Earth Day and GreenDayRecycling

 While at the electronics recycling event at the First Parish Church on Vernon Street this past Saturday, I asked the man who took my money, where do these items go? He replied, “I do not know” and gave me a flyer with the name of the recycling company, GreenDayRecycling MA. I noticed they were excepting bicycles at no charge. I walked over to the earth day event expecting to see members of the DPW standing next to recycle carts as in the past. But they were not there.

I did a google search and a State of Mass search for the company. Turns out, they are not listed as a company in Massachusetts. Odd I thought so I dug deeper and found that the company takes in bicycles for free and sells them to people in third world countries.
The next day I asked the First Parish Church if they had asked GreenDayRecycling to set-up in their parking lot. No answer from them. So, I contacted the organizer of Earth Day and she asked why I was asking. I only wanted to know how much of a cut GreenDay was giving back to the church or Earth Day. 

So, I asked DPW why they were not there at Earth Day, one of the few times DPW comes face to face with residents and a perfect time to drive home the importance of proper recycling. But DPW said they were understaffed and already committed to other things.
I would like to think residents of Framingham who donate their used bikes to recycle, would prefer the bikes be given back to the needy kids here in Framinghhma. Two groups have already given bikes away, United Way and Jewish Family Services of MetroWest along with FPS in 2021. My point of this rant is if residents want to get rid of a bicycle and there are kids in Framingham who could use one, why not keep them in Framingham. Also, recycling companies should make clear where the material is going. Many countries now who used to take all our electronic scarp, no longer do. And some countries lack environment laws and safe employee work conditions. Recycled electronics should stay is this country and safely reduced to usable scrap.
I’m going to try to work out a plan to accept used bikes and give them to needy kids.

My correspondence with GrenDayRecycling;

Hi, The electronics were collected by Green Day Recycling, where they will be broken down and recycled as our partner facility.

The bikes go to a variety of places. We have contacts who can refurbish and repurpose the bikes if they are in good shape. Otherwise, they will be scrapped with the rest of the materials.

Who is your partner facility? Do they send anything abroad?

Regarding the bicycles, are any of them shipped to other countries?

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/east-valley/2013/06/20/misunderstanding-muddles-bike-effort/45508252007/

It is time to tackle Recycling

 
Look at your neighborhood recycle carts on trash day. You may see items like hanging pots with plants in them, patio canopy poles, vacuums, chairs, household items with cords and many more items that do not belong in the recycle cart. It is painfully clear we have a lack of recycling knowledge from not only residents but our local towns and cities and from the federal government as well.
Take the case of batteries, all kinds. There is no shortage of conflicting messages on what to do with your dead alkaline batteries, which include AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt. Governments and battery makers do not have consistent and clear policies for disposing of the alkaline batteries that power many of our small electric devices like remote controls, flashlights, clocks, and toys. They even differ depending on where you live. 

In Framingham, our recycle wizard instructs residents to trash alkaline batteries. Rechargeable and phone batteries should be dropped off at the recycle center and not in the trash or in the recycle carts. Laptop batteries are to be held until the annual hazardous waste day collection and are banned from recycle and trash carts as are lithium batteries.
Lithium batteries have been blamed for recycle fires across the country. And just like EV car fires, lithium battery fires are extremely hard to extinguish, cause extremely toxic fumes and the water run off pollute the surrounding areas.  
Typical alkaline batteries like AAs contain steel, zinc, manganese, potassium, and graphite, according to Energizer, which sells alkaline batteries. Energy is generated when the zinc and manganese interact.
The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that in most communities’ batteries can be safely put in the trash. But it recommends sending your alkaline batteries like AAs to a battery recycler. This does not necessarily mean you can throw the batteries in your regular recycling cart.  

Massachusetts currently does not have state battery regulations in place.
The Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act, or simply Battery Act, was signed into law in 1996. This law created regulations for the processes of disposing of and recycling batteries. By recycling your used Alkaline batteries, you are not only doing what’s right for the environment and your community, you are also following the law.
 

