I attended the BRA public hearing on the Sully Square project at the Shraffts Center. Overall, I am impressed with the design work that has been delivered so far. I asked the BRA to keep the following considerations in mind as they embark on the next design phase: (1) more detail should be provided on bicylce and pedestrian connectivity elements. This area has the potential to be the next great urban village in Boston, and the opportunity to make this a model for low-impact development should not be squandered; (2) The “surface option” has obvious curb appeal, but the transportation engineering (traffic light sequencing) needs to be perfected so that we don’t have another “Leverett Circle” situation; (3) Thought should go into what kind of “transit-oriented development” is expected or is desirable in the proposed new development parcels – this will inform other design choices such as open space amenities, parking, and sidewalks; (4) Planners should consult with the MyRWA as to the creation of useable public access to the waterfront. Ensuring smart and “green” redevelopment of Sully Square and the Rutherford Ave. corridor is a focal point of my campaign for State Senate.
Continue reading Sullivan Square RedevelopmentEDITORIAL: Time for a third party uprising
By LISA CHALIAN-ROCK
Published: January 13, 2010
http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news…
“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader
Since the health care debate began, people on both sides of the political spectrum envisioned their perfect outcome. Now, we are faced with two bills that have to be merged in the coming months before the president can sign either one. Despite pledges of transparency, we won’t get to see the negotiations that make it happen.
Neither side is happy with the compromises. Republicans say the bills are too socialist and don’t cut costs enough while Democrats say the plans give too much power to the insurance companies and don’t symbolize real change.
The problem stems from the lack of transparency, the way the government works and the confusion built into the two-party, two-sided debate.
We may feel Republicans and Democrats are oceans apart, but the line between them is actually quite thin. Both parties bend to corporate will long before any public outcry because the corporations fund their campaigns.
That’s why the public option was given fewer hearings for Congress to investigate it and why it was discarded so easily. The big insurance companies stood to lose too much if a public option was understood or enacted.
Money drives Washington, and it’s driving this country off a cliff of no return.
Both parties agree campaign finance reform needs to be done, according to their campaign speeches, but it never happens. The public approves of it. The big money doesn’t.
Something we agree upon should be easier to implement than thornier issues like health care, but Congress doesn’t tackle it.
“Throwing the bums out” only works if the replacement doesn’t play for the same team.
Every now and then, you’ll see someone like Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) or Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) attempt to put the people’s issues on the forefront, but they are either lambasted as fringe wackos or disregarded with minimal coverage if any.
Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party’s 2008 presidential candidate, couldn’t get an ounce of airtime until she risked her own life to demonstrate the plight of the people in Gaza. That airtime flashed momentarily alongside commentary that she was just doing something crazy.
When our calls and letters are dismissed or denied so continuously, our only true option for change is a third party to challenge the two-party duopoly over our current system.
Third party and independent candidates speak out where others often don’t.
As citizens, we are responsible in part for the way our country has drifted. Most people don’t vote, don’t call, don’t write and don’t pay attention to politics.
We have a responsibility to stay as informed as possible.
Then, we must tell our delegations in D.C. what we want. They aren’t mind readers. They read polls and campaign contributions mostly.
We have to demand specific and achievable change especially in the campaign finance arena.
To do so, Congress needs to define corporations differently or reinstate old laws that corporations had to produce some public good to retain their charters.
An activist Supreme Court changed the relationship we have with corporations by defining them as “people” in terms of free speech. Now corporations are leveraging that decision to potentially derail the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Rules that limit the amount they can contribute by claiming that donating money is a form of free speech. The Supreme Court has heard arguments and should come to a decision by the end of its session.
Free speech is not money. Some people start with more; some are given more by parents or family; some start with nothing. How can free speech, an unalienable right, be equated with something that is not so equitable? It can’t, and it shouldn’t be.
Neither party is doing what we want. We need to fund and support candidates who will or find fresh faces to compete or run for office ourselves.
According to this Globe article, the chair of the Framingham Democratic Town Committee, abruptly resigned her post because of disillusionment with the Democratic Party. What they interesting leave out is that she quit the party altogether and registered Unenrolled, which she makes clear in her letter to the Democratic Town Committee (which they did publish).
Sivan says:
1. Our state of Perpetual War is continuing and even expanding. Next thing you know we’ll be in Yemen. Our resources are being spent, horrible atrocities are being committed by US troops, and the wars are pointless and unwinnable…2. The bailout which favored the very people who were to blame in the first place and has left in place the deregulation and too-big-to-fail institutions, while doing very little for the bottom 95% of us.
3. The continuing erosion of our civil rights to the point where American citizens are no longer guaranteed due process or habeas corpus, which basically means anyone the government deems as troublesome can be “disappeared”…
The final straw was the travesty of the Health Care Insurance Reform bill that was passed in the Senate on Christmas Eve. Not only is this a huge giveaway to Insurance companies, not only will this leave millions uninsured, not only does this bill include no cost controls and is structured as a means-based entitlement, which means that like welfare it will constantly be under attack from the Right, the 30% co-insurance will leave many families unable to utilize their insurance without going into bankruptcy. Just like today, except that today they aren’t forced into buying something they can’t afford. And as a final insult, it includes provisions stripping women of the most basic right of all – ownership of their own bodies. Note to Democrats – pro-choice is in the party’s platform and you don’t compromise on principles.
