VOL. 114 - NO. 15 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 9, 2010 $.30 A COPY Last Chance to THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL SAVE YOUR LIBRARY Massachusetts Grand Lodge Order Sons of Italy in America Boston Public Library Trustees met in a public forum on Law and Justice Day Breakfast Wednesday, April 7th to discuss the library budget with BPL President Amy E. Ryan. Three scenarios for the Boston Public Library’s twenty-six branches were presented and discussed. Following the discussion, BPL President Amy E. Ryan en- dorsed Option 2, the plan that closes four branches and maintains library hours. “The Boston Public Library needs to save money, stabilize and begin to move forward,” said BPL President Amy E. Ryan. “Keeping twenty-two branches open is the most prudent option. It preserves as many branches as possible, permits us to fill critical vacancies and allows us to explore partnerships.” These were the three options discussed: Option 1: All twenty-six branches remain open, eight lead libraries (plus Central Library in Copley Square) maintain existing hours of operation, eighteen branches paired and hours reduced. HONORABLE VITO A. VIRZI ALAN R. DeNARO MICHAEL A. SULLIVAN Option 2: Twenty-two branches remain open with exist- Justice Award Law Award Public Service Award ing hours of operation; four buildings close. In this option, the following buildings would close: Faneuil, Lower Mills, The Twenty-Seventh Annual The Commission for Social Orient Heights and Washington Village. Law and Justice Day Break- Justice acts as the anti-defa- Option 3: Nineteen branches remain open; seveb build- fast sponsored by the Com- mation arm of the Order Sons ings close. In this option the following buildings would close: mission for Social Justice of of Italy in America and its pur- Egleston Square, Faneuil, Jamaica Plain, Lower Mills, the Grand Lodge of Massa- pose is to ensure equal concern, Orient Heights, Uphams Corner, and Washington Village. chusetts, Order Sons of Italy in respect, treatment and oppor- Editors Note: There is no need to close ANY library. Option 1 America will be held on Sunday, tunity for all Italians, Italian- would allow all branches to remain open. We urge you May 2, 2010 at Lombardo’s, Americans and those of other to contact your local officials in support of keeping 6 Billings St., Randolph, MA at ethnic origins. Keeping within ALL LIBRARIES OPEN. 9:30AM. the focus of their purpose, the The Commission is pleased Commission is extremely proud and honored to announce the to be able to recognize these following recipients of this outstanding individuals who News Briefs year’s awards: Honorable Vito have proven themselves as lead- A. Virzi, Justice, Westborough ers within the community, the by Sal Giarratani District Court (Justice Award); DAN REA state and in the preservation of Alan R. DeNaro, Chief of Police, Master of Ceremonies their Italian Heritage. I Like Steve Murphy for Haverhill Police Department For additional information (Law Award); and Michael A. Master of Ceremonies for the or to purchase tickets, please State Treasurer Sullivan, Clerk of Courts, Mid- Law and Justice Day Break- contact the Grand Lodge As both a political writer for a number of Bos- dlesex Superior Court (Public fast will be Dan Rea of WBZ of Massachusetts at 617-489- ton weekly newspapers and as a political activ- Service Award). NewsRadio 1030. 5234. ist, I thought the piece on City Councilor Steve Murphy (Murph’s Last Grasp? March 26, The Bos- ton Phoenix) was a bit unfair to a city councilor who has evolved into a quite decent citywide Mayor’s Column councilor. He is no ideologue as many first per- ceived him. Liberals naturally thought that since by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston he had been Dapper O’Neil’s driver that he would Last month the City of Boston experi- residents to take a proactive approach not be open to new ideas and attitudes. That sim- enced a record-level of rainfall. Over the as well. There are many things you can ply wasn’t the case. The longer he stays on the course of two significant storms, hun- do to protect yourself, your family and City Council the better he gets. However, like dreds of residents and businesses your home, not only from future storms, most of us, he sometimes sees himself appar- suffered extensive damage from flood- but from other potential disasters ently ready to-serve in a different elected capac- ing. As many residents continue the through long-term emergency planning. ity. In the past, he did try for state treasurer once cleanup process, it is important to re- It is likely that if you experienced and