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, created the Universal Waste Regulation to make clear the safest processes for recycling batteries and other potentially toxic products. Batteries contain heavy metals, acids, and other toxic substances that, if not properly disposed of, can leak into the environment, and wreak havoc on your surroundings.
When all else fails (and if you are particularly committed), Call2Recycle sells special boxes for batteries and some e-waste that you can ship back to them. You could even set one up in your local community and start your own mini program.
 

A huge exception to this is California, which classifies batteries as hazardous waste. The state says they are hazardous because of the metals, toxic and corrosive materials that batteries contain. Residents are instructed to take all batteries to hazardous waste disposal facilities. No other state also classifies batteries as hazardous, but some local governments call for recycling batteries and have programs to do so.
According to California officials “tossing a handful of batteries in the trash may not seem like a big deal, but it adds up: around 180,000 tons of batteries are discarded in the U.S. every year.”
Our state could help the situation by following California’s lead in labeling all batteries hazardous waste and requiring residents to recycle them in appropriate ways.
 

I call on the Mayor and City Council to form a recycling/trash task force to take a realistic look at the future of recycling and trash removal in our city. By 2030 all landfills in this state will be closed. Tipping fees will certainly double or triple in the next few years. Recyclers will be charging more principally because we just do not hold our residents to any reasonable recycling standards. We may even have to sort our recyclables ourselves before too long. On this 2023 earth day lets commit Framingham to be a part of the solution by educating residents on proper recycling measures.

An update on my FOIA requests

 On February 10th I asked FPD through email for a copy of the Body-cam proposal the Chief gave the Mayor. That same day I got back this from FPD: "It is in draft form and not available at this time"
On March 16th I again asked for a copy of the proposal and got this from FPD: "Same as before at this time".
Later that day I got this from FPD: The Chief said it is a draft document. If you would like put it in FOIA and we will act on it accordingly.
I filed a FOIA request (2023-0827) with FPD on March 16th for a copy of the Body-cam proposal Chief Baker gave to the mayor. City lawyers denied my request. At that time the lawyers claimed in the denial to me that the proposal was exempt under Exemption D. We conclude that under Mass.R.Civ.P.26 (b) (3) that it falls outside the definition of “public records”, where it is not a reasonably completed study or report it Is not reasonably completed. Where work product is exempted from disclosure under the public records act, it is protected from disclosure to the extent provided by Mass.R.Civ.P.26.
So, on April 2 I filed an appeal (SPR23-0620) with the State, public records division to the cocked eyed legal mumble jumbo the city lawyers tried to use to deny my request.
On April 14th I received a letter from Manza Arthur, supervisor of records with the State. The letter rejected the cities lawyers claim of exemption. The Public Records Division senior attorney and a department representative agreed to provide me with a copy of the body-cam proposal within 10 business days. That means they have until April 28th to comply.

I wonder now if there is a proposal dated back months ago or not. The lack of transparency, over this seemingly innocent document is beyond troubling. Never accept that the Mayor and PC are trying to be transparent.


Regarding the results of the FBI investigation of the killing of Eurie Stamps which was generated by DA Marion Ryan two years ago. On Feb 7, 2023, I filed another FOIA request to Marion Ryan’s office for copies of the FBI findings. On February 21 the DA’s office asked for more time to respond. On March 8, 2023 I filed an appeal (SPR23-0436) to the State for the lack of response from the DA’s office. On March 21, 2023 I received a reply from Public Records Supervisor informing me that the DA’s office had until April 18th to respond.  That same day March 21, 2023 I received an email from DA Ryan’s office stating that “at the conclusion of our review of this incident we will provide all the information to the family and intend to give them the time they need to review the information before we make and further disclosures or announcements. Accordingly, this matter remains open, and any further records concerning this matter remain exempt from public disclosure at this time.”

So for the past two years of me filing FOIA requests to the DA’s office asking for the results of the FBI investigation, I’ve been given the same reason why it can’t happen. The case is still open after 12 years. I have to say, the DA must be keeping the matter quite for some reason. And it could be earth shattering.

