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VOL. 116 - NO. 52 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 28, 2012 $.30 A COPY ❄ 1 ❄20 ❄ 2 ❄ ❄ Happy ❄ New Year from Pamela Donnaruma and the Staff of the Post-Gazette Ice sculptures by Don Chapelle are one of the highlights of First Night. (Photo by Paul Robicheau) With One Holiday Down ebrates the 37th edition of ice sculptures and more. …. and the grand finale to the country’s oldest and larg- First Night will showcase go, I can’t think of a better est New Year’s Eve arts fes- 1000 artists in 200 exhibi- way to end “Socially Scene” tival. On Monday, December tions and performances in 2012 than to highlight 31, 2012 from noon to mid- locations all over downtown the celebration Boston hosts night, First Night presents Boston. First Night organiz- for New Year’s Eve. This its annual day-long extrava- 2013 year, First Night Boston cel- ganza of art, music, dance, (See more events on Page 8) News Briefs Inspection Ordinance Brings Sweeping Change by Sal Giarratani to Rental Housing Standards in Boston The City of Boston’s Rental nance creates a proactive The Ordinance will: Inspection Ordinance, re- rental inspection process • Require annual registra- Please Turn in All Your Guns Today vised to enhance current that allows the City to work tion of all rental units. Recently, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson, D-Texas standards for the health and with property owners to • Require owners in non- addressing the U.S. House, directly appealed to all safety of rental housing in improve quality of life for owner/occupied buildings Americans to support a new assault gun ban by Boston, was approved by the residents.” to visibly post contact infor- turning in all their personal guns that they are Boston City Council in a 9-4 The revised ordinance will mation. licensed to carry. vote. encourage preventative • Require an inspection There are many Democrat liberals out there who The Ordinance will cover maintenance and create a once every five years by: an apparently believe in the abolition of the Second about 140,000, or more than fair and predictable five-year Inspectional Services Hous- Amendment. It is one thing to support a ban on 85 percent of Boston’s ap- inspection cycle that priori- ing Inspector, a Section 8 assault and assault-like weapons from the hands proximately 167,800 rental tizes “problem properties” Inspector or an Inspectional of the general public but quite another to disarm units and require that Bos- and provides an alternative Services Department (ISD) all Americans thus making America less safe. ton landlords can be easily compliance method for own- trained and approved private The Ed Show is a Sitcom, Isn’t It? identified and held account- ers with a good history of inspector. From time to time I watch Ed Schultz on his able when they fail to pro- rental housing ownership. • Establish a publicly avail- MSNBC weeknight show. I can see why it is called vide safe and decent hous- Small property owners with able “Chronic Offender Reg- The Ed Show because when I hear “Schultz” I think ing for tenants. Over the inspection exemptions will istry” for landlords who regu- “Sgt. Schultz” from Stalag 13. On The Ed Show, next five years, every unit be regularly provided educa- larly fail to correct problems. the host, like that poor sergeant on Hogan’s Heroes, covered under the Ordi- tional and self-help tools to Those on the Chronic Offender often knows “nothing” too! Like Rep. Jackson from nance will receive an ensure code compliance. Registry are subject to fines of Texas, he doesn’t like the second amendment approved inspection or be “Boston can now be held up $300 and other applicable either. I think Ed’s show should have a laugh- covered by an Inspectional as a national leader in rental enforcement measures. track because it really is amazingly quite funny. Services-approved alterna- inspection requirements,” • Prioritize problem prop- South Carolina Gets a New Senator tive compliance plan. The Chief of Environment and erties by placing them first The next U.S. Senator from South Carolina will City will tackle inspections Energy Brian Swett said. on the list for inspection. be the South’s first black Republican since of units owned by landlords “Tenants shouldn’t have to “Problem properties” include Reconstruction which clearly shows the evolution with a history of non-compli- complain to the City in or- those with poor inspection of both the state and the nation. U.S. Rep. Tim ance in the first year. der to ensure that their units