Why Casinos are bad

I really hope my state representative, Marty Walz, votes against the casino bill that is before the Massachusetts House this week. And should the bill pass that legislative body, I hope my state senator, Sonia Chang-Diaz, will vote no if she's given the chance.

Casinos are bad for local economies, and I base my opinion on personal experience. I was born in southeastern Connecticut when what is now Foxwoods was merely a bingo hall. In the early 90's, the region bore the brunt of that time period's recession.

While a young kid, the defense industry fueled much of the economy in southeastern Connecticut. The sign across the Thames River in Groton still reads, "The Submarine Capital of the World." Problem is, you don't need submarines in a post Cold War era. And you don't need the parts that supply them, either.

In the midst of the economic malaise that affected my friends and family, there arose a wonder in the Connecticut woods. Foxwoods promised jobs, and it brought them. Make no mistake about it, casinos do produce jobs, and Foxwoods created them at a time when they were so desperately needed. Sound familiar?

Except I don't live in southeastern Connecticut today. To put it frankly, there isn't much happening there beyond the casinos. It took a herculean effort a few years back by the region's U.S. Congressman to save the U.S. Sub Base along that same Thames River. Many argued that its shuttering might have been a final economic straw for the region, and I agree with them.

The problem with destination casinos (which is what the Governor and others are arguing for) is that they try very hard to be destinations. I did a report when I was a senior in high school that discussed, in part, the psychological manipulation on display within Foxwoods. There are no clocks. There are few windows. There's a lot of bells and whistles (literally), generating excitement and adrenaline. The whole atmosphere is intended to do one thing---keep people there.

And Foxwoods and nearby Mohegan Sun have succeeded. Between the "wonder of it all"---the restaurants and live entertainment and sporting events and all those darn chances to win---it's no wonder that those that go decide not to leave.

One of my friends went to Foxwoods late last year. She explained how to save cost, she was going to stay in nearby Mystic, rather than on the grounds of the casino. Now, I love Mystic. My parents live there. My brother operated a marine business there, and his wife works there. Mystic is a great Connecticut town, and prior to the opening of the casinos, it was the main tourist attraction in the region. Not any more.

Someone asked my friend where she was going to go to dinner when she was in Connecticut. "I don't know," came the reply. "Probably somewhere in the casino."

To which I suggested: "Why not go out to dinner in Mystic?"

The story of my friend best exemplifies why I don't like casinos. From an economic perspective, casinos do not to contribute to the surrounding communities, but rather take from them.

The wonder in the Connecticut woods still is the wonder contained to the Connecticut woods. The nearby city of Norwich, economically depressed since I was born, is still economically depressed. It's downtown is as empty as when I was a kid. The restaurants of Mystic still receive their best business during the summer from out-of-state beachcombers, not from casino traffic (this is based on a first-hand interview with a waitress). It pains me to write this; Connecticut will always have a very special place in my heart.

Speaking of "wonders," I wonder what we all could have come up with to help spur economic activity over the past three years had we not spent so much time worrying about casinos. My concern is that a casino in Massachusetts will have the same effect as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Why would a visitor to a casino near Boston want to go into the city? Why would they want to peruse shops on Newbury; visit an historic site downtown, or experience the city's varied neighborhoods?

For non-economic reasons, my dad hates gambling. He doesn't even buy lottery tickets. I have gambled from time to time, and I have had a great time visiting Las Vegas with friends on a couple of occasions. Notwithstanding, I am sure my distaste for casinos is somewhat influenced by my dad. Regardless, my opposition to casinos in Massachusetts is driven largely by what I experienced as a kid. I think my reasons are economic. And beyond the jobs casinos can create, I worry that the economic consequences of Massachusetts casinos would be harsh.

*** UPDATE: I heard from Jamie Hellen, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz's chief of staff, that she will vote against any bill for expanding gambling. Yay Sonia!

Church's Big Day

Trinity Church in Copley Square

Boston

April 4, 2010

Happy Easter to those that celebrate on this beautiful day in New England. This morning at Trinity Church in Boston, performers were on hand outside to keep occupied those waiting in line for services. I took the picture above as I was leaving the 8 a.m. service; the queue was for the 10 a.m. service. It made me wonder if the clergy is nervous on Sundays like this one, when so many current and potential parishioners attend. It's a day off or me, but not for them!

Make it a Census Competition

So today is census day. The 2010 census is supposed to take a snapshot of the total U.S. population, and who is living where, on this day. The form actually asks each household to enter in the names of people who, as of April 1, are living there "most of the time."

One of my favorite books is Freakonomics, which applies economic analysis to human nature. One chapter talks about human motivation and concludes that peer pressure---more specifically, the fear of embarrassment---is the most effective motivation. Without giving the chapter away, suffice it to say that guilt is a far better way to encourage parents to pick up their children on time at daycare versus fining those that are tardy. (Yes that was the actual way the book's authors studied the issue of motivation.)

For that reason, I applaud the U.S. Census for setting up a way to track, in real time, what towns, counties and states are winning the census race. As of writing this blog post, a little more than half of U.S. households have mailed back their census forms (I sent mine back over a week ago). A neat website set up by the census lets you see how various parts of the country are faring in terms of their response rates.

Map of Downtown Boston and Environs
Taken from Census.gov
April 1, 2010

In case you can't see it clearly, the map above is of downtown Boston, and the shades of blue and green indicate the range that each shaded area falls into based on how many households have returned their census forms. The green shades represent areas where the response is better than 50 percent, and the blue represents areas where the response is below 50 percent (As response gets better, the shades will turn yellow and orange, per the key at the top). It's kind of neat. In the spirit of the Freakonomics chapter, I might encourage my neighbors to mail their forms back, so we can beat Cambridge!

****

I don't understand why anyone would tell people not to mail back their census forms. Some anti-government groups are urging citizens to refrain from participating in the census; they say the government is out to get too much info on all of us.

An editorial I read in today's New York Times notes how Michelle Bachmann, a Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota, is part of the crowd telling people to "Throw it out" instead of "Mail it back." As the New York Times points out, if Bachmann succeeds, the only thing her disciples will gain is less federal funding and a scaling down of other benefits, which are allotted based on the census results. Heck, if she's really successful, Minnesota could stand to lose one of its allotted congressional seats. Perhaps Representative Bachmann would then get redistricted out of Congress?

-----

Editor's Note: Editorial mentioned above is "The Real Census," The New York Times, April 1, 2010; page A20.

Big East to the Final Four

Only a few weeks ago, I was jeering West Virginia and hoping that my UCONN Huskies would deliver them a whooping (they did). Yesterday, I was hoping like heck that same West Virginia team would find a victory against Kentucky (they did).

I root for the UCONN Huskies during the season, but once they are out of the running, I root for UCONN's conference, the Big East. I can't really understand why one night I am against various teams that are UCONN foes in the trenches of the season-- teams like Georgetown, Syracuse, Notre Dame, St. John's, Villanova and West Virginia-- and the next night I am cheering for those same enemies. To college basketball fans, it makes sense. You are loyal to your team first, and your conference second.

