Archie Mazmanian reports:
Many years ago, long before the Charles River was reconfigured into its current form by filling tidelands and constructing dams, it served as a disposal, including in particular for the Allston/Brighton stockyards and abattoirs. The venerated Harvard Business School (HBS) is built on land filled in the reconfiguring of the Charles. Some years back (early 1970s), a Professor at HBS was hosting a Board of Directors meeting of a corporation I represented (he and I served on the Board). He gave a brief history of HBS, including an odor problem that developed at the site that finally was determined to be methane leaking from the soil through the floors of HBS. The source of the methane was determined to be cattle hides long buried there, disposed of years earlier by the abattoirs.
Fortunately, quite a bit of progress has been made over the years to lessen the environmental issues caused by the stockyards and its abattoirs. No longer would MA and its municipalities permit such dumping to go on with the Charles or other waters. Over recent years, efforts have been made to make the Charles swimmable, including at Magazine Beach that once was swimmable. (I recall my family taking me there when we lived in Somerville in the mid 1930s.) Alas, public funds are low. Despite former Governor Weld’’s famous dive into the Charles before he bailed out of MA, the Charles is not yet swimmable for humans.
But there is life in the Charles. I’’m not sure how successfully the herring run up the Charles to spawn in recent years. But there are fish in the Charles. And then there are the ducks and other seabirds that partake of the Charles in season.
And let’’s not forget the year-round Charles River White Geese that have given great pleasure to us, especially our children. The Charles is a jewel, a joy for our urban area, with its open expanse a respite from the densities of urban life, permitting communing with nature. But now these White Geese face annihilation at the hands of MA and Cambridge government officials. What we have is a bloodless abattoir at the White Geese’’s habitat in the area of the BU Bridge. Because it is bloodless, these government officials may feel their hands are clean. But are they? Would you shake their hands? Or vote for them?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Governor Patrick's response to e-mail about Memorial Drive and Obama funds
On October 13, 2009, I received the following e-mail from Governor Patrick's office. It responded to correspondence about my e-mail of October 10, 2009, posted on the blog as part of the report on Day 387.
Dear Ms. Wellons,
On behalf of Governor Deval L. Patrick, thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We have forwarded your correspondence to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance for further review. If necessary, please be assured that someone in that office will follow up with you as soon as possible. We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly.
To ensure transparency, the Governor has created the Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Plan website where you can find details regarding recovery spending as they become available.
Again, thank you for writing Governor Patrick. Please know that the Governor is grateful to have your voice as part of this discussion, and he hopes you will stay involved in your government moving forward. Now, more than ever, your participation matters.
Sincerely,
Governor Patrick's Constituent Services Team
617-725-4005
www.mass.gov/governor/contact
*****
Bob La Tremouille and I will continue to check on the status of funding for the DCR's "Memorial Drive Historic Parkways" project and post it here.
Marilyn Wellons
Dear Ms. Wellons,
On behalf of Governor Deval L. Patrick, thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We have forwarded your correspondence to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance for further review. If necessary, please be assured that someone in that office will follow up with you as soon as possible. We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly.
To ensure transparency, the Governor has created the Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Plan website where you can find details regarding recovery spending as they become available.
Again, thank you for writing Governor Patrick. Please know that the Governor is grateful to have your voice as part of this discussion, and he hopes you will stay involved in your government moving forward. Now, more than ever, your participation matters.
Sincerely,
Governor Patrick's Constituent Services Team
617-725-4005
www.mass.gov/governor/contact
*****
Bob La Tremouille and I will continue to check on the status of funding for the DCR's "Memorial Drive Historic Parkways" project and post it here.
Marilyn Wellons
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Day 387, Marilyn to Governor Patrick on Obama Moneys and the Outrage on Memorial Drive.
1. Day 387.
2. Marilyn to the Governor on Obama Moneys and the Outrage on Memorial Drive.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 387.
This afternoon, October 10, 2009, I did a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area.
It is such a relief to be talking to decent human beings. I know they are the majority, but there are so many bad guys floating around in Cambridge politics that, when you are doing Cambridge politics, the bad guys make themselves appear something other than the tiny, vile, minority they are.
This afternoon: Lot of nice people, people driving by beeping and showing support.
Some very good people talking with me.
Very nice afternoon. Normal, very nice people. Not Cambridge pols.
2. Marilyn to the Governor on Obama Moneys and the Outrage on Memorial Drive.
Marilyn filed the following today, October 10, to the governor through his “email” technique on his website.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is Obama moneys.
***********
Dear Governor Patrick:
Midnight tonight is the deadline for the state to submit its Section 1512 Report to the Federal Transit Administration for use of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 under that section.
Section 1512 covers Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Loans and includes what the state has received for the Department of Conservation and Recreation’’s ““Memorial Drive Historic Parkways Initiative Demonstration Project”” Phase 2.
Please note, at ARRA-2-06, that the report must “[e]xplain how the infrastructure investment will contribute to one or more purposes of the Recovery Act”:
(1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.
(2) To assist those most impacted by the recession.
(3) To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring
technological advances in science and health.
(4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
(5) To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases."
“Mem Drive Historic Parkways” Phase 2 is worse than wasteful. It diverts money from essential services for DCR assets. It destroys trees that sequester carbon and so contributes to climate change. It removes habitat protected by the Wetlands Protection Act.
One possible argument of transportation or long-term economic benefit would be that it increases the capacity of Mem Drive and thus furthers the diversion of traffic from Storrow to Memorial Drive. Another would be that it continues to create an Urban Ring Phase 2 infrastructure off the official books, to keep UR2’s total cost deceptively low.
Your Administration’s Section 1512 Report will surely be explicit if these are the reasons for the project.
I hope you will decline to fund the DCR’s “Memorial Drive Historic Parkways” Phase 2, and will follow the Section 1512 Report with interest.
Yours sincerely,
Marilyn Wellons
2. Marilyn to the Governor on Obama Moneys and the Outrage on Memorial Drive.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 387.
This afternoon, October 10, 2009, I did a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area.
It is such a relief to be talking to decent human beings. I know they are the majority, but there are so many bad guys floating around in Cambridge politics that, when you are doing Cambridge politics, the bad guys make themselves appear something other than the tiny, vile, minority they are.
This afternoon: Lot of nice people, people driving by beeping and showing support.
Some very good people talking with me.
Very nice afternoon. Normal, very nice people. Not Cambridge pols.
2. Marilyn to the Governor on Obama Moneys and the Outrage on Memorial Drive.
Marilyn filed the following today, October 10, to the governor through his “email” technique on his website.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is Obama moneys.
***********
Dear Governor Patrick:
Midnight tonight is the deadline for the state to submit its Section 1512 Report to the Federal Transit Administration for use of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 under that section.
Section 1512 covers Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Loans and includes what the state has received for the Department of Conservation and Recreation’’s ““Memorial Drive Historic Parkways Initiative Demonstration Project”” Phase 2.
Please note, at ARRA-2-06, that the report must “[e]xplain how the infrastructure investment will contribute to one or more purposes of the Recovery Act”:
(1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.
(2) To assist those most impacted by the recession.
(3) To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring
technological advances in science and health.
(4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
(5) To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases."
“Mem Drive Historic Parkways” Phase 2 is worse than wasteful. It diverts money from essential services for DCR assets. It destroys trees that sequester carbon and so contributes to climate change. It removes habitat protected by the Wetlands Protection Act.
One possible argument of transportation or long-term economic benefit would be that it increases the capacity of Mem Drive and thus furthers the diversion of traffic from Storrow to Memorial Drive. Another would be that it continues to create an Urban Ring Phase 2 infrastructure off the official books, to keep UR2’s total cost deceptively low.
Your Administration’s Section 1512 Report will surely be explicit if these are the reasons for the project.
I hope you will decline to fund the DCR’s “Memorial Drive Historic Parkways” Phase 2, and will follow the Section 1512 Report with interest.
Yours sincerely,
Marilyn Wellons
Thursday, October 08, 2009
URBAN RING: PHASE 2 IS DEAD! LONG LIVE PHASE 3!
1. Archie’s Report.
2. Bob’s response.
1. Archie’s Report.
Archie Mazmanian Reports:
Recent reports on the demise of Phase 2 of the Urban Ring may be premature. No federal funding is currently available. A report in the Brookline TAB (October 1, 2009) states that Phase 2 has been moved to an “illustrative list” described by a budget analyst for the MBTA Advisory Board as follows:
“Illustrative projects are, by definition, projects that we do if we had the money, but we don’t have the money.”
The TAB report continues: “Even as a project on the illustrative list, the Urban Ring won’t receive funds for the next 20 years unless the list is amended down the road,” according to this analyst.
Surely newer technology will come along to replace Phase 2’s 60-foot articulated buses that were to be operated in much mixed traffic over narrow streets that are currently heavily traveled. If Phase 2 somehow survives after a couple of decades of being in financial and political gridlock, surely it will not be recognizable as we have known it.
But the demise of Phase 2, real or imagined, should not deter Phase 3 with its light/heavy rail on dedicated tracks. Public transit needs improvement in Greater Boston to survive. Phase 3 is one answer. LONG LIVE PHASE 3!
However, the demise of Phase 2 is not a reprieve of the current death sentence for the Charles River White Geese. Phase 2’s impact, if it had survived, would have been felt years down the road. The chief governmental villain in the ongoing annihilation of the White Geese is the DCR with its BU Bridge repairs/renovations project that have been underway for some months. The City of Cambridge has apparently been cooperating with DCR in the squeeze of the White Geese in their habitat.
Come November 1st, the humongous state transportation reorganization will commence implementation. It is touted as long needed reform. The DCR becomes a part of the Highway Division and no longer a separate agency. This should result in better coordination of our highways and bridges, without dealing with agency fiefdoms that may serve at cross-purposes.
The new Department of Transportation (DOT) is to be headed by a five member professional board to be appointed by the Governor. These members are to serve without compensation. Two members are to be experts in the field of transportation finance, two transportation planners and one a registered civil engineer. The Chair of this board cannot be an employee of DOT, suggesting that the others can be so employed. At a conference I recently attended, I was told that none of the members will be DOT employees. I am not aware that Governor Patrick has made any of these appointments as yet. It is not clear exactly what will be the role of the board in dealing with the Secretary of Transportation to be appointed by the Governor who will serve as the CEO of DOT.
With this reorganization in place, no longer will DCR rule the roost of the White Geese. Friends of the Charles River White Geese should promptly get the attention of the new board and CEO of DOT to prevent the current annihilation of the White Geese. And pressure on Governor Patrick should continue. Maybe an invitation should be extended to Governor Patrick (as well as to the new board and CEO) to visit the site of the annihilation. If it’s too cold, perhaps we could accommodate them with goose-down coats. With the reorganization in place, there will be no excuse for Governor Patrick to continue to ignore the annihilation of the White Geese. The buck stops with him.
Archie Mazmanian
2. Bob’s response.
There is one aspect to Archie’s report that confuses me.
It is my recollection that there are two possible Urban Ring Charles River heavy / light rail crossings on the Table.
One, the heavy rail, would cross the Charles River near the Mass. Ave. Bridge and make Green Line connections and Commuter Rail connections at Kenmore. The station would be under Brookline Avenue over the Mass. Pike. It would have tunnel connections to the south to Kenmore / Green Line and, to the west, to Yawkey Station on the Commuter Rail. It would also be very convenient for Fenway Park.
The other, the light rail / streetcar, would cross in the goose habitat and make Green Line connections at two new stations.
One would be located at St. Mary’s and Mountfort adjacent to the commuter rail. This is a block from Marsh Chapel, the heart of the BU campus. This station would connect to the Commonwealth Avenue line by a tunnel under St. Mary’s. to the south side of Commonwealth Avenue. People would then cross traffic and weather to get to the existing BU Central stop on the Commonwealth Avenue (B) line.
The other station would be located under Park Drive between Beacon Street (C line) and the existing Fenway Park station on the Riverside (D) line. A new Green Line station would be constructed under Beacon Street at Audubon Circle. Tunnel connections would go in both directions.
The original plans called for moving Yawkey Station next to the Mountfort Station.
2. Bob’s response.
1. Archie’s Report.
Archie Mazmanian Reports:
Recent reports on the demise of Phase 2 of the Urban Ring may be premature. No federal funding is currently available. A report in the Brookline TAB (October 1, 2009) states that Phase 2 has been moved to an “illustrative list” described by a budget analyst for the MBTA Advisory Board as follows:
“Illustrative projects are, by definition, projects that we do if we had the money, but we don’t have the money.”
The TAB report continues: “Even as a project on the illustrative list, the Urban Ring won’t receive funds for the next 20 years unless the list is amended down the road,” according to this analyst.
Surely newer technology will come along to replace Phase 2’s 60-foot articulated buses that were to be operated in much mixed traffic over narrow streets that are currently heavily traveled. If Phase 2 somehow survives after a couple of decades of being in financial and political gridlock, surely it will not be recognizable as we have known it.
But the demise of Phase 2, real or imagined, should not deter Phase 3 with its light/heavy rail on dedicated tracks. Public transit needs improvement in Greater Boston to survive. Phase 3 is one answer. LONG LIVE PHASE 3!
However, the demise of Phase 2 is not a reprieve of the current death sentence for the Charles River White Geese. Phase 2’s impact, if it had survived, would have been felt years down the road. The chief governmental villain in the ongoing annihilation of the White Geese is the DCR with its BU Bridge repairs/renovations project that have been underway for some months. The City of Cambridge has apparently been cooperating with DCR in the squeeze of the White Geese in their habitat.
Come November 1st, the humongous state transportation reorganization will commence implementation. It is touted as long needed reform. The DCR becomes a part of the Highway Division and no longer a separate agency. This should result in better coordination of our highways and bridges, without dealing with agency fiefdoms that may serve at cross-purposes.
The new Department of Transportation (DOT) is to be headed by a five member professional board to be appointed by the Governor. These members are to serve without compensation. Two members are to be experts in the field of transportation finance, two transportation planners and one a registered civil engineer. The Chair of this board cannot be an employee of DOT, suggesting that the others can be so employed. At a conference I recently attended, I was told that none of the members will be DOT employees. I am not aware that Governor Patrick has made any of these appointments as yet. It is not clear exactly what will be the role of the board in dealing with the Secretary of Transportation to be appointed by the Governor who will serve as the CEO of DOT.
With this reorganization in place, no longer will DCR rule the roost of the White Geese. Friends of the Charles River White Geese should promptly get the attention of the new board and CEO of DOT to prevent the current annihilation of the White Geese. And pressure on Governor Patrick should continue. Maybe an invitation should be extended to Governor Patrick (as well as to the new board and CEO) to visit the site of the annihilation. If it’s too cold, perhaps we could accommodate them with goose-down coats. With the reorganization in place, there will be no excuse for Governor Patrick to continue to ignore the annihilation of the White Geese. The buck stops with him.
Archie Mazmanian
2. Bob’s response.
There is one aspect to Archie’s report that confuses me.
It is my recollection that there are two possible Urban Ring Charles River heavy / light rail crossings on the Table.
One, the heavy rail, would cross the Charles River near the Mass. Ave. Bridge and make Green Line connections and Commuter Rail connections at Kenmore. The station would be under Brookline Avenue over the Mass. Pike. It would have tunnel connections to the south to Kenmore / Green Line and, to the west, to Yawkey Station on the Commuter Rail. It would also be very convenient for Fenway Park.
The other, the light rail / streetcar, would cross in the goose habitat and make Green Line connections at two new stations.
One would be located at St. Mary’s and Mountfort adjacent to the commuter rail. This is a block from Marsh Chapel, the heart of the BU campus. This station would connect to the Commonwealth Avenue line by a tunnel under St. Mary’s. to the south side of Commonwealth Avenue. People would then cross traffic and weather to get to the existing BU Central stop on the Commonwealth Avenue (B) line.
The other station would be located under Park Drive between Beacon Street (C line) and the existing Fenway Park station on the Riverside (D) line. A new Green Line station would be constructed under Beacon Street at Audubon Circle. Tunnel connections would go in both directions.
The original plans called for moving Yawkey Station next to the Mountfort Station.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Day 386, Nice action from Chronicle, Marilyn on Walz
Bob Reports:
1. Day 386.
2. Nice Action from Cambridge Chronicle.
3. Marilyn on Walz “proposal.”
1. Day 386.
Monday, October 5, I did another moderately early visibility, just before the peak of the rush hour.
The geese were still sleeping. They are intelligent creatures. Their lives have been taken away from them by reprehensible government agencies. They use their time in the most productive manner available to them. They sleep.
People are so interested that I had a distinctive experience with a van which passed me on the street. The van stopped behind my turned back and beeped for a flier, repeatedly. I finally turned around wondering what the noise was all about, and I realized what was going on.
2. Nice Action from Cambridge Chronicle.
In Day 382's report, on September 26, I reported on news printed by the Cambridge Chronicle’s sister paper, the Allston Brighton Tab. We put out a press release on sanctions imposed on the Department of Conservation and Recreation by the Boston Conservation Commission.
There was no question as to the accuracy of our report. The DCR replied with nonsensical quibbles about our press release. The Tab printed the quibbles as the main story and buried the hard news.
In that report, I provided you a copy of Marilyn’s formal letter to the editor response.
I did not bother telling you that the Cambridge Chronicle had picked up the report and printed the report on line. I had posted two responses on each site (Chronicle and Tab; the Tab censored my responses.). I saw no particular reason to mention this in my report on this blog.
