Reminder to lock your vehicles
A resident of Griswold Street passed note that someone had rifled through his car's glove box last Thursday or Friday when it was left unlocked in their driveway. It may be related to a recent incident that happened in Belmont:
Thieves continue to target unlocked vehicles
Tue Nov 24, 2009, 02:09 PM EST
Belmont, Mass. - Thieves broke into more than a dozen unlocked vehicles in one night last week, making off with thousands of dollars worth of stolen property ranging from power tools to electronics to spare change, according to police.
The culprits apparently struck the neighborhood of side streets between Concord Avenue and School Street across from Clay Pit Pond in the early morning hours of Nov. 20, according to police records. Police have so far received reports of 13 vehicles being broken into, with a price tag of more than $4,000 in missing property.
All the vehicles were reportedly parked in their owners’ driveways and left unlocked. The break-ins are believed to have been a coordinated effort, according to the police.
Print This Post
Forums on State Budget Issues
Will Brownsberger will be holding two open discussion forums on the state budget next week.
- Belmont: Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30PM in the Chenery Middle School Community Room
- Cambridge: Monday, April 20, at 8:00PM in the community room of the Fresh Pond Apartments at 364 Rindge Avenue
The House Ways and Means Committee released its budget on Wednesday, April 15. These discussion wills be an opportunity to explore the Committee's decisions on local aid and state programs. Will is also hoping for input that will help guide in the budget debates that will begin in the House the following week. Anthony Schinella, editor of the Belmont Citizen Herald will assist in moderating the discussion in Belmont.
Print This Post
Progress on Alewife Traffic Issues
Greetings Friends,
A quick update on Alewife traffic issues. Some progress has been made that merits report.
The Central Transportation Planning Staff has, for the last 18 months or so, been conducting a study of traffic through the Route 2 to Route 16 intersection. They published an interim report last year which showed how multi-directional that traffic is -- it's not just people going from Western suburbs into Boston.
In a second phase of their work, they have been studying how to improve bus service to Alewife, so as to reduce traffic by taking people of out cars. As part of that, they have been studying some of the traffic issues at the intersection -- buses do need to get in and out of the station through the traffic.
Earlier this year, in response to a call from Cambridge Park Drive businesses who were concerned about rush hour congestion at the egress of the drive next to the T-station, Senator Tolman convened a meeting of state agencies at the offices of Wyeth research. From this meeting, a working group formed and the existing team from CTPS was asked to join and study additional options in the area to improve traffic flow.
For more background on the CTPS study and the Wyeth meeting, see www.willbrownsberger.com, click state policy and search for alewife traffic.
A final report from the CTPS study on bus issues should emerge fairly shortly. In the mean time, the combined working group has held several meetings and the CTPS team has done some very excellent analytic work on the intersection.
They have winnowed improvement options down to two groups of candidates. The first group involves adjusting curb lines in and around the 2/16 intersection to create some additional lane segments without expanding the right of way. These seem like small budget improvements which may materially reduce wait times in the intersection.
The only issue which might limit some of these changes is a small sidewalk segment immediately adjacent to the intersection. It seems to be abandoned, superseded by the Minuteman multi-use path, but that will be confirmed before Mass Highway proceeds.
The other group of changes is more complex, expensive and potentially controversial -- these changes involve rerouting the end of Rindge Avenue through the Grace property at the corner of Rindge and Route 16. The goal would be to align it directly with the end of Cambridge Park Drive -- making one intersection out of two. There would then be several different scenarios for pedestrians crossing there, one including a pedestrian bridge.
Senator Tolman and I will work to move Mass Highway and DCR forward on the Route 2/16 intersection changes. As to the Rindge Avenue changes, if they ever go forward, there will be the need for resolution of many issues and considerable public process.
It also appears that there are some signage and enforcement improvements that may control gridlock on Cambridge Park drive. The City of Cambridge will be working on those.
On the bicycle and pedestrian fronts, the MAPC's study of access to Alewife station is moving forward and I've been very positively impressed by the knowledgeable staff that they have brought to the table.
Finally, the bicycle path from Brighton Street to Alewife seems to moving forward well. Mass Highway has made a strong commitment to getting started on construction next year and seems to be on track for that goal.
As always, I appreciate hearing from you. My website is www.willbrownsberger.com and my cell phone is 617-771-8274.
