Nobody likes to walk on sidewalks that aren’t clear. Walking in the streets is dangerous, as is teetering on an icy sidewalk, but Boston’s Green Ticketing law is actually toothless. If property owners get ticketed, there’s nothing to force them to pay the bill or otherwise pay attention to the ticket.
Rep. Marty Walz had fought a slippery slope to get a bill passed that would put some teeth into enforcing snow removal, only for it to be shoveled away with a pocket-veto by the governor because of a controversial section of the bill that would eliminate the right to sue for slips and falls.
Walz said she'll have to remove a controversial section concerning liability in order to make the bill more palatable, and then she'll file it again for consideration in 2009-2010.
"It is disappointing," said Walz. "We will try to move the bill forward again. The liability for snow and ice removal can be dealt with separately."
That section, 5b, changed how property owners could be held liable. The bill had stated that. "An owner, lessor, occupant or other person in charge of real property or an agent thereof who, in good faith, removes or attempts to remove snow or ice from a sidewalk abutting his property shall not be liable for personal injuries allegedly caused by the snowy or icy condition of the sidewalk." The Mass. Association of Trial Attorneys opposed the bill. The group wanted to preserve their right to file slip and fall cases.
Owners who don't shovel sidewalks get up to a $200 penalty for not removing snow within 24 hours. Walz filed the bill to enforce the payment of the "Green Tickets" – currently, if you don't pay it, nothing much happens. Her bill would eventually place a lien on the property if bills weren't paid - "only as a last resort," said Walz. "People get tickets and know they don't have to pay the tickets. There's no payment mechanism… the point of the law is to encourage compliance."
Boston inspectional services workers roam the streets taking instant photos of icy sidewalks using palmtop computers, to accompany a green envelope containing a fine for a code violation. Property owners are able to appeal these fines, although it's hard to dispute a photo.
Inspectional services issued 350 snow removal violations since January 1. The new shoveling regulations went into effect in 2007, with fines increasing from $15 to $50, and for commercial businesses from $50 to $150, for not paving a 42-inch path through the ice and snow, wide enough for a wheelchair or a baby carriage.
Beacon Hill resident and condo association member Ted Furst had mixed feelings about the Green Ticketing law. "It is important for the neighbors to make sure they do their part in keeping the fronts of their buildings in order, like shoveling snow," said Furst. "The enforcement of green tickets is an important part in getting people to take their responsibilities seriously, but I also see a need to educate those who may not know what is expected of them."
During a recent Beacon Hill Civic Association meeting, he recalled a recent incident where he shoveled his walk, but got a ticket anyway because he wasn't around when someone shoveled out a car and dumped the snow onto his sidewalk. That’s something he could probably appeal.
Back Bay resident Jo-Ann Leinwand supports Green Ticketing. "I am glad that the city is putting residents on notice if they don't bother to shovel their sidewalk. I especially like the new technology that allows an inspector to take a photo of the unshoveled sidewalk. Shoveling and keeping your sidewalk snow and ice free is just being a good neighbor," she said.
She also noted that the city is keeping up its end of the bargain, saying that "Commonwealth Mall is clear and Boston Gardens are walkable."
Back Bay resident Anne Swanson likes the new photo machine the inspectors carried. "It is a great tool for simply enforcing regulations already on the books, and if it encourages more property owners to comply, I'm very much in favor of it," said Swanson. "It is useful for many other kinds of violations, too, so it's a powerful tool. The photo becomes the evidence of the violation. This might be handy for illegal dumping, dumpster violations, trash violations of all kinds, and so on."

