VOL. 113 - NO. 13 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 27, 2009 $.30 A COPY WALSH SAYS, AIG: A Helpful Summary of the Faux-Outrage by Paul Ibrahim “I’ll Take a Discount” If you’re not closely follow- take the money back from AIG’s routine move was a ing the AIG bonuses hulla- the employees who had con- surprise. Everyone knows by Sal Giarratani baloo, it has probably gotten tracted for this compensa- that companies pay bonuses. State Senator Marian too confusing due to the tion with AIG. And whether or not bonuses Walsh wants to take a big rhetoric and feigned outrage These are the facts. Putting help such companies suc- discount on her upcom- that has been emanating aside any value judgment on ceed, the fact is that the ing new salaried job at the from Congress. But the situ- the bonuses themselves, the Democrats knew it was go- Massachusetts Health and ation is actually quite Democrats specifically and ing to happen, and even went Educational Facilities simple, and here are the willingly made this situation out of their way to give AIG Authority. bare facts to help you catch possible. Both chambers of the green light for it. Says Marian Walsh, “I’ve up. Congress passed this legis- The feigned outrage has been thinking about if for days Fact: The nearly $800 bil- lation, and Barack Obama resulted in an unnecessary … I can say, no, thank you to lion so-called “stimulus” proudly signed it, with near- circus. During the made- the $175,000.” She wants to written, debated and passed unanimous opposition from for-TV grilling of AIG’s CEO, do us taxpayers a favor. by the Democrats in Febru- Republicans. The Democrats Democratic Congressman She’s willing to take the job ary, with help from exactly are fully responsible for it. Gary Ackerman declared: for only $120,000. Guess, she zero House Republicans and Yet they are trying to “(You have) have access to thinks she’s giving the tax- three Senate Republicans, cast the blame elsewhere. $197,300,000,000 of U.S. tax- payers a break. contained language explic- Obama, Harry Reid and payer money — $165 million She’s getting ready to itly eliminating limits on Nancy Pelosi would instantly adds up (as) less than one- start the job which has bonus payments at compa- exploit each opportunity to tenth of 1 percent. That’s not gone vacant for 12 years. nies receiving federal funds, score political points — even worth the aggravation, the What is this MHEFA, sounds including AIG. if it comes at the expense of angst that you have suffered like “politicalese” for Hack State Senator Fact: In reliance upon this the Obama, Reid and Pelosi and that this country is go- Authority? Marian Walsh legislation, AIG paid $165 from the previous month. So ing through.” Meanwhile, here comes million in bonuses to its upon hearing that they Ironically, Ackerman’s ar- another special election to More money out of our employees. themselves had told AIG to gument best applies to him fill her vacant Senate seat. pockets. THANKS MARIAN! Fact: When the story hit pay unlimited bonuses, they and the entire United States the news pages, and $165 exploded into extraordinary Congress. They are preoccu- million sounded like too faux-rage. pied with a comparatively much to some, the same Notice how nothing infinitesimal issue that, Democrats who had unam- changed between February aside from its political value News Briefs biguously told AIG it could and March, except that the to re-election ambitions, is pay the bonuses suddenly American people now under- absolutely not worth the ef- by Sal Giarratani decided to take a principled stand the legislation passed fort. Economist Greg Mankiw stance against their Febru- by the Democrats. Yet that’s calculated (admittedly crude- ary selves. Now, in front of enough for Obama and his ly) that considering the size A Boston Fire Historical Society every camera they can find, Congress to fake opposition they are valiantly trying to (Continued on Page 14) Recently, the West Roxbury Historical Soci- to it. After all, it’s not like ety held one of its meetings at the West Roxbury Branch Library and the group invited members of the newly formed Boston Fire Historical Society. The new group’s president Mayor’s Column and founder Ted Gerber gave an overview of by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston the fire society’s role and function. Former Fire Commissioner Paul Christian who retired in Most of us have been anxiously antici- when streets in your neighborhood will 2006 after 30 years of service also