Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Beware the end of March

Jim Aloisi is turning out to be a liability for the Patrick Administration as well as for his old neighborhood. His latest episode of jamming his foot in his mouth came when he posted on a political blog and then had to retract his statement the following day.

Meanwhile, Aloisi -- born and raised in East Boston -- seems content to allow tunnel tolls to be raised on residents of this neighborhood. So far he hasn't lifted a finger to undo the proposed changes, which are scheduled to go into effect on March 29. If the governor or his transportation secretary believe that the cancellation of the residential exemption program is justified then why haven't they countered the arguments made by City Councilor Sal LaMattina in his open letter a couple weeks ago?

Sure, it may seem to some that we are whining about paying an amount that would still be less than the actual toll; however, the original agreement was that Eastie residents would be permanently exempt from the toll. That was a promise from the state to the citizens of this neighborhood. We are now being betrayed -- and one of our own has a hand in it. Et tu, Aloisi?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, Jim. Do you think Aloisi #1 or #2 will post on your blog, the way #1 did on Blue Mass Group? I don't think the Aloisi siblings like to be challenged. I think there is more truth to the Globe article than creative journalism. I, like many others, am not happy that I voted for Deval Patrick. He's been such a disappointment. The sad thing is that he, and others of his ilk, know that they can get away with all their tricks and schemes because they can, but they shouldn't. It's so unconscionable. It's also so embarrassing to explain to people that some of what is happening is at the hands of East Bostonians and former East Bostonians.

Anonymous said...

I am also regretting my decision to vote for Deval Patrick--for many reasons...and disgusted by Aloisi.

I still don't understand why the only Eastie political rep who seems to be doing anything about this is LaMattina. I certainly won't be voting for our state rep or senator in the future either. What a disappointment they all are!

Anonymous said...

Isnt he a harvard grad and a former travaglini/orient heights hack, his wife or sister according to bz tv is a chief of staff for the rmv which pays 60 or 70 grand a year of your tax dollars,by the way wasnt another eastie resident a rmv chief of staff under the romney administration.

Anonymous said...

I voted for Muffy,saw through Patrick right away.Lets simply remove him next year.We bring alot of this on ourselves,and now we have to start correcting things.People HAVE to start voting in large numbers.You can whine and complain but the one day you can do something about things,so many stay home.

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm not happy that I voted for Patrick, but I still believe he was the best option. Can't someone good ever run?

Anonymous said...

There is a commitee forming in the community ready to rally and protest in front of the mouth of the sumner tunnel any day now, i'm glad this will occur, it will wake up the pols that serve this community

Unknown said...

It looks like the toll increase is averted for now: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/03/beacon_hill_lea.html

But while they consider reform options, Eastie residents must reach out to their friends in other parts of the state to encourage them to support revenue raising measures that spread out the burden of funding our transportation system. The gas tax would only cost the average driver $120/year but the tolls would cost $1,500!

Most of the rest of the state seems to be against the gas tax, but it is not fair that we have to pay for their use of the roads and Big Dig.

Jim said...

It's not clear to me whether this action applies as well to the residential exemption program, which is scheduled to go into effect even if the other toll increases do not.