VOL. 114 - NO. 38 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 $.30 A COPY GROSSMAN, BUMP St. Rosalia Procession Grab Statewide Wins by Sal Giarratani Ends the North End Summer Feasts STEVEN GROSSMAN SUZANNE M. BUMP Steve Grossman, a Newton Suzanne Bump won the Democrat and Somerville Democratic primary against businessman beat out Bos- Worcester Sheriff Guy Glodis ton City Councilor Stephen for State Auditor. She will Murphy in the race for Trea- face Mary Z. Connaughton, surer. Said Grossman, “Vot- the Republican primary ers are saying, “Don’t give winner. Connaughton said, up the party line, don’t give “A change is important, St. Rosalia procession was held on Sunday, September 12, 2010 through the streets me rhetoric, give me some- that’s what I heard from vot- of the North End. This marked the end of the summer feasts held in Boston’s North thing I can believe in that ers all over the state.” End. View more photos on Page 5. is credible.” The voter turnout was in- (Photo by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) Grossman, the winner of credibly dismal. Less than the Democratic primary will one out of six registered vot- face off against State Repre- ers voted in the primary. sentative Karyn Polito, the Polito, the GOP Treasurer Republican candidate for candidate in November said, Mayor’s Column Treasurer. “People have lost faith in by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston Meanwhile, former Brain- politics” and she saw the low This week, Boston residents riding ize that almost all of the household items tree State Representative turnout as proof that voters on a MBTA bus, taking the T, or just which they may consider trash are and State Labor Secretary are listless. walking down Main Street will notice a actually recyclable. Beyond commonly new promotional campaign launched by considered recyclables such as plastic the City of Boston reminding everyone bottles, soda cans, and paper, we can now how easy and important it is to recycle recycle hard plastic items such as toys in Boston. The ads, featuring Boston and laundry baskets. More than 50 per- News Briefs residents at home with a variety of cent of household trash is recyclable, but everyday recyclable items, will run for the average Boston resident only re- by Sal Giarratani eight weeks this fall and again in the cycles 14 percent of recyclable items. I spring. Recycling in Boston is now am thrilled with the high level of inter- easier than ever with the City’s new est and success that the program has Raising the Age for Social Security recycling carts and I hope these ads experienced so quickly, but we can do Recently, I’ve heard the news that some will help encourage our residents to better. people think the way to save Social Security take advantage of this opportunity to Over the past year, the City of Boston is to raise the retirement age. Those who sup- start recycling. I know that Boston resi- has delivered 55,000 large 64-gallon port this idea say with life expectancies dents care about the environment, par- wheeled carts to residents throughout approaching 80 years, where is the justifica- ticularly their own environment, and the city. With this new program we tion for not increasing the retirement age to recycling is an important way to take have not only made it more convenient at least the early or mid-70s. If these advocates care of our City and keep our neighbor- for residents to recycle, but we have had their way, you’d have to die before you could hoods clean and vibrant. Last summer, saved money. For every ton of trash start collecting. we switched from “dual-stream” recy- recycled, the City saves $70 on resident The crisis in Social Security that we’ve been cling, which required separating bottles, trash disposal fees. It actually much talking about for years was created by the very cans and plastic from paper, to the more expensive to remove and inciner- same government trying to “fix” it. The Social Recycle More! “single-stream” method, ate trash than it is to recycle. This pro- Security Trust Fund was supposed to be held allowing all recyclables to be mixed gram is very important to maintaining “in trust” for all of us. It now contains $2.5 tril- together. As a result, we have seen a Boston’s environmental and economic lion in Treasury securities. It ain’t a very good 30 percent increase in the tonnage that sustainability and it is our goal to con- excuse for a trust. If it had been held truly in residents recycled over the last year and tinue to increase participation from trust, the system would be $2.5 trillion closer the carts have been so popular that resi- residents each year. to being solved without cutting benefits or tell- dents request close to 200 additional I encourage anyone who has not ing folks they can’t retire until they turn 100 carts per week. yet taken advantage of the “single- years old. We have been providing residents stream” bins to take this small but these big new recycling carts, but we important step to begin recycling. (Continued on Page 14) also want to remind everyone how they can use them. Many people do not real- (Continued on Page 12) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PMPM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull Ashes to Ashes Well, we made it through “acted stupidly” — although September 11th with no one both Dr. Gates and Sergeant AT HOME IN OLD ROME, THE INSULA OR TENEMENT HOUSE in America conducting a Crowley may have displayed The development of the way to prevent being seri- public burning of the Koran less than perfect judgment Roman Insula or Tenement ously affected by the cold was (Qur’an), Torah, Tanakh, (and which of us does, hum?) House seems to have been to use portable braziers and New Testament, Book of In September of last year brought about by the same risk the resulting fumes or Morman, Rig Veda, the writ- President Obama called economic factors that plague fire hazard. Additional risks ings of Mary Baker Eddy, or hip-hop musician Kanye our tenement houses of to- were generated by the use of any other sacred text. Not West a “jackass.” Of course day; low income, high land torches or lamps for lighting. even a single copy of The in Mr. West’s case the cost and high population den- The Insula or Tenement House Local fire brigades, fire- Watchtower! charge is true, but it also sity. There were not very faster than the supply of liv- fighting night watchmen or Whew! For a while there I goes with, and is a prereq- many families that were able ing spaces. Rents soared and “vigiles” helped but there was thought we were on our way uisite for, his profession. to afford the luxury of a buildings deteriorated be- just no immediate solution. to becoming fifteenth cen- I have a suggestion for “domus” or one family home. cause of little or no mainte- Water pressure was not avail- tury Florence, Italy, with our President Obama. When Most people lived in flats, in nance. Many families were able to bring water to the up- own version of Savonarola they asked you about the huge tenement blocks. The forced to sublet extra rooms per floors and emergency fire lighting the bonfire of the incinerating inciter in flats were called “cenecula” to help pay the rent. pails were never kept filled vanities down in Gainsville, Gainesville, you could have and the tenement blocks The floors of the “cenecula” as required by law. A small Florida. That is until I heard recycled two golden oldies were called “insula.” There were often covered with fire usually spread rapidly that the Sunshine State pas- and replied: “some jackass were shops on the ground beautiful mosaics and the and engulfed the entire tor was not a member of any acts stupidly every day, and level and four or five floors of walls were frescoed, but this structure in a short time. organized demonination and I’m not going to comment on tenants above. Some of the is where it ended. There During his day, Crassus, he hasn’t more than 50 fol- every one of them.” shopkeepers maintained were none of the simple the wealthy real estate lowers! In other words one I have another suggestion luxurious ground floor apart- conveniences of today; no dealer, usually appeared on crackpot with a few assorted for the President. Next time ments behind or adjacent to lighting, no heating system, the scene of a fire to offer nuts and loose screws hang- you are temped to comment their shops. no sinks, toilets or baths as sympathy to the burned-out ing around him could get all on some current news item The name “insula” seems we know them. Family living landlord and also to offer a that attention. that is unrelated to your job to have been derived from spaces were overcrowded pittance for the purchase of And attention he got! In as chief executive, follow the “insulanus” or island, as and this contributed to the his smoldering heap.