tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168721582024-03-07T03:03:25.837-05:00From The PortThis blog comes to you from Cambridgeport, and is created by a person with multiple severe disabilities. Please, if you see errors, typos, and mistakes, bring them to my attention! I cnn't do ANYTHING right! LOL
Anyone know how to explain to me how to make sure I get spacing between paragraphs? I need a very, very simple, tieny tiny step by step explaination. i do know what html is, but I just found out why some of my links didn'y work! So, any help is much appreciated.Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-60340058910882133092009-09-20T11:38:00.002-05:002009-09-20T11:42:30.573-05:00Yo! Save the Geese! Filmed in Cambridge MA by Northeastern Students for Film Fest<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lG1d29stwnQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lG1d29stwnQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Like all are, this film should stand on it's own.Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-52710568144573826472009-08-01T12:50:00.004-05:002009-08-01T12:59:07.573-05:00Howling in Happiness!Cambridge City Councillor, Marjory Decker off the ballot of 2009?<br /><br />Robert Winters is reporting that Marjorie Decker, incumbant Cambridge City Councillor failed to submit enough nomination signatures to be certified as nominated to be a candidate for City Council, and she therefore will not be on the ballot for the Nov 3rd election. there are 20 candidates who will be on the ballot, competing for 9 seats.<br /><br />This week I again recieved a communication that decker wants guide dogs banned from City Council meetings she attends. Therefore, guide dogs are howling in celebration that she may not be attending City Council meetings as an elected City Councillor after January, 2010.Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-16808198973696654312009-07-26T14:21:00.004-05:002009-07-26T14:36:27.892-05:00Complaint Filed Against Sgt James Crowley, Cambridge Police Officer Who Acts Like Judge, Jury and Arresting OfficerComplaint filed against Sgt James Crowley, July 10, 2008, at the direction of Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas. Police Superintendent Stephen Williams was instructed to help me file this complaint. This was immediately after a meeting about Crowley's repeted threats to have me arrested on false, trumped up charges.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B9964bHrXtA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B9964bHrXtA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here is a great video, please visit the creator's Youtube site.<br /><br />I was not at all surprised when I heard that Sgt James Crowley has arrested an innocent man at his own home. At the meeting I had with Commissioner Haas, I expressed concern that an internal complaint would be nothing more than a whitewash. And so it was. But I had another meeting with Commissioner Haas, Stephen Williams, Kelly Downes, Neil Alpert from the Mayors office, and we again discussed the ongoing discrimination against me by Cambridge Police, and what training the police were recieving. More on this later. I repetedly told Police Commissioner Robert Haas:<br /><br />"I fear, that if you don't hold Sgt James Crowley accountable, he will continue to do this to others, and eventually he will do this to the wrong person."Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-82055446098679324622008-03-30T11:54:00.004-05:002008-03-30T17:45:19.155-05:00How Do We Build Community? Hope and Healing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItFc_p9buZP8QhzB3vY9nZgcH6-RoHg-y3ihFmqzaOTjdqy1VEghqXXjHV0yWmJapI1gDFZXcsSYj-pPCAWBqtXPnvzd-T7RnI-KBYTbOIJSCpqWShqYeaC6llVhGVh21ssqI/s1600-h/IMG_1918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183589759936872466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItFc_p9buZP8QhzB3vY9nZgcH6-RoHg-y3ihFmqzaOTjdqy1VEghqXXjHV0yWmJapI1gDFZXcsSYj-pPCAWBqtXPnvzd-T7RnI-KBYTbOIJSCpqWShqYeaC6llVhGVh21ssqI/s400/IMG_1918.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Colourful photo above shows a woman of colour waiting for a bus in Central Sq., Cambridge, MA. The photo below shows two white men waiting for a bus in Inman Sq. One appears to be middleclass, the other appears less well off, economically, and carries a cane. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">All three are busy dealing with common problem: transportation. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUUJrrfz9BeYHfvX9VGceXLW5BgsBWmf41IVNE69dX_bIDsX0WwRQHVLo56vlnqbciKThn1TD5BJ0ZdrrBPYJ0phZRQHxUCBOFghgjS-JsMAjXD3Ko8NayYvKN01PulwV4r3d/s1600-h/IMG_1923.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183589777116741666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUUJrrfz9BeYHfvX9VGceXLW5BgsBWmf41IVNE69dX_bIDsX0WwRQHVLo56vlnqbciKThn1TD5BJ0ZdrrBPYJ0phZRQHxUCBOFghgjS-JsMAjXD3Ko8NayYvKN01PulwV4r3d/s400/IMG_1923.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Hope and healing.</span></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKiSK_1krnRSLlELG4FcntdCzc7wo_gveLIYXWMVdJyciHYvp2ZzOBQ3gwAZKxl9HkpJukcZ_GddwixmFRU0wl0Jg04MrviG99g4RjME4QMUoaLu1BTPDkcr-UfckiEGWGWjd/s1600-h/IMG_2355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183589175821320178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKiSK_1krnRSLlELG4FcntdCzc7wo_gveLIYXWMVdJyciHYvp2ZzOBQ3gwAZKxl9HkpJukcZ_GddwixmFRU0wl0Jg04MrviG99g4RjME4QMUoaLu1BTPDkcr-UfckiEGWGWjd/s400/IMG_2355.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Above is Bruce from Mass Office on Disability with his service dog. He has a level in his hand and is teaching us how to measure sidewalks for cross-slope. We are volunteers from the greater Boston area who will lead access survey walks in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, otherwise known as the Americans With Disabilities Act, the ADA. The ADA is enforced through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that made it unlawful to discriminate based on race. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate based on disability.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Below is a photo of an African American male, and a white female.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Today we continue to struggle with our latent biases. I hope you will take time to view these photos, even enlarge and print them, and share them with family and friends. My intention, when I took these, was to illustrate the "DREAM." </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Hope and healing.</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea1-L2h57_BNu0XjKoVk3bddWUDXtrjg4Kopxy1Z9dCeaw7g7FDl_xv5VznxV-mELBfHBIicjKgOSHIrxHq9URJI8Zsy0hQSO6pHdR9TavpMGfquHYTZZdahRKIyux7N8fVVM/s1600-h/Man+Mounting+Bicycle+On+Sidewalk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183589184411254786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea1-L2h57_BNu0XjKoVk3bddWUDXtrjg4Kopxy1Z9dCeaw7g7FDl_xv5VznxV-mELBfHBIicjKgOSHIrxHq9URJI8Zsy0hQSO6pHdR9TavpMGfquHYTZZdahRKIyux7N8fVVM/s400/Man+Mounting+Bicycle+On+Sidewalk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Obama's speach on "race" provides us with real insight into what the barrier of attitude is, and how it handicaps us.<br /><br />By speaking in plain english, without hesitation, baring painful truths on a subject that most of us would prefer be swept under the rug of "it doesn't affect me, personally," Obama has laid a foundation to rebuild a strong and United States of America. One of the most amazing outcomes of his speach is how much latent racism spilled over into the reaction to the speach itself.<br /><br />It very may be that there are those who are invested, heavily, in that which tends to divide us. Those of us who want and seek inclusion, meet a bouncer at door after door. The bouncer is the barrier to inclusion. The "reason" given for exclusion varies from place to place. Inclusion, it seems, is illusion, even in 2008 in America today.<br /><br />Fear and loathing are probably the main motivations for excluding individuals. The idea that we may have to consider the feelings of someone different from self is starteling to us. It immediately raises to our consciounsous our own bias. Something we don't want to acknowledge, or be associated with. Do we prefer "Out of sight, out of mind?"<br /><br />But a group, City, State or Country is handicapped when not all of its individuals are considered members of the community, much less respected members of the community. The issue then, and which we have been skirting for a long time, is "Who should be members of the community, and how do we respect this commitment?"<br /><br />How do we build community. How do we value community? How do we open ourselves to the views of others, whom we have learned to ignor, scorn, and speak with contempt about?