Open Letter to Rochelle Sivan below the jump.
Continue reading Open letter to Rochelle Sivan, former chair of Framingham Democratic Town CommitteeHello Green Mass Groupies! This is Dan Hill, and I’m running for the open seat in the state senate, vacated by Anthony Galluccio. I will probably be the most progressive candidate in this race on environmental policy issues. I have been practicing environmental and land use law for 10 years in Massachusetts, mainly representing municipalities and citizens groups. I have been disappointed in the leadership on the state level to effectuate the kind of policy changes we need to achieve true sustainability. In this campaign I am calling for adoption of DEP’s proposed “general stormwater permit” regulations as statutory law. We also need to ensure passage of the Sustainable Water Resources Act and CPA II during this legislative term. And I want to see Massachusetts be the leader in clean energy innovation and development – I am proposing a state-wide innovation incubator program to facilitate growth in this “new economy” sector. I’m looking forward to raising these issues during the campaign, and participating further on this blog. Folks can reach me on my website: www.danhill2010.com.
Continue reading State Senate Open SeatThe one thing I can’t stand more than Republicans is Republicans in Democratic clothing. We all know them and we all know that they are not good representatives of us. I think it’s time for the Green Party in Massachusetts to become the opposition party in Massachusetts.
If the Green Party became a dominant party here in Massachusetts it would not only force the Democratic Party more to the left but maybe even the Republicans.
More below the fold
Continue reading Making Greens the OppositionIt’s fun to run for a statewide office. But what consequence has there been to her most recent effort? What the Green Rainbow coalition needs is actual office holders in the General Court.
Making the Republican party in the Legislature Massachusetts the 3rd Party would be a real political change, not the Green-Rainbow grand-standing that would result in a split center-left vote for Governor, that likely would bring yet another Republican governor into office, a result inimical to the Green Rainbow coalition.
The Green Rainbow coalition is capable of having more people representing districts in the legislature than the Republican Party. If I have it correctly, the House has a mere 19 Republicans of 160 seats (11.9%), and of the 40 Senate districts, there are a mere 5 Republicans (12.5%). The Democrats could use a little complacency reduction, and competition; it’s ripe for a little splitting up in the Legislature.
Continue reading Stein’s wrong-headed aspirationsIt’s fun to run for a statewide office. But what consequence has there been to her most recent effort? What the Green Rainbow coalition needs is actual office holders in the General Court.
Making the Republican party in the Legislature Massachusetts the 3rd Party would be a real political change, not the Green-Rainbow grand-standing that would result in a split center-left vote for Governor, that likely would bring yet another Republican governor into office, a result inimical to the Green Rainbow coalition.
The Green Rainbow coalition is capable of having more people representing districts in the legislature than the Republican Party. If I have it correctly, the House has a mere 19 Republicans of 160 seats (11.9%), and of the 40 Senate districts, there are a mere 5 Republicans (12.5%). The Democrats could use a little complacency reduction, and competition; it’s ripe for a little splitting up.
Continue reading Stein’s wrong-headed aspirationsIt’s fun to run for a statewide office. But what consequence has there been to her most recent effort? What the Green Rainbow coalition needs is actual office holders in the General Court.
Making the Republican party in the Legislature Massachusetts the 3rd Party would be a real political change, not the Green-Rainbow grand-standing that would result in a split center-left vote for Governor, that likely would bring yet another Republican governor into office, a result inimical to the Green Rainbow coalition.
The Green Rainbow coalition is capable of having more people representing districts in the legislature than the Republican Party. If I have it correctly, the House has a mere 19 Republicans of 160 seats (11.9%), and of the 40 Senate districts, there are a mere 5 Republicans (12.5%). The Democrats could use a little complacency reduction, and competition; it’s ripe for a little splitting up.
Continue reading Stein’s wrong-headed aspirationsIt’s fun to run for a statewide office. But what consequence has there been to her most recent effort? What the Green Rainbow coalition needs is actual office holders in the General Court.
Making the Republican party in the Legislature Massachusetts the 3rd Party would be a real political change, not the Green-Rainbow grand-standing that would result in a split center-left vote for Governor, that likely would bring yet another Republican governor into office, a result inimical to the Green Rainbow coalition.
The Green Rainbow coalition is capable of having more people representing districts in the legislature than the Republican Party. If I have it correctly, the House has a mere 19 Republicans of 160 seats (11.9%), and of the 40 Senate districts, there are a mere 5 Republicans (12.5%). The Democrats could use a little complacency reduction, and competition; it’s ripe for a little splitting up.
Continue reading Stein’s wrong-headed aspirationsIt’s fun to run for the top office. But what the Green Rainbow coalition needs is actual office holders in the General Court.
Making the Republican party in the Legislature Massachusetts the 3rd Party would be a real political change, not the Green-Rainbow grand-standing that would result in a split center-left vote for Governor, that likely would bring yet another Republican governor into office, a result inimical to the Green Rainbow coalition.
The Green Rainbow coalition is capable of having more people representing districts in the legislature than the Republican Party. If I have it correctly, the House has a mere 19 Republicans of 160 seats (11.9%), and of the 40 Senate districts, there are a mere 5 Republicans (12.5%). The Democrats could use a little complacency reduction, and competition; it’s ripe for a little splitting up.
Continue reading Stein’s wrong-headed statewide aspirations