Opinion

Recreational sale of pot has not cleared up the smoke

It won’t be too long until recreational pot shops are opened throughout the State with apparent rigid rules, regulations and policies geared to control the industry that will possibly continue to grow out of control.

The powers to be are only blowing smoke in an attempt to fill state, cities and town war chests. Money makes the world go around.

Soon, thousands of potheads will be strolling down the street about three feet off the ground and taxes will continue to increase despite the revenue expected from pot sales.

If the pot scenario doesn’t work out as expected, what’s the next step?

 

FOCCP does it again

Totally successful, is the only way to describe the annual Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) Independence Day Celebration.

Hundreds of people joined in the day’s activities which included a great display of fireworks at dusk.

FOCCP, over the years, has provided many activities and events free to the public.

In addition, FOCCP, has done an outstanding job managing the needs of the park, working closely with the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

The non-profit group works overtime to make the park as terrific as it is and totally accessible.

 

Lanza handled difficult meeting very well

Under totally difficult circumstances, City of Boston Neighborhood Services Liaison Maria Lanza did an outstanding job conducting the North End abutters meeting relating to Starbucks plans to move into the community at 198 Hanover Street at The Gateway to the Italian neighborhood commonly known as “Little Italy”.

More than 200 angry residents and businessmen filled the main hall at the Nazzaro Community Center to oppose the proposal and wanted to be heard.

Lanza managed to appease the demand from the public to express their opinions more than once at the three-hour meeting, which had the potential to get out of hand at times.

The meeting was very loud, suggestive and even personal but Lanza managed to control the situation.

 

Bridge Project will create traffic problems

While the public has been assured that traffic problems, especially during peak hours, is under control for the revamping of the Washington Street Bridge, there is still the potential of becoming a traffic nightmare at times. At least it appears that way.

While alternate routes are being suggested, thousands of vehicles will be merging on both sides of the bridge and converging in the North End and Charlestown, not to mention the heavily traveled North Station area.

Many community meetings have been held relating to the Bridge Project that many factors could and will create traffic gridlock, like accidents, inclement weather, construction problems and the unforeseeable.

This is a must do construction project and will be a viable traffic throughway once completed with a great design plan put in place for non-traffic areas of the bridge, however a project of this magnitude will create traffic problems.

It appears to be a wait and see situation.

 

Will increased parking fines open up residential spaces?

North End residents have complained continuously regarding residential parking spaces being taken up by non-stickered vehicles or false stickers as well as false handicap stickers.

In the neighborhood wear parking spaces are limited for residents and are worth their weight in gold, the City of Boston’s new increase parking fines could clear up some of the problem, especially with strict enforcement.

Only time will reveal if the increased fines actually opens up more residential spaces. It’s a start.