If you have a tendency to park in front of hydrants and handicapped spaces, or you prefer to park illegally on crosswalks or park more than one foot from the curb, you had better prepare your checking account and wallet for much bigger responsibilities.
Mayor Menino’s suggestion to raise major parking fines, but to leave the $25.00 penalty for overtime parking at meters unchanged, has met with early support with a number of Boston City Councillors.
The mayor is proposing to raise as much as $13 million with increased parking fines going up to as much as $100 in some instances.
According to the mayor, the higher fines will affect a number of parking violations.
Those parking in a ramp for disabled drivers would double from $50 to $100. This fine has not been raised since 1986.
Parking in a crosswalk, now $40, would rise to $85. Parking more than a foot from the curb will go up to $35 from $20.
With the city seeking to squeeze whatever it can from parking fines, the additional fines are expected to bring the total amount in fines raised by the city to $80 million.
There is also a proposal before the city council to upgrade parking meters and to install more of them throughout the city.
Councillor at Large Michael Flaherty said he is against the fine increases. Flaherty, believed to be preparing a candidacy for a run against the mayor, said the increases were misleading.
“The fine increases will not close the gap in the budget,” he said.
As for the mayor, he said drivers should not be parking in front of hydrants, crosswalks or handicapped access ramps.
“There is nothing punitive about fining drivers who park illegally,” the mayor told the Beacon Hill Times.
Beacon Hill, of course, among the most crowded and densely populated neighborhoods in the city, is nearly paralyzed at times, in places, by illegal parking.
Towing and ticketing, over the years, has become a standard part of everyday life on Beacon Hill.
The new fines being sought by the mayor will not end illegal parking on Beacon Hill or in all the other neighborhoods of Boston, said the mayor.
“If you park legally, you are not affected by these fines being raised or by fines remaining the same, for that matter. For those who abide by the law, theses increased fines mean nothing,” he said.

In preparation for the spring and summer season, city worker pumped water into the lagoon in the Public Garden last week.

The Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) received unanimous approval from the Bay Village Architectural Commission for the new building planned at 122 Arlington Street. The process that began in January has resulted in a continuous dialogue with Bay Village community groups and residents, city officials, and architects for the BCAE that have honed the details of the building to make it fit into the neighborhood. There will be a review of the materials on site to be inspected by interested parties.

Advisory

The Bay Village Architectural Commission heard tentative plans for the building planned for 212 Stuart Street and Shawmut Street. The proposal calls for a 10-story office building with retail on the first two floors and offices on the remaining floors. The commissioners wanted the developer to retain the existing facades that are a church on Shawmut Street and an Art Deco style building on Stuart Street. The design did not sit well with the commissioners. So it will be back to the drawing board for this one.

Verizon gets
the signal

The Back Bay Architectural Commission has approved the request by Verizon to have equipment located at 341-347 Newbury Street. Originally, Verizon officials sought an equipment shed located on the roof of the structure. That was denied last month. Verizon officials said that they are able to locate the equipment inside the structure. The back up generator and air conditioning units will be located on the roof behind the parapet so that it will not be seen from the street. The measure was adopted unanimously.
A new storefront is being planned for 911 Boylston Street. The commission ruled last month that the tenant must have the new sign reflect the existing store façade or a new store façade reflect the sign. The tenant wanted a turn of the century sign. The storefront is modeled after a 1940’s diner. The tenant agreed to a new storefront that is more representative of the sign. The only issue raised by the commissioners was the durability of the new façade. The façade was approved with office staff overseeing the construction materials.

Walz gets
100%

Representative Marty Walz received a perfect 100% voting record according the Mass Audubon Legislative report card for 2007. Senator Diane Wilkerson received a 93% score. The report card, which is prepared by the group is a compilation of roll call votes on environmental bills or budget items.
“Caring for the environment is one of the most important issues facing our Commonwealth. I am proud of my environmental voting record, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass even more environmental legislation during the reminder of the 2008 legislative session,” Walz said.

You got
a break

Since April 1, residents who park their cars on the city’s streets have been cut a break by the city. There have been no tickets issued or cars towed since street cleaning has gone into effect. However, the good times are about to end. According to a spokesperson from the Mayor’s office, flyers have been placed on cars and the no towing respite has been in effect as a way to remind residents that it is the street cleaning time of the year. Residents should expect the stringent street cleaning operations to begin next week. So, read the signs and if you choose to ignore them, then face a hefty fine and towing.

Residential decals

If you look at your parking decal, you might have noticed that it expired on March 31, 2007. According to city officials, the mailings for new decals will go out and you must have a new decal by May 1. This decal will last until May 2010. So check your mail and get it or else pay a fine.