Residents invited to a meeting at the Boston Public Library (BPL) were able to air their concerns about pedestrian and bike access that will be disrupted during a major overhaul of area bridges.
Part of Gov. Deval Patrick's $3 billion Accelerated Bridge program, designed to create jobs and stimulate the economy by fast-tracking long-overdue bridge repair projects, the BPL meeting provided an overview of 29 bridges that need replacing or major repairs, and maintenance work on another 50 bridges. However, most attending the event were interested in Charles River basin bridge projects.
"A great number of people are concerned with bicycle and pedestrian issues regarding the bridges," said Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) spokesperson Wendy Fox. "DCR is in the process of hiring a consultant in the next couple of months whose sole responsibility will be looking at the whole Charles River basin and planning bike and pedestrian access and safety issues."
The DCR will also hold public meetings to address individual bridge projects, the first project which will target repairs and rehabilitation work on the BU Bridge and Craigie Dam and drawbridges, both of which cross over the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge.
On January 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., the DCR will hold a meeting on these projects, to be held at MIT's Stata Center, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge
"It's an exciting project," said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "It shows great leadership and vision, and in the long run it will bring construction in cheaper over the next decade, so we can take advantage of cheaper pricing now and beat inflation."
The "accelerated" portion of the project means that a lot of projects will be happening all over the state in a short period of time. But Sullivan said they are working with the Executive Office for Transportation and other agencies on the least disruptive sequencing of the project. "We are focused on the public process and getting public input, and we are committed to looking at pedestrian and biking access," Sullivan said.
Other Charles River Basin projects planned for 2009 include the Magazine Beach pedestrian bridge in Cambridge and the Mystic Valley Parkway over Alewife Brook in Somerville.
The DCR is working with Mass Highway and Boston Transportation Department officials to minimize traffic that will impact residents. For this summer's projects, the Craigie and BU bridge repairs will impact traffic around the Back Bay, West and North ends, and Beacon Hill. "This agency will do everything it can to minimize traffic problems," said Fox.
"We know the traffic patterns in Boston, and we want them to hear our opinions," said BTD Deputy Commissioner Jim Gillooly. "We try to work out a traffic plan to try to minimize traffic."
Gillooly cautioned that while public comments are welcome, he hoped the project would occur as soon as possible to make the project go faster. "Nobody should forget … the quicker the work gets done, the quicker it goes away. Being overly cautious extends the process forever. When you do an enormous amount of work, you'll have hiccups," he said.
One attendee at the hearing was concerned about more than “hiccups”. In fact, she felt that the larger picture isn't being considered, she said.
"The devil is in the sequencing," said Jeannette Herrmann, who is active in transportation issues for the Beacon Hill Civic Association. "These projects need to happen. However, it's extremely unclear how they all happen in short order. All of the Charles River Basin projects have an effect on the downtown neighborhoods. We really wish the state would look at the regional state transportation issues as we enter the design phases for these projects -- the role of the Mass Pike ramps is critical. Whether you do the Craigie or the BU bridge first, there's more to this."
Herrmann believes the DCR and state and area traffic departments are all working hard on communicating with each other, but she thought this wasn't translated in the BPL meeting. "I wish we were hearing more about transportation planning rather than simply construction sequencing. Residential life in the downtown neighborhoods is a fragile balance that we need to maintain, that respects issues of accessibility for businesses and residences. If we become a vehicle congested neighborhood surrounded by highways, we will have lost something really, really precious," she said.
The $7.2 million Craigie Dam bridge construction is slated to occur soon, with a summer 2010 completion; the $44 million Craigie drawbridge also will begin soon, with a summer 2011 completion. The $26 million BU bridge deck replacement also begins soon, and will finish up in the summer of 2011. The $2.3 million pedestrian walkway is currently in the works, with only one side open to pedestrian and bike traffic at a time. It is slated to be completed this summer.
Meanwhile, the $5.6 milion Bowker overpass over Storrow Drive is slated for a summer 2010 completion, while repairs to the Storrow Drive Tunnel has no end date scheduled yet.
The Longfellow Bridge repairs to steel beams under the road bend are also finishing up, with the next project to complete the pedestrian path, said Fox. However, the more major $256 million Longfellow renovation, which has already had some advance work, begins in 2011 and is scheduled to finish in 2015.
"They're working to make sure things don't fall in," said Rep. Marty Walz, who is monitoring the Craigie Bridge projects to make sure bike lanes are included. "It's a very contentious issue," said Walz. "The bridges should be designed to include bike lanes."
As for the BU Bridge project, Walz is concerned about the pedestrian section of the bridge, on both the Cambridge and Boston sides.
"Those sidewalks are a high priority," reassured DCR's Fox.
The Accelerated Bridge Program by DCR and Mass Highway is a huge investment in state bridges over the next eight years. Not only will this fix a number of structurally deficient bridges, but it also creates jobs in this dire economy.
"DCR is probably going to be adding another 50 or 75 engineers," said Fox, who heard that statewide, the Accelerated Bridge projects will also generate thousands of construction jobs.

