Big changes in Little China

BOSTON- Big changes are afoot in Boston’s little China. A neighborhood watch now patrols the old, dark streets. A luxury hotel now stands in the old Combat Zone. The community has seen much longer lines at the polls as residents turn out in larger numbers. The political involvement is paying off. This year will see the first Asian-American to run for mayor of Boston. Even the language has changed in Chinatown as a global community and a culture move into a global world.

Many of the changes in Chinatown are visible, but if you listen closely, there is also a new voice in Boston's most densely populated neighborhood. The Mandarin dialect of Chinese is becoming increasingly popular as many locals react to the rising importance China holds in the world. This new, more global outlook has changed the way Chinatown speaks.

As more immigrants move from mainland China, where the Mandarin dialect of Chinese is spoken, they bring their language with them. Mandarin is the form of Chinese used in all law and businesses, yet until recently Cantonese was the dialect that dominated Boston’s Chinatown.

“Yes, a lot of people now are speaking Mandarin in Chinatown. 20 years ago, nobody spoke Mandarin here. Now, more people come from China, more immigrants speak Mandarin here. Parents teach it to their children now,” said Pauline Lin, a teacher at the Chung Wak Chinese School in Chinatown.

Chinatown residents are using this new voice to speak up like never before. A report by the Civic Engagement Initiative found a 25% increase in Chinatown’s voter turnout between the last two presidential elections.

To many in Chinatown, City Councilor Sam Yoon is the face of this change. The young Korean-American councilor has only served only three years on city council. Far from the local veteran politicians who traditionally dominate the mayoral ballot, Yoon may get the votes he needs from the Asian community.

"We all have a stake in what happens in our neighborhoods, and it's always a good thing when more people take an active role in their community,” Yoon said.

Yoon’s campaign, which kicked off at Chau Chow City, a local dim sum restaurant, has strong roots in Chinatown. Before his first run for City Council in 2005, Yoon worked within Chinatown as a community organizer on a land issue stemming from the Big Dig.

Chinatown has supported Yoon in the past, and many community groups expect that the trend will continue.

Politics, however, are not the only things changing in Chinatown. The very streets of the neighborhood have been transformed over the past 20 years through a collaboration of community groups, investments by local colleges, and the city to clean up the streets of Chinatown. Most recently, construction has begun on the W Hotel, a 26-story luxury hotel on the corner of Stuart and Tremont streets.

As expensive condominiums such as the recently constructed Archstone Apartments on Beach Street begin to crowd out the tiny gift shops and dim sum restaurants in Chinatown, many residents wonder who this development will benefit.

“Gentrification,” Albert Chan, a long-time Chinatown resident said slowly, “that is a word that is hard for me to say. Jobs-- it is all about jobs now. Many people do not feel that when the W Hotel opens that Chinatown residents will be hired.”

The Boston Redevelopment Authority says that the opening of the new hotel, slated for Sept. 9, will create 300 permanent jobs. Chinatown residents, who say they are often over looked by the gentrification process, want to ensure that at least some of the new jobs go to people in the community.

At a community speak-out meeting held by the Chinese Progressive Association, residents testified that the recent developments have caused small business in Chinatown to fail, caused rent to rise, and displaced families.

Bill Buce, the general manager of the W Hotel said that they plan to work with Chinatown to meet the community’s demands. Buce said the hotel will work with community groups to recruit workers within Chinatown.

“In general, luxury development doesn’t help sustain neighborhoods like Chinatown where affordable housing and small business spaces are the priorities,” Alex Zhang of the Asian Community Development Corporation said.

According to Zhang, all the current affordable housing projects planned for Chinatown are stalled due to the economy.

*written for Beat Reporting, 4/09

Iceland looks to fishing industry to end recession

REYKJAVIK- The key to reviving Iceland’s economy may lie in the country itself—-literally. Since a severe economic depression hit the country last fall, the small north-Atlantic island now looks toward its largest industries to bring stability back to Iceland. As Icelandic fishing vessels bring home millions of dollars worth of fish and the central bank lowers interest rates by the week, Icelanders may have a brighter future ahead.

