1. Report.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
3. Postscript - Prior communication from Bureaucrat.
1. Report.
The state is finally publicizing its Longfellow Bridge project in Cambridge, MA. They are finally holding a meeting on this project in Cambridge.
The outrageous, wasteful, and unnecessary destruction is ongoing and the meeting will probably be held after the worst of this totally unnecessary outrage. Prior meetings were conducted in Boston. The outrageous, wasteful and unnecessary destruction is occurring in Cambridge.
The notice may be read at: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/InformationCenter/WeeklyNewsletters/RoadtoReformNewsletter06282013.aspx.
First of all, publicizing irresponsible plans do not relieve the irresponsible person of responsibility for irresponsible behavior.
“Shame on you, you should have kept me from doing this terrible thing” is what we got out of the key bureaucrat.
Nevertheless, this announcement should be carefully read and it should be noted that exactly ZERO destruction of trees is presented. This NON-ANNOUNCEMENT dramatically contrasts with the tone of the communication which this blog has now repeated twice.
But the bureaucrats are dealing in Cambridge, MA, a City with a belligerently irresponsible government and a carefully controlled Cambridge Machine running around lying about the piety of the city.
Business as usual in Cambridge, MA, USA.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
3. Postscript - Prior communication from Bureaucrat.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/longfellow-bridge-project-on-cambridge.html.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Longfellow - Kendall Destruction, Cambridge, MA, USA, May 23, 2013, ongoing, Cambridge Chronicle
1. Introduction.
2. May 23, 2013.
3. June 27, 2013.
4. Mishka.
5. Cambridge Chronicle.
1. Introduction.
Mishka has forwarded me seven photos of the destruction zone on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge heading south.
I returned to Cambridge to go to law school in 1970. I think I recall admiring this grove then.
The first group of photos are of trees slated for imminent destruction (red paint), May 23, 2013.
The second group of photos are from yesterday, June 27, 2013.
I have recently done some good documentation of the corruption of one of the Cambridge Machine’s most currently destructive fake groups. This destruction is part of their filth. That is the purpose of Company Union organizations. Then there are the hundreds of trees their corrupt practices have fought to destroy between here and the BU Bridge, the 22 trees targeted on the Cambridge Common, the acres of needless destruction accomplished at Alewife, soon to be expanded to possible total destruction.
The rottenness in Cambridge, MA, USA, is the Cambridge Machine in combination with a strikingly bad city government with all lying about reality and telling well intentioned folks to chase their tails.
State or local is irrelevant. The rottenness in the City of Cambridge is omnipresent.
2. May 23, 2013.
All slated for prompt destruction (red paint)
3. June 27, 2013.
4. Mishka.
In the early May we noted that a number of trees near the Cambridge
side of the Longfellow Bridge were marked with red paint and
yellow and green tape.
Later in May we contacted the bridge project officials, who indicated
that
"he yellow ribbon with a paint mark on the tree means that the tree
is removed in phase 1. The yellow ribbon with no paint mark means
the tree will be removed in a later phase. The trees with green ribbon
are trees that are going to be transplanted."
As a follow-up I wrote the following e-mail to the project
representative on May 30.
***
I have a follow-up question: are there any plans to hold
a public meeting or a Chapter 87 hearing in connection
with those trees?
I think a number of people who live or work in that area
are concerned about tree loss. So if people representing
the Longfellow Bridge project share the details and
reasons which make this tree loss unavoidable, it would be
very helpful.
***
Unfortunately, the bridge project so far did not respond
positively to this request. Instead they've send an e-mail
which contained the tree removal plans as an attachment, but
only had the following as an explanation:
"The tree protection and removal plan has been presented at numerous
public meetings and hearings during the previous phase of the project,
including general public information meetings and hearings for the
Environmental Assessment, Environmental Notification Form and Notices of
Intent. MassDOT has also coordinated extensively with the Department of
Conservation and Recreation in preparing the plan and understands the
value residents and visitors place on trees. Every effort has been made to
minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design. A landscape
architect and a certified arborist are part of the project team.
MassDOT's Design Build team White-Skanska-Consigli is transplanting eight
trees on the Boston side of the bridge and nine on the Cambridge side.
These trees are marked with green ribbon. Transplanting will be completed
by the end of June. Tree removal will begin after the 4th of July. Trees
that will be removed during Phase 1 of the project are marked with a
yellow ribbon and paint. Trees that will be removed in a later phase are
marked with a yellow ribbon only. Please refer to the Tree Protection and
Removal Plan for details."
That's not good enough. First of all, some people who were present
during a number of those meetings say the issue of the trees never
was discussed (perhaps it was discussed at some other meetings, but
there is no way to verify that). It's not enough that some plans are
on file somewhere.
Then there is a clear requirement of Chapter 87 Section 3 of
Massachusetts General Laws to hold a meeting such that a notice
of such a meeting among other things is placed "upon the tree at least
seven days before such hearing". In this case we see no evidence
that a notice of any of these meetings was posted on the affected trees.
I think the project should present its plans for public scrutiny
in a manner prescribed by law, rather than making an attempt to
avoid extra public scrutiny.
********************************************
I did not mention the June 19 fiasco here, but it is certainly
relevant in that it gives people extra grounds not to fully trust
the statement that "Every effort has been made to
minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design".
We certainly appreciate the efforts the project is doing to
protect many trees. At the same time, the removal of
trees which happened on June 19 is very difficult to justify,
and increases the desire of people to scrutinize the situation
further in this case.
5. Cambridge Chronicle.
Part of the rotten situation in Cambridge is the conversion of the Cambridge Chronicle from a house rag which allows the other side to speak to a house rag which censors responsible comment which disagrees with the nonsense put out by the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Machine.
A few days ago, I sent out a letter to the Cambridge Chronicle praising the Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission for responsible behavior at the Destroyed Nesting Area, standing up to state destructiveness.
To no surprise, that praise did not make it into today’s Cambridge Chronicle.
She did print a long editorial publicizing a irrelevant change in process. You publicize process, that gives the impression you are concerned with reality.
No printing of reality.
2. May 23, 2013.
3. June 27, 2013.
4. Mishka.
5. Cambridge Chronicle.
1. Introduction.
Mishka has forwarded me seven photos of the destruction zone on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge heading south.
I returned to Cambridge to go to law school in 1970. I think I recall admiring this grove then.
The first group of photos are of trees slated for imminent destruction (red paint), May 23, 2013.
The second group of photos are from yesterday, June 27, 2013.
I have recently done some good documentation of the corruption of one of the Cambridge Machine’s most currently destructive fake groups. This destruction is part of their filth. That is the purpose of Company Union organizations. Then there are the hundreds of trees their corrupt practices have fought to destroy between here and the BU Bridge, the 22 trees targeted on the Cambridge Common, the acres of needless destruction accomplished at Alewife, soon to be expanded to possible total destruction.
The rottenness in Cambridge, MA, USA, is the Cambridge Machine in combination with a strikingly bad city government with all lying about reality and telling well intentioned folks to chase their tails.
State or local is irrelevant. The rottenness in the City of Cambridge is omnipresent.
2. May 23, 2013.
All slated for prompt destruction (red paint)
3. June 27, 2013.
4. Mishka.
In the early May we noted that a number of trees near the Cambridge
side of the Longfellow Bridge were marked with red paint and
yellow and green tape.
Later in May we contacted the bridge project officials, who indicated
that
"he yellow ribbon with a paint mark on the tree means that the tree
is removed in phase 1. The yellow ribbon with no paint mark means
the tree will be removed in a later phase. The trees with green ribbon
are trees that are going to be transplanted."
As a follow-up I wrote the following e-mail to the project
representative on May 30.
***
I have a follow-up question: are there any plans to hold
a public meeting or a Chapter 87 hearing in connection
with those trees?
I think a number of people who live or work in that area
are concerned about tree loss. So if people representing
the Longfellow Bridge project share the details and
reasons which make this tree loss unavoidable, it would be
very helpful.
***
Unfortunately, the bridge project so far did not respond
positively to this request. Instead they've send an e-mail
which contained the tree removal plans as an attachment, but
only had the following as an explanation:
"The tree protection and removal plan has been presented at numerous
public meetings and hearings during the previous phase of the project,
including general public information meetings and hearings for the
Environmental Assessment, Environmental Notification Form and Notices of
Intent. MassDOT has also coordinated extensively with the Department of
Conservation and Recreation in preparing the plan and understands the
value residents and visitors place on trees. Every effort has been made to
minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design. A landscape
architect and a certified arborist are part of the project team.
MassDOT's Design Build team White-Skanska-Consigli is transplanting eight
trees on the Boston side of the bridge and nine on the Cambridge side.
These trees are marked with green ribbon. Transplanting will be completed
by the end of June. Tree removal will begin after the 4th of July. Trees
that will be removed during Phase 1 of the project are marked with a
yellow ribbon and paint. Trees that will be removed in a later phase are
marked with a yellow ribbon only. Please refer to the Tree Protection and
Removal Plan for details."
That's not good enough. First of all, some people who were present
during a number of those meetings say the issue of the trees never
was discussed (perhaps it was discussed at some other meetings, but
there is no way to verify that). It's not enough that some plans are
on file somewhere.
Then there is a clear requirement of Chapter 87 Section 3 of
Massachusetts General Laws to hold a meeting such that a notice
of such a meeting among other things is placed "upon the tree at least
seven days before such hearing". In this case we see no evidence
that a notice of any of these meetings was posted on the affected trees.
I think the project should present its plans for public scrutiny
in a manner prescribed by law, rather than making an attempt to
avoid extra public scrutiny.
********************************************
I did not mention the June 19 fiasco here, but it is certainly
relevant in that it gives people extra grounds not to fully trust
the statement that "Every effort has been made to
minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design".
We certainly appreciate the efforts the project is doing to
protect many trees. At the same time, the removal of
trees which happened on June 19 is very difficult to justify,
and increases the desire of people to scrutinize the situation
further in this case.
