Voting in our neighborhood can be termed anemic.
In September, only 10% of the eligible voters went to the polls, this in spite of a contested congressional race and state senate seat.
At a recent fundraiser, Rep. Marty Walz held no punches in saying that poor turnout by voters in our neighborhoods mean that we have very little political clout and very little chance of getting projects approved that are decided on a strictly partisan basis.
Is the mayor or a city councilor going to curry favor with a neighborhood that will give him victory or with a neighborhood whose voters do not come out?
We have enough of a bloc of voters to influence city elections. We have enough of a bloc of voters to influence state races for representative and senators. But we have voters who stay in and do not vote.
Like any other part of the city, we have needs for municipal dollars to fund schools, police, road repairs, sewers, streetlights, parks and sidewalks.
However, today these dollars are few and far between. If we are continue to be the best and most desirable neighborhood in Boston, we need city funds to achieve this goal.
To get city funds, we need to show that we are a force at the ballot box.
As the Nike commercial says, just do it.