VOL. 122 - NO. 43 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER 26, 2018 $.35 A COPY Community Health Centers in Massachusetts Oppose Question 1 As the leader of a community health center already chal- lenged by a statewide nurs- ing shortage, we are joining the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers in opposing Question 1. The pro- posed mandated nurse staffi ng levels at hospitals would drain nurses from community-based primary care settings. It is at times at community hospitals While health centers sup- these community-based set- because of the mandated staff- port all nurses in their goals to tings that critical preventive ing ratios will disproportion- provide high quality care and and chronic care take place. ately affect our patients. In most ensure safe working condi- Nurses are the backbone of cases, community hospitals tions, we do not believe that our community health cen- serve as the single entry point Question 1 is the best way to ter workforce. Not only are for lower-income residents to achieve these aims. The unin- they fundamental to providing receive specialty and inpa- tended consequences are too patients with the highest level tient care when they need it. far-reaching, placing the health of care, they hold the front line Many of our patients struggle of the state’s most vulnerable against the opioid epidemic and with chronic disease, including communities at risk. other public health crises in our diabetes, heart disease and communities. depression — conditions that Sincerely, What’s more, the threat of require attention from all levels Jim Luisi, CEO service cuts and increased wait of our healthcare system. North End Waterfront Health This Caravan Nonsense Gotta Stop by Sal Giarratani All countries need borders, this latest time from Honduras walk here through Mexico has without them you have chaos. with the ultimate destination a right to be here. HOWEVER, There seem to be too many none other than the United that is not so in this or any liberal Democrats, crazy pro- States of Everybody. We need to lifetime. gressives, and the Fake News stop these caravans from track- Mexico and the United States Media-ites who simply want ing it up north. I understand needs to sit down and fi gure out open borders. Come on down, these people are just looking a way to control this madness. News Briefs like Monty Hall use to say. for better lives for themselves If our two countries can come by Sal Giarratani Come on in, our borders are and their children but there is together over economics and open 24-7. Don’t worry about a legal process to do so. Folks trade deals, we can work this wait lines or papers, our home just can’t be allowed to commit immigration crisis out, too. What Went Down in Portland, Oregon? is now your home, no questions a B&E on America. The Democrats are useless Many by now have heard of that terrible situation asked! The crazed Democrats, out on this issue because all they that happened not long ago in the City of Portland. That attitude creates this of control mobs and the fake see are caravans of future A bunch of ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter activists caravan mentality from Central media just don’t want to get it. U.S. voters pure, simple, and took control of the city’s streets. The city’s mayor, America to group up and march, They think anyone willing to conniving. police chief, and police force took a Dixie and disap- peared from the scene. Chaos was in full control and the folks who run the city went into hiding leaving the populous on their own. Things were scary and out of control. It’s not sup- posed to happen that way. Shame on Hillary Hillary Clinton obviously still believes denial is a river in Egypt. She still enables her Bubba. She blames Monica Lewinski for his ills and says the then 22-year-old was an adult in the Oval Offi ce. Hasn’t Hillary ever heard of workplace sexual harassment? He was the President of the United States and she was a White House intern. She doesn’t know anything about the #MeToo movement. End Quote “It’s not what you are, it’s what you don’t become that hurts.” — Oscar Levant THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, OCTOBER 26, 2018 Simple TIMES . by Girard A. Plante Growing up in Central New York during the 1960s and ’70s was not unlike growing up in many of the communities across the Northeast. Manufacturing mills and factories largely hummed POLITICAL POWER along providing thousands of jobs. Municipalities swelled with residents working in hundreds of downtown businesses and some instances even distributed governmental agencies. it free. The aristocrats accused Yet the era still held strongly to its traditions that brought people Maelius of aiming at dictato- together through rough times over the previous decades of two rial power and to combat this world wars, depression, domestic and international unrest, and threat, Cincinnatus at the age uncertainty about the future. Lifestyles remained ironclad despite of 80, was once again appointed emerging changes because of pride and tough-minded character. dictator. Halloween proved every bit the big event that placed good fun Maelius was summoned to as the priority to anything out of control of the youth of that appear before the court of the time. Costumes with popular plastic masks of Batman and dictator, but when he refused Robin, Frankenstein, Cinderella, Werewolf, Wicked Witch, and to go, a high ranking member other creatures that dazzled a child’s imagination for that one of the equestrian order rushed out and slewed him. The prop- important day. erty of Maelius was confi scated The sturdy orange plastic Jack O’ Lanterns, orange and black and his house was destroyed. paper bags with its witch and black cat adorning the cover topped The spot where the house once by a strong easy-to-use handle were the usual devices to carry “Ambitio” or political ambi- plowing his fi elds and from the stood continued to be a memo- the day and evening’s candy collection. Even the old pillow case tion, the topic of last week’s col- plow he was elevated to the rial to his fate for many years to proved to satisfy a reveler’s penchant to haul home as many sweets umn, now leads us to “potestas” highest offi ce in his country. come. The murderer was tried one could gather. or power. Thoughts of political The new dictator laid aside his and convicted for his act, but My childhood neighborhood was known as Trick-Or-Treat street. power recalls to mind the story farming clothes and took up escaped execution by a volun- The quiet tree-lined street with mostly one-family and handful of three Romans and the way the offi ce of absolute power. He tary exile. of two-family houses intersected with one of my hometown’s six that power, or the quest for it drafted a new army, conducted The story of Cincinnatus is in public and parochial high schools. Through the years alumni from affected their lives. an overnight march to aid a direct contrast to that of Didius the large public high school a block away knew the neighborhood The first man, Quintas L. Roman general whose forces Salvius Julianus, a wealthy well and brought their children too many of the homeowners whose Cincinnatus, was a Roman were surrounded and block- Roman who bought the Roman children they went to school with. aristocrat who lived during aded in their own camp by the Empire from the Praetorian Halloween became that one grand day whereby a reunion of the early period of the Roman enemy. He quickly turned the Guards (about 200 A.D.). The friends who grew up with each other returned to see longtime pals Empire. His son was banished tide of battle by surrounding price paid was 25,000 sesterces, and pass by the high school they crafted lasting memories. That from Rome because of violent and blockading the baffled which came to about $1,000 alone became the parents’ treat! language which he had used enemy who were soon happy for each guard. After reign- The familiar and safe setting saw the World War One generation towards the tribunes. This to submit to the new dicta- ing as emperor for about two — as the elder neighbors were commonly called — happily greeting punishment so saddened and tor’s terms. Cincinnatus then months he was murdered by his youngsters hidden by their favorite costumes. “Now who might disenchanted Cincinnatus that returned in triumph to Rome, own soldiers while Septimius you be,” Miss Clark asked as she placed a small bag of treats he retired to his ancestral farm, relinquished his dictatorial Severus was marching against into the tiny hands of trick-or-treaters. The 80-something Miss away from the great urban con- power after holding it for only the city. Clark’s brother and sister in-law both lived on my street for over fusion. Shortly thereafter, the 14-days and returned to his Potestas ... power ... the curse fi ve decades. That way of life was the norm in every section of the hostile action and successes of farm.