A woman told police that she was raped yesterday on the way home to Bennington Street from her job at Logan Airport, the Globe reports. It happened "after a man flashed a knife about 12:30 a.m. in an alley or walkway" as she walked home.
The article notes that there have been a dozen rapes or attempted rapes in East Boston so far this year, which is down 33% from last year. In another story in today's paper, the police commissioner, Edward Davis, announced that there would be more foot patrols in a number of city neighborhoods, including Eastie.
I know that the Logan Employee Transportation Management Association began an early morning shuttle this summer, which picks up employees between 3:00 and 5:30 at eight stops in the neighborhood and drops them at the four airport terminals for $1 a ride. I wonder if it'd make sense to do the same for employees returning home after dark?
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Below, please find the text of a letter I sent today to the Boston Globe regarding the rape that occurred yesterday in our community.
August 22, 2007
Letters to the Editor
Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5819
Re: “Woman raped in East Boston, police say” and “Dozens more officers to walk beats” (August 22, 2007)
Dear Sir or Madam,
Crime statistics from the city that point to “six fewer (rapes) than during the same period last year” in East Boston demonstrate the need for continued crime fighting efforts, especially since the city also reports that twelve rapes or attempted rapes have occurred this year.
Eighteen rapes are too many, twelve rapes are too many and one rape would be too many for East Boston, or any community, to have to endure. Residents cannot become complacent about fighting crime simply because reported rapes have gone down in any given period. What about assaults that go unreported? Are they less egregious crimes? Can the Boston Police Department give us real numbers of women who do not want to document attacks, but who have been attacked, nonetheless?
Police efforts to enforce anti-graffiti laws, frequent surveillance by officers in cruisers in each section of the neighborhood, strengthened efforts to rid East Boston of criminal gangs and better code enforcement of licensing requirements for restaurants, bars and clubs have already signaled to East Boston that public safety officials are prepared to help residents improve their quality of life. Added foot patrols by police officers will go far toward achieving a sense of security in our neighborhood, where the common goal is to preserve the family-centered community that is East Boston.
I want to thank Commissioner Davis for his renewed commitment to my neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Mary Berninger
Candidate for State Representative
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