<br /><br />Yes, indeed, this is the guestion. How do we build community?<br /><br /><br />>>They said his speech, which called for an honest dialogue about race, offered an opportunity to be open to others' experiences without automatically triggering the shame, guilt and strife such conversations usually entail.<br /><br />"Obama is such a gift right now: He talks about the truth in a way that everyone on all sides needs to hear, in a way that suggests there's hope for a new day," said Allan Collister, 64, who is white and is the pastor of New Church Berkeley, a nondenominational and heavily Asian church that's within the evangelical Protestant umbrella. "He treats with respect people he doesn't agree with. That's so huge."<< >>If it's segregated public schools, it's mostly black people who come to meetings. If it's about immigration, it's immigrants. If it's about sexuality, it's largely gays and lesbians. "St. Paul says that when any member of the family suffers, all suffer. Or when one rejoices, all rejoice. But we as a people live as if that weren't true."<< <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/30/MNIBVQS0Q.DTL&type=politics">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/30/MNIBVQS0Q.DTL&type=politics</a><br /><br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/yuzjj8">http://tinyurl.com/yuzjj8</a><br /><br /><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-90162940309641166782008-03-23T17:54:00.001-05:002008-03-23T17:57:22.426-05:00Easter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZnVO9Hpy6ROVvqcfLd0htjALcMweKE1h_zCwRJfKOXJN9MRTX46oFTJH0YdIAy3YPovklaVr-g1mvRWoJ7KqR00q6jGwWGY6n5ruuBSb0v7ih4_mQ-uOYXaVW6TMVCJgSUJY/s1600-h/Easter+Lily.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181074524009119650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZnVO9Hpy6ROVvqcfLd0htjALcMweKE1h_zCwRJfKOXJN9MRTX46oFTJH0YdIAy3YPovklaVr-g1mvRWoJ7KqR00q6jGwWGY6n5ruuBSb0v7ih4_mQ-uOYXaVW6TMVCJgSUJY/s400/Easter+Lily.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.</div><div> </div><div>Bible: King James version; Matthew 28:3</div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-54142588068409334372008-03-22T11:38:00.002-05:002008-03-22T11:53:45.365-05:00Dangerous Intersection Needs Proper Controls<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">My heart goes out to the harvard Grad student who was killed in the crosswalk in Central Square in cambridge Monday morning. This was an accident that was forseeable and preventable. here are some photos that I took almost 3 years ago to documant the problems at this intersection, where go on green cars cross the Mass Ave crosswalk while pedestrians enter the crosswalk on a save to walk light.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">This is a tragedy and a travesty. It needs to be changed...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2g8HWwIjdcIDBlI-rwnOwP-f5aTAklI-0O-23-gbM0U0a7S6rCqcyREgFxmYH5Uw79M3fqLLG5_MBvYhYUwhuEzpAuUHfTyWBTqPdfyt03lUmQNiUwo1yYVg7aPNyPq97iBa/s1600-h/Ready.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180607321761628002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2g8HWwIjdcIDBlI-rwnOwP-f5aTAklI-0O-23-gbM0U0a7S6rCqcyREgFxmYH5Uw79M3fqLLG5_MBvYhYUwhuEzpAuUHfTyWBTqPdfyt03lUmQNiUwo1yYVg7aPNyPq97iBa/s400/Ready.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Photo above shows a blind man using a white cane waiting for the walk light. In the photo below he is walking across Mass Ave in the Cross walk. He is at a bit of an angle, and confused, because he hears traffic in front of him, so he veres away from aproaching car.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">The cars have the green light and are turning across the crosswalk at the same time the walk light is on. We have all complained about this, but it is the City of Cambridge's pollicy to "keep the traffic moving."</span></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5qPh0gC5ICpUVAzXwxN7dBNe295YZ0E2CT5BLY2k8kNA-acUGe8HZ1ozzhMxHnqixWwfYtrnRk60Af483oOgD3b9twN97gSV-xr5lXCm4xiXLZJdWFBxAgmJMoutEoR2jO-T/s1600-h/Car+Blocks+Access++To+Sidewalk+at+Cross+Walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180607338941497202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5qPh0gC5ICpUVAzXwxN7dBNe295YZ0E2CT5BLY2k8kNA-acUGe8HZ1ozzhMxHnqixWwfYtrnRk60Af483oOgD3b9twN97gSV-xr5lXCm4xiXLZJdWFBxAgmJMoutEoR2jO-T/s400/Car+Blocks+Access++To+Sidewalk+at+Cross+Walk.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">The photo below shows the blind man has run into the car that is blocking the crosswalk and the accessible route to the curb ramp. The blind man cannot see it, and cannot hear any sound signals.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">A full compliment of sound signals is needed so folks who are blind can hear them in both directions. theis photo was taken June 30, 2005.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXsi4K0Pf3PGulAu0u-LPLGf0jnmqKq622lwXKK97rqghIrpuryCV-_ejr6Bo7JL7hkr0rxtcanaf1eHsCXp40DDk3z1-C__NthZkKo39NN4q2dJusN7d8doEEAyCv4LWExBy/s1600-h/tTapped+On+The+Street.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180607347531431810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXsi4K0Pf3PGulAu0u-LPLGf0jnmqKq622lwXKK97rqghIrpuryCV-_ejr6Bo7JL7hkr0rxtcanaf1eHsCXp40DDk3z1-C__NthZkKo39NN4q2dJusN7d8doEEAyCv4LWExBy/s400/tTapped+On+The+Street.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;">Here the police sit, but show no concern, nor do they come to the aid of pedestrians caught in the crosswalk with crossing vehicular traffic. They do not even come to the aid of the blind man.</span></p><p><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#660000;">We need a full complement of sound signals at all busy intersections in Cambridge, and we need to end the police of having a green light at the same time as a walk light here in Central Square.</span></p><p><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5SQOlpx83tWn8F0FP8WNnCClufAwwdOwEb-kar8_ZzdN0lvToEfJlQas5AwWb5F3an7dTmCo_z1q2wDLNwvnU0MWM4nIxLKiHoN3Z_VTBFz7NezeA0i8Fgf1uisBkf54fls7/s1600-h/police+watching+the+intersection+where+the+crosswalk+is+repetedly+blocked.+they+do+not+enforce+MV+laws+for+the+crosswalk..JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180607356121366418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5SQOlpx83tWn8F0FP8WNnCClufAwwdOwEb-kar8_ZzdN0lvToEfJlQas5AwWb5F3an7dTmCo_z1q2wDLNwvnU0MWM4nIxLKiHoN3Z_VTBFz7NezeA0i8Fgf1uisBkf54fls7/s400/police+watching+the+intersection+where+the+crosswalk+is+repetedly+blocked.+they+do+not+enforce+MV+laws+for+the+crosswalk..JPG" border="0" /></a>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-14714337295616736222008-03-19T15:03:00.005-05:002008-03-22T11:56:53.578-05:00Harvard Grad student run over in crosswalk at known dangerous intersection at Central Sq, Cambridge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKBzcpNTsYu3C6CBTw-ERYOz8NR9XF4gLpErIu8U1gL2f06gn5tJ5J_zQRNJQY9xy7iBqGVJJd_4aS07lTUDdOe3l67OrzuJxsQbvdGS9vvSIY5hHGicDAOOLYgG6yWNLrnj7/s1600-h/IMG_1950.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179546868566441794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKBzcpNTsYu3C6CBTw-ERYOz8NR9XF4gLpErIu8U1gL2f06gn5tJ5J_zQRNJQY9xy7iBqGVJJd_4aS07lTUDdOe3l67OrzuJxsQbvdGS9vvSIY5hHGicDAOOLYgG6yWNLrnj7/s400/IMG_1950.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;">The photo above shows a man trying to cross Mass Ave in Central Sq. He has the light, but got trapped by a big bus that was turning across his path because the bus had a green light and this intersection has a safe to walk light at the same time. That's green for you. A good way to save on gas, and avoid ideling, but puts the pedestrian at risk</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;">The photo below shows the man weaving down the crosswalk, after getting around the rear of the bus, he has to negociate with the driver of a car. This is taking a long time, will he make it before the light turns? Well, come to think of it, it hardly matters, what with all the cars in the intersection having made a right turn on green into the crosswalk filled with pedestrians walking on a safe to walk light!</span></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknPhVztHOOx5D6p0-OM1N-R2E-13SrpaNfctRywXdHHcKa4GV9AbO-e4po_1uni6OjpP6hekM7FqPOnx25bdyqlf4tHIqbCwRFpnNxhykjeamQE9ONi4xpwl4RUTqxohiAHi_/s1600-h/Bicycle+,+Car+and+Bus+Blocking+Cross+Walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179546872861409106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknPhVztHOOx5D6p0-OM1N-R2E-13SrpaNfctRywXdHHcKa4GV9AbO-e4po_1uni6OjpP6hekM7FqPOnx25bdyqlf4tHIqbCwRFpnNxhykjeamQE9ONi4xpwl4RUTqxohiAHi_/s400/Bicycle+,+Car+and+Bus+Blocking+Cross+Walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Please note the signal shows a red hand, it means don't start, the cars on Western ave still have the green light and are still making right turns on green. You can see that is true, because the bicycle in the crosswalk is waiting for his light to turn green so he can go.