribbon on their door in a show of support for Joe Solomon.

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!

Come to your senses, it appears you have both been swept up in the mob mentality! YOUR JOB IS TO REMAIN IMPARTIAL!!!

Did you loose your minds? YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US!

Joe Solomon is not being investigated by the Feds because he is Lebanese! He is being investigated because of wonton abuse in grant funds, overtime, abuse of power, and now add mass intimidation spurred into racism and then blessed!

The Methuen City Council has nothing to do with the investigation! Yet you two are wrapped up in the mob that happens to waving their fists, along with Lebanese Flags, chanting JOE EE JOE EE!

You don’t see anything wrong with this picture?

When the hall cleared, and towards the end of regular scheduled meeting, I asked to address the council, I especially like the part under the heading of the “good and welfare of the people,” this is what I said:

“I have never been more ashamed of being a resident of Methuen, than here tonight. I blame Billy Manzi for this mob mentality meeting.

May I remind all of you, the chief, along with the upper echelon of the police department, are being investigated by the Federal Branch of the Government!
To use this forum was moot!

It must have taken quite a bit of the people’s time to orchestrate this sham! But I do know from past experience this is one of the few things Billy excels in!

I will be placing a call 1st thing tomorrow morning to the FBI, so they can get a tape of this meeting! It fits the pattern of one of the things the boyz are already being investigated for…INTIMIDATION!

Oh, and Billy I am going to check to see if your name is on the list, if it is missing, I am going to recommend it be added.”

I did get cut off after I mentioned that I suspected Billy the Bridge had his fair share of culpability in this whole shameful display.

Ken Willett admonished it was unfair to discuss the mayor when he was not in the room, I did see Billy hiding around the corner, and I think everybody is well aware I have no trouble telling “The Bridge” what I think of him to his face.

As Ken admonished me, Councilor Debbie Quinn threw her hands up in front of her face and loudly clapped.

As we all know, Ken’s chief of staff for Broadhurst is winding down to an end, and Ken is seeking employment in the near future, perhaps he is also eyeing the mayor’s chair.
While I was speaking at the podium, a lone man in the audience started hollering at me, I did not hear what he said.

As I left the hall and was waiting at the elevator the same man that was rudely trying to interrupt my speech to the council, bolted over to the door and got in my face and started hollering me at in broken English: “You are a piece of Sheeeeet, and your newspaper is also a piece of Sheeeet.”

With this he had my attention, I asked him what his name was so I could give him the attention he deserves on the pages of Rumbo. This man was a fine representative of all that was bad with this public meeting.

He sneered at me and said I was too stupid, I would not be able to get it, and then he ended with YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO KISS THE FEET OF MY PEOPLE!

“My People!” My People! Silly me. I thought we were in METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND WE WERE ALL AMERICANS!

I did find out the man’s name, he is the husband of Councilor Kathleen Corey Rahmey. I would like to thank him for putting this meeting into perspective for me; I thought I was dreaming as I sat through this deplorable display of thuggery and racism. Mr. Rahmey managed to slap me back into reality.

FBI was very interested in hearing about the council meeting in Methuen; they can hardly wait to see the tape.

One good thing that might arise from such an awful experience is my sources tell me that they are looking into applying the RICO Statute to the Bad Boyz, this meeting sure seals the intimidation angle.

Bad boyz, bad boyz, whatca gonna do,whatca gonna do when they come for you!