Besides Paul Tsongas and Marty Meehan, who else belongs on Lowell’s political Mount Rushmore?
Teddy Panos
April 10, 2026
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I am very pleased and excited that Ted has begun the “Inside Lowell” blog. His knowledge of Lowell politics and issues is unparalleled. He loves the city deeply, and whether you agree with him or not, you can’t argue his passion for the city. He’s also a very strong advocate of local law enforcement. Upon my ascension to the position of Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department, we immediately began a partnership where each and every week, myself or another Command Staff officer, would appear at the WCAP radio station studio, or call in by phone, and engage the citizens of Lowell in frank conversations about issues affecting the city’s neighborhoods. This collaboration enhanced the community policing efforts of the Lowell Police Department and created the opportunity for the citizens of Lowell to speak directly with their police chief. I will always be grateful for Ted’s work on behalf of the Lowell Police Department.
100 Merrimack St, Suite 410, Lowell MA 01852
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This is great news for Lowell Public Schools because of the recent October 27, 2026 City Council Mtg. regarding the Public Safety Appropriations. One was the transfer of $1.1 million from the FY24 Certified Free Cash Account to the Lowell Police Department, and the other was to raise and appropriate $1.5 million to the Lowell Fire Department to support the hiring of 14 new firefighter recruits. I think the majority of the City Council’s vote in support of the Management Teams request wasn't about wasting money or "kicking the can down the road", they were simply about fixing immediate and critical public safety shortages and stopping overtime costs before they get even worse. These were just common-sense practical fixes, not reckless spending. Police cars run 24/7 and replacing them every three years isn't a luxury, it’s a necessity. Don't you want to make sure help arrives when calling 911? Plus, passing those older cars down to other city departments stretches every hardworking taxpayer's dollar. On the fire side, the department has been running short by at least 17 firefighters. Because fire stations must be fully staffed 24/7, the city has been forced to pay massive amounts of overtime. Hiring 14 new recruits fills those empty positions right now and works to address that skyrocketing overtime bill. And it was done with revenue surplus without adding a single penny to current tax bills. Also, certified free cash isn't some holy reserve that can never be utilized. While some of the councilors complained that this money was sitting in a school building repair fund, the reality is that a city building can wait a few months for upgrades, a 911 emergency call cannot. It's sensibly using savings to fix critical challenges right now, so the financial hemorrhage stops before next spring's budget. Serendipitously, as mentioned above, the state just awarded Lowell Public Schools nearly $5 million in MSBA funding to cover major repairs at the Bailey, Shaughnessy, and McAvinnue schools. These state grants are covering those building upgrades. So, it was a very wise, logical and cost-effective move by city management to re-direct surplus cash towards public safety. Kudos to the BRILLIANT and STRATEGIC Management TEAM and the councilors who voted "yes" for prioritizing the public safety of Lowell's residents and the hardworking taxpayers.
- Jeanne Balkas