5. Cambridge Chronicle.
Part of the rotten situation in Cambridge is the conversion of the Cambridge Chronicle from a house rag which allows the other side to speak to a house rag which censors responsible comment which disagrees with the nonsense put out by the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Machine.
A few days ago, I sent out a letter to the Cambridge Chronicle praising the Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission for responsible behavior at the Destroyed Nesting Area, standing up to state destructiveness.
To no surprise, that praise did not make it into today’s Cambridge Chronicle.
She did print a long editorial publicizing a irrelevant change in process. You publicize process, that gives the impression you are concerned with reality.
No printing of reality.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Kendall / Longfellow, Cambridge, MA, USA: Attack on the Prime Grove Starts
1. Report:
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Report:
Mishka reports on June 25, 2013:
I don't believe any trees were actually transplanted today. Photo of the
preparations is attached.
[Tree Destruction 3]
For our most recent prior report, with many links, please see: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/longfellow-bridge-project-on-cambridge.html.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Report:
Mishka reports on June 25, 2013:
I don't believe any trees were actually transplanted today. Photo of the
preparations is attached.
[Tree Destruction 3]
For our most recent prior report, with many links, please see: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/longfellow-bridge-project-on-cambridge.html.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Longfellow Bridge Project on the Cambridge side: MassDOT speaks on its actions supporting global warming.
1. Analysis.
A. General.
B. Specific.
(1) Trees already destroyed.
(2) Trees slated to be destroyed.
2. Stephanie Bundy, 6/24/13.
3. Prior Reports.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Analysis.
A. General.
Below I am reprinting a formal response received by Misha from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation concerning the irresponsible destruction of trees as part of the Longfellow Bridge project.
I am printing this response substantially in total in spite of the uniform censorship of meaningful environmental comment in the City of Cambridge. I may change my mind and just present a summary. But right now, I am printing substantially the entire thing.
I am printing this response because I respect MassDOT. My gut feel is that MassDOT has been dealing with the City of Cambridge and the rottenness of the City of Cambridge has rubbed off.
The short of the answer from MassDOT translates as:
“Why did not YOU keep me from doing this terrible thing?”
This is MassDOT’s decision. MassDOT is responsible for an irresponsible decision whether or not the public has objected to MassDOT’s irresponsible decision and whether or not MassDOT has kept its actions secret.
Complying with Environmental Notification Form requirements and providing public announcement buried in fine print telling about things being destroyed does not make the destruction right.
This is MassDOT’s project. It is not the duty of meaningfully concerned people to read the fine print by which the project is analyzed. It is MassDOT’s duty to perform in a responsible manner.
There are still excellent trees which have not been destroyed and which should not be destroyed.
B. Specific.
(1) Trees already destroyed.
I have provided you photos of the irresponsible destruction of the grove of trees above the subway in Kendall Square just before the subway emerges from the ground.
MassDOT has destroyed those excellent trees for convenience.
The alternative is five years of detours, five years of detours which the belligerently irresponsible City of Cambridge would have fought. Cambridge destroys trees on mass and it gets away with it because it has a massive machine lying about it and a city newspaper printing its con games as if they were reality and suppressing reality even after it has photographic evidence and even after, in the Alewife project, the key, and false, defender has published a letter in the Chronicle bragging about the destruction.
Whether this irresponsible and totally needless destruction was disclosed in advance is irrelevant. It was needless, wasteful, and yet another fight for the destruction of our world through helping out global warming.
(2) Trees slated to be destroyed.
I have twice published photos of the excellent trees on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge.
I specifically recall public discussions of drainage correction being accomplished, and the story changed as the matter progressed.
During the preliminary meeting I attended, the creation of a natural drainage system on the Boston end of the Longfellow Bridge was announced with no meaningful explanation of what they were draining. I publicly responded to the lack of explanation with the interpretation that they were draining off poisons being dumped by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the nearby Ebersol Fields, and that they were taking this action to neutralize the belligerently irresponsible DCR.
More recently, MassDOT explained that the Boston drainage was intended to drain off the Longfellow Bridge.
At no time was I made aware that there was a similar project on the Cambridge side and I most definitely was not told of the destruction of excellent trees as part of this project, either on the Cambridge side or on the Boston side.
Only with Misha making me aware of the destruction pending on the Cambridge side was I made aware of this outrage. I hope the drainage system on the Boston side is not equally destructive.
It is flatly and simply outrageous to casually destroy excellent trees as part of this week’s new approach to the environment.
That is called global warming.
Good intentions and misguided theory are just as destructive as honest belligerent chain sawing. Our world cannot tell the difference.
2. Stephanie Bundy, 6/24/13.
As part of the rehabilitation of the historic Longfellow Bridge and construction of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian bridge across Storrow Drive to the Esplanade, several trees must be removed or transplanted.
The tree protection and removal plan has been presented at numerous public meetings and hearings during the previous phase of the project, including general public information meetings and hearings for the Environmental Assessment, Environmental Notification Form and Notices of Intent. MassDOT has also coordinated extensively with the Department of Conservation and Recreation in preparing the plan and understands the value residents and visitors place on trees. Every effort has been made to minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design. A landscape architect and a certified arborist are part of the project team.
MassDOT's Design Build team White-Skanska-Consigli is transplanting eight trees on the Boston side of the bridge and nine on the Cambridge side. These trees are marked with green ribbon. Transplanting will be completed by the end of June. Tree removal will begin after the 4th of July. Trees that will be removed during Phase 1 of the project are marked with a yellow ribbon and paint. Trees that will be removed in a later phase are marked with a yellow ribbon only. Please refer to the Tree Protection and Removal Plan for details.
3. Prior Reports.
A. May 24, 2013: Large Number of Excellent Trees [Marked for Imminent for Destruction Near Longfellow Bridge, Charles River, Cambridge, MA, USA - Approvals obtained by lying through omission.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/large-number-of-excellent-trees.html
B. May 30, 2013: Longfellow / Kendall, Cambridge, MA, USA - Update on Tree Destruction.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/longfellow-kendall-cambridge-ma-usa.html.
C. June 8, 2013: Longfellow / Kendall / Memorial Drive New Photos, WBZ.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/longfellow-kendall-memorial-drive-new.html.
D. June 18, 2013: Kendall Destruction Starts Wednesday June 18. Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/kendall-destruction-starts-wednesday.html.
E. June 19, 2013: Objections sent on Kendall Destruction, Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/objections-sent-on-kendall-destruction.html.
F. June 19, 2013: First Kendall Square Destruction Accomplished, Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/first-kendall-square-destruction.html.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
A. General.
B. Specific.
(1) Trees already destroyed.
(2) Trees slated to be destroyed.
2. Stephanie Bundy, 6/24/13.
3. Prior Reports.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Analysis.
A. General.
Below I am reprinting a formal response received by Misha from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation concerning the irresponsible destruction of trees as part of the Longfellow Bridge project.
I am printing this response substantially in total in spite of the uniform censorship of meaningful environmental comment in the City of Cambridge. I may change my mind and just present a summary. But right now, I am printing substantially the entire thing.
I am printing this response because I respect MassDOT. My gut feel is that MassDOT has been dealing with the City of Cambridge and the rottenness of the City of Cambridge has rubbed off.
The short of the answer from MassDOT translates as:
“Why did not YOU keep me from doing this terrible thing?”
This is MassDOT’s decision. MassDOT is responsible for an irresponsible decision whether or not the public has objected to MassDOT’s irresponsible decision and whether or not MassDOT has kept its actions secret.
Complying with Environmental Notification Form requirements and providing public announcement buried in fine print telling about things being destroyed does not make the destruction right.
This is MassDOT’s project. It is not the duty of meaningfully concerned people to read the fine print by which the project is analyzed. It is MassDOT’s duty to perform in a responsible manner.
There are still excellent trees which have not been destroyed and which should not be destroyed.
B. Specific.
(1) Trees already destroyed.
I have provided you photos of the irresponsible destruction of the grove of trees above the subway in Kendall Square just before the subway emerges from the ground.
MassDOT has destroyed those excellent trees for convenience.
The alternative is five years of detours, five years of detours which the belligerently irresponsible City of Cambridge would have fought. Cambridge destroys trees on mass and it gets away with it because it has a massive machine lying about it and a city newspaper printing its con games as if they were reality and suppressing reality even after it has photographic evidence and even after, in the Alewife project, the key, and false, defender has published a letter in the Chronicle bragging about the destruction.
Whether this irresponsible and totally needless destruction was disclosed in advance is irrelevant. It was needless, wasteful, and yet another fight for the destruction of our world through helping out global warming.
(2) Trees slated to be destroyed.
I have twice published photos of the excellent trees on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge.
I specifically recall public discussions of drainage correction being accomplished, and the story changed as the matter progressed.
During the preliminary meeting I attended, the creation of a natural drainage system on the Boston end of the Longfellow Bridge was announced with no meaningful explanation of what they were draining. I publicly responded to the lack of explanation with the interpretation that they were draining off poisons being dumped by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the nearby Ebersol Fields, and that they were taking this action to neutralize the belligerently irresponsible DCR.
More recently, MassDOT explained that the Boston drainage was intended to drain off the Longfellow Bridge.
At no time was I made aware that there was a similar project on the Cambridge side and I most definitely was not told of the destruction of excellent trees as part of this project, either on the Cambridge side or on the Boston side.
Only with Misha making me aware of the destruction pending on the Cambridge side was I made aware of this outrage. I hope the drainage system on the Boston side is not equally destructive.
It is flatly and simply outrageous to casually destroy excellent trees as part of this week’s new approach to the environment.
That is called global warming.
Good intentions and misguided theory are just as destructive as honest belligerent chain sawing. Our world cannot tell the difference.
2. Stephanie Bundy, 6/24/13.
As part of the rehabilitation of the historic Longfellow Bridge and construction of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian bridge across Storrow Drive to the Esplanade, several trees must be removed or transplanted.
