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As for the graffiti on the MBTA sound barrier along the Red Line tracks near the Savin Hill T Station, Joe Pesaturo, director of communications for the MBTA, acknowledged that the sound barriers are owned by the T, but that “unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for vandals to strike again after the barriers receive a fresh coat of paint.” He also noted that “the pandemic has also had an adverse impact on the agency’s ability to address maintenance matters of a more discretionary nature (those that do not have a direct impact on safety and service).” He stated that a planned suspension in service later this spring “will present the next opportunity for painting work to take place.”
I noted to him that there are ways to prevent graffiti, either by making it impossible to get access to the panels, placing lights and cameras along the barrier, or changing the material to something that graffiti can’t adhere to, rather than put up with the graffiti for years while waiting for a suspension of service and discretionary dollars. His response was that the cost of graffiti prevention is burdensome.
Former Congressman Barney Frank once told me that I should never believe government officials when they tell me that there isn’t enough money to do something important. “There’s plenty of money in government. It’s politics that decide how it’s spent,” he said.
While the MBTA can’t handle graffiti removal because the cost is “burdensome,” it had for a long while policies that allowed MBTA employees to retire with pensions when they were in their 40s. As reported in an article in the Feb. 4, 2020, Boston Herald, “more than one in five MBTA pensioners retired before age 50 as the state increasingly has to pick up the tab on the T’s troubled pension fund that’s running big deficits.”
[Note: the MBTA changed its pensions policy in 2009 by requiring 25 years of service and a minimum age of 55 to receive full pension benefits, but only for those hired after 2009.]
But we can’t get graffiti removed without discretionary dollars.
The Highway Department may find it unreasonable to be expected to maintain its embankments because they see their role as only making sure the roads are in decent shape. But those roads go through Dorchester’s neighborhoods, spewing pollution into our air, blocking our access to our own shore, and blighting our vistas.
The pandemic and civil rights demonstrations of the past year have focused our country around issues of equity. The equitable way for the state to treat the communities that endure the burden of suburban transit into Boston is to find the dollars to maintain its property.
You can help. Besides contacting your elected officials, you can file complaints.
Here is a link for contacting the MBTA with questions or concerns: mbta.com/customer-support.
For the Highway Department, you can complain by calling the Highway Call Center at 857-368-3500.
Call today.
Bill Walczak is a Dorchester resident and former CEO of the Codman Square Health Center.
Support local news. Subscribe or donate to The Dorchester Reporter at www.dotnews.com
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Bill Walczak Articles and other related media offerings
“Commentary: It's a race to the finish line--don't let Covid catch you” March 31, 2021 https://conta.cc/31y6e0ror https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-its-race-finish-line-dont-let-covid-catch-you
“Walczak: use federal funds to make Boston a hub of equity” March 24, 2021 https://conta.cc/3fbB3Qk
“A year later, what have we learned?” March 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/30CcJyx
“Derek Chauvin proves America is still hiring the exact wrong people to be cops” by Frank Figliuzzi, MSNBC Columnist, extensive quotes of “Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring” column from June 18, 2020 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/derek-chauvin-proves-america-still-hiring-exact-wrong-people-be-n1259960
“With Boston flush with new US money, how about setting up universal Pre-K?”
March 4, 2021 https://conta.cc/38fVbwB
A teacher’s mural and drawings enrich Dorchester February 18, 2021
https://conta.cc/3uqh9GG https://www.dotnews.com/2021/teachers-murals-and-drawings-enrich-epiphany-schools-campus
“Reading the Globe then (1981) and now shows how democracy has been curbed” February 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/3d725r7 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/reading-globe-then-1981-and-now-shows-how-democracy-has-been-curbed
“We need a plan to speed up vaccinations; the following is one approach to consider”
February 4, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/we-need-plan-speed-vaccinations-following-one-approach-consider
Interview on BNN: What’s needed to close gap on vaccinations January 28, 2021 https://youtu.be/QqSXZDG9Vok
Interview on WGBH on Covid vaccine problems January 27, 2021
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/01/27/we-have-to-make-sure-that-we-dont-miss-any-opportunities-to-get-that-vaccine-into-the-arms-of-people-local-community-health-leader-says
“We need to lead, not follow, on doing mass vaccinations” January 21, 2021
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-we-need-lead-not-follow-doing-mass-vaccinations
“In the Wake of Trumpian seditionists, our region can lead the nation by example” January 14, 2021 https://conta.cc/35OqEVj
“Remembering a Friend who Died of Covid” December 31, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/remembering-friend-who-died-covid
“On the Allure of People Singing Together” December 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/allure-people-singing-together
“Strolling down Dot Ave. and shopping the world”
December 3, 2020 with Meg Campbell
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/strolling-down-dot-ave-and-shopping-world
“Opinion: Let’s think more about parkways and bikes, and less about the dreams of the auto-centric” December 2, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-let-s-think-more-about-parkways-and-bikes-and-less-about
“Good News on COVID but we’re still on a highway – don’t take your seatbelts off yet”
November 18, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-good-news-covid-scene-were-still-highway-dont-take-your
“Thoughts about a still-divided America” November 11, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/thoughts-about-still-divided-america
