Of #OccupyBoston, Mooninites and #Sinkgate

The Boston Police Department's theft of #OccupyBoston's kitchen sink (sigh... the jokes just write themselves) is really just the latest in police overreaction in a long series of Boston Police are-you-kidding-me? overreactions. My friend put it well when she wrote on Facebook,

"okay, the occupiers probably shouldnt have blocked the police van. but, in their defense, the police PROBABLY SHOULD BE SPENDING THEIR TIME ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN A SINK. jussssst sayin'."

And I'm not even so sure they were wrong to block the van for the limited amount of time that they did. After all, they're living indefinitely protesting there, and dishes need cleaning.

So, how bad are the cops? Be it trying to arm every Tom, Dick and Harry in the force with military grade semi-automatic weapons, under the guise of 'preventing terrorism,' or essentially shutting down Boston because of a cartoon movie viral media campaign, it's clear the old fogies of the Boston Police and the status quo's forces that be just don't get what motivates or entertains anyone with a living pulse who thinks life's worth living.

When you think of it, there really are a lot of similarities between what happened when the Mooninites rocketed our city -- by being hung up on a couple walls to market a movie -- and #OccupyTogether movement itself.

Whether it's people wanting to amuse themselves with entertaining adult cartoons, or creating a positive atmosphere of freedom to fight for our rights to have a slice of the American Dream, it's all about people carving out a place for themselves.

And seemingly every time it happens, the elites of the world miss the 'joke,' metaphorical or otherwise.

So, in that regard, the Boston Police stealing the kitchen sink is emblematic with what's wrong with the city, government and mainstream society at large. It's the silly and serious merging all at once, crossing the poli-pop streams, amounting to something that's laughably stupid and insulting all at the same time.

They call the protesters dirty hippies, but as the protesters gain steam, they strip away their ability to stay clean, hoping normal people watching this stuff on the local news won't know any better.

Meanwhile, the protesters are nonviolent, peaceful and fighting for the rights of every American who's ever known what it's like to worry about putting food on the table, paying rent, finding a job or having adequate (or any) health care. The police are getting spooked by ghosts that just aren't there.

These politicians, corporate powers and police officers doing their dirty work don't respect or understand younger people and those struggling to find their way in this life, and they aren't even trying.

If it doesn't fit in with what's gone on in the past, like having a one day march instead of a long-term assembly, having a job instead of desperately looking for one in the midst of a job crisis for those out of work, or using viral marketing instead of paying millions for expensive ads, the old world not only doesn't understand it, but sees it as a threat and attacks it.

This time, far from attacking some stupid viral marketing campaign, we are the Mooninites -- and we're working with a political, corporate and police establishment that has yet to realize life has past them by.

According to Globe, Menino "supports" #OccupyBoston -- even as he tries to evict them

I don't know where to begin with this article.

Mayor Thomas Menino, who has previously expressed support for the Occupy movement, tells WCVB-TV (http://bit.ly/uwJs97) that he wants to have the legal tools to have dozens of tents in Dewey Square Park removed.

The fact that they suggest Menino's supported the movement is bizarre, in the extreme. Ordering police to mass-arrest protesters isn't "supporting" them.Telling protesters that Civil Disobedience has no place in Boston isn't "supporting" the protesters. About the only thing you can say about Menino's support is at least he hasn't allowed the BPD to give any Iraqi veterans brain injuries, like in Oakland, though even in that case, veterans in Boston were injured due to needless police brutality.

Menino's been somewhat constrained from lashing out at the Occupy movement in Dewey Square by popular opinion and the movement's strength, but let's not kid ourselves here, he's been wanting to get rid of them for quite a while now.

Want to see how much Menino "supports" the protesters and movement? Just watch this segment from WCVB's "On the Record," starting at about 2:50. It's a mutual sneer-fest. He (and they) hate the Occupy movement. Menino even goes on to compare Occupy Boston to the Tea Party -- and gives praise to the Tea Party!

So, Boston Globe, this online story is officially the ranks of Fake News.

Questions Media Didn't Ask at #OccupyBoston

Sometimes it's not just about what the media asks -- what they cover -- but what they don't cover and don't ask. Most of the issues over the coverage we saw, of what little coverage there was, would fit into this category.