In the past two weeks, the central Icelandic bank, Sedlabanki, has lowered its benchmark interest rate from its all-time high of 17 percent to 15.5 percent. As the Krona stabilizes, many Icelandic fisheries bring valuable foreign currency into the country. Kristinn Soffanias Runarsson comes from a family with a long history in the Icelandic fishing industry. According to Runarsson, fishing plays a key role in rebuilding Iceland.

“As of now, the fishing industry is the sole source of foreign currency flowing into the country, along with aluminum from the smelter plants. This hasn’t changed for decades, but I think now these companies are our best bet to help get foreign currency into Iceland,” Runarsson said.

According to a report by the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, roughly 8,000 Icelanders were employed in the fishing and fish processing industry last year.

During the hardest times, many Icelanders began to favor joining the European Union to regain their economic stability. Traditionally, Icelanders have been opposed to this option because of the changes it will bring to the fishing industry. Agust Olafur Agustsson is currently a member of the Icelandic Parliament, Althing. According to Agustsson, joining the EU would not affect the sovereignty of Icelandic fishing waters as much as many believe.

“The EU fishery policy isn’t such a big threshold as many people think. First of all the rule of relativity stability, which is the cornerstone of EU fishery policy, depends more and less of the traditional fishing patterns of the countries. The big change is that the decision of the size of the quota (TAC) will be decided by the Council of Ministers in Brussels but it would only be a formal decision because Iceland would have all the quotas according to [relative] stability,” Agustsson said.

According to Agustsson, Iceland would still be largely able to control their own fishing and would gain ownership of all of their fishing quotas. Agreements to share fish with other countries, called quota hopping, would be controlled through close international communication. When Norway joined the European Economic Area in 1994, they were given four years to adjust their quotas with those of other nations.

”As a member-state Iceland would gain a lot of possibilities in fishing all around the world because of the many agreements that EU has with another countries. The EU has always showed great concern about areas which are very [dependent] on fisheries or one industry. It’s also not in the interest of EU to destroy a small economy or a new member-state.”

The decisions made to establish fishing quotas are a topic of debate even among Icelanders. “The political parties are always debating about the quota system. I’d say that the people are split in the decision about if the system is good or not,” Runarsson said.

*written for International News 4/09, Photo courtesy of the AP.

Rebuilding Iceland

REYKJAVIK- The Land of Fire and Ice is ready to rebuild. Once hailed as the most developed nation in the world, Iceland is not backing down from the daunting task of restructuring its recently crippled economy and collapsed government. Iceland has been one of the hardest hit countries in the most recent global economic recession but unlike many they may stand the best chance of recovery. Now, the country is looking ahead to the future and to re-establishing itself as one of the most stable nations in the world.

Between 2003 and 2007, the Icelandic stock market multiplied almost nine times. Last fall, as global markets plummeted, Iceland’s banks found themselves with no way to refinance loans. The small country of just over 300,000 people was unable to bail out a banking system which now owed over six times its gross domestic product. Early in September, the Icelandic government stepped in, buying large shares in one of the largest banks. By early October, the situation had become much more desperate. Through the use of anti-terror laws, the United Kingdom was able to freeze Icelandic assets in UK-based institutions when it was announced that UK funds in Icelandic banks could not be guaranteed. Iceland bought its three largest banks in a last-ditch effort to save its economy.

“A few people made a few very grave mistakes but I think they’ll come out of it alright. They [Iceland] put no real regulations on the banks. Without regulations, the banks ended up in the hands of a very few people who just went hog-wild,” Elisha Lee, the Honorary Consulate to Iceland in Boston said.

By late November, Iceland became the first Western country to receive a loan from the International Monetary Fund since 1976. After receiving the IMF’s $2.1 billion loan, inflation in Iceland rose to a record high of 17.1 percent. By the end of January 2009, the people of Iceland had seen enough. Protests and a battle against throat cancer led Former Prime Minister Geir Haarde to announce a general election for the spring.

Many Icelanders felt the pinch of the economy. Vals Dottir Iris, treasurer of the Icelandic Society of Boston, said her family is an example of the wide-ranging effects of the economic situation in Iceland. “My brother lost his job. He was a carpenter. My brother-in-law is in 3D animation and he lost his job as well,” she said.