The Big East conference is the best conference in college basketball. During a couple weeks this season, four teams from the Big East were among the top ten ranked teams in the country. Syracuse and West Virginia almost occupied two of the four coveted No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Eight Big East teams made it to the big dance, more than any other conference.

Yet, the Big East's performance in the NCAA tournament has not been superb. Only two of the original eight Big East tournament entrants made it to the second weekend (the Sweet Sixteen, in insider parlance). The team that played the best during weekend one, Syracuse, could not get past a surging Butler Bulldog team-- which is from the Horizon Conference, arguably far inferior to the mighty Big East.

Why the disappointing tournament performance? My brother Brett puts forth a theory that the Big East conference is perhaps too good. The conventional wisdom is that playing in a difficult conference helps you at the end of the season; playing challenging opponents all year long hones a team's skills and allows it to see where problems are against high-class competition. It's kind of like training for a marathon by always pushing yourself to get beyond where you've been before, as opposed to training by running a mile during each training run.

Brett's theory is that there is a conference strength threshold that, when passed, becomes detrimental to the conference's teams. On more than one occasion this year, analysts have said the Big East "is eating its own." Playing a top-ten opponent each night for several weeks would wear even the best trained athletes. The Big East teams in the tournament this year have simply looked pooped.

I accept Brett's theory over the comments of many other non-Big East fans that say the conference is overrated. As someone who has watched many Big East games this year, and saw how the teams looked in the NCAA tournament, I still believe strongly the Big East is legit. But then again, I do admit I am biased.

And then, amid my concerns and theories of conference fatigue, there's West Virginia. The Mountaineers were not the best team in the Big East conference this year, but they are the best team now. They won the Big East conference tournament, and they have not looked back. Yesterday, they defeated Kentucky, a No. 1 seed, to earn a spot in the Final Four.

The Big East conference is now 8-7 in the NCAA tournament, with one team left. Most importantly, the Big East conference is headed to the Final Four, where it belongs.

Disappointment with Representative Stephen Lynch

All of my neighbors are represented by Mike Capuano. I live in one stray precinct within my Ward and downtown Boston that is represented by Stephen Lynch.

For reasons I cannot understand, Congressman Lynch intends to vote against the health care bill in front of the House of Representatives this weekend.

I have written about the health care bill in the past. It's complicated, and because it's complicated, it's easy to create soundbites against it. Even if the soundbites are dead wrong. Like the notion that health care reform means the government is taking over health care. Like in Europe, where (the soundbites continue) you have to wait months for routine procedures because of bureaucratic paperwork.

The health care bill in front of Congress this weekend does not represent a government takeover. It sets up exchanges of health care insurance companies (private companies), and it allows these companies to compete for a large number of potential customers. In that way, it creates competition. Hardly a government-run plan that so many think the bill completely encompasses.

Health care reform is complicated because we all need it and we're willing to pay anything for it in a catastrophe. The popular portions of health care reform are portability (insurance companies can't deny you coverage if you switch plans) and deniability for pre-existing conditions (insurance companies can't deny you coverage for already being sick). However, if these portions were to pass by themselves, there would be no incentive for people to have coverage unless they were sick. And this would bankrupt the insurance companies.

So to pass the things people like, the insurance companies need the government to demand that everyone be covered. And to do that, the government needs to help those who can't afford insurance. And to do that, the government needs to encourage the industry to control costs and be more efficient. Controlling costs inevitably means less revenue and less profit, and private industry doesn't like that. And that's why, beyond the stuff people like, health care reform is hard.

Beyond the soundbites, though, is the fact that healthcare reform is so desperately needed. It's an industry that is weighing down business with its costs. The bill before Congress is far from perfect. But reform is the right thing for all of us. Leaders would know that. And by not supporting the bill, Congressman Lynch is showing a lack of leadership.

Boston Ward 5 Committee Officers

Last night, I was picked by fellow Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee members to be the secretary of the group for a two-year term. It was part of a very peaceful transfer of power, as Rob Whitney, the only committee chairman I have known, stepped aside.

Josh Dawson, a good friend and neighbor from the Back Bay, is the new chairman. Other officers include:

Treasurer: Greg Timilty

First vice chairman: Shelia Martin

Second vice chairman: Jay Livingstone

Executive committee members (at large): Fran Burke, Rajan Nanda, David Greenwold

Executive committee members (ex officio): Marty Walz and Kenzie Bok

As secretary, I look forward to working with Dave Greenwold, the "webmaster" of the committee's website, to continue to beef up the group's web presence. Stay tuned!

What the Heck is Evacuation Day, Anyway?

Today is a holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the county that includes Boston. No, it's not a holiday because today is St. Patrick's Day. Rather, today is Evacuation Day.

One might think it rather convenient that Evacuation Day is scheduled for the same date as St. Patrick's Day. However, the two dates in history do correspond.

What is Evacuation Day? I admit I did not know, either, until I read David McCullough's masterpiece, "1776." On March 17, 1776, the British evacuated Boston during the relative early days of the Revolutionary War. The story is a great one. The rebels pinned the British in Boston during the Winter of 1776 by transporting large guns from Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, sneaking the armory into what is now South Boston. The British literally woke up one morning to see the large weaponry staring down at them, and they knew they were cooked. They left Boston really without even putting up a fight.

Given that this happened in March of 1776, and the United States didn't become the United States for about another four months, the significance of such victories cannot be overstated.

So happy Evacuation Day, everyone. And if you just happen to have a green beer today to celebrate, that's ok, too.

Hooked on Boston Media

Last year I lauded the new WCVB-TV show "On The Record," a Sunday morning local political forum. I still don't like the pop quizzes they ask their guests, but the show itself is an excellent way to learn about local political news in a non-boring way.

Well, it turns out there is other content available on the airwaves that can provide political updates, without the drab normally associated with the political theater.

Take Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. I would flip to 96.9 WTKK whenever I had to drive somewhere for lunch to listen to their noontime show, "Eagan and Braude." The only trouble was, given the show was on during lunch, I couldn't listen to it very often.

Now, the two hosts have moved to the morning, and they are on the air from 7-10 a.m. as the "Jim and Margery" show. I guess you have to to change the name of the show when you move it? Or perhaps people are too tired in the morning to respond to last names? Whatever the case, while the name is different, the show is the same.

I love their show. First off, they get along very well together and play off each other. They present a witty, funny and incisive look into local politics, as well as national issues that have local impact. Listening to Jim and Margery should have been required for all residents ahead of the recent special U.S. Senate election; the hosts were among the few to look at the substance of the race, in addition to the polling. Even more recently, the Mass. Gubernatorial candidates are recent visitors to the show.

I think Jim and Margery will do to local talk radio in Boston what Don Imus did to the same market in New York City. The hosts universally show how no matter what your political interest, politics does impact every day life. If radio talks about the politics in the context of what it means for everyday lives, people will become more politically motivated, whether they know it or not.

