SouthBoston TODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door FEBRUARY 7, 2013; Vol.1 Issue 15 SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE A Message From State Representative Nick Collins February 5, 2013 As your elected Representative, I know the Dear Neighbors, Over the past several days I needs and issues facing the entire 1st Suffolk have spoken with many friends, colleagues, local and that became the reason that I campaigned residents and business leaders encouraging me to to be your State Committeeperson this past year. run for the State Senate. I am honored and humbled I know firsthand that all of our communities in by this support and I want you to know that I will the district want and need the same things - better be a candidate for the State Senate in the 1st Suffolk schools for our children, safe neighborhoods District. I will make my formal announcement in for our elderly and families, and economic the coming days. I ask you to kindly share this news opportunity for all of our hard working residents. This Week’s Poll with your friends, family and neighbors. I believe my experience of bringing people As your State Representative from South Boston together from diverse backgrounds will benefit This Week’s Poll on Page 8 and Dorchester, you know me and elected me as a every corner of our district and the people who hardworking and reliable leader. I have a track record are proud to call this our home. I look forward of community and legislative accomplishments. It to listening to your thoughts and concerns as I is that same reputation I will take to the doorsteps of seek to gain your support, confidence and vote. Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park as I seek their Sincerely, SouthBostonToday @SBostonToday vote and ask again for yours. Nick Collins, State Representative Office Visit $ 99 SPECIAL 29 617-427-2210 Offers Pet Food, www.bostonanimalhosp.com Treats, Toys & For first time visit other Household Items. expires 2/28/2013 - - se habla~ 617 427 2230 espanol www.skiptonpetcenter.com conveniently Located Your One-stop Pet center at sign Your Dog Up for 274 Southampton St., Boston (south Bay area) Doggie Daycare or 617-427-2220 Book Your Pets Holiday stay! www.bostonreddog.com 2 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com February 7, 2013 Editorial “Be Involved” ne man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”, is an old expression that could be used to illustrate the divide in “O political philosophies. A legislative philosophy one side brands as ‘un-American’ is embraced by the other side as the ‘Fulfillment of the American Dream”. Whichever side of the divide you fall on, one must be aware of how crucial a time period this is, particularly in South Boston. Massachusetts has an open United States Senate seat that Congressman Stephen Lynch is seeking to fill. A successful race would create an open congressional seat for our district. Our state Senator Jack Hart’s resignation has Case in point: The removal of the hotel/motel prohibition is still being opened his State Senate seat. Representative Nick Collins is the early favorite hammered out and questions remain over the Boston Convention and to win the Senate race, thus opening the State Representative seat here. Exhibition Center abiding by the zoning and planning agreements, creating Many people and groups may see the opportunity to put forth candidates a renaissance zone between First and Summer Streets and the Haul Road who represent their point of view, which is a good thing. Unions, businesses, and the Reserve Channel, it made with the South Boston community that certain organized citizen groups and individuals will naturally want a seat bargained in good faith with all of its elected officials at the table. Creating at the table. No one group or special interest should ever outweigh the a major hotel and entertainment zone in the middle of South Boston, without people and their best interest. Some of these upcoming elections may a fully functioning legislative complement of its senator and representative come down to that choice. The Washington, DC machine seems to already can result in a negative impact with nasty surprises on the community and have anointed Ed Markey. We shall see. Locally, now former Senator perhaps tempt those with development schemes that benefit themselves at Jack Hart’s departure creates a particular timing vulnerability that South our expense. Boston has never faced before. Don’t be surprised. Be involved. “They that would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” Benjamin Franklin Last week’s poll asked: Go to our Last week’s poll asked South Boston Today’s readers to rate facebook page the new South Rules show. Here are the results: to vote on our Great- 3% weekly poll. Good - 4% Bad - 15% Terrible - 78% www.southbostontoday.com www.SouthBostonToday.com South BostonToday @SBostonToday SouthBoston PO Box 491 • South Boston, MA 02127 TODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door South Boston Today is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements Publisher Editor In Chief Managing Editor beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All South Boston Today John Ciccone Brian R. Mahoney Brian P. Wallace produced artwork, design, and layout remain the sole property of South Boston Today. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly forbidden. South [email protected] • [email protected] Boston Today reserves the right to cut, edit or reject any copy without notice. South Boston Today is a Series of the Today Publications Series LLC, a Deadlines Delaware Limited Liability Company Press Copy - Tuesday at 3:00 P.M - Advertisements - Space Reservation - Monday at 5:00 P.M. Ad Material - Tuesday at 3:00 P.M. Camera Ready Ads - Wednesday at 9:00 A.M. February 7, 2013 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com 3 The Information Center As The Chess Pieces Move hard and succeed, you could wind up And finally, a comment to Mayor in Iraq. This was a direct slap at our Menino. Last week in your State of the SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone brave men and women in uniform who City address, you called NRA Executive that Kerry has held for far too long. felt it was their duty to fight for their Vice President Wayne LaPierre ‘crazy’ The good thing is that if Stephen is not country. He pulled rank and position because he advocates putting armed successful, we still get to keep him as consistently; feeling he is so much better guards in schools after the Newtown, our Congressman. than everyone else. Can we ever forget Connecticut shooting. Well Mayor, If he wins, who will seek his the time he had a fire hydrant removed just last week, the Newtown Board of Congressional seat, the one which from in front of his house in Boston so he Education, backed by a majority of includes South Boston? It’s up to all could park his car? And the man, another parents there, voted to request that, yes, of us to get active and make sure it liberal addicted to tax hikes, actually armed guards be put into their elementary will be someone who will be good hid his yacht in Rhode Island so he schools - just like Wayne LaPierre wanted. for this town. With the departure of wouldn’t have to pay the Massachusetts Recent polls nationwide now show that our state senator Jack Hart, our young tax on it; a tax he believes everyone a majority of Americans agree with state representative Nick Collins see’s else should have to pay. Yet there he LaPierre and the NRA and believe that, his opening. Go for it Nick. We need was in Washington last week, receiving yes, armed guards in schools is the way to keep that seat in South Boston but accolades and embarrassing, fawning to go. So now the question to ask is this: embrace our neighbors in Dorchester praise from Democrats and Republican If, as the mayor thinks, LaPierre is crazy, and Mattapan. You are a bridge builder, alike even though each and every one of because of what he believes is the best Nick, and a logical choice. You have them knows exactly what type of person way to go to protect children in schools, very so often, the political proven that you are a tireless worker Kerry is and how his defeatist, leftist are the officials and parents in Newtown, dominoes fall and the chess and are responsive to the needs and views on world affairs will guide how Connecticut as well as the majority of the Egame begins. Such is the case, concerns of your constituents. I know he represents our country. He called the American people also crazy because they as all of our readers are well aware in it wasn’t your plan to seek a different president of Syria, the man who butchers agree with Mr. LaPierre? I’m just curious South Boston right now. John Kerry is no office so soon but times like these call his own people, a great reformer. Is it what the Mayor thinks. longer the Senator from Massachusetts. for quick action by a good man. any wonder most Americans are turned Note: Talk back to John Ciccone by email Some are sorry to see him go; others are If Collins is not successful, he’s still off by politics in Washington? at [email protected] saying ‘Amen’. First up to try to take our State Rep and that’s good. But if he his place is Congressman Ed Markey. wins, who will seek his Rep.