Headed by Johanna Sigurdardottir, the first openly lesbian prime minister, Iceland is looking ahead to the future. “It’s a new perspective. She’s a tough broad. She’s not going to put up with any nonsense. She’s kind of like a breath of fresh air. I feel that she’s not one of the good ‘ol boys,” Iris said.



One proposal for quickly restoring Iceland’s economy is a move to join the European Union and adopt the Euro. Irish agrees with this plan. “Absolutely. I’ve preferred that for years. Everyone is just worried about their fishing territories. I think it’s time to get with the program,” she said. Traditionally, Icelanders have been opposed to joining the EU because of the loss of rights in their fishing lands. Some still do not believe that stability can be found in the EU. “I’m not sure that the Euro is going to last. I’m not sure that that would be the best idea,” said Lee.

“I think Iceland will come out of it alright. They’re got a very educated, literate population,” Lee said.

According to a press release, major changes have been made to the country’s banks, including the establishment of a monetary policy committee. The additions and recent changes were made in order to increase confidence within Iceland and abroad.

“Obviously I hope everything will get back to normal but they have a long, long road ahead of them,” Iris said. “It's going to take a long time to regain trust in the international markets. It’s going to take another decade at least.”

*written for International News- 4/09, photo courtesy of the AP.

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training

March 16-

Starter Paul Maholm pitched four and two-thirds innings with no scores allowed in the Buc’s 6-4 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. Maholm only gave up only two hits and one walk during today’s game. Craig Monroe added two more RBI for a total of 11 this spring, hitting into a gap in left-center-field for a double.

The Pirates continue to pare down their spring training roster with a second round of cuts. Pedro Alvarez, the overall No. 2 pick from the 2008 First-Year Player Draft was sent to high Class A Lynchburg after showing promise during camp training. Chronically injured second baseman Shelby Ford was sent to Minor League Camp and will likely be starting as second baseman for Indianapolis. Ronald Uviedo was also sent to Indianapolis. Jimmy Barthmaier, Juan Mateo, and Andrew McCutchen were also reassigned to Minor League camp. Catcher Steve Lerud and Jeff Sues were optioned to Double-A Altoona.

March 17-

The New York Yankees out-scored the Bucs today in a 9-2 loss. Pitcher Virgil Vasquez made his second start of the spring season allowing six runs on seven hits, including one home run. Vasquez pitched two and one third inning before being replaced on the mound by Evan Meek. Jose Tabata hit two against his former team, scoring the first run for the Pirates. Left fielder Jeff Salazar hit a homer in the ninth inning.

31-year-old outfielder Eric Hinske will be returning to play after an injured left ribcage. Hinske has been out of play since February. The Pirates look forward to having the veteran player back to take on a leadership roll for the less experienced players. Hinske will start Wednesday against the Twins.

March 18-

Andrew McCutchen, Anderson Machado, and Jeff Salazar batted in runs to beat the Twins 4-3. McCutchen also hit a single. Zach Duke started on the mound for the fourth time this spring. Jason Davis also pitched, throwing two scoreless innings.

Lefty Tom Gorzelanny, one of the contenders for the Buc’s top five spots, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis this morning. So far, Paul Malhom, Zach Duke, and Ian Snell are holding the top three spots. Virgil Vasquez, who pitched against the Yankees on Tuesday, may take one of the final spots.

March 20-

Jeff Karstens, who is vying for a place in the Pirate’s pitching rotation, did not make a good case for himself today against the Boston Red Sox. With no strikes, Karstens allowed four hits and three runs in the 11-4 loss against the Red Sox. Craig Monroe continued his strong spring performance with two hits and one run. Robinson Diaz scored twice. Brandon Moss, returning from injury added to the scoreboard as well.

March 21-

The Bucs beat the Reds 6-5 today as Paul Maholm continued to breeze through spring training. Maholm had four strike outs and allowing only three hits and no runs. Nate McLouth hit his third homerun of the spring in the fourth inning. Freddy Sanchez, Ramon Vasquez, and Ryan Doumit also scored in today’s game.

Andy Phillips, hoping for one of the Pirates two open bench spots, may not make the team’s Opening Day roster due to bulging discs in his lower back. Phillips mentioned his injury earlier in the month. His injury may be enough to keep him off of the team.