The tree protection and removal plan has been presented at numerous public meetings and hearings during the previous phase of the project, including general public information meetings and hearings for the Environmental Assessment, Environmental Notification Form and Notices of Intent. MassDOT has also coordinated extensively with the Department of Conservation and Recreation in preparing the plan and understands the value residents and visitors place on trees. Every effort has been made to minimize the number of impacted trees through careful design. A landscape architect and a certified arborist are part of the project team.
MassDOT's Design Build team White-Skanska-Consigli is transplanting eight trees on the Boston side of the bridge and nine on the Cambridge side. These trees are marked with green ribbon. Transplanting will be completed by the end of June. Tree removal will begin after the 4th of July. Trees that will be removed during Phase 1 of the project are marked with a yellow ribbon and paint. Trees that will be removed in a later phase are marked with a yellow ribbon only. Please refer to the Tree Protection and Removal Plan for details.
3. Prior Reports.
A. May 24, 2013: Large Number of Excellent Trees [Marked for Imminent for Destruction Near Longfellow Bridge, Charles River, Cambridge, MA, USA - Approvals obtained by lying through omission.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/large-number-of-excellent-trees.html
B. May 30, 2013: Longfellow / Kendall, Cambridge, MA, USA - Update on Tree Destruction.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/longfellow-kendall-cambridge-ma-usa.html.
C. June 8, 2013: Longfellow / Kendall / Memorial Drive New Photos, WBZ.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/longfellow-kendall-memorial-drive-new.html.
D. June 18, 2013: Kendall Destruction Starts Wednesday June 18. Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/kendall-destruction-starts-wednesday.html.
E. June 19, 2013: Objections sent on Kendall Destruction, Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/objections-sent-on-kendall-destruction.html.
F. June 19, 2013: First Kendall Square Destruction Accomplished, Cambridge, MA, USA.
http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/first-kendall-square-destruction.html.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Destroyed Nesting Area, June 23, 2013, the mess the state left.
Photos of the Destroyed Nesting Area, Charles River, Cambridge, MA, USA, June 23, 2019, after the state’s workers leave,
1. Report.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Report.
Today, June 23, 2019, I visited the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
These photos are unedited and unnarrated, except to say a bunch of very destructive, very lazy people seem to have left, and left a mess.
There are young trees which have been wasted, photos of the waste, and a lot more destroyed ground after the fact.
Further down the Charles River, I have provided evidence of the destruction of a lovely grove of trees for no value. They could do what they want to with a detour. They destroyed the trees instead..
At the Cambridge Common, I have documented some excellent trees being destroyed, most because they are blocking the view.
This outrage below follows on the misbehavior by the local fraudulent group lying that they are defending the Charles, multiple reports presented.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
1. Report.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Report.
Today, June 23, 2019, I visited the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
These photos are unedited and unnarrated, except to say a bunch of very destructive, very lazy people seem to have left, and left a mess.
There are young trees which have been wasted, photos of the waste, and a lot more destroyed ground after the fact.
Further down the Charles River, I have provided evidence of the destruction of a lovely grove of trees for no value. They could do what they want to with a detour. They destroyed the trees instead..
At the Cambridge Common, I have documented some excellent trees being destroyed, most because they are blocking the view.
This outrage below follows on the misbehavior by the local fraudulent group lying that they are defending the Charles, multiple reports presented.
2. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Praise for the Cambridge Conservation Commission’s Executive Director
1. Letter to the Editor.
2. Background.
1. Letter to the Editor.
I have submitted the following to the editor of the Cambridge Chronicle:
***********
Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
I want to thank Jennifer Wright Letourneau of the Cambridge Conservation Commission for her lessening environmental damage at the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
These beautiful, popular 32 year residents are being starved and, essentially, confined to their nesting area east of the BU Bridge on the Charles River. This comes from destruction at the Magazine Beach Playing Fields by Cambridge and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Additionally, most of the nesting area’s ground vegetation has been destroyed by a combination of agents of the DCR and by the BU Bridge project. So it has been necessary for the Charles River Urban Wilds Initiative to replace as much as possible of the food which has been taken from them.
During most of the time since the beginning of December, workers on a project of the MBTA Commuter Rail have added to the abuse by using the less destroyed area for parking. There is adequate parking next to Memorial Drive and on the nearest, and unused area of the Magazine Beach playing fields. The parking next to Memorial Drive is particularly convenient, given the staircase constructed by Boston University for the DCR. It directly and conveniently connects between the work area on the railroad and the parking.
The railroad workers’ misbehavior was exacerbated in the spring by a bizarre and very noisy metal work facility dumped in the most sensitive area. More recently, they parked a flatbed trailer there.
Jennifer has been kind enough to talk to the DCR and minimize the destruction. They have gotten rid of these two most irresponsible intrusions..
The DCR, however, has recognized that the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction has been limited by the City of Cambridge more than is the case in almost all of the state.
The parking has been continued beyond the very small jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission, and, last I checked, they were sneaking cars back where they had left.
The destructive laziness is outrageous, but Jennifer has done good.
It would be nice if the City Council accepted the same environmental protections as the rest of the state, but the limits are compatible with the ongoing and pending governmental destruction on the Cambridge Common, at Alewife, on the Charles River and as part of the Longfellow Bridge project in and near Kendall.
Jennifer has done good. Her jurisdiction is tellingly restricted. Nevertheless, her help is appreciated.
Robert J. La Trémouille
Chair
Friends of the White Geese
2. Background.
The Cambridge Chronicle has a new editor.
The paper has gone from being a company rag allowing reality to be expressed on the editorial page to a company rag censoring reality.
Two of the many letters they have censored from me have been, recently, (a) a well written letter spelling out the corrupt practices by which the fake neighborhood association is fighting for environmental destruction on the Charles, and (b) one responding to a destructive city council candidate.
The most recent letter responded to a very destructive school committee member running for city council, Marc McGovern, http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/cambridge-ma-usa-environmental.html. This was sent on June 13, 2013.
Shortly after the April 2013 outrage at the fake neighborhood association, I spelled out the nonsense in sound detail, in http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-charles-river-corrupt-practices-and.html. This was sent on April 26, 2013.
In today’s issue, once again, the Cambridge Chronicle devoted the first page of their second section to Machine con games. This one is by the fake neighborhood association telling people to look at everything except their fight for destruction on the Charles River. Interestingly, my first knowledge of the Chronicle's latest puff piece came at a meeting of the destroyers in which the second section front page was shown off. This was long after I sent the letter in.
The above letter is highly unlikely to be printed.
Honesty, and not even vague balance, is not the name of the game in the Cambridge Chronicle.
2. Background.
1. Letter to the Editor.
I have submitted the following to the editor of the Cambridge Chronicle:
***********
Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
I want to thank Jennifer Wright Letourneau of the Cambridge Conservation Commission for her lessening environmental damage at the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
These beautiful, popular 32 year residents are being starved and, essentially, confined to their nesting area east of the BU Bridge on the Charles River. This comes from destruction at the Magazine Beach Playing Fields by Cambridge and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Additionally, most of the nesting area’s ground vegetation has been destroyed by a combination of agents of the DCR and by the BU Bridge project. So it has been necessary for the Charles River Urban Wilds Initiative to replace as much as possible of the food which has been taken from them.
During most of the time since the beginning of December, workers on a project of the MBTA Commuter Rail have added to the abuse by using the less destroyed area for parking. There is adequate parking next to Memorial Drive and on the nearest, and unused area of the Magazine Beach playing fields. The parking next to Memorial Drive is particularly convenient, given the staircase constructed by Boston University for the DCR. It directly and conveniently connects between the work area on the railroad and the parking.
The railroad workers’ misbehavior was exacerbated in the spring by a bizarre and very noisy metal work facility dumped in the most sensitive area. More recently, they parked a flatbed trailer there.
Jennifer has been kind enough to talk to the DCR and minimize the destruction. They have gotten rid of these two most irresponsible intrusions..
The DCR, however, has recognized that the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction has been limited by the City of Cambridge more than is the case in almost all of the state.
The parking has been continued beyond the very small jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission, and, last I checked, they were sneaking cars back where they had left.
The destructive laziness is outrageous, but Jennifer has done good.
It would be nice if the City Council accepted the same environmental protections as the rest of the state, but the limits are compatible with the ongoing and pending governmental destruction on the Cambridge Common, at Alewife, on the Charles River and as part of the Longfellow Bridge project in and near Kendall.
Jennifer has done good. Her jurisdiction is tellingly restricted. Nevertheless, her help is appreciated.
Robert J. La Trémouille
Chair
Friends of the White Geese
2. Background.
The Cambridge Chronicle has a new editor.
The paper has gone from being a company rag allowing reality to be expressed on the editorial page to a company rag censoring reality.
Two of the many letters they have censored from me have been, recently, (a) a well written letter spelling out the corrupt practices by which the fake neighborhood association is fighting for environmental destruction on the Charles, and (b) one responding to a destructive city council candidate.
The most recent letter responded to a very destructive school committee member running for city council, Marc McGovern, http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/cambridge-ma-usa-environmental.html. This was sent on June 13, 2013.
Shortly after the April 2013 outrage at the fake neighborhood association, I spelled out the nonsense in sound detail, in http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-charles-river-corrupt-practices-and.html. This was sent on April 26, 2013.
In today’s issue, once again, the Cambridge Chronicle devoted the first page of their second section to Machine con games. This one is by the fake neighborhood association telling people to look at everything except their fight for destruction on the Charles River. Interestingly, my first knowledge of the Chronicle's latest puff piece came at a meeting of the destroyers in which the second section front page was shown off. This was long after I sent the letter in.
The above letter is highly unlikely to be printed.
Honesty, and not even vague balance, is not the name of the game in the Cambridge Chronicle.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
First Kendall Square Destruction Accomplished, Cambridge, MA, USA.
