2010 Democratic Campaign Institute (DCI)

DCI is an intensive weekend training on strategies, principles and skill development on how to organize a campaign as well as grassroots organizing.

Signature gathering with Martha - stop 2

Whole Foods Market in Alewife

Signature gathering with Martha - stop 1

Shaw's market in Porter Square Cambridge

Back on the campaign trail

While it was only one stop in Fitchburg (for me at least), it was great to get back out on the road with Martha Coakley. Martha is running as the incumbent for Massachusetts Attorney General. She was in Fitchburg for their Democratic caucuses.

Martha and Congressman John Oliver (MA 1st district)


Martha and State Rep Stephen Dinatale

Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces at night

The legendary Bethlehem Steel Corporation was the second largest steel company in the United States. The company began in 1857 as the Saucona Iron Company, and through the years was known as The Bethlehem Rolling Mill and Iron Company, The Bethlehem Iron Company, and finally in 1899 assumed the name Bethlehem Steel Company. Construction on the first blast furnace in Southside Bethlehem began in 1861, and started operating in 1863. One of the first machine shops was completed in 1865, and a second blast furnace went into operation in 1867. During World War I and World War II, Bethlehem Steel produced armor plate and ordnance for the U.S. armed forces, and the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation’s 15 shipyards produced over 1,100 ships, more than any other builder during the war.

As foreign firms began importing cheaper steel in the 1970s, Bethlehem Steel was forced to begin closing plants. New competition and less demand continued through the 1990s, and in 1995 Bethlehem Steel ceased steel making at the Bethlehem plant. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2001, and in 2003 all of Bethlehem Steel’s assets were sold to International Steel Group.

In 2007, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem purchased the Bethlehem property. Construction began that spring, and the casino opened on May 22, 2009. A hotel, event center and shopping mall will open in a later phase. Other plans to rejuvenate the Southside Bethlehem property include Steel Stacks, a community project led by ArtsQuest, PBS, and the National Museum of Industrial History.

Allentown PA at night

This is a photo I took last night in Allentown Pennsyivania. It's of the Pennsylvania Power and Light building. The PPL Building was built from 1926 to 1928. It was built by the PPL corporation and to this day is still the headquarters of the company. The building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Wiley Corbett (who would later have a hand in designing New York's Rockefeller Center) and was supervised by his assistant, Wallace Harrison (who would later design Lincoln Center, LaGuardia Airport and the U.N. Headquarters Building). The building exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko. In 1930, the PPL Building was named the "best example of a modern office building" by Encyclopedia Britannica, and also featured the world's fastest elevator.

Campaign event for Steve Grossman

Vermont Governor Howard Dean and and Massachusetts Congressman, Jim McGovernSteve Grossman stump for Steve Grossman at an event in Boston. Grossman is running for Treasurer and Receiver General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.