March 22-

The Bucs took on the Reds again today with a much different outcome as Pittsburgh was shut out 6-0. Pitcher Ian Snell allowed six runs on nine hits during his first start after returning from the World Baseball Classic. Sean Burnett and Matt Capps relieved, each pitching a scoreless inning.

We Are Family: The Emerson Girl’s Volleyball team works together to win

Last year, the Emerson girl’s volleyball team set the school's record for single season wins. This year they set the record again. With an ever-improving record, the Lady Lions are moving their way up the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. But what really brings the team together is not glory, but friendship.

Allie Rosenberg is one of the team’s most seasoned players. The junior defensive specialist has been on the Emerson volleyball team for three years. As a co-captain on this year’s team, Rosenberg has high hopes for the future. “Our record this fall was 21-11, which was the best record in Emerson Volleyball history. Through recruiting for next season and the returners we have, I fully expect to win the GNAC championships,” she said.

Last season the team finished third in their conference. The coach of both Emerson’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams, Craig Letourneau, is determined to continue to help the team improve. “This was a better season than the year before. What we’re trying to do is improve our program every year,” Letourneau said.

But the driving force behind last season’s Lady Lions is their close friendships. “The team this year is the closest team I have been on. They are my best friends. I couldn’t have asked for better group of girls,” Rosenberg said. For Rosenberg, the only four-season senior on next year’s team, volleyball is an integral part of college life.

“I moved in early my freshman year for pre-season, made my friends through the team and so on. If I wasn't playing volleyball I would have an entirely different outlook on Emerson, I would have different friends and different memories. I am glad I played sports here though, because I think it made that transition from high school to college that much easier because I was involved in something from day one,” Rosenberg said.

Coach Letourneau agrees. “I think they’re a family. They’re a very close knit group. As a group they all get along tremendously well,” he said. He credits each girl’s ability to work together for the team’s success. “Allie has a great work ethic. She’s a leader. She has a great demeanor with her teammates, and she’s worked hard to get where she’s at,” Letourneau said.

The Emerson girl’s volleyball team has a lot to look forward to in the seasons ahead. “Definitely we want to focus on consistency. I don’t think we’re always an offensive team. Before that, we’re going to work on strength and conditioning and mental toughness,” Letourneau said. With the hope of breaking yet another single-season win record, the Lady Lions need to stay together-- both on and off the court.

College Campuses Go Green- Imprint Magazine

Across the country, college campuses are making the switch to greener, more energy efficient buildings. As solar paneled dorms and high efficiency classrooms spring up from Berkeley to Boston University, more and more college students are making the switch to green as well.
Many colleges and universities have chosen to build, re-build, or renovate old buildings to meet the standards of the United States Green Building Council. The USGBC certifies these new changes as a part of their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The council has stated that if all new schools were to be built green, savings of up to $20 billion can be expected. Perks of the new building program include better ventilation, lighting, acoustics, and comfier temperatures. A building can be certified LEED after it has been compared to the USGBC’s checklist. This inventory of environmentally friendly structural choices includes six categories with points in each category. To see why green schools are the way to go, check out www.buildgreenschools.org. Here’s a look at the criteria green buildings have to meet:

• Sustainable Sites: Does this building make provisions for students riding bikes? Taking public transportation?
• Water Efficiency: Many LEED certified buildings, such as Allegheny College’s recently certified North Village student community, use grey water to power sinks and toilets. Grey water includes impure runoff and rainwater instead of pulling from the city’s water storage. Many toilets have a duel-flush option, saving water for those times you just don’t need a full flush.
• Energy and Atmosphere: New high efficiency, long lasting fluorescent light bulbs save thousands on electric bills for colleges choosing to go green. Brittany Baker, a freshman at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania has switched her desk lamp after her school handed them out for free this year. “They really want us to be concerned and active in the green movement,” states the English major. “If free light bulbs will help save the earth, I’ll be happy to take part.”
• Materials and Resources: Buildings seeking a LEED certification must prove that their wood hasn’t been harvested from the rainforests of Ecuador. James Newborg, an Emerson College sophomore, has the pleasure of shooting hoops in Piano Row’s newly installed basketball court. The court is made of wood certified friendly by the Forest Stewardship Council, an advocacy group supporting the use of farmed trees.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Snuff out that cigarette, no smoking is allowed within LEED certified buildings. Better air quality leads to lower mold growth, less allergies, and pure air for everyone. In Ithaca College’s newly constructed school of business, large glass windows allow for more natural light, which has been found to heighten focus in students.
• Innovation and Design Process: Why stop with green buildings? Green students make a positive impact in the world just as much as a classroom powered with eco-friendly energy. The USGBC awards points to campuses who work towards a more aware and environmentally active student body as well.

