Election integrity article addendum
Some time after the story headlined “Bemis Hall speakers push claims of 2020 election fraud” was published in the Lincoln Squirrel on the evening of May 11, the linked video of the May 5 event in Lincoln posted by YouTuber “bluesmovers” was taken down by YouTube for violating the platform’s community guidelines. Those guidelines cover a number of categories, but the video was most likely removed for violating the elections misinformation standards, which include a prohibition on videos about election integrity with “content that advances false claims that widespread fraud, errors, or glitches changed the outcome of select past national elections, after final election results are officially certified.”
Masks now strongly recommended in Lincoln
Due to recent data showing an increase in positive Covid-19 cases in Lincoln and Massachusetts, the town Board of Health strongly recommends that people wear masks in public indoor spaces until the middle of June. Also, anyone who is eligible should get the second booster. The town has seen an average of 7.4 cases per week during March and April but 22 for the week ending May 5 (that does not include rapid antigen tests dine in a lab or at home). If you do test positive for Covid-19, call your doctor for a prescription of Paxlovid, which has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and avoiding hospitalization.
Tack Room gets entertainment license
The Select Board voted on May 9 to grant a provisional entertainment license to the Tack Room. The restaurant will be allowed to have live outdoor entertainment on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from about 4:30–9:30 p.m. between the building and Lincoln Road. The board gave the OK on April 25 for the Tack Room to expand into part of that area during warm weather.
The entertainment license will also permit indoor acoustic performers and perhaps a trivia night if the owners decide it’s feasible given the limited space. Tack Rom co-owner Brandon Bunnewith said they hoped to have up to five outdoor events with amplified sound, though nothing had been booked yet. the license is valid through the end of the calendar year, can be withdrawn if there are complaints about excessive noise.
Meeting held on train crossing incident
Lincoln officials met recently with MBTA and Keolis representatives to learn more about what caused the frightening near-miss at the Route 117 railroad crossing on April 11. Town Administrator Tim Higgins, Police Chief Kevin Kennedy, and Select Board member Jim Hutchison were told that “the investigation is still in progress,” Higgins reported. Since a maintenance crew was in the area at the time, it’s most likely that human error was responsible.
The MBTA and Keolis promised to come to Lincoln and share their findings once they were available, and to visit all four of Lincoln’s railroad crossings to look at possible additional safety measures. Kennedy suggested that signs be installed at crossings when rail work was happening nearby to warn drivers.
Hi Alice, How do you know YouTube’s real reasons for removal? I was unable to find anything online. The only party actually benefitted was whoever was actually behind the presentation. If we could figure out who that was, we could refer the matter to the authorities for investigation. Now we can’t. I trust the people and officials of Lincoln to do the right thing a lot more than I trust YouTube’s civic benevolence.
Do you know if anybody download the video before it was removed? I would like to have a copy. —John Getsinger