VOL. 117 - NO. 1 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JANUARY 4, 2013 $.30 A COPY Boston Celebrate’s Time for Action on Common Sense Gun Reform First Night by Mayor Thomas M. Menino As a parent and grand- Bloomberg to create Mayors and at gun shows, where parent, I remain overcome Against Illegal Guns. Today, unlicensed “private sellers” with sadness, grief and out- our bipartisan coalition is are not required by federal rage by the recent tragedy in more than 800 Mayors strong, law to conduct the checks. Newtown, Connecticut. This and we’ve joined forces with Millions of gun sales — esti- unspeakable act of violence more than 900,000 Ameri- mated at more than 40 per- will forever imprint Decem- cans and 100 survivors of cent of the U.S. annual total ber 14, 2012 in our hearts gun violence to urge Presi- — are conducted through pri- and minds, and my heart dent Obama to put forward vate sellers. Federal legisla- goes out to the families im- an agenda that will make tion known as The Fix Gun pacted by this senseless it harder for dangerous Checks Act (H.R.1781/S.436) tragedy and the many others people to possess guns and would close this enormous we have recently witnessed easier for police and pros- gap in our laws by requiring across the United States. ecutors to crack down on a criminal background As a Mayor who has seen them. I encourage you to check for every gun sale. too many lives forever al- join people from all walks of • Get high capacity rifles tered by gun violence, it is life who have signed our and ammunition maga- my responsibility to fight for Demand a Plan petition by zines off our streets. Mili- action. Now is the time for visiting DemandAPlan.org. tary-style weapons and high that action. Each day in the That agenda would: capacity ammunition maga- United States, 33 people are • Require every gun buyer zines have no appropriate murdered by guns. Our na- to pass a criminal back- civilian function. They are tion has been brought to a ground check. Background designed to kill large num- tipping point. Now is the checks are the only system- bers of people quickly and are time for a real dialogue on atic way to stop felons, do- disproportionately used to national gun reform rooted mestic abusers and other kill law enforcement offic- in common sense. dangerous people from buy- ers; approximately one in Six years ago, I joined New ing firearms. But they still York City Mayor Michael avoid these checks online (Continued on Page 5) GENERAL CONSULATE OF ITALY - BOSTON (Photo by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) (Additional Photos on Page 8) News Briefs 2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS by Sal Giarratani Pursuant to Presidential decree n. 226 of December 22, 2012, elections will be held on February 24 and February 25, 2013 to elect representatives to the Chamber of Obama Named Person of the Year Deputies and to the Senate of the Republic. In Italy, voting at the polling stations Again by Time Magazine will take place on Sunday, February 24th (from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and on Time has once again picked President Obama Monday, February 25th (from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). for its Person of the Year honor citing his re- Outside of Italy, Italian citizens residing abroad who are registered voters in the election as a major factor in giving him his sec- Overseas District may vote by correspondence. They can do so by casting their ond selection for this honor. He was picked back vote for the candidates listed on the ballot for the “Circoscrizione Estero” (Overseas in 2008 when he became the nation’s first black District). president. The liberal news media is in love with the guy. If they could they would make him Per- All voters residing abroad will receive a packet by mail before February 6th from son of the Century but there are still 87 years to the Consulate General of Italy in Boston containing: an instruction sheet on the go and it might be a tad too soon for that honor, voting procedures, the electoral certificate, a ballot (two for voters over the age of huh? 25, therefore eligible to vote also for the Senate), one blank white envelope for the Border Patrol No Longer Interpreters ballots, a stamped envelope bearing the address of the Consulate General of Italy in The U.S. Border Patrol will no longer provide Boston, and the list of candidates for the Electoral zone of residence. services as interpreters when local law enforce- The stamped envelope containing the ballots, completed as indicated by the instruction ment request language help. The Department sheet, must be sent by mail as soon as possible in order to reach the Consulate of Homeland Security now tells local cops to seek General of Italy in Boston by - and no later than - 4:00 pm on February 21st. help from private services often used by govern- ment agencies. Up in the Washington State area The vote is personal and secret. Voting more than once or voting on it is common practice for local authorities to ask another’s behalf is prohibited. Violators of the law will be punished to the the Border Patrol for help when they pull over fullest extent of the law. folks who speak only Spanish. In some cases Voters who have not received a complete packet by February 10th should contact those stopped end up getting detained as illegals. the Consulate General of Italy in Boston to verify their electoral status and, if Advocates for immigrants believe that language necessary, request a duplicate. access should have nothing to do with legal sta- tus in this country. This is another win for lib- For further information, please visit Consulate’s website erals in the fight against perceived injustice to www.consboston.esteri.it, or contact [email protected], illegal immigrants. or call 617.722.9220. (Continued on Page 5) INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.esteri.it 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, JANUARY 4, 2013 Res Publica by David Trumbull Disabled Persons Will Need to be Recertified for the RIDE under New MBTA Rules THE BIBLE LANDS According to the FAQs (frequently asked questions) posted The history of ancient fertile districts and supplied imprisonment and at times on the website of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Mesopotamia, also called one third of the grain pro- even death. Appeals could be Authority, disabled persons using the MBTA’s RIDE service the West Asiatic or the Tigro- duced in all of Western Asia. made to the king. They used will need to be recertified under new procedures. All exist- Euphrates country, was A magnificent system of a form of silver currency, ing RIDE customs will be notified and recertified within actually composed of three artificial irrigation was in- with denominations named three years. Certification will be done via an in-person major periods. These were troduced by a network of “talents, maneus, shekels assessment conducted by trained mobility coordinators. known as the Babylon Period, canals. The greatest of these and paras.” Taxes were Here are some things that disabled RIDE customers should the Assyrian Period and the canals was called the “Nar levied for the improvement be aware of: Persian Period. They all Malka.” It connected the of their roads and canals. • A diagnosis of disability from your physicians will not be occupied the territory that Tigris with the Euphrates They were also required to enough to get you certified. According to the MBTA, many was part of the “Bible Lands.” and was still in use as late pay a “king’s tax” (property medical practitioners are ill-equipped to make a determi- Mountains in the northern as 700 A.D. tax), and an “army tax.” nation that is based on functional ability to use the MBTA portion of the country reach During the Babylonian All Chaldeans of free birth fixed route transit system. In addition, the MBTA says it heights of seven thousand period, the people main- were educated. Slaves were cannot rely on an applicant’s doctor to always be fully objec- feet but further south the tained a civilization which protected by law against tive in making this determination, given that they may country slopes downward to has not been properly appre- harsh treatment from their well be motivated to secure as many services for their form a broad central alluvial ciated until fairly modern masters; they could own patient as possible. plain which occupies the val- times. The discovery and property; and in fact were • The MBTA estimates the 95-99% of current RIDE ley between the Tigris and deciphering of many thou- often taught trades by their customer who apply under the new system will be found Euphrates Rivers. The pre- sands of inscribed tablets owners. Women occupied a conditionally or fully eligible for THE RIDE. vious column noted that from some of the oldest cit- favorable position in their • However, they also estimate that a significant percent history marks this as the lo- ies of Babylonia give a very society, especially after (perhaps 15-25%) of current RIDE customers will choose not cation of the “Garden of accurate account of their marriage.