North Street Playground - Worth Renovating?

Correspondent X and I were sitting around after some good-time family fun at Fluff Fest and the topic of the North St. Playground renovation came up. We're all about publicly funded recreation opportunities and recognize the importance of parks and playgrounds in a city in which the average backyard is (a) paved and (b) smaller than the average suburban driveway. That said, in difficult economic times we think it is important to make good choices and spend wisely etc. blah blah blah.

Let's start with the map. The map below includes most of Ward 7 (no offense to people living within the part that is not shown - hopefully, you have some playgrounds up there) and all of the parts that are relevant to a discussion of whether renovating the North St. Playground is worthwhile.

The green dots are the playgrounds/parks that I remembered off the top of my head (and that Correspondent X kindly verified during his bike ride today).

1) North St. Playground
2) Playground within the adjacent (to North St.) housing project.
3) Playground on Rt. 16 (DCR control but the city is trying to take over).
4) Woodstock St. Playground
5) Hodgkins-Curtin Park & Playground
6) Tufts Playground
7) Church at Curtis Ave and Powder House

Is this area (meaning the border between precincts 7-2 and 7-3) UNDER-served by playgrounds? You might dismiss numbers 2, 6, 7 above as they are likely meant to be restricted to their specific communities (residents or 'clients' of the church or Tufts day-care) and #6 is just over the border into Ward 6. Even if we eliminate those it is clear to me that anyone who might use North St. could easily be served by Woodstock, Hodgkins-Curtin, or the playground on Rt. 16. (and, before anyone argues that crossing Rt. 16 is too dangerous - the playground is right near a controlled crosswalk and we all know that in this 'Amber Alert' day and age no playground equipment using children are walking to a playground without an adult).

Furthermore, it seems to me from passing by the North St. playground that the most frequent users of that area are the young (mid-teen to mid-20s) men (primarily) and women who hang out at the picnic tables. If that is the case then perhaps the best use of this area would be to retain the basketball hoops and increase the number of picnic tables while removing the swing-sets etc. I had hoped to include a photo of the 'hanging-out' use but Correspondent X did not see anyone there around 12:30 this afternoon.

I hope that the idea of NOT renovating this playground will be a part of tomorrow night's discussion and, as she lives so close, I look forward to hearing what candidate (and mother of a young child) Ballantyne has to say about whether and how well this playground serves her own family's recreation needs.

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Knowing that Correspondent X was going to try to get a photo of the North St. playground being used merely as a smoking lounge, I was glad to receive an e-mail from X along with a couple attachments (see photos below). The body of the e-mail included only a single question: What are the differences between these two photos?

Somerville Man

Cambridge Man

I started listing the obvious differences: vertical vs. horizontal stripes on the shirt, long pants vs. shorts (with snowflake pattern - it must still be 'Fashion Week'), shoes vs. swim-slippers etc. Then, it dawned on me that Correspondent X's mile-wide "green stripe" was focusing on the bags - the Somerville man is carrying plastic bags and the Cambridge man is using re-usable environmentally sound bags (made from recycled milk bottles it seems).

But, I hadn't guessed the 'punch line' so Correspondent X sent me the original 'Somerville Man' picture (with face unobscured) which revealed him to be the husband of the candidate who is promising:

I'm seriously concerned with Correspondent X's obsession with the personal "green habits" of the candidate and suggest that she keep her recycling bin in the house until just before the Russell truck arrives lest Correspondent X go digging through it. ;)

Support Home Rule Petition

Mayor Curtatone's Statement on Liquor License Home Rule Petition

I hope the Board of Aldermen will support this proposal.

Limits on licenses raises the prices of those licenses which compels the owners to maximize profits by selling $13 apple-tinis and such (see recently opened Five Horses Tavern and Foundry on Elm). I would hate to see the small gritty places like Sligo, P.A.'s Lounge (and the now defunct Razzy's) disappear due to financial pressure to sell a license.

North Street Playground Meeting

North Street Playground Meeting Announcement

While there are many 'bigger' issues that our Alderman is involved with (GIC, Green Line, Assembly Square etc.), proposed changes to a playground is, in my opinion, the sort of 'nuts and bolts' matter that embodies the nature of local politics.

I would expect this to be a great chance for Katjana Ballantyne to express herself (in specifics) as she has a daughter at an age which likely will allow her to enjoy this playground for a few years. If the child herself were to speak on the matter would she tell us which playground equipment she favors or would she only speak to the importance of open and accessible teeter-totters, affordable swings, and jobs for local equipment-installers?