Beyond "Jim and Margery," I should admit I have started reading the Boston Globe more and more. Each day at the office, I read the New York Times from front to back. After my volunteer work for local political races last year, I now often read the Globe as well.

And soon I will start reading the Boston Herald as well. My good college friend was just hired as the new Red Sox beat reporter there!

Boston Parking-- It's a Complicated Science

Beacon Street at Joy

Boston

March 12, 2010

I tell people that Boston residents are nice, unless you get behind the wheel of a car. In a similar way, Boston is a navigable city, unless you decide to drive. And if you want to park on the street, good luck.

Having lived in Boston since 1999, and having a job out of the city during that time, I consider myself a master of Boston parking. On Beacon Hill, parking is at a premium. The local Beacon Hill Civic Association has a parking committee, with a charter that basically boils down to preservation of the precious parking spaces.

Generally speaking, if you find an open parking spot on Beacon Hill, the driver has to assume there is something wrong with it. After deftly performing a parallel park into an open space, I get out of the car and spend a few minutes investigating the spot. I generally follow a mental checklist:

• Is there a fire hydrant nearby,
• Is street cleaning scheduled for anytime when the car will be there,
• Are there any temporary "no parking" signs posted for a residential move-in or construction,
• Are there any temporary signs on the ground nearby, indicating they were posted and fell down,
• Am I really on a street that is a Beacon Hill residential street,
• Are there parking tickets on any cars nearby, and if so, why,
• Is there anyone nearby watching me, giving me a suspicious look as if to ask "why are you thinking of parking there?"

In short, I try to think of every possible reason why a spot may not be legitimate, and once I am satisfied, I leave the car.

Given the scarcity of parking spaces in Beacon Hill, changes in parking rules have a dramatic effect. This is especially true for "reverse-commuters" like me, who work out of the city and need their cars each day. Several years ago, the City of Boston changed the meters on Charles Street, extending the meter hours from 6 p.m. at night until 8 p.m. at night. Simple change, but a major impact on me. Since then, I actively avoid parking on Charles Street, since I typically get home before 8 p.m. and would need to feed the meter until 8.

Well, this week, I noticed a change that, for me at least, has a significant positive effect. I typically park on Beacon Street, by the Boston Common, which during the week offers parking spaces that are zoned for residents during the evening hours only. This is perfect for me, as I drive to Waltham each morning for work. Up until this week, however, parking on Beacon Street was inconvenient on the weekends, as I would need to get out of bed early to move my car when the hours for resident parking there expired.

Well, as you can clearly see from the new signs that are posted on Beacon Street and are pictured above, the residential parking now extends to the weekend days on Beacon Street. If you find the signs above confusing... well... I don't blame you. But the translation for me is simple---it's 9:16 on Saturday morning, and I don't need to worry about my car parked on Beacon Street.

Thank you to the City of Boston for a change that gives me more time to sleep!

Boston Ward 5 State Convention Delegation

Below is the full list of state convention delegates from Boston's Ward 5. We are all attending the state convention this June in Worcester.

MEN (11)

George Alex

Rich Davey

Mike George

David Greenwold

Ross Levanto

Jay Livingstone

Rajan Nanda

Greg Timilty

Michael Wasserman

Rob Whitney

WOMEN (11)

Patricia Amend

Sydney Asbury

Fran Burke

Suzanne Comtois

Mary Clayton-Crozier

Kate Gallivan

Kristine Glynn

Elizabeth Leary

Shelia Martin

Judee Shupe

Diana Wogan

MALE/FEMALE (1)

Pat McDonough

ALTERNATES (4)

Winthrop Roosevelt

Peter True

Alysia Ordway

Jane Willis

Chat With The Governor

Mass. Governor Deval Patrick (on left)

Beacon Hill, Boston

March 6, 2010

At right is Rob Whitney, in mid-background is Jim Ryan, and in far background is Ted Furst.

If you don't live in Massachusetts, then you don't know that our Governor, Deval Patrick, is facing a very tough re-election fight this year. Part of his problem is the fervent anti-incumbent mood that exists across the country. Part of the problem is the economy, and the fact that voters are both scared and angry (I would argue that fear is a more powerful motivator than anger, but that's a subject for a later post).

Part of the Governor's problem, though, is that he has not done a good enough job showing off what he's done and his roadmap for an additional term. And for that reason, the Governor is getting moving. Yesterday, he went to a small gathering of neighbors on Beacon Hill in Boston, hosted by Martha and Joel Pierce. I was happy to be invited and was able to attend.

The Governor reviewed his many accomplishments. He talked about ethics and education reform. He urged those in attendance to be educated and engage our neighbors in debate (even those, as he put it, who don't agree with us). He also ended his comments by urging all to "believe," a nice reference back to the visionary oratory so common when he was a candidate four years ago.

I asked the Governor a question about casinos. As I plan to detail in a later post, I have real trouble accepting the notion of casinos, primarily because of what I witnessed growing up in Conn. near Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun. I told the Governor I was concerned casinos in Massachusetts would take away from the economic activity of nearby towns, rather than contribute to it. The Governor answered by noting that the siting of the casinos would be key to their success. Whether I agree or not depends on his definition of "siting," which I can go into in the later post.

On the whole, I think the Governor has done much for Massachusetts over the past four years. The Governor noted yesterday how he likes campaigning, but hates to fund raise or brag (He says President Obama told him in the Fall to "get over it."). While bragging is important for any incumbent (and warranted by the Governor), the average voter is more skeptical than ever. Governor Patrick needs to connect his accomplishments to what he aims to do, and he needs to connect what he aims to do to the issues that have people scared: jobs, and their way of life.

Massachusetts voters are reading everywhere about how the lives of their children will not be better than their own, and we are reading that for the first time in generations. Innately, voters are optimistic, but they need politicians to acknowledge their fears and present ideas that will assuage them. Right now, the fear is connected to the economy. Governor Patrick has the smarts and ideas---and no doubt the presentation skills---so that people can believe in him.

Let the campaign begin.

Mark Knoller (@markknoller)

I am pretty active on Twitter, and there are a few people who have mastered the art of reporting on Twitter. Mark Knoller is one of them. The CBS News White House correspondent tweets a few times a day, usually in the morning with an overview of the President's schedule, and then during the day with periodic updates.

I read Twitter feeds in Tweet Deck, and have Tweet Deck open at work during the day. So each new tweet from Knoller shows up in the upper right corner of the screen (a standard feature on Tweet Deck). Reading Knoller's Tweets is both informative and entertaining. His rolling commentary makes one feel like they are actually following the President and his staff around.

This was particularly the case this past Thursday, when Knoller posted tweets quite often about the President's summit on healthcare. When he made his first few tweets, I sent him a direct tweet, noting how I trust him to post tweets "of value." Within minutes, his reply came:

@rosslevanto if i only tweeted items of value, you might not hear from me ever again.