First Kendall Square Destruction Accomplished, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Before:
Misha responds to my posting on the pending destruction at Kendall Square:
********
Comment 1:
Yes. Unfortunately, they did kill those trees today
(I have some photos).
[ed: Posted above. These are the trees on the median of Main Street / Broadway, Cambridge’s extension of the Longfellow Bridge. The trees on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge heading to Boston are better. They have not been destroyed YET.]
*******
Comment 2:
So, I think the reform we might want to try to push for,
is a reform for better transparency. If people (especially
government and its contractors) are required to register
their applications to cut trees and their actual tree
cuttings on a publicly viewable website, this would go
a long way towards better visibility into this problem
and would help to protect trees.
Further (although this might be too ambitious), if
the process of bidding for the public work of this kind,
and the itemized payments for the public work of this kind
are legally required to be made publicly available on
the Internet, this would go a long way towards curbing
the abuses and corruption we see all around us.
This might be something to try to organize people
around...
*********
Ed: Transparency in government starts with the fake groups and the fake activists.
The fake neighborhood association has a woman griping about signs on the building across from the Destroyed Nesting Area. She previously was griping about signs in Kendall Square.
No concern whatsoever about meaningful environmental destruction with the assistance of the City of Cambridge at Kendall and at the Destroyed Nesting Area. Or the hundreds of trees they are fighting to destroy on Memorial Drive.
But these people will lie, non stop, that they are environmentalists.
Transparency has to start with the fake groups and the fake activists. They keep the rogue city government of the City of Cambridge going, yelling that they are saving the world, totally secretive about their destruction of Cambridge, with their friends.
The automatic reaction is ALWAYS that they would never stoop so long. It is a direct result of the nonstop flat out lying by the Cambridge Machine about being holier than thou.
Before:
Misha responds to my posting on the pending destruction at Kendall Square:
********
Comment 1:
Yes. Unfortunately, they did kill those trees today
(I have some photos).
[ed: Posted above. These are the trees on the median of Main Street / Broadway, Cambridge’s extension of the Longfellow Bridge. The trees on the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge heading to Boston are better. They have not been destroyed YET.]
*******
Comment 2:
So, I think the reform we might want to try to push for,
is a reform for better transparency. If people (especially
government and its contractors) are required to register
their applications to cut trees and their actual tree
cuttings on a publicly viewable website, this would go
a long way towards better visibility into this problem
and would help to protect trees.
Further (although this might be too ambitious), if
the process of bidding for the public work of this kind,
and the itemized payments for the public work of this kind
are legally required to be made publicly available on
the Internet, this would go a long way towards curbing
the abuses and corruption we see all around us.
This might be something to try to organize people
around...
*********
Ed: Transparency in government starts with the fake groups and the fake activists.
The fake neighborhood association has a woman griping about signs on the building across from the Destroyed Nesting Area. She previously was griping about signs in Kendall Square.
No concern whatsoever about meaningful environmental destruction with the assistance of the City of Cambridge at Kendall and at the Destroyed Nesting Area. Or the hundreds of trees they are fighting to destroy on Memorial Drive.
But these people will lie, non stop, that they are environmentalists.
Transparency has to start with the fake groups and the fake activists. They keep the rogue city government of the City of Cambridge going, yelling that they are saving the world, totally secretive about their destruction of Cambridge, with their friends.
The automatic reaction is ALWAYS that they would never stoop so long. It is a direct result of the nonstop flat out lying by the Cambridge Machine about being holier than thou.
Objections sent on Kendall Destruction, Cambridge, MA, USA
Following up on my late learning of this, as posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/kendall-destruction-starts-wednesday.html.
The following objections were sent by forwarding the blog report. There are two because of character limits.
Number one, forwarding report.
Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us, longfellowbridge@state.ma.us, ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us, Council@cambridgema.gov, cambridge@wickedlocal.gov
This is outrageous. At no time in the public meetings on this project I have attended have you meaningfully communicated this extreme and unnecessary destruction. Just reroute traffic in Kendall.
Number two, forwarding report, same recipients.
Massive, totally unnecessary and highly irresponsible destruction on the Kendall end of the Longfellow Bridge. Kept secret in the public meetings I attended. Hidden behind technical notification of a bureaucrat employed by a rogue and environmentally destructive city government.
***********
The following was sent to the Governor at his stated email address.
http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/
RE: Outrageous environmental destruction TODAY.
Massive, totally unnecessary and highly irresponsible destruction on the Kendall end of the Longfellow Bridge. Kept secret in the public meetings I attended. Hidden behind technical notification of a bureaucrat employed by a rogue and environmentally destructive city government.
This is outrageous. At no time in the public meetings on this project I have attended have you meaningfully communicated this extreme and unnecessary destruction. These excellent trees need not be destroyed. Just reroute traffic in Kendall.
Details at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/kendall-destruction-starts-wednesday.html.
***********
I will follow with objections to individual legislators.
The following objections were sent by forwarding the blog report. There are two because of character limits.
Number one, forwarding report.
Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us, longfellowbridge@state.ma.us, ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us, Council@cambridgema.gov, cambridge@wickedlocal.gov
This is outrageous. At no time in the public meetings on this project I have attended have you meaningfully communicated this extreme and unnecessary destruction. Just reroute traffic in Kendall.
Number two, forwarding report, same recipients.
Massive, totally unnecessary and highly irresponsible destruction on the Kendall end of the Longfellow Bridge. Kept secret in the public meetings I attended. Hidden behind technical notification of a bureaucrat employed by a rogue and environmentally destructive city government.
***********
The following was sent to the Governor at his stated email address.
http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/
RE: Outrageous environmental destruction TODAY.
Massive, totally unnecessary and highly irresponsible destruction on the Kendall end of the Longfellow Bridge. Kept secret in the public meetings I attended. Hidden behind technical notification of a bureaucrat employed by a rogue and environmentally destructive city government.
This is outrageous. At no time in the public meetings on this project I have attended have you meaningfully communicated this extreme and unnecessary destruction. These excellent trees need not be destroyed. Just reroute traffic in Kendall.
Details at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/kendall-destruction-starts-wednesday.html.
***********
I will follow with objections to individual legislators.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Kendall Destruction Starts Wednesday June 18. Cambridge, MA, USA
1. Notice of destruction.
2. Targets of destruction.
3. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Notice of destruction.
Misha has forwarded the following email from what passes for a state government in light of totally irresponsibility on the part of the City of Cambridge, but Cambridge has those nice Cambridge Machine folks joining in Cambridge’s lies of sainthood.
********
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:59:39 -0400
From: "pa, massdot (DOT)"
To: "MassDOTPublicAffairs (DOT)"
Subject: Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Preliminary Work -Main Street,
Cambridge
Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Notice of Upcoming Construction Activities:
Main Street, Cambridge Preliminary Work
Median tree removal begins Wednesday, June 19, 2013 and
Modifications to median begin Monday, June 24, 2013
Bridge construction and traffic changes anticipated to begin in mid-July
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) design/build contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC), will begin preliminary work on Main Street in Cambridge to prepare for Traffic Stage 1 for the first phase of construction of the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
The first phase of the activities will begin on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 and entails removing trees located just north of the MBTA's Kendall station portal. The trees must be removed to allow the contractor to install jersey barriers across the median to shift traffic traveling to Boston (on the upstream side of the bridge) to the downstream side. The tree removal was previously announced at a City of Cambridge Tree Removal Hearing and at meetings and hearings during preliminary design for the project. The second phase entails additional median modifications to facilitate the traffic shift. Site restoration will occur once construction is complete.
In the first phase of construction, Boston bound traffic will be shifted to the downstream side of the bridge so the upstream side can be demolished and reconstructed. Cambridge bound traffic will be detoured using Craigie Bridge. Implementation of the traffic shift is now planned for mid-July. We will notify you two to three weeks prior to the shift via e-blast, website, social media and media outreach. A public meeting will also be scheduled to provide details on traffic management and monitoring.
To report issues or concerns or for questions related to construction, please use the dedicated project hotline, 617-519-9892, or email address, longfellowbridge@state.ma.us. You can also visit the website at www.mass.gov/massdot/longfellowbridge for updates and other information. To be added to the project email or US Mail distribution lists, please contact Stephanie Boundy, Public Outreach Coordinator for MassDOT's Accelerated Bridge Program, at 857-368-8904 or stephanie.boundy@state.ma.us.
2. Targets of destruction.
Misha comments:
**********
I figured out what those trees are. They are on the median right next to
where Red Line emerges to the surface, after Kendall Square
stop and before going over the bridge to Boston.
Five nice pines + a bit of small trees nearby.
I have no idea why they can't install their jersey barriers
without killing those trees. But those trees all have notices of
public hearing on May 16 attached to them, so, I guess, nothing much
can be done to protect them, since we missed that notice :-(
Anyway, I am going to forward you a photo of those pine trees...
**********
[Reduced Photo]
Editor:
The problem is that Cambridge has nine very bad city councilors plus a corrupt Cambridge Machine which repeatedly lies that the nine very bad city councilors are holier than thou. This situation is now made worse by a city newspaper which has turned itself into a house organ for the irresponsible city councilors and their machine.
The con games get printed by the Cambridge Chronicle as if we had saints. Responsible replies now seem to be uniformly censored.
3. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
Plus the links provided in the above email.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
2. Targets of destruction.
3. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Notice of destruction.
Misha has forwarded the following email from what passes for a state government in light of totally irresponsibility on the part of the City of Cambridge, but Cambridge has those nice Cambridge Machine folks joining in Cambridge’s lies of sainthood.
