When you can’t make your budget you don’t build an addition on your house. Tax and spend is always the mayors priority! Oh and forget an override, not happening!
While "hysterical" is casually thrown around to mean "out of control", in a heated argument it generally translates to:
Invalidation: It frames the woman’s reaction as a medical or psychological failing rather than a logical response to a problem.
Deflection: By focusing on how the woman is expressing herself, the man can shift the focus away from his own behavior or the original issue.
Silencing: It is a shaming tactic used to make the woman doubt her own judgment and quiet down.
2. The Historical Context
The word actually has deep roots in medical sexism. It is derived from the Greek word hystera, which means "uterus". Historically, a "wandering womb" was considered a medical diagnosis used to explain away any woman who was angry, independent, or refused to comply with patriarchal norms. While the medical definition has been obsolete for a long time, the cultural conditioning behind the word remains.
3. The Double Standard
Often, when men display anger or frustration, they are seen as "assertive," "passionate," or simply "angry". When women display those exact same emotions—or even just communicate forcefully—it gets labeled as "hysterical". This double standard is an example of unconscious gender bias used to police women's emotions.
If by spicy, you mean, an intelligent human who is speaking an uncomfortable truth, then we are in agreement.
I agree. If a woman who has a viable point to make in any situation, and her voice level rises, she’s automatically dismissed as hysterical. Totally unacceptable. S.
Take note: I said Matt was non-hysterical. If you took that to mean Feldman (whose comment I said was “spicy”) was I guess that is on you. But thank you for raising awareness about the origin of the word and the fact that it triggers you.
Thank you Mr Leighton! I was not able to attend or see the meeting yet and it is great having a trusted reporter there to report on important meetings like this.
I am not sure where folks expect the city to find the money to cover the cost of the new contract on top of the deficit that we face.
The city hall project is the punching bag, but I don’t think it’s been explained clearly how cancelling that project (after already having spent $3.5M) will free up funds for trash.
And lastly, I’m new to Massachusetts and had no idea we have a a property tax increase cap until recently. It’s pretty clear to me that the chickens have come home to roost with that short-sighted policy. 2.5% isn’t even matching inflation these days.
I agree -- if the city is facing a budget deficit, we need to find money somewhere. From what I understand, this is not a new or sudden problem, but I am curious to know how much of the problem now is related to cuts in federal grants under the current administration. If this is part of the issue, would it help to communicate this clearly, so that we in don't assume it's entirely a problem of local mismanagement?
Sorry for my sloppy phrasing. I don't mean to suggest that "we" actually do assume that this is a problem of local mismanagement. It is surely more complex than that. I should have just said, would it help to communicate the effects on the city budget of any changes in federal support (e.g. reduction of federal grants to libraries, school funding, etc).
One thing to consider is that the trash fee is a flat fee, whether you earn 20k a year, or 200k or $2 million. Some Beverly residents will easily absorb any increase, while others will not. Is there another way to address the budget issue that takes this into account?
I'd be curious to know, too, what services the Mayor Cahill would cut if the City council doesn't back his proposed trash fees. Perhaps Beverly residents would rather forego some sidewalk repair, or reduce lawn-mowing of parks. Would it be feasible to save on heating/cooling/lighting costs in city offices by having longer hours 4 days a week, and three consecutive days off?
I realize none of these options would make up for the entire budget gap, but could the accumulation of small efficiencies plug some holes, so that not everything rested on trash pick-up fees?
When you can’t make your budget you don’t build an addition on your house. Tax and spend is always the mayors priority! Oh and forget an override, not happening!
Thank you for being our local reporter!
Feldman got quite spicy. Evidently a difference of opinion from hers is wrong. Matt did a nice job with a non-hysterical Reverse Uno Card.
Was waiting for the Council budget analyst to be more direct. “I told you morons 2027 was the year…here it is”.
“I am just giving you facts and my observation having done this 20 years. What you morons do or don’t to with that advice is on you”.
Take a note-
1. The Real Meaning Behind the Word
While "hysterical" is casually thrown around to mean "out of control", in a heated argument it generally translates to:
Invalidation: It frames the woman’s reaction as a medical or psychological failing rather than a logical response to a problem.
Deflection: By focusing on how the woman is expressing herself, the man can shift the focus away from his own behavior or the original issue.
Silencing: It is a shaming tactic used to make the woman doubt her own judgment and quiet down.
2. The Historical Context
The word actually has deep roots in medical sexism. It is derived from the Greek word hystera, which means "uterus". Historically, a "wandering womb" was considered a medical diagnosis used to explain away any woman who was angry, independent, or refused to comply with patriarchal norms. While the medical definition has been obsolete for a long time, the cultural conditioning behind the word remains.
3. The Double Standard
Often, when men display anger or frustration, they are seen as "assertive," "passionate," or simply "angry". When women display those exact same emotions—or even just communicate forcefully—it gets labeled as "hysterical". This double standard is an example of unconscious gender bias used to police women's emotions.
If by spicy, you mean, an intelligent human who is speaking an uncomfortable truth, then we are in agreement.
I agree. If a woman who has a viable point to make in any situation, and her voice level rises, she’s automatically dismissed as hysterical. Totally unacceptable. S.
Take note: I said Matt was non-hysterical. If you took that to mean Feldman (whose comment I said was “spicy”) was I guess that is on you. But thank you for raising awareness about the origin of the word and the fact that it triggers you.
Thank you Mr Leighton! I was not able to attend or see the meeting yet and it is great having a trusted reporter there to report on important meetings like this.
I agree. Where else would I find this blow by blow accounting of the back and forth. We need more such reporting to make informed choices
BRAVO Matt St.Hilaire and Councilors! BRAVO!
I am not sure where folks expect the city to find the money to cover the cost of the new contract on top of the deficit that we face.
The city hall project is the punching bag, but I don’t think it’s been explained clearly how cancelling that project (after already having spent $3.5M) will free up funds for trash.
And lastly, I’m new to Massachusetts and had no idea we have a a property tax increase cap until recently. It’s pretty clear to me that the chickens have come home to roost with that short-sighted policy. 2.5% isn’t even matching inflation these days.
Just my .02.
I agree -- if the city is facing a budget deficit, we need to find money somewhere. From what I understand, this is not a new or sudden problem, but I am curious to know how much of the problem now is related to cuts in federal grants under the current administration. If this is part of the issue, would it help to communicate this clearly, so that we in don't assume it's entirely a problem of local mismanagement?
Sorry for my sloppy phrasing. I don't mean to suggest that "we" actually do assume that this is a problem of local mismanagement. It is surely more complex than that. I should have just said, would it help to communicate the effects on the city budget of any changes in federal support (e.g. reduction of federal grants to libraries, school funding, etc).
One thing to consider is that the trash fee is a flat fee, whether you earn 20k a year, or 200k or $2 million. Some Beverly residents will easily absorb any increase, while others will not. Is there another way to address the budget issue that takes this into account?
I'd be curious to know, too, what services the Mayor Cahill would cut if the City council doesn't back his proposed trash fees. Perhaps Beverly residents would rather forego some sidewalk repair, or reduce lawn-mowing of parks. Would it be feasible to save on heating/cooling/lighting costs in city offices by having longer hours 4 days a week, and three consecutive days off?
I realize none of these options would make up for the entire budget gap, but could the accumulation of small efficiencies plug some holes, so that not everything rested on trash pick-up fees?
Thanks, Paul Leighton, for covering this story!