CAPTION: Mayoral hopeful and City Councilor at-Large Sam Yoon.

Mayoral hopeful and City Councilor at-Large Sam Yoon appeared at the monthly meeting of the West End Civic Association (WECA) Thursday to promote his campaign agenda, which includes the elimination of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the reform of city government, the need for more public schools and the urgency of introducing more green initiatives.
“The BRA is a dinosaur,” said Yoon, who was elected to the Boston City Council in November 2005. “It was created at a time when the city was very different, and since that time, it has completely changed.”
Yoon added the BRA has “locked billions of dollars of land value in its domain” and is “largely accountable to private developers and institutions.
“We should have a planning agency, like every other modern city has, that is accountable to taxpayers and residents,” he said.
As for the reform city government, Yoon spoke about the need to shift power away from the mayor’s office.
“The City Council needs to have a lot more authority over the city budget and a process to examine whether we should make changes in city government,” he said.
Yoon also suggested the creation of citizens-run charter commissions that would hold conversations throughout the city to gauge what form of government would work best to move Boston in the 21st century.
On the topic of education, Yoon, who previously worked as a teacher in urban schools in Trenton and Elizabeth, N.J., and whose 4- and 7-year-old children are currently enrolled in Boston public schools, advocated for constructing more schools in the city.
“The trend is unstoppable – families are going to flock to the city,” Yoon said. “Every neighborhood should have a school that parents are pleased to send their children to. It’s clear, it’s achievable, and it’s absolutely necessary.”
In addition, Yoon emphasized the importance of creating a greener Boston through such initiatives as weatherizing and retrofitting older homes to curtail the city’s dependency on oil.
“We as a city have to convert to green and be a leader in creating green jobs,” Yoon said. “We have to do this now and can’t afford to wait another four years.”
When asked whether he had enough experience to take on the role of mayor, Yoon pointed to his other experience, which includes building affordable housing in the city for 10 years.
“That experience and my experience in City Hall is the right combination for a mayor of the 21st century,” Yoon said, “The single most important way to affect change is through the mayor’s office. I’m running because I want to make a difference. I can’t make a difference in City Hall, so the rest is up to you.”

The Charles River Esplanade has gained Boston Landmark status, following final approval from the Boston City Council on Wednesday, one week after Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) voted in favor of the designation.
“The City of Boston has bestowed an honor on the Charles River Esplanade that puts it in good company with other historic Boston parks and open spaces such as the Boston Common, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and the Riverway,” Menino said.
In November 2007, 850 Boston residents signed a petition supporting the designation of the Esplanade as a Boston Landmark amid concern that the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) was considering rerouting traffic through the linear park that extends along the Charles River in order to make repairs to the Storrow Drive Tunnel. Under the guidance of the nonprofit Boston Preservation Alliance and Beacon Hill resident Linda Cox, the petition gained endorsements from the Esplanade Association, the Beacon Hill Civic Association and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, as well as City Council President Mike Ross and State Rep. Marty Walz.
“The landmark status for the Esplanade ensures the greatest level of protection for our park, which is vitally important as DCR moves forward with plans for reconstruction of the Storrow Drive Tunnel,” Walz said.
“This protection will ensure access to the cherished green space for years to come,” Ross added.
Sarah D. Kelly, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, said, “The landmark designation will ensure that the most important historic features be protected while also allowing for necessary maintenance and enhancements.”
According to the study report that the Landmarks Commission presented at a May 26 public meeting at City Hall, the Esplanade meets the criteria for landmark designation found in Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, amended, because it has brought about significant historical, social, cultural, architectural and aesthetic improvements to the city, the commonwealth and New England region.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kim Parkinson.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Bank of America Massachusetts Market President Bob Gallery hands out cotton candy at the Boston Frog Pond ribbon cutting ceremony. Bank of America was one of several sponsors who provided refreshments at the event, which kicked off the 2009 summer season.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: Bank of America's Mark Cautela hands out cotton candy to Frog Pond Freddie at the Boston Frog Pond ribbon cutting ceremony.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia M. Pollak, and Frog Pond Foundation President Thomas A. Kershaw are pleased to welcome children and guests to kick off the 2009 summer season, now that the Boston Common Frog Pond is reopen for wading, following a recent official ribbon cutting ceremony. The celebration featured a special visit from official mascot Frog Pond Freddie, entertainment, and arts and crafts activities with Sidewalk Sam. Children of all ages enjoyed story telling by ReadBoston and music and activities provided by the Mix 98.5 Street Team, and all attendees were eligible to enter a summer raffle for a chance to win great prizes, including giveaways from Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer's 3-D "G-Force," which opens in theaters July 29. Refreshments were provided by in-kind sponsors H.P. Hood LLC, Cabot Creamery, Nantucket Nectars, Snapple, and Jennifer's Ice Creamwho provided tasty samples and important nutrition information.
Besides the activities, families and residents gathered important information regarding upcoming summer programs offered by the City of Boston.
A year-round recreational facility, the Frog Pond offers ice skating in the winter and a spray pool and supervised wading for youngsters in the summer. During the summer, one can hop over to the Lily Pad Snack Bar and enjoy some of tasty treats such as hotdogs, hamburgers ice cream and much more.
"The Frog Pond is the spot to go to for families who want to have affordable family fun and cool off in the summer heat," said Mayor Menino.
The Frog Pond spray pool is open for wading daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day. The facility is managed by the Boston Common Frog Pond Foundation and staffed by youth workers from the Boston Youth Fund. For more information, please call the Frog Pond at 617-635-2120.

The photo above shows a city locale that has undergone a drastic transformation in recent years. To find out where it was shot, read the Times next week.
The photo that appeared in the July 7 edition was of Averey and Washington streets, which is now the location of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.