failed. As the chair of the Council’s Public member the measures homeowners can flooding in one of the first two storms Safety Committee, he also ran for Suffolk County take to protect themselves and repair you will be vulnerable again if you do Sheriff. Someone else won that race too. their homes from flooding and water not take proper precautions. It is impor- Murphy is no quitter. He fights on and learns damage. The City of Boston offers many tant to remember that flooding can from defeats. He has decided to run for state trea- resources to keep the residents and cause electrical issues and fire hazards, surer again. This time he is running against a streets of our city safe through any so simple actions such as removing Democrat Party bigwig. He’s hoping third time’s emergency that may arise. items from basement floors and unplug- the charm. In the past, I have not supported him Just last year, Boston was designated ging electrical devices in basements can for either treasurer or for sheriff. I did not do so as a “Storm Ready” community by the go a long way in preventing serious because at that time I supported his opponents. National Weather Service. Boston is one harm to yourself and your home. This time around he has my support. I think he’s of only a few major cities to achieve this If you do experience flooding, addi- more than qualified to be state treasurer. He of- recognition. During and following the tional health hazards to look out for in- fers a Boston working-class perspective to this unprecedented rainfall last month, city clude mold growth resulting from water important statewide office. officials have been proactively working soaked carpets and plaster, and harm- His clock isn’t running out, but he does seem to help minimize damage with increased ful bacteria, viruses and parasites that (Continued on Page 14) staff in the field and on call to respond to situations as needed. I encourage (Continued on Page 4) 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, APRIL 9, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull Taxed ENOUGH Already The Tea Party Express III rently favored by the tax THE ROMAN REPUBLIC Tour comes to Boston, to code. During past issues we out- History since Columbus dis- ian peninsula up to the Arno the Parkman Bandstand on The Republican Party sup- lined the history of ancient covered America. River. the Common, Wednesday, ports a rollback of the state th Rome by dividing it into A study and report on the 2. World Power: Rome be- April 14 . The featured sales tax to 5%, and sup- three separate and distinct history of Rome will fill an came a world power when speaker is former Alaska ports a rollback of the state periods. These were listed entire library, and require a it defeated Carthage in a Governor and Republican income tax to 5%. This as: 1. Regal Rome, the period hundred years to under- war over Sicily. Later the Vice Presidential candidate would lower the income tax of seven legendary kings; stand and record all of the Romans were victorious in Sarah Palin. back to the level that ex- 2. The Republic and 3. The material. The period of the the Punic Wars, and estab- Tea Party-goers struggling isted prior to the Dukakis Empire. Republic alone would prob- lished complete control over to pay their mortgages, feed economic debacle. We recall We then identified the ably require thirty-five years. the Mediterranean. This is and clothe their families, that then-Governor Dukakis seven legendary kings of There are times when sim- the time when the Romans and put a little money aside promised that the income Regal Rome as Romulus, plification can be most mer- referred to that body of to put their kids through tax increase would be tem- Numa Pompilius, Tullus ciful and I guess that time water as “mare nostrum,” school and save for retire- porary. Notwithstanding an Hostilus, Ancus Marcius, is now at hand. our sea. ment know first-hand that initiative petition adopted by Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Greatly condensed and 3. Internal Conflict: The City out-of-control spending in the citizens to return it to Servius Tullius, and Lucius simplified, we can safely of Rome became a barbarous Washington and on Beacon 5%, it remains above that Tarquinius Superbus. say that the main political arena filled with politicians, Hill is destroying the middle percentage rate today. The great political era, events occurring during the generals, and soldiers. The class and turning us into a The Mass GOP also sup- that is properly referred to as Republic were: unfair distribution of slave nation of a few rich and ports a constitutional the Roman Republic, started 1.