News organizations like WCVB have covered the fact that the police asked protesters to leave, but didn't ask why they wanted to stay. That seems kind of important, doesn't it?

Several media outlets, like the Boston Herald, covered the fact that Boston's police commissioner blamed the raid on "anarchists" who had 'taken over' over the past 24 hours, but didn't bother to see just who those 'anarchists' were. If they followed up, they would have found a lot of veterans for piece, college students from neighboring campuses and the working poor, but I'm not so sure about "anarchists."

Plenty of news sources, like NECN, covered the fact that Mayor Menino despises civil disobedience and won't tolerate it in Boston, but could no news organization think to ask him how he can reconcile that with the fact that Boston practically invented civil disobedience in this country, in the form of hordes of Bostonians throwing tons of tea into the harbor.

There was the media coverage of the shrubs -- oh, dear, the shrubs! -- including ABC News, except no one bothered to ask Occupy Boston about it. If they did, they'd know Occupy Boston had approval from the Rose Kennedy group to be there, so long as they'd help care for the shrubs.

If the media asked, they would have learned how Occupy Boston already took care of shrubs and flowers at the Dewey Square camp and had a recycling program that would be the envy of many municipalities across the state.

Almost no main stream media organizations made note of the Veterans for Peace who were attacked, even while they trended worldwide on twitter. Wouldn't it have made sense to ask why it was necessary for the Boston Police to come down hard on people who've served this country with honor and distinction?

What about the medics and legal observers who were arrested? Or the medical supplies and other resources that were immediately thrown away -- things that could have provided evidence of police brutality, like cell phones and computers that may have been in the camp? Were these not worthy questions to ask about?

Among the questions that the media didn't ask was if the Patrick Administration approved the State Police being used as tools to bash protesters, or why Mayor Menino didn't have the police use non-violent means of breaking up the crowd -- without having to make mass arrests -- like using tear gas. There were plenty of questions asked of the Boston Police, but very little coverage of the protesters.

The entire Dewey Square camp was free and clear, with hundreds of people right there who would have been willing to answer questions. These are people who just want to have their voices heard -- that's why they're there in the first place. Would it have been so hard to hear their stories? To hear why they're there? To hear why they're willing to put themselves at risk for a greater cause? Those are worthy questions the rest of America deserves to have answered and covered.

Mostly, though, I'd like to know why most of the media didn't seem to think this was a big story. Well over a hundred people, in a city the fraction the size of New York, stood up for their rights in front of police brutality and courageously didn't back down, even when it meant arrest -- while the world went nuts over it on Twitter -- and it received barely a peep on the Mainstream Media. That's the biggest travesty of all.

Occupy Boston: Veterans Bashed, but Hopes aren't Dashed

The most discomforting thing about having stayed up late last night to stand witness to the events initiated by Mayor Menino was watching the Veterans for Peace, many of them seniors, stand in front of the rest of the crowd to shield them from the police -- and beaten for it. The whole night was peaceful, non-violent resistance, met by a far more aggressive approach by the police, who cowardly chose to attack in the middle of the night, after all the news programs cut off their live shows and before papers would have time to publish what really happened within the news cycle.

That's why any of the papers that managed to get anything to press had what amounted to fairly one-sided police accounts of what happened, with almost no mention of the fact that veterans were attacked and medics were arrested, along with some among the legal team who were there to stand witness. The cops cut the power to the media tent for the protesters, but luckily they anticipated that and booked a hotel that stood above the attacked encampment, where there was a live feed watched by upwards of 15,000 people.

I could go on about my assessment of what happened (and I do on today's podcast), but I think I'd rather point you to this story, posted on Daily Kos, by one of the facilitators of the movement. In addition to being a fantastic writer, he (or she) really put to pen everything that happened and how it happened from the perspective of someone from within the movement who had some level of ownership of it. Here's just a snippet of how they came to decide to set up the second camp.

The facilitation team quickly realized that with all that was going on we a) couldn't deal with proposals because the quorum was split and we would not get any true consensus, and b) people were going to be consumed with the rapidly unfolding and precarious situation. So, instead of a regular GA, we had urgent group announcements and a facilitated community discussion about what was going on. 