********
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:59:39 -0400
From: "pa, massdot (DOT)"
To: "MassDOTPublicAffairs (DOT)"
Subject: Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Preliminary Work -Main Street,
Cambridge
Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Notice of Upcoming Construction Activities:
Main Street, Cambridge Preliminary Work
Median tree removal begins Wednesday, June 19, 2013 and
Modifications to median begin Monday, June 24, 2013
Bridge construction and traffic changes anticipated to begin in mid-July
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) design/build contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC), will begin preliminary work on Main Street in Cambridge to prepare for Traffic Stage 1 for the first phase of construction of the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
The first phase of the activities will begin on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 and entails removing trees located just north of the MBTA's Kendall station portal. The trees must be removed to allow the contractor to install jersey barriers across the median to shift traffic traveling to Boston (on the upstream side of the bridge) to the downstream side. The tree removal was previously announced at a City of Cambridge Tree Removal Hearing and at meetings and hearings during preliminary design for the project. The second phase entails additional median modifications to facilitate the traffic shift. Site restoration will occur once construction is complete.
In the first phase of construction, Boston bound traffic will be shifted to the downstream side of the bridge so the upstream side can be demolished and reconstructed. Cambridge bound traffic will be detoured using Craigie Bridge. Implementation of the traffic shift is now planned for mid-July. We will notify you two to three weeks prior to the shift via e-blast, website, social media and media outreach. A public meeting will also be scheduled to provide details on traffic management and monitoring.
To report issues or concerns or for questions related to construction, please use the dedicated project hotline, 617-519-9892, or email address, longfellowbridge@state.ma.us
2. Targets of destruction.
Misha comments:
**********
I figured out what those trees are. They are on the median right next to
where Red Line emerges to the surface, after Kendall Square
stop and before going over the bridge to Boston.
Five nice pines + a bit of small trees nearby.
I have no idea why they can't install their jersey barriers
without killing those trees. But those trees all have notices of
public hearing on May 16 attached to them, so, I guess, nothing much
can be done to protect them, since we missed that notice :-(
Anyway, I am going to forward you a photo of those pine trees...
**********
[Reduced Photo]
Editor:
The problem is that Cambridge has nine very bad city councilors plus a corrupt Cambridge Machine which repeatedly lies that the nine very bad city councilors are holier than thou. This situation is now made worse by a city newspaper which has turned itself into a house organ for the irresponsible city councilors and their machine.
The con games get printed by the Cambridge Chronicle as if we had saints. Responsible replies now seem to be uniformly censored.
3. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
Plus the links provided in the above email.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
Harvard University talks: Transportation, and the Harvard Medical School Triangle, Allston, Charles River, MA, USA
1. Introduction.
2. Harvard’s situation.
3. Harvard’s Comments.
A. General.
B. Specific construction already planned or pending.
(1). Mass. Turnpike Reconstruction.
(2). Electronic Tolling.
(3). Street System Improvements.
(4). Expansion of Rail Track Service.
C. Existing rights in Beacon Park Yard.
D. Additional Considerations.
4. Conclusion, temporary.
1. Introduction.
Harvard University has recently made public comment on transportation planning in the area of the planned Harvard Medical School triangle, on the south side of the Charles River just east of the River Street Bridge / Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA / River Street, Cambridge, MA, USA. The comments are on line at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/ScannedLettersFromMEPA_ENF_042613.pdf. Harvard’s comments appear at pages 57 to 64.
The core habitat of the Charles River White Geese is the opposite side of this not particularly wide river, a mile habitat centered on the BU Bridge, the next bridge to the east.
I quote Harvard’s comments below in great detail. Harvard has been busy. Harvard’s listing of “Competing MassDOT Transportation Priorities” looks highly dangerous. I have thus quoted the most important comments verbatim.
Planning and maneuvers to make the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle work as a Medical School for Harvard University are rather clearly a core part of the environmental problems existing and being created in this area of the Charles River.
The massive amount of work pending in the area of the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle is incredible. And remember that Harvard bought this area after the local transit people showed a Mass. Turnpike off ramp could be constructed to Cambridge over the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge.
The wording of Harvard is that some very big work is imminent. And that work could greatly expand the environmental destruction, although, as usual, environmental destruction is never mentioned.
I have been deferring work on this report because its potential is so massive. However, I have been pulled out of my deferral of this work by my report on June 18, 2013, posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/more-road-work-around-harvard.html, concerning replacement of the Cambridge Street bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike. This bridge is located close to the northern tip of the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle.
I am quoting a lot and give you link to the full package. I would love to get your input. I, myself, will not further analyze except for background matters.
This report is too much work as it is without further new analysis.
2. Harvard’s situation.
Ever since I first became particularly concerned about the environmental problems on the Charles River, I have been increasingly aware of a vast amount of interrelationship of things going on or attempted to be going on.
I most recently directly reported on Harvard’s empire building at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-hospital-by-harvard-university-at.html.
Harvard’s relevant comments came concerning the expansion of South Station in Boston. The plans are to tear down the central mail processing facility (Fort Point Station) which is directly east of South Station and move the facility maybe a mile to the east. In place of the postal facility would be constructed additional railroad tracks. These tracks are needed for the addition of commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford, MA, the Massachusetts South Coast.
This is the second relatively recent expansion of South Station. This resumed service (after half a century) would service communities south of communities to whom service was resumed in 1997. The added service has its own difficulties since, as it is, South Station has a problem storing trains not needed during the middle of the day. The trains bring folks into Boston in the morning and are not needed again until the evening. There is not enough room for the trains to sit during the middle of the day with the addition of the South Coast service.
I most recently reported on the South Station expansion and Harvard’s comments at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/harvard-university-speaks-out-on-beacon.html.
Harvard’s problems come from the fact that, when Harvard purchased Beacon Park Yards and the Mass. Pike (I90) off ramps, the state included a proviso that Harvard’s use of the land purchased would be secondary to transportation use of the properties.
The environmental analysis includes consideration of various alternatives to park those trains during the day. The location which looks the most sensible to me is Beacon Park Yards. The freight railroad which has been using Beacon Park Yards is relocating the function to a new yard facility near Worcester, MA. From Harvard’s point of view, that leaves Beacon Park Yards as an ideal location for Harvard Medical School. Use of Beacon Park Yards to layover trains during the day on service to South Station would definitely put a cramp in Harvard’s plans.
3. Harvard’s Comments.
A. General.
Harvard says that use of Beacon Park Yard for layover of South Station trains during the day could kill its planned use of the property for relocation of its Medical School and other facilities. It requests that much more analysis be provided.
Harvard wants to separate the analysis of South Station expansion and the creation of layover facilities. One reason Harvard wants to separate the two issues is that South Station is already deficient for layover facilities without the expansion. “The expansion of South Station is clearly desirable with or without increased layover, so is in no way reliant upon achieving increased layover/layup capacity.”
Harvard argues that alternate layover locations should be greater considered.
Harvard thinks greater analysis should be made on Commuter Rail needs.
Harvard suggests that greater analysis should be made into alternative train technology with less layover needs.
B. Specific construction already planned or pending.
Harvard argues that other “Competing MassDOT Transportation Priorities” in the Beacon Park Yards area should be considered, as follows.
(1). Mass. Turnpike Reconstruction.
First is reconstruction of the Massachusetts Turnpike Brighton - Cambridge exit. Harvard says that this has been an urgent need in planning for the Massachusetts Turnpike.
“Harvard has assumed that significant portions of Beacon Park Yard will be required on an interim basis to support the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work. Harvard also recognizes that there is an urgent need to minimize the impact of construction disruption on the surrounding communities and the area’s reginal and local roadway network. . . . Given that substantially the same land parcels are involved with reconstruction and repair of the Mass. Turnpike, an operational analysis and construction staging plan for the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work must be part of any anslysis of the use of Beacon Park Yard for layover uses.”
(2). Electronic Tolling.
“Governor Patrick and MassDOT have publicly announced the State’s intention to implement electronic tolling along the Mass. Turnpike in the near term future, and this cannot be accomplished at the Allston toll location without the reconstruction or replacement of the Allston interchange / viaduct . . . Electronic tolling will require straightening out segments of the Mass. Turnpike adjacent to Beacon Park Yard, a reality not reflected in the ENF. This straightenint will compete with the need to expand the land available for passenger rail facility expansion within a constrained space. Thus, the revised design of this portion of the Mass. Turnpike should be considered in evaluating the viability of Beacon Park Yard as a layover facility.”
(3). Street System Improvements.
“The ENF also does not consider street system improvements that are needed in and around Beacon Park Yard to improve permanently, one of Boston’s worst intersections ‒ the confluence of the Mass. Turnpike Allston ramp, Cambridge Street, and a servicde drive with Soldiers Field Road and its adjacent service road. In additin, the current condition of the two 50± year old Cambridge Street bridges, over the Mass. Purnpike itself and over Mass. Turnpike off ramps, is poor. Reconstruction or replacement of these bridges is urgently needed. Further, as part of the on-going transportation planning work Harvard has undertaken subsequent to its acquisition of Beacon Park Yard a decade ago, Harvard has engaged in discussions with public agency officials and stakeholders about the need to create a viable street system in this area. The potential for planning and developing this series of new and reconfigured streets may be jeapardized if the heart of Beacon Park Yard is to be permanently utilized as an MBTA layover facility. The siting of a permanent layover facility in Beacon Park Yard must be evaluated against these transportation system needs.”
(4). Expansion of Rail Track Service.
“[ed: Paragraphing improved] There is a need to replace the single track-constrained Boston Main Line with a multi-track layout in order to provide adequately for a multitude of objectives, including
(i) expanded commuter rail service,
(ii) the introduction of DMU service [ed: the other type of rail technology mentioned by Harvard], and
(iii) the introduction of inter-city Ametrak service on the inland route. This must be accomplished in a manner that is well-integrated during the construction period for the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work, i.e., in a manner that maintains rail access to South Station and addresses rail operations on the Grand Junction rail line.”
C. Existing rights in Beacon Park Yard.
Extensive discussion. Very important. The detail is massive. I definitely and simply do not consider it appropriate to even attempt to paraphrase Harvard’s position without major work.
D. Additional Considerations.
Analysis of Impacts on Amtrak Inter-city Service, design guidelines, consistency with area plans and development and west station / commuter rail service, air pollution, acquisition costs are all provided.