I can't imagine another platform that allows someone to interact directly with a White House correspondent. I applaud Mark Knoller for his use of Twitter. His updates show his personality. Previously, I would not have thought of watching CBS News (I prefer NBC and MSNBC). But I just might start now.

You can follow Mark (yep, we're on first name basis, now) on Twitter at @markknoller. If you are a political junkie like me, following him should be a requirement.

Worcester Bound

I was honored Saturday to be elected by fellow Democrats to represent my ward at the Democratic State Convention this June in Worcester.

I have some work to do before I go. I plan to study up on the candidates running for state-wide offices so I can best represent fellow Democrats.

We have a great group of delegates coming from Ward 5, Boston. Watch out, Worcester!

The Best Birthday Gifts

Slogging through the snow
Beacon Hill, Boston
February 16, 2010

I have noticed that as I get older, I appreciate more practical gifts. Last year, my mom bought me an awesome birthday gift. It wasn't tickets to a UCONN basketball game (which is all I really wanted as a kid). No, it was a pair of black Die Hard Oxford shoes (shown above).

The shoes are waterproof. On the sole it says they are also oil-proof, though I have never had to test that. I have used them quite a bit on snowy, cold days.

Happy birthday to anyone born on this day. It's a great day to have a birthday. I wish you all very warm, dry feet.

Democracy in Action

Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee Chairman Rob Whitney at the podium during a regular meeting of the committee, held in Boston on Feb. 16. Attached to the podium is a list of females interested in being on the committee's slate of state convention delegate candidates. The Ward 5 Democratic Caucus is scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston Street, at 9:30 a.m.

Memories

It's my birthday this week. I get a bit nostalgic around my birthday, so you will have to bear with me.

Today I want to talk about Caldor. There's a Facebook group I am a member of called "I was a Norwichtown Mall kid growing up," which is "exclusively" for anyone who knows what the Norwichtown Mall is. The profile photo for the group is a picture of an empty mall hallway, with closed up center-isle clothing stands. Anyone in the know would recognize it, instantly, as the Noriwchtown (Conn.) Mall.

Caldor was the anchor store at one end of the mall. (A supermarket is at the other end.) My mom would take me to Caldor quite a bit as a kid. It's one of those stores that sells bikes and windshield washer fluid next to "designer" clothing. It really was the precursor to the modern-day Walmart or Target. Then again, it's possible those stores existed back then, too, and they had just not made it to Connecticut. At the end of the day, Caldor wouldn't survive.

Caldor had a nifty song that played over and over again inside. It went something like "Caldor, your everyday discount store... we save you money... everyday low prices... Caldor, your everyday discount store."

Yes, it is scary that I remember that. It is interesting, however, that I have never ever seen another Caldor anywhere on the planet.

Sadly, Caldor is no longer there. But it's theme song lives on in the heads of many Norwichtown Mall kids.

Running to Be a State Convention Delegate

The Democratic Caucus for Ward 5 in Boston is scheduled for this coming Saturday, Feb. 20. During that caucus, I very much hope to be elected as a delegate to the Democratic state convention, to be held in early June.

During my two years on the Ward 5 Democratic Committee, I have had many conversations with residents in Ward 5. I feel as though I have a good handle on what the concerns are in the neighborhoods. I know I would represent Ward 5 Democrats well at the convention.

If you are attending the Caucus, or the Ward 5 Democratic Committee meeting Tuesday night, I humbly ask for your support, and I would be happy to talk with you more about what I have learned.

Major Step For Cleaner Neighborhoods

Laura Sargent in Representative Marty Waltz's office emailed me this week to tell me great news. Governor Deval Patrick has signed into a law a bill that will help make Boston streets cleaner.

Now, those of you who read this blog know that one issue I am fairly passionate about is trash. When I first became a member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association back in 1999, I was asked shortly thereafter to represent younger Beacon Hill neighbors on the infamous "trash committee" (which is now called the City Services Committee). Spending one night each month talking about creative ways to make Beacon Hill's streets cleaner became, I admit, somewhat addictive.

Given the time I have spent studying the issue, I hope you will trust that I do have some insight into how the streets could be cleaner. Last year, I wrote a post that outlined three main initiatives that would help significantly.

1) Towing on street cleaning days. Street cleaning only works if cars are not in the way of the street sweeper. That's why Mayor Menino administration's maximum enforcement of posted street sweeping signs is so important. Move your cars, neighbors!

2) Switching to 2 + 2. We have three days of trash pick up on Beacon Hill. That means trash is on the sidewalk far too often. I suggest moving to two days of pickup, plus an additional day of recycling (with trash pick up and recycling happening on the same day).

3) This is the issue that Laura phoned me about. The law that is now in place (whoo hooo!) will allow the City to better penalize trash scofflaws. The City will now be able to put in place procedures that attach unpaid trash violation fines to a property's tax bills. This will give those violations weight. It will also wake up absentee landlords throughout the city (building owners who rarely visit their properties and check on their tenants).

Kudos to all who helped the "green ticket" law become a reality, including Representative Marty Walz, Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Mayor Menino and his administration, and the Boston City Councilors who supported this effort. Thank you all!

You Have to Root for the Saints

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

My good friend Tracy is from Indiana and is a huge Colts fan. I certainly respect that. But I don't know how anyone not from Indiana could root for the Colts today.

I was in New Orleans in October of last year, the first trip to the Bayou since I was a little kid. New Orleans is a a great city, and I stayed at a hotel just off Bourbon Street. The mixture of cultures, excellent food, and tawdry series of drinking establishments in the downtown areas of the city make it a unique tourist experience.

Bourbon Street, New Orleans

October 21, 2009

But underneath the pomp and circumstance, you feel sadness in New Orleans. Almost as if the city is unable to live up to its potential. I had always known New Orleans has its fair share of poverty, and my friends who went to school there say the "sadness" I sensed has always been there, but you have to assume the city is still struggling with its future post-Katrina.

The hotel I stayed in had just reopened after being gutted and rebuilt. The hotel was flooded by Katrina, and the mold from the deluge made the entire building uninhabitable. When I left the hotel, I was reminded by hotel employees to stay in groups after dark. "Many are still angry," they would say. I did not go to the Ninth Ward to witness the rebuilding efforts, but Katrina was on everyone's mind. Rather than feeling a surge of rebirth, however, what I sensed was more of an understanding of dejection. Kind of like New Orleans is always on the short end of the stick. Of course, I was only there for a week.

There was one thing that was a rallying cry while I was there, and that was the New Orleans Saints. At the time, they were still undefeated.

Today is the New Orleans Saints first trip to the Super Bowl. Before this season, the Saints had won just two games in the playoffs, in the history of the franchise. The team has been in the NFL since 1967. In that same time period, the Dallas Cowboys have won 33 playoff games and five Super Bowl championships.

Consider this-- despite all the great games played in the Louisiana Superdome over the years, including Super Bowls, college bowl football games and NCAA basketball Final Fours, the Saints win two weeks ago was the first time an NFL conference championship game was played there.