Esplanade on
the docket

The Boston Landmarks Commission is still reviewing the application to give the Boston Esplanade landmark status. According to a spokesperson, the study report should be completed this year. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) that oversees the Esplanade is reviewing the construction contract bids for Storrow Drive. After the bids have been awarded the DCR will be holding public meetings about the potential impact on traffic flows and on neighborhoods.

Cleanup
Meetings
and dates

There are two important dates to remember about Spring clean-up. On April 16, the Beacon Hill Civic Association will be holding a public meeting with city officials about general cleanups in the neighborhoods of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, South End, North End and West End. Interested residents are invited to attend this informational hearing. The hearing will take place at 74 Joy Street starting at 6:00 p.m. For more information please contact Suzanne Besser at
The annual alley rally will be held on Saturday April 26 starting with coffee and donuts at 8:30 a.m. at the Clarendon Street Playground. This year the cleanup is in conjunction with Mayor Thomas Menino’s Boston Shines. “We really encourage residents of all ages to take part this year. This is a great way to meet neighbors while cleaning up the neighborhood,” Ellen Rooney Chairperson for the event said. For more information please contact Ellen Rooney at parnell3@verizon.net

One of the most unsightly and dangerous problems that can affect any city is an overabundance of abandoned properties: untended buildings that can become vermin infested or dens of crime.
One need only think of the HBO’s "The Wire," where West Baltimore’s vacant row houses became a dumping ground for a drug lord’s murder victims.
Now Mayor Tom Menino is proposing legislation meant to reduce the number of abandoned properties in the city through tax penalties. If passed, the legislation would tax the landholders of property that has stood vacant for more than a year at 10 percent of the assessed value the buildings.
Although vacancy is not as big a problem in Beacon Hill as in other neighborhoods, there are still many problematic properties that could be forced back into the market or into use by the tax pressure, such as 18 Brimmer Street. At a city council meeting last week, Mike Ross expressed interest in the idea, but said the legislation requires serious work before it is passed.
The legislation is part of a broader plan to help combat the rising number of foreclosures as the city feels the bite of the current credit crunch and mortgage crisis. The city is also counting on legislative support from the state and the federal government.
Just last month, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the city over $200,000 in grants to combat foreclosures.
Last week the Mayor testified at a congressional hearing on the mortgage crises, where he urged the congress to pass legislation to provide support to suffering communities.
“This important legislation comes none too soon. As strong as Boston is economically, we are seeing every day how the meltdown of our financial system is affecting the lives of people who live in our neighborhoods and call Boston home,” said Mayor Menino. “We’re got some terrific programs in place that are making a real difference for residents. But our city – and many others like it – need more help. We need Federal assistance to help save the working class neighborhoods across the nation that are being ravaged by the greed of the lending industry over the last decade.”

Suffolk University international students from Canada, China, India, Slovakia and Ukraine participated in the Red Sox Parade of Nations on Tuesday, April 8, Opening Day at Fenway Park.
The Suffolk students will be representing their countries in a pre-game parade celebration of the diversity of Red Sox Nation. Suffolk will have the largest number of international students participating in the Parade of Nations.
As part of the pre-game ceremonies, Suffolk international students will march on the field and assemble just beneath the fabled Green Monster.
The students will also get to stay for the game and see the defending World Series Champions take on the Detroit Tigers.

Back Bay City Councilor Michael Ross was elected as a delegate to represent the 8th Congressional District during the Democratic National Convention, August 25-28 in Denver.
Ross was elected on Saturday during a caucus run by U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano.
As a delegate, Ross will be throwing his support behind Senator Barack Obama for President.
Nine years ago, at the age of 27, Ross was elected to the Boston City Council for District 8 on November 2, 1999. The district includes the neighborhoods of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway and Mission Hill as well as Kenmore Square, Audubon Circle and the West End. At 36 years old, he is the youngest city councilor on the Boston City Council and the first Jewish city councilor in over 55 years.
Since taking office, Ross was voted Best Politician by the Boston TAB, served as commencement speaker for Fisher College, and was featured in Boston Magazine as one of 40 Bostonians to watch.
Ross graduated with a bachelor's degree in governmental studies from Clark University in 1993 and completed his master's degree in business administration from Boston University in 2001. He recently graduated from Suffolk Law School in 2006 and passed the bar exam in May of 2007.
This year Ross was chosen by Council President Maureen Feeney to chair both the Committee on Government Operations and the Special Committee of the Boston Common.
For the first committee, Ross will oversee the organization and structure of city government, including departmental fees and charges. All proposed ordinances and special laws affecting the structure, duties and responsibilities of city departments, agencies and commissions pass through the committee. The committee also reviews the city's policy regarding residency for city employees.
For the second committee, a new committee established by Ross, Councilor Sal LaMattina and Councilor Bill Linehan, Ross and the other three councilors will focus on promoting, protecting, and coordinating the Boston Common.