Paul Schlichtman
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schlichtman.org
Paul Schlichtman
@schlichtman.org
School board member; retired urban educator & principal. My passions are public policy (especially education & transportation), local governance. Oxford commas, Daf Yomi. (he/him) #mapoli #maedu #ArlingtonMA
Arlington, Massachusetts
"Once a 1,600-seat hall anchored by a grand proscenium with a pipe organ, the Capitol was sectioned off to create a six-screen multiplex in the 1980s. But over the last few decades, it’s been the Capitol’s old features that keep people coming back."
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
Arlington's Capitol Theatre marks 100 years of movies — and reinvention
The Capitol Theatre will mark its centennial anniversary Tuesday, Nov. 25. The way we watch movies has changed since the Capitol was built. The theater has, too.
www.wbur.org
November 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"If you have not listened to Trump speaking recently, the decline in his cognitive abilities is a bit shocking."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-n...
Trump is not have all the mentals. McDonald’s. Water. Sir! (Very strong.)
An examination of the president's cognitive functioning at Monday’s McDonald’s summit.
www.thebulwark.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Instead of ending the dumping of sewage in our waterways, the MWRA wants to make it more acceptable, more often.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Water Authority Considers Proposal to Let Sewage Keep Flowing Into the Charles River | News | The Harvard Crimson
To the dismay of advocates and residents, the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority proposed a plan at a Wednesday meeting that would allow for the continuation of the sewage system.
www.thecrimson.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:36 AM
An old boundary marker between Winchesterand West Cambridge (now Arlington) was found in the Mystic Lake.
winchesternews.org/20251031_win...
Winchester residents rediscover town’s historical boundary marker
By Peter G. Engeldrum & William Swanton It all started at a Winchester Historical meeting. Winchester residents William Swanton and Peter Engeldrum were chatting about the Middlesex Canal as the conv...
winchesternews.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
Holy shit.

Game 7 between the Jays and the Mariners just ran an pro-free trade ad, targeted to American workers, decrying tariffs.

The twist being that, if you don't catch it beforehand, Ronald Reagan is revealed as the speaker in the closing seconds.

What PAC is this? The Province of Ontario.
Ronald Reagan narrates a new anti-tariff ad from Canada
The new commercial is part of a $75 million ad campaign by Ontario aimed at Republican voters.
www.fastcompany.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:13 AM
School Committee member Jane P. Morgan was chosen to fill the seat on the Select Board vacated by Lenard Diggins, who moved to Somerville at the beginning of October. Morgan will serve until the spring election, which is slated for April.
yourarlington.com/2025/10/sele...
School Committee member Jane P. Morgan to fill vacant Select Board seat – Your Arlington
yourarlington.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Good thing I parked at Medford-Tufts, as an hour wait for a bus connection to Arlington is beyond unreasonable. @mbta.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Check out this proposal for a redesigned New York state flag. I think it's spectacular!
www.reddit.com/r/vexillolog...
From the vexillologyUS community on Reddit: The "Bluebird Rose" flag (New York flag redesign)
Explore this post and more from the vexillologyUS community
www.reddit.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
Max Page of @massteacher.bsky.social: “we should return to the fundamental moral question: How can we cut a single person off health care in order to preserve the profits of cheating multinational corporations?” #mapoli
October 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Select Board vice chair Lenard Diggins has moved to Somerville and is expected to formally resign at the board’s meeting on Oct. 6. He has not yet changed his address or registered to vote elsewhere, but "nearly all of my possessions have been moved to Somerville." yourarlington.com/2025/10/digg...
Select Board member Len Diggins to resign – Your Arlington
yourarlington.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I love the reference to the Arlington Public Schools in the submitter notes for this state flag design. This has the potential to become beloved by the Commonwealth. #mapoli
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
The Pioneer Institute recently chastised the #mapoli MBTA for its operating budget expenses, taking bus ops expenditures to task. I respond today w/facts, explaining why costs have risen & noting that operating revenues are still less than they should be: commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/yes-...
Yes, the MBTA operating budget has increased significantly – and that’s a good thing   - CommonWealth Beacon
To provide the services we need, want, and expect from our public transit system, the T needs to do more things and hire more people and pay them competitively. There’s nothing controversial or troubl...
commonwealthbeacon.org
August 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
What happens if:
A red state National Guard unit is activated and sent by Trump to a blue state.
Meanwhile, that blue state governor activates its National Guard in order to defend against the invading red state unit.

What is the legal domain in which this would play out?
August 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
The only trans-commonwealth service in Massachusetts is down due to a sink hole in…New York!? While Amtrak fixes it, the situation is a reminder of the length of the wait before additional service arrives. #mapoli
wmasspi.com/2025/08/the-...
The Trans-Commonwealth RR: The Sinking Feeling of a Lake Shore Limited Status Quo… — Western Mass Politics & Insight
The Berkshire Flyer and the Boston to Albany leg of the Lake Shore Limited have been bustituted until at least late Fall.
wmasspi.com
August 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
Some of my Democratic colleagues need to understand: this isn’t 1965. Republicans are no longer playing by the rules, so neither will I.

Thank you @repmarkdesaulnier.bsky.social for inviting me to talk about how we’re fighting back.‪
August 23, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
The earth opened up (in New York) and swallowed Massachusetts's only trans-commonwealth rail service--for now anyway. But it's a reminder of the how long the wait still is for more service that will link the Commonwealth east to west. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2025/08/the-...
The Trans-Commonwealth RR: The Sinking Feeling of a Lake Shore Limited Status Quo… — Western Mass Politics & Insight
The Berkshire Flyer and the Boston to Albany leg of the Lake Shore Limited have been bustituted until at least late Fall.
wmasspi.com
August 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
There's a guy running for mayor in #Framingham who, without a doubt, has the most unfortunate name imaginable in politics right now.

#mapoli
July 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This group has begun the process for an initiative petition on the 2026 ballot to implement all-party state primaries. Massachusetts is a one-and-a half party state that is plagued with the most uncontested elections in the US. This is the fix we need! #mapoli
coalitionforhealthydemocracy.org
The Coalition for Healthy Democracy - The Coalition for Healthy Democracy
Across the country our political system is worse than ever. And Massachusetts is no longer the exception: we have the least competitive elections and the least transparent legislature in the country. ...
coalitionforhealthydemocracy.org
August 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
So good! So good! So good!
Marlins are blasting Sweet Caroline as they are three outs away from sweeping the Yankees for the first time in franchise history
August 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
So Good, So Good: With #Marlins on the verge of sweeping #Yankees in the ninth inning of Sunday’s, the speakers at loanDepot Park blasted “Sweet Caroline,” the Neil Diamond hit famously played at Fenway Park during each #RedSox home game.
August 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
On June 15, the Red Sox were 37-36, in fourth place. The San Francisco Giants were 41-31, in second place.
That's when the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants.
Today, the Red Sox are 61-51, in second place. The Giants are 55-56, in third place, and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card race.
August 2, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Who’s got quarters? You need to feed the meter!
July 31, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Some guy with a purple bandana is walking around the Jason Russell House beer garden, asking folks about the #ArlingtonMA master plan. @purplebandanna.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Paul Schlichtman
An impressive achievement. In the meantime the US plods along, and here in #mapoli the MBTA ignores calls for electrified Regional Rail.
China’s high-speed rail network is set to reach 50,000 km by the end of this year. The system, and other parts of the national railway, carried 2.24 billion passengers in the first half of 2025.
China vows high-speed rail upgrade after years of record-breaking expansion
Beijing expected to reach 50,000km target by end of 2025, as it shifts focus to quality and efficiency.
www.scmp.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM