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VOL. 113 - NO. 6 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, FEBRUARY 6, 2009 $.30 A COPY Everything You Always Wanted to Know about The Muslim World Can’t Get No Respect? BOSTON’S NEW by Jamie Weinstein Deliberately taking his ful to us? Burning American If you said A, you are prob- TOBACCO RESTRICTIONS first interview as president flags? Not respectful. Chant- ably a prime candidate to by Margaret Reid, Director, with the Arab TV news sta- ing “Death to America”? Not become General Secretary Division of Healthy Homes and Community Supports, tion Al-Arabiya, Barack very respectful. Hanging of the United Nations some Boston Public Health Commission Obama sought to deliver a George W. Bush in effigy? day. Instead of being disre- message of respect to the Not much respect in that. spectful to the Muslim world, Smoking and sec- tution, including Muslim world. “We are ready Knocking down the Twin the U.S. has been sacrifi- ondhand smoke can pharmacies or drug to initiate a new partnership Towers? Well, you get the cial. In 1991, America led a make people sick. stores, or in gro- based on mutual respect and point. The respect argument coalition to push Saddam Tobacco is a factor cery stores that mutual interest,” he said, has been a canard for some Hussein out of Muslim in most leading contain pharma- echoing a line from his in- time. The Iranians have Kuwait. In 1993, American causes of death cies. auguration speech. “Now, used the respect card, or the troops lost their lives trying in Boston: can- • Tobacco prod- my job is to communicate lack of respect card, at least to provide humanitarian as- cer, heart disease, ucts cannot be sold the fact that the United as far back as the Clinton sistance to Somali Muslims. stroke, and chronic in any business op- States has a stake in the Administration. They like to In 1999, the U.S., along with obstructive pulmonary erating on property well being of the Muslim use this as a reason for their NATO, ended ethnic clean- disease. owned by an educational in- world that the language we failure to cooperate with the ing being perpetrated against Even non-smokers inhal- stitution. use has to be a language of United States. “We don’t be- Kosovoar Muslims. In this ing secondhand smoke can • Smoking will not be per- respect,” he commented. “I lieve that the behavior of the century, fighting back after experience these health ef- mitted in hotels, inns, lodg- think that what you’ll see is United States shows yet that the ruthless Sept. 11 attacks, fects. Among children and ing houses, or bed and somebody who is listening, it is ready for a dialogue the United States liberated infants, exposure to second- breakfasts operating in Bos- who is respectful,” he re- based on mutual respect,” an tens of millions of Muslims hand smoke causes low ton. Smoking rooms will be spectfully noted. “We can Iranian official told the New from cruel and sadistic rule birth weights, increases the eliminated. have legitimate disagree- York Times in 1998. It almost in Afghanistan and Iraq. risk of sudden infant death • Smoking will not be al- ments but still be respect- makes you feel that Iran is Is the United States per- syndrome, and contributes to lowed in outdoor workspaces ful,” Obama orated. Get it? the Rodney Dangerfield of fect? No. But I think we asthma and other respira- that are adjacent to indoor Respect, respect, respect. R- countries. Oooh, the Mullahs deserve some credit for put- tory infections. workspaces. Examples in- E-S-P-E-C-T. Obama says the just can’t get no respect. Pop ting American troops in The Boston Public Health clude restaurant and hotel United States will be re- quiz time: Does the Iranian harm’s way time and time Commission has taken new patios, loading docks, valet spectful to the Muslim world. regime not want to give up again to protect innocent steps to reduce exposure to parking areas, and unen- If you are scratching your its nuclear weapons program Muslims, sometimes when secondhand smoke and to closed floors of construction head (and you should be), it because A) it doesn’t feel there was really no Ameri- make tobacco products less sites. Smoking is already is because the United States that the United States has can interest at stake. So it accessible. prohibited in all indoor has been respectful to the given them sufficient re- is somewhat baffling why Among those steps are: workspaces. Muslim world. It may be spect or B) they want to de- President Obama feels it is • Tobacco products cannot worthwhile to ask, has the velop nuclear weapons? be sold in any health insti- (Continued on Page 15) Muslim world been respect- Time’s up. The