You can't be a bigger underdog than the City of New Orleans has been, and the New Orleans Saints are today. The country is rooting for them.

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday.

No More SUM for Citizens Bank

It's hard to believe there was a time when there were no ATM fees. A time when you could go from bank to bank and use their ATMs without fear of charges at either end of the transaction. At least, I know there was such a time in my life.

ATM fees are a permanent part of life now. And one last vestige of what that old time was like faded away quietly in recent months. My bank, Citizens Bank, has left the SUM ATM network.

Started in the late 1990s by US Trust, the SUM Network was the small banks way of battling back against BankBoston. Remember BankBoston? BankBoston ATMs were everywhere in Boston. And BankBoston charged fees to use them if you were not a BankBoston customer.

In an attempt to stand up to the BankBoston giant, US Trust collected together all the other small little banks and created an alliance. Use any ATM at any of the smaller banks, and you don't pay a fee. It was a fantastic populist reaction to the move of the evil banking empire, and it worked. US Trust was rewarded with loyalty. That certainly was the case for me, a US Trust customer by accident (the regulators made me a US Trust customer when my first bank, Bank of Boston, was eaten up to make BankBoston).

Except US Trust wasn't around that much longer. Citizens Bank bought US Trust right about the turn of the century. To the delight of US Trust customers, Citizens stood by the SUM network and said it would remain a part of the small bank alliance.

That ended late last year. Citizens has pulled out. I emailed Citizens to ask why, and I received the note at the end of this post. This is a sad event for the little guys who just need a bank to keep their money safe.

Citizens is crucial to the SUM network, in my opinion, because the bank offered more ATMs than any other SUM participant. Without Citizens, the options for SUM participants are dramatically smaller. I wonder how much longer SUM will be around.

Every time a bank merger happens, the resulting entity says the merger is completely about offering better service to customers. If that were the case, than Citizens would have remained a SUM network member forever. At the very least, it would recognize that it technically owns the originator of the idea (notice in the email below they try to make it sound like the SUM concept was someone else's thing, anyway).

Regardless of the consumer advocate arguments, the bottom line right now is the ATM I used before every time I walked to my car in the morning is no longer free. And that's a shame.

Dear Ross Levanto,


Thank you for your recent email regarding the SUM Network. Citizens Bank has made a business decision to no longer participate in the SUM surcharge-free program offered by the NYCE network. Customers were notified of this change in their November 2009 checking account statement.

Please keep in mind; you enjoy free access to more than 2,600 ATMs operated by Citizens Bank or Charter One. You may search for an ATM or branch in your area by visiting our website at www.citizensbank.com and choosing the Branch/ATM Locator on the right side of the page. This will direct you to a page which requires the city, state or zip code of the branch you are looking for. Once this information is entered, you will be brought to a page which will list the five closest branches, along with their hours, phone numbers, and directions.

If you have any further questions, please contact us via email or by calling our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 800 922-9999. Thank you for using our Online Banking Services.

Sincerely,

R. Ventura
Email Team Advocate

Good News From Beacon Hill Winter Dance

I slipped into my (rented) tux last night and attended the Beacon Hill Winter Dance, organized by the Beacon Hill Civic Association. This year's gala shifted locations to the new Mandarin Hotel in Boston's Back Bay (last year the venue was the Liberty Hotel on Beacon Hill).

It was great to see so many familiar faces. In addition to numerous fellow BHCA board members, including Lori Bate, Ania Camargo, Steve Young, Meghan Haggerty, Colin Zick and others, I ran into State Representatives Marty Walz and Aaron Michlewitz.

Representative Michlewitz had great news from the current House session. The House passed the infamous green ticket law, which will allow municipalities to enhance enforcement efforts for certain local rules. In Boston, this would mean the city could connect trash and other violations (which are noted by the issuing of "green tickets") to a property's tax bill. A bill including this local-option provision passed both the House and Senate a little over a year ago but suffered the fate of a "pocket veto" by the Governor, who let the bill sit on his desk.

As I have written about in this space in the past, better enforcement of green tickets is absolutely essential for making the city's streets cleaner. To this point, green ticket violations are largely ignored, especially in densely populated areas of the city, such as Beacon Hill, where many property owners of large buildings live elsewhere and are not often held accountable for the actions of their tenants.

Rep. Michlewitz says he expects the Senate to pass the law soon, and the Governor has indicated he would sign it. Bravo to both Representatives Michlewitz and Walz for their support of this effort.

Cold

It's a balmy 27 right now in Boston. People are out on the streets enjoying the bright sunshine. After two days in the single digits and teens, one can handle 27 without a winter hat... for a few minutes, at least.

Public Garden (View From Center Island)

Boston

January 31, 2010

Throw Them All Out!

A conventional wisdom is that voters dislike politicians as a whole, but they like their elected officials. They don't trust members of Congress, with the exception of their own. It's a pretty amazing concept, for it helps explain why the make-up of Congress doesn't change in most elections, even though the approval rating for Congress is usually low.

This year is an exception. No one is happy with their elected officials. The anti-incumbent mode is so extreme that it took a finger-bitingly close vote to re-elect Ben Bernake to be chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. Bernake studied the causes of the Great Depression while earning his academic credentials at Harvard and M.I.T. It would be tougher to find someone better suited to the economic situation of today; yet even the obscure role Fed Chairman could not survive the rampant desires of the public to "throw the bums out."

It's turned into a year where voters will have to either show their frustration by turning against their elected officials, or hold their noses while they vote for the incumbents. Martha Coakely, the Massachusetts Attorney General who lost to Scott Brown in the recent Massachusetts special election, in many ways ran as an incumbent. The approach backfired.

I certainly have never seen a more populist mood in the minds of voters. Certainly, I share those frustrations, but it worries me when a populist wave obscures the issues and views within a given election. Bad performance is a good enough reason for voting to remove someone from office, however it needs to be balanced with the actual positions of the candidates.

One definite positive effect---Citizens are using their right to vote as a way to channel their outrage. Turnout in Massachusetts was extremely high. Hopefully that interest will carry into November.

Healthcare: A Complicated Bill Doesn't Make it Bad

In the Spring of 1996, I took Tobe Berkowitz's famous political communications class at Boston University. We studied the populist campaign of Steve Forbes, who won the Republican primary in New Hampshire in February of that year. Forbes signature proposal was the flat tax. He advocated tossing out the current tax code and replacing it with one tax rate for all Americans. He showed off his idea by carrying a post card that would become the new tax return. The idea resonated with legions of frustrated voters put off by the complicated nature of government, which was astonishing. Forbes' idea would raise taxes for the vast majority of Americans who benefited from the graduated tax rate system. It would reduce what is paid by the wealthiest citizens.

Yet, Steve Forbes idea resonated because people could understand it. The lesson learned: Simple sells, even if the idea doesn't benefit the consumer.

