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Maura Takes the Media on Her Believe in a Better Boston Tour
Friday, July 29, 2005
City Councillor At-Large and Mayoral Candidate Maura Hennigan took members of
the Boston media on a tour throughout the city last Thursday, highlighting
different issues and neighborhood spots and how they relate to her vision
for a better Boston.
The Believe in a Better Boston Tour visited locations in Jamaica Plain, West
Roxbury, Mattapan, South Boston, the North End, the Fenway, Chinatown,
the South End and more. Hennigan served as tour guide, standing at the front
of the trolley and pointing out the history, the highs and the lows of each neighborhood.
“From West Roxbury to Mattapan, from South Boston to the North End, Boston is
my city and I wouldn’t be running for mayor if I didn’t know the issues that
were important to my constituents,” Councillor Hennigan said.
Touching on everything from crime to construction, the citywide councilor spoke
to reporters about parking issues in West Roxbury, the need to implement master
plans in Mattapan and the North End, as well as development issues in South
Boston, Dorchester and Chinatown.
“I understand that development and redevelopment are key to the future success
of Boston, but it’s important that any development should have real input from
the community and reflect their best interests,” she said.
In West Roxbury, the councillor’s tour made a stop at the now infamous Corey
Street Parking lot, where the Mayor’s office of Neighborhood Development has
leased a majority of the public parking spaces to a private developer as part
of the post office project.
“The administration had an opportunity to get this deal done and save the
parking spaces,” she said. “Instead they did what was best for the private
developer and the business district of West Roxbury will be impacted for years
to come because patrons will have no place to park,” she added.
Throughout the tour, Hennigan pointed out examples of how as Mayor she would
operate an inclusive and transparent government. “Systems need to be put in
place that give people more of a voice, “ said Hennigan.
Once in the North End, the trolley stopped momentarily to pick up some cookies
for members of the media while Councillor Hennigan spoke about the importance
of designating the North End as a historic district.
“The North End has a strong and vibrant history and it should be respected and
preserved, not developed out of existence,” she said.
On the topic of history, the tour also rode by the Hennigan School, which the
councillor and her family have had close ties to for years.
Passing by the school that shares the candidate’s name, the councillor gave
her pitch for what needs to be done to improve public education in Boston.
“It’s important that we educate the whole child and you just can’t do that
within the confines of a six-hour school day. As a former Boston public
school teacher I understand that,” she said.
Finishing the tour near her home neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, the trolley made
a stop at the Boston Housing Authority Police Station on Amory Street, behind the
BHA building for disabled and senior residents. The councillor touched on the
recent murders that have taken place in the building and the rising violent
crime rate that has plagued the city this year.
“The Boston Housing Authority is the largest landlord in the City of Boston and
it needs to be staffed according. Thirty police officers is not enough to provide
security to all the residents they house,” she said.
Hennigan hit home the point that it’s not just BHA police that need an infusion of
new officers, but that the Boston Police Department as a whole needs at least 200
more officers.
“A budget is a reflection of a Mayor’s priorities and as Mayor I would make public safety
one of the key components of my budget and in my administration,” she said.
The Committee to Elect Maura
Hennigan will be offering voters the opportunity to experience Maura’s Believe
in a Better Boston Tour in the new Maura Mobile during the months of August and
September.
This is a great opportunity to
see first-hand examples of why Maura should be out next Mayor and to ride in
the new Maura Mobile!
Tickets are available for the
Believe in a Better Boston Tour!
Ticket prices are:
Ø
$200 for the 2.5-hour
tour guided by campaign staff and volunteers,
Ø
$500 for the 2.5-hour
tour guided by campaign staff and volunteers and lunch with Maura to further
discuss the issues introduced by the tour.
Those interested in the tour
should call the campaign headquarters at 617-522-2005 to inquire about
available dates and times. Funds will
be used to further Maura’s campaign!
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