The silly article was from the Tab and all the Chronicle did was pick up the report on line. Had the Chronicle printed the report in hard copy, I figured we would send the Marilyn response. Marilyn did copy the Chronicle with her letter to the Tab, clearly addressed to the Editor of the Tab.
I picked up this week’s Chronicle and got around to reading it today. The Chronicle never printed the Tab report in their hard copy. They led the letters page with Marilyn’s response.
Very nice.
Did the Tab print Marilyn’s letter in their hard copy? I do not know.
3. Marilyn on Walz “proposal.”
With day 385, I reported on a con game being submitted by State Representative Walz which was passed on to the list of the City Manager’s group in Cambridgeport.
Walz claims to be defending Magazine Beach by regulating the shadows from buildings on Memorial Drive.
With Day 385, I printed the response I had tried to get distributed on the listserve and the response Kathy Podgers tried to get printed. I also commented that the head of the group had had the nerve to claim that his group does not censor his listserve. Responses from Roy Bercaw and Kathy to that non-censorship nonsense were also quoted in my report.
Marilyn comments that the “achievement” of Representative Walz is even more of a fake than I (or Kathy) had realized.
Any buildings constructed on Memorial Drive would be constructed on the NORTH side. The sun is to the south. Shadows from buildings on the North Side of Memorial Drive with the sun to the south cannot possibly cover Magazine Beach, south of the buildings, with or without the con game (now pretty clearly fake) protections.
1. Day 386.
2. Nice Action from Cambridge Chronicle.
3. Marilyn on Walz “proposal.”
1. Day 386.
Monday, October 5, I did another moderately early visibility, just before the peak of the rush hour.
The geese were still sleeping. They are intelligent creatures. Their lives have been taken away from them by reprehensible government agencies. They use their time in the most productive manner available to them. They sleep.
People are so interested that I had a distinctive experience with a van which passed me on the street. The van stopped behind my turned back and beeped for a flier, repeatedly. I finally turned around wondering what the noise was all about, and I realized what was going on.
2. Nice Action from Cambridge Chronicle.
In Day 382's report, on September 26, I reported on news printed by the Cambridge Chronicle’s sister paper, the Allston Brighton Tab. We put out a press release on sanctions imposed on the Department of Conservation and Recreation by the Boston Conservation Commission.
There was no question as to the accuracy of our report. The DCR replied with nonsensical quibbles about our press release. The Tab printed the quibbles as the main story and buried the hard news.
In that report, I provided you a copy of Marilyn’s formal letter to the editor response.
I did not bother telling you that the Cambridge Chronicle had picked up the report and printed the report on line. I had posted two responses on each site (Chronicle and Tab; the Tab censored my responses.). I saw no particular reason to mention this in my report on this blog.
The silly article was from the Tab and all the Chronicle did was pick up the report on line. Had the Chronicle printed the report in hard copy, I figured we would send the Marilyn response. Marilyn did copy the Chronicle with her letter to the Tab, clearly addressed to the Editor of the Tab.
I picked up this week’s Chronicle and got around to reading it today. The Chronicle never printed the Tab report in their hard copy. They led the letters page with Marilyn’s response.
Very nice.
Did the Tab print Marilyn’s letter in their hard copy? I do not know.
3. Marilyn on Walz “proposal.”
With day 385, I reported on a con game being submitted by State Representative Walz which was passed on to the list of the City Manager’s group in Cambridgeport.
Walz claims to be defending Magazine Beach by regulating the shadows from buildings on Memorial Drive.
With Day 385, I printed the response I had tried to get distributed on the listserve and the response Kathy Podgers tried to get printed. I also commented that the head of the group had had the nerve to claim that his group does not censor his listserve. Responses from Roy Bercaw and Kathy to that non-censorship nonsense were also quoted in my report.
Marilyn comments that the “achievement” of Representative Walz is even more of a fake than I (or Kathy) had realized.
Any buildings constructed on Memorial Drive would be constructed on the NORTH side. The sun is to the south. Shadows from buildings on the North Side of Memorial Drive with the sun to the south cannot possibly cover Magazine Beach, south of the buildings, with or without the con game (now pretty clearly fake) protections.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Day 385, Walz con game, suppressed responses.
Bob La Trémouille reports:
1. Day 385.
2. Walz con game.
A. Pitch by the City Manager’s Neighborhood Association.
B. Suppressed comment: Kathy Podgers.
C. Suppressed comment: Your editor.
D. Subsequent activities.
E. Roy Bercaw.
F. Kathy Podger’s Response.
1. Day 385.
On Friday, October 2, 2009, I did a visibility earlier than the rush hour. I figured I was doing this to get a different group, but I still said hello to people who have long supported the geese.
The geese were despondent in their tiny remnants of a habitat, simply sleeping on the cold ground out from the trees. The ground vegetation has been denuded in multiple attacks by the DCR since 2003. From the BU Bridge to the BU Boathouse, formerly lush areas have been denuded and have not grown back, clearly poisoned. The DCR in the Tab article pleaded incompetence. That type of incompetence deserves firing, not sympathy.
I had extended discussions with a number of really good people. The folks in the cars waive, toss thumbs up signs, and call support.
Almost immediately after I stopped work on the visibility, rain started. We avoid rain for fear of damage to the photos on the sign(s). Perfect timing.
2. Walz con game.
A. Pitch by the City Manager’s Neighborhood Association.
The “Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association” distributed a document from State Representative Walz giving the false impression that she is pro-environment.
She loudly proclaims her protection of the Charles. She brags with regard to buildings on the north side. To this regard, she is strikingly similar to the “Neighborhood Association.”
The “Neighborhood Association” distributed the comments under the title, “Protecting Magazine Beach Park.”
Kathy Podgers and I attempted to reply. We were censored and thus not distributed.
So I passed the comments on to a list I have established exactly because of the censorship on the Cambridgeport list.
The following are the suppressed comments:
B. Suppressed comment: Kathy Podgers.
I strongly support a balance between the natural and builtup environment. This bill is fine, as far as it goes. However, Magazine Beach, more acurately named, especially in light of our celebration of Cambridgeport History, is Captain's Island. It was one of 4 "fort" along the Charles River Estuary, upstream from Fort Washington. A magazine was located there, hense the name "Way to Captain's Island" now called Magazine St.
Cambridgeport was a penisula, with Captain's Island off the point, which looked out across the great Estuary, which lies on the International Atlantic Flyway.
One of our greatest challenges today is loss of habitit due to climate change and human activity. The wildlife that habitats along the Charles River Estuary are being removed by the clever and cynical removal of their habitat. We should work together to demand that the DCR obtain an Environmental Impact Study to end their destruction of wildlife habitat, and the subsequant removal of wildlife.
See the fate of the Great Blue Heron :
http://cipapa. blogspot. com/2009/ 09/great- blue-heron- clings-to- narrow.html
http://cipapa. blogspot. com/
take care
C. Suppressed comment: Your editor.
Let me see, Representative Walz and the Cambridge City Council are [ed: original numbering is 1,2,3, etc. Changed to fit this format]:
i. Dumping poisons as fertilizer on fields which previously were maintained green.
ii. Decreasing the size of the fields for a complicated drainage system to remove poisons they should not be dropping in the first place.
iii. Poisoning the Charles with their poisons because they cannot possibly protect against the worst storms.
iv. Poisoning kids rolling in the poisons.
v. Poisoning animals feeding on the poisons.
vi. Walling off Magazine Beach from the Charles with a wall of introduced vegetation that has no business on the Charles River.
vii. Starving the Charles River White Geese with their introduced wall and the poisons.
viii. Increasing the heartless animal abuse by continuing the Charles River White Geese' confinement in the goose meadow during the BU Bridge repairs including major needless destruction. Decent human beings would allow their return to Magazine Beach without the wall and without the poisons.
ix. Barring normal humans from the use of Magazine Beach during unscheduled hours with a requirement that ALL uses are prohibited without advance approval and a $90 scheduling fee.
Now what was all this about "protecting" Magazine Beach park by the people guilty for massive irresponsible destruction and heartless animal abuse.
The message is: Ignore reality. Walz and the Cambridge City Council are environmentalists. It is very irresponsible of reality to say otherwise.
D. Subsequent activities.
Kathy has been very vocal about the censorship. I am not certain if I understand all the permutations.
I do know that the Chronicle editor is involved in the communications and the head of the “Neighborhood Association.” I am substituting all references to the latter by name with the following: [ed: name omitted on general principles].
I got the communications and passed on to the list the discussion had been using the two CFL communications transmitting the above two items.
Included in the communications was the statement of [ed: name omitted on general principles] that his list is not censored.
[ed: name omitted on general principles] was one of the addressees of the suppressed communications. My transmittal of the second item had the following comment:
*********
Second of two mailing by me during the last two days after you (or whoever is your representative) censored it.
I really getting fed up with being of the receiving end of flat out lies, deceptions, or whatever.
Holier than thou is useless when the lies can be proven this easily.
**********
I got at least two responses to my transmittal of the suppressed items. The below attempts to pass on two items I consider relevant.
E. Roy Bercaw.
Roy was on the mailing list. He comments:
**********
Don't forget me. [ed: name omitted on general principles] accused me of libel when I did not accuse him of anything. His sensitivity is telling when I said that he ignored my complaints about censorship on the C'port list. For many months none of my posts appeared. I opened a new email account in case it was my provider's fault. Yet after assurances from the list monitors my posts do not appear. Monitors and [ed: name omitted on general principles] the long-term president of C'port Nabe Ass'n ignored my several inquiries.
This appears to be a pattern among holier-than-thou Cambridge elitists many with PhDs. They are intolerant of unpopular and differing opinions on public issues, priorities, and how to solve them. Perhaps the City's motto should be "The People's Censorship Republic of Intolerance in the Name of Unity and Collegiality; You Must Submit to Superior Persons, Punk."
On another list when I reported a threat of bodily harm after posting pictures of a safety hazard one holier-than-thou politically connected resident accused me of hate speech for my complaint about being threatened.
It is true that all politics is local. As in national public discourse there is no rational discussion in Cambridge. It is all personal animosity to discredit persons who dare to disagree.
F. Kathy Podger’s Response.
Thank you Bob.
The issue here is some people do not want others to find out the factual information, and want to control what people are permitted to know, and when they are allowed to know it.
I testified at the Climate Emergancy hearing, in City Council, where I also submitted writen testimony and a copy of the letter that marilyn Wellons and I wrote to the City Manager, after his office ionformed me that the DCR had obtained all required permits, and were operating legally, and within the orders set forth by the Cambridge Conservation Commission. When I informed his staf that that was not true, they asked me to write a letter to the City manager.
The post I submitted to the list serve does not include these lurid details of nafarious behavior by our governing agencies. Instead it is a polite and reasoned apeal to the better instincts we were all born with, and an appeal to the rule of law.
Recently, my posts have been delayed, or not posted, and I appealed to [ed: name omitted on general principles], who brushed me off, and did not show any concern that members of the list serve were being denied important information. I will point out that some 300 residents, most in Cambridgeport have signed the petition opposing the development at magazine Beach. Therefore, [ed: name omitted on general principles] can hardly claim, and does not try to do so, that this issue is not a concern of the neighborhood, so for that reason it will not be posted.,
Although I did not ask Craig to put in the order re violations of the Wetlands protection Act, he aparently did hear my testimony, and did act on it in a responsible way. As for our other elected representatives, city councillors, etc, they have ignored my testimony that the DCR and Cambridge are violating the Wetlands protection Act. They have not even asked, "Why do you say that," which at least the City Manager's office asked.
[ed: "Craig" is City Councilor Craig Kelley, and I will not get into details on this. We are faced with omissions that say too much. Heartless animal abuse is apparently considered normal and acceptable, among other things.]
Again, I will point out the very mild nature of my submission to the list serve, in response to Marty Walz's post. I'll ask, how could any be offended by my comments?
1. Day 385.
2. Walz con game.
A. Pitch by the City Manager’s Neighborhood Association.
B. Suppressed comment: Kathy Podgers.
C. Suppressed comment: Your editor.
D. Subsequent activities.
E. Roy Bercaw.
F. Kathy Podger’s Response.
1. Day 385.
On Friday, October 2, 2009, I did a visibility earlier than the rush hour. I figured I was doing this to get a different group, but I still said hello to people who have long supported the geese.
The geese were despondent in their tiny remnants of a habitat, simply sleeping on the cold ground out from the trees. The ground vegetation has been denuded in multiple attacks by the DCR since 2003. From the BU Bridge to the BU Boathouse, formerly lush areas have been denuded and have not grown back, clearly poisoned. The DCR in the Tab article pleaded incompetence. That type of incompetence deserves firing, not sympathy.
I had extended discussions with a number of really good people. The folks in the cars waive, toss thumbs up signs, and call support.
Almost immediately after I stopped work on the visibility, rain started. We avoid rain for fear of damage to the photos on the sign(s). Perfect timing.
2. Walz con game.
A. Pitch by the City Manager’s Neighborhood Association.
The “Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association” distributed a document from State Representative Walz giving the false impression that she is pro-environment.
She loudly proclaims her protection of the Charles. She brags with regard to buildings on the north side. To this regard, she is strikingly similar to the “Neighborhood Association.”
The “Neighborhood Association” distributed the comments under the title, “Protecting Magazine Beach Park.”
Kathy Podgers and I attempted to reply. We were censored and thus not distributed.
So I passed the comments on to a list I have established exactly because of the censorship on the Cambridgeport list.
The following are the suppressed comments:
B. Suppressed comment: Kathy Podgers.
I strongly support a balance between the natural and builtup environment. This bill is fine, as far as it goes. However, Magazine Beach, more acurately named, especially in light of our celebration of Cambridgeport History, is Captain's Island. It was one of 4 "fort" along the Charles River Estuary, upstream from Fort Washington. A magazine was located there, hense the name "Way to Captain's Island" now called Magazine St.
Cambridgeport was a penisula, with Captain's Island off the point, which looked out across the great Estuary, which lies on the International Atlantic Flyway.
One of our greatest challenges today is loss of habitit due to climate change and human activity. The wildlife that habitats along the Charles River Estuary are being removed by the clever and cynical removal of their habitat. We should work together to demand that the DCR obtain an Environmental Impact Study to end their destruction of wildlife habitat, and the subsequant removal of wildlife.
See the fate of the Great Blue Heron :
http://cipapa. blogspot. com/2009/ 09/great- blue-heron- clings-to- narrow.html
http://cipapa. blogspot. com/
take care
C. Suppressed comment: Your editor.
Let me see, Representative Walz and the Cambridge City Council are [ed: original numbering is 1,2,3, etc. Changed to fit this format]:
i. Dumping poisons as fertilizer on fields which previously were maintained green.
ii. Decreasing the size of the fields for a complicated drainage system to remove poisons they should not be dropping in the first place.
iii. Poisoning the Charles with their poisons because they cannot possibly protect against the worst storms.
iv. Poisoning kids rolling in the poisons.
v. Poisoning animals feeding on the poisons.
vi. Walling off Magazine Beach from the Charles with a wall of introduced vegetation that has no business on the Charles River.
vii. Starving the Charles River White Geese with their introduced wall and the poisons.
viii. Increasing the heartless animal abuse by continuing the Charles River White Geese' confinement in the goose meadow during the BU Bridge repairs including major needless destruction. Decent human beings would allow their return to Magazine Beach without the wall and without the poisons.
ix. Barring normal humans from the use of Magazine Beach during unscheduled hours with a requirement that ALL uses are prohibited without advance approval and a $90 scheduling fee.
Now what was all this about "protecting" Magazine Beach park by the people guilty for massive irresponsible destruction and heartless animal abuse.
The message is: Ignore reality. Walz and the Cambridge City Council are environmentalists. It is very irresponsible of reality to say otherwise.
D. Subsequent activities.
Kathy has been very vocal about the censorship. I am not certain if I understand all the permutations.
I do know that the Chronicle editor is involved in the communications and the head of the “Neighborhood Association.” I am substituting all references to the latter by name with the following: [ed: name omitted on general principles].
I got the communications and passed on to the list the discussion had been using the two CFL communications transmitting the above two items.
Included in the communications was the statement of [ed: name omitted on general principles] that his list is not censored.
[ed: name omitted on general principles] was one of the addressees of the suppressed communications. My transmittal of the second item had the following comment:
*********
Second of two mailing by me during the last two days after you (or whoever is your representative) censored it.
I really getting fed up with being of the receiving end of flat out lies, deceptions, or whatever.
Holier than thou is useless when the lies can be proven this easily.
**********
I got at least two responses to my transmittal of the suppressed items. The below attempts to pass on two items I consider relevant.
E. Roy Bercaw.
Roy was on the mailing list. He comments:
**********
Don't forget me. [ed: name omitted on general principles] accused me of libel when I did not accuse him of anything. His sensitivity is telling when I said that he ignored my complaints about censorship on the C'port list. For many months none of my posts appeared. I opened a new email account in case it was my provider's fault. Yet after assurances from the list monitors my posts do not appear. Monitors and [ed: name omitted on general principles] the long-term president of C'port Nabe Ass'n ignored my several inquiries.
This appears to be a pattern among holier-than-thou Cambridge elitists many with PhDs. They are intolerant of unpopular and differing opinions on public issues, priorities, and how to solve them. Perhaps the City's motto should be "The People's Censorship Republic of Intolerance in the Name of Unity and Collegiality; You Must Submit to Superior Persons, Punk."
On another list when I reported a threat of bodily harm after posting pictures of a safety hazard one holier-than-thou politically connected resident accused me of hate speech for my complaint about being threatened.