Today, the government is having the exact opposite problem. President Obama is pressing for a massive, complicated health care bill that no one really understands. It includes numerous programs for the various groups affected by health care---drug companies, insurance agencies, doctors and patients.

The bill is so complicated, that the general voter's innate mistrust of government causes them to simply oppose it without even trying to understand it. Friends tell me the Massachusetts election of Scott Brown last week really was a referendum on President Obama's plan. The verdict? Since I can't understand it, the bill must be trying to take advantage of me.

Certainly that is not true. The health care bill is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Scott Brown was prone to say during the waning weeks of his campaign that the health care debate in many ways is about fairness: We have health care in Massachusetts; why do we have to pay (via taxes) for the rest of the country to also have health care?

In reality, Senator Brown, the inverse of your argument is true. We have the requirement of universal health care in Massachusetts, and yet, we suffer from the lack of industry cost controls. We are now required to pay for a system with costs that are spiraling out of control. The bills in Congress seek to control these costs; on paper they would reduce health care costs over a ten-year period.

Health care reform in D.C. was in many ways modeled after the Massachusetts program. In addition, it adds a few elements of reform that do not currently exist in Massachusetts. It prohibits denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions. It prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage when patients get very sick. These elements do not help control costs, however. And that's where the bill gets complicated, since no industry wants the government to restrict their growth.

The great majority of people in the United States have health care and like it. A lot of those people have a health care plan provided by the government (medicare or a program provided to veterans). Yet, health care reform is needed badly because health care costs are out of control.

The health care reform bill is very complicated. Since there is some sense of transparency when legislation is created and passed, the American people are tired of how this piece of sausage is being made. The public's support of health care reform has fallen as the debate has ensued, probably because citizens are just sick of talking about it. They don't understand the bill at all, and they don't trust the process. That's a shame, since the legislation could do much to help health care as a whole. Even for voters in Massachusetts.

Why Scott Brown Won

Congratulations to Massachusetts Senator-Elect Scott Brown. He is a smart, capable politician, and I hope he will be a great Senator.

For the past few days, I have been listening to many political pundits note how it took "the perfect storm" for Senator Brown to win. His opponent, Martha Coakley, had the institutional advantage. Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-to-1. This is Massachusetts, for heaven's sake. There hasn't been a Republican Senator here since... well I can't remember. And finally, we're talking about Senator Kennedy's seat. Why would voters elect someone who would counter the late Senator's life-long mission---universal health care?

For the final debate of the campaign, held yards away from the Kennedy Library on the campus of UMASS Boston, organizers asked David Gergen, political strategist and former aide to Presidents both Republican and Democrat, to moderate. The choice seemed strange to me. Certainly Gergen is politically smart. I have listened to his wise commentary many a night on CNN. However, Gergen is a political insider. I doubt he spent time talking to large numbers of Massachusetts voters before the debate. Like other analysts (and on many occasions, me), he gets caught up in the political horse race at the expense of commenting on the pulse of the public.

David Gergen, in my opinion, sealed the victory for Scott Brown during the debate. At the very least, the moment encapsulated why Brown won.

In asking Brown a question about the health care debate in Washington, Gergen turned to face Brown and, rather incredulously, noted "you're talking opposing health care reform as a Senator from Massachusetts... [dramatic pause and with emphasis] Ted Kennedy's seat."

"With all due respect," Brown quickly retorted. "This is not Ted Kennedy's seat, nor anyone else's seat. This is the people's seat."

I admit that many Massachusetts Democrats feel safe on this side of the "Blue Curtain." We often speak with hubris about the Democratic majority here. And while I don't really think that hubris showed in this race (except perhaps breeding complacency), that hubris certainly was portrayed by the media.

Gergen's question was in some ways offensive to all Massachusetts voters. I am a Democrat, but that doesn't blind me in the ballot box. I would imagine most other Democrats are not similarly naive to the issues and debates of any given race. The days of the party lever are over. Better than 20-percent of Democrats voted for Scott Brown this past Tuesday. I bet many of them were swayed by Gergen's hubris; they might have voted for Brown to spite the moderator and all others who feel Democrats here are naive to the challenges facing our country.

Everyone is hurting right now. Democrats understand that as much as anyone. I haven't enjoyed reading stories in Newsweek and BusinessWeek that say workers in my generation should look forward to years of less and less benefits and longer and longer hours, without wage increases that match inflation. We are frustrated.

Enter into this environment an election in which everyone-- including David Gergen-- just assumes Ted Kennedy's seat will go to a Democrat. The populist frustration boiled over, among independents and many Democrats.

Enter into this environment a candidate, Martha Coakley, who until the final weekend just didn't really seem to be working very hard.

Enter into this environment a candidate, Scott Brown, who jammed his schedule---meeting with regular voters---and whose pick-up truck symbolized the common person.

The perfect storm in Massachusetts was created by universal frustration and a reaction to the conventional wisdom---that because Massachusetts is a blue state, it doesn't matter. That this election doesn't matter. That the voters don't matter.

Well, we matter. And even though I voted for Martha Coakley, there's no doubt the nation was listening even to me this past Tuesday. Fundamentally, it's just another example of how our democracy is indeed working.

My Choice is Martha Coakley

It's probably not a surprise to regular readers that I am voting for Martha Coakley on Tuesday to be the next U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. Over the past week, the temperature in the race has risen many degrees. One cannot watch a local news program without encountering numerous ads for Coakley and her opponent.

I had originally not planned to write this post; but given how the race as turned out, I feel compelled to state my reasons for supporting the Attorney General, despite the fact that I did not vote for her in the Democratic primary last month.

1) Massachusetts universal health care is not enough. While we enjoy nearly universal health-care coverage in Massachusetts, we suffer from industry wide problems, including the uncontrollable rise in health-care costs. The most attractive provisions of the health-care bills in Congress protect all of us from loss of insurance if we get sick, and they forbid insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Those provisions are not a part of the Massachusetts heath care overhaul. A vote against Martha Coakley is a vote against health-care reform so desperately needed.

2) Martha Coakley agrees with many of my international priorities. Certainly there are still those in Afghanistan that mean us harm, but the fight against terrorism is not as black-and-white as simply targeting countries or regions. Coakley believes that the right answer isn't always to send in troops. The right answer is to target our efforts based on good intelligence and recognize that this effort is truly global in nature.

3) Martha Coakley is tough. As Attorney General she's represented Massachusetts, returned money to the state's taxpayers, and remained committed to her core values. This is not a party sock puppet. Martha Coakley will stand up for what she believes in.

Tuesday's election is serious. Many of my fellow Massachusetts residents are upset. But they should not let that anger cloud their judgement about what's best for the state. And what's best is to make Martha Coakley our next U.S. Senator.

The Traveled Road

I keep a calendar at my desk at work where I log, among other things, the trips I take. Yesterday, on the final day of 2009, I reviewed my travel for the year.