The Hill House Boston youth baseball program will be bigger and better, and all players will take the field wearing brand new uniforms in 2009.
Ian Moorhouse, associate director of Hill House of Boston on Mount Vernon Street, has announced ambitious plans for a restructured and expanded Hill House youth baseball program for the 2009 season.
“We’re revamping our youth baseball program to make it a better experience for all players involved,” said Moorhouse. “Anyone living in the city of Boston can be a part of this baseball league.”
In a letter to families of prospective players explaining the changes in the program, Moorhouse wrote, “Our main goal is to have a baseball program that helps children progress smoothly and confidently through each stage and league. Each year, players will learn new skills and techniques to ensure they have a fun, rewarding experience at every level of the program.”
One area of expansion will be a new T-ball program for 5-year-old boys and girls, where players hit a baseball off a tee. Another change dictates that coaches in all levels of the Hill House program will attend a training course focusing on sportsmanship “and really making sure that kids are getting the best out of the experience,” said Moorhouse.
Throughout the season, Moorhouse said, players will be instructed on the fundamentals of baseball in each age division (ages 3-12), but also the importance of teamwork and being part of a team.
“By making these changes, it makes it an age-appropriate league for each of the age groups which will mean that in terms of the overall experience for the kids, they will be getting the coaching and the skills that they need for that age group,” said Moorhouse. “By the time they reach the Major League (ages 10-12) division, they’ll be ready to be successful for the top division in our program.”
Moorhouse expects the league will grow to 32 teams, making it the largest youth baseball program in the city. There were 24 teams and 350 players in the league last season. An increase to 450 players is being forecast. The teams will be named after professional Major League franchises.
“We need additional coaches, and anyone interested should contact me directly at Hill House [imoorhouse@hillhouseboston.org],” said Moorhouse.
A native of England, Moorhouse played soccer as a boy, but he’s become enamored with baseball.
“I grew up playing soccer, but with the popularity of the Boston Red Sox and working at Hill House, I have a whole appreciation for the game of baseball,” he said.
Signups for the Hill House youth baseball program will take place Thursday, January 29, at 10 a.m.. Scholarships are available to help defray a player’s expenses for the season.
Moorhouse said the league’s Opening Day Parade is set for April 17.

The city, state and nation’s economic crisis and global financial uncertainty set the tone for what is being called one of Mayor Thomas Menino’s finest State of the City addresses to date.
In his annual address last Tuesday night at the historic Faneuil Hall, Menino highlighted the city’s many achievements over the past year and presented a message of community and perseverance while announcing plans to move Boston forward in the face of the country’s economic downturn.
“We are confronting a great economic crisis,” said Menino. “Boston did not create it but Boston must deal with it, and together, we will overcome it. The problems are truly global in scale, but they are also very, very real in our city.”
Menino said he has a bold vision for Boston, a city, he said, made up of strong community and unlimited opportunity.
“We have made important gains on that vision by working together, staying focused on our goals and maximizing every resource,” said Menino. “The tough economy may slow our advance, but we will not be stopped.”
In his speech, Menino reflected on some of the achievements Boston accomplished this past year, including a residential property tax reduction for the average single-family homes for the second straight year; the city’s population growing to more than 600,000 people for the first time in 30 years; prevention of nearly 450 foreclosures due to city programs; preservation of $130 million in home values; an 8 percent reduction in crime; the launching of 100 small businesses with the assistance of city financial and technical aid programs; and the $40 million Boston Invests loan program to jumpstart additional construction projects around Boston.
However, despite the growth, Menino forecasted a $140 million budget shortfall next year because of state and federal aid reductions and increasing costs and declining revenues.
In an effort to maintain the city’s strong foundation, Mayor Menino asked municipal union leaders to consider a one-year wage freeze to preserve the city’s core services in light of the very tough economic climate.
“If we can agree to a one-year wage freeze, then I can protect core services for residents and preserve jobs,” said Menino. “I know this will be hard on working families, but the way I see it, a one-year wage freeze beats core service reductions and painful, painful layoffs. We all love our city. We all benefit from a strong Boston. When we work as partners, we weave the fabric of the city together. As we draw this fabric closer, we feel the warmth of human connections that will help us not only weather this storm, but to lead our nation out of it.”
In the final analysis, Menino’s message was one of working together.
“In our neighborhoods, we have decreased foreclosures and increased safety, decreased property taxes and increased opportunity. In our schools, we have decreased the achievement gap and increased learning,” Menino concluded. “But I must remind you, unless we work together and take urgent action, our hard-won gains will be lost. In the worst of economic times, we must show the best of Boston. We have to work together to move our city forward. The state of the city is in our hands, and for that reason I know that the state of our city is strong.”
Immediately following the address, City Council President Michael Ross called Menino’s idea of a city employee pay freeze a good one.
“The mayor’s proposed pay freeze for city employees is a good idea worthy of serious consideration,” said Ross. “The City of Boston needs to take aggressive steps to deal with the budget gap without causing job losses. Even with this proposal, more work will be needed, and I stand by my proposal to convene an economic summit composed of leaders from the economic, nonprofit, and business worlds to hear their ideas on stimulating Boston’s economy.”