It is true that all politics is local. As in national public discourse there is no rational discussion in Cambridge. It is all personal animosity to discredit persons who dare to disagree.
F. Kathy Podger’s Response.
Thank you Bob.
The issue here is some people do not want others to find out the factual information, and want to control what people are permitted to know, and when they are allowed to know it.
I testified at the Climate Emergancy hearing, in City Council, where I also submitted writen testimony and a copy of the letter that marilyn Wellons and I wrote to the City Manager, after his office ionformed me that the DCR had obtained all required permits, and were operating legally, and within the orders set forth by the Cambridge Conservation Commission. When I informed his staf that that was not true, they asked me to write a letter to the City manager.
The post I submitted to the list serve does not include these lurid details of nafarious behavior by our governing agencies. Instead it is a polite and reasoned apeal to the better instincts we were all born with, and an appeal to the rule of law.
Recently, my posts have been delayed, or not posted, and I appealed to [ed: name omitted on general principles], who brushed me off, and did not show any concern that members of the list serve were being denied important information. I will point out that some 300 residents, most in Cambridgeport have signed the petition opposing the development at magazine Beach. Therefore, [ed: name omitted on general principles] can hardly claim, and does not try to do so, that this issue is not a concern of the neighborhood, so for that reason it will not be posted.,
Although I did not ask Craig to put in the order re violations of the Wetlands protection Act, he aparently did hear my testimony, and did act on it in a responsible way. As for our other elected representatives, city councillors, etc, they have ignored my testimony that the DCR and Cambridge are violating the Wetlands protection Act. They have not even asked, "Why do you say that," which at least the City Manager's office asked.
[ed: "Craig" is City Councilor Craig Kelley, and I will not get into details on this. We are faced with omissions that say too much. Heartless animal abuse is apparently considered normal and acceptable, among other things.]
Again, I will point out the very mild nature of my submission to the list serve, in response to Marty Walz's post. I'll ask, how could any be offended by my comments?
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Day 384, Governor Patrick Comments.
1. Day 384.
2. Governor Comment.
A. Comment.
B. Response.
Bob La Trémouille reports:
1. Day 384.
On Thursday, October 1, 2009, I did a visibility during rush hour. It was also before a Red Sox home game, so there were quite a few people.
The geese did their best to wander in their tiny undestroyed habitat. First the entire gaggle walked toward the construction wall. Then the entire gaggle walked toward the eastern end and the pittance of undestroyed vegetation there, a really despondent group of beautiful animals.
People, as usual, were quite receptive.
I said hello, in particular, to one gentleman I have said hello to in so many different groups of visibilities.
A lot of people waived and beeped.
People pulled over for fliers. Others shouted their encouragements.
In the many different groupings of visibilities we have done, one group which never has taken fliers has been the joggers. They do not have any place to put the fliers. Now even the joggers are taking the fliers, carrying them in their hands or in very tiny spaces in their uniforms.
2. Governor Comment.
In a recent report, I told you about initiatives apparently from the governor.
This resulted in the follow comment to which I responded. Both are provided.
A. Comment.
So much for voting for Deval Patrick, I will not vote for him after that response.
B. Response.
Right now, we cannot tell.
We can only look at years of problems and one small move in the right direction.
I will have to modify the blog to reflect the prior situation.
The reality is that we have an agency charged with maintenance of the environment which is flatly and simply unfit for its job.
The DCR's "explanation" for the acts for which the Boston Conservation Commission sanctioned them is quite simply bragging of incompetence and contempt for the environment.
The repeated flat out lies and "innocent" bragging of unfitness for their jobs are very difficult to fight, especially when you are dealing with well intentioned people who hear the tone of voice and do not or cannot think things through to the reality.
The reality is that the DCR and Cambridge are doing very real harm, and we are getting SIGNS of movement by the governor, only signs.
It is impossible to say whether the environmental people who came out are any less irresponsible than are the DCR and the Cambridge Pols.
2. Governor Comment.
A. Comment.
B. Response.
Bob La Trémouille reports:
1. Day 384.
On Thursday, October 1, 2009, I did a visibility during rush hour. It was also before a Red Sox home game, so there were quite a few people.
The geese did their best to wander in their tiny undestroyed habitat. First the entire gaggle walked toward the construction wall. Then the entire gaggle walked toward the eastern end and the pittance of undestroyed vegetation there, a really despondent group of beautiful animals.
People, as usual, were quite receptive.
I said hello, in particular, to one gentleman I have said hello to in so many different groups of visibilities.
A lot of people waived and beeped.
People pulled over for fliers. Others shouted their encouragements.
In the many different groupings of visibilities we have done, one group which never has taken fliers has been the joggers. They do not have any place to put the fliers. Now even the joggers are taking the fliers, carrying them in their hands or in very tiny spaces in their uniforms.
2. Governor Comment.
In a recent report, I told you about initiatives apparently from the governor.
This resulted in the follow comment to which I responded. Both are provided.
A. Comment.
So much for voting for Deval Patrick, I will not vote for him after that response.
B. Response.
Right now, we cannot tell.
We can only look at years of problems and one small move in the right direction.
I will have to modify the blog to reflect the prior situation.
The reality is that we have an agency charged with maintenance of the environment which is flatly and simply unfit for its job.
The DCR's "explanation" for the acts for which the Boston Conservation Commission sanctioned them is quite simply bragging of incompetence and contempt for the environment.
The repeated flat out lies and "innocent" bragging of unfitness for their jobs are very difficult to fight, especially when you are dealing with well intentioned people who hear the tone of voice and do not or cannot think things through to the reality.
The reality is that the DCR and Cambridge are doing very real harm, and we are getting SIGNS of movement by the governor, only signs.
It is impossible to say whether the environmental people who came out are any less irresponsible than are the DCR and the Cambridge Pols.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Trees to be felled on Memorial Drive are marked with orange ribbons
Marilyn Wellons reports:
It is simply not true, as a DCR official has claimed yet again, that the hundreds of trees to be cut down on Memorial Drive between the BU and Longfellow Bridges are dead, diseased, or dying.
Following the DCR's own plans filed with the Cambridge Conservation Commission, I have marked trees to be cut down with orange surveyor's tape.
The plans include trees to be removed as part of the BU Bridge repairs that have destroyed most of the goose meadow. Consequently the trees adjacent to the BU Bridge and along the Mem Drive sidewalk presumably to remain, at least for now.
Continuing with the plans east from the stairs into the goose meadow to the BU Boathouse, individual trees and then the entire woods between the river and the sidewalk are to be removed, with one exception. It is a black willow at the water's edge, not visible from the sidewalk.
These official plans note that all trees 6" in diameter at breast height [dbh] have been inventoried, and that the plans mark all such trees. This is not the case. The plans are also inaccurate because they fail to show trees that have already been removed. Such inaccuracy would allow the DCR to claim the total number of trees ultimately cut down is less than that projected -- but of course that would be another lie.
From the BU Boathouse to the Longfellow Bridge are perhaps three or four dead trees and about the same with dangerous dieback that should be removed.
The plan is inconsistent for removal of some trees with dieback, either in the crown or elsewhere. I did not tape trees to be removed that I could not accurately locate from the plans. There are several of these.
What is consistent is the removal of hundreds of healthy trees, including most of the cherry trees and I believe all of the crabapples. Many tall, mature, healthy shade trees are also to go. Again, these trees healthy.
Healthy zelkovas, planted at public expense within the last twenty years or so, are also to be removed. Zelkovas are commonly used as replacements for elms as city street trees. Look, in particular, for ten or so east of the Mass. Ave. bridge and more around the boathouse entries.
Most of the trees in front of the MIT president's house are to be removed, presumably to improve sight lines to the river. I do wonder how much time she has to gaze either at the trees or the water, and if she does, how offensive she finds the elms and cherries to be cut down. I do know how much pleasure those trees' flowers give passers-by eager for color in the spring, and how colorful their leaves are in the fall.
In short, the vast majority of trees to be removed are those that offend the DCR designers' eyes and provide money for the DCR's true constituents' pockets. Apart from removing the few truly dead or diseased trees, the public benefit asserted is less than zero.
Please take a look between the BU and Longfellow Bridges for the orange ribbons, to see for yourself.
Marilyn Wellons
It is simply not true, as a DCR official has claimed yet again, that the hundreds of trees to be cut down on Memorial Drive between the BU and Longfellow Bridges are dead, diseased, or dying.
Following the DCR's own plans filed with the Cambridge Conservation Commission, I have marked trees to be cut down with orange surveyor's tape.
The plans include trees to be removed as part of the BU Bridge repairs that have destroyed most of the goose meadow. Consequently the trees adjacent to the BU Bridge and along the Mem Drive sidewalk presumably to remain, at least for now.
Continuing with the plans east from the stairs into the goose meadow to the BU Boathouse, individual trees and then the entire woods between the river and the sidewalk are to be removed, with one exception. It is a black willow at the water's edge, not visible from the sidewalk.
These official plans note that all trees 6" in diameter at breast height [dbh] have been inventoried, and that the plans mark all such trees. This is not the case. The plans are also inaccurate because they fail to show trees that have already been removed. Such inaccuracy would allow the DCR to claim the total number of trees ultimately cut down is less than that projected -- but of course that would be another lie.
From the BU Boathouse to the Longfellow Bridge are perhaps three or four dead trees and about the same with dangerous dieback that should be removed.
The plan is inconsistent for removal of some trees with dieback, either in the crown or elsewhere. I did not tape trees to be removed that I could not accurately locate from the plans. There are several of these.
What is consistent is the removal of hundreds of healthy trees, including most of the cherry trees and I believe all of the crabapples. Many tall, mature, healthy shade trees are also to go. Again, these trees healthy.
Healthy zelkovas, planted at public expense within the last twenty years or so, are also to be removed. Zelkovas are commonly used as replacements for elms as city street trees. Look, in particular, for ten or so east of the Mass. Ave. bridge and more around the boathouse entries.
Most of the trees in front of the MIT president's house are to be removed, presumably to improve sight lines to the river. I do wonder how much time she has to gaze either at the trees or the water, and if she does, how offensive she finds the elms and cherries to be cut down. I do know how much pleasure those trees' flowers give passers-by eager for color in the spring, and how colorful their leaves are in the fall.
In short, the vast majority of trees to be removed are those that offend the DCR designers' eyes and provide money for the DCR's true constituents' pockets. Apart from removing the few truly dead or diseased trees, the public benefit asserted is less than zero.
Please take a look between the BU and Longfellow Bridges for the orange ribbons, to see for yourself.
Marilyn Wellons
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Day 383, Who will be the Last Goose to Die?, Exchange with Governor's Office
1. Day 383.
2. Who will be the Last Goose to Die?
3. Response to "Last Goose to Die."
4. Comment to the Governor.
5. Reply From the Governor.
6. Individual Reply from Governor's Office.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 383.
During the rush hour on Monday, September 28, 2009, I did a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
It was a busy early evening because a lot of people were walking across the BU Bridge to go to the Red Sox game. I did a lot more talking than usual. I saw some old friends I have previously seen on prior extended visibilities.
One lady in particular was very concerned. She regularly comes to feed the Charles River White Geese and was shocked to see what had been done to them. She left in the direction of Brookline.
Another man commented what was also apparent to me: that the gaggle seems to have decreased in size.
A very, very bad situation.
2. Who will be the Last Goose to Die?
Archie Mazmanian, who lives just south of the BU Bridge in Brookline and who perhaps is a neighbor of the lady who said that she has been regularly feeding, reports:
******
If names could be assigned to each of the dwindling Charles River White Geese, they could be identified by name as they die. Which brings us to the title of this post. The responsible government officials continue NOT to take steps to prevent the annihilation of the White Geese.
3. Response to "Last Goose to Die."
Bob’s Response: The claim of no duty to behave responsibly as the DCR and Cambridge destroy, destroy and destroy says everything. That plus the repeated lying.
What lying?
Well how about the Globe article in which the DCR said they were destroying nothing but diseased trees?
The DCR's filing with the Cambridge Conservation Commission says that almost all the trees to be destroyed are healthy.
If Massachusetts had a responsible governor, the person making that statement would be summarily fired.
And this outrage is part of a continuous pattern, not something unusual.
Cambridge and the state pols know that decent people would condemn them. So they lie.
4. Comment to the Governor.
I have just posted the preceding section to the governor on his email form at : http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us.
I used the following title: “Contempt for Ethics and for the Environment.”
With the following introduction:
“The following is taken from the Charles River White Geese Blog, today.”
5. Reply From the Governor.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with Governor Patrick. The Governor values your opinions and enjoys hearing from people across the Commonwealth. Please know that your views are always welcome in this administration.
The Governor and his staff strive to review every piece of correspondence in a timely manner. If appropriate, we will forward your message to the appropriate staff member, department or the state agency that can best address your concerns.
If you need an immediate response, please call the Governor's Office at 617-725-4005 to speak with a Constituent Services Aide. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your ideas with Governor Patrick. Stay involved and engaged...this is your government!
6. Individual Reply from Governor's Office.
Section 5 was added to the original report. This is subsequently added.
I have received the following from "Governor Patrick's Office" Gov.Webmail@state.ma.us> with a time stamp of 2:31 pm, September 29, 2009.
After the MANY comments I have posted on the governor's email page, this is the very first time I have received an individual response.
***********
Dear Robert J.,
On behalf of Governor Deval Patrick, thank you for your recent email regarding the Charles River Geese. We have shared your concerns with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Please feel free to contact our office in the future with any further questions or concerns; your comments are always welcome in this administration.
Best regards,
Constituent Services Aide
617-725-4005
www.mass.gov/governor/contact
************
As I have reported earlier, we have been aware of environmental regulator types looking at the destroyed meadow, whether they have any knowledge of the flat out lies put out by the DCR to the Boston Globe is impossible to say.
2. Who will be the Last Goose to Die?
3. Response to "Last Goose to Die."
4. Comment to the Governor.
5. Reply From the Governor.
6. Individual Reply from Governor's Office.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 383.
During the rush hour on Monday, September 28, 2009, I did a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
It was a busy early evening because a lot of people were walking across the BU Bridge to go to the Red Sox game. I did a lot more talking than usual. I saw some old friends I have previously seen on prior extended visibilities.
One lady in particular was very concerned. She regularly comes to feed the Charles River White Geese and was shocked to see what had been done to them. She left in the direction of Brookline.
Another man commented what was also apparent to me: that the gaggle seems to have decreased in size.
A very, very bad situation.
2. Who will be the Last Goose to Die?
Archie Mazmanian, who lives just south of the BU Bridge in Brookline and who perhaps is a neighbor of the lady who said that she has been regularly feeding, reports:
******
If names could be assigned to each of the dwindling Charles River White Geese, they could be identified by name as they die. Which brings us to the title of this post. The responsible government officials continue NOT to take steps to prevent the annihilation of the White Geese.
3. Response to "Last Goose to Die."
Bob’s Response: The claim of no duty to behave responsibly as the DCR and Cambridge destroy, destroy and destroy says everything. That plus the repeated lying.
What lying?
Well how about the Globe article in which the DCR said they were destroying nothing but diseased trees?
The DCR's filing with the Cambridge Conservation Commission says that almost all the trees to be destroyed are healthy.
If Massachusetts had a responsible governor, the person making that statement would be summarily fired.
And this outrage is part of a continuous pattern, not something unusual.
Cambridge and the state pols know that decent people would condemn them. So they lie.
4. Comment to the Governor.
I have just posted the preceding section to the governor on his email form at : http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us.
I used the following title: “Contempt for Ethics and for the Environment.”
With the following introduction:
“The following is taken from the Charles River White Geese Blog, today.”
5. Reply From the Governor.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with Governor Patrick. The Governor values your opinions and enjoys hearing from people across the Commonwealth. Please know that your views are always welcome in this administration.
The Governor and his staff strive to review every piece of correspondence in a timely manner. If appropriate, we will forward your message to the appropriate staff member, department or the state agency that can best address your concerns.
If you need an immediate response, please call the Governor's Office at 617-725-4005 to speak with a Constituent Services Aide. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your ideas with Governor Patrick. Stay involved and engaged...this is your government!
6. Individual Reply from Governor's Office.
Section 5 was added to the original report. This is subsequently added.
I have received the following from "Governor Patrick's Office" Gov.Webmail@state.ma.us> with a time stamp of 2:31 pm, September 29, 2009.
After the MANY comments I have posted on the governor's email page, this is the very first time I have received an individual response.
***********
Dear Robert J.,
On behalf of Governor Deval Patrick, thank you for your recent email regarding the Charles River Geese. We have shared your concerns with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Please feel free to contact our office in the future with any further questions or concerns; your comments are always welcome in this administration.
Best regards,
Constituent Services Aide
617-725-4005
www.mass.gov/governor/contact
************
As I have reported earlier, we have been aware of environmental regulator types looking at the destroyed meadow, whether they have any knowledge of the flat out lies put out by the DCR to the Boston Globe is impossible to say.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Day 382, Urban Ring Buses Dead (?), Nonsensical Reporting
1. Day 382. Environmental people checking?
2. Urban Ring Buses Dead??
3. Chronicle prints Davis Response.
4. Nonsensical “News” Report from Allston Brighton Tab.
a. General.
b. Marilyn’s letter to the editor of the Allston Brighton Tab.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 283. Environmental people checking?
I conducted a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area during the rush hour on September 25, 2009.
People were as receptive and supportive as ever.
A bicyclist reported observing a couple of men observing the destruction in the vestigial goose habitat. He said they were environmental people.
An environmental person contacted a female supporter of the geese concerning the geese. She answered their questions and suggested they talk to Marilyn or me. She did not get an adequate answer as to why they were not doing so.