records, significant court Scott was picked by Governor Nikki Haley to take “Landlords must be held meet minimum health and records and complaints, or over the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Jim responsible when it comes safety standards. This re- placement on the City of DeMint. The governor stated, “It is important to to providing safe and vised ordinance allows us to Boston’s “Problem Property (Continued on Page 15) healthy housing for their proactively manage issues Task Force” list. tenants,” Mayor Thomas M. before they become hazard- Menino said. “This ordi- ous to occupants.” (Continued on Page 13) 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, DECEMBER 28, 2012 Res Publica by David Trumbull What’s Your Favorite Christmas Movie? Democrats’ favorite Christmas movie is MESOS POTAMOS, AN OVERVIEW “Miracle on 34th Street.” Mesopotamia is the name irrigation system by Mongol genies were usually in the Republicans’ favorite Christmas movie is given to the earliest civili- invaders was the major fac- form of man-headed bulls. “It’s a Wonderful Life.” zation of Western Asia. It tor in transforming Meso- The Mesopotamian culture I first heard that aphorism erals nuts when the film is was an area of fertile plains potamia to a barren area of developed the art of cunei- at a holiday party about a broadcast over the public between the Tigris and Euph- thick mud and clay. There form writing (using wedge decade ago. It’s been around airwaves. rates Rivers. The name Mes- were no convenient hills to shaped characters). Their longer than that and I But the game can be opotamia is derived from furnish building stone, nor writing was normally done haven’t been able to deter- played the other way. Won- “mesos” meaning middle and were there any convenient on clay tablets or cylinders, mine who first said it and derful Life presents negative “potamos” meaning river, the forests to furnish lumber. which were more permanent when. stereotypes of bankers, so Greek name for middle river The only mineral wealth was than the Egyptian records on On the face of it, the say- much so that when it was or the area between two riv- clay and mud. This was also papyrus. The history of this ing makes sense. After all, released some Hollywood ers. History marks this as a region of floods, swamps, West Asiatic culture tells of what better movie for adults observers (but not, as is the location of the Garden of and abundant rainfall. Mod- a code of laws as far back who still believe in Santa erroneously asserted on Eden, Noah’s Ark, the great ern day temperatures dur- as 2250 B.C., the family Claus than Miracle on 34th some liberal websites, the walled city of Babylon with ing July and August run as idea prevailed, women were Street? Besides (watch out Federal Bureau of Investiga- its Hanging Gardens and the high as 120 degrees in the free and were respected and for plot spoiler) the picture’s tions) charged that it was a Tower of Babel. It is the area shade. cities had rights and char- crisis is resolved when a vehicle for communist pro- which is now occupied by the The religion of the ancient ters. Their code gives evi- huge federal government paganda. The charge is country of Iraq. Many of the Mesopotamians was based dence of an elaborate legal agency — the Post Office — easy to ridicule today, but in bricks of Babylon were used upon superstition and sym- system, complete commer- comes to the rescue. And the 1940s communist infil- in the buildings of Baghdad. bolism, which prevailed ev- cial life, property owner’s with a divorced mother rear- tration of the motion picture The area between the two erywhere. Palaces and pub- responsibilities and city dues. ing a child alone, Miracle fea- industry was a real and rivers, being originally of lic places were protected They even had a police sys- tures a non-traditional fam- serious threat to American rich alluvial soil, was capable from evil spirits by benefi- tem and a postal service. ily, surely a plus in the eyes values. Now look at the fa- of supporting lush vegeta- cent genie set in pairs to of liberals. vorable treatment — not to tion. The destruction of their guard the entrances. These NEXT ISSUE: The Bible Lands It’s a Wonderful Life, on mention free advertising — the other hand, celebrates which Miracle gives to two the infinite worth of an in- large department stores! News Commentary dividual human being, a Main Street Republicans worth that far exceeds even surely must find that re- the biggest financial for- freshing compared to the President Obama Nominates Kerry for State Post tune.