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Do you think the old man using the walker will make it across the street in time? Do you care? If you do care, send me an email, or write to City Councillor Craig Kelley.</span>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-30906486688336712592008-03-10T23:20:00.004-05:002009-09-09T13:47:28.322-05:00Double the pleasure: Service dogs welcome in VA and NY schools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ1ggYxrPdNeZkgKOgePmy1-BAkPtcH3C12fwbhO6OpluS-xcsMooebFni5iV77dAEScFsXW_h1ftPyc_8cHBF2LD_tNi4JPcOexlbtgLoPx97eSY2UzzFMIOEnxP9NElB8yG/s1600-h/IMG_0177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176334708710426786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ1ggYxrPdNeZkgKOgePmy1-BAkPtcH3C12fwbhO6OpluS-xcsMooebFni5iV77dAEScFsXW_h1ftPyc_8cHBF2LD_tNi4JPcOexlbtgLoPx97eSY2UzzFMIOEnxP9NElB8yG/s400/IMG_0177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Service dogs can assist folks who are blind, or deaf, or need assistance walking, among other needs. These dogs are not pets, but working dogs, who need to be focused on their partners. When someone says no touch, they are not being rude, but it is important not to distract the service dog. Some studies show that there are 15,000 service dogs in the US, but that number is probabally low. In the photo above and below the service dog is a guide dog trained to assist a PWD who is blind. Working with their partner allows PWDs great independence, and affords them an opportunity to participate in all activities others enjoy. Boty the federal ADA and local state laws provide broad protections for PWDs who use service animals, most of which are dogs. Some states have stronger protections, giving police powers to prevent interferrence with a PWDs use of a service dog. Mass law does not privide such protection. Fed law superceeds state law when the state law is weaker. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCaOqywwp2BgM2PgEtdb30YMOiRpdN9wQdLwMQJ-8VFl8TVY6T40pRJapPcsGFLu03W1fT175ISbuU-u0HvSAviyxMiev5HexaG64HjaM_cwNCwM0UBy6mtJkbJHQO5Y45bK_/s1600-h/IMG_0388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176334717300361394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCaOqywwp2BgM2PgEtdb30YMOiRpdN9wQdLwMQJ-8VFl8TVY6T40pRJapPcsGFLu03W1fT175ISbuU-u0HvSAviyxMiev5HexaG64HjaM_cwNCwM0UBy6mtJkbJHQO5Y45bK_/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">Service dogs can be banned if their behavior presents a threat or interrupts the activity, but that has been rare. however, recently, around the country, and especially here in cambridge there has been an effort to ban ALL service dogs, including guide dogs, based on their very presence. some folks just think dogs don't belong here, and are not healthy. That attitude belies all the health studies that show how dogs improve the health of prople, and therapy dogs are often brought into hospitals, nursing homes, and even to the Sr Center here in Cambridge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">Last month, the state of VA passed unanimously, and with the support of the Gov, two service dog laws that would permit service dogs in publ;ic schools. The law makes a distinction between public entity and public accomodation. Today news stories report that Simba, a service dog for a hearing impaired student must be allowed into the school. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">This is good news for Persons with Severe Disabilities, and who rely on a service dog for their freedom. One thing I still haven't been able to understand is how some folks can make such a fuss over this idea. When folks tell me they are afraid of dogs, they were once bitten by a dog, I ask, have you ever been in a car accident, or seen one. Yes, they have always answered so far. Then, I ask, so, are you afraid of that car coming at us over there?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">Thst usually gets me a big smile. Even my sister is warming up to my Shannon, and buys her treats, and invites her into the house! It is great to feel welcome, and if anyone thinks my Shannon's feelings are not hurt when we are yelled at in a hostile mannor, they should think again. But, then, these folks aren't really thinking at all, they are just reacting with a negativity that I really cannot understand.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">So, congratulations to VA and NY, and I hope that eventually MA will heel to the Federal Civil Rights Law, or superceed it.</span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi1LFbwXID0JZxCnqxDjvtwK69J0MB7Hme6LDHwrVxxntM6lnNDlKbX7vfioi4EIaGg6g_ODCsB-WtCcxH0NP-At11MYdkISFpov2gnfQevF4vf5iwifBP6qk-gCLtOizxlGG/s1600-h/M+Decker+debates+near+guide+dog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi1LFbwXID0JZxCnqxDjvtwK69J0MB7Hme6LDHwrVxxntM6lnNDlKbX7vfioi4EIaGg6g_ODCsB-WtCcxH0NP-At11MYdkISFpov2gnfQevF4vf5iwifBP6qk-gCLtOizxlGG/s400/M+Decker+debates+near+guide+dog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379539619236768690" /></a><br /><br />Marjorie Decker, who claims she i9s allergic to my service dog, Shannon, participates in a City Council Candidates debate for 3 hours, just 5 feet from my service dog, with no ill effects whatsoever.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKW8L2Ke7HGdgiHxPrCPjleE4JCHCsQwpvPSQA3YzQJfdSKqos3t884FG9SNiTfzf81Xu5tJJTKfv-0WFX3y1Fbi2HsO9NpJzuytl1LdKHuv5jH_D2GqrQKKr4tbo7-vEpHsF/s1600-h/Which+is+suffering+an+allergic+reaction+to+guide+dog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKW8L2Ke7HGdgiHxPrCPjleE4JCHCsQwpvPSQA3YzQJfdSKqos3t884FG9SNiTfzf81Xu5tJJTKfv-0WFX3y1Fbi2HsO9NpJzuytl1LdKHuv5jH_D2GqrQKKr4tbo7-vEpHsF/s400/Which+is+suffering+an+allergic+reaction+to+guide+dog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379539611944683410" /></a><br /><br />The photo above shows one candidate who is tired, but Marjorie not only is not suffering from an allergic reaction to Shannon, my service dog only 5 feet away, but she is perky and animated!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvupF0omhpLAM7K_o-f_MzBdNKhN4-G_6VDkYZ-lCNPFvvJJtEvrxSO9vcXfbAgLfluKbA0-1Y_fxLX4rNRVuf7UsSvG2m7wpQE8OHXzUgbfqSWgKfUjMfKnB2OWgpKK4rf-o/s1600-h/M+Decker+Clear+Eyes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvupF0omhpLAM7K_o-f_MzBdNKhN4-G_6VDkYZ-lCNPFvvJJtEvrxSO9vcXfbAgLfluKbA0-1Y_fxLX4rNRVuf7UsSvG2m7wpQE8OHXzUgbfqSWgKfUjMfKnB2OWgpKK4rf-o/s400/M+Decker+Clear+Eyes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379539606032263938" /></a><br /><br />Here is another shot of Marjorie Decker, the City Councillor who wants to ban guide dogs from City Council meetings. As you can see she is clear eyed, and breathing quite well. Marjorie stayed for the full debate, with Shannon only 5 feet away.Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-41866143522469027542007-12-22T20:33:00.000-05:002007-12-22T20:40:56.931-05:00Merry Christmas!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZjuyzxN6mAN1CES7iBuHbrjfDGsoyuc6sUDs7hBlukOfkBZzHRn4Qt8kkzOkXK3JHFHkpe_CoZYmO0MD8aUP7CXqOMtp5NJigqnHl-olJLHhD0vQ9RB-ik9ukHTHuZf2Zhhl/s1600-h/IMG_0573.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146975867094698194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZjuyzxN6mAN1CES7iBuHbrjfDGsoyuc6sUDs7hBlukOfkBZzHRn4Qt8kkzOkXK3JHFHkpe_CoZYmO0MD8aUP7CXqOMtp5NJigqnHl-olJLHhD0vQ9RB-ik9ukHTHuZf2Zhhl/s400/IMG_0573.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Merry Christmas from Kathy and Shannon!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Reindeer, both male and female have antlers. The male reindeer drop their antlers in the fall, but the females carry theirs until their calves are born in the spring.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Since Santa's reindeer all had antlers, including Rudolf, and they were very busy on Christmas Eve, what with all those rooftops and all, Santa's Reindeer must all have been female!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">May the spirt of the reindeer be with you all in this season of Peace and Goodwill!</span></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-50433728049670049322007-12-20T13:06:00.000-05:002007-12-20T13:11:32.809-05:00Snow Removal on Pearl Street, Cambridge Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsK7JADTZeATvctSz8te8moyn-BtVsdfLmjbSxs6VQrxs4tz0E2qaD-Hu8wnA62yEpzSLWqTXzoaGRBn94d3D5-n7AO4evyVpyVDFJ20j8_TWjYDS9GUOWWDWH_1aF6n9XuIY/s1600-h/IMG_0554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146119192917837954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsK7JADTZeATvctSz8te8moyn-BtVsdfLmjbSxs6VQrxs4tz0E2qaD-Hu8wnA62yEpzSLWqTXzoaGRBn94d3D5-n7AO4evyVpyVDFJ20j8_TWjYDS9GUOWWDWH_1aF6n9XuIY/s400/IMG_0554.