Clearly, the leafleting and other communications have had some sort of response.
A very major problem is the lying and other misbehavior coming out of the enemy, but then the last ten years has been a learning experience on the varieties that lying can take.
2. Urban Ring Buses Dead??
We have apparently reliable reports that a regional agency responsible for allocating federal funds has recommended no funds for the “Phase 2” bus proposal which would do so much damage to the Charles River and the animal habitat.
This bus proposal, like Magazine Beach, is a strikingly irresponsible proposal in the Charles River area plus related items to the north and south. It is a pleasure to see a responsible body in action.
By contrast, the Heavy Rail subway proposal, Kenmore Crossing is an excellent idea. I hope it goes forward.
3. Chronicle prints Davis Response.
My response, reported in these reports, to Councilor Davis’ bragging about her alleged “green” sainthood was printed in the September 24, 2009, Cambridge Chronicle. A limited number of words were edited, probably to get me down to 400 words. The deleted words were functionally duplicative.
4. Nonsensical “News” Report from Allston Brighton Tab.
a. General.
I gave this blog a copy of my press release on the Boston Conservation Commission barring the DCR from vegetation management on the Charles without direct supervision of the BCC. On Friday, September 25, 2009, the Allston Brighton Tab printed an alleged report on it.
The hard news, which the reporter agreed to me was not in disagreement, was quoted as our allegation, buried in a report which communicated the DCR’s shock at the format of my press release.
Nonsense.
The alleged news report was copied on line by the Cambridge Chronicle who is a sister newspaper.
b. Marilyn’s letter to the editor of the Allston Brighton Tab.
She entitled it: “DCR is confused?”
Valentina Zic, Editor
Allston/Brighton TAB
To the Editor:
I write to set the record straight about two issues.
One is the DCR's recent violation of the Boston Conservation Commission's Order of Conditions for cutting plants along the Charles in Allston.
At its September 16, 2009 hearing the ConCom found the DCR had indeed destroyed habitat for herons and herring protected by the Wetlands Protection Act. The ConCom's O.C. has specifically protected this habitat in Allston for many years.
To ensure protection, the ConCom ordered direct supervision by its own personnel of the DCR or its agents, including the Charles River Conservancy. Previous attempts to hold these entities to the O.C. had failed.
This is clearly news, as your September 25, 2009 article reports, quoting Bryan Glascock, ConCom Director: “We’ll send [staffer] Chris [Busch] out with the DCR crews to show what plants they can and cannot cut.”
The second issue is the distortion of this news, in an apparent attempt to change the subject to the discussion of an allegedly "misleading" press release —- the one that actually reported the DCR's violation of the O.C. and the ConCom's response. ("'Misunderstanding' over Charles River vegetation, geese ruffles Cambridge group's feathers").
I was one of the two contacts —- no City titles, no City of Boston e-mail addresses -— listed at the very beginning of that press release. Readers to its end find us baldly identified as "co-CEO’s of Friends of the White Geese, a Massachusetts non-profit which has been standing up to environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse by public entities on the Charles River since 2000."
Your reporter followed up on the press release. He and I spoke from 1:18 to about 1:40 pm, September 17, 2009.
Responding to his direct question, I said I was not a member of the Boston ConCom, but a citizen concerned about the DCR's destruction of habitat along the Charles. He asked if I was affiliated with any organization. I said I was co-Chair with Robert La Tremouille of Friends of the White Geese. I do not know how anything could be clearer.
If the unnamed persons quoted in the article find the press release "misleading," it is not for any lack of clarity here. What the alleged "confusion" reveals is the DCR’s attempt to divert attention from its, and its agents', repeated violations of the Wetlands Protection Act and the Boston ConCom's laudable enforcement of that law.
2. Urban Ring Buses Dead??
3. Chronicle prints Davis Response.
4. Nonsensical “News” Report from Allston Brighton Tab.
a. General.
b. Marilyn’s letter to the editor of the Allston Brighton Tab.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 283. Environmental people checking?
I conducted a visibility at the Destroyed Nesting Area during the rush hour on September 25, 2009.
People were as receptive and supportive as ever.
A bicyclist reported observing a couple of men observing the destruction in the vestigial goose habitat. He said they were environmental people.
An environmental person contacted a female supporter of the geese concerning the geese. She answered their questions and suggested they talk to Marilyn or me. She did not get an adequate answer as to why they were not doing so.
Clearly, the leafleting and other communications have had some sort of response.
A very major problem is the lying and other misbehavior coming out of the enemy, but then the last ten years has been a learning experience on the varieties that lying can take.
2. Urban Ring Buses Dead??
We have apparently reliable reports that a regional agency responsible for allocating federal funds has recommended no funds for the “Phase 2” bus proposal which would do so much damage to the Charles River and the animal habitat.
This bus proposal, like Magazine Beach, is a strikingly irresponsible proposal in the Charles River area plus related items to the north and south. It is a pleasure to see a responsible body in action.
By contrast, the Heavy Rail subway proposal, Kenmore Crossing is an excellent idea. I hope it goes forward.
3. Chronicle prints Davis Response.
My response, reported in these reports, to Councilor Davis’ bragging about her alleged “green” sainthood was printed in the September 24, 2009, Cambridge Chronicle. A limited number of words were edited, probably to get me down to 400 words. The deleted words were functionally duplicative.
4. Nonsensical “News” Report from Allston Brighton Tab.
a. General.
I gave this blog a copy of my press release on the Boston Conservation Commission barring the DCR from vegetation management on the Charles without direct supervision of the BCC. On Friday, September 25, 2009, the Allston Brighton Tab printed an alleged report on it.
The hard news, which the reporter agreed to me was not in disagreement, was quoted as our allegation, buried in a report which communicated the DCR’s shock at the format of my press release.
Nonsense.
The alleged news report was copied on line by the Cambridge Chronicle who is a sister newspaper.
b. Marilyn’s letter to the editor of the Allston Brighton Tab.
She entitled it: “DCR is confused?”
Valentina Zic, Editor
Allston/Brighton TAB
To the Editor:
I write to set the record straight about two issues.
One is the DCR's recent violation of the Boston Conservation Commission's Order of Conditions for cutting plants along the Charles in Allston.
At its September 16, 2009 hearing the ConCom found the DCR had indeed destroyed habitat for herons and herring protected by the Wetlands Protection Act. The ConCom's O.C. has specifically protected this habitat in Allston for many years.
To ensure protection, the ConCom ordered direct supervision by its own personnel of the DCR or its agents, including the Charles River Conservancy. Previous attempts to hold these entities to the O.C. had failed.
This is clearly news, as your September 25, 2009 article reports, quoting Bryan Glascock, ConCom Director: “We’ll send [staffer] Chris [Busch] out with the DCR crews to show what plants they can and cannot cut.”
The second issue is the distortion of this news, in an apparent attempt to change the subject to the discussion of an allegedly "misleading" press release —- the one that actually reported the DCR's violation of the O.C. and the ConCom's response. ("'Misunderstanding' over Charles River vegetation, geese ruffles Cambridge group's feathers").
I was one of the two contacts —- no City titles, no City of Boston e-mail addresses -— listed at the very beginning of that press release. Readers to its end find us baldly identified as "co-CEO’s of Friends of the White Geese, a Massachusetts non-profit which has been standing up to environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse by public entities on the Charles River since 2000."
Your reporter followed up on the press release. He and I spoke from 1:18 to about 1:40 pm, September 17, 2009.
Responding to his direct question, I said I was not a member of the Boston ConCom, but a citizen concerned about the DCR's destruction of habitat along the Charles. He asked if I was affiliated with any organization. I said I was co-Chair with Robert La Tremouille of Friends of the White Geese. I do not know how anything could be clearer.
If the unnamed persons quoted in the article find the press release "misleading," it is not for any lack of clarity here. What the alleged "confusion" reveals is the DCR’s attempt to divert attention from its, and its agents', repeated violations of the Wetlands Protection Act and the Boston ConCom's laudable enforcement of that law.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Montero Update: City Admits Notice of Appeal Void
Bob La Trémouille Reports:
The following entry was added to the docket of Monteiro v. Cambridge on September 17, 2009:
Because of oddities in the application used in the docket, the docket loses all paragraphing in its entries.
I have inserted paragraphing to make the communication more readable. The paragraphing is my interpretation and does not claim to be that included in the original writing.
Joan A. Lukey is the attorney for the City of Cambridge.
Rule 59, mentioned in the last paragraph concerns “New Trials: Amendment of Judgments.” Since the plaintiff’s motion very clearly concerns amendment of judgment, that comes as no surprise. I have been informed that the motion was filed by the plaintiff because the plaintiff believes that the interest awarded, currently about half a million dollars, is too small.
The final sentence admits that the notice of appeal filed by Cambridge was not proper and thus is void.
**************
Court received a letter from attorney Joan A Lukey:
*******
On September 10,2009, I sent a letter attaching the Transcripts for May 7, 2008 and May 8, 2008, and certified, because I believed it to be true, that the entire trial transcipt was complete.
As it turns out, the trial transcripts are complete, but the transcript for one motion hearing in 2005 relating to the first trial, and the transcript for the post trial motion hearing in 2008, both requested by Plaintiff, apparently are not complete. The transcript for the two day motion hearing in January of 2005, also requested by Plaintiff, is in hand but not yet filed.
Please accept my apologies for the mistake and allow me to formally retract the certification. We shall file these motion-hearing transcripts as soon as they are ready, which we believe will be shortly.
We understand that the trial judge is treating Plaintiff's motion currently under advisement as a Rule 59 motion, not a motion for reconsideration. Hence, we shall be refilling our Notice of Appeal once the Judge has ruled.
The following entry was added to the docket of Monteiro v. Cambridge on September 17, 2009:
Because of oddities in the application used in the docket, the docket loses all paragraphing in its entries.
I have inserted paragraphing to make the communication more readable. The paragraphing is my interpretation and does not claim to be that included in the original writing.
Joan A. Lukey is the attorney for the City of Cambridge.
Rule 59, mentioned in the last paragraph concerns “New Trials: Amendment of Judgments.” Since the plaintiff’s motion very clearly concerns amendment of judgment, that comes as no surprise. I have been informed that the motion was filed by the plaintiff because the plaintiff believes that the interest awarded, currently about half a million dollars, is too small.
The final sentence admits that the notice of appeal filed by Cambridge was not proper and thus is void.
**************
Court received a letter from attorney Joan A Lukey:
*******
On September 10,2009, I sent a letter attaching the Transcripts for May 7, 2008 and May 8, 2008, and certified, because I believed it to be true, that the entire trial transcipt was complete.
As it turns out, the trial transcripts are complete, but the transcript for one motion hearing in 2005 relating to the first trial, and the transcript for the post trial motion hearing in 2008, both requested by Plaintiff, apparently are not complete. The transcript for the two day motion hearing in January of 2005, also requested by Plaintiff, is in hand but not yet filed.
Please accept my apologies for the mistake and allow me to formally retract the certification. We shall file these motion-hearing transcripts as soon as they are ready, which we believe will be shortly.
We understand that the trial judge is treating Plaintiff's motion currently under advisement as a Rule 59 motion, not a motion for reconsideration. Hence, we shall be refilling our Notice of Appeal once the Judge has ruled.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
SLAUGHTER: BABY SEALS/WHITE GEESE
Archie Mazmanian reports:
The annual slaughter of baby seals in Canada for their pelts continues despite the protests of animal rights groups. Over the years such protests have at least resulted in limitations on the numbers of baby seals slaughtered.
The Charles River White Geese are not being slaughtered in a similar manner for their down. But dead is dead. And that will be the result for these White Geese as they are slowly squeezed to oblivion, the entire gaggle. No, our government officials responsible for this do not have the blood of the White Geese on their hands as do the bashers of the baby seals. But in the end, what’s the difference, what’s more humane? DEAD IS DEAD!
The annual slaughter of baby seals in Canada for their pelts continues despite the protests of animal rights groups. Over the years such protests have at least resulted in limitations on the numbers of baby seals slaughtered.
The Charles River White Geese are not being slaughtered in a similar manner for their down. But dead is dead. And that will be the result for these White Geese as they are slowly squeezed to oblivion, the entire gaggle. No, our government officials responsible for this do not have the blood of the White Geese on their hands as do the bashers of the baby seals. But in the end, what’s the difference, what’s more humane? DEAD IS DEAD!
Great Blue Heron and other fine residents – Yo, Save the Geese
Bob La Trémouille reports.
Kathy Podgers has provided some fine links to photos of the Charles River.
http://www.bu.edu/today/campus-life/2009/06/26/great-blue-heron
http://www.epa.gov/NE/charles/photos.html
http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/2009/05/kayaking-charles-river.html
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/09/09/dry_spell_leaves_charles_river_low/
http://www.historicpages.com/geese/wg.htm
I find it quite interesting that the Federal EPA has some excellent photos of the Charles River White Geese, under attack by a really bad Cambridge City Council, by a Department on Conservation and Recreation which has been sanctioned by the Boston Conservation Commission for its environmental destructiveness and by a bunch of other baddies.
Regrettably, one of the other baddies has announced for US Senate. Capuano’s successes include Obama money for destruction of hundreds of healthy trees on the Charles River and further heartless animal abuse directed at the Charles River White Geese. Capuano would fit in very well with the Cambridge City Council. We have a judge’s decision calling the City of Cambridge “reprehensible” in the Monteiro civil rights case.
The last is an excellent collection from Phil Barber who has followed the Charles River White Geese closely. I am quite certain we have a link to it.
She provided the following in a transmittal:
http://cctvcambridge.org/node/2037
http://www.pbase.com/dellybean/goslings
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1885883219/Guest-commentary-BU-Bridge-project-irresponsible
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1354565781020918160#
The first is a beautiful analysis which I was aware of but had not seen before. I am quite pleased to now see it.
The last is Roy Bercaw’s excellent video from 2000. The transmittals say 2001. The video says 2000.
The dellybean collection is on a link from this blog. As the author of the third item, I strongly support it.
Kathy earlier provided the following, from a film competition, with the following introduction:
“Marilyn, the film fest movie star! Have you heard this?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG1d29stwnQ
This was done by a group of Northeastern University students.
Thank you very much Kathy.
Kathy Podgers has provided some fine links to photos of the Charles River.
http://www.bu.edu/today/campus-life/2009/06/26/great-blue-heron
http://www.epa.gov/NE/charles/photos.html
http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/2009/05/kayaking-charles-river.html
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/09/09/dry_spell_leaves_charles_river_low/
http://www.historicpages.com/geese/wg.htm
I find it quite interesting that the Federal EPA has some excellent photos of the Charles River White Geese, under attack by a really bad Cambridge City Council, by a Department on Conservation and Recreation which has been sanctioned by the Boston Conservation Commission for its environmental destructiveness and by a bunch of other baddies.
Regrettably, one of the other baddies has announced for US Senate. Capuano’s successes include Obama money for destruction of hundreds of healthy trees on the Charles River and further heartless animal abuse directed at the Charles River White Geese. Capuano would fit in very well with the Cambridge City Council. We have a judge’s decision calling the City of Cambridge “reprehensible” in the Monteiro civil rights case.
The last is an excellent collection from Phil Barber who has followed the Charles River White Geese closely. I am quite certain we have a link to it.
She provided the following in a transmittal:
http://cctvcambridge.org/node/2037
http://www.pbase.com/dellybean/goslings
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1885883219/Guest-commentary-BU-Bridge-project-irresponsible
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1354565781020918160#
The first is a beautiful analysis which I was aware of but had not seen before. I am quite pleased to now see it.
The last is Roy Bercaw’s excellent video from 2000. The transmittals say 2001. The video says 2000.
The dellybean collection is on a link from this blog. As the author of the third item, I strongly support it.
Kathy earlier provided the following, from a film competition, with the following introduction:
“Marilyn, the film fest movie star! Have you heard this?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG1d29stwnQ
This was done by a group of Northeastern University students.
Thank you very much Kathy.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Urgent: please contact Governor Patrick
Urgent appeal to contact Governor Patrick:
As of today, September 17, the Governor has not signed off on the DCR's Ch. 91 license for a BU Bridge stormwater system that unnecessarily destroys the goose meadow. Much of the clearing there has been for that system.
It could connect to the MWRA plant just west of the bridge in Cambridge instead of going through the goose meadow. The MWRA option is both physically and bureaucratically possible. The DCR however has chosen to use the stormwater system as an excuse for the habitat destruction we see.
Please contact Governor Patrick, to urge him NOT TO SIGN the Ch. 91 license that allows this destructive project to go forward:
telephone: 617-725-4005
e-mail form: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us.
Marilyn Wellons
As of today, September 17, the Governor has not signed off on the DCR's Ch. 91 license for a BU Bridge stormwater system that unnecessarily destroys the goose meadow. Much of the clearing there has been for that system.
It could connect to the MWRA plant just west of the bridge in Cambridge instead of going through the goose meadow. The MWRA option is both physically and bureaucratically possible. The DCR however has chosen to use the stormwater system as an excuse for the habitat destruction we see.
Please contact Governor Patrick, to urge him NOT TO SIGN the Ch. 91 license that allows this destructive project to go forward:
telephone: 617-725-4005
e-mail form: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us.
Marilyn Wellons
Boston Conservation Commission orders State to cease cutting vegetation on the Boston side of the Charles except under direct supervision of the BCC.
Bob La Trémouille reports:
I have issued the following press release this morning, September 17, 2009:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Conservation Commission orders Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease cutting vegetation on the Boston side of the Charles River except under the direct supervision of BCC staff.
