VOL. 114 - NO. 24 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE 11, 2010 $.30 A COPY FLAG DAY COMMUNITY OUTRAGE Voiced at Neighborhood Haz Mat Meeting June14, 2010 by Mario Alfano (Photo by Matt Conti) An estimated 180 resi- Tom Tinlin and representa- and Washington, … MMTA dents and business leaders tives from the Police and represents the entire truck- Show your colors, America! turned out to protest a recent Fire Departments. City ing industry.” Ferro officially ruling by the US Department Councilor Sal LaMattina was took the post on November of Transportation reversing unable to attend as he was 16, 2009, the same day the Boston’s 4-year old daytime engaged at City Hall in FMSCA ruled against the ban on haz mat trucks cut- meetings regarding the City of Boston. News Briefs ting through downtown Bos- Firefighters’ pay increase Residents are urged to ton. The federal agency also proposal. The meeting, spon- contact their elected offi- by Sal Giarratani specified that haz mat and sored by NEWNC (North End cials both in Massachusetts other large trucks should be Waterfront Neighborhood and in Washington, DC, America Could Use a Little re-routed onto Commercial Council), was held last expressing concern about Street from their present Wednesday evening at the the proposed reversal of Civics 101 Badly Cross Street route. Today, Fairmont Battery Wharf trucking restrictions. As American students, the next generation of lead- permits for haz mat vehicles Hotel. NEWNC president, pointed out by vocal mem- ers barely know enough history to pass a test with are sparsely given, and then Steve Passacantilli, presided bers of the community, the a C. Most didn’t seem to understand the impor- only for vehicles picking up over the meeting. North End/Waterfront is a tance of knowing history. Santanya once said or delivering within the City The US DOT agency han- unique, vibrant and histori- “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat limits; with these restric- dling the Haz Mat ruling cal neighborhood. The haz it.” tions lifted, Tom Tinlin, is called Federal Motor Car- mat vehicles are dirty, noisy In both high school and college, I was a history Commissioner of the Bos- rier Safety Administration) and pose a clear safety fanatic. I loved all kinds of history. I saw it as the ton Transportation Depart- whose “primary mission” is threat: to seniors, children, link between yesterday and today. In college, I ment (BTD), estimates that “to reduce crashes, injuries residents and tourists. One majored in history and specialized in Eastern up to 200 trucks may re- and fatalities involving just has to think about his- European History. When my college offered an turn to city streets as of large trucks and buses.” In toric landmarks such as Old Irish History elective, I signed up. The professor July 1 when the US DOT’s her previous job, the head of North Church and the Paul started telling other faculty members how he had ruling takes effect. this agency, Administrator Revere House, Christopher an Italian- American in his Irish history class. I Local elected officials Anne Ferro, effectively lob- Columbus Park, Waterfront had to burst his bubble telling him that my unanimously supported the bied for the Trucking Indus- Walk along a route already maternal grandparents came from West Cork. residents’ call to ban all haz- try in Maryland. According to populated with Tour buses, History has often got lost when it comes to class- ardous vehicles from the their website: “MMTA has School Buses, funeral pro- room education. It takes a back seat to other sub- North End and Waterfront. developed effective programs cessions, Fire Engines, and jects like science and math. Recently, former US State Representative Aaron that keep our members’ op- more. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day-O’Connor said Michlewitz and State Sena- erating costs down, influ- Help keep the neighbor- one of the “unintended consequences” of the No tor Anthony Petruccelli were ence legislative and regula- hood clean, vibrant and Child Left Behind initiative has been a decrease in attendance along with tory decisions in Annapolis safe. in civics knowledge. The federal government’s education program appropriates funds based on good test scores in math, science and reading but there’s no money for history or civics. Mayor’s Column O’Connor added, “Barely one-third of Americans by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston can even name the three branches of government, Summer jobs are an essential invest- Our local government and business much less say what they do ... Less than one-fifth ment in the future leaders of our city, leaders have done a great job stepping of high school seniors can explain how civic par- providing Boston youth with valuable life up in the summer jobs effort. Congress- ticipation benefits our government. Less than that skills and long-term benefits. The City men Stephen Lynch and Michael can say what the Declaration of Independence is, of Boston has level funded the summer Capuano and Senator John Kerry have and it’s right there in the title. I’m worried.” She’s jobs program in the FY 2011 budget with offered tremendous leadership and con- worried? So should we all. How can we be a nation $4.3 million, but we are still almost tinued support of summer jobs program- of citizens in a democratic republic without $2 million short from last year, which ming in Congress. This week, the Sen- understanding what government is, what our role is about 13 hundred fewer jobs, due to ate could approve a $1 billion summer in it is and how we shape and control it. It is nice losses in state and federal funding. To jobs bill that would mean an extra to be proficient in science, math and reading but make up the difference we have been $2 million — approximately 1,200 jobs if we are not reading our history and the history working with government and private — for Boston’s youth. We are also work- of the world, it won’t up add well for the future of businesses to make sure that our young ing with John Hancock, The Boston America. people have this important life experi- Globe, Boston University, State Street, (Continued on Page 13) ence, especially in this difficult economy. (Continued on Page 15) 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, JUNE 11, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull “The Emblem of the Land I Love” legiance, “I pledge alle- THE ROMAN THEATERS giance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands The Roman Theater, five thousand. A theatrical — One nation indivisible — adapted from the Greek performance often lasted all with liberty and justice for design, was partly hollowed day long. At one perfor- all,” was written in Septem- out of the ground and mance, five hundred lions ber of 1892 by Francis partly built up of ma- were presented. At other Bellamy for The Youth’s sonry. Both Greek and times they featured Companion magazine in Roman theaters were elephants, crocodiles Boston. The phrase was built in the half round and hippopotami. printed on leaflets and sent or semicircular in To compliment the to schools throughout the plan. Some of the very theater, Pompey built United States. The first early Greek theaters uti- a great porticus (covered organized use of the Pledge lized built-up bleachers for walkway supported by beau- of Allegiance came on Octo- the spectators. Many people tiful columns). It consisted of ber 12, 1892, when some 12 were injured when one of shelters and this is probably several parallel colonnades million American school these bleachers collapsed, the reason why they became with flower gardens, tree- children recited it to com- consequently all future the- such good runners. lined walks, fountains, pic- memorate the 400-year aters were hollowed out of There were two Roman tures, and statues of marble anniversary of Columbus’ the hillside whenever pos- theaters that are worthy of and bronze. The area was Monday, June 14, is Flag voyage. sible. All were open to the air mention at this time. The open on all sides to the pub- Day. It commemorates the In 1923, the first National with no roofs and intended first is the Theater of lic, and at once became a fa- adoption of the flag of the Flag Conference in Wash- for daytime use. The stone Marcellus, the only ancient vorite spot for Roman idlers. United States by the Second ington D.C. voted to change seats were neatly arranged theater in Rome. It is said In addition to these build- Continental Congress in the words “my flag” to “the in tiers with aisles and cross to have been started by ings, Pompey also built a 1777. It’s a good time to Flag of the United States of aisles. Julius Caesar but completed building for the Roman reflect on the meaning of America.” Congress officially The stage and back- by Augustus in 13 A.D. and Senate to use while await- the flag and of the pledge of recognized the Pledge of grounds were permanently named in honor of his ing the rebuilding of their allegiance that many of us Allegiance in 1942, but in constructed. The Greeks nephew. The theater could own Curia, which was de- recited daily in school.