August 2006 — Issue 14

Mixed verdict appealed by Anderson, Belfon; Sept. trial for remaining Somerville 5 defendants

Earlier reports may be found on this website in Bridge number 13, detailing the eight-day trial of Calvin Belfon, Jr and Isaiah Anderson of the Somerville Five.

State’s political leaders back wider Mideast war

Over and over again, a crushing majority of Democrat politicians have pledged their solidarity with the Bush administration’s program of repression, surveillance, and militarism.

Grace Ross statement on Lebanon, Gaza

I and the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts join people across the world in horror at the apparently purposeful attack against civilians by the Israeli government. We join their almost universal call for an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks of all kinds on Lebanon and Gaza, widely recognized as war crimes.

Are seller concessions masking deeper discounts on sales prices?

Saturday, August 26— Side-by-side competition driven by the rising inventory of unsold homes across Massachusetts is creating a new kind of bidding war: escalating financial incentives to help sell homes as soon as possible. 

What causes overcrowding in jails and prisons?

Sheriff James DiPaola's jail expansion campaign relies on the myth of prison overcrowding to sell Somerville residents on the construction of up to 300 jail beds. Here are 24 reasons why you should be skeptical

“Non-profit” MIT takes a quick $320 million out of latest Tech Square real estate deal

According to the Bay State’s leading real estate weekly, MIT will sell Tech Square in Area Four to a California-based investment company for more than $600 million. (Joe Clements, Banker and Tradesman 6/26/06)

An American in Palestine, unless you are a Palestinian American !

August 2— I remember a time when we used to be crammed in filthy hot areas under the sun waiting to get in. It’s engraved in my memory, the time when we used to be strip searched as young as I could remember. I remember when our shoes were taken away for security reasons. Later they were dumped from a window in a heap that became a mix of people and shoes in seconds. I always stayed away, risking loosing my shoes until everyone left. I would pick up my shoes with tears shed for my people’s humiliation. I remember only a few years back, when a soldier would dump your suitcase in a plastic bin and go through every piece of clothes in it with his or her hands. It took hours and hours.

Our Treasure on the Estuary

The hearing scheduled for Monday August 14th, to deal with the DCR's request for an extension of their permit to develop Magazine Beach, has been postponed two weeks, until August 28th. The Cambridge Conservation Commission will then hear the DCR's reasons for taking this space away from wildlife, and away from people who like it as it is.

“Fusion” is Question 2 on November ballot

Quick Quiz: Jeb Bush is the nominee of three parties. How many choices do you have? (1) three (2) one (3) none

Thug media claim “frenzy of violence” at peaceful Hub rally

A report aired on Fox News by a self-styled freelance journalist has misled people around the world to believe that anti-Jewish mob violence took place at a peaceful Boston rally last month.

Some truths apparently too inconvenient... even for Al Gore

Al Gore’s documentary has drawn intense interest in movie theatres this summer. It’s an important film which, despite notable shortcomings, can help to raise public awareness and move people to take meaningful steps to address the environmental crisis.

How the government medicalizes social problems

Item: Bush plans to screen whole US population for mental illness by Jeanne Lenzer, British Medical Journal, June 19, 2006 <http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/1458?ck=nck>

Absentee landlord in trouble for loving humankind

By the middle of June, the Boca Raton police had already determined that the massage studio at 7300 North Federal Highway was engaged in industrial sex. They set up video cameras which taped the license plates and the comings and goings of forty-two men.

FBI probes Quincy cop incident

An earlier version of this story appeared in Bridge web edition number 13.

Last Friday in August: Critical Mass for Climate Justice on Hurricane Katrina Anniversary!

August 25th marks the 1-year anniversary of Katrina reaching hurricane strength. In the days that followed the storm would strengthen rapidly over an unnaturally warm Gulf of Mexico, ultimately striking the coast and leaving thousands dead and homeless, victims of an uncaring government, centuries of racism, and an ever more chaotic global climate.

DCR gets Magazine Beach hearing put off for two weeks

Monday, August 14— The State Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has obtained a postponement of tonight's Cambridge Conservation Commission hearing on Magazine Beach. The hearing will be continued to August 28.

From Lebanon

People in Lebanon are reaching out to us, crying out to be heard.

Chapter 40T is dead—for now

The Massachusetts Senate did NOT take up the override of the Governor's veto of Chapter 40T, which means that Romney’s veto stands, and that legislation creating "special development districts" was not enacted.

Tell me how I feel

ITEM: Psychiatric experts reveal correct emotional reactions to public corruption and faulty construction. (Carolyn Y. Johnson, “Big Dig state of mind,” *Boston Sunday Globe*, July 30)

Broadhurst: Revoke State zoning overrides for power station sites

Agawam, Saturday, August 12 (from a press release)- Owen R. Broadhurst, a State Rep candidate who lives in Agawam, expressed outrage over the petition of Russell Biomass LLC to the State Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE) for the right to violate the Town of Russell's zoning laws.

Tenant arrested after calling police for help in lockout

Sameh Tawfik will never get over what happened on the night of October 5, 2002.

Local farmers to Feds: No trespassing

A version of this story appeared on the Bridge website in July, and may be found in the folder for issue number 13.

Natural food stores in anti-GMO campaign

"We are confronted with the most powerful technology the world has ever known, and it is being rapidly deployed with almost no thought whatsoever to its consequences." —Dr Suzanne Wuerthele, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toxicologist

American Eagle clothing chain denies using spychips

August 9— On the eve of a major RFID apparel and footwear conference, privacy activists are asking questions about an industry video depicting the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) at an American Eagle Outfitters store. American Eagle has at least eight retail stores in the Metro Boston area.

Mass. Labor Notes — August 2006

Justice for suburban janitors — Minimum wage increases — Attendants, consumers win Workforce Council — Reps back arbitration for Springfield's teachers — Safe staffing buried by Senate — Happy Birthday, Kendall Union! — UE local in Taunton fights health deductibles — Labor weighs in on immigration — Teamsters win at MacLellan Concrete — Boston Library workers go union

A party on the run ... from Its own members! Democrats running scared, again

August 8, 2006 (Counterpunch) — The Democratic Party in Pennsylvania is once again trembling in fear. The last time it suffered such a political panic attack was when it faced the prospect of having to run against Ralph Nader in 2004. Since it could not possibly deal with Mr. Nader on an issue by issue basis given a candidate like John Kerry, the leaders of the party decided to destroy democracy in Pennsylvania.

The U.S. government’s reefer madness

Every week, we at the Marijuana Policy Project confront extreme government abuses like the ones you'll read about below, as the war on marijuana users rages on. This war is littered with casualties and even fatalities.