CONTACTS:
Marilyn Wellons, onblueriver@yahoo.com, 617-792-7738
Bob La Trémouille, boblat@yahoo.com, 617-283-7649
Wednesday evening, September 16, 2009, the Boston Conservation Commission ordered the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease cutting vegetation on the Boston side of the Charles River except under the direct supervision of BCC staff.
This order was given as a result of five years of annual and consistent violation of responsible vegetation management practices and direct violation of existing agreements between the BCC and the DCR.
Representing the DCR were Mr. Richard Corsi who has been managing severe environmental destruction at Cambridge’s Magazine Beach and has publicly bragged about starving the popular and valuable Charles River White Geese.
Corsi brought with him a representative of the Charles River Conservancy which does the most destructive vegetation cutting and a DCR employee who is one of two employees operating a machine used for vegetation cutting.
The employee asked for direction from the BCC. The BCC repeatedly pointed out the existing written agreement which had been directly violated.
One concern of the BCC was the recent clear cutting of false indigo in the area west of the BU Bridge in direct violation of an agreement not to cut it. Mr. La Trémouille observed a CRC crew doing the destruction essentially simultaneously with the DCR’s excessive destruction at the goose meadow on the Cambridge side of the Charles River .
The board asked Mr. Corsi about a Boston Globe report concerning the planned destruction of hundreds of trees with Obama stimulus moneys. This destruction is slated for the Cambridge side of the Charles River between the BU and Longfellow Bridges . It will include massive destruction of animal habitat between the BU Boathouse and the Memorial Drive split / seawall, and an increase in the starvation
attacks on the Charles River White Geese.
Mr. Corsi responded that he had no knowledge of the project and then proceeded to affirm that nothing was being destroyed except diseased trees. This is contrary to reasons given in the DCR's own filing for the project with the Cambridge Conservation Commission in a public document on file there.
Mr. La Trémouille commented that La Trémouille was quoted in the article and La Trémouille had been shocked to see what the DCR had told the reporter and which Mr. Corsi had just repeated.
This tree destruction is part of an ongoing project in which the DCR wants to destroy massive numbers of healthy trees because they do not appear on 19th Century plans for the area when it was a tidal wetlands. The plans, which are now six years old, included destruction of diseased trees.
Mr. La Trémouille commented to the board that what was not stated to the Globe reporter or by Mr. Corsi was that the diseased trees were destroyed five years ago.
Ms. Wellons has better on the ground knowledge. She comments: “The vast majority of trees now slated for destruction are healthy valuable trees. Most of the dead and diseased trees have been removed. There are a few obviously dead trees remaining that should be removed. The fresh sawdust and gashes on the trunk of a tree near two stumps indicate the DCR is still at work. ”
Ms. Wellons has repeatedly complained to the Boston Conservation Commission about lawless destruction of vegetation by the DCR during its five years of destruction. The repeated destruction of ground vegetation was condemned by the BCC.
There has been repeated destruction of healthy trees with a chain saw by a director of the Charles River Conservancy, several occurrences in the presence of Ms. Wellons.
Wellons and La Trémouille praise the BCC for its action. La Trémouille commented at the meeting that he thought the BCC should put “this rogue agency” under court control with regard to its work on the Charles River . Nevertheless, he believes the BCC should be praised for this first step.
La Trémouille and Wellons are co-CEO’s of Friends of the White Geese, a Massachusetts non-profit which has been standing up to environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse by public entities on the Charles River since 2000.
I have issued the following press release this morning, September 17, 2009:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Conservation Commission orders Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease cutting vegetation on the Boston side of the Charles River except under the direct supervision of BCC staff.
CONTACTS:
Marilyn Wellons, onblueriver@yahoo.com, 617-792-7738
Bob La Trémouille, boblat@yahoo.com, 617-283-7649
Wednesday evening, September 16, 2009, the Boston Conservation Commission ordered the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease cutting vegetation on the Boston side of the Charles River except under the direct supervision of BCC staff.
This order was given as a result of five years of annual and consistent violation of responsible vegetation management practices and direct violation of existing agreements between the BCC and the DCR.
Representing the DCR were Mr. Richard Corsi who has been managing severe environmental destruction at Cambridge’s Magazine Beach and has publicly bragged about starving the popular and valuable Charles River White Geese.
Corsi brought with him a representative of the Charles River Conservancy which does the most destructive vegetation cutting and a DCR employee who is one of two employees operating a machine used for vegetation cutting.
The employee asked for direction from the BCC. The BCC repeatedly pointed out the existing written agreement which had been directly violated.
One concern of the BCC was the recent clear cutting of false indigo in the area west of the BU Bridge in direct violation of an agreement not to cut it. Mr. La Trémouille observed a CRC crew doing the destruction essentially simultaneously with the DCR’s excessive destruction at the goose meadow on the Cambridge side of the Charles River .
The board asked Mr. Corsi about a Boston Globe report concerning the planned destruction of hundreds of trees with Obama stimulus moneys. This destruction is slated for the Cambridge side of the Charles River between the BU and Longfellow Bridges . It will include massive destruction of animal habitat between the BU Boathouse and the Memorial Drive split / seawall, and an increase in the starvation
attacks on the Charles River White Geese.
Mr. Corsi responded that he had no knowledge of the project and then proceeded to affirm that nothing was being destroyed except diseased trees. This is contrary to reasons given in the DCR's own filing for the project with the Cambridge Conservation Commission in a public document on file there.
Mr. La Trémouille commented that La Trémouille was quoted in the article and La Trémouille had been shocked to see what the DCR had told the reporter and which Mr. Corsi had just repeated.
This tree destruction is part of an ongoing project in which the DCR wants to destroy massive numbers of healthy trees because they do not appear on 19th Century plans for the area when it was a tidal wetlands. The plans, which are now six years old, included destruction of diseased trees.
Mr. La Trémouille commented to the board that what was not stated to the Globe reporter or by Mr. Corsi was that the diseased trees were destroyed five years ago.
Ms. Wellons has better on the ground knowledge. She comments: “The vast majority of trees now slated for destruction are healthy valuable trees. Most of the dead and diseased trees have been removed. There are a few obviously dead trees remaining that should be removed. The fresh sawdust and gashes on the trunk of a tree near two stumps indicate the DCR is still at work. ”
Ms. Wellons has repeatedly complained to the Boston Conservation Commission about lawless destruction of vegetation by the DCR during its five years of destruction. The repeated destruction of ground vegetation was condemned by the BCC.
There has been repeated destruction of healthy trees with a chain saw by a director of the Charles River Conservancy, several occurrences in the presence of Ms. Wellons.
Wellons and La Trémouille praise the BCC for its action. La Trémouille commented at the meeting that he thought the BCC should put “this rogue agency” under court control with regard to its work on the Charles River . Nevertheless, he believes the BCC should be praised for this first step.
La Trémouille and Wellons are co-CEO’s of Friends of the White Geese, a Massachusetts non-profit which has been standing up to environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse by public entities on the Charles River since 2000.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Day 381. Councilor Davis “champion for all things green”?
1. Visibility.
2. Councilor Davis “champion for all things green”?
Bob La Trémouille reports:
1. Visibility.
I leafleted and displayed a pro-geese, pro-Charles River sign on Monday, March 14, 2009, at the entrance to the destroyed nesting area.
People, as usual, were very responsive.
More drivers than usual pulled over to take fliers, perhaps because they have now seen us out for a number of times.
2. Councilor Davis “champion for all things green”?
I, this morning submitted the following letter to the Cambridge Chronicle:
**********
Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
The Chronicle (9/10/09, page 3) quotes Councilor Davis as saying she is the “champion for all things green.”
Cambridge and its friends are destroying the environment and resident animals at Fresh Pond, Alewife, on the Charles and in too many other public works projects.
Davis has publicly bragged about the outrage being inflicted on the Charles River by her, by Cambridge and by friends working with Cambridge or using Cambridge money as seed money. Her supporters brag of the heartless animal abuse aimed at the beloved and valuable Charles River White Geese.
Most people looking at Magazine Beach could never imagine any need for “improvement” and the “achievements” of Davis and friends have been exactly the opposite.
They have destroyed green maintenance at Magazine Beach. They have destroyed part of the playing fields to install a drainage system to drain off poisons which should not be dumped on the banks of the Charles River. The drainage system cannot possibly drain off her poisons during the worst of storms, so they will poison the Charles River, just as Tartan poisoned the Charles River in a related project near Beacon Hill in Boston. Clearly they will poison feeding animals.
The Magazine Beach manager has bragged that the wall of vegetation which was introduced blocking off the Charles from Magazine Beach starves the Charles River While Geese. The supporters claim that walling off the Charles helps swimming.
The current BU Bridge repairs have been timed to do maximum harm to animals and the environment. Half of the destruction in the meadow east of the bridge is for parking that belongs under Memorial Drive. Instead of allowing the White Geese to return to Magazine Beach where they fed for most of their 30 year residence on the Charles, the managers have confined them to one quarter of their now destroyed but until recently lush nesting area.
Obama moneys are being used to destroy hundreds of healthy trees between there and the Longfellow Bridge. Obama moneys will further destroy habitat and food across from the Hyatt.
Perhaps thousands of healthy trees and animal habitat are being destroyed at Fresh Pond to plant saplings.
Alewife is being destroyed for flood storage that belongs under the parking lot north of the railroad tracks.
“Champion for all things green?” A more accurate statement is that of the judge in the Monteiro civil rights case (notice of appeal filed). The judge called Cambridge “reprehensible.”
2. Councilor Davis “champion for all things green”?
Bob La Trémouille reports:
1. Visibility.
I leafleted and displayed a pro-geese, pro-Charles River sign on Monday, March 14, 2009, at the entrance to the destroyed nesting area.
People, as usual, were very responsive.
More drivers than usual pulled over to take fliers, perhaps because they have now seen us out for a number of times.
2. Councilor Davis “champion for all things green”?
I, this morning submitted the following letter to the Cambridge Chronicle:
**********
Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
The Chronicle (9/10/09, page 3) quotes Councilor Davis as saying she is the “champion for all things green.”
Cambridge and its friends are destroying the environment and resident animals at Fresh Pond, Alewife, on the Charles and in too many other public works projects.
Davis has publicly bragged about the outrage being inflicted on the Charles River by her, by Cambridge and by friends working with Cambridge or using Cambridge money as seed money. Her supporters brag of the heartless animal abuse aimed at the beloved and valuable Charles River White Geese.
Most people looking at Magazine Beach could never imagine any need for “improvement” and the “achievements” of Davis and friends have been exactly the opposite.
They have destroyed green maintenance at Magazine Beach. They have destroyed part of the playing fields to install a drainage system to drain off poisons which should not be dumped on the banks of the Charles River. The drainage system cannot possibly drain off her poisons during the worst of storms, so they will poison the Charles River, just as Tartan poisoned the Charles River in a related project near Beacon Hill in Boston. Clearly they will poison feeding animals.
The Magazine Beach manager has bragged that the wall of vegetation which was introduced blocking off the Charles from Magazine Beach starves the Charles River While Geese. The supporters claim that walling off the Charles helps swimming.
The current BU Bridge repairs have been timed to do maximum harm to animals and the environment. Half of the destruction in the meadow east of the bridge is for parking that belongs under Memorial Drive. Instead of allowing the White Geese to return to Magazine Beach where they fed for most of their 30 year residence on the Charles, the managers have confined them to one quarter of their now destroyed but until recently lush nesting area.
Obama moneys are being used to destroy hundreds of healthy trees between there and the Longfellow Bridge. Obama moneys will further destroy habitat and food across from the Hyatt.
Perhaps thousands of healthy trees and animal habitat are being destroyed at Fresh Pond to plant saplings.
Alewife is being destroyed for flood storage that belongs under the parking lot north of the railroad tracks.
“Champion for all things green?” A more accurate statement is that of the judge in the Monteiro civil rights case (notice of appeal filed). The judge called Cambridge “reprehensible.”
Friday, September 11, 2009
Visibility at the goose meadow, Day 380
Marilyn Wellons reports:
Ellin, Bob and I all leafleted at the destroyed goose meadow on Thursday, September 10. People who didn't already have copies of the flyer were worried about what they saw. Many stopped to talk, to find out about the DCR's destruction and illegalities.
Combined with the DCR's destruction of habitat at Magazine Beach and its planned removal of hundreds of trees along Memorial Drive between the goose meadow and the Longfellow Bridge, this project starkly reveals the agency as the false steward of the environment, for humans and other creatures alike.
Ellin, Bob and I all leafleted at the destroyed goose meadow on Thursday, September 10. People who didn't already have copies of the flyer were worried about what they saw. Many stopped to talk, to find out about the DCR's destruction and illegalities.
Combined with the DCR's destruction of habitat at Magazine Beach and its planned removal of hundreds of trees along Memorial Drive between the goose meadow and the Longfellow Bridge, this project starkly reveals the agency as the false steward of the environment, for humans and other creatures alike.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Day 379, Silence, Bad Guys, Info on Monteiro
1. Day 379.
2. Archie Mazmanian: Silence.
3. Inexcusable behavior from the bad guys.
4. Monteiro.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 379.
I did a visibility on Wednesday, September 9.
Really nice reception from the public. Very nice.
A lot of people were very distressed at the obvious distress of the gaggle.
2. Archie Mazmanian: Silence.
Archie Mazmanian reports:
As the annihilation of the Charles River White Geese continues under the auspices of state and local government continues, soon we shail hear no more of their honking - SILENCE!
But preceding this "final solution" of state and local government, we have had SILENCE from:
Governor Patrick and his administration
Cambridge Senators/Representatives
Cambridge municipal officials (elected/appointed)
Non-profit conservation (so-called) groups
on the plight of the White Geese. This SILENCE has been deafening. Maybe years from now when government officials plan a similar annihilation, they may comfort their consciences with: "Who remembers the Charles River White Geese?"
Some of us will remember. Don't get mad, get even.
3. Inexcusable behavior from the bad guys.
The dirty trick is for the really reprehensible to masquerade as decent human beings.
A long time but now past incumbent city councilor gave me a great big wave and a smile as I left Marilyn’s on Tuesday. The look of my face in response was not pleasant.
Last night, after the visibility, Marilyn and I were at a city council candidate’s night in East Cambridge. One of the more hypocritical of the fake environmentalists on the city council did not quite approach me as aggressively as Marilyn’s neighbor. He also did not get any response, rather than the recognition of stench passed on to his compatriot.
PLEASE NOTE: There are a lot of these events. We do not report them unless there is a reason.
I mentioned to the below lady that I have a copy of the key Monteiro decision posted on this blog (link to the right at the top).
Before I left early, another candidate came to get specifics on how to get the opinion.
The various very destructive fake environmentalists are running around claiming to be environmentalists. These lies are how they get reelected.
One of the most destructive, Representative Walz, is doing a speech to a City Manager group this evening bragging about her sanctity.
The very destructive fake environmentalists on the City Council have scheduled two fake meetings to lie to the public that they are holier than thou. One meeting, on September 17, will be held a few blocks from the Charles River. A second will be held in City Hall on September 24.
I agree with the judge, “reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
4. Monteiro.
I had an excellent conversation with a lady working for one of the non-incumbents at the Candidate’s Night. Both she and the non-incumbent are attorneys and she has actually looked at and copied many of the real Monteiro papers. I have not. Whenever I have looked for things, the file has been on the judge’s desk. I have since been happy with working from the docket on line.
The most recent hearing on the Monteiro case occurred on August 26. This should have been on a motion by the plaintiff to clarify the judgement. This lady tells me that the plaintiff is concerned about the effective date for award of interest on the damages.
Interest is of major importance because, even without a change, the judgment awarded something like $500,000 in interest, in addition to the $4.5 million plus damages (including $3.5 million penal).
2. Archie Mazmanian: Silence.
3. Inexcusable behavior from the bad guys.
4. Monteiro.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Day 379.
I did a visibility on Wednesday, September 9.
Really nice reception from the public. Very nice.
A lot of people were very distressed at the obvious distress of the gaggle.
2. Archie Mazmanian: Silence.
Archie Mazmanian reports:
As the annihilation of the Charles River White Geese continues under the auspices of state and local government continues, soon we shail hear no more of their honking - SILENCE!
But preceding this "final solution" of state and local government, we have had SILENCE from:
Governor Patrick and his administration
Cambridge Senators/Representatives
Cambridge municipal officials (elected/appointed)
Non-profit conservation (so-called) groups
on the plight of the White Geese. This SILENCE has been deafening. Maybe years from now when government officials plan a similar annihilation, they may comfort their consciences with: "Who remembers the Charles River White Geese?"
Some of us will remember. Don't get mad, get even.
3. Inexcusable behavior from the bad guys.
The dirty trick is for the really reprehensible to masquerade as decent human beings.
A long time but now past incumbent city councilor gave me a great big wave and a smile as I left Marilyn’s on Tuesday. The look of my face in response was not pleasant.
Last night, after the visibility, Marilyn and I were at a city council candidate’s night in East Cambridge. One of the more hypocritical of the fake environmentalists on the city council did not quite approach me as aggressively as Marilyn’s neighbor. He also did not get any response, rather than the recognition of stench passed on to his compatriot.
PLEASE NOTE: There are a lot of these events. We do not report them unless there is a reason.
I mentioned to the below lady that I have a copy of the key Monteiro decision posted on this blog (link to the right at the top).
Before I left early, another candidate came to get specifics on how to get the opinion.