Besides the green buildings popping up across the country, college campuses are starting many new environmental groups aimed at saving the world. Starting recycling programs, raising awareness, and planting trees, these students are just tie-die wearing hippies anymore. Environmental groups are becoming incredibly popular at many schools. Earth Emerson, a student run eco-friendly organization at Emerson College in Boston has begun raising awareness about environmental problems around the world and right at home on their inner-city campus. Kristen Golden, the president of Earth Emerson hopes other colleges will begin starting environmental groups. She knows all too well how hard it can be to raise ecological consciousness among college students. “I think that students are a hard demographic to concern with environmental issues. They’re focused, hard working people and sometimes I think people find them apathetic. For students working toward an important goal, it’s important for them to understand why they’re making changes.” Earth Emerson has taken on many projects recently, including a temporary ban on trays at the dinning hall in order to conserve water, energy, and lower chemical use. Other colleges, such as Bethany College in West Virginia who do not have environmental groups leave planet saving to the Greeks. Sally Mellring, a senior at Bethany spends one day a year cleaning up the mountain campus with her service-based fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. Lynchburg College in Virginia has posed a list of tips for college students looking to go green on their campus. Point and click on http://www.lynchburg.edu/x10372.xml to get a few ideas for your school.

Colleges and universities are pleased with the recent change on campuses. Mary Wegmann, the assistant director of Housing and Student Services at Emerson College believes that recycling programs should become a part of every campus. “I think that every school should recycle. Administration and student organizations should get more active. This is something that needs multiple forces behind it.” Working together, college administrators and concerned students can make a real difference in their school and in their world.

For a look at ways to make your life greener, check out www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction. The tips listed here can help save the earth, and give everyone a little better karma. If you’d like to see your campus go green, consider starting up your own environmental group or talking to your college’s facilities manager to discuss building your own green building. Before you know it, you’ll be half-flushing a brand new grey water toilet and studying by long-lasting high efficiency light bulbs. For the budget and the earth, green is the new black.

City Council, public health officials, and community activists meet to discuss Boston University’s proposed biolab

Members of Boston’s City Council, public health officials, and members of the community gathered Friday morning at City Hall to discuss the proposed level four biolab at the Boston University Medical Center. The lab, to be built in the South End, will test dangerous viruses including the Plague, Ebola, and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

The biolab has been supported by many members of local and state government including Senator Ted Kennedy, Mayor Thomas H. Menino, and soon-to-be City Council President Michael Ross. The National Institute of Health, the federal institute supporting the lab, and spokespeople for the Boston University Medical Center have been largely opposed to discussion of the lab’s safety, according to community members present. Supporters describe the lab’s safety as a ‘submarine in a vault.’ City Councilor Ross said, “I think the lab gives us a competitive edge. I have greater responsibility to make sure this lab is safe, especially since I’m supporting it.” Other arguments in support of the lab cite the convenience of location for scientists and the proximity to several colleges and universities.

Several members of the Roxbury-based group Safety Net were present and spoke out against the lab to be built in their neighborhood. Mel King, a long time community activist called the lab ‘arbitrary and capricious.’ He countered the supporters’ argument that the new lab will provide much needed jobs for Boston saying, “Yes, it’s jobs. At who’s expense? Yeah, you could’ve built the gas chambers too. Money is the reason we’re going to put a lot of people at risk.” Safety Net has been working with city officials to issue a moratorium in response to the lab. The moratorium would end plans for construction.

City Council member Charles Yancy also spoke, saying the lab presented a ‘clear and present danger’ to the Boston community. He questioned why the lab needed to be built in Boston, especially in a residential, low-income neighborhood. Yancy said, “I think it’s an entirely inappropriate location. Just conceptually this is something that makes no sense.”