The goal of the discussion was to minimize speculation and rumor-mongering. We could get everyone on the same page and equally informed. 

Though there were some people who expressed dismay at the idea that the beta camp might be jeopardizing the alpha camp, the conversation went very well and we ended up with a strong sense of solidarity. The highlight of that was when the VeteransForPeace showed up. They strolled in with these white, very tall flags of their organization and a couple of US flags. As a facilitator I was facing the rest of the GA when a man asked to make an announcement, "We are here from the Veteran for Peace! We support Occupy Boston and we'll stand between you and the police!" There was a roar in the camp and I turned around to see a phalanx of veterans - men and women - standing tall with a wall of flags. I had been trying to remain calm and I'm not much of a flag waver. Still, I must admit that I was a bit verklempt. It was an impressive view and there really was something very reassuring and heartwarming about them showing up.

It was not an easy decision for them; they knew what was at risk. Yet, the movement has grown so incredibly quickly that Dewey Square alone is no longer large enough for it. They had no choice, and the city has no choice but to listen to them, at least if it wants to be known as a city that respects freedom and democracy and holds to our roots as the cradle of America.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Mayor Menino has some learning to do. His quotes today about the incident last night were some combination of dopey, misguided and frightening for the future of Democracy.

“Civil disobedience doesn’t work for Boston; it doesn’t work for anyone.”

“We will tolerate demonstrations, we will tolerate expressions of free speech but when it comes to civil disobedience we have a real issue with that, that is why we moved in last night.”

In a country and city with a past as colorful as ours, that's a very dangerous -- and faulty -- assessment. Yes, Mayor Menino, civil disobedience works. It works when nothing else will. When society's problems are systemic and government is a part of the problem, civil disobedience is all we have left. Like it or not, the Mayor will face more civil disobedience, not less. His actions last night assured it.

Going Global

• Fake News Alert: Globe can't get past Gov's finances in article about Governor House Hunting. Shocker. The guy hasn't considered his Milton home home since he built the Richmond estate. Swapping the Milton digs for a comfortable condo within walking distance of the State House is a no brainer -- and not a real money-saving move. Luxury condos in Boston by the Commons don't go cheap.
• How does Globe come by the following sentence in Menino charter school article?
  

  Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who for years has expressed deep reservations about one of the most fundamental innovations in public education, abruptly shifted course yesterday and said he wants to turn the city's poorly performing schools into new charter schools.

  What makes Globe writer Michael Levenson or his editors experts in "innovations in public education?" Stick to the facts -- Menino's robbing Flaherty's chief education proposal.
  

• Times taking bids for Globe. I hereby offer my official bid of $.01. Any higher takers?
  

Globe's Weird Yoon Fixation

Why is it that any story the Globe actually prints about Mayoral candidate Sam Yoon is about how Yoon goes outside Boston to raise money? It's actually quite simple: Menino has a gigantic war chest and can raise basically unlimited sums. Few can raise serious money within Boston who challenge Menino because Menino's, um, powerful. Yoon's had some success raising from within Korean American circles around the country because he'd be their first major Mayoral politician. Meanwhile, Menino's tremendous fundraising advantage probably includes more total funds from outside Boston than Yoon's raised altogether, inside or out. No one gives a flying frak about that.

Where's the problem here? Why the obsession? Will the Globe actually print anything about the issues on this race, even on a single candidate? Inquiring minds want to know, but the answers are never going to be found at the Boston Globe.

Blaming Menino

The candidates are doing it and, honestly, it seems like they kind of have a point. Sorry Mr. Mayah, but it's tough to explain that one away.

Trans-Rights Bill Looking Good

I just got this email from Gunner Scott, Director of the Mass Transgender Political Coalition:

Today, there is a majority of legislators in both the House and Senate supporting this bill, supporting non-discrimination for transgender people of Massachusetts. Our lead sponsors, Representatives Carl Sciortino and Byron Rushing on the House side, with Senator Ben Downing in the lead in the Senate have helped to build support and momentum for equality. Through MTPC's community organizing efforts over the last three years of the transgender and allied communities we have been able to educate and advocate with legislators and policy makers across the state. Today, we are beginning to see the fruits of those labors.