The various very destructive fake environmentalists are running around claiming to be environmentalists. These lies are how they get reelected.
One of the most destructive, Representative Walz, is doing a speech to a City Manager group this evening bragging about her sanctity.
The very destructive fake environmentalists on the City Council have scheduled two fake meetings to lie to the public that they are holier than thou. One meeting, on September 17, will be held a few blocks from the Charles River. A second will be held in City Hall on September 24.
I agree with the judge, “reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
4. Monteiro.
I had an excellent conversation with a lady working for one of the non-incumbents at the Candidate’s Night. Both she and the non-incumbent are attorneys and she has actually looked at and copied many of the real Monteiro papers. I have not. Whenever I have looked for things, the file has been on the judge’s desk. I have since been happy with working from the docket on line.
The most recent hearing on the Monteiro case occurred on August 26. This should have been on a motion by the plaintiff to clarify the judgement. This lady tells me that the plaintiff is concerned about the effective date for award of interest on the damages.
Interest is of major importance because, even without a change, the judgment awarded something like $500,000 in interest, in addition to the $4.5 million plus damages (including $3.5 million penal).
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Day 378. DCR Hiding.
The devastation at the goose meadow is unchanged from yesterday.
Activity with decent people in my visibility at the nesting area was so busy that, at one time, I had four people lined up for leaflets.
Lots of good people cannot understand why Governor Patrick’s people are so heartless and so destructive.
One lady came up to me in my favorite coffee shop and reported that she had left a message at the DCR, trying to talk with them, but the message has not been answered.
Activity with decent people in my visibility at the nesting area was so busy that, at one time, I had four people lined up for leaflets.
Lots of good people cannot understand why Governor Patrick’s people are so heartless and so destructive.
One lady came up to me in my favorite coffee shop and reported that she had left a message at the DCR, trying to talk with them, but the message has not been answered.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Day 377. Patrick’s People make destruction worse.
1. Introduction.
2. Conditions.
3. Decent Human Beings.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Introduction.
On Monday, September 7, 2009, I conducted the 377th day of visibilities at the destroyed nesting area of the Charles River White Geese.
2. Conditions.
It always a severe mistake to say: “They would never stoop so low” with regard to the Cambridge Pols or with regard to Governor Patrick’s people.
It looks like they are dumping materials to create a full stage parking lot.
When I last saw this outrage, the dirt in the construction zone, formerly nesting bushes and vegetation, was dirt colored. Now it is clay colored.
On top of this clay outrage has been dumped a load of crushed stone.
If Governor Patrick tells you he is a decent human being, laugh in his face.
As far as the Cambridge Pols go, well we have the judge’s word on them: “Reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
3. Decent Human Beings.
I was well greeted by people who were shocked.
2. Conditions.
3. Decent Human Beings.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Introduction.
On Monday, September 7, 2009, I conducted the 377th day of visibilities at the destroyed nesting area of the Charles River White Geese.
2. Conditions.
It always a severe mistake to say: “They would never stoop so low” with regard to the Cambridge Pols or with regard to Governor Patrick’s people.
It looks like they are dumping materials to create a full stage parking lot.
When I last saw this outrage, the dirt in the construction zone, formerly nesting bushes and vegetation, was dirt colored. Now it is clay colored.
On top of this clay outrage has been dumped a load of crushed stone.
If Governor Patrick tells you he is a decent human being, laugh in his face.
As far as the Cambridge Pols go, well we have the judge’s word on them: “Reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
3. Decent Human Beings.
I was well greeted by people who were shocked.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
"They [Charles River White Geese] Were Expendable"
Bob La Trémouille edits and reports.
1. "They were expendable."
2. Comment from the Editor.
1. "They were expendable."
From Archie Mazmanian:
This may serve as the headline of an obituary shortly as the current annihilation takes place. Assuming the MWRA introduced a gaggle of White Geese in the 1980s in the area of the BU Bridge - although there may have been an pre-existing gaggle - was the gig for that gaggle to improve water quality or to serve some other environmental purpose? Perhaps the services of the White Geese are no longer required. If such is the case, why not relocate the gaggle? The White Geese are not overrunning the area of the BU Bridge.
Today's Sunday NYTimes (9/6/09) includes a feature in its first section titled "Tick-Borne Illnesses Have Nantucket Considering Some Deer-Based Solutions" by Pam Belluch about that island's Lyme and other disease problems related to deer ticks. Deer were introduced to Nantucket and proliferated. A Boston Globe story on Block Island several years ago disclosed a similar situation there. A proposed solution was to reduce - not annihilate - the deer herd. Animal rights protestors have objected.
I mention this article to contrast the situation with the White Geese, who to my knowledge are not creating health problems for the adjoining community and have not innundated the area. In fact, the White Geese are being squeezed. The "people" behind this do not propose to slaughter the White Geese with abatoir techniques because of the anticipated response to such barbarism. Starving the beast provides these "people" with a clearer conscience. Besides, relocating them can be costly as well as difficult. These "people" are relying upon the fact that the gaggle is not that large. Few know of the plight of the White Geese as they have been squeezed out of the public's vision, as it is difficult for the gaggle to enjoy the waters of the Charles River. Out of sight, out of mind. There is a name for this when a minority of humans are involved.
The deer continue on Nantucket and Block Island, increasing in numbers, despite extended hunting seasons. The White Geese cause us no harm. Isn't there something wrong with this?
2. Comment from the Editor.
When I originally posted Archie's comments, I took the move comment in the vein I really think he meant it. On rethinking, some elaboration is needed.
Clearly the explanation of the Cambridge Pols for the outrage of heartless animal abuse EXACTLY fits Archie's analysis. To the extent these supposed humans deign to mention their behavior, the explanation translates as "These are the little guys. How dare you object to us destroying the little guys."
The Monteiro judge and jury were exposed to this mentality. $5 million damages, including $3.5 million penal.
“Reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
As far as moving goes, Friends of the White Geese have proposed moving and part of the vileness of Patrick's people is the fact that they have not been moved during what is supposed to be temporary work.
The Charles River White Geese should be allowed to return to their home of most of the last 30 years, Magazine Beach.
The outrageous starvation wall should be chopped down. The poisons being dumped on the fields at Magazine Beach by people, state and city, with contempt for the environment should be ended. The expensive poison drainage systems should be filled in since there should be no need for them. The Charles River White Geese should be allowed to return to their nesting area when the Charles River White Geese deem it necessary. The bizarre staging destruction should be removed and returned to nature. The staging should be under Memorial Drive. Plans to use Obama money to destroy hundreds of trees to the east and create another starvation initiative should destroyed. When the project has been completed with minimal environmental harm nature should be reinstated at the nesting area was in September 1999.
This would restore the status quo before the heartless animal abuse and bizarre environmental destruction started.
1. "They were expendable."
2. Comment from the Editor.
1. "They were expendable."
From Archie Mazmanian:
This may serve as the headline of an obituary shortly as the current annihilation takes place. Assuming the MWRA introduced a gaggle of White Geese in the 1980s in the area of the BU Bridge - although there may have been an pre-existing gaggle - was the gig for that gaggle to improve water quality or to serve some other environmental purpose? Perhaps the services of the White Geese are no longer required. If such is the case, why not relocate the gaggle? The White Geese are not overrunning the area of the BU Bridge.
Today's Sunday NYTimes (9/6/09) includes a feature in its first section titled "Tick-Borne Illnesses Have Nantucket Considering Some Deer-Based Solutions" by Pam Belluch about that island's Lyme and other disease problems related to deer ticks. Deer were introduced to Nantucket and proliferated. A Boston Globe story on Block Island several years ago disclosed a similar situation there. A proposed solution was to reduce - not annihilate - the deer herd. Animal rights protestors have objected.
I mention this article to contrast the situation with the White Geese, who to my knowledge are not creating health problems for the adjoining community and have not innundated the area. In fact, the White Geese are being squeezed. The "people" behind this do not propose to slaughter the White Geese with abatoir techniques because of the anticipated response to such barbarism. Starving the beast provides these "people" with a clearer conscience. Besides, relocating them can be costly as well as difficult. These "people" are relying upon the fact that the gaggle is not that large. Few know of the plight of the White Geese as they have been squeezed out of the public's vision, as it is difficult for the gaggle to enjoy the waters of the Charles River. Out of sight, out of mind. There is a name for this when a minority of humans are involved.
The deer continue on Nantucket and Block Island, increasing in numbers, despite extended hunting seasons. The White Geese cause us no harm. Isn't there something wrong with this?
2. Comment from the Editor.
When I originally posted Archie's comments, I took the move comment in the vein I really think he meant it. On rethinking, some elaboration is needed.
Clearly the explanation of the Cambridge Pols for the outrage of heartless animal abuse EXACTLY fits Archie's analysis. To the extent these supposed humans deign to mention their behavior, the explanation translates as "These are the little guys. How dare you object to us destroying the little guys."
The Monteiro judge and jury were exposed to this mentality. $5 million damages, including $3.5 million penal.
“Reprehensible.” Notice of appeal filed.
As far as moving goes, Friends of the White Geese have proposed moving and part of the vileness of Patrick's people is the fact that they have not been moved during what is supposed to be temporary work.
The Charles River White Geese should be allowed to return to their home of most of the last 30 years, Magazine Beach.
The outrageous starvation wall should be chopped down. The poisons being dumped on the fields at Magazine Beach by people, state and city, with contempt for the environment should be ended. The expensive poison drainage systems should be filled in since there should be no need for them. The Charles River White Geese should be allowed to return to their nesting area when the Charles River White Geese deem it necessary. The bizarre staging destruction should be removed and returned to nature. The staging should be under Memorial Drive. Plans to use Obama money to destroy hundreds of trees to the east and create another starvation initiative should destroyed. When the project has been completed with minimal environmental harm nature should be reinstated at the nesting area was in September 1999.
This would restore the status quo before the heartless animal abuse and bizarre environmental destruction started.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Representative Walz covers her rear end
1. Representative Walz to defend the Charles before one of the Cambridge City Manager’s Groups.
2. The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, the actions it brags about.
3. Walz’ legislation.
4. Latest outrages.
5. Clarification.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Representative Walz to defend the Charles before one of the Cambridge City Manager’s Groups.
The following is the listing of item number 2 on the agenda for the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting on September 10.
2) State Rep. Marty Walz has requested an opportunity to update the neighborhood about new legislation she has filed for better protecting open space along the river, by including, among other things, shadow analysis and better protection of how construction along the Charles should maximize and preserve open space (this follows Marty's supporting the CNA's successful legislative work to have City Council pass other legislation to enlarge the Charles River buffer zone (area without development) along the Charles and within Cport.
2. The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, the actions it brags about.
The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association was created at the request of the Cambridge City Manager. In its first organizing action, it “fought” a project going into the decommissioned Blessed Sacrament Church arguing it was too large. They had a victory. They made the project larger.
The “victory” they brag about on the Charles is the typical fake victory which is the norm from Cambridge Pols.
In, I believe, 2006, close friends of the leaders of this group, fellow members of the Cambridge Pols, destroyed zoning protections on the north side of Memorial Drive across from Magazine Beach and extending to Putnam Avenue. They lied that they were doing exactly the opposite and you have to read the fine print of this fake downzoning to realize exactly what it was.
The “leaders” of the two groups and many friends including at least one current city council member have spent the better part of the last decade destroying zoning protections in Cambridge with many zoning initiatives containing exactly the same sort of lies, lovely big letters, fine print which turned the big letters into nonsense.
Marilyn Wellons and I spoke against the 2006 outrage to the Cambridge City Council and attempted to get this group to stand up to this outrage, but the City Manager’s groups are very well established by now and, as good company unions, prevented organization by being in the way and doing nothing.
The lie that this outrage was protective was very quickly proven by a major expansion authorized for the Radisson Hotel across from Magazine Beach which exactly violated the protections that the authors claimed to be providing.
During the last year, the leaders of the CNA have PARTIALLY reinstated protections which they helped destroy, leaving very major destructive fine print in place.
They have since repeatedly bragged (as in the above) that this PARTIAL reinstatement of protections which they help destroy in the first place was an achievement.
3. Walz’ legislation.
The outrages going on on the Charles River and soon to come on the Charles River which Walz supports prove any "protective" legislation to be just so much lies.
But that is the way things are done in Cambridge, MA.
4. Latest outrages.
The group has kept their friends “neutral” on the latest outrages. They have passed on a key communication of mine to their mailing list.
5. Clarification.
I make no claim as to knowledge of what is in Representative Walz' legislation.
The reality is that, no matter how good it is, it cannot possibly neutralize the truly reprehensible (and I carefully use the judge's word) Representative Walz' behavior is.
Walz' hands are filthy rotten. Walz is flat dab in the middle of massive, irresponsible environmental destruction. Walz is a beligerant and heartless animal abuser as part of reprehensible projects which taken as a whole in meaningful reality and looking at the obvious and easy alternatives condemn her as a really vile person.
Her filing legislation and her running around with such legislation at such a time can only reasonably be interpreteted as her attempt to lie to her constituents that she is a decent human being.
We are way beyond the "have you no shame" level.
She has no redeeming value to anybody with respect for animals or to anybody who might be impressed with whatever her legislation claims to do.
I use the word "lie." I would be a damn fool not to.
2. The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, the actions it brags about.
3. Walz’ legislation.
4. Latest outrages.
5. Clarification.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Representative Walz to defend the Charles before one of the Cambridge City Manager’s Groups.
The following is the listing of item number 2 on the agenda for the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting on September 10.
2) State Rep. Marty Walz has requested an opportunity to update the neighborhood about new legislation she has filed for better protecting open space along the river, by including, among other things, shadow analysis and better protection of how construction along the Charles should maximize and preserve open space (this follows Marty's supporting the CNA's successful legislative work to have City Council pass other legislation to enlarge the Charles River buffer zone (area without development) along the Charles and within Cport.
2. The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, the actions it brags about.
The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association was created at the request of the Cambridge City Manager. In its first organizing action, it “fought” a project going into the decommissioned Blessed Sacrament Church arguing it was too large. They had a victory. They made the project larger.
The “victory” they brag about on the Charles is the typical fake victory which is the norm from Cambridge Pols.
In, I believe, 2006, close friends of the leaders of this group, fellow members of the Cambridge Pols, destroyed zoning protections on the north side of Memorial Drive across from Magazine Beach and extending to Putnam Avenue. They lied that they were doing exactly the opposite and you have to read the fine print of this fake downzoning to realize exactly what it was.
The “leaders” of the two groups and many friends including at least one current city council member have spent the better part of the last decade destroying zoning protections in Cambridge with many zoning initiatives containing exactly the same sort of lies, lovely big letters, fine print which turned the big letters into nonsense.
Marilyn Wellons and I spoke against the 2006 outrage to the Cambridge City Council and attempted to get this group to stand up to this outrage, but the City Manager’s groups are very well established by now and, as good company unions, prevented organization by being in the way and doing nothing.
The lie that this outrage was protective was very quickly proven by a major expansion authorized for the Radisson Hotel across from Magazine Beach which exactly violated the protections that the authors claimed to be providing.
During the last year, the leaders of the CNA have PARTIALLY reinstated protections which they helped destroy, leaving very major destructive fine print in place.
They have since repeatedly bragged (as in the above) that this PARTIAL reinstatement of protections which they help destroy in the first place was an achievement.
3. Walz’ legislation.
The outrages going on on the Charles River and soon to come on the Charles River which Walz supports prove any "protective" legislation to be just so much lies.
But that is the way things are done in Cambridge, MA.
4. Latest outrages.
The group has kept their friends “neutral” on the latest outrages. They have passed on a key communication of mine to their mailing list.
5. Clarification.
I make no claim as to knowledge of what is in Representative Walz' legislation.
The reality is that, no matter how good it is, it cannot possibly neutralize the truly reprehensible (and I carefully use the judge's word) Representative Walz' behavior is.
Walz' hands are filthy rotten. Walz is flat dab in the middle of massive, irresponsible environmental destruction. Walz is a beligerant and heartless animal abuser as part of reprehensible projects which taken as a whole in meaningful reality and looking at the obvious and easy alternatives condemn her as a really vile person.
Her filing legislation and her running around with such legislation at such a time can only reasonably be interpreteted as her attempt to lie to her constituents that she is a decent human being.
We are way beyond the "have you no shame" level.
She has no redeeming value to anybody with respect for animals or to anybody who might be impressed with whatever her legislation claims to do.
I use the word "lie." I would be a damn fool not to.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Arthur Godfrey + Charles River White Geese
From Archie Mazmanian
*******
Some years back, Arthur Godfrey told a joke on his radio/tv show about a goose that got on a bus and by the time he got off several stops later, the goose was "peopled" six times.
I thought this joke was funny at the time. I recall there were complaints that the joke was too risque. I have thought of this joke over the years as the Charles River White Geese have been "peopled" not on the bus but in their natural habitat. While this joke may still be funny, what is happening to the White Geese is not. Consider the systematic steps taken over the years by the "people" in charge.
All seemed well with the White Geese back in the late '60s and '70s in their gathering along the Charles River shore in front of the Hyatt. At the time, sunbathers frequented that "beach" but made sure not to get too close to the White Geese who were very territorial. We had to keep our children under control so they wouldn't get hurt by the Geese protecting what they perceived as potential threats to their children, just as we humans protect our children. We all got along, the people and the White Geese.
