Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Lack of Police Presence Creates Increase in Crime

By Kate Klinck

Tremont Drug, the store he has owned for the past 24 years, has been broken into four times, and now has bars on the windows to prevent future crimes.

“Police should put back beat cops. There is not enough outreach from cops,” said Gary Einsidler, owner of Tremont Drug.

From Sept. 21 to Sept. 28, 18 larceny crimes occurred, according to D-4 district police reports.


Officer Bill Slyne of D-4 district, which includes South End,
Back Bay, Lower Roxbury and part of the Fenway area, said theft is the biggest problem.

“We don’t have the man power to get as many cops out on the streets as we’d want,” Slyne said. “The city couldn’t afford it.”


Overall, larceny has decreased in the past five years by 1014 crimes, or 36 percent, but residents say they are concerned with the recent number of incidents.


Lou Rizzo, the Claremont Neighborhood Association crime watch captain, posted a letter on SouthEnd.org,alerting his neighbors of the recent spike in break-ins and theft, and telling them what they can do about the situation.


Crimewatch is not about patrolling with pitchforks and torches, it's simply about heightened awareness and promptly sharing information, or "preventative mobilizing," Rizzo said.


Max Pendolari, the general manager of The Wine Emporium on Tremont Street, said that the police have taken action, such as moving police headquarters from Tremont Street to Harrison Avenue in 2000, which has helped decrease crime in the new location over the past few years.


However, he also said he would like to see more of a police foot presence on Tremont Street.


Joseph Restuccia, a member of the St. Botolph Neighborhood Organization, said there are not as many beat cops patrolling now as there were three years ago, because of budget cutbacks.


Some neighborhood organizations are trying to prevent crime among youth. The Blackstone Community Center has after school programs available that include tutoring and mentoring.

“There are either three or four other community service places [that provide after school programs], but I don’t think it’s ever enough,” said Sophia Grant, the receptionist at the Blackstone Community Center. “I think they should be open later, especially on the weekends, and provide transportation to take the kids home.”

Sunday, October 12, 2008

South Enders Respond to Wilkerson’s Perseverance

By Kate Klinck

Dianne Wilkerson is not ready to give up.

“Third time could be the charm,” said Myung Kim, 25, a resident of Jamaica Plain.

Kim, a sales representative at Design Within Reach on Tremont Street, said Wilkerson has a right to, “fight for it,” and that she has a chance at winning the state Senate election.

After 15 years representing the second Suffolk district, which includes the South End, Back Bay, Lower Roxbury and part of the Fenway area, Wilkerson lost to Sonia Chang-Diaz by 228 votes in the primary election on Sept. 16. Both candidates asked for a recount, which took place on Sept. 27. Chang-Diaz won 9,071 to 8,858.

But, Wilkerson said she would run a write-in, sticker campaign on Nov. 4.

Jessica Ostrowski, 27, a Back Bay resident, said she thought it was fair to give Wilkerson another chance at running because she has had such a long history representing the community.

“If she’s that determined to it, I’m all for it,” said Jessica Ostrowski, 27, Back Bay resident.

Khadra Mohumud, 32, a South End resident who lives near Back Bay, said she does not think Wilkerson should run because she had her chance in the primaries and lost.

“It’s a waste of time. If she lost, what’s the use?” Mohumud said.

Rebecca Tearte, a South End resident, said Wilkerson’s campaign finance violations are what caused her to lose the primary and she would not be able to regain those votes in the next election.

According to the press release from the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, Martha Coakley, Wilkerson was accused of using campaign funds for personal benefits, using prohibited campaign contributions, taking improper reimbursements from campaign funds, and having irregularities in record keeping and reporting violations.

Wilkerson reached an agreement with the office to pay $10,000 out of her personal funds, release $29,524 in debt that she said her campaign committee owed her for reimbursements, and her campaign committee must also release $2,200 from unlawful campaign contributions.

“If she didn’t have all the side effects, she’d get re-elected, but those things stick [with you],” Tearte said.

Tom Boyden,68, an Ellis Neighborhood resident, said he approved of Wilkerson’s constituency relations.

“She was very involved with the South End, and supportive of the people,” Boyden said.

Boyden then said he would not vote for her because of her financial violations, but she can run because it’s her right to do so.

“She had proven on more than one occasion that she couldn’t handle her own and campaign finances—that doesn’t bode well,” he said.

For Angghus Macdougal, bartender/chef at J.J. Foley’s in the South End, said Wilkerson’s dishonesty was why he won’t vote for her.

“She hasn’t been straight up, she should take the pain” he said.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Voice of the South End

By Kate Klinck
Her high heels clicked as she walked into city hall’s deli. She looked down at her hands that were holding a notebook and pen; Tabitha Bennett’s blue eyes opened a little wider and the smile returned to her face as she began to speak about her community.


“It’s diverse,” Bennett said. “It’s very much a cultural and artistic center, and the people in the South End, whether they’ve lived there three or fifteen years, they’re very passionate. That’s what makes it thrive.”


During her sophomore year at Northeastern University, she interned at Mission Hill-- where she met Nikko Mendoza, the associate director of neighborhood services, who recommended her to be neighborhood coordinator.


Mendoza said she saw Bennett’s diligence and professional attitude, even at such a young age, and knew she could handle the job as neighborhood coordinator.


Bennett has been working as neighborhood coordinator since July, 2008. Mendoza said she has a great ability to relate to her constituents.


“She’s grace under fire, Mendoza said. “At heated community meetings, she always maintains her poise.”


As neighborhood coordinator, Bennett calls herself the “eyes and ears for the mayor.”


Bennett attends community meetings events and listens to what community groups and residents have to say. If a person or group has an issue concerning the neighborhood or services the neighborhood provides, Bennett resolves the issue herself, or relays the call to one of her contacts in the neighborhood who can handle the problem. She then tells the mayor the issues facing the community.


Since starting, she has “done a good job gaining contacts,” said Marco Torres, Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Latino liaison. “To be able to come in and dive right into it is a testament to her character,” Torres said.


Bennett also attends regular staff meetings at work, and answers phone calls from individuals or organizations that need her help with neighborhood issues.


“She’s very easy to work with,” said Linsey Onishuk, the administrative assistant for the Office of Neighborhood Services. “As soon as she came in she fit right in with all of us.”


Bennett said an example of a typical phone call would be a resident calling to say he/she was upset because a specific city tree was cut down. Bennett would contact the Parks Department, find out why the tree was cut down, and then explain the reason to the caller.


“She just started with us and she’s been going strong,” said Tanya Robinson, the office manager for the Office of Neighborhood Services.


“She works very closely with her constituents.”


Another issue Bennett deals with is land development. Right now, builders are studying Harrison Avenue. Bennett attends planning meetings that are open to residents of the community, and listens to reactions and concerns about the construction. Then she relays that information to the mayor.


“The community has a voice, and I’m part of that process,” Bennett said.


Bennett tries to hold regular office hours, 9-to-5, but since community events happen on weekends and after hours, she is always on call.


Bennett makes time for ultimate Frisbee after work and on weekends. The season starts in the summer, and lasts until the end of fall. The club team she joined this year is based in Boston, but they recently traveled to California, where they qualified to be in the regional tournament. Last year, the team placed third at the national tournament in Florida.


If ultimate Frisbee takes her out of the city for nationals, her co-workers will cover for her.


Tabitha said her job as neighborhood coordinator and ultimate Frisbee are all she has time for right now, but in the future she hopes to attend law school.