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition applauds the many policy makers who support "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" including:

• Governor Deval Patrick
  
• State Attorney General Martha Coakley
  
• Congressman Barney Frank
  
• Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral
  
• Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino
  
• Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons
  
• Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins
  
• Boston City Council
  
• and today... 104 Legislative Co-Sponsors

I'm not going to count the chickens before the eggs hatch, but this is definitely looking promising. It was disappointing last year when this bill was buried, but the MTPC took things in stride, didn't give up and went after getting more and more co-sponsors for this year's version of the bill. When you get a majority of both houses to Co-Sponsor your bill, you're doing a pretty damn good job. Kudos to all that have worked so hard on this bill, especially Gunner Scott, who's proven to be a new political force in this state.

Yoon's Run "Bankrolled?"

Poor choice of headline. First off, Yoon's going to be woefully behind in raising money compared to Menino's basically unlimited potential.

Secondly, the Globe compares in state vs. out of state fundraising for both candidates. If the Globe wants to measure local support through fundraising, shouldn't it be in city vs. out of city? What the heck is the difference if money for a Boston race comes from Newton or Seattle?

Yoon's out of state fundraising is largely coming from Asian Americans - especially, according to the Globe, the Korean American community. Honestly, that's awesome. There's such a small sum of major politicians elected from Asian-American communities, even across America, that it only makes sense these communities would raise money to get people in their communities elected. Other minority communities do similar activities in attempt to help level the playing field, even if it's only by a fraction of an inch (as it would be in Yoon's case, compared to the millions Menino will be able to spend). The bottom line is better for someone to donate funds to get someone in their minority community elected from halfway across the country than a business hack in Newton or Milton donating funds to the establishment pick for who knows what. At least that way you know it's for some actual altruistic reasons and not to get some liquor license renewed.

It's doubtful Ryan's Take will take a formal position in the Mayor's race this term, other than to say it's both exciting to see some real competition as well as doubtful any of Menino's competition has a shot - in large part because there's now two or three people already running, Yoon being the potential third. Menino certainly made his mark on the city and it would be nice for some eventual fresh blood - and Yoon could be that someday - but whether this is the season for change at Government Center is in some serious doubt. In reality, most of that depends on a few, choice mumbles.


Extra Credit: Anyone want to place odds on whether or not this story was pushed by one of Yoon's rivals? If so, whom?

Speaking about the Speaker...

Did you catch the latest LeftAhead podcast? No? Well, Mike, Lynne and I chatted up on the Speaker situation as well as the how the Boston Mayoral race is shaping up. Also, next week, make sure to check in for Adam Gaffin from Universal Hub.

Let's Just Let Business Work for Free

Here we go again. Business threatens to leave town. Town gets on its knees and gives up the bank to keep business in town. Business doesn't even have to leave. Never mind the fact that there are other businesses out there to purchase the newly open space (read: new job growth), this particular business (JP Morgan) wasn't even threatening to leave Massachusetts!

The firm looked at moving to other states but ultimately decided to stay in Massachusetts largely for the quality of the workforce, executives said.

Of course, the Globe buried the money quote halfway through its article, but that doesn't change the fact that it's there. They wrote it. The JP Morgan people said it. It's the elephant in the room, but states and cities are all too willing to ignore it.

The ugly truth: Businesses are attracted to qualified workforces, not tax cuts. Of course, they're more than happy to take the tax cuts - to the extent they'll even threaten to leave - but corporations that require skilled workforces are going to go where the skill is at. That's just a fact. So, in a year when the city of Boston had to open up its piggy banks to the tune of $10 million to keep the schools afloat, the city is now going to hand over JP Morgan $2 million - just for the privilege of staying in the city. All that, and JP Morgan wasn't even threatening to leave the state - one of their high level people admitted as much in the Globe.

If JP Morgan is going to relocate its offices in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, how many people think they'd actually leave the city of Boston? If they want a talented workforce, they're going to go where the most talent is - which is in Boston, because of its Universities and public transportation. Unfortunately, Mayor Mumbles Menino was duped again.

