I had not heard the word “caca” in a long time, but when I read the following message it became pretty clear. This letter sent in to neighborhood parents from Vincent Santaniello has caused an uproar through email chains and the local NEWMA Google group. The discussion started with the problems at the baseball fields Read More…
If Public Markets are ever created at Haymarket — in the multi-million dollar white elephant Big Dig ventilation building (Parcel 7) or in a future building on Parcel 9 — the big winner could be the Haymarket pushcarts. That’s because the public markets might introduce countless new customers to the tremendous variety and values offered by the pushcarts. And they are no Read More…
The following letter to Boston City Hall Mayor’s Office and City Council officials is re-published here with permission of the author as a commentary follow-up to last week’s North End Public Safety meeting. I am emailing you in the hope that you finally realize how fed up both the deep rooted and longstanding residents of Read More…
Transparency issues at the Greenway Conservancy (GC) made multiple cover stories this week at the Boston Herald. The GC is a private non-profit that leases the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway public parks and is partially funded with taxpayer dollars. There is nothing like an insulting, errant email to motivate a reporter. Even the Globe chimed in, sort of, Read More…
The Globe’s architecture critic, Robert Campbell, took his third annual spring walk down the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. Regarding the North End Greenway parks, he writes: “My walk began at the North End, where the Greenway consists of two big green lawns overlooked by a sort of grandstand. There were three people and two dogs Read More…
Commentary submitted by the columnist, Freeway: Congratulations to Pamela Donnaruma, Editor and Publisher of the Post-Gazette (formerly La Gazzetta del Massachusetts). Pam was interviewed by Chronicle for a segment on Hanover Street, North End that aired May 10, 2011. Pam was asked if there was any plan that would work for Hanover Street. Her reply was, Read More…
Raise a glass to the 10th anniversary of a proposed supermarket for the North and West Ends. Here, below, from my old files, is a letter describing the need for an “affordable ” and “easily-accessible” supermarket. It was sent May 17, 2001, by Boston City Councillor At-Large Francis “Mickey” Roache to the BRA — with a copy Read More…
As published in the April 1, 2010 Post-Gazette and posted here at the request of the author. Dear Editor, The following letter is in response to Phil Orlandella’s editorial in the Regional Review dated March 29, 2011 “NEWNC SUPPORTS OF 2 AM CLOSURE-WRONG.” Being on the NEWNC is not an easy job. As a council Read More…
Working with What We Have In the North End by Pamela Donnaruma There is much discussion lately on the revamping of Hanover Street in Boston’s North End. As editor of the Post-Gazette, which is located in the North End since 1896, I spend a lot of time here. The North End has always been a Read More…
The brand new Cab Stand on North St., at the corner of Commercial St., is no longer a Cab Stand. In record-breaking speed by the City of Boston, it has been transformed into a marked Handicap Ramp. Readers of this blog learned the story of the space a few days ago, when a handicap ramp was Read More…
Having Hollywood film their movies and TV shows in the neighborhood is a good thing, right? We are told that it is a compliment. It is good for the city, good for the economy, just plain good news all around. Until they arrive. Then comes the invasion of our streets and the strains on daily Read More…
A handicap ramp on the North St. sidewalk, at the corner of Commercial St., outside the real estate company office (former home of Sarni Cleaners) has been a gold-mine for the city and towing truck operators for quite some time. The ramp is not at a crosswalk. One was there years ago. The ramp is hard to Read More…