Post-Gazette 4-10-09.Pmd
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VOL. 113 - NO. 15 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 10, 2009 $.30 A COPY FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY, Buona Pasqua Romano Prodi Visits Boston HAPPY EASTER Pamela Donnaruma Publisher and Editor and the Staff of the Post-Gazette Wish a Happy Easter to All Our Advertisers and Readers From left to right: Anna Quadri, President of the Dante Alighieri Society; Alberto Mustone, President of the Federation of the Italian American Associations of New England; Maurizio Pasquale, President of COMITES; Honorable Liborio Stellino, Con- sul General of Italy, Boston; Former Prime Minister of Italy, Honorable Romano Prodi; Dr. Carlo Cipollone, Education Director of the Consulate General of Italy, Boston and News Briefs Luigi Munno, Deputy Consul General of Italy, Boston. by Sal Giarratani Romano Prodi, former “Having been recently ap- invitation of the Italian com- Prime Minister of Italy was pointed Professor-at-Large munity in the Boston area Getting Caddy Shafted by welcomed at a large gather- at Brown University in for a gathering at the Dante “Together We Can” Deval ing on Monday, April 6, 2009 Providence, RI, where he will Alighieri Society, to meet Deval’s Cadillac DTS is back in the news. The at the Dante Alighieri Cul- be teaching and giving lec- in a very warm atmosphere State just paid $14,958 to keep the governor’s tural Center in Cambridge, tures for the next five years, official 2007 Caddy because the two year lease Massachusetts. Hon. Prodi accepted the (Continued on Page 15) had run out and it was determined that buying it outright was more cost effective for the State than leasing or buying a new car. The nearly fifteen grand is on top of the $16,080 taxpayer’s Mayor’s Column covered for the 24-month lease. Also, remem- ber that Patrick has to chip in another $11,909 by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston to blunt taxpayers criticism over the car deal. I’m not one to whine. In fact, visitors reduce the burden on property owners The State did get back $3,306 for unused mile- to my office are greeted by the “No Whin- and stimulate local economies during age. However, after getting the car two years ing” sign that sits front and center on an economic recession. ago, the State had to spend $2,455 for blue lights my desk. However, I take pride in fight- A 2% local option meals tax would allow and a siren. The last 24 months, the State has ing everyday for what is right for the Boston to benefit directly from the been paying $1,166 for his monthly lease. Many residents of Boston. That’s why I am money spent at restaurants in the city thought what was wrong with the Ford Crown again testifying to the state legislature by generating more than $40 million Victoria that Governor Mitt Romney used? That in support of a meals tax proposal that annually. While our strong and growing car was bought outright by the State in 2005 for would provide Boston, and countless restaurant industry provides the right $11,520. It already had fancy blue lights, siren other municipalities around the Com- base for a meals tax, Boston residents and no monthly lease. Together, we get to pony monwealth, the ability to generate much would pay just one-third of the tax. up more for the Devalmobile. needed revenue in fiscally challenging Visitors, business travelers, and com- Mothers’ Walk for Peace times. The word “tax” makes some people muters that currently enjoy basic city is Next Month nervous, but at a time when local bud- services at no cost would pay the lion’s gets necessitate layoffs of police officers share. A local option meals tax won’t The 13th annual Mother’s Walk for Peace will and school teachers, taxpayers deserve hinder your typical family’s night out, be held on Sunday, May 10. The goal is to reach to hear an honest discussion about the but it will help reduce the tax burden on $200,000. Why walk for peace? It brings the benefits of a local option meals tax. property owners and allow local econo- community together in the name of peace. It is Boston, like other cities and towns in mies the room to generate revenue a way to honor moms and show support for fami- the state, remains overly reliant on without forever looking to the state. lies who have lost loved ones to violence. Survi- revenue from property taxes, which When people think about tourist vors of homicide victims held a community rally represents an astounding 56% of total destinations around the country, Boston on April 4 at the Dorchester House Multi Ser- revenue for FY09. Combined, revenue tops the list with cities like New York, vice. For more information, call 617-825-1917 from property taxes and state aid, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San or e-mail: Infolouisbrownpeaceinstitute.org. Boston’s second leading revenue source, Francisco, but we’ve been competing on Peter Meade’s Shadow account for 78% of our overall revenue an uneven playing field for far too long. Looms Over Greenway stream. As state aid continues to dimin- Our current 5% meals tax ranks among Peter Meade, a former WBZ radio host who ish and other sources of revenue are the lowest of comparable U.S. cities and retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield also works particularly vulnerable to the economy, places Massachusetts dead last among we need to explore how we can change (Continued on Page 14) the way we do business so that we (Continued on Page 15) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office will be open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 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 10, 2009 Tea Parties, Thugs and the Media by Sal Giarratani I came across a great they were held in Baltimore, editorial in Investors’ Busi- Los Angeles, New York or ness Daily out of Los Ange- Boston? Are only major les. The editorial on March media markets important? 25, “Tea Parties and Thugs” Says Investors’ Business went after what it perceived Daily, “… the real reason the as clear media bias. The edi- major media aren’t inter- AENAES torial stated, “The press need ested in these protests is that Venus, the goddess of in time the adventures of fell in love with him. not support every protest they don’t agree with them. love and beauty, fell in love Aeneas are related in the When Aeneas left Africa, it covers. But when it ig- In the final analysis, these with Anchises, a member “Aeneid” the last great work continuing his journey, Dido nores a grass fire movement affairs are really taking is- of the royal house of Troy. of Publius Vergilius Maro, in great despair, destroyed against government spend- sue with the political party She loved him for his beauty whom we all know as Vergil. herself on a funeral pyre. ing while its favored politi- they helped elect without and bore him a son which He was the great national Aeneas eventually landed cian watches closely, then hiding bias in the last elec- was named Aeneas. In spite poet of ancient Rome and at Cumae, Italy. Later he there’s a dereliction of duty.” tion. “ACORN, we all remem- of repeated warnings by the most famous of all descended to the infernal Five so-called “tea parties” ber ACORN, right? This group Venus, Anchises continu- Roman poets. The Aeneid, a regions where he visited recently took place protest- took a busload of wackos on ally boasted of her favor un- poem in twelve books was with his father Anchises. ing congressional spending. the road to intimidate AIG til he was struck blind or composed between 29 and 19 This is also where he re- These protests reportedly executives and they made paralyzed by the lightning B.C. Being mythological in ceived a prophetic vision were inspired by CNBC re- the news even though their of Jupiter, and remained nature; it was modeled after of a magnificent destiny porter Rick Santelli’s criti- event wasn’t even a bleep on an invalid for the rest of his the Homeric poems. The for himself and his fol- cism over excessive bailouts. the news radar screen. life. Aeneas grew to young theme of Aeneid is founded lowers, but only after many These events started slow Recently, 15,000 showed up manhood, tending his flocks upon the old Roman tradition struggles and hardships. but are now growing like for a tea party in California on Mount Ida. He did not that Aeneas and his Trojan Typical of those struggles wildfire. On recent week- and President Obama took participate in the Trojan warriors settled in Italy and was a hand-to-hand com- ends protests were held in notice of it, but the event was War until after those flocks founded Rome. Its objective bat with the warlike king Orlando, Florida, Raleigh, called a “radio stunt.” Big were driven away by Achil- was to praise the glories of named Turnus, for the hand North Carolina, Solomon’s media slept through it be- les, the greatest of the Rome and to install a patri- of Lavina, the daughter of Island, Maryland, and Lex- cause it was organized by Greek warriors. This act otic feeling along with a Latinus, king of the Latini ington, Kentucky and nearby radio deejays.