“This is the Man who wants a second term?” October 29, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/man-who-wants-second-term
“Put this on your Boston bucket list: Stepping into The Ether Dome at MGH”
October 22, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/put-your-boston-bucket-list-stepping-ether-dome-mgh
“Our polarized country needs changes in the way our elections are conducted”
October 14, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-our-polarized-country-needs-changes-way-our-elections-are
“Why Ranked-Choice Voting Makes Sense” October 8, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/why-ranked-choice-voting-makes-sense
"Massachusetts must fill funding gap for low-income students"
Dorchester Reporter September 24, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/massachusetts-must-fill-funding-gap-low-income-students
"Rev. "Doc" Conway sounds an alarm"
Dorchester Reporter September 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/rev-doc-conway-sounds-alarm
"Call it What you Will, but single-payer health care is what we need"
Dorchester Reporter September 3, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/call-it-what-you-will-single-payer-health-care-what-we-need
"How a 1976 Dorchester Court program has helped to keep our parklands clean"
Dorchester Reporter August 27, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-1976-dorchester-court-program-has-helped-keep-our-parklands-clean
"Timely test results are critical to curbing viral spread"
Dorchester Reporter August 20, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-timely-test-results-are-critical-curbing-viral-spread
"Science opens a door for getting students back into schools"
Dorchester Reporter July 22, 2020
http://www.dotnews.com/2020/science-opens-door-getting-students-back-schools
“How to increase turnout in Boston elections: Eliminate our odd-numbered year balloting”
Dorchester Reporter July 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-increase-turnout-boston-elections-eliminate-our-odd-numbered-year
“Inaction on fireworks prompts many questions”
Dorchester Reporter July 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/letter-editor-explosives-create-war-zone-feel-neighborhood
“The virology podcast TWIV has become an essential source for COVID-19 news”
Dorchester Reporter July 2, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/virology-podcast-twiv-has-become-essential-source-covid-19-news
“Commentary: Hold on! Reopening doesn’t mean that coronavirus is gone”
Dorchester Reporter June 25, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-hold-reopening-doesn-t-mean-coronavirus-gone
“Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring”
Dorchester Reporter June 18, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/reimagining-citys-police-force-begin-hiring
“The making of the people’s health center. Getting things done in Codman Square”
Dorchester Reporter June 4, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/making-people-s-health-center
“Strong action needed now to avert more educational woes across state”
Dorchester Reporter May 28, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-strong-action-needed-now-avert-more-educational-woes-across
“Is keeping seniors locked in the best that society can do?”
Dorchester Reporter May 21, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/keeping-seniors-locked-down-best-we-can-do
“Boomers being left out? Readers offer their views”
Dorchester Reporter May 14, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-being-left-out-readers-offer-their-views
“Commentary: ‘Boomers’ need to flex their electoral muscles”
Dorchester Reporter May 7, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-need-flex-their-electoral-muscles
“Some hopeful signs from the battlefield” Dorchester Reporter April 30, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-some-hopeful-signs-battlefield
“It’s time to mandate masks, face covering in public spaces” Dorchester Reporter
April 23, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-time-mandate-face-coverings-boston-and-across-state
“State begins to wrestle with serious budgetary matters”
Dorchester Reporter April 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/state-begins-wrestle-serious-budgetary-matters
“Fast-moving crisis, fast-moving changes, and a plate full of what we’re still facing”
Dorchester Reporter April 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/fast-moving-crisis-fast-moving-changes-and-plate-full-what-we-re-still
“Wearing Masks Must Be a National Policy”
New York Times April 2, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/opinion/coronavirus-masks.html?smid=em-share
“Observations about a catastrophic month”
Dorchester Reporter April 2, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-observations-catastrophic-month
“Health Centers make urgent request for state support”
Dorchester Reporter March 26, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/health-centers-make-urgent-request-state-support
“The next two weeks will tell if we’re ready: We’re gonna need a bigger boat”
Dorchester Reporter March 19, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/files/REP%2012-20web.pdf
“Walczak: “Social distancing” is critical right now, not later on”
Dorchester Reporter March 15, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/walczak-social-distancing-critical-right-now-not-later
Interview on BNN by Chris Lovett “What’s missing in response to Covid 19” March 12, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VllymXoI4D4&authuser=0
“The goal for now: Slow down the infection rate” Dorchester Reporter March 12, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/goal-now-slow-down-infection-rate
“Charitable tax deductions will hurt the Commonwealth’s bottom line”
Dorchester Reporter March 5, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/comment-charitable-tax-deductions-will-hurt-commonwealths-bottom-line
Other
Bound by their Boston neighborhood. January 31, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/fashion/weddings/Bill-Walczak-Meg-Campbell-married-Boston-Dorchester.html?referringSource=articleShare
TED talk “Unlearning & Expanding our Definition of Health”
January, 2020
https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_walczak_unlearning_expanding_our_definition_of_health_may_2020?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
TED talk “Codman Square” July, 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgMh0LBzj0
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