Chris Cowen, the chef at the Park Square Legal Sea Foods, started cooking at an early age growing up in Rhode Island. “My mom, grandmother and uncle in particular were great role models in the kitchen,” said Cowen. “My family’s Italian-Polish background set the foundation for wonderful meals and a good understanding of the principles of flavor, food combinations, and
presentation.”
Cowen got jobs in local restaurants, and while attending Johnson & Wales University he started working at Legal in Warwick.
“For years, my birthday treat was enjoying a meal at one of Legal’s Massachusetts restaurants,” recalled Cowen. “Then, when my father noticed that the company had opened a Warwick unit, that was my ticket to a job as well.”
By the time Cowen graduated from school, he was a Legal kitchen manager, and took many jobs at Legals, including opening stores in Baltimore, New York, and the Long Wharf and Park Square spots in Boston.
Eventually, he served as chef at Bethesda , Md., before moving to his current ‘home’ store at Legal’s downtown flagship Park Square. As area chef, he oversees not only Park Square but also the Charles Square unit in Cambridge and Legal Test Kitchen in the Seaport District.
Along the way, Cowen has made a few interesting detours. He represented Legal Sea Foods at a Food & Fun Festival in Iceland some years ago, cooked at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City, and he
worked at demonstration kitchens at the PGA golf tournament.
He ended up befriending Dave Matthews, and sometimes is the rock star’s traveling personal chef. “The guys love Legal Sea Foods and always stop by the restaurant when they’re performing on tour,” he said. “Sometimes I tag along for a week or so to cook….”
Cowen, 31, prefers to live in rural Hudson, NH, and loves the long daily commute to catch up with phone work.
He describes the Park Square clientele as sophisticated, global, and accustomed to the best. “We get theater people, hotel guests, world travelers,” said Cowen. But he said working with fish that’s gone through the quality control process makes his job really easy. “All I have to do is cook what our kitchen receives,” Cowen said. “That’s a huge advantage over other restaurant groups.”

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Cowen will be teaching “The Delicate Pairing of Lobster and Wine” at the Boston Wine Expo this Sunday. He joins noted wine expert Sandy Block to help expand the range of wines enjoyable with luxurious lobster through the use of creative culinary seasonings. For more Information, go to http://www.wine-expos.com/Wine/Boston.
He’ll also be doing an oyster and wine tutorial with WBUR donors at an event.

The inauguration of Barack Obama

The inauguration of President Barack Obama is the most significant political moment we of this generation have experienced in the United States.
The case can reasonably be made that it is the most significant social and political moment this nation has experienced since the inauguration of our first president, George Washington.
President Obama’s election and inauguration proves to the world that the promise of America is real and compelling.
Even if the United States isn’t the stand-alone superpower in the future that it has been in the recent past, this moment – President Obama’s inauguration – is a moment for all of us living through the American experience to savor and to take deep pride in.
Cynics throughout the world who make a living out of bashing America and who oppose American style democracy didn’t think or believe for a moment we could overcome the stain of racism that has pervaded our society to elect a black man as president.
President Obama’s election and inauguration, with the nation lining up behind him, and the great effort that he is going to make to return the nation to prosperity or to simply stop it from falling apart, gives rise to the belief that there is great hope for this nation.
The new administration brings to the table some of the best selection of brilliant minds and successful people.
Domestically and in foreign policy, the Obama administration will test the old against the new in an attempt to break us out of the economic deadlock we are in.
The nation is in for an exciting year, and a terrifying year at the same time.
There is a tremendous negative pull to everything that will be attempted to do in these future days as a nation.
The tendency is to believe that many things are finished – that there is no hope for a turnaround.
President Obama comes into office as the great hope for a change, for the turnaround we need and desperately want.
His eloquence is unsurpassed, but we need much more than eloquence these days.
We need action and plain honesty in not only laying out the problems but also the solutions to these problems that we as a nation and society must face and accept.
If ever the words inscribed on the mantle from the first occupant of the White House, John Adams seem apt, it is today:
“I pray [to] Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and on all that hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
We wish President Obama the best.