I spent forty-five days on the road, including eight separate trips to San Francisco. I went to Los Angeles, Tampa, Houston, Austin, Washington, and New York. Almost all of the travel was for work, save three days in Hampton, Virginia visiting my brother Brett.

I have written before about travel on this space. I do like travel, but I also like coming home. At the same time, there are a few perks of traveling that are worth mentioning.

Dulles Airport

Chantilly, Virginia

December 4, 2009

1) Experiencing local eateries. I am told there is a Five Guys burger place in Dedham, Mass., but why the heck would I go there when I can enjoy a double cheeseburger at Dulles Airport, close to where Five Guys was founded in northern Virginia. Trips to San Francisco allow for a quick stop at In-N-Out Burger before hopping on the red eye at Oakland airport.

2) Catching up with friends. One of my best friends from high school lives in Salinas, Calif. about two hours south of San Francisco. My trips sometimes allow me to catch up with old classmates, co-workers and teammates.

3) Getting to wear my Yankee gear. I have a closet-full of Yankee gear that I cannot wear in Boston. But on the road, my fellow travel companions don't seem to mind.

My first trip in 2010 is already planned, and it will bring me back to San Francisco for three days this coming week.

Easy Christmas Presents

Madalyn wears her pearls.

Norwich, Conn.

December 25, 2009

Best wishes to all for a safe and happy holiday season.

Each year since my niece and goddaughter, Madalyn, was one, I have purchased her an inch of pearls for an add-a-pearl necklace. Since she's now 8, the necklace is starting to have substance.

The add-a-pearl necklace was the brainchild of my friend Kim, who came to my rescue when my brother asked me to be Madalyn's godfather. The idea receives nothing but praise. Each year when I add the pearls, patrons who witness my request at the Shreve Crump & Low jeweler in Boston's Back Bay tell me how great an uncle I am.

The truth is, the add-a-pearl necklace concept is idiot proof. Even for me. I show up at the jeweler with the pearls each December, shortly after Thanksgiving, and ask them to add an inch. They re-confirm the size of the pearls, string them, an adjust the size of the chain so it will fit around Madalyn's neck. All I do is hand over my credit card.

I am told pearls are timeless, so Madalyn will find life-long use from the necklace, which will be full length when she's a freshman in college.

Death Sucks

Charles Levanto
Charles Levanto October 2, 1950 - December 20, 2009 Lisbon - Charles F. Levanto, 59, husband of Regina (Dzialo) Levanto of John St., Lisbon died Sunday evening at Backus Hospital. Born in Norwich on October 2, 1950 he is the son of Rita (Shalkowski) Levanto of Norwich and the late John Levanto, and was a graduate of the Norwich Free Academy class of 1968. On March 22, 1975 in St. Mary Church in Greenville he was united in marriage to Regina (Dzialo) Levanto. Prior to his retirement he was employed as a rigger at Electric Boat. Mr. Levanto was an active sportsman in several local leagues. Surviving is his wife, mother, a brother David Levanto and his wife Bonnie of Mystic, and four nephews Mark Levanto, Scott Levanto, Ross Levanto, and Brett Levanto. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 9 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Central Ave., Norwich with burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donation may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Place, 10 Railroad Place, Norwich, CT 06360. Arrangements by the Labenski Funeral Home.

Photo of the Year

A toast with mom & dad.
South Lyme, Conn.
July 18, 2009

Why Coakley Won

Congratulations to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who won Tuesday's Democratic primary and is now the party's nominee to succeed the late Senator Ted Kennedy. While I voted for Congressman Capuano, the Attorney General and the Congressman share the same stances on all the issues I care about. I will vote for Martha Coakley on January 19, and I am proud to support her and help her win the election.

I also must congratulate the Coakley campaign. I did think she would win Tuesday, but I had no idea she would win by as much as she did. The victory demonstrates to me the power of a state-wide organization and a shortened campaign. Given this was a special election, it just was too much of an obstacle for Congressman Capuano to put together the field organization necessary to challenge a state-wide office holder.

At the same time, Martha Coakley is an impressive candidate. She was criticized during the campaign for being too cool, but the reality is her record does speak for itself. She has built a career representing the interests of the Commonwealth, and she is a fellow Boston University grad.

Thanks to Congressman Capuano, Alan Khazei and Steve Pagliuca for a fine special primary season. Martha Coakley will make for a great Senator, and for that reason, the process worked.

Beacon Hill Receives Its Holiday Feel

Charles Street
Beacon Hill, Boston
December 5, 2009

The sprinkle of rain did not deter the nearly 100 volunteers who decorated my neighborhood yesterday. Above, long-time decorating weekend volunteer Rick Villars works with new Beacon Hill residents Lili Furst (with Santa hat) and Christine Roberts (on ladder). The more than 1100 lamp posts on the Hill will be wrapped with garlands and fitted with bows this weekend.

Yesterday saw dozens of volunteers from Suffolk University as well as new and "seasoned" decorating weekend faces. The event is organized by the Beacon Hill Civic Association and is funded entirely by donations.

The decorating wraps up today, with activity on streets throughout the neighborhood. If you want to help out, come to the parking lot next Savenors on Charles Street any time after noon. There's a special party for volunteers at 5 p.m. tonight at 74 Joy Street.

Endorsement: Congressman Mike Capuano

Making a pick in a Democratic primary is hard. All of the candidates, in general, share my opinions on almost all of the key issues. Take Cape Wind. While I loved the late Senator Kennedy dearly, he and I disagreed on Cape Wind. I love the project, think it's a model of what we should support moving forward, and think construction on the offshore wind farm should begin right away. Senator Kennedy disagreed with me.

But that's not an issue in the upcoming primary, which will pick the Democrat vying for Senator Kennedy' s seat. All of the candidates support Cape Wind.

When candidates agree on the issues, the race is about personalities, and one's pick is, by definition, personal. Political journalist R.D. Sahl summarized this race quite appropriately earlier this week. Mike Capuano, he said, is too hot; Martha Coakley, too cold; Alan Khezei, too wonky; and Steve Pagliuca, too rich.

It would appear, in my case, that I like it hot. I am voting for Congressman Mike Capuano this coming Tuesday, December 8, in the Massachusetts special Democratic primary for the United States Senate.

Congressman Capuano has reached out to me the most in this race. I received two phone calls at home inviting me to live town hall conference calls with him. In one case I got to ask him a question. I was invited to a special conference call for Boston bloggers, and I ended up writing about my conversation.

But that attention is not the reason he's got my vote. I like a lot of what the Congressman has said:

-- He's levelheaded about Afghanistan and Pakistan. Congressman Capuano disagrees with the President's decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan, as do all the candidates. But the Congressman has actually been to the region. He speaks with an authority on the topic that his opponents cannot match. He also has a sophisticated understanding of the reality inside Pakistan. As a Senator, he will be looked to for leadership on the issue.

-- He doesn't apologize for his principles. Calling him hot might be a bit of hyperbole, but the point is clear. Congressman Capuano stands for what he believes in. He's passionate. He's not afraid to break a sweat or have a hair out of place in pursuit of his goals. I like it when my politicians look like they are working hard. Capuano is working the hardest in this race, in my opinion.