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzIs613hhETsQc0huYEbCfRD_-Ou069fKWmc-AulWEnvbePH7ftTxUhVQmDOtPIpcGB6XdtE_k45sCEVWvDKM3vGHOcI0Nw-ZOQLbH3HTL6RtE9SxLKSyZPD0DPRplsERVDzP/s1600-h/IMG_0559.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146119197212805266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzIs613hhETsQc0huYEbCfRD_-Ou069fKWmc-AulWEnvbePH7ftTxUhVQmDOtPIpcGB6XdtE_k45sCEVWvDKM3vGHOcI0Nw-ZOQLbH3HTL6RtE9SxLKSyZPD0DPRplsERVDzP/s400/IMG_0559.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_pfFGodXTsxA5WaH2RVogXUtPXWKk5y_ZsjHgP0q5p7Dmiw15lnb4Ff_-pBV7FvV2XVR7JOrmziPbY19oTRiGCHS9liXKY-6LZ1XDi1kQy9hZwzROfo9jnNc0vvPjG82kzde/s1600-h/IMG_0551.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146119205802739874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_pfFGodXTsxA5WaH2RVogXUtPXWKk5y_ZsjHgP0q5p7Dmiw15lnb4Ff_-pBV7FvV2XVR7JOrmziPbY19oTRiGCHS9liXKY-6LZ1XDi1kQy9hZwzROfo9jnNc0vvPjG82kzde/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYs_wwmfmfW3K5so4Qk2NJMWyiY2Gx17chlIpTj8x5IvHRfLa8WY7MR7wNGDoQ7uvOPqN2r5sfESg8c4oA4upxzNbUbsvrKCXXyxhh8FIZVoo-DjpWvdmOyQfLjp4JX8maELj4/s1600-h/IMG_0552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146119210097707186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYs_wwmfmfW3K5so4Qk2NJMWyiY2Gx17chlIpTj8x5IvHRfLa8WY7MR7wNGDoQ7uvOPqN2r5sfESg8c4oA4upxzNbUbsvrKCXXyxhh8FIZVoo-DjpWvdmOyQfLjp4JX8maELj4/s400/IMG_0552.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyKQJjXahduQYVwLhpkTNY-QYEqfOWtlowgmKCzF0J-Hcj4qaiLZgdm8gofLNdBeQo9XxggZ7ynnWGWLjfM7WTrQhs-7qwdJ8DX4TxcRz7OAro-LVu9XWVd2IGEhn3knqB8in/s1600-h/IMG_0556.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146119214392674498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyKQJjXahduQYVwLhpkTNY-QYEqfOWtlowgmKCzF0J-Hcj4qaiLZgdm8gofLNdBeQo9XxggZ7ynnWGWLjfM7WTrQhs-7qwdJ8DX4TxcRz7OAro-LVu9XWVd2IGEhn3knqB8in/s400/IMG_0556.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-58341032002116352982007-12-20T12:56:00.000-05:002007-12-20T13:06:05.175-05:00Yikes!!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ut9NOx9tjy0pPlyGFXd-pah3M9Ybp2chhgliDor-ByYQoahdqpEpBpyqthX3phgoj-aF1aMaj44BqE0HHgeWQxSeyMIuL7mH7ETdLRW1hiTkj07JmupwbylApGbSjS74Us2e/s1600-h/IMG_0567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146115898677921906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ut9NOx9tjy0pPlyGFXd-pah3M9Ybp2chhgliDor-ByYQoahdqpEpBpyqthX3phgoj-aF1aMaj44BqE0HHgeWQxSeyMIuL7mH7ETdLRW1hiTkj07JmupwbylApGbSjS74Us2e/s400/IMG_0567.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">And here is the other side of the story! The dump truck is filled to overflowing. I was told the snow will be dumped on New St, near Dahaney Park. I wonder when the decision to use this location was made? The City was told quite a few years ago to stop dumping snow into the Charles River Estuary, and they then plowed and dumped it into Handiacpped Parking Spaces. I objected, and when the City continued with the practice I filed a Complaint with MCAD for unlawful discrimination. </span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#990000;">The City really needs to think this whole thing through better. We should have a snow lot, and perhaps melt the snow, perhaps we could even get energy from this. When I used to ski, and spent time in Quebec City, they often recieved 24" of snow every two days or so. They brought in snow lifts, that worked like an escalator, runing down the streets after the plow, lifting the snow up the "ladder" where it "fell" into the dump truck that followed it. Cambridge knows where the narrow streets that carry bus traffic are located, and they should plan accordingly. This snow should have been removed on Friday, last week, after the unexpected 8" we recieved. </span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#990000;">Hoping we will only get a dusting is NOT A PLAN!!!</span></p><p><br /></p>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-31632507748792259962007-12-20T12:45:00.000-05:002007-12-20T12:56:09.658-05:00Will the shovels be used to clear snow from curb ramps?<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#993300;">Sometimes the large equipment used by DPW inadvertantly knocks huge chunks of heavy street treated snow into the already shoveled curb ramps , blocking access. I have documented this problem several times. This has been a matter of discussion at Cambridge Commission for Persons With Disabilities, where folks are repetedly, and eronesoly told that private property owners are responsible for clearing snow from City sidewalks and curb ramps. Please referr to previous snow and curb ramp posts.</span><br /><p><span style="color:#993300;"></span> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBlr0YbfL2-p9aa7FapLfJ0VE2ONAeWQOI_EM4nlLk47rrjYz9mFBrCcKloAMJAAMRcNsdJurRC0oX2Nya5nxGV34-wmVE7wTXEuBdM7Ybs87NazWPlUEeY29J51rziQeZTku/s1600-h/IMG_0562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146113381827086418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBlr0YbfL2-p9aa7FapLfJ0VE2ONAeWQOI_EM4nlLk47rrjYz9mFBrCcKloAMJAAMRcNsdJurRC0oX2Nya5nxGV34-wmVE7wTXEuBdM7Ybs87NazWPlUEeY29J51rziQeZTku/s400/IMG_0562.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Below is a photo of a DPW truck with shovels. When I asked if the snow that fell into the curb ramps would be removed, I was told "Thats what the shovels are for." However, I observed the shovels being used to "pull down" snow from plowed up piles onto the street so the snow could be collected in the bucked and deposited into the dump truck. I haven't been back to check the curb ramps yet today, as, gee wiz, its snowing again!!</span></p><p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKlXKLquiwL0qopoguyc8UBfVNwAFqltDzQDICSUv1BpM8Q4QVHXw8i04EL90-nO7CsWYc9TmGdPPgTAFjXKGAs2xOCDSoptL19xEIM63MNzPBwsJ0WOb4WAxX63P-cHC-FNz/s1600-h/IMG_0565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146113386122053730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKlXKLquiwL0qopoguyc8UBfVNwAFqltDzQDICSUv1BpM8Q4QVHXw8i04EL90-nO7CsWYc9TmGdPPgTAFjXKGAs2xOCDSoptL19xEIM63MNzPBwsJ0WOb4WAxX63P-cHC-FNz/s400/IMG_0565.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-32684914858975178032007-12-20T11:16:00.000-05:002007-12-20T11:34:02.945-05:00Six Hours after signs without dates were posted on Magazine and Pearl St this car was towed<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#990000;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#990000;">Wed evening this car was towed by the City of Cambridge from Pearl St at Lawrence St. Emergency no parking signs had been posted only six hours earlier in the same day, at 3pm. I called DPW, and the Cambridge Police to voice my opinion that yes, we needed to remove the excess snow that had encroached upon the street to the point that the MBTA bus could not travel down the street without having an accident and brushing into cars parked on either side. However, I explained that many folks who had cars parked pon the odd side of the street had gone to work before the signs were posted, or were working double shifts, and had not yet returned home from work. </span></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Amt2YoPj11Oj1M3Ou226FmRGx9q4UIgj2jwtUFce5S1uXXDk0U4R9Y_G7gSZy9EwFgreo7LmkPgbaAzEdWAAtwX9AG5R42onLUx3qjd3ubtlqfpqBaIuxNa1H5yRD_08cu0w/s1600-h/IMG_0531.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146090343622510642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Amt2YoPj11Oj1M3Ou226FmRGx9q4UIgj2jwtUFce5S1uXXDk0U4R9Y_G7gSZy9EwFgreo7LmkPgbaAzEdWAAtwX9AG5R42onLUx3qjd3ubtlqfpqBaIuxNa1H5yRD_08cu0w/s400/IMG_0531.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">DPW trucks trundled along Pearl Street around 8 pm announcing Cars parked on the odd numbered side of the street must be moved or they will be ticketed or towed. Only folks who were home could here this anouncement. I find it patently unfair to peanilize residents who park their cars on the street because they do not have driveways for the City's failure to plan better.</span><p><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBHpBLvS2yLkn6FETk8nRo0GQFupMrteimeawFKH8GdOAFenXPtpiIIyZHDVt0OBhR2KyA0TAmb-UKBbvnVjAI-Cm8b0tLwJN_05o_bs8v97347tFzn4D05ku5F0X-aKWppgz/s1600-h/IMG_0541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146090347917477954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBHpBLvS2yLkn6FETk8nRo0GQFupMrteimeawFKH8GdOAFenXPtpiIIyZHDVt0OBhR2KyA0TAmb-UKBbvnVjAI-Cm8b0tLwJN_05o_bs8v97347tFzn4D05ku5F0X-aKWppgz/s400/IMG_0541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><span style="color:#990000;">Here is one of the signs planted in snow banks anlog both Pearl and Magazine Street. There is no date nor time, but all residents I spoke with who turned ont to see the planned mass towing opperation informed me the signs were not there before 3pm. I called a City Councillor and the Chronicle, and the police, again, and apparently this mass towing event was nipped in the bud, because, as I was told later by DPW snow removal crew, we didn't get the signs up in time.