BUMC is currently operating a level three biolab which has previously had an outbreak of the Tulerimia virus. The lab waited two weeks to alert public officials. Many question the competency of BUMC to create a safe environment for dangerous experiments and the city’s ability to respond to a potential outbreak.

Current city council president Michael Flaherty and Dr. David Ozonhoff, the professor of environmental health at Boston University’s School of Public Health stated that they will no longer support the lab in light of recent public safety findings. “I’ve not always been opposed to this lab. I actually spoke on its behalf. However, as I learn more it became very clear that public safety will not be served,” said Flaherty.

“The study of biodefense has made us less safe in almost every way. No one in this community is sick from the organisms being studied. This is not theoretical or hypothetical,” said Ozonhoff.

Others present included Mary Crotty, a representative of the Massachusetts Nurses Association who said that the Boston hospital system is not prepared to handle the consequences of a contamination and Mark Pelletier, a Senior Science Fellow at the Center for Arms Control in Washington, DC who expressed concern at the lack of cooperation by BU and the National Institutes of Health and that quarantine in the case of contamination would be almost impossible. Laura Maslow-Armond, a representative of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association called the lab a clear example of environmental racism.

Sam Yoon announces mayoral run

City Councilor Sam Yoon announced Sunday his intentions to run against incumbent mayor Thomas Menino in the upcoming election. Yoon, the first Asian-American to run for elected office in Boston, made his announcement as voting numbers in Chinatown are on the rise, according to a report by the Civic Engagement Initiative.

Before his first run for City Council in 2005, Yoon worked within Chinatown as a community organizer on a land issue stemming from the Big Dig. "We all have a stake in what happens in our neighborhoods, and it's always a good thing when more people take an active role in their community,” Yoon said.

The Civic Engagement Initiative (CEI) has been working with existing community organizations in largely minority neighborhoods since its founding in 2002. In a report published last week, the CEI claims a 24.6 percent increase in voter turnout in Chinatown from the 2004 to 2008 presidential elections. According to their recent report, CEI used the most powerful get-out-the-vote methods, specifically a non-partisan door to door campaign to encourage residents to vote. The CEI works closely with the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), a grassroots organization that empowers Asian-Americans in the Boston area in matters relevant to their communities.

According to the CEI’s report, a strong turn out in Chinatown helped put Sam Yoon on Boston’s political map in 2005 and could help to put him into the mayor’s office. Since his election, Yoon has supported Mass. Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz’s bill to re-authorize transliterated ballots in Chinese and Vietnamese. Transliterated ballots have been printed in Boston since 2005 but the bill permitting them expired at the end of 2008.

Yoon has also been active in the bone marrow drive for 4-year-old Alex Phan of Dorchester. Phan was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a very rare disorder, in June. Many members of the Asian-American community have been screened as potential donors. Yoon told the Boston Globe in December that he plans to organize bone marrow drives in Chinatown early this year.

According to a spokesperson for the CPA, Chinatown will likely continue to support Yoon. “Chinatown has supported him in the past. Voter turn out has been very high and I think it’ll continue to be that way.”

Still, many in Chinatown do not feel their community is truly entering the world of Boston’s powerful political communities, historically the neighborhoods of West Roxbury and South Boston. Richard Chin, the Community Development Director at the Wang YMCA of Chinatown and a long time community activist said that he does not feel Chinatown residents are necessarily voting in larger numbers or that Sam Yoon’s bid in the mayoral race will be supported by the community.

“I don’t think his candidacy was necessarily supported by Chinatown. A lot of people felt he didn’t do enough for Chinatown and won’t give him the vote,” Chin said. He went on to say that he does not believe Chinatown residents are using the vote to further any community interests. “I don’t think they’re using the vote to support anything. They [politicians] always say they’ll support the neighborhood but for a thousand votes no politician has to worry,” Chin said.

“I’ll give you one example: no politician would dare and step forward and say that the combat zone would be allowed anywhere but Chinatown. It was done so no other neighborhood would ever have to deal with it. The negative repercussions of such an industry have left its mark on Chinatown,” Chin said.

