September 2006—issue 15

State conservation agency poisons Charles River, City conservation agency approves

Monday, September 11— The Cambridge Conservation Commission voted unanimously tonight to approve the DCR's request for an extension of their permit to develop Magazine Beach. This hearing, originally set for August 14th, had been postponed twice.

Snafu by cops halts trial of activist arrested in Lexington

Wednesday, September 15— "This has happened before, four or five times… I can't hide the frustration in my voice," said the judge. "I can't believe this is happening."

The Council of Cambridge (2),

as a governmental institution, claims to be governed by rules — laws and procedures of its own invention.

Liquid gas terminal—not whether, but where, and by whom

Friday, September 1— The time has come to address without hysteria the coming expansion of natural gas in our energy future. While New England is already very dependent on natural gas (a good chance you heat your home with it), there is good reason to expect it to increase its share of the energy market, particularly for electrical generation, given the bad rap coal has taken on.

Who owns the sidewalks?

What do we really know about our sidewalks? Wandering along them and wondering about them....

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.

It is our responsibility to work towards change

Called together by the Rosa Parks Committee, a hundred people stood in the rain near Roxbury Common on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The disaster continues to unfold as the months pass, particularly in New Orleans. Government neglect and the plans of real estate developers seem designed to prevent the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees, the vast majority of them people of color. In her speech, Louise Powell drew the lesson that people, particularly people of color, won’t survive if they depend on the government to help them.

KillerCoke campaign: Question Patrick, not leaflet

Thursday, August 24 (CSKC Release)— "I am acting as a private citizen, born and raised in Massachusetts. I haven't violated any laws, and I am only informing the public that high-powered corporate lawyers like Deval Patrick are often scofflaws when they work for disreputable companies like Coca-Cola, Texaco and Ameriquest."

This could be the big one

We’ve all seen those animated cartoons where Daffy Duck or Elmer Fudd walks nonchalantly off a cliff. The sap continues walking on thin air for a few moments and then notices where he is. Legs whirl in a wild effort to gain traction, but—the law of gravity is reinstated, and—whoosh!!!

Somerville pro-Palestine group announces ballot campaign on City Hall steps

Tuesday, September 12— Around a dozen supporters of the Somerville Divestment Campaign (SDP) gathered in front of City Hall early this afternoon to formally announce their campaign on behalf of two public policy questions which will be on local ballots in November. They aim to persuade Somerville citizens to affirm solidarity with Palestinians' right to return to their homes and homeland.

Patrick took millions to defend corporate crimes

My reasons for producing and distributing the leaflet entitled "Deval the Fee Hugger" are to educate the public about Coca-Cola's worldwide labor, human rights and environmental abuses and to hold Deval Patrick accountable for his role in perpetuating those abuses while serving as a top Coca-Cola executive. As the company's general counsel, executive vice-president and secretary, Mr. Patrick was one its five highest ranking and compensated officials and was deeply involved in making the irresponsible decisions that have brought great hardship and despair to many people and communities.

Somerville condo conversion ordinance: will Mayor Joe fight, or give up?

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, working closely with the Somerville Community Corporation's Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC), proposed changes this April to the city's condominium conversion ordinance that would bring tenant protections up to par with those elsewhere in the state.

Porter Sq. Plaza Complaint Filed

Tuesday, August 29— I have filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB) about apparent violations of law in the recently opened Porter Square Plaza.This complaint was filed on behalf of everyone, but especially for folks who are blind or legally blind, or with other vision impairments, as I have been informed that there are numerous design elements at Porter Sq. Plaza that are hazardous for them.

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.

Through barbed wire—the myth of superpredators

"3,000 YEARS TO LIFE" -  A film that dispels the myth that prisoners are all predators and if left alone they would all kill themselves. An interesting look at life in prison after the guards union went on strike, leaving the prisoners alone to run the prison.

Somerville’s O’Keefe is Green-Rainbow candidate for Treasurer

James O'Keefe ran for State Treasurer in 2002. He talks with Lloyd Smith, and with us, about who he is and why he's running again

Can you hear us now, Verizon?

Wednesday, August 16— A hearing last month before a little-known State agency could have profound impact on public access cable TV in this State.

Cambridge City Council, 9/11—Liturgy trumps deliberation in "the greatest city"

The Council of Cambridge, putatively a governmental institution, gets both more and less attention than it should.

Harvest: the co-op difference

Harvest is a community owned cooperative market of over 5,500 members, with stores on Mass Avenue in Cambridge’s Central Square, and on South Street in Jamaica Plain. The Cambridge Food Co-op opened in 1974, just across the street from its present location. In 1992, it joined with the Boston Food Co-op, which started in 1971, to become Harvest Co-op Markets.

I’ve been told that you’re paid to ask tricky questions and slander folks... Is that true?

Jon Keller regards himself in the mirror of his blog and exclaims with delight: “He is widely regarded as the top political analyst in New England. He is a viewer-favorite because he is smart, witty, and asks the tough questions.”

The organic milk wars: it's not just the price

Friday, September 22 (U.S. Newswire)— Shoppers' appetite for organic food is steadily growing. Leading the way is USDA certified organic milk, with this year's growth rate of 25 percent, while overall consumption decreased by 10 percent. Organic milk is now among the first organic products that consumers buy. Organic milk is very different, and safer than milk from cows injected with rBGH, a highly potent genetically engineered version of BGH, the natural bovine growth hormone.

Volunteer petition drive puts Green-Rainbow slate on ballot

The Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts is fielding more state-wide candidates this year than the State's Republican Party. Grace Ross of Worcester and Martina Robinson of Belchertown will face a Republican, a Democrat and an independent in the contest for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. There will be no Republican facing either Dr. Jill Stein of Lexington, for Secretary of the Commonwealth; or James O’Keefe of Somerville, for Treasurer.

A short history lesson on the privilege of voting

Saturday, August 26- Today is the anniversary of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution giving U.S. women the right to vote. This was forwarded many times and the author's name has become lost.

Clinic action to defend abortion rights marks first year in Allston

Saturday, August 12— On the second Saturday of every month, four to six Boston cops arrive at 8:00 in the morning, in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic at 1055 Commonwealth Ave., right down the street from Boston University. By that time, two or three anti-abortion activists from Operation Rescue (OR) are already lurking at the clinic entrance.

High school students must “opt out” of harassment by those military recruiters

Did you know that your school administration must give your name, address and phone number to military recruiters? As part of the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001, your high school is required to give your personal information to military recruiters when ever they ask for it.

Heinrich brings his "Energy" to the Out of the Blue Gallery

Photographer at large Jon Heinrich is brave enough to expose his heart to us through his artistry.

Early Spring in Europe matches recent climate warming