November 1, 2013 Vol. 117 No. 44
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VOL. 117 - NO. 44 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 $.30 A COPY ABCD Calls on HHS to Release Fuel Assistance Funds Thousands in Boston Literally Waiting in the Cold for Relief Government Shutdown May Slow Release of Funds Cold weather has arrived and thousands are forced to choose between heat, food, of low-income seniors and families are wor- medicine and paying their rent. ried about how they will heat their homes. Based on last year’s allocation, families Normally the ABCD Fuel Assistance pro- with incomes below the federal poverty level gram opens on November 1, with oil trucks are eligible to receive the maximum fuel rolling to low-income households as the assistance benefit. Last year that was weather turns cold and payments to utili- $1,125. With current oil prices near $4 a ties preventing shutoff of gas and electric gallon, which will not even fill an oil tank service in homes where families, struggling once. to survive, have fallen behind on their bills. Forward funding from Massachusetts But this year, citing the disruption of the The Commonwealth is considering “for- government shutdown, the federal Depart- ward funding” fuel assistance legislation ment of Health and Human Services has that would provide funds to get the program not yet allocated funds to the states to pro- started while waiting for federal funds to vide fuel assistance to low-income elders arrive. The state would then be reimbursed. and working families eligible for the Low- Drew urges quick passage of that bill. “We income Home Energy Assistance Program. need to get help to those who cannot turn The program cannot open until officials up their thermostats,” he said. “I urge the It’s YOUR RIGHT at the Commonwealth receive notification legislature and Governor Patrick to make from HHS of the availability of LIHEAP dol- that money available. A direct state supple- as an American ... lars and authorize ABCD and other fuel ment of $20 million, that didn’t have to be assistance providers to begin the heating paid back, would be even better.” assistance program. He noted that the program is cost- TUESDAY, ABCD and other providers of fuel assis- effective. “Without adequate heat, people get tance in the cold northern states are very sick and end up in emergency rooms. November 5, 2013 concerned about the delay. Already ABCD Children can’t do their schoolwork in a has received more than 12,000 applications freezing apartment and get poor grades. Your vote does count ... for heating assistance. Last year over 21,000 Space heaters cause fires and take lives. applications came in over the length of the Providing these funds, this program imme- program. Across the state, more than diately is the right, moral thing to do and, 200,000 households receive fuel assistance. in the end, it saves money.” “It’s truly a matter of life and death for Families who qualify for heating assis- many people who have no extra money to tance also can benefit from ABCD’s weath- News Briefs pay for heat. With oil prices at near-record erization programs and qualify for repair or highs, it’s a tough situation,” said ABCD replacement of faulty heating systems. by Sal Giarratani President/CEO John J. Drew. ABCD also helps clients improve energy He noted that the government shutdown usage. is over and a Continuing Resolution is in ABCD’s Fuel Assistance program serves Now Who’s Talking About an force, requiring fuel allocations at last year’s Boston, Brookline and Newton. Applications Obamacare Delay? levels. “I don’t understand why the funding for fuel assistance and information on all Apparently, when Republicans in the U.S. Sen- for this desperately needed program is its energy programs are available at ABCD’s ate like U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and delayed,” he said. “Poverty data released by downtown office and any of its Neighborhood Rand Paul were talking defunding or at least de- the Census this fall shows increased pov- Service Centers or by calling the ABCD Fuel laying the implementation of the individual man- erty, with 15 percent of Americans or 46.5 Assistance Hotline at 1-617-357-6012. date in Obamacare, the liberal Democrats on million people living below the poverty level Information is also available at the ABCD Capitol Hill and the sucking up to them liberal of $23,550 for a family of four. In those website: www.bostonabcd.org. news media were calling such talk the actions of homes there is just not enough household For a list of ABCD locations, please visit: a lunatic fringe of extremists waiving the Tea income to pay for the bare necessities.” http://www.bostonabcd.org/service- Party banner. Now it appears with the website to Drew said that these families regularly centers.aspx. sign-up crashing from the moment it was turned on back on October 1st, there are now many Demo- crats reportedly including U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH talking about postponing the individual mandate and no one is calling her a Spring racist or a member of the fringe element of anar- chists who hate Obama because he is Black. Now Ahead to postpone is made to sound reasonable. I guess Democrats must always be reasonable and never fringy. Shaheen now understands seemingly how wrong it is to penalize the uninsured who are unable due to website woes to sign up. Fall Chancellor Doesn’t Like Getting Spied On Back Now, Chancellor Angela Merkel feels like the rest of us getting spied on by the NSA and she doesn’t like it one bit. She joins others like the Be sure to move your clocks BACK one hour President of France and many other heads of state nd that seemingly have fallen under the microscope on Saturday night November 2 (Continued on Page 14) Also ... Replace the batteries in your Smoke Detectors THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on 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, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello Res Publica Nostra by David Trumbull A weekly column highlighting some of the more interesting aspects of our ancestry...our lineage...our roots. Call Me a Taxi The story goes that humor- nights on weekends and from additional and strategi- JOHN F. KENNEDY ist Robert Benchley, upon during inclement weather, cally located taxi stands that asking a man outside of the it is difficult to get a cab. are better marked and bet- ‘21’ Club to call him a taxi- Rates are either difficult ter advertised. cab, was informed that he to access or are confusing. Little assistance and pub- was an admiral for the U.S. While base rates but not lic education/information. Navy. Benchley responded, all charges are displayed on Visitors and local customers “Well, then call me a battle- the passenger information alike have little guidance as ship.” Taxis, being more monitor, some customers to the approximate fares. directly relevant to the have difficulty finding the Wheelchair accessible ve- average Post-Gazette reader rates and those that are able hicles are not compliant than are battleship, let’s talk to find the rates may not with City of Boston stan- about taxis. realize they are displayed dards, are not regularly Mayor Thomas M. Menino over multiple pages. Addi- inspected and are not this past week released a tionally, there is specific readily available. Taxi Consultant Report, confusion over (1) large I don’t know why the city commissioned by the City of vehicle charge of $6:00; (2) had to spend money on a Boston and prepared by inde- distinctions between Logan study. Any resident could pendent consultant. Issues Airport and East Boston that have told them that Boston identified in the report — affect an additional $2.75 does not have enough taxis Poor performance in re- charge; and (3) the $2.25 and that the ones we have sponse to trip requests. When Massport pool entry fee to are in poor repair and smell. a customer requests a trip customers. The fares are the highest I only 78% of the requests are Massport staff indicated a know of in any American completed and only 87% of desire to have a flat rate city and are impossible to the served trips are picked structure to/from airport, understand. And, in my up within 20 minutes of the as they have received experience, wheelchair ac- call. complaints from out-of- cessible vehicle are not “not There is unmet demand towners. compliant,” they are “non- during peak hours. Regard- Insufficient, undersized, existent.” And, yes, during less of what neighborhood and unknown taxi stands. rush hour in the rain you needs service, many report Taxi customers and taxi are about as likely to hail a DATE OF BIRTH: May 29, 1917 that during rush hour, late drivers alike could benefit battleship as a taxi. PLACE OF BIRTH: Brookline, MA DATE OF DEATH: November 22, 1963 PLACE OF DEATH: Dallas, TX SPOUSE: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier All Saints Day PRESIDENT: January 20, 1961 - November 22, 1963 by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari The 35th and the youngest of our elected Presidents, Christians have been hon- And next in line of all White House residents; oring saints and martyrs Was the man we all know as J.F.K., since at least the second They say it was fate that sent him our way.