-- He understands how Capitol Hill works. Legislation is a process. Congress moves slowly. While my U.S. Senator should hold steadfast to their core beliefs, Senator Kennedy's biggest achievements came from compromise. And compromise requires an understanding of the ins and outs of Washington. Congressman Capuano has been there and will be able to make an impact from day one. Some of the statements made by his opponents lead me to believe they don't understand the process as well as they should.

I can't believe Tuesday is the primary. The predicted low turnout brings into the question the concept of these special elections. Think about it-- a very small group of voters who bother to go to the polls on Tuesday will be picking the potential next United States Senator, and that Senator will likely hold the seat for a very long time. After careful consideration, Congressman Capuano is my pick. Regardless of who you choose, get out and vote!

Happy Thanksgiving

Extra whipped cream for my nephew, David, as my mom and baby Peter look on.

North Stonington, Conn.

November 26, 2009

Preparing for Holiday Decorating

One of my favorite neighborhood events of the year is Beacon Hill Holiday Decorating. The first weekend of December each year, hundreds of neighbors head out on the streets and decorate the 1100 lamp posts on Beacon Hill with a garland and two bows. Everything about the event is volunteer. The event is funded through donations from neighbors and businesses. The garlands are prepared, counted, delivered and hung by volunteers. I have been involved in the weekend since I first moved to the neighborhood. For the past few years I have delivered garlands throughout Beacon Hill.

This year, the event has gone high-tech. I narrated a video earlier today, soon to show up on the Beacon Hill Civic Association website, that demonstrates the proper way to decorate a lamp post.

Myrtle Street in front of the Myrtle Street Playground

Beacon Hill, Boston

November 21, 2009

Those interested in participating in the holiday decorating weekend should contact the Beacon Hill Civic Association. Or just look out on December 5 and 6 for your neighbors hanging garlands, and join in!

A Good Sports Year

Earlier this year I listed off my sports' allegiances. Looking back, I had a good year for my teams. Let's review them here as I had ordered them back in the spring (with the higher ranked team the team I cheer more passionately for):

1) UCONN Huskies basketball.
FINISH: NCAA Tournament Final Four
The Huskies made it to the dance for the third time. If not for an emotionally charged Michigan State team and the spirit of Detroit, they would have had the chance to topple the mighty Tar Heels.

2) New York Yankees.
RESULT: World Champions
Order is restored to the baseball universe. 27 World Championships.

3) New England Patriots.
RESULT: Season in progress, Patriots leading AFC East
I am so used to them winning EVERY game that I overlook the fact the Pats are well on their way to another playoff berth. Colts fans-- you must admit you were outplayed this past Sunday.

4) Boston University Hockey.
RESULT: NCAA Champions, Hockey East Champions, Beanpot Champions
In the greatest hockey game I have ever seen, the Terriers flipped in a wrister in overtime to win their fifth national championship. BU won the coveted local "triple crown" by capturing the Beanpot (or is it the BU-pot?), the Hockey East (conference) championship, and the NCAA crown.

5) Hartford Whalers.
RESULT: No sign of the Whale in the insurance capitol of the world.
Whalers fans, unite! The Whale will be back!

All Politics is Local

Helping out a political campaign means dialing a lot of numbers. I could not even guess the number of phone calls I made this year.

Political phone calls can be annoying. People don't like to talk politics. They say they are eating dinner (even though it's 3 p.m. in the afternoon). While I don't blame them, calls from a campaign volunteer are far less invasive than many other uninvited conversations.

At least when I call I am not selling something.

At least I am advocating for a cause I believe strongly about.

And, for the most part, at least I am a neighbor.

Former House Speaker Tip O'Neil was right. All politics is local. During this past political campaign, the most effective conversations I had were with people who lived on my street. Voters who lived in the same precinct as me.

I guess it should be the case in a municipal election (like the one we just had in Boston), that people care about the issues that they see on their block or that they talk about when they are getting a cup of coffee.

On Beacon Hill, where I live, the biggest issues are trees, trash and a neighborhood school. Cleaning up my streets is an ongoing battle, not helped by the amount of time trash can legally be placed on the curb, and the fact that there's little space in the average Beacon Hill apartment for storing trash. That being said, neighbors seem to be appreciative of recent efforts to keep streets tidy, including the city's strict enforcement of posted street sweeping signs.

One of the most innovative partnerships between Beacon Hill and the city involves trees. The Beacon Hill Civic Association has a process to allow neighbors to efficiently prune and replace trees on their streets, based on a close relationship with the Boston Parks Department.

Young families on Beacon Hill are very interested in a neighborhood school. While improving Boston's schools is not as simple as building more schools, the energy from these families is refreshing.

Every conversation I had this campaign season with a Beacon Hill neighbor focused on a local issue. Tip O'Neil would be proud.

An Odd Combination of Victories

I might be the only person on the planet who over the past weekend was cheering (often loudly) for both the New York Yankees and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

Not a bad week for me. Mayor Menino earned a fifth term, easily defeating City Councilor Michael Flaherty. One night later, the Yankees captured their 27th World Championship.

Such apparent conflicts of allegiances can only happen for someone from an in-between state (Connecticut) who is also very interested in local politics.

A unique combination of victories, suited perfectly to me.

The Day After

Congratulations to Mayor Tom Menino for winning yesterday's Boston Mayoral election. I look forward to working with his entire administration in the months and years ahead. It was a privilege and a pleasure to volunteer with the Mayor's campaign team!

Congratulations to John Connolly, Steve Murphy, Ayanna Pressley and Felix Arroyo for winning at-large seats on the Boston City Council.

I spoke to my brother Brett in Virginia, and he says that the gubernatorial result there-- the Republican won-- should not be interpreted as any sort of referendum on the Obama administration. He had some very good points, and I hope to see them on his blog soon.

Signs of Multi-Use at Phillips Street Park

Phillips Street Park

Beacon Hill, Boston

November 1, 2009

I walked by Phillips Street Park this morning and witnessed the perfect result of the long public process regarding the park's redesign. A gentleman sat reading a book with his dog on the upper part, while children used the new playground equipment in the park's lower area.

When local residents began to invest countless hours discussing the park renovation, the intent all along was to create an area suited to multiple uses and to a varied set of neighbors. As one can tell, Phillips Street Park is not very big, so catering to multiple uses is a challenge. I was very happy the process created a compromise---catering to children as well as dog owners and those who wish to just take a break from the busy day. The picture above is the first evidence of the success of this approach. (I stopped in the park to chat with my mom on my cell phone.)

Kudos to Boston Mayor Tom Menino, his Parks Department, City Council President Mike Ross, his staff, park abutter Rob Whitney, neighbor Phyllis Brown and the countless others who made the new Phillips Street Park a reality. And special thanks to the Beacon Hill Civic Association for hosting the meetings throughout the process.