How many more times will cities and states fall for this? And when will politicians learn that job growth comes from new, small companies - not these mega corporations owned from afar. Shareholders of JP Morgan don't care about the city of Boston; Let's invest in the business owners who do. Those are the ones that'll stick around - because they live here and send their kids to school here.

It's difficult to worry about larger corporations, because they're going to do what they're going to do. Giving up the bank isn't a good strategy to deal with them, because half the time their threats are about as meaningful as pigs with wings. Kind of scary, but nonexistent. Meanwhile, if Boston would like to do something to help keep its major corporations here, why not institute policies that encourage what companies like JP Morgan truly want - policies that will keep a young, talented and highly educated workforce in the city. A better use of that $2 million would be on affordable housing, or making the T usable again. Let me know when the Mayor's office gets the Memo.

Who Needs Hard Casino News Anyway?

Great article from the Boston Globe today, hitting on so many subjects surrounding the casino issue that it really is moving the conversation along. I'm really glad to see the Paper of Record deliver the best in investigative news concerning one of the most important decisions surrounding Massachusetts that will actually alter the Commonwealth forever.

Wishful thinking.

In today's Globe, we get to hear all about the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs (it's a 6 page story!), how bad the horse racing industry is doing and why it would be such a great location for a gigantic resort casino. I mean, come on, it's only making $141 million dollars a year! Instead of hearing about whether or not counting license plates in Connecticut - I'm sorry, "patron origin analysis" - is really an accurate way to measure the money Massachusetts is "losing" to its New England neighbor, we get to hear about Hot Dog stands and how the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs used to be a pal with the Trump (but they had a falling out). Whew, I bet Matt Viser had to work really hard coming up with the facts for that story!

When the only investigative journalism surrounding this casino issue has come out of Boston's EDGE newspaper, a real alternative's alternative paper, it's disgrace for the supposed Paper of Record to publish anything that isn't a serious look at the issue at hand. Does the Paper of Record even know how to do journalism anymore, or is it going to print whatever is emailed their way in the form of a press release? The shocking lack of any serious journalism on this issue almost makes me believe either the Globe is afraid of hitting on serious journalism, wants to validate its editorial page or its reporters can't wait for the slots and an open bar. I think I'm getting woozy here.

Sadly, if anyone was willing to read between the lines, Viser's story wasn't completely useless fluff. There was a bit toward the end that could have made for an excellent story, had the Globe been worth its weight in ink.

Part 1 of Connecting the Dots that the Globe missed:

If Fields is the engine behind Suffolk Downs, O'Donnell has provided the roadmap for navigating Boston's clubby political culture. O'Donnell, who has been one of the top shareholders at Suffolk Downs for 18 years, now is the second-largest shareholder behind Fields. He is also one of Menino's closest friends and advisers, particularly on development deals. "Joe O'Donnell is probably the most well-respected guy in the state," said state Representative Brian Wallace, a South Boston Democrat who is helping lead the effort in the House to legalize casinos. "Having him at Suffolk Downs helps them a whole bunch."

Part 2:

He met with state senators, city officials, and the chief of staff for House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran. But all the meetings scheduled with Menino were canceled. The mayor says now that he doesn't remember even hearing Fields's name. "I'm not going to spend time on casinos for the city of Boston," Menino told the Globe at the time.

But now that Menino's Best Bud is connected with Fields, it's a rush to the slots. There's a story there, the Globe just decided not to pursue it.

Here's another interesting blurb from the paper, one that could have been a story too. Menino's newest Casino spin is exactly like Barrow's spinmeistering.

"Look at what they're doing down in Connecticut, and how many of those cars are Massachusetts cars," Menino said in an interview last week. "Why can't we do something at Suffolk Downs?"

EDGE has been the only paper to have yet called the license-plate "methodology" of counting how much money Massachusetts residents are spending in Connecticut into question. So far, that's the only way people have come up with a number, any kind of a number. There hasn't been a single story on that in the Globe yet, analyzing whether its accurate or if there are even other ways to come up with numbers. They haven't investigated Barrow or anyone who's influential surrounding this subject.