When our children got older, they were more into sports, so we lost track of the White Geese. This Blog awakened me with its reports of how the White Geese were being "peopled" by government and non-profit entities. The growth planted along the northerly bank of the Charles River reduced the habitat of the White Geese, including in front of the Hyatt. But the White Geese survived this assault. Boston University's boathouse on the Cambridge side further reduced the habitat of the White Geese. But they survived that assault. The White Geese were confined to a small meadow between the BU boathouse and the BU Bridge. Of course, they had to cope with the Grand Junction Rail Line (GJRL), but only on a limited basis.
Then came the Urban Ring Phase 2 project that might utilize a widened GJRL for its 60-foot BRT buses running in each direction every 7 minutes or so. More recently, the BU Bridge repair projects have further threatened the White Geese as reported in this Blog. The White Geese are being annihilated by "people." That is obviously the goal of these "people."
It's time to "goose" these "people," expose them via the ballot box and any other means. This is cruelty. Most of these "people" are government officials and employees. What we need are whistleblowers, nay honkers, in government to expose this goal of annihilating the White Geese. If there is success with the White Geese, who's next in Mother Nature? Don't get mad, get even. Let's "goose" these "people" by naming them publicly. Have they no decency?
*********
Bob: The reference to white geese on the Charles River in the 60's and 70's is interesting because our understanding is that the current gaggle dates to 1981 and the original group to workers in the pollution control plant. Dangerousness is not in the makeup of the gaggle.
What is entirely possible is that our knowledge is based on the memory of a limited number of workers at the plant. Those workers maintained an excellent relationship with the Charles River White Geese and could monitor their well-being. The MWRA employees' work schedule was changed to part time and then to only periodic plant visits AFTER heartless animal abuse became State and City policy.
It is entirely possible that White Geese were living in the Hyatt area which is to the east of the current destroyed goose meadow and further east of the pollution plant/Magazine Beach.
I should think that the gaggles could have merged at some time.
*******
Some years back, Arthur Godfrey told a joke on his radio/tv show about a goose that got on a bus and by the time he got off several stops later, the goose was "peopled" six times.
I thought this joke was funny at the time. I recall there were complaints that the joke was too risque. I have thought of this joke over the years as the Charles River White Geese have been "peopled" not on the bus but in their natural habitat. While this joke may still be funny, what is happening to the White Geese is not. Consider the systematic steps taken over the years by the "people" in charge.
All seemed well with the White Geese back in the late '60s and '70s in their gathering along the Charles River shore in front of the Hyatt. At the time, sunbathers frequented that "beach" but made sure not to get too close to the White Geese who were very territorial. We had to keep our children under control so they wouldn't get hurt by the Geese protecting what they perceived as potential threats to their children, just as we humans protect our children. We all got along, the people and the White Geese.
When our children got older, they were more into sports, so we lost track of the White Geese. This Blog awakened me with its reports of how the White Geese were being "peopled" by government and non-profit entities. The growth planted along the northerly bank of the Charles River reduced the habitat of the White Geese, including in front of the Hyatt. But the White Geese survived this assault. Boston University's boathouse on the Cambridge side further reduced the habitat of the White Geese. But they survived that assault. The White Geese were confined to a small meadow between the BU boathouse and the BU Bridge. Of course, they had to cope with the Grand Junction Rail Line (GJRL), but only on a limited basis.
Then came the Urban Ring Phase 2 project that might utilize a widened GJRL for its 60-foot BRT buses running in each direction every 7 minutes or so. More recently, the BU Bridge repair projects have further threatened the White Geese as reported in this Blog. The White Geese are being annihilated by "people." That is obviously the goal of these "people."
It's time to "goose" these "people," expose them via the ballot box and any other means. This is cruelty. Most of these "people" are government officials and employees. What we need are whistleblowers, nay honkers, in government to expose this goal of annihilating the White Geese. If there is success with the White Geese, who's next in Mother Nature? Don't get mad, get even. Let's "goose" these "people" by naming them publicly. Have they no decency?
*********
Bob: The reference to white geese on the Charles River in the 60's and 70's is interesting because our understanding is that the current gaggle dates to 1981 and the original group to workers in the pollution control plant. Dangerousness is not in the makeup of the gaggle.
What is entirely possible is that our knowledge is based on the memory of a limited number of workers at the plant. Those workers maintained an excellent relationship with the Charles River White Geese and could monitor their well-being. The MWRA employees' work schedule was changed to part time and then to only periodic plant visits AFTER heartless animal abuse became State and City policy.
It is entirely possible that White Geese were living in the Hyatt area which is to the east of the current destroyed goose meadow and further east of the pollution plant/Magazine Beach.
I should think that the gaggles could have merged at some time.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Day 376, Blogger praises environmental destruction, heartless animal abuse, neglects to mention the environmental destruction, heartless animal abuse
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. General.
2. Latest Outrage.
1. General.
In the late afternoon, early rush hour, Monday, August 31, 2009, I greeted people at the Destroyed Nesting Area.
The view of the outrage was quite clear from the sidewalk.
Pedestrians were interested and concerned. An increased number of drivers pulled over for leaflets.
2. Latest Outrage.
The bad guys in Cambridge tend to scratch each others' backs a lot.
When a member of the Cambridge Pols praises somebody, and you are pro-environment, look out for the guy getting praised.
The City of Cambridge’s Cambridgeport group runs a listserve on which I have been active. I have recently been amazed to see some of my more indignant posts get passed on to the list.
A few weeks ago, the head of the group issued glowing praise for a new blog which he said was given a link on their website.
Kathy Podgers asked to also be given a link for her blog. That request was copied to me by Kathy but was not passed on to the list.
Yesterday, I asked for a link to this blog. That request was passed on to the list.
My request read:
**********
Looking at the Cambridgeport blog you have praised so highly, I see an outrageous piece praising the ongoing Magazine Beach / Goose Meadow / Memorial Drive environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse.
A semblance of neutrality would be to post a link to somebody pro-environment and opposed to heartless animal abuse, our blog, charlesriverwhitegeese.blogspot.com.
**********
Last Saturday, this blogger praised the outrage going on at Magazine Beach and the outrage associated with the BU Bridge repairs. The blogger neglected to mention the environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse. He did mention “bureaucratic infighting” with regard to the latter.
The blogger also commented on the plan to destroy hundreds of trees on Memorial Drive as a preservation project while mentioning that the plan is “controversial.”
The blogger responded off list yesterday that he “makes a strong effort to maintain neutrality.”
*********
My response to the blogger was:
"You praised an environmental destructive project.
"You praised heartless animal abuse.
"You neglected to mention the environmental destruction.
"You neglected to mention the heartless animal abuse.
"That is not neutral. That is false and misleading praise because the environmental destructiveness is so major.
"Praise of this sort is not neutral, it is part of a continuing con game in which a very destrucive city council and governor lie that they are pro environment, and with regard to their accelerating heartless animal abuse, propounds the lie that they are decent human beings."
********
I have long since stopped trying to read the mind of people taking initiatives destructive of the environment in Cambridge. I have long since stopped trying to figure out whether any individual is a knave or a fool.
With regard to this individual, his entry came after really outrageous behavior by environmental destroyers and heartless animal abusers, with no mention whatsoever of the outrages.
The entry as of the writing of this report is unchanged.
That says everything.
1. General.
2. Latest Outrage.
1. General.
In the late afternoon, early rush hour, Monday, August 31, 2009, I greeted people at the Destroyed Nesting Area.
The view of the outrage was quite clear from the sidewalk.
Pedestrians were interested and concerned. An increased number of drivers pulled over for leaflets.
2. Latest Outrage.
The bad guys in Cambridge tend to scratch each others' backs a lot.
When a member of the Cambridge Pols praises somebody, and you are pro-environment, look out for the guy getting praised.
The City of Cambridge’s Cambridgeport group runs a listserve on which I have been active. I have recently been amazed to see some of my more indignant posts get passed on to the list.
A few weeks ago, the head of the group issued glowing praise for a new blog which he said was given a link on their website.
Kathy Podgers asked to also be given a link for her blog. That request was copied to me by Kathy but was not passed on to the list.
Yesterday, I asked for a link to this blog. That request was passed on to the list.
My request read:
**********
Looking at the Cambridgeport blog you have praised so highly, I see an outrageous piece praising the ongoing Magazine Beach / Goose Meadow / Memorial Drive environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse.
A semblance of neutrality would be to post a link to somebody pro-environment and opposed to heartless animal abuse, our blog, charlesriverwhitegeese.blogspot.com.
**********
Last Saturday, this blogger praised the outrage going on at Magazine Beach and the outrage associated with the BU Bridge repairs. The blogger neglected to mention the environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse. He did mention “bureaucratic infighting” with regard to the latter.
The blogger also commented on the plan to destroy hundreds of trees on Memorial Drive as a preservation project while mentioning that the plan is “controversial.”
The blogger responded off list yesterday that he “makes a strong effort to maintain neutrality.”
*********
My response to the blogger was:
"You praised an environmental destructive project.
"You praised heartless animal abuse.
"You neglected to mention the environmental destruction.
"You neglected to mention the heartless animal abuse.
"That is not neutral. That is false and misleading praise because the environmental destructiveness is so major.
"Praise of this sort is not neutral, it is part of a continuing con game in which a very destrucive city council and governor lie that they are pro environment, and with regard to their accelerating heartless animal abuse, propounds the lie that they are decent human beings."
********
I have long since stopped trying to read the mind of people taking initiatives destructive of the environment in Cambridge. I have long since stopped trying to figure out whether any individual is a knave or a fool.
With regard to this individual, his entry came after really outrageous behavior by environmental destroyers and heartless animal abusers, with no mention whatsoever of the outrages.
The entry as of the writing of this report is unchanged.
That says everything.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Memorial Drive Trees, White Geese, Atlanta’s BeltLine, EOT’s Urban Ring Phase 2.
1. Memorial Drive trees + White Geese.
2. Atlanta's BeltLine vs. EOT's Urban Ring Phase 2
The following well written comments are from Archie Mazmanian.
1. Memorial Drive trees + White Geese.
Despite its traffic signals, Memorial Drive is preferable to Storrow Drive because of its trees. But apparently no more. Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” comes to mind, a poem that many of us learned to recite in grade school. MA General Laws in Chapter 87 addresses public shade trees. For cities and towns, these trees are entitled to a “public hearing” that is duly noticed before being cut down. Alas, the rule is different for state highways. But perhaps the public can have its hearing with motorists honking while on Memorial Drive, to give voice to the bark of the trees that had no bite.
And this honking can give voice to the Charles River White Geese, the innocents is all this. This honking can be a form of public assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment. Let’s be heard. Let the elected officials hear us, loud and clear.
Some years back, here in Brookline, a proposal to expand Hall’s Pond and its sanctuary included a plan to cut down several weeping willow trees along one of its banks. These lovely trees had served a valuable purpose environmentally for many years and were healthy. Some of us in the Cottage Farm and Longwood Neighborhoods made our voices heard and the weeping willows were saved. In fact, a few more weeping willows were planted. Just enter Amory Park and take a look at these weeping willows and what they continue to contribute. Even in winter months, these willows have a patina. One of my favorite jazz songs is “Willow Weep for Me.” A letter to our local weekly from me set forth its words in support of our efforts to save them. These willows still weep for us, tears of joy for the pleasures they continue to provide.
But who weeps for the Charles River White Geese? Not our politicians. Children in the area of the River will be deprived of the joys of the White Geese, the joys of nature that many of us and our children enjoyed. Who would hear our weeping? So honk, honk, honk! If the politicians won’t listen, don’t get mad – get even. There is a word for what is done to people that is being done to the Charles River White Geese. So let’s honk, honk, honk!
2. Atlanta's BeltLine vs. EOT's Urban Ring Phase 2
I recently learned of Atlanta's BeltLine project addressing greater Atlanta's public transit problems. Information is available at its website:
http://www.beltline.org/Home/tabid/1672/Default.aspx
I learned of this from Truthout, an August 30, 2009 article titled: "Gentrification Fears Dog Sustainable Transport" available at:
http://www.truthout.org/083009X?print
The BeltLine project is fairly new, compared to EOT's Urban Ring; however, it seems to be further advanced, based upon browsing through its website. Many more issues are addressed with the BeltLine project than with Phase 2 of the Urban Ring. Perhaps EOT and the Citizens Advisory Board might benefit from taking a look at the BeltLine, which appears to be more ring-like than the Urban Ring.
The Urban Ring is stale. It lacks the ground-up support displayed by and for BeltLine.
Yesterday's (8/30/09) Sunday Boston Globe at page 2 of the Metro Section, Starts & Stops, features "Bridging the interests of commuters, construction" and the BU Bridge repair project that will further reduce its travel lanes to two. (Earlier, its four lanes had been reduced to three.) A suggestion has been made to increase the number of crosstown buses using the BU Bridge, as if that would solve problems. In this same issue of the Globe, check out its lead editorial in the Ideas Section: "In this summer of roadwork, more needs to be done to relieve jams." Yes, transportation has long been a mess in MA with its divided government going back 18 years; but the last two years with Democrats fully in control have not been much better.
Meantime, the trees on Memorial Drive have lost their bark to the bite of the chainsaws. The Charles River White Geese are being silenced as they are further segregated in the course of their ultimate demise. Isn't it time to speak up? Who's in charge?
2. Atlanta's BeltLine vs. EOT's Urban Ring Phase 2
The following well written comments are from Archie Mazmanian.
1. Memorial Drive trees + White Geese.
Despite its traffic signals, Memorial Drive is preferable to Storrow Drive because of its trees. But apparently no more. Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” comes to mind, a poem that many of us learned to recite in grade school. MA General Laws in Chapter 87 addresses public shade trees. For cities and towns, these trees are entitled to a “public hearing” that is duly noticed before being cut down. Alas, the rule is different for state highways. But perhaps the public can have its hearing with motorists honking while on Memorial Drive, to give voice to the bark of the trees that had no bite.
And this honking can give voice to the Charles River White Geese, the innocents is all this. This honking can be a form of public assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment. Let’s be heard. Let the elected officials hear us, loud and clear.
Some years back, here in Brookline, a proposal to expand Hall’s Pond and its sanctuary included a plan to cut down several weeping willow trees along one of its banks. These lovely trees had served a valuable purpose environmentally for many years and were healthy. Some of us in the Cottage Farm and Longwood Neighborhoods made our voices heard and the weeping willows were saved. In fact, a few more weeping willows were planted. Just enter Amory Park and take a look at these weeping willows and what they continue to contribute. Even in winter months, these willows have a patina. One of my favorite jazz songs is “Willow Weep for Me.” A letter to our local weekly from me set forth its words in support of our efforts to save them. These willows still weep for us, tears of joy for the pleasures they continue to provide.
But who weeps for the Charles River White Geese? Not our politicians. Children in the area of the River will be deprived of the joys of the White Geese, the joys of nature that many of us and our children enjoyed. Who would hear our weeping? So honk, honk, honk! If the politicians won’t listen, don’t get mad – get even. There is a word for what is done to people that is being done to the Charles River White Geese. So let’s honk, honk, honk!
2. Atlanta's BeltLine vs. EOT's Urban Ring Phase 2
I recently learned of Atlanta's BeltLine project addressing greater Atlanta's public transit problems. Information is available at its website:
http://www.beltline.org/Home/tabid/1672/Default.aspx
I learned of this from Truthout, an August 30, 2009 article titled: "Gentrification Fears Dog Sustainable Transport" available at:
http://www.truthout.org/083009X?print
The BeltLine project is fairly new, compared to EOT's Urban Ring; however, it seems to be further advanced, based upon browsing through its website. Many more issues are addressed with the BeltLine project than with Phase 2 of the Urban Ring. Perhaps EOT and the Citizens Advisory Board might benefit from taking a look at the BeltLine, which appears to be more ring-like than the Urban Ring.
The Urban Ring is stale. It lacks the ground-up support displayed by and for BeltLine.
Yesterday's (8/30/09) Sunday Boston Globe at page 2 of the Metro Section, Starts & Stops, features "Bridging the interests of commuters, construction" and the BU Bridge repair project that will further reduce its travel lanes to two. (Earlier, its four lanes had been reduced to three.) A suggestion has been made to increase the number of crosstown buses using the BU Bridge, as if that would solve problems. In this same issue of the Globe, check out its lead editorial in the Ideas Section: "In this summer of roadwork, more needs to be done to relieve jams." Yes, transportation has long been a mess in MA with its divided government going back 18 years; but the last two years with Democrats fully in control have not been much better.
Meantime, the trees on Memorial Drive have lost their bark to the bite of the chainsaws. The Charles River White Geese are being silenced as they are further segregated in the course of their ultimate demise. Isn't it time to speak up? Who's in charge?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Day 375, Good People, reprehensible governments
Bob La Trémouille reports:
I did a visibility on Sunday, August 30.
The geese were huddled in the corner of the goose meadow which has not been destroyed.
The illegally dumped truckloads of dirt occupy three quarters of the goose meadow and block access to the BU Bridge for repair, supposedly the purpose of this outrage.
There was a construction vehicle in the middle of the illegal dirt.
The construction zones signs have been moved to make them legal. They originally, for all practical purposes, forbade the feeding of the Charles River White Geese. Since the reprehensible city and state governments have been keeping them away from their food at Magazine Beech for five years now, the combination would be very explicite.
People were out in reasonably good numbers and receptive.
More drivers pulled over for leaflets.
I did a visibility on Sunday, August 30.
The geese were huddled in the corner of the goose meadow which has not been destroyed.
The illegally dumped truckloads of dirt occupy three quarters of the goose meadow and block access to the BU Bridge for repair, supposedly the purpose of this outrage.
There was a construction vehicle in the middle of the illegal dirt.