Hope to see you there.

Momentum for Re-Debate Builds...

Well, okay, it's a 'slow build.'

Re-Debate?

One of the most disappointing aspects of the preliminary election 'season' was the debate that never was. The disappointment was two-fold: that the voters would not have the opportunity to hear, simultaneously, from all of the candidates and that Trane and Ballantyne were willing to renege on their prior agreement to appear.

In hindsight (based on the lopsided preliminary election results) we can see some justification for the arrogant way in which Trane and Ballantyne chose to dismiss the upstart from Powderhouse Boulevard. After all (I suppose the thinking goes), why risk embarrassing one's self to debate a candidate who is not going to be a factor in the race?

I hope that in the weeks to come before the November 8th election there will be a debate between the two surviving candidates. Further, I hope that the host (Joe Lynch) and moderators (Jillian Fennimore and Danielle Dreilinger) will serve in those capacities again. I would also like to see one addition to the debate board: spurned candidate Joan Whitney Puglia.

Can This Crackpot Comment Be Topped?

I have seen a number of 'crackpot comments' made during this election season (and I'm sure others would say that I have _made_ some too). I don't think this one, from a Somerville News commenter, can be topped:

I don't know what Harry means by 'GOTV' but if the Cubans, Iranians, or Venezuelans are behind it then I am certain that we don't want it in Ward 7!

Harry, I've looked at Ballantyne's financial report - it seems that the "foreign" money is coming from the Nelson family of Vermont (a suburb of Havana, perhaps). Perhaps Harry has a juicy theory on why Ballantyne's husband changed his name from Nelson to Nilsson (on orders from Tehran?)...

Were Parking Meter Fees Waived on Election Day?

When I looped past the three polling places yesterday morning I was impressed by the number of Trane supporters holding signs and the number of vehicles that I saw with Trane signs in the windows or taped to the fender.

The vehicle below was parked in front the Episcopal Church (2nd meter from the corner of Clarendon and Broadway) in the morning and then again (or still) at around 6:00 p.m. At both times the meter was showing 0:00 (semi-visible in the expanded portion of the photo). Was this vehicle simply lucky, were meter fees waived yesterday, or does Bob Trane have friends in Traffic & Parking?

Mandate?

Results article @ Somervile Journal

“I’m totally thrilled,” said Ballantyne from her victory party at Sabur in Teele Square. “This is a mandate. They wanted a new alderman… I’m delighted to be that person.”

Three Candidates Trane 538 42.8% Ballantyne 531 42.2% Puglia 187 14.8%

Two "Candidates" New Alderman 718 57.2% Incumbent 538 42.8%

I don't think I would call the result a mandate for change (but kudos to Ballantyne for the very politician-sounding spin).

We won't know, until November 8, how many Trane supporters stayed away from the polls yesterday safe in the knowledge that their candidate would advance. And, of course, there's no guarantee that those who voted for Puglia will cast another ballot for "new Alderman."

A WAG (wild-ass guess) About the Result

I'll guess:

Trane: 58%
Ballantyne: 29%
Puglia: 13%

Feel free to post yours below. Winner gets labeled as having a 'real bead' on the race.

"Green Room" for Ballantyne? Really?

Excerpted from The Somerville News:

Speaking of PJ Ryan’s, we heard that candidate Katjana Ballantyne approached the owner and asked about having her fundraiser there. But when she asked for valet parking they told her “no.” We then heard from another source that she asked for a makeup room or “green room” – but alas, although Ryan’s is a very nice establishment it doesn’t have either one.

Anyone have confirmation on this one?

Volunteer Counts Portend Outcome?

I drove by all 3 polling places earlier and saw: strong volunteer representation from Trane supporters; medium participation from Ballantyne supporters; and one lone Puglia sign holder in Teele square.

Also spotted was Bob Trane himself on Holland Ave.

If you're around the polling places during the day please post what you see below. Thanks.

Looking Ahead to Tuesday

If it rains like this on Tuesday will the polling places be empty?

Anyone have an idea of what the expected turn-out for a preliminary election is?

Would it be more interesting if, in such a three-candidate race, we were permitted to vote AGAINST one candidate?

Trane signs have sprung up around the ward, he held his fund-raiser on Tuesday, and he has been more out-spoken about some of the issues. My earlier concerns were that he was disinterested in keeping the office. Perhaps, I was mistaken and Trane was merely pacing himself in contrast to the challengers who needed to become known to the voters.