But why bother investigating such trivial matters? Casinos are obviously cash cows that save states and make it so no one ever has to pay taxes again. That's why Las Vegas, Reno and Atlanta are so well known for being safe cities, with no real problems and great public school systems. Clearly, casinos will single-handidly save Massachusetts (quite possibly by drying up even more revenue for cities and towns). Wishful thinking, again - but this time on the front page of the Boston Globe. If anyone's still getting the Globe's dead trees, it's time to cancel the subscription.

I Sense Some Hypocrisy: Tall Here, Not Tall There

Mayor Menino isn't in favor of a new proposed 29-story building, abutting China Town. How's this for logic? First, he says he would support the project if it were an 18-20 story building. Well, what the hell is the difference between 20 and 28? Both are fracking tall. Does he really think that 8 stories is going to appease residents of the area - afraid that a tall building will ruin Chinatown's character? Meanwhile, there's a 37 story building across the street from the proposed site.

However, the hypocrisy really comes into play when one factors in one of Menino's pet projects, Boston's first 1,000 foot tower. While Menino's tower is in a different part of the city, 1,000 feet into the sky is so much taller than the surrounding buildings that anyone could make the same complaint.

Boston is at a cross roads. There isn't any room to develop horizontally; we're just out of that kind of space. However, development is key to maintaining a city's success. The city's colleges and hospitals can't keep their edge if they have to keep scaling back all their projects. To maintain interest in businesses growing and moving in the city, new and redeveloped areas are key.

Certainly, there are instances where you don't want tall buildings. Also, some people just don't like "tall" and think Boston is fine as it is. However, to those people, YOU LIVE IN A MAJOR CITY. One would think you'd expect skyscrapers when you moved in there. It's not as if they're a recent development; all of our city's most important skyscrapers are downright old now. If there were a neighborhood that had no tall buildings, that would be one thing, but a lot of these projects that the mayor keeps interfering on are in tall areas anyway - and he doesn't mind them tall, as long as he scrapes off a few meaningless floors to keep the neighborhood folks happy, but perhaps the businesses away.

Critics of Deval Patrick say that ending corporate loopholes could tick off businesses and drive them away. Maybe, but I think it's this kind of crap that Menino pulls that's far more unnerving. We've already seen entire major projects, ones that would bring money and resources to neighborhoods in the city that could use them, go poof because of frustration with Menino. A 18 story building may not be worth the cost for a developer, whereas a 29 story one would. There are costs with both projects that would remain the same, making a 28 story building likely a more efficient option.

Furthermore, within reason, it shouldn't be the amount of floors that's the problem. Ulgy buildings come in all shapes and sizes; there are a few new two story houses in my neighborhood that are as ugly as the buttocks of a rhinoceros taking a dump. A neighborhood has every right to prevent some ugly-ass skyscraper from being erected next to their house; it should be a tasteful, elegant, state-of-the-art building that will add some architectural integrity to the area. To the developer's credit, he's preserving some of the building that's already there - which could make for an interesting contrast between the old and the new. Developers should work with the neighborhood to make sure they have designs that are beautiful, well thought out and offensive to as few as possible.

However, the city of Boston - and Mayor Menino especially - would do well to remember that any of these developers can and will take their business elsewhere. And make no mistake: the construction of a 29 story building will contribute to the economy, both in its construction and into the future. Where that contribution takes place is another story; personally, I hope Boston Benefits. Beantown can only remain great so long as it moves feet first into this new century.

PS: Instead of arguing against the height of this project, Menino ought to be arguing for it's importance for the city. Boston is a terribly expensive place to live - something that has all but destroyed any middle class. Wouldn't it be nice if he were arguing that 15-20% of the units be affordable housing? I'm sure these new condos are going to be super expensive, which isn't contributing to affordability in the city. However, Menino could probably make sure that at least 20-30 more middle class families could afford to live in Boston - if he wanted. Instead, he's playing Mr. Politician and obsessing over the height of the matter.

UPDATE: The project is already including a high number of affordable units. Menino could be trying to get even more, but it's just too darn tall (even though, given the graphic below, it's certainly not out of scale).

PPS: The Globe was nice enough to include a graphic of the proposed building; if I'm not mistaken, it's the taller of the two darker, proposed buildings. I happen to like them both and don't find either offensive at all. Let's get some better pictures! Lastly, here's a perspective from Chinatown and here's what a real-estate broker thinks.