4. Conclusion, temporary.
As you can see, there is a massive amount of work needed to fully comprehend where Harvard is coming from.
I have quoted the transportation analysis in great detail because it scares me.
The Secretary has issued a response to all filings including the Environmental Notification Form and Harvard’s Comments.
The Secretary’s certificate may be read at http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepacerts/2013/sc/enf/15028enf.pdf.
The Environmental Notification itself is massive. It is posted at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/efs/EnvironmentalNotificationForm.pdf.
There is a lot of work needed to fully evaluate what is going on here.
2. Harvard’s situation.
3. Harvard’s Comments.
A. General.
B. Specific construction already planned or pending.
(1). Mass. Turnpike Reconstruction.
(2). Electronic Tolling.
(3). Street System Improvements.
(4). Expansion of Rail Track Service.
C. Existing rights in Beacon Park Yard.
D. Additional Considerations.
4. Conclusion, temporary.
1. Introduction.
Harvard University has recently made public comment on transportation planning in the area of the planned Harvard Medical School triangle, on the south side of the Charles River just east of the River Street Bridge / Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA / River Street, Cambridge, MA, USA. The comments are on line at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/ScannedLettersFromMEPA_ENF_042613.pdf. Harvard’s comments appear at pages 57 to 64.
The core habitat of the Charles River White Geese is the opposite side of this not particularly wide river, a mile habitat centered on the BU Bridge, the next bridge to the east.
I quote Harvard’s comments below in great detail. Harvard has been busy. Harvard’s listing of “Competing MassDOT Transportation Priorities” looks highly dangerous. I have thus quoted the most important comments verbatim.
Planning and maneuvers to make the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle work as a Medical School for Harvard University are rather clearly a core part of the environmental problems existing and being created in this area of the Charles River.
The massive amount of work pending in the area of the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle is incredible. And remember that Harvard bought this area after the local transit people showed a Mass. Turnpike off ramp could be constructed to Cambridge over the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge.
The wording of Harvard is that some very big work is imminent. And that work could greatly expand the environmental destruction, although, as usual, environmental destruction is never mentioned.
I have been deferring work on this report because its potential is so massive. However, I have been pulled out of my deferral of this work by my report on June 18, 2013, posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/more-road-work-around-harvard.html, concerning replacement of the Cambridge Street bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike. This bridge is located close to the northern tip of the planned Harvard Medical School Triangle.
I am quoting a lot and give you link to the full package. I would love to get your input. I, myself, will not further analyze except for background matters.
This report is too much work as it is without further new analysis.
2. Harvard’s situation.
Ever since I first became particularly concerned about the environmental problems on the Charles River, I have been increasingly aware of a vast amount of interrelationship of things going on or attempted to be going on.
I most recently directly reported on Harvard’s empire building at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-hospital-by-harvard-university-at.html.
Harvard’s relevant comments came concerning the expansion of South Station in Boston. The plans are to tear down the central mail processing facility (Fort Point Station) which is directly east of South Station and move the facility maybe a mile to the east. In place of the postal facility would be constructed additional railroad tracks. These tracks are needed for the addition of commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford, MA, the Massachusetts South Coast.
This is the second relatively recent expansion of South Station. This resumed service (after half a century) would service communities south of communities to whom service was resumed in 1997. The added service has its own difficulties since, as it is, South Station has a problem storing trains not needed during the middle of the day. The trains bring folks into Boston in the morning and are not needed again until the evening. There is not enough room for the trains to sit during the middle of the day with the addition of the South Coast service.
I most recently reported on the South Station expansion and Harvard’s comments at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/harvard-university-speaks-out-on-beacon.html.
Harvard’s problems come from the fact that, when Harvard purchased Beacon Park Yards and the Mass. Pike (I90) off ramps, the state included a proviso that Harvard’s use of the land purchased would be secondary to transportation use of the properties.
The environmental analysis includes consideration of various alternatives to park those trains during the day. The location which looks the most sensible to me is Beacon Park Yards. The freight railroad which has been using Beacon Park Yards is relocating the function to a new yard facility near Worcester, MA. From Harvard’s point of view, that leaves Beacon Park Yards as an ideal location for Harvard Medical School. Use of Beacon Park Yards to layover trains during the day on service to South Station would definitely put a cramp in Harvard’s plans.
3. Harvard’s Comments.
A. General.
Harvard says that use of Beacon Park Yard for layover of South Station trains during the day could kill its planned use of the property for relocation of its Medical School and other facilities. It requests that much more analysis be provided.
Harvard wants to separate the analysis of South Station expansion and the creation of layover facilities. One reason Harvard wants to separate the two issues is that South Station is already deficient for layover facilities without the expansion. “The expansion of South Station is clearly desirable with or without increased layover, so is in no way reliant upon achieving increased layover/layup capacity.”
Harvard argues that alternate layover locations should be greater considered.
Harvard thinks greater analysis should be made on Commuter Rail needs.
Harvard suggests that greater analysis should be made into alternative train technology with less layover needs.
B. Specific construction already planned or pending.
Harvard argues that other “Competing MassDOT Transportation Priorities” in the Beacon Park Yards area should be considered, as follows.
(1). Mass. Turnpike Reconstruction.
First is reconstruction of the Massachusetts Turnpike Brighton - Cambridge exit. Harvard says that this has been an urgent need in planning for the Massachusetts Turnpike.
“Harvard has assumed that significant portions of Beacon Park Yard will be required on an interim basis to support the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work. Harvard also recognizes that there is an urgent need to minimize the impact of construction disruption on the surrounding communities and the area’s reginal and local roadway network. . . . Given that substantially the same land parcels are involved with reconstruction and repair of the Mass. Turnpike, an operational analysis and construction staging plan for the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work must be part of any anslysis of the use of Beacon Park Yard for layover uses.”
(2). Electronic Tolling.
“Governor Patrick and MassDOT have publicly announced the State’s intention to implement electronic tolling along the Mass. Turnpike in the near term future, and this cannot be accomplished at the Allston toll location without the reconstruction or replacement of the Allston interchange / viaduct . . . Electronic tolling will require straightening out segments of the Mass. Turnpike adjacent to Beacon Park Yard, a reality not reflected in the ENF. This straightenint will compete with the need to expand the land available for passenger rail facility expansion within a constrained space. Thus, the revised design of this portion of the Mass. Turnpike should be considered in evaluating the viability of Beacon Park Yard as a layover facility.”
(3). Street System Improvements.
“The ENF also does not consider street system improvements that are needed in and around Beacon Park Yard to improve permanently, one of Boston’s worst intersections ‒ the confluence of the Mass. Turnpike Allston ramp, Cambridge Street, and a servicde drive with Soldiers Field Road and its adjacent service road. In additin, the current condition of the two 50± year old Cambridge Street bridges, over the Mass. Purnpike itself and over Mass. Turnpike off ramps, is poor. Reconstruction or replacement of these bridges is urgently needed. Further, as part of the on-going transportation planning work Harvard has undertaken subsequent to its acquisition of Beacon Park Yard a decade ago, Harvard has engaged in discussions with public agency officials and stakeholders about the need to create a viable street system in this area. The potential for planning and developing this series of new and reconfigured streets may be jeapardized if the heart of Beacon Park Yard is to be permanently utilized as an MBTA layover facility. The siting of a permanent layover facility in Beacon Park Yard must be evaluated against these transportation system needs.”
(4). Expansion of Rail Track Service.
“[ed: Paragraphing improved] There is a need to replace the single track-constrained Boston Main Line with a multi-track layout in order to provide adequately for a multitude of objectives, including
(i) expanded commuter rail service,
(ii) the introduction of DMU service [ed: the other type of rail technology mentioned by Harvard], and
(iii) the introduction of inter-city Ametrak service on the inland route. This must be accomplished in a manner that is well-integrated during the construction period for the Mass. Turnpike reconstruction work, i.e., in a manner that maintains rail access to South Station and addresses rail operations on the Grand Junction rail line.”
C. Existing rights in Beacon Park Yard.
Extensive discussion. Very important. The detail is massive. I definitely and simply do not consider it appropriate to even attempt to paraphrase Harvard’s position without major work.
D. Additional Considerations.
Analysis of Impacts on Amtrak Inter-city Service, design guidelines, consistency with area plans and development and west station / commuter rail service, air pollution, acquisition costs are all provided.
4. Conclusion, temporary.
As you can see, there is a massive amount of work needed to fully comprehend where Harvard is coming from.
I have quoted the transportation analysis in great detail because it scares me.
The Secretary has issued a response to all filings including the Environmental Notification Form and Harvard’s Comments.
The Secretary’s certificate may be read at http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepacerts/2013/sc/enf/15028enf.pdf.
The Environmental Notification itself is massive. It is posted at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/efs/EnvironmentalNotificationForm.pdf.
There is a lot of work needed to fully evaluate what is going on here.
Monday, June 17, 2013
More Road Work Around Harvard University’s New Medical School, Allston, Boston, MA, USA.
1. More Major Bridge Work announced around Harvard’s New Medical School Area.
2. The work in context.
1. More Major Bridge Work announced around Harvard’s New Medical School Area.
Boston.com, at http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2013/06/state_plans_2-year_10m_project.html, is reporting the replacement of a major bridge abutting Harvard University’s Medical School relocation in planning.
The specific bridge is the bridge by which Cambridge Street, Allston (the extension of River Street, Cambridge) crosses over the Massachusetts Turnpike, I90.
This bridge is located perhaps a mile from the Charles River along this Allston / Boston extension of the River Street Bridge / River Street Cambridge. Harvard’s property south of Cambridge Street is larger than Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. It is generally triangular shaped with the northwest boundary being Cambridge Street. The southern boundary is the railroad’s mainline east west, the route which connects Boston to Framingham and Worcester, MA. The northeast boundary is the Charles River.