A new free service for those to engage Beacon Hill

 In the Globe today a piece written by David Scharfenberg, about a new platform group just forming called MAPLE (Massachusetts Platform for Legislative Engagement). It's free to join and once a member readers can see what others have written and be able to follow what groups users want to follow. What committee, sponsor and co-sponsor of any bills pending.

This approach should help those who want to engage with Beacon Hill without the hassles. I signed up today.

  https://www.mapletestimony.org/

More clarity on crime stats

 If you want to see a clearer picture of crime stats in this Town and all other Towns and cities in the State have a look at this web site. You can see by year and category what I think needs to be seen by the public.

http://massanalysis.com/index.php/crime/?gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHYjI9_Qu-iKH3wVgA2tn4MND7L3FvIQLZFXf7xBixhkxqL9bicD0ORoCcJoQAvD_BwE

Body-cam updates

 

At the last CC meeting, during the mayor’s report to the council, G King asked about the progress of the body-cam program. Much like the last three times I heard the mayor make more excuses and then said we won't see body-cams till 2024. See for yourself. 

http://vod-framingham.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/2819?channel=1

38:00 to 41:10

 I give King and Steiner some credit for at least asking about them. As they must have read that the little town of Southborough got all they need and it didn't cost the Town a dime... why you ask? because of the grant money they got from the State. Read about Southborough here at the MWDN (paywall) https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/local/2023/04/03/southborough-mass-police-begin-body-camera-program/70076176007/

We've all seen the body-cam footage of the most recent cop killings and cops saving lives. We shouldn't have to prove our point any longer. The people want them, most honest cops want them, most lawyers, judges and politicians want them, so why is it taking so long?

The proposal that was given to the Mayor months ago.. at a live public meeting, is being denied by the mayor’s office. I have since filed an appeal for the document that supposedly spells out the costs. Why in anyone's world is that such a state secret? Is this what transparency and accountability looks like? I hope not. The city lawyers came up cockeyed reasons why the document cannot be seen. 

So the State has generated a lengthy set of regulations for body-cam use, how to buy, storage, how to use, etc. See it here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/law-enforcement-body-camera-final-report/download

So, keep in mind that FPD can use law enforcement trust fund money to buy the cameras but instead will be asking the tax payer to flip the bill. All because this administration with council and the past administration and council did not do their jobs when they could and should have. 

If you believe as I do that body-cams cannot wait until next year, please send an email to the mayor@framinghamme.gov and in the subject box just write Body-Cams Now, he'll figure it out.

 

Crime stats on framinghamma.gov web site

 

As promised by FPD, crime stats of the past 4 years for Framingham are on the city web site as of a month or so. The revamped web page is designed to have easy access to pertinent information anyone can access.  While studying the web site looking for the crime stats for the life of me, I couldn't find them. I had to ask Mike Cannon where they were. So, follow along, if you go to https://www.framinghamma.gov/ you'll see the main page. Look to the far left top for GOVERNMENT.   

Click POLICE https://www.framinghamma.gov/135/Police and you will find on the left side, 7 different searchable categories. 

Click Transparency/Accountability 

https://www.framinghamma.gov/3091/Transparency-Accountability which brings you to 11 different searchable categories, then click "call for service by year", a PDF will pop up. You should see 4 pages with 125 categories by nature. After studying the list, I discovered 4 major crimes categories are not on the list. They are Murder, sexual assault, drug arrests and rape. 

I wrote to FPD and asked why those categories are not on the list. I got back a reply a few days later with the murders and drug/narcotic violations for years 2020, 2021, 2022. The main list goes back to 2018 and 2019. 

So, if you’re still following the bouncing ball, the main list with all 125 different categories listed you may ask yourself what some of the categories mean. So, I wrote to FPD and asked if they would put on the page, a glossary of terms, as I am sure not everyone knows (except law enforcement) what they mean. I also asked if the 4 missing categories would be added to the main page. Their reply so far was nothing would be added.

The whole point of the latest police reform was to increase accountability and transparency. It is the law of the land now. And to refuse to adhere to full transparency of the actual crime statistics so the public can see, is not keeping with the spirit of the law and does nothing to build trust in our police force.