</span>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-62044809454729238522007-12-19T14:57:00.001-05:002007-12-19T15:12:20.978-05:00City dumps salt/sand on top of unshoveled 4" thick carpet of snow turned to ice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EhFCYG2dS0iuqt0zXLglPJUR4x6NXI_T32DTsS-hG_7aaoSoLMiceTL1hBUE0q7TVpHXaEqK8ogWNHk4HFbQcagnkMTWw7BNv0MlMVR8x50bD6JMoOs0aGieNRBubU4CplOb/s1600-h/snow+dec+2007+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145776072275527682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EhFCYG2dS0iuqt0zXLglPJUR4x6NXI_T32DTsS-hG_7aaoSoLMiceTL1hBUE0q7TVpHXaEqK8ogWNHk4HFbQcagnkMTWw7BNv0MlMVR8x50bD6JMoOs0aGieNRBubU4CplOb/s400/snow+dec+2007+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6d7KjxiVc0QHDiPSk1yPbO6r9P8NUDkcc2jxcDrDhILdQ34RJ2lbnaGwF0GkhQkkhTN0S1nbBh-uoAD6RZmP6Nq730Ct7s3sDRJmMxF8wrUIKKLb5Y53HElneHExyQZqli3F/s1600-h/snow+dec+2007+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145776080865462290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6d7KjxiVc0QHDiPSk1yPbO6r9P8NUDkcc2jxcDrDhILdQ34RJ2lbnaGwF0GkhQkkhTN0S1nbBh-uoAD6RZmP6Nq730Ct7s3sDRJmMxF8wrUIKKLb5Y53HElneHExyQZqli3F/s400/snow+dec+2007+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwhh6IsPWkHFsMJ1EACuMsiT1zQoNoBe_CWpLxvCuGyN6F_qunto4TJm-DdG9_W2V9fDakgmfNlaKUdvme6-tl55OCVuwfDfZ-UKnj37npBtRX0PwksmzUx0kTURgtspQgPFT/s1600-h/snow+dec+2007+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145776085160429602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwhh6IsPWkHFsMJ1EACuMsiT1zQoNoBe_CWpLxvCuGyN6F_qunto4TJm-DdG9_W2V9fDakgmfNlaKUdvme6-tl55OCVuwfDfZ-UKnj37npBtRX0PwksmzUx0kTURgtspQgPFT/s400/snow+dec+2007+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Believe it or not, the City came to my home, after my testimony In City Council Monday evening, and after the late Policy Order about how the City might get the snow off the sidewalks that abutt the properties of taxpayers who are disabled, or seniors, and on the City's Snow Exemption Program. The photos above show what they did when they finally got there! </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Did they shovel the snow, or remove the ice? No!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">What they did was dump tons of salt treated snow on top of the 4" thick frozen solid snow turned to ice carpet! Most of the treatment stopped short of the sidewalk taht passes across the driveway. "We don't do driveways" is the infamous motto used by DPW. Of course the driveway is not the issue, the sidewalk that passes across the driveway is the issue! DA!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">So, as you can see, huge chunks of frozen and ineffectively treated snow continue to block the passage way, whice is barely a foot wide, and which continues to be a hazard to any passerby, and in inpassible barrier to anyone using a wheelchair.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">It is impossible for my service dog to walk on the sidewalk in front of our own house, because her feet get severly burned when this much salt is used. Although I have asked the City to modify its proceedures re using excissive salt vs shoveling the snow as other reasonible folks do, the City continues to ignor any request for reasonable modifications to their policies, and just does as they please, and only after public testimony, photos, and pressure from City Council!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Please do see previous stories on this. And leave comments of your own as you like!</span></p>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-31329152250266489672007-12-17T21:49:00.000-05:002007-12-17T22:17:53.305-05:00Cambridge City's Snow Exemption Program<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvxBglyTIcDRDUD1QVr84EOWsQA_2kvyV67Ya3GmqIm2xPMdpaHQ9VV0EF1fvzKhhXvKhWD3Z-iwlbQD6Tjr8dMgDITXDzerf_PQ6bAivwi26IfalpgH6KyEkufgrVzDymHw/s1600-h/IMG_0505.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145141220274604002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvxBglyTIcDRDUD1QVr84EOWsQA_2kvyV67Ya3GmqIm2xPMdpaHQ9VV0EF1fvzKhhXvKhWD3Z-iwlbQD6Tjr8dMgDITXDzerf_PQ6bAivwi26IfalpgH6KyEkufgrVzDymHw/s400/IMG_0505.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">In the photo above you can see that the carpet of tramped down snow turned to ice has melted down to 3" deep. No one can walk on this, much less People With Disabilities, or Seniors. The City of Cambridge has a duty to shovel the snow from the sidewalks that abutt the properties of our most vulnerable citizens. However, the City has failed.</span><br /><br /><br /><p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jewa6tTyHhuFYNzUUFkqpp_9GCFCjRnERTh2sMmAw157zfUwqBiOa2cnXoHy816zhqxIbIv4Mpj_IBMc8dN77LdHdCwOXy5Duf0l_m8fKy6PWsjCtw0BInN5XGWQLt2Jzt_q/s1600-h/IMG_0506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145141224569571314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jewa6tTyHhuFYNzUUFkqpp_9GCFCjRnERTh2sMmAw157zfUwqBiOa2cnXoHy816zhqxIbIv4Mpj_IBMc8dN77LdHdCwOXy5Duf0l_m8fKy6PWsjCtw0BInN5XGWQLt2Jzt_q/s400/IMG_0506.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Here is a photo of the dahanhewy Park crew skedadleing after they discovered that the siodewalk was solid ice. They tried a couple of shovel strilkes at the solid 3" thick ice, then gave upo, jumped in the pick up and took off. I just caught them as they were taking off down Pearl Street.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Marie Liman, DPW informed me today, that the DPW was no longer responmsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting property of folks on the City's Snow Exemption Program. She explained that the Paul Ryder, 617 349 6229, at the Dept of Human Services was responsible. I found out from Anita Rhodinburg (sp) that this crew was responsible for </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">1. Dahany Park, all the parking lots there, and the abutting sidewalk there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">2. Blanchard Rd sidewalk abutting the golf course.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">3. Ringe Rd abutting the cementary.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">4. 8 Child Care Centers located at the Public Schools</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">5. 65-75 Sidewalks abutting properties of folks on the City's Snow Exemption Program.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">As you can see from the photos, no one cleared any snow from this sidewalk, nor did they treat it with anti icing. Innfact no one has cleared snow nor treated for icing after any of the 3 storms we had this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </p><p><br /></p>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-30413943665278901292007-12-16T21:45:00.000-05:002007-12-16T22:12:22.980-05:00Sno go in Cambridge MA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_TSI4zgwrfGlDRCSy0dx8w0EXrOy2pBslA0wmgUkIflScDzFByc1Z_IBtwASnO9D_AuHRjAAIdNpxcU0pCO1FIm5psr-J_gD9LjJgTc72Kx4NzZVK3gdfGD7AdhyIKUV1p04/s1600-h/IMG_0468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144768812250302418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_TSI4zgwrfGlDRCSy0dx8w0EXrOy2pBslA0wmgUkIflScDzFByc1Z_IBtwASnO9D_AuHRjAAIdNpxcU0pCO1FIm5psr-J_gD9LjJgTc72Kx4NzZVK3gdfGD7AdhyIKUV1p04/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#330099;">Here is a sidewalk that has not been shoveled. It is covered with tramped down snow that has turned into a slippery, icy, hazard. Whose sidewalk is this? This is the sidewalk of a Person With a Disability who is on the City's Snow Exemption Program. to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks and curb ramps abutting their property. This is a good idea, because it keeps taxes down.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;">The City is required by State Law to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks, but the State allows the City to use the local option, and assign to property owners the duty of clearing snow from sidewalks and curb ramps that abbut their property.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;">The City has a program for People With Disabilities, and frail Seniors, who are unable to shovel snow, and who have limited income. The City will shovel the snow for those who qualify for the City's Snow Exemtion Program. Currently there are about 70 folks who qualify.