Allston-Brighton r ' ..' Volume 5, Nwnber 50 December 19, 1991 © 1991 Brighton Messenger Publishing Corp. 50¢ Bah humbug to welfare says guv Bureaucrats still say no to keeping local welfare office open despite growing protests (SSI); poor single parents and children; and many mentally By Linda Rosencrance ill people as well. The Brookline office also serves the largest population Although Sunday's temperalure neared the freezing of immigrant/newcomers in the state (Russian Jews) in mark, some 30 people, including stale and local legislators, addition to a significant number of minority clients. turned out at the Town Hall to protest the closing of the "When this office closes I'll have to travel to Roxbury. Brookline Welfare office. I have a 15 month old baby. How am I going to get there? However, Mary Claire Kennedy, spokesperson for the I don't want to take the bus so I guess I'll just have to walk," Welfare Department, said Sunday's demonstration will said Denise, a welfare client. "I wanted to be able to go to have no effect on the closing. "The wheels have been set in Lo Charleslown, bul Lhey said I couldn'L do Lhat." motion and the office will close as scheduled," Kennedy Denise's moLher, Mary, said, "I've been transferred to said. the Charles Lown office. I can' l go alone so Denise will have The demonstrators, including Brookline Selectman to go with me." Christopher Crowley, Slate Reps. Kevin Honan, Susan Kennedy said that only disabled clients or elderly cli­ Tracy and Marc Draisen, and slate Sen. Lois Pines, braved ents on SSI were being serviced al Lhe Charles Lown site. She the December cold in order to ask the Weld administration added Lhat those clients could be serviced by mail and to reconsider its decision to close the office because, they would not have to travel Lo Charleslown. say, that decision just does not make economic sense. Commissioner of Public Welfare Joseph Gallant has The office, which serves seven communities including said Lhat his department musl realize a savings of $200,000 Allston/Brighton and Brookline, is slated to close on De­ from the closing of the Brookline office. He has also said cember 27. According to protesLors, the Brookline office the Welfare Department must slash a total of SIO million has had only three weeks to plan for the re-assignment of from its budget. clients, staff, and systems and to vacate the site. But, demonstrators point out that because the landlord The 12,000 chents-3,585 from Allston-Brighton and has already agreed to reduce the rent by some S 130,000, the 1,964 from Brookline - will be required Lo travel to four additional $70,000 in savings can be found so that the different welfare offices. will be redircclcd to Roxbury 12,000 people need not be moved to other offices. Crossing, Grove Hall, Waltham or Charlestown. "What the legislators don't seem to understand is that State Rep. Susan Tracy, along with other area pols, has According to the demonstrators, this office serves cli­ been working to keep the local welfare office open. ents who can least afford to be farmed out to other locations Derek Szabo photo - elderly and disabled clients on Social Security Income Continued on page lb Putting the City shopping Brighton Xmas shoppers say what Boston • . pieces together needs most Two proposals for former Washington B 'f Linda Rosencrance Allston School site come to light As old Saint Nicholas checks his 1ist (twice), packs By Linda Rosencrance his bag and gears up for his PFD with arbitrarily dismissing his marathon Christmas Eve The Public Facilities Department organization's proposal because depart­ sleigh ride, thelournal won­ (PFD) is looking into the merits of two ment officials did not deem the project dered what (if anything) proposals to develop a city-owned vacant "financially feasible." Santa was giving the city of lot on Cambridge Street Boston for Christmas. However, Mark Yagerlenerof the PFD, Unfortunately, at this One proposal - to create a combina­ addressed Creighton's allegations by say­ time of year, the jolly old elf tion park and parking area on the site of ing that he was concerned with APAC's just doesn't have time to talk the former Washington Allston School­ ability to get the finances in place in order to a reporter about his gift has been presented to the Project Review to begin construction on time. Yagerlener selection process. Committee (PRC) by the Allston Post 669 added that in the past the PFD had to de­ Kathryn Quinlan: a new Senior Center fm Boston of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). designate two developers of the site be­ Continued on page 25 Derel Szabo photo cause they just did not have the finances to The other proposal - presented by begin construction. tfie Allston Brighton Area Planning Ac­ tion Council (APAC) of the ABCD - Last week the proposed developers out­ I I E calls for the construction of a community lined their plans before the PRC, a smal! service center, which in addition to pro­ group of representatives from the Alls 11 · 1,} .\:.: viding administrative offices for APAC Brighton Community. I and 22 community parking spaces for use in off peak ~:'urS, will also provide five Yagerlener said the two finalists will A Hogan Christmas • Page ~ head start classrooms for our children, as present their proposals at a full public meet­ well as a fully equipped and landscaped ing sometime in early January. He said that School Talk • Page 24 play area for their enjoyment. after the meeting the PFD will make a Christmas Services • Page 27 recommendation to the three PFD Com­ To Your Health• Page 37 Earlier this month Paul Creighton, ex­ missioners who will ultimately designate ecutive director of APAC, charged the the developer. School Beat• Page 38 Hoffman on Sports • Page 39 Page 2 The Journal December 19, 199 1 BROOKLINE REo CAB Greater Boston's largest Suburban Fleet And Lowest Suburban Rates Serving •Allston •Brighton •Brookline • Back Bay • Beacon Hill • South End Honan the centurion and the I Iospitals Don't Pay Stale Rep. Kevin Honan (D­ AllsLon/BrighLon) sponsored More! SAVE a legislative briefing on cam­ Call RED CAB's pus crime, last week, as parl 24-Hour Service of Campus Crime and Secu­ rity Awareness Week. The 734-5000 event was auended by Stale and national leaders con­ cerned about the issue ofstu­ dent safety al colleges and universities. The informational brief­ ing coincided with the sign­ ing ceremony for a new stale law on campus security. The law requires that campus police forces make their logs available to the public on a daily basis so that students State Rep. Ke~in Honan (D-Allston Br i g~ton) recen t l ys~on sored a legis lative briefing . on campus crime as part of Campus Crime and Security Week. can lalc emeasureslomcrease their own safely. The new legislation, which is Lhe first of campus - a national organization devoted Lo reducing its kind in Lhe country, has drawn national auenlion and campus crime. inquiries from legislators around the country. In addition, IvfarionAlford, presidentofL.U.C.K. Neigh­ Connie Clery, whose daughter was murdered while a borhood Association, attended Lhe ceremony and briefing. De,vars Scotch .......... $24.99 student al Lehigh University, thanked Rep. Honan for his Alford was instrumental in fostering awareness about the 1.75 Liters commitment to the safely of college students. Clery, a need for protective legislation in the Bay Stale. Canadian Club ......... $16.99 native of the New Bedford area, is a founder of security on Continued on page 4 1.75 Liters Jim Beam .................. $12.99 1.75 Liters Gordons Vodka ......... $11.99 1.75 Liters Mort erates Gordons Gin ............. $13.99 .. 1.75 Liters G~llC> ............................ $6.49 3 Liters are the owest in Miller Lite.......... -. ...... $13.80 Suitcase + Dep. 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