The construction zones signs have been moved to make them legal. They originally, for all practical purposes, forbade the feeding of the Charles River White Geese. Since the reprehensible city and state governments have been keeping them away from their food at Magazine Beech for five years now, the combination would be very explicite.
People were out in reasonably good numbers and receptive.
More drivers pulled over for leaflets.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Day 374, Damage Made Worse, Conservation Commission Executive Director Meeting with DCR
Bob La Trémouille reports
1. Visibility Report.
2. Destruction Made Worse.
3. Executive Director of Cambridge Conservation Commission Meeting with DCR this morning.
1. Visibility Report.
I leafleted and spoke with people during the evening rush hour on August 27, 2009.
Some good people.
2. Destruction Made Worse.
I saw the Destroyed Nesting Area after the executive director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission had closed the project down on Wednesday.
On looking at it carefully, I realized that large amounts of dirt had been dumped on top of the devastation created on Tuesday.
I have provided the entire roll of film which I took on Tuesday to the Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission. Shots on this blog, because of space limitations, are only a portion of the 26 shots taken.
3. Executive Director of Cambridge Conservation Commission Meeting with DCR this morning.
1. Visibility Report.
2. Destruction Made Worse.
3. Executive Director of Cambridge Conservation Commission Meeting with DCR this morning.
1. Visibility Report.
I leafleted and spoke with people during the evening rush hour on August 27, 2009.
Some good people.
2. Destruction Made Worse.
I saw the Destroyed Nesting Area after the executive director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission had closed the project down on Wednesday.
On looking at it carefully, I realized that large amounts of dirt had been dumped on top of the devastation created on Tuesday.
I have provided the entire roll of film which I took on Tuesday to the Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission. Shots on this blog, because of space limitations, are only a portion of the 26 shots taken.
3. Executive Director of Cambridge Conservation Commission Meeting with DCR this morning.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
DCR work site at BU Bridge shut down
Marilyn Wellons reports that the Director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission shut down the DCR work site at 3:15 p.m. August 25:
Friends alerted us to the start of work at the BU Bridge on August 25. I forwarded the information to Cambridge ConCom Director Jennifer Wright, assuming she already knew it had begun. In fact this was not the case.
The DCR had failed to give 72 hours' written notice of the start of work, or to comply with other requirements in the ConCom's Order of Conditions. These requirements include the filing of construction documents and copies of various permits. I believe there were 12 conditions for the BU Bridge work.
Ms. Wright accordingly shut down the DCR work site at 3:15 p.m. today. It is closed indefinitely, pending DCR compliance with the Order of Conditions.
By 3:15 all plants within 50’ of the BU Bridge abutment and beyond 100’ from the river’s edge were completely cleared, except for four trees. In this large L-shaped space the soil was bare and dusty, almost sifted of all vegetable matter. Beyond it the White Geese were huddled in the little space allotted to them. It also is, as we know, largely bare.
Near the entrance to the goose meadow where I was standing, a disoriented group of either digging or mining bees was trying to do something to or for nodules I thought might be their larvae’s formerly underground cells. In the hot sun whatever the bees were trying to do seemed impossible to me, but they kept at their task, except for one that walked purposively away toward nothing at all.
I will keep the blog posted with updates as the DCR responds to the stop order.
Friends alerted us to the start of work at the BU Bridge on August 25. I forwarded the information to Cambridge ConCom Director Jennifer Wright, assuming she already knew it had begun. In fact this was not the case.
The DCR had failed to give 72 hours' written notice of the start of work, or to comply with other requirements in the ConCom's Order of Conditions. These requirements include the filing of construction documents and copies of various permits. I believe there were 12 conditions for the BU Bridge work.
Ms. Wright accordingly shut down the DCR work site at 3:15 p.m. today. It is closed indefinitely, pending DCR compliance with the Order of Conditions.
By 3:15 all plants within 50’ of the BU Bridge abutment and beyond 100’ from the river’s edge were completely cleared, except for four trees. In this large L-shaped space the soil was bare and dusty, almost sifted of all vegetable matter. Beyond it the White Geese were huddled in the little space allotted to them. It also is, as we know, largely bare.
Near the entrance to the goose meadow where I was standing, a disoriented group of either digging or mining bees was trying to do something to or for nodules I thought might be their larvae’s formerly underground cells. In the hot sun whatever the bees were trying to do seemed impossible to me, but they kept at their task, except for one that walked purposively away toward nothing at all.
I will keep the blog posted with updates as the DCR responds to the stop order.
Day 373, The Goose Meadow before Governor Patrick's Heartless Animal Abuse, What should be done
I have been able to find two pictures in electronic form of the Goose Meadow this year. They were photographed in the first two weeks of July.
The first view is of the location of the two demolition vehicles. This is the area the gaggle immediately inspected once they realized the immediate danger was gone. They used a lot of it for nesting. The portion not destroyed had had significant damage in the last two years by the DCR. The destruction of this area is totally without value. It is being done for staging that should be put under Memorial Drive.
The second is of the area toward the BU Bridge, looking toward the trees.
The project has been timed to maximize environmental destruction and animal harm. The timing should be changed to do exactly the opposite.
If we were dealing with other than heartless animal abusers, the Charles River White Geese would be allowed to return to their home for most of the last 30 years, Magazine Beach and to visit the nesting area as they deem fit.
Access to Magazine Beach is blocked by a bizarre starvation wall of introduced vegetation. The front organization, Charles River Conservancy, has bragged that blocking off Magazine Beach from the Charles River with this bizarre wall helps swimming. The key liar has publicly bragged that he starves the Charles River White Geese with this wall. That bizarre wall should be chopped down.
Additionally, poisons being dumped on the formerly green playing fields should stop, and the expensive drainage system should be filled in. The drainage system supposedly drains the poisons out of Magazine Beach to keep them out of the Charles River. You do not dump poisons, you do not need the drainage. Notwithstanding this, it is inconceivable the drainage system would work in major flooding, which would obviously dump poisons in the Charles which should not be used on the banks of the Charles.
Half the destruction is unnecessary and dumb. The destruction in the north part of the goose meadow is for staging that should be placed under Memorial Drive, but we are dealing with very destructive people.
The first view is of the location of the two demolition vehicles. This is the area the gaggle immediately inspected once they realized the immediate danger was gone. They used a lot of it for nesting. The portion not destroyed had had significant damage in the last two years by the DCR. The destruction of this area is totally without value. It is being done for staging that should be put under Memorial Drive.
The second is of the area toward the BU Bridge, looking toward the trees.
The project has been timed to maximize environmental destruction and animal harm. The timing should be changed to do exactly the opposite.
If we were dealing with other than heartless animal abusers, the Charles River White Geese would be allowed to return to their home for most of the last 30 years, Magazine Beach and to visit the nesting area as they deem fit.
Access to Magazine Beach is blocked by a bizarre starvation wall of introduced vegetation. The front organization, Charles River Conservancy, has bragged that blocking off Magazine Beach from the Charles River with this bizarre wall helps swimming. The key liar has publicly bragged that he starves the Charles River White Geese with this wall. That bizarre wall should be chopped down.
Additionally, poisons being dumped on the formerly green playing fields should stop, and the expensive drainage system should be filled in. The drainage system supposedly drains the poisons out of Magazine Beach to keep them out of the Charles River. You do not dump poisons, you do not need the drainage. Notwithstanding this, it is inconceivable the drainage system would work in major flooding, which would obviously dump poisons in the Charles which should not be used on the banks of the Charles.
Half the destruction is unnecessary and dumb. The destruction in the north part of the goose meadow is for staging that should be placed under Memorial Drive, but we are dealing with very destructive people.
Day 373 at the Destroyed Nesting Area Supplement, very miserable animals
Bob La Trémouille reports.
1. Introduction.
2. First Visit.
a. Damage.
b. Very miserable Charles River White Geese.
c. Response from passers by.
3. Second visit.
4. Summary.
1. Introduction.
I spent three hours at the Destroyed Nesting Area in two groupings.
I had been notified by a friend that there was massive destruction going on.
I drove by and saw the destruction from the street.
I went back, got a sign, leaflets and camera.
2. First Visit.
a. Damage.
The first visit started at 2 to 3 pm. There was still construction equipment at the Destroyed Nesting Area. I could not see the Charles River White Geese.
All of the land and vegetation, including trees, abutting the BU Bridge had been destroyed.
The land abutting the on ramp was destroyed almost up to the bottom of the hill and up to the stair case illegally installed by BU and the DCR in 1999. A very limited amount of ground vegetation was not destroyed nearest the illegal staircase on the eastern end.
Construction zone signs prohibited entrance from the ramp and BU Bridge entrance.
I took a lot of photographs.
b. Very miserable Charles River White Geese.
After awhile, my eyes adjusted to the difference in light, and I saw the gaggle huddled under the trees between the illegal staircase on the eastern end and the railroad tracks.
Eventually, the construction vehicles were removed, and I walked down the illegal staircase on the eastern end.
When they saw me, they came out of their funk, and walked toward what little vegetation had not been destroyed.
They walked into the core area where they have spent most of their lives since heartless pols and bureaucrats started starving them.
After awhile, a line of geese walked into the new wasteland on the north side and walked up to the hillside. This new wasteland held a lot of nests in the past. They then turned around and returned to their undestroyed corner, or rather to the corner which was not destroyed yesterday. The DCR has spent years destroying the vegetation in the southeast corner.
That area is now barred to the public by two construction zone signs.
c. Response from passers by.
Disgust, contempt for the vile state and city environmental destroyers.
One or more passers by shared with their experiences calling Cambridge City Councilors. Evaluation: Clearly rotten people.
3. Second visit.
The second visit was rush hour. It was very busy. There were a lot of concerned people.
4. Summary.
The state bureaucrats have spent years saying they would do no harm to the Charles River White Geese.
Then again, they have spent years calling the hundreds of trees they are about to destroy “healthy.”
Until the Boston Globe got interested.
Hundreds of healthy trees became diseased overnight.
Flat out liars.
1. Introduction.
2. First Visit.
a. Damage.
b. Very miserable Charles River White Geese.
c. Response from passers by.
3. Second visit.
4. Summary.
1. Introduction.
I spent three hours at the Destroyed Nesting Area in two groupings.
I had been notified by a friend that there was massive destruction going on.
I drove by and saw the destruction from the street.
I went back, got a sign, leaflets and camera.
2. First Visit.
a. Damage.
The first visit started at 2 to 3 pm. There was still construction equipment at the Destroyed Nesting Area. I could not see the Charles River White Geese.
All of the land and vegetation, including trees, abutting the BU Bridge had been destroyed.
The land abutting the on ramp was destroyed almost up to the bottom of the hill and up to the stair case illegally installed by BU and the DCR in 1999. A very limited amount of ground vegetation was not destroyed nearest the illegal staircase on the eastern end.
Construction zone signs prohibited entrance from the ramp and BU Bridge entrance.
I took a lot of photographs.
b. Very miserable Charles River White Geese.
After awhile, my eyes adjusted to the difference in light, and I saw the gaggle huddled under the trees between the illegal staircase on the eastern end and the railroad tracks.
Eventually, the construction vehicles were removed, and I walked down the illegal staircase on the eastern end.
When they saw me, they came out of their funk, and walked toward what little vegetation had not been destroyed.
They walked into the core area where they have spent most of their lives since heartless pols and bureaucrats started starving them.
After awhile, a line of geese walked into the new wasteland on the north side and walked up to the hillside. This new wasteland held a lot of nests in the past. They then turned around and returned to their undestroyed corner, or rather to the corner which was not destroyed yesterday. The DCR has spent years destroying the vegetation in the southeast corner.
That area is now barred to the public by two construction zone signs.
c. Response from passers by.
Disgust, contempt for the vile state and city environmental destroyers.
One or more passers by shared with their experiences calling Cambridge City Councilors. Evaluation: Clearly rotten people.
3. Second visit.
The second visit was rush hour. It was very busy. There were a lot of concerned people.
4. Summary.
The state bureaucrats have spent years saying they would do no harm to the Charles River White Geese.
Then again, they have spent years calling the hundreds of trees they are about to destroy “healthy.”
Until the Boston Globe got interested.
Hundreds of healthy trees became diseased overnight.
Flat out liars.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Day 373 at the Destroyed Nesting Area – Governor Patrick ups the needless environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse.
Bob La Trémouille reports.
I will supplement or amend this report later to provide more detail.
I simply report to you now that Governor Patrick, today, August 25, 2009, destroyed three quarters of the Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
This destruction has been done for a project which needs to be done. The way it has been done has been consistent with a long record of needless environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse.
The Patrick administration has gone out of its way to maximize the environmental harm and animal abuse associated with it, far beyond anything which could normally be considered reasonable or even decent.
Really, really rotten.
I will supplement or amend this report later to provide more detail.
I simply report to you now that Governor Patrick, today, August 25, 2009, destroyed three quarters of the Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.
This destruction has been done for a project which needs to be done. The way it has been done has been consistent with a long record of needless environmental destruction and heartless animal abuse.
The Patrick administration has gone out of its way to maximize the environmental harm and animal abuse associated with it, far beyond anything which could normally be considered reasonable or even decent.
Really, really rotten.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Boston Globe reports massive tree destruction coming. Lying as a technique.
1. Boston Globe Article.
2. Letter to the Editor.
3. On the matter of calling people “liars.”
Bob Reports:
1. Boston Globe Article.
August 20, 2009, the Boston Globe printed on page B1 and article featuring the pending destruction of hundreds of trees on Memorial Drive. A very good photo of Marilyn was in the middle of the page. The on-line edition may be found at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/20/growing_disagreement_along_memorial_drive_as_environmental_group_contests_plans_to_fell_trees/.
The title and subtitle are:
Growing disagreement along Memorial Drive
Group contests plans to fell trees
2. Letter to the Editor.
I have submitted the following letter to the editor:
**********
Editor
Boston Globe
For the DCR to call the hundreds of trees they are destroying on Memorial Drive other than healthy is outrageous.
There have been repeated discussions over the years on this destructive project. Any trees that the DCR called other than healthy were destroyed years ago.
These are the same people who have repeatedly promised over the years to "do no harm" to the beautiful and valuable Charles River White Geese and then explained that "do no harm" allows starving them. The DCR’s attack on Memorial Drive’s trees is part of their continuing destruction of the Charles River’s environment and its beautiful creatures.
To call these HEALTHY trees anything other than HEALTHY falls into the same category as the years of flat out lies of DO NO HARM to the resident animals.
And Governor Patrick is using Obama stimulus money for this outrage!!!
3. On the matter of calling people “liars.”
It is quite distressing to repeatedly be calling people liars. The Department of Conservation and Recreation has been quite blatant in this category.
Earlier this week, the same reporter quoted me as referring to a Cambridge City Councilor as part of a group which uses lying as a technique.
There is a difference in level of subtlety. The Cambridge pols routinely lie through use of secret definitions. My reference which the reporter was quoting was to the nonstop pounding of the Cambridge political organization that the City of Cambridge and its pols are “environmentalists.”
The reality is they claim to be environmentalists based on tertiary environmentalism, fancy buildings, while indulging in outrageous destruction of the environment under their control.
To call these environmental destroyers “environmentalists” is just another lie, but more subtle than the DCR is using.
A current Cambridge City Councilor argued that the Cambridge pols' secret definition of "environmentalism" is better than the world’s definition. That argument may be read on this blog at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2007_05_29_archive.html.
2. Letter to the Editor.
3. On the matter of calling people “liars.”
Bob Reports:
1. Boston Globe Article.
August 20, 2009, the Boston Globe printed on page B1 and article featuring the pending destruction of hundreds of trees on Memorial Drive. A very good photo of Marilyn was in the middle of the page. The on-line edition may be found at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/20/growing_disagreement_along_memorial_drive_as_environmental_group_contests_plans_to_fell_trees/.
The title and subtitle are:
Growing disagreement along Memorial Drive
Group contests plans to fell trees
2. Letter to the Editor.
I have submitted the following letter to the editor:
**********
Editor
Boston Globe
For the DCR to call the hundreds of trees they are destroying on Memorial Drive other than healthy is outrageous.
There have been repeated discussions over the years on this destructive project. Any trees that the DCR called other than healthy were destroyed years ago.
These are the same people who have repeatedly promised over the years to "do no harm" to the beautiful and valuable Charles River White Geese and then explained that "do no harm" allows starving them. The DCR’s attack on Memorial Drive’s trees is part of their continuing destruction of the Charles River’s environment and its beautiful creatures.
To call these HEALTHY trees anything other than HEALTHY falls into the same category as the years of flat out lies of DO NO HARM to the resident animals.
And Governor Patrick is using Obama stimulus money for this outrage!!!
3. On the matter of calling people “liars.”
It is quite distressing to repeatedly be calling people liars. The Department of Conservation and Recreation has been quite blatant in this category.
Earlier this week, the same reporter quoted me as referring to a Cambridge City Councilor as part of a group which uses lying as a technique.
There is a difference in level of subtlety. The Cambridge pols routinely lie through use of secret definitions. My reference which the reporter was quoting was to the nonstop pounding of the Cambridge political organization that the City of Cambridge and its pols are “environmentalists.”
The reality is they claim to be environmentalists based on tertiary environmentalism, fancy buildings, while indulging in outrageous destruction of the environment under their control.
To call these environmental destroyers “environmentalists” is just another lie, but more subtle than the DCR is using.
A current Cambridge City Councilor argued that the Cambridge pols' secret definition of "environmentalism" is better than the world’s definition. That argument may be read on this blog at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2007_05_29_archive.html.
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