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;">However, the City fails to actually come and shovel the snow. The sidewalks then become a dangerous barrier along sidewalks that have been cleared by other property owners. Everyone who passes by sees a property owner who has not cleared the snow from the sidewalk in front of their property. Folks on the City's Snow Exemption Program, CSEP, are therby publically humiliated!!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;">I have recommended that the City adopt a voucher system. Folks on the CSEP would recieve vouchers for snow clearance, which would be based on how long their sidewalk is, and could use these vouchers to have someone shovel the snow on the sidewalks abbuting their property at the same time they shovel their own property. It would get the sidewalks done in a timely way, and free up City staff to pay attention to curb ramps and parks that the City is also responsibe for.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;">Why does the City refuse to consider vouchers for the CSEP? </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span></div><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-10346955190381964342007-10-30T15:16:00.000-05:002007-10-30T15:26:26.279-05:00When Open Space is Not GreenI was inspired by Marilyn Wellons testimony In City Council last evening, and asked her to write them up so I could share them with you on my blog. At issue is the development of open space as policy of the City of Cambridge. The immediate location for the moment is Magazine Beach.<br /><br />Kathy, you asked for a summary of my comments at the City Council meeting last night, October 29:<br /><br />The City Council's Ordinance Committee has submitted areport on a proposed zoning amendment to "incorporaterequirements for LEED standards" for large projects. (LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design.") Here again we have the City Council making much of"green" buildings. <br /><br />Real green space? The Council, our policy-settingbody, adopted a "no new open space" policy in the 2000 Green Ribbon Report. <br /><br />In June, 2003, it asked theManager about the acquisition of new open space inEast Cambridge. Since there's nothing to report in the last four years, there's been no reply. <br /><br />The Manager and Council agree that Cambridge wants 5000 SF "green buildings," not 5000 SF green open space. <br /><br />At Shady Hill Square, city officials discouraged neighbors from asking the Council to rezone the 5000 SF park to open space. Officials also declined to designate the park a landmark. <br /><br />Open space pays no taxes, does nothing for the AAA bond rating. 5000 SF "green buildings" do. <br /><br />In a letter to the Council, Councillor and now State Senator Galluccio reaffirmed his "steadfast" support for the "long overdue" project at Magazine Beach. The playing fields there are now also habitat for waterfowl. Cambridge will destroy the grass there now and replace it with commercial sod for professional-levelfields. <br /><br />We agree that new playing fields for the city's children are very long overdue. The problem is that we won't be getting them at Magazine Beach. At Magazine Beach we are getting ZERO new playingfields. <br /><br />The city will pay $1.5 million to develop EXISTING STATE, not city, ball fields. It will destroy habitat and pollute the river, as the prototype project at Ebersol Fields in Boston has donefor the last two years.<br /><br /> Cambridge thus allows the development of all possible open space in the city for NEW fields as taxable,"green" buildings instead. And while Cambridge works on its bond rating, other municipalities in the Charles River watershed will help pay for any possible cleanup of the algae blooms that follow from MagazineBeach as they have from Ebersol Fields. <br /><br />Kathy, I would add a question: how long will Cambridge voters go along with this thinking? MarilynKathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-24263769722986064702007-09-28T12:33:00.000-05:002007-09-28T13:06:04.497-05:00You cannot get off the MBTA bus<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqATpcFqNgmHIiYV5du7jcw0ylepy5x22PoM4aETm1_J0bZCxxyQ1ugtqKH234rvLv-UvIWTFYmVnL4PMPGIJraxNRKWF1ejuw5AwZw1h7r-jCt7wa8vG_6mpYWVcRwPT2qTGq/s1600-h/MBTA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115309955255636898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqATpcFqNgmHIiYV5du7jcw0ylepy5x22PoM4aETm1_J0bZCxxyQ1ugtqKH234rvLv-UvIWTFYmVnL4PMPGIJraxNRKWF1ejuw5AwZw1h7r-jCt7wa8vG_6mpYWVcRwPT2qTGq/s400/MBTA.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000099;"></span>Due to my balance problems I am unable to stand on a moving bus, so when I board the bus I always ask the driver to "Please wait until I am seated before you drive forward." I am using an access pass, so the driver sees my pass and reduced fare. Usually the driver does wait, and as soon as I reach the seat I call out, "all set" or something like that. This takes very little time unless the bus is very crowded. Of course, if I board before other passengers I do not need to ask the driver to wait , because I have time to find a seat before all have boarded.</p><p>Sometimes, however, when I ask the driver to wait until I am seated, s/he doesn't wait. If I am in mid step the forward momentum of the bus will send me flying, and I can crash into the seats, onto the floor, or be knocked into other passengers, and even fall onto babies in strollers. Therefore, if I have a chance, when I feel the bus moving, I try to sit immediately onto the floor, so I am not thrown down and risk serious injury. Then, when the bus stops, I can get up and get to a seat.</p><p>However, yesterday I recieved a big shock when I asked the driver to wait. Not only did he not wait until I was seated but he drove forward immediately, even before I could reach the disability seating area located just after the wheel wells in the front of the bus. I promply sat on the floor, and told him, "I can't stand on the moving bus." He stoped, and assisted me to my feet, and I then located a seat. </p><p>Then, unbelievably, he started to take the names of witnesses to prove that I had sat down on the floor deleberately, and led them to believe that I was trying to claim that I had fallen. Within minutes the passengers were all screaming and shouting at me, some wanted me in jail and others wanted me killed. I immediately tried to explain, but no one would listen. Then I called Jim Monahan, bus operations, at the MBTA and tried to tell him what was happening. The screaming and yelling was so loud I couldn't hear what he was saying to me. I did hear him ask me to wait until an inspector arrived. I did wait.</p><p>The passengers kept up the verbal assaults, and the driver was talking into the bus "phone." At no time did the driver try to calm the passengers or protect me from their verbal assaults. An inspector arrived, and after he took the names of numerous witnesses, and heard the most awful "stories" about me, he finally spoke with me. Even then the passengers well screaming and shouting insults. I finally asked one witness to show him exactly where I sat down on the floor. I made sure he saw that it was right in the front of the bus, well before the disability seating, and then pointed out the bus was pulled away from the curb and had driven forward. he asked me repetedly if I had fallen, and I repetedly told him that I had not, and that I never told anyone that I had fallen. </p><p>Then another bus came and all the passengers were transfered to the new bus, except me. So I requested that they put the floor down so I could get off and onto the new bus, but they refused. I was kept on the bus, even as a couple more buses went by, for 45min against my will. I had to call my neighbor to come and help get the MBTA to but the floor of the bus down so I could get off. The MBTA personel were outside the bus and laughing and making fun of me. Later that day I met someone who told me they were videotaping the behavior of bus drivers toward passengers, "It's unbelievable what they do to people!"</p><p>The MBTA police informed me it is not illegal for them to refuse to let me off the bus like that. he thought it was a huge joke.</p><p><br /></p>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-60094530875827572512007-08-21T13:59:00.000-05:002007-08-21T14:01:07.969-05:00Death of a lap top<span style="color:#660000;">I am sorry to report that I haven't peen posting recently due to the demise of my faithful lap top.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">I am without the funds to purchace another one. Any and all aid will be considered to I can continue to communicate with you all.