spoke on pating the end of winter, and fortunately be cleaned, call the Mayor’s Hotline at the history of the Boston Fire Department, the spring is finally here. After a season that (617) 635-4500 or visit www.cityofboston. oldest in America. New members are always dumped record amounts of snow on the gov/publicworks/sweeping/. The sched- welcomed. Stay tuned here for future meet- City, warmer weather is a much wel- ule for early cleanings will run accord- ing times and places. comed change. Last week, we kicked off ing to the annual neighborhood street spring in the City of Boston by announc- cleaning program’s schedule. The Boston The New Mattapan Station ing that our neighborhood street clean- Transportation Department (BTD) is ing program would begin ten days early. asking residents to voluntarily move The new Mattapan Station is coming along. Public Works employees have already vehicles for street sweeping on posted Before you know it, people will forget the old been hard at work “spring cleaning” days until the neighborhood street look. The T’s improvements here and at neighborhood streets and getting rid of cleaning program officially starts on Ashmont Station have been long awaited. I the remnants of winter. In fact, since April 1st, when BTD will begin enforcing still remember the old days before the MBTA March 1st, the City has already collected parking regulations. Now is a great time had buses in Milton, Mattapan Station had all 255 tons of sand and debris from areas for everyone to give a helping hand and kinds of private bus service taking people to across the City. make our City brighter. We’ll pick it up the Blue Hills for a summer escape from the This year, I’m asking residents and if you make an effort to put it out. city. Every time I see those old restored or- businesses to get involved early in the If you’d like to get more involved in the ange streetcars, it reminds me of the way it cleanup efforts. By working with neigh- spring cleaning fun, there will be plenty used to be. File this story: As Time Goes By. borhood Main Street business districts, of opportunities in every neighborhood we’re also making sure that local shop- of Boston on Friday, April 24th and Sat- Driving in Massachusetts, ping areas are clean and inviting for urday, April 25th, during the citywide What a Privilege Indeed pedestrian traffic. You can pitch in with Boston Shines cleanup. This two-day Michael Graham from WTKK-FM and the the cleaning by sweeping sand and de- effort, now in its seventh straight year, Boston Herald had a great column the other bris from the sidewalks to the curb in is the signature event of the year-round front of your home or business before (Continued on Page 15) scheduled street cleanings. To find out (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, MARCH 27, 2009 ATTORNEY LUCY RIVERA Announces Candidacy for Representative of Third Suffolk Attorney Lucy Rivera, dis- tinguished in her advocacy for justice and antidiscrimi- nation, is a candidate for the CUPID AND PSYCHE State House of Representa- Psyche was a maiden who moral conditions of the time Cupid. He quickly awak- tives in the Third Suffolk personified the human soul. were also depicted with ened, censured her for her District. She is serving her Her story was beautifully told much humor. action, and disappeared. second elected term on the back in the second century The story tells us that Her happiness now gone, Massachusetts Democratic A.D. by Lucius Apuleius He Psyche, the youngest of a Psyche wandered from Committee. was born in Africa, into a king’s three daughters was temple to temple inquiring She will be on the ballot in wealthy family, and this so beautiful that even Venus about her lover, eventually the state primary election permitted him to travel to was envious and jealous. arriving at the palace of Tuesday, May 19, in a race Athens where he spent a Because of this jealousy, Venus. Her misery really to fill the seat of Representa- considerable amount of Venus ordered Cupid to in- began when Venus retained tive Sal DiMasi, who retired time studying the work of spire Psyche with great love her, treated her as a slave, as Speaker of the House. The Plato. Apuleius also lived in for a most contemptible and imposed the most dif- date for the special election is Tuesday, June 16. Rome for many years fol- man. After setting his eyes ficult and humiliating labors Attorney Rivera, a trial lawyer, was a legislative aide to lowing his classical studies on Psyche, and unknown to upon her.