Directly across the Charles River is Magazine Beach, the location of so much environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse, plus so many bizarre maneuvers by the Cambridge Machine to hide the environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse except when they indulge in corrupt behavior to expand it.
The bridge being replaced is at the far corner of the southern boundary of the property. In addition to the Massachusetts Turnpike, it also crosses the railroad main line. It approaches the Allston Village area of Allston which is a left turn off Cambridge Street going away from Cambridge, and approaches Union Square, Allston, which is straight ahead. The opposite direction, going to Cambridge, brings you to Central Square, Cambridge, about two miles from the bridge.
Boston.com has an excellent map. Boston.com reports that construction will begin this fall. During the two years of work, the bridge will be replaced in parts with traffic continuing over the bridge in less lanes than currently exist. The project will also replace a pedestrian bridge which is the historical replacement for Franklin Street in Allston which was bifurcated by the Massachusetts Turnpike with about a block remaining south of the turnpike.
2. The work in context.
The opposite end of the southern boundary of the triangle approaches the Grand Junction railroad bridge under the BU Bridge.
Several months before Harvard accomplished its incredible purchase, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which runs public transportation for the Boston region, did a study which demonstrated that an off ramp could be built from the Massachusetts Turnpike to Cambridge over the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge.
A whole bunch of otherwise bizarre initiatives on the Cambridge side of the Charles River fit in place as precursors to the creation of that off ramp.
Harvard, in its response to a recent Environmental Notification Form commented on the imminent work anticipated on roads in the area of its future Medical School. Harvard’s comments are posted in the Comment Letters to the South Station Expansion Project, at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/ScannedLettersFromMEPA_ENF_042613.pdf. Harvard’s comments appear at pages 57 to 64.
The River Street and Western Avenue Bridges are a combined bridge repair project starting at the top point of the Harvard Medical School triangle / Beacon Park Rail Yard / Massachusetts Turnpike Off Ramps to Brighton / Cambridge.
The following is a 2006 aerial map / satellite photo from a state prepared environmental report.
[Aerial Shots, 2006 Cambridgeport]
It does not go as far to the south as the bridge in question but gives a very good view of the Charles River End of the Harvard Medical School triangle.
The BU Bridge which is at the bottom middle of the photo has been rebuilt.
The Grand Junction Bridge, under the BU Bridge, is currently seeing major repairs, with destructive parking by the workers.
2. The work in context.
1. More Major Bridge Work announced around Harvard’s New Medical School Area.
Boston.com, at http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2013/06/state_plans_2-year_10m_project.html, is reporting the replacement of a major bridge abutting Harvard University’s Medical School relocation in planning.
The specific bridge is the bridge by which Cambridge Street, Allston (the extension of River Street, Cambridge) crosses over the Massachusetts Turnpike, I90.
This bridge is located perhaps a mile from the Charles River along this Allston / Boston extension of the River Street Bridge / River Street Cambridge. Harvard’s property south of Cambridge Street is larger than Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. It is generally triangular shaped with the northwest boundary being Cambridge Street. The southern boundary is the railroad’s mainline east west, the route which connects Boston to Framingham and Worcester, MA. The northeast boundary is the Charles River.
Directly across the Charles River is Magazine Beach, the location of so much environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse, plus so many bizarre maneuvers by the Cambridge Machine to hide the environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse except when they indulge in corrupt behavior to expand it.
The bridge being replaced is at the far corner of the southern boundary of the property. In addition to the Massachusetts Turnpike, it also crosses the railroad main line. It approaches the Allston Village area of Allston which is a left turn off Cambridge Street going away from Cambridge, and approaches Union Square, Allston, which is straight ahead. The opposite direction, going to Cambridge, brings you to Central Square, Cambridge, about two miles from the bridge.
Boston.com has an excellent map. Boston.com reports that construction will begin this fall. During the two years of work, the bridge will be replaced in parts with traffic continuing over the bridge in less lanes than currently exist. The project will also replace a pedestrian bridge which is the historical replacement for Franklin Street in Allston which was bifurcated by the Massachusetts Turnpike with about a block remaining south of the turnpike.
2. The work in context.
The opposite end of the southern boundary of the triangle approaches the Grand Junction railroad bridge under the BU Bridge.
Several months before Harvard accomplished its incredible purchase, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which runs public transportation for the Boston region, did a study which demonstrated that an off ramp could be built from the Massachusetts Turnpike to Cambridge over the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge.
A whole bunch of otherwise bizarre initiatives on the Cambridge side of the Charles River fit in place as precursors to the creation of that off ramp.
Harvard, in its response to a recent Environmental Notification Form commented on the imminent work anticipated on roads in the area of its future Medical School. Harvard’s comments are posted in the Comment Letters to the South Station Expansion Project, at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/25/Docs/ScannedLettersFromMEPA_ENF_042613.pdf. Harvard’s comments appear at pages 57 to 64.
The River Street and Western Avenue Bridges are a combined bridge repair project starting at the top point of the Harvard Medical School triangle / Beacon Park Rail Yard / Massachusetts Turnpike Off Ramps to Brighton / Cambridge.
The following is a 2006 aerial map / satellite photo from a state prepared environmental report.
[Aerial Shots, 2006 Cambridgeport]
It does not go as far to the south as the bridge in question but gives a very good view of the Charles River End of the Harvard Medical School triangle.
The BU Bridge which is at the bottom middle of the photo has been rebuilt.
The Grand Junction Bridge, under the BU Bridge, is currently seeing major repairs, with destructive parking by the workers.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese, Charles River North, Cambridge, MA, USA, June 15, 2013
1. Visit.
2. Some specific goose photos from June 15.
3. Context.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Visit.
As part of the rottenness in Cambridge, the Cambridge Machine and the associated bureaucrats, these individuals have been deliberately starving the beautiful, valuable Charles River White Geese. They are 32 year residents of the area and highly popular with normal human beings. The Cambridge Machine does not openly fight for the abuse of the beautiful beings, they just lie that they are fighting for the Charles River, imply that it is ant-Charles to support anything which they do not dictate and omit the real problems which publicly fighting for a tiny number of things and sneaking in as fast as possible the really rotten stuff.
My last extended report on the Destroyed Nesting Area is posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/railroad-worker-destructiveness-returns.html. Jennifer Wright Letourneau of the Cambridge Conservation Commission did some good work and I commended her on it.
On June 8, 2013, however, the state upped the ante again.
This time, I contacted Jennifer quietly with the key photographs. These people were once again parking in the area they had left, plus they had dumped what looks like a flatbed transport trailer, all in the area they supposedly had left.
Yesterday, I observed the trailer being removed, but the parking got worse.
Here is one photo of the carrier parked under the geese’ most important tree, and of a car even further into the supposedly no longer being destroyed area.
[06-08 06 157]
Here is a photo from yesterday of the carrier being taken away:
[06-15 DNA 08, 181, Trailer - crop].
The first photo, is of the small truck which is visible in the prior photo from a different angle. If you look in the background, you can see a strip of brick / concrete running from just above the crushed stone to the left and stretching to the right, getting less visible.
This is edge of the Memorial Drive overpass which is under construction.
This is where responsible people would park, but we are dealing with people protected by the rotten Cambridge Machine.
These photos were taken before the removal of the carrier. The visible truck is further into the most sensitive area than the carrier.
[06-15 DNA 06 179]
[06-15 DNA 03 176-crop]
These are additional photos of the original truck. In the background are more private cars parked. Just beyond them is the staircase which was illegally installed for the state bureaucrats by Boston University. It leads to the location where responsible people would park. The second shot is from a further distance, showing the outrageous gravel highway installed which seems to be intended to be part of the East West highway involved in the Cambridge Machine’s corrupt behavior.
[06-15 DNA 04 177 - crop]
[06-15 DNA 01 174]
This is a photo of the staircase taken at the June 8, 2013 visit. Irresponsible parked privately owned vehicles can be seen at the foot of the staircase.
[06-08 01 152]
This is the view of the on ramp turning from the position where the immediately preceding photo was taken. The black vehicle is a state police vehicle with blue light flashing directed to traffic coming up the ramp. He is protecting construction workers working on the ramp side of the bridge. Responsible railroad workers would be parking in this location. The cop would have moved closer to the workers in such a case.
[06-08 10 161]
This is the opposite end of the ramp where they should be parking.
[06-08 11 162]
This is a view from the same angle taken from the off ramp from Memorial Drive to the rotary and the BU Bridge. The ramp shown above is where the left line of cars in heading. To the left of the picture is where workers on the overpass are parking.
[06-08 13 164]
Turning from this point and, possibly moving a few feet on the ramp, this is a second, very large available parking area. Workers on the BU Bridge project parked under Memorial Drive in the area in the preceding photo. The walk they endured was very similar to the walk these lazy people would have to this location. The grass shown is probably sickly stuff introduced in place of the grass which had been there for the better part of a century. A responsible government would be sewing seed for the grass which was destroyed rather than sewing poisons to keep the sickly stuff alive.
[06-08 12 163]
2. Some specific goose photos from June 15.
This is the tiny area no longer destroyed for parking after the latest expansion)
[06-15 DNA 05 178]
This is the area next to the BU Bridge. This 50 foot area had to be destroyed for access to work, but there seems to be no intent to vegetate the area. This could be an advantage since native vegetation which has not been destroyed by the falsely named Charles River “Conservancy” or the BU Bridge repairs continues to the left. This is shown in photo [06-15 DNA 03 176 - crop], above.
[06-15 DNA 02 175]
To the right is the BU Bridge. The blue is the river going under one arch.
They probably moved into this area to get away from the commotion associated with the moving of the trailer, plus because of the area destroyed to them with the increase in irresponsible parking.
As I was leaving, folks from the Charles River Urban Wilds Initiative came to feed the Charles River White Geese to protect them from the starvation being imposed by bizarre actions of city and state made possible with the hypocritical assistance of the Cambridge Machine.