</span>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-83428163269194823792007-04-21T17:05:00.000-05:002007-04-21T17:21:54.314-05:00Disabled Woman with Service Dog Denied Entrance to Boston MA State House!!<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">A woman with a disability accompianied by her service animal was denied access to the State House Friday, April 20, 2007. She called Govenor Patrick's office on her cell phone, and asked they send someone to the entrance to assist her in gaining access. She had been told that she needed a letter from the Department of Public Safety before she would be allowed entrance. The DCR Ranger gave directions to One Ashburton Place, where she could find the Department of Public Safety. Only after the aid from the Govenor's office arrived, and after making a copy of the Delta Society description of the Civil Rights Act of 1990, and being reassured that no special tag was required, was the woman allowed entrance to the State House with her service dog. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">"I shouldn't have to go through this in order to enter the State House," and the Department of Public Safety does not issue such letters, said the woman. The DCR Ranger accused her of being rude because she asked him what his name was. "This was caused by your rude behavior, you asked me what my name was," complained the DCR Ranger. I need your name to make a complaint, she responded. </span>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-58380851259730220152007-04-11T18:51:00.000-05:002007-04-11T19:32:07.724-05:00Mayor Ken Reeves and City Manager Bob Healy pull another fast one on neighbors concerned with crime in Cambridge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xG9-XmPJmOdiyK3Pk-MdFDjkJYpZn7Ub9UYYs8onHXqGbqk7ba5GiOwMTdLQYHyL3Q0oGbLy0fe5_eYXA4T8ohoBOw_Jx4Vc6EvMbGdB6dQZ7AFkozNWYp7nBBrVaiHeeR_h/s1600-h/IMG_5075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052325731859838562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xG9-XmPJmOdiyK3Pk-MdFDjkJYpZn7Ub9UYYs8onHXqGbqk7ba5GiOwMTdLQYHyL3Q0oGbLy0fe5_eYXA4T8ohoBOw_Jx4Vc6EvMbGdB6dQZ7AFkozNWYp7nBBrVaiHeeR_h/s400/IMG_5075.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Above is a photo, taken at night, of flowers tied to a tree that marks the location where Corey Davis was gunned down on a quiet tree lined street in Cambridgeport, only 2 blocks from my home.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Fatal Cambridge shooting stuns family-oriented neighborhood</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;color:#336666;">By Chris Helms and Thomas Caywood/ Cambridge Chronicle and Boston HeraldMonday, March 20, 2006 - Updated: 01:38 PM EST</span><br /><a href="http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=131290">http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=131290</a><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Neighbors were concerned, naturally, with the continuing violence that raged across Cambridge, and we circulated a petition, and clamored for a special committee to address the complex problems that resulted in the shedding of blood on sidewalks right in front of our homes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">City Council passed an order setting up such a neighborhood crime task force, and finally a meeting was schedualled. A meeting as secret and closed as the Mayor's travel receipts. More clamor from neighbors resulted in the meeting being reschedualled, and notice to the public. The first meeting was held during the day when folks who were working could not attend. More clamor and finally the meeting was schedualled for the evening. The only problem it is in direct conflict with neighborhood meetings!!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Why are the hardworking, decent folks who are my neighbors being jerked around like this??</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Here is the comment I left on the Mayor's Blog hosted by the Cambridge Chronicle...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;color:#336666;">"Dear Mayor Reeves, I sure can appreciate your argument for privacy, which is part of my complaint about the police action called by you on Oct 30, 2006, and the repeted attempt of the police and others to intimidate me, threaten me with (another false) arrest, threat and attempt to illegally confiscate my service animal. Not to mention comments re your mistaken view that I am mental.</span></p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"><p><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The fact is, neither I nor my service dog has ever hounded you on your travel expenses.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">But I do wish that you would hold the “neighborhood” Crime Task Force at a time when I and my neighbors can attend, and not during neighborhood meetings, which presents a direct conflict.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">So, please do enjoy your dinners out at my expense, but cut the nonsense, and hold these important, criticle “Neighborhood” Crime Task Force meetings at a time when the neighbors can attend.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Cheers!Kathy" </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /></p></blockquote></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Below is the letter I submitted to my neighborhood list serve, please do comment as you like. </span><br /><br /><blockquote>Hi folks, in case you were hoping the police update at tomorrow's CNA meeting would include an update on when the next meeting of the Neighborhood Crime Task Force would be held, and if it would be at a time and place convenient so<br />Cambridge residents and neighbors who work could attend, Mayor Ken Reeves and the City Manager have schedualled it in direct conflict with various neighborhood meetings, and in conflict with the Cambridge Commission for Persons With Disabilities meeting!!<br /><br />The "Crime Task Force" meeting is schedualled for Thursday, April 12, at 6:30pm at City Hall Annex.<br /><br />Residents, neighbors, and PWDs interested in hearing Myra Berloff from Mass Office of Disabilities, guest speaker, will not be able to be in two places at one time.<br /><br />Is the Mayor or the City Manager out so out of touch with<br />the neighborhoods, and PWDs, that they do not know when the neighborhood associations hold their meetings? Or is this just an in your face reaction to our continued support for this committee being open to the public?<br /><br />take care<br />Kathy<br /></blockquote><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-86513949154507278122007-04-09T23:56:00.000-05:002007-04-10T00:10:17.323-05:00City Council in Brief<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">City Council meeting was well attended with a multitude of speakers, and lasted for hours and hours, not breaking up intil midnight, as your favotite councillors pontificated on one issue after another. Many who had signed up to speak went home without speaking as the hours draged by.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Councillors waffled on the dogs, grass and medalion issues at Fresh Pond, one point that caught the attention was the enforcement and issuing of medalions before the City Council had voted/approved the program. city solicitor took the side of the Water Department.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Policy Order re Opposition to Urban Ring Phase II did not succeed, in spite of an excellently writen policy order by Craig Kelley, and impassioned speakers, and a letter to the editor at the Cambridge Chronicle supporting the order. Henrietta Davis tabled it, so it will be on the agenda until it is removed. Anyone who wishes can speak on this at the next Council meeting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Policy Order supporting the UN Convention on Disability Rights passed. Yea!! As founder for Citizens for Feasible Compliance</span> I wish to thank Craig Kelley for the effort and research he put into this order, and which resulted in raising awareness.<br /><br />(oops, where did my colour go??)<br /><br />The Cioty Managers Item #3 re response to request for info re the City's snow clearing efforts after the Valentine Day storm was not tabled, but placed on file. There was some discussion on this, and comments that more needs to be done. That is an understatement, and the same old rhetoric!! Enough is enough!<br /><br />All the City Councillors were still in their seats at midnight, a record I am sure!!Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-7081089735207575002007-04-09T11:37:00.000-05:002007-04-09T13:25:58.136-05:00Snow Job by Cambridge City Manager Healy In City Council Tonight!