answer is B. (Continued on Page 15) News Briefs Mayor’s Column by Sal Giarratani by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston Last week, I announced the selection ers from all of the sectors and institu- Michele McPhee’s of members to chair a PILOT task force. tions involved in PILOT agreements. Take on the Mayor’s Race in ’09 This task force, which I first announced Stephen Kidder, an attorney and the Popular talk show host Michele McPhee over during my speech to the Chamber of former Commissioner of Revenue un- at WTKK 96.9 FM and also Boston Metro colum- Commerce’s Government Affairs forum der Governor Dukakis, will chair the nist is quite the item. Michele, she might have last December, will be charged with task force. Robert Brown, President of an Irish name, but she’s about as East Boston reviewing the current system of pay- Boston University, and Zorica Pantiƒ, Italian as one could be. ments in lieu of tax, or PILOT, agree- President of Wentworth Institute of Her latest Metro piece was super. Says Michele, ments. PILOTs are voluntary contribu- Technology, will provide perspective for “So for the first time in recent memory there is an tions that tax-exempt institutions, such colleges and universities. Hospitals will actual mayoral race … and it’s already getting ugly. as colleges and universities, hospitals, be represented by Thomas Glynn, the She mentioned a bumper sticker showing up and other non-profit organizations, Chief Operating Officer for Partners all over South Boston carrying the message, “Save make in return for the services that the Healthcare, and Patricia McGovern, gen- the City, Dump Menino.” The sticker was report- City provides. I have always said that eral counsel and Senior VP of Beth Israel edly created by a Boston EMT angry with the progress relies on strong partnerships, Deaconess Medical Center. Gail Lati- mayor over wage freezes and a library head earn- and the relationship that Boston has more, Executive Director of the Codman ing $170,000, while staying rent-free in the with its many universities, hospitals, Square Neighborhood Development Cor- Parkman Mansion. and other non-profits makes our City poration, will represent community or- McPhee had a not so soothing tone with City stronger. Unfortunately, under the cur- ganizations, while James Gallagher, a Councilor Sam Yoon stating he “has also been rent structure, there are significant dis- Senior VP at John Hancock Financial missing City Council hearings (while) he is busy parities in what various institutions Services will provide perspective from traveling to California to bolster his campaign war contribute to the City. The task force the business community. Thomas Nee, chest by tapping into the Korean communities pocket will bring together a variety of leaders President of the Boston Police Patrol- books so they can help him become ‘Boston’s first in order to review the current system man’s Association, was selected to rep- Asian mayor’.” and recommend ways to make PILOT resent labor organizations, and the task Like Michele, I would like him to be a city coun- agreements more equitable for every- force will also benefit from Boston City cilor first, showing up for City Council meetings. one involved. Councilor Stephen Murphy’s experience The word here is, “OUCH!” Working with the Commissioner of on this issue. Assessing, Ronald Rakow, I selected (Continued on Page 14) task force members that represent lead- (Continued on Page 14) 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, FEBRUARY 6, 2009 S imple TIMES . by Girard A. Plante There is a time for every to Newton because of the season. Or so the saying close proximity to one of the MARS goes. And its meaning is city’s six branch libraries. Jupiter was the Roman start of a battle, the legion who kindles the sacrifi- either literal or figurative or Finding a modest $350,000 counterpart to Zeus. In the commander usually sacri- cial fire.” Flamen was also both no matter how you dollars to staff and operate list of Principal Roman dei- ficed to this god and would used to identify a special choose to interpret the say- the branch libraries should ties, Mars appears to have then strike his lance while kind of priest in the worship ing. Yet my take is that in be relatively easy when one been second only to Jupiter crying out “Mars awaken!” of their gods. There were our Commonwealth’s — and considers the otherworldly and he was held in every Sacrifices were made to fifteen flamen, of which, in our nation’s — gloomy $192 million dollar new high high regard by the Latins Mars during campaigns, three were high priests economic times this must school being constructed a from the earliest times.