3. Context.
Yesterday, June 15, 2013, the state bureaucrats in coordination with the fake groups conducted a games event in the area west of the Magazine Beach playing fields to which both entities want to expand destruction, with downright corrupt tactics on the part of the Cambridge Machine.
The purpose of the effort would appear to make folks favorable to the latest expansion of the state and city’s outrages on the Charles River.
The Machine showed off their historical building and, as usual, lied through omission about their environmental destructiveness in conjunction with Cambridge and the state bureaucrats.
I have reported on the blatant corruption of their recent efforts at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/governor-of-massachusetts-responds-to.html, http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/magazine-beach-bad-faith-flaunted-by.html.
My not yet published report on this outrage was posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-charles-river-corrupt-practices-and.html in the form of a letter to the editor of the Cambridge Chronicle. It has been censored.
I hung around at the con game for a bit to reflect reality until I realized that, while there were quite a few people at the con game, pretty much all of the folks were part of the converted. There was a news type photographer running around. Her comment indicated that she could be part of the Cambridge Chronicle crew with its publicizing of the con games and suppression of reality.
I did have some valuable talk with a few folks but the real numbers of people not already controlled by the Cambridge Machine were tiny.
The reality in Cambridge is the existence of a massive machine which routinely rubber stamps while lying that they are holier than thou. They stay in power by agreeing on key lies which are foisted on the vast majority. Since all these fine people say this is true, it has to be true?
See my note at the bottom on one very blatant lie being propounded by the Cambridge Machine and its friends on the key Urban Ring rapid transit proposal.
I figured there was a lot more value in visiting the Charles River White Geese, so the above report.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
1. Visit.
2. Some specific goose photos from June 15.
3. Context.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
1. Visit.
As part of the rottenness in Cambridge, the Cambridge Machine and the associated bureaucrats, these individuals have been deliberately starving the beautiful, valuable Charles River White Geese. They are 32 year residents of the area and highly popular with normal human beings. The Cambridge Machine does not openly fight for the abuse of the beautiful beings, they just lie that they are fighting for the Charles River, imply that it is ant-Charles to support anything which they do not dictate and omit the real problems which publicly fighting for a tiny number of things and sneaking in as fast as possible the really rotten stuff.
My last extended report on the Destroyed Nesting Area is posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/railroad-worker-destructiveness-returns.html. Jennifer Wright Letourneau of the Cambridge Conservation Commission did some good work and I commended her on it.
On June 8, 2013, however, the state upped the ante again.
This time, I contacted Jennifer quietly with the key photographs. These people were once again parking in the area they had left, plus they had dumped what looks like a flatbed transport trailer, all in the area they supposedly had left.
Yesterday, I observed the trailer being removed, but the parking got worse.
Here is one photo of the carrier parked under the geese’ most important tree, and of a car even further into the supposedly no longer being destroyed area.
[06-08 06 157]
Here is a photo from yesterday of the carrier being taken away:
[06-15 DNA 08, 181, Trailer - crop].
The first photo, is of the small truck which is visible in the prior photo from a different angle. If you look in the background, you can see a strip of brick / concrete running from just above the crushed stone to the left and stretching to the right, getting less visible.
This is edge of the Memorial Drive overpass which is under construction.
This is where responsible people would park, but we are dealing with people protected by the rotten Cambridge Machine.
These photos were taken before the removal of the carrier. The visible truck is further into the most sensitive area than the carrier.
[06-15 DNA 06 179]
[06-15 DNA 03 176-crop]
These are additional photos of the original truck. In the background are more private cars parked. Just beyond them is the staircase which was illegally installed for the state bureaucrats by Boston University. It leads to the location where responsible people would park. The second shot is from a further distance, showing the outrageous gravel highway installed which seems to be intended to be part of the East West highway involved in the Cambridge Machine’s corrupt behavior.
[06-15 DNA 04 177 - crop]
[06-15 DNA 01 174]
This is a photo of the staircase taken at the June 8, 2013 visit. Irresponsible parked privately owned vehicles can be seen at the foot of the staircase.
[06-08 01 152]
This is the view of the on ramp turning from the position where the immediately preceding photo was taken. The black vehicle is a state police vehicle with blue light flashing directed to traffic coming up the ramp. He is protecting construction workers working on the ramp side of the bridge. Responsible railroad workers would be parking in this location. The cop would have moved closer to the workers in such a case.
[06-08 10 161]
This is the opposite end of the ramp where they should be parking.
[06-08 11 162]
This is a view from the same angle taken from the off ramp from Memorial Drive to the rotary and the BU Bridge. The ramp shown above is where the left line of cars in heading. To the left of the picture is where workers on the overpass are parking.
[06-08 13 164]
Turning from this point and, possibly moving a few feet on the ramp, this is a second, very large available parking area. Workers on the BU Bridge project parked under Memorial Drive in the area in the preceding photo. The walk they endured was very similar to the walk these lazy people would have to this location. The grass shown is probably sickly stuff introduced in place of the grass which had been there for the better part of a century. A responsible government would be sewing seed for the grass which was destroyed rather than sewing poisons to keep the sickly stuff alive.
[06-08 12 163]
2. Some specific goose photos from June 15.
This is the tiny area no longer destroyed for parking after the latest expansion)
[06-15 DNA 05 178]
This is the area next to the BU Bridge. This 50 foot area had to be destroyed for access to work, but there seems to be no intent to vegetate the area. This could be an advantage since native vegetation which has not been destroyed by the falsely named Charles River “Conservancy” or the BU Bridge repairs continues to the left. This is shown in photo [06-15 DNA 03 176 - crop], above.
[06-15 DNA 02 175]
To the right is the BU Bridge. The blue is the river going under one arch.
They probably moved into this area to get away from the commotion associated with the moving of the trailer, plus because of the area destroyed to them with the increase in irresponsible parking.
As I was leaving, folks from the Charles River Urban Wilds Initiative came to feed the Charles River White Geese to protect them from the starvation being imposed by bizarre actions of city and state made possible with the hypocritical assistance of the Cambridge Machine.
3. Context.
Yesterday, June 15, 2013, the state bureaucrats in coordination with the fake groups conducted a games event in the area west of the Magazine Beach playing fields to which both entities want to expand destruction, with downright corrupt tactics on the part of the Cambridge Machine.
The purpose of the effort would appear to make folks favorable to the latest expansion of the state and city’s outrages on the Charles River.
The Machine showed off their historical building and, as usual, lied through omission about their environmental destructiveness in conjunction with Cambridge and the state bureaucrats.
I have reported on the blatant corruption of their recent efforts at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/governor-of-massachusetts-responds-to.html, http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/magazine-beach-bad-faith-flaunted-by.html.
My not yet published report on this outrage was posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-charles-river-corrupt-practices-and.html in the form of a letter to the editor of the Cambridge Chronicle. It has been censored.
I hung around at the con game for a bit to reflect reality until I realized that, while there were quite a few people at the con game, pretty much all of the folks were part of the converted. There was a news type photographer running around. Her comment indicated that she could be part of the Cambridge Chronicle crew with its publicizing of the con games and suppression of reality.
I did have some valuable talk with a few folks but the real numbers of people not already controlled by the Cambridge Machine were tiny.
The reality in Cambridge is the existence of a massive machine which routinely rubber stamps while lying that they are holier than thou. They stay in power by agreeing on key lies which are foisted on the vast majority. Since all these fine people say this is true, it has to be true?
See my note at the bottom on one very blatant lie being propounded by the Cambridge Machine and its friends on the key Urban Ring rapid transit proposal.
I figured there was a lot more value in visiting the Charles River White Geese, so the above report.
4. Contacts, Miscellaneous.
Massachusetts Governor’s Office email form: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/.
State environmental people, DES Hotline: ESF.Hotline@state.ma.us.
MassDOT Accelerated Bridges Program: 857-368-8904 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
All Massachusetts Legislators’ emails: http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/emails-for-all-massachusetts.html.
Cambridge, MA, USA city councilors: Council@cambridgema.gov.
**********
For people listening to Boston Sierra Club endorsements of environmentally destructive members of the Cambridge City Council, you should be aware that
(1) using the world’s definition of “environmentalism,” there are no environmentally responsible members of the Cambridge City Council, and
(2) there are Cambridge Machine activists very visible and apparently very active in the Boston Sierra Club.
If you are talking to a person associated with the Boston Sierra Club, do a credibility check. Ask if they are familiar with the “Urban Ring” rapid transit proposal. This is a subway proposal designed to link the existing subway spokes. I have been working on it since 1985. Cambridge raised the project in a comment to an environmental Impact Statement in the last month or so.
If the Boston Sierra Club “expert” answers “yes,” that he / she is familiar with the Urban Ring rapid transit proposal, ask how many rail options there are. If the answer is “one,” you are getting the flat out lie put out by the City of Cambridge.
Cambridge’s flat out lie is that, of the TWO rail options, the only one that exists is the environmentally destructive streetcar option which the City of Cambridge supports. This option would be highly destructive to the environment near the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
The reality is that THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SUBSIDIZED THE OTHER OPTION, the responsible Orange Line / heavy rail option, the Kenmore crossing. The state legislature has subsidized the expansion of Yawkey Station as part of the massive Fenway Park area project which has gotten recent press.
Cambridge’s nonsensical proposal would move Yawkey Station three blocks. The Cambridge proposal would not work without moving Yawkey Station. The Kenmore Crossing uses the now subsidized and being expanded Yawkey Station as part of a brilliant megastation.
You should immediately respond to such nonsense from a Sierra Club “expert” by having nothing more to do with this person. Whether the person is stupid or venal is irrelevant, the person has no credibility and is not worthy of your time.
It is frequently difficult to pin these irresponsible people down in general. The deviant behavior in my test is extreme. They are pious in their demands that, if you are politically correct and pro environment, you have to rubber stamp them. Please do not waste your time arguing about destruction they can wiggle around.
Turn your back on them and walk away fast.
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