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeylBgWxi6et8wg-e-rDgRMueOCbzr9NhQrqhC_H04kU0NSjgtv4_mChwbKSvXrvrM_3leZdWGp9GRjFvtjNqX5EEUVcO5PqTE1Ort2bQsA1uBI78L5YZ_PhREBWQ-ZxsDR9Lk/s1600-h/Difficult+Walking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051485100543305122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeylBgWxi6et8wg-e-rDgRMueOCbzr9NhQrqhC_H04kU0NSjgtv4_mChwbKSvXrvrM_3leZdWGp9GRjFvtjNqX5EEUVcO5PqTE1Ort2bQsA1uBI78L5YZ_PhREBWQ-ZxsDR9Lk/s400/Difficult+Walking.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Seniors and people with disabilities, PWDs, who have mobility disabilities, have a difficult time getting around on the best of days. Snow and ice, when not removed, cleared or treated, create a barrier that threatens the safety of those with mobility disabilities. The photo above shows a man using a cane in each hand approaching an crosswalk on an icy sidewalk. he was just standing there, slightly bent over, and wondering what to do, because the curb ramp and cross walk were still covered with snow, and iced over. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmzEkYW59k0G57lNfYKv_71MO6L3fXbkeD4rVrBYVQwQ_TX-p5iM8UfrCWq8ZLB9Oj9f4nXI-TEP_crF0nl1u-4Afds0pgg8x9SP7_Zx6BnhZd4gwj4rhT69uRz61Vugv4OLr/s1600-h/IMG_9308.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051485109133239730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmzEkYW59k0G57lNfYKv_71MO6L3fXbkeD4rVrBYVQwQ_TX-p5iM8UfrCWq8ZLB9Oj9f4nXI-TEP_crF0nl1u-4Afds0pgg8x9SP7_Zx6BnhZd4gwj4rhT69uRz61Vugv4OLr/s400/IMG_9308.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">The photo above shows that my service dog, Shannon, has stopped because the curb ramp at the street level, is covered with snow and iced over, even though the abutter has cleared snow from the sidewalk leading to the cross walk. The City must keep accessible routes clear of snow, and State Law requires the City to remove snow from public ways. That means sidewalks as well as streets. Here the street is icy too.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4jMoCEGueCnKLIhSzBwa_Zgqx3y_XBB1bqcMOK7snACMghFGWq_o_C7nnpzUXtGSK_21AQeDtwayqt282_-Dk6d1MfeJ_6r354EAbRN-QaHhJn7B-F32rCjN8IZZVyFBweXh/s1600-h/IMG_9352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051485113428207042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4jMoCEGueCnKLIhSzBwa_Zgqx3y_XBB1bqcMOK7snACMghFGWq_o_C7nnpzUXtGSK_21AQeDtwayqt282_-Dk6d1MfeJ_6r354EAbRN-QaHhJn7B-F32rCjN8IZZVyFBweXh/s400/IMG_9352.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Above is a photo of the Bus Stop on Mass Ave in front of the City Wide Senior Center. Please observe that the snow has been cleared inside the sheltered bus stop, but not from the accessible route from the bus shelter to the curb where seniors and PWDs board the bus. This failure to clear the snow creates a barrier to PWDs trying to access transportation to and from the Senior Center, the Post Office, and City Hall right across the street.</span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkc4h5b9vrv6Szz8K3sRSl8k5B2p9JVhiJkvgPVN46vCqfuM01nFEivlgF69MSYuUwmiTbA26jCz6Vd5aOi7VscqgQ8uZdpkJSrLOmllLWlf0x_EzsqvCEH0wMlOf7g3krmMB/s1600-h/IMG_9502.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051483940902135170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkc4h5b9vrv6Szz8K3sRSl8k5B2p9JVhiJkvgPVN46vCqfuM01nFEivlgF69MSYuUwmiTbA26jCz6Vd5aOi7VscqgQ8uZdpkJSrLOmllLWlf0x_EzsqvCEH0wMlOf7g3krmMB/s400/IMG_9502.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">The photos above and below show how the City plows snow into cross walks and curb ramps. Each photo shows that the abuttors have cleared snow from the sidewalks and curb ramps abutting their property, but the City has plowed snow from the street into the cross walks and curb ramps. Please do take note of the impression of the snow plow blade on the huge pile of snow. This results in a senior or a PWD not being able to equally enjoy the services the City provides, the sidewalks, because the pile of snow pushed into the curb ramp creates a barrier to access.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsUQmV4NOJMoA__Q2PFpokcSqVgorWhhkhHfQ9fViFrWbANlbKe4u_CELAHXVaGLSRFQms1aEXSOzVdELCw32aFflMmTl6po7RiB-kmFBBVNLHEzkhC_GPgJI9kO0KF9aw4nH/s1600-h/IMG_9515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051483945197102482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsUQmV4NOJMoA__Q2PFpokcSqVgorWhhkhHfQ9fViFrWbANlbKe4u_CELAHXVaGLSRFQms1aEXSOzVdELCw32aFflMmTl6po7RiB-kmFBBVNLHEzkhC_GPgJI9kO0KF9aw4nH/s400/IMG_9515.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Below is a photo of snow 6-7" deep still not cleared from the sidewalk of a senior PWD on the City's Snow Exemption Program (CSEP). It is the City's responsibility to shovel snow from this sidewalk, and all other sidewalks of homeowners on the CSEP. As you can see the snow prevents the gate from being opened, and the PWD is totally blocked by the snow. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Will the City come and shovel the snow? Wanna bet on it?</span> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2RceqikxJQ3yAAIgHmSIhFcgzWZaMMm6CwbDD1sGXmNuYrVoaHC7rEpssTV3paDyp-sJtduKPgwL9vEsRCOEDEGfRqUqhvCbqhQJJ6NXwWQ7IhgdmIzGBvH9mnomhDKQVpeN/s1600-h/IMG_9428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051481222187836754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2RceqikxJQ3yAAIgHmSIhFcgzWZaMMm6CwbDD1sGXmNuYrVoaHC7rEpssTV3paDyp-sJtduKPgwL9vEsRCOEDEGfRqUqhvCbqhQJJ6NXwWQ7IhgdmIzGBvH9mnomhDKQVpeN/s400/IMG_9428.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG79xaiDXbvr8hARs5aWYYW4tdRbT-6NzmtHHF7VhjfNpTlx4Jj2JvML-hCmVR4LxDD2Yrbjhxs9GVwxnJvqvF7nJj1rlU8Ywinzbs3O_eWiNzLR2DLmi61JCydKch1QjaB2U/s1600-h/IMG_9517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051482240095085922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG79xaiDXbvr8hARs5aWYYW4tdRbT-6NzmtHHF7VhjfNpTlx4Jj2JvML-hCmVR4LxDD2Yrbjhxs9GVwxnJvqvF7nJj1rlU8Ywinzbs3O_eWiNzLR2DLmi61JCydKch1QjaB2U/s400/IMG_9517.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">As you can see in the photo above, the City did not shovel the snow at all, they dumped a shi* load of salt on top of the 6-7" of snow without removing the snow first. The salt didnt melt the snow, because the sidewalk is on the north side of the house and gets no warm afternoon sun. The heavy deep salt laden snow in the photo above is a barrier that folks with mobility disabilities cannot negotiate. Folks who are blind and use canes cannot shing their cane thru this snow, and if you look at the photo below, a closeup of the amount of salt and depth of snow, PWDs using service dogs, guide dogs, cannot walk here with their dogs, because the amount of soaking wet salt gets into the sensitive pads of the dogs feet, burning them, and causing the service dog, guide dog to limp.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yH39H-LOnzHf1i1T7cZjddeHI5J9w3APeRdA-T3bIDTg1XoZyZwybBzzLkwOBwvKCXxmzS27-AVUO5QnHodLOYoGA1XJW7xihpkL2o40V1eN8eaFEYiMTqMNVZ9pgv1Xl8cZ/s1600-h/IMG_9519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051482248685020530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yH39H-LOnzHf1i1T7cZjddeHI5J9w3APeRdA-T3bIDTg1XoZyZwybBzzLkwOBwvKCXxmzS27-AVUO5QnHodLOYoGA1XJW7xihpkL2o40V1eN8eaFEYiMTqMNVZ9pgv1Xl8cZ/s400/IMG_9519.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GlAWWoJL4H01bJU2eHuJHzYiQCuC_WANM8X_tTyqCa4XgYaKq86FCjvkAfMLNC-LyGTODAbuPTbRO7LcjthluFTpNdfTQ5WPyRSofA-5oLVu2ypuoMorDIe10oDJvzjSsNCC/s1600-h/IMG_9366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051481196418032914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GlAWWoJL4H01bJU2eHuJHzYiQCuC_WANM8X_tTyqCa4XgYaKq86FCjvkAfMLNC-LyGTODAbuPTbRO7LcjthluFTpNdfTQ5WPyRSofA-5oLVu2ypuoMorDIe10oDJvzjSsNCC/s400/IMG_9366.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Above is a view of the parking area behind City Hall. This is also the "handicapped" entrance, and the emergency egress to the building. The City owns this property, it is not a public way. As ypu can see the parking spaces for the cars on the left have been cleared of snow, and the accessible route into the building has also been cleared of snow, but the accessible HP parking space on the right continues to remain blocked by snow. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh77U1JLFMJNbaUzVaYMgZf-MiYOoJDruEKbJQASQlYtKOUMd5U2tw8FPXZA5DVMdPqv8NZIm_PrL5DXw3Z8ttyzFuVFb_6Uqxfv1ejszTjglHoYeI0Iv9a9WWE8qn__L3ecP/s1600-h/IMG_9505.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051481205007967522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh77U1JLFMJNbaUzVaYMgZf-MiYOoJDruEKbJQASQlYtKOUMd5U2tw8FPXZA5DVMdPqv8NZIm_PrL5DXw3Z8ttyzFuVFb_6Uqxfv1ejszTjglHoYeI0Iv9a9WWE8qn__L3ecP/s400/IMG_9505.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Above is a photo taken on Franklin Street showing how