Ballantyne still seems to speak only in generalities. Additionally, there is the issue of her voting record. Frankly, with only 16 people in the ward pulling a Republican nomination I find it hard to believe that, coincidentally, an error was made in the recording of Ballantyne's selection. Furthermore, I have to wonder why someone who touts her long-time commitment to 'Democrat issues' is not a registered Democrat.

With regards to both Trane and Ballantyne, it was very disappointing that they chose not to appear on the SCAT debate show. According to Joe Lynch, both had agreed to come on the show and then later reneged on that commitment.

Puglia has, in my opinion, done the best job of telling us where she stands on the issues and I applaud her for that. I am a bit worried about her response to Andy Metzger regarding her husband's past. Additionally, her "I probably won't be liked" comment in the 'one-candidate debate' concerns me - I appreciate her point that she does not intend to 'rubber-stamp' the mayor's agenda but I would not like to see my alderman labeled as the 'angry alderman that cannot work with others.'

Hope to see you at the polls on Tuesday...

Somerville Patch Candidate Profiles

The Somerville Patch seems to be posting one profile per day (rather than the Journal's posting of all 3 yesterday). Here are the links to the Trane and Puglia articles along with a guess at what the URL will be for the Ballantyne article.

Trane

Puglia

Ballantyne

Somerville Journal Profiles of Candidates

The Somerville Journal has posted profiles of the three candidates.

Trane

Puglia

Ballantyne

I was glad to learn that Bob Trane had filed his campaign finance report; interested to learn that Puglia and Ballantyne had discussed challenging Trane before election season had begun (also mentioned by Puglia in the 'one candidate debate'); and, disappointed to hear Puglia avoid what seemed like a relevant question regarding her husband's legal troubles.

On that last point, I don't see how a candidate can discuss her family's legacy in politics as part of her reason for running and then refuse to discuss her husband's disbarment. I'm not suggesting that Puglia should be held responsible for those acts but I also don't think she should try to sweep them under the rug. It wasn't sexist when Hillary Clinton's role in 'Whitewater' was questioned and it's not sexist to ask about Andy Puglia's legal issues especially as he continues to be involved in city matters.

Apparently the Journal's caption writer believes that Bob Trane will prevail in the preliminary election...

Update: the caption has been edited.

Let's Talk (Quietly) About Noise

Two of the three Ward 7 candidates recently made statements regarding noise.

Bob Trane's comments and proposed solution (legislation) can be found in this Somerville Journal article and Katjana Ballantyne's mention can be found on her web site.

Although Joan Whitney Puglia has not, to my knowledge, mentioned noise in any of her campaign literature, I would assume that she's not taking a 'pro-loud-party' stance (as always, the candidate is welcome to comment below as to her stance). I mention this only because I doubt that noise and how noise complaints are handled is not likely to be an issue that provides voters with a way to differentiate between the candidates.

Both the Trane and Ballantyne comments make reference to noise from students. I agree that being awakened by a party of students is annoying but so is being awakened by a number of other noise sources e.g., horn-honking, parties of non-students, anyone holding a loud conversation, crying/tantrum-ing children, loud vehicles etc. I'm sure that in some neighborhoods it is the students who make up the bulk of the noise; however, it seems to me that focusing only on a single noise source is misguided. The noisy party or fighting, under-aged drinking, or public urination (other issues mentioned by Trane) are, in my experience, easier problems to deal with as police response (especially to a fight) is quicker.

I see that a number of other communities have enacted legislation that puts pressure on landlords so perhaps there is merit to it. My first response, however, was how fair such pressure is when (if) the landlords do not have a legal means to pass such fines along to the tenants or to evict, quickly, the noisy tenant.

As an issue pertaining to the upcoming election, I am glad to hear comments from the mostly-silent Trane and I am glad to hear a comment from Ballantyne that goes beyond (slightly) the usual three themes ("open, inclusive government, affordability and local jobs").

Blog interrupted...

Wow, a little bit of 'real life' gets in the way for a week and all kinds of things happen:

• Joan Whitney Puglia "debates" herself after her opponents decline the opportunity to give the voters of Ward 7 a chance to see all of the candidates together in the same forum (and, bizarrely, Katjana Ballantyne chastises Bob Trane for backing-out before doing the same thing).
  
• Bob Trane proposes legislation to deal with noise problems.
• Katjana Ballantye posts 4 photos from her door-knocking and updates her campaign web site providing more details about her plans.
• Katjana Ballantyne disputes her voting record.
• Andy Metzger seeks helps in determining who I am.
  
• Masala reportedly opens.