Opinion

 Boston Shootings Getting out of Hand

Boston’s street shooting numbers have significantly increased since last year, and currently there appears to be no end in sight because there is no fear in the culprits that are terrifying the City. They just don’t care and believe they will not get caught.

It doesn’t appear that taking illegal guns off the streets with a volunteer program or police action is working, neither is gang-controlled efforts.

It doesn’t help that when these bad guys are arrested, the court system falters and they are back on the streets, somehow obtaining another gun.

Boston Police, collectively have to disparately find a way to stop shootings with a real plan to prevent this serious criminal situation, that’s for real.

At the same time, police should make a huge effort to remove gangs off the street that are having a negative safety effect on the City.

For the most part, Police have knowledge of who these gang members are and start rounding them up and begin to reduce the shootings and other crimes.

It’s time to kick a little BUTT.

MBTA Red Line Service Problems Need Fixing

Boston residents certainly depend on services provided by the MBTA, especially on the Red Line which continues to have major problems.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said it best, “We need better service on a faster a timeline.”

Just about everyone agrees that Red Line riders need better solutions, now not later.

Boston’s budget gives $90 million to the MBTA, however, the MBTA is not currently providing a functional service for residents and it doesn’t appear to be getting any better.

The Mayor has made some suggestions that need to be considered by the T that could have merit.

Attacks on EMTs is not Acceptable

When someone is injured, the first person they want to see at the scene is a Boston EMT that can immediate assess the injury (s) that have occurred and provide medical assistance, sometimes in life-saving situations.

Recently, there have been several physical attacks on EMTs for no reasonable explanation.

“This is unacceptable” was the response from City officials, however, nobody noted what is or will be done to protect these men and woman from harm.

EMTs do a great job attempting to make things better for people that are injured.

Worrying about being assaulted every time they respond to a situation is not acceptable for these medical professional responders that handle negative situations every day.

Feast Societies Covered all the Basics

Local religious feast societies have prepared for the yearly, traditional festivals on the streets of the North End.

Working with several city agencies and of course with Boston Police to ensure public safety and cleaning up the debris that fills the streets and sidewalks, the societies have covered all the bases for these traditional religious happenings that attract thousands of people each year.

Public safety and health issues were fully addressed. Kudos.

North End Family Festival has a Community Event

North End Against Drugs (NEAD) along with its major sponsor Eversource Energy have put together what seems to be another promising North End Family Fun Festival running Aug. 3 through 9.

The schedule of events includes something for everyone during the week at different locations throughout the neighborhood.

Residents should try to participate in one or two of the events or all of them.

North End Pride Day and National Night Out a part of the many events that will take place at the community event.

North Station/Haymarket Station Improvements Planned

Wayfinding and improvements to four MBTA stations including North Station and Haymarket Station located on the outskirts of the North End have been planned by the MBTA.

Plans call for much-needed replacement of existing signage, repairs to ceilings, walls, floors, interior painting, general cleaning, bench refinishing, lighting replacement and station art work cleaning.

The expected improvements reflect the T’s goal to upgrade stations for better customer experience.

Investments to improve customer service and experience to stations are a positive move in the right direction that will make conditions much cleaner and brighter for T users.

Taking False Credit is Unacceptable

Four additional hokey have been assigned by the City of Public Works Department (DPW) to clean in the North End this summer.

They were solely needed due to the increasing debris mounting in the neighborhood. How true.

Public Works made this decision to place more hokeys in the community some time ago.

There was apparently no pressure to accomplish this like a local committee is claiming credit for. DPW had already planned for the additional hokeys for the community.

Taking credit after something has been decided is poor judgment and not acceptable.

DPW should be given the credit for recognizing the need for additional hokeys in a neighborhood that clearly warranted them.

City Needs to Ensure North End Buildings are Safe for Construction

Placing additional floors to current North End structures has to be completely subject to serious review by the City of Boston.

Structural integrity should be the target of concern, especially since part of a North Street building suddenly collapsed while under construction and plans for construction on a Hanover Street building was nixed because of steel beam problems.

While the City of Boston usually does a respectable job of surveying properties, recent incidents warrant a step-up program to make absolutely sure that these structures are solid enough to rehab or place additions on.