VOL. 113 - NO. 18 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MAY 1, 2009 $.30 A COPY Obama is Not in Control Boston Shines in Eastie! by Herman Cain It did not take 100 days for Presidential candidate some of us to recognize that Obama repeatedly pledged President Obama is not in bi-partisanship and open- control of the legislative ness to ideas from both sides agenda. Nor did it take 100 of the political divide. When days to see that he is being asked by a Republican con- advised to micro-manage gressman why no Republi- the biggest nation on the can ideas were considered in planet, the United States of the “stimulus” bill, President America. Obama replied, “I won”. First, presidential candi- The Democrats in Con- date Obama promised to al- gress have just revealed that low five days of public com- the much touted “95 percent ment before signing bills tax cut for all Americans” into law. He signed his first will probably expire at the bill extending the statute of end of 2010 along with all limitations for salary dis- the other Bush tax cuts. Al- On Saturday, April 25, 2009 residents and everyone to continue beautification efforts crimination lawsuits in less though the $13 per week for neighbors from the Jeffries Point Crew, the year round. Special thanks to City of Bos- than five days, and he the average working couple Meridian House and East Boston Savings ton Public works crew in East Boston who signed the expansion of the is insignificantly small to Bank joined to kick off Boston Shines 365 has stepped up efforts to keep the neighbor- State Children’s Health In- begin with, President in East Boston. Volunteers cleaned streets hood clean. For more information and how surance Program (SCHIP) Obama will probably do noth- and mulched tree pits. This event is part of you can form your own block team call the within three days of being ing to stop an increase in a city wide effort to keep our neighborhood East Boston Main Streets office at 617-561- sworn in as president. taxes for all of us. clean. Thanks to all who joined and ask 1044 or email [email protected] Next, presidential candi- When I became president date Obama promised of one of the smallest pizza “no earmarks” in spending chains in the country (725 legislation. The Democrat- units) in 1986, I learned af- Mayor’s Column controlled Congress pro- ter 100 days that the com- ceeded to pass the $787 bil- pany was headed for bank- by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston lion economic “stimulus” bill ruptcy because it was trying In January, I convened a task force to tional and Medical Institutions,” uses in less than 24 hours with to do too much, too fast, with review PILOT payments. Payments in fiscal year 2009 data to provide an over- earmarks hard wired into too few resources. I also lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, are voluntary view of new valuations for each hospital the bill. The Congress also knew from the start that I payments that nonprofit, tax-exempt and university as well as a detailed list- sent the president the fiscal could not make every pizza institutions, such as universities and ing of properties owned by each of these year 2009 budget appropria- in every restaurant every hospitals, make to the City of Boston. institutions. tions bill, which contained day. It’s called micro-micro- The PILOT Task Force is charged with The report finds that in fiscal year over 8,600 earmarks. He management, a certified reviewing the current system and mak- 2009, the tax-exempt property owned by signed both bills without a recipe for failure. ing recommendations to create more the educational institutions was valued five-day waiting period for equitable agreements with tax-exempt at $7.0 billion, which, if taxable, would public comment. (Continued on Page 14) institutions in the future. Our non-prof- have generated $190.2 million in prop- its play a vital role in Boston, but the erty taxes for the City of Boston. Tax-ex- current system creates an unlevel play- empt property owned by the medical in- ing field, with certain institutions stitutions was valued at $5.7 billion, News Briefs contributing far more than others. I’ve which, if taxable, would have generated by Sal Giarratani always said that it’s not enough to just $154.8 million in property taxes for the count the monetary contributions of tax- City of Boston. Under the current PILOT exempt institutions because we need to agreements, educational institutions will Dunkin’ Says We Kin Do It examine all of the benefits associated contribute an estimated $8.7 million in Dunkin’ Donuts says it is proud to support with tax-exempt property holders. Many PILOT payments in fiscal year 2009, rep- Homes for Our Troops. Now is the time to sup- of these institutions supply scholarships resenting 4.6% of what they would pay if port Homes for Our Troops, a non-profit that and programs that are priceless for our taxable. Medical institutions will contrib- provides specially adapted homes for our se- young people, but I’m confident that we ute an estimated $5.8 million in PILOT verely injured veterans at no cost to them. You can strengthen investments in our payments in fiscal year 2009, which can show your support by volunteering for a Build neighborhoods by working together to represents 3.8% of what they would pay Brigade. The organization is looking for profes- establish a more effective system. if taxable. You can view the report at sionals to help build homes, roofers, window In order to gain feedback about the im- www.cityofboston.gov/assessing. installers, framers, carpenters and others. You pact of tax-exempt properties, the PILOT The findings of the report represent a can also make a donation to the cause. Help Task Force recently held a public hear- positive step in examining the limita- our servicemen and women who have selflessly ing at the Copley branch of the Boston tions of the current system, but for the serviced our country. For more information, Public Library. This hearing was in- PILOT Task Force, this is just the first visit www.homesforourtroops.org/volunteer. formed by findings from a three-year long phase in a more thorough process. Prop- Yoon Caught in Political Cover-up? study commissioned by the City’s As- erty values are just one way to look at Yup, you heard it right. Seems his campaign sessing Department to update and re- the impact and contributions of tax- office in Dorchester Fields Corner could be fac- vise the assessments of properties exempt institutions. Using the report ing fines over code violations. Two inspectional owned by hospitals and universities in and input from the public, the task force services officers showed up at his campaign Boston. Since tax-exempt properties do will now move forward with developing a office, saying the “Yoon for Mayor” posters taped not generate property tax revenue, as- standard for valuing the contributions to the windows of the storefront were a code sessments for these properties were not — in programs and in payments — made violation. Yoon says according to a Boston Globe as accurate as those for taxable prop- by all major nonprofit landholders in erty. The Assessing Department’s re- (Continued on Page 15) port, “Exempt Property Analysis: Educa- (Continued on Page 13) 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, MAY 1, 2009 Italian Center of New York City Boston Office Hosts Italian Parliamentarians THE LABORS OF HERCULES The circumstances sur- bounced harmlessly off the away at the heads with his rounding the birth of Her- lion’s side, Hercules realized sword, but soon found the cules, his early education, that the beast was invulner- immortal one invulnerable physical training, and the able to such weapons. He to his blows, while two other series of events which led to quickly blocked up one end heads grew in place of each the imposition of his cel- of the cave and walked in that was lopped off. Adding to ebrated “Labors” were dis- unarmed, through the other his problems, the crab now cussed in a previous issue. entrance. Hercules stopped came out of the swamp to bite Any reader who might won- the charging animal and at the foot of Hercules. Real- der why newspaper space is strangled it with his bare izing that he could not fight devoted to this Greek demi- hands. He then slung the both adversaries alone, the god is reminded that Renais- dead lion over his shoulder strong man called for Iolaus, sance Rome honored his and went back to the city of his nephew and charioteer, memory in many works of Tiryns. The terrified king who brought burning brands. art. Presently I can recall a (author of the labors of Her- Now as soon as a head was Albano Ponte, Director of the Italian Center of New York statue entitled “The Farnese cules) then decreed that any severed, it was cauterized. City Boston Office hosted a meeting with two Italian Hercules” which is in the future trophies were to be Repeating this procedure, Parliamentarians, Honorable Renato Turano former National Museum at Naples, displayed outside the city the duo dispatched the mon- Senator representing North America and living in a painting of Hercules kill- gates.