Will Brownsberger
State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)
Visit www.willbrownsberger.com for news.
Print This Post
Governor Vetoes Silver Maple Forest Acquisition
Dear Friends,
I'm very disappointed to report that Governor Patrick chose to veto the language that we worked to place in the Environmental Bond Bill regarding the Silver Maple Forest acquisition.
He apparently embraced the perspective of his housing administrators. The housing administrators opposed the acquisition because they saw it as an effort to block affordable housing development.
The decision does not reflect the perspective of the many people who communicated with me about the issue in the neighborhoods of Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont. Most were not opposed to affordable housing in their communities. Most felt that the forest is a valuable regional asset that should be preserved for future generations.
Unfortunately, there is little chance that the legislature will take up veto overrides for any of the bond bills in this session, so the Governor's decision is likely to be final.
In any event, even if the the legislature reinstated the language -- in this session or next year -- it would not force the Governor's hand. The language set up a collaborative process in which the Governor retained full discretion. The veto sends a clear message about where that process would go.
I'll hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 9 at 7PM in Belmont Town Hall, Conference Room 1, to discuss next steps. But, it appears that our strategy to save the forest through a state park acquisition may have failed.
Although I had always viewed it as a long shot, as we successfully overcame opposition in the legislative process, I had started to gain some hope. So, I'm very disappointed to be bringing this news.
Will Brownsberger
State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)
Visit www.willbrownsberger.com for news.
Print This Post
Legislative Progress on the Silver Maple Forest Acquisition
Dear Friends,
I'm pleased to report some progress on the Silver Maple Forest issue.
Last Wednesday night, the House passed the Environmental Bond Bill as House 5005.
The bill includes an express authorization of the expenditure of up to $6 million towards the acquisition of the Silver Maple Forest. This authorization does not compel the Department of Conservation and Recreation to make the expenditure, but it expresses legislative support for it.
Of course, $6 million is not sufficient to purchase the property. The bond bill, as passed by the House, includes an outside section which would also allow for local contributions towards the acquisition. The outside section incorporates much of the language of House Bill 21, the bill that I filed last year with Senator Tolman as a co-sponsor.
Under the language that the House approved, the Commissioner of DCR will have 90 days to conduct an appraisal of the property and then an additional 30 days to decide how much he feels that the state should contribute towards an acquisition. He could decide any amount between $0 and $6 million.
The communities of Arlington, Belmont and Cambridge will then have another 120 days to determine how much they are willing to contribute (including possible private donations). If the state and local contributions add up to the fair market value of the property, then the state would move forward to make the acquisition.
The house-approved language does not allow for an eminent domain taking. The owner of the property would have to agree to the acquisition.
So, in summary, the bill authorizes up to $6 million in state funds for an acquisition and creates a timeline for DCR, the localities and the owner to decide whether an acquisition should occur. It preserves the freedom of all parties, forcing only that a decision be made, but not what that decision should be.
I am very grateful to the leadership of the House for supporting this important local legislation.
It is important to note that the Senate has yet to take action on the bill and, of course, that even if the Senate also approves the language, the Governor will then need to decide whether or not to approve the language.
I will keep you posted as to the next steps. Things should move quickly over the next week.
Best regards,
Will Brownsberger
--
Will Brownsberger
State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)
Visit www.willbrownsberger.com for news.
Print This Post
Attempted kidnapping unsettles Belmont
By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff | February 9, 2008
The attempted abduction of a 10-year-old boy on his way home from school had residents on edge yesterday afternoon in Belmont.
The boy tearfully told his parents that a stranger in a dark coat grabbed his hand as he left the Mary Lee Burbank Elementary School Thursday, dragging him several blocks before letting him go. Police released the 911 recording of a call placed by the boy and his father to the police dispatcher shortly afterward.
Print This Post
Brownsberger: Saga of the Silver Maple Forest isn’t over yet
The following was taken from the Cambridge chronicle. Thanks to whoever sent us the link.
Cambridge - I am writing to provide an update for those who are concerned about preserving the Silver Maple Forest or Belmont Uplands property.
A group met last week with Gov. Patrick to discuss the issue.
As many know, the property faces development for affordable housing purposes under Chapter 40B. The Belmont Zoning Board has approved the development. The Belmont Conservation Committee has ruled against it in its present form. Further proceedings are likely or ongoing as to both decisions.
Print This Post