Lights Out Boston program to save migrating birds, energy

On September 3, 2008 Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the beginning of the Lights Out Boston program, aimed to help the city conserve energy, cut greenhouse emissions, and protect fall migratory birds.

From the top of the John Hancock Tower in Boston's Back Bay, Mayor Menino, several top property owners, and members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society pledged to dim or turn off internal and architectural lighting between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the fall migratory bird season, ending October 31. This voluntary program has gained the participation of thirteen of Boston's top property owners and managers including Boston Properties, Tishman Speyer, Brookfield Properties, and Chifaro Associates.

Rob Brierly, the Boston region’s Vice President of Operations at Brookfield Properties said that the property firm decided to join the program because, “As a major owner of land in the Boston market, we thought it was important to support the Mayor’s initiative.” Brierly also cited energy conservation and concern for migrating birds as important reasons to participate. “This certainly doesn’t take a lot of effort on our part and it’s a no-brainer for the environment,” said Brierly.

According to the city of Boston website, The Lights Out Boston program hopes to cut building electricity costs by 25%, though each property will experience different results. By dimming or shutting of architectural and interior lighting at night, buildings can reduce the emission of green house gasses, especially carbon monoxide. Many buildings, especially skyscrapers in an exclusively urban setting such as Back Bay, use architectural lighting to gain distinction in a city sky line. Interior lighting is often lit by entire floor by janitorial staff at night. Under the Lights Out Boston program, cleaning staff are asked to clean by room, leaving as many lights off as possible.

The Lights Out Boston program also aims to reduce the death and injury rate of migrating birds. According to the Mass Audubon Society’s website, migratory birds often become confused by bright city lighting at night, becoming ‘trapped’ among the lights and skyscrapers. These birds circle until they drop from exhaustion or collide with buildings. Scientists are unsure of the exact reason for this problem. Buildings of thirty stories or more are at a higher risk for collision with birds due to the altitude at which many migrating birds travel.

Similar projects have been implemented in other U.S. cities including Chicago, Toronto, New York, Detroit, and Minneapolis. Chicago was the first city to begin the Lights Out program. The website for the Audubon Society in the Chicago region states that through this program they save up to ten thousand birds a year. According to Jan Kruse, a spokesperson for the Mass Audubon Society, there are already more buildings signed up for the Boston program than are currently enrolled in Chicago. Krause also said the Audubon Society hopes to see this program started in other New England cities.

The Lights Out Boston campaign is a part of Menino’s Climate Agenda begun in April 2007. The executive order set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 7% below the 1990 level by 2012 and then to 80% by 2050. The city plans to improve the efficiency of buildings, invest in renewable energy, eco-friendly transportation such as low-emission cabs and school buses, and plant trees.

Applications for the Lights Out Boston program are available on the Mass Audubon website.

Minority vote on the rise in Boston

According to a recent report produced by the Civic Engagement Initiative (CEI), voting in some of Boston’s largely minority neighborhoods has increased dramatically.

CEI has been working with existing community organizations in largely minority neighborhoods since its founding in 2002. According to their recent report, CEI used the most powerful get-out-the-vote methods, specifically a non-partisan door to door campaign to encourage residents to vote.

These statistics show a significant shift in Boston’s traditional political power base. In the past, typically white, Irish neighborhoods such as South Boston have been the largest voters with the most political clout. According to the CEI report, Chinatown saw a 24.6 percent increase between the 2004 and 2008 elections. Jamaica Plane and Roxbury recorded a 24.2 percent increase, while Grove Hall and Dudley rose 23.4 percent. The largest increase was recorded in Uphams Corner at 26.5 percent.

Neighborhoods not currently working with CEI saw much smaller changes. West Roxbury, another traditionally powerful voting community rose only 4.1 percent. Brighton, the Back Bay, and Beacon Hill all rose only slightly over 8 percent.

According to the CEI’s report, a strong turn out in Chinatown helped put City Councilor Sam Yoon on Boston’s political map in 2005 and could help to put him into the mayor’s office.

According to the report, CEI will continue to work another five years, hoping to eventually close the gap between low- and high- voting neighborhoods. They are prepared to work in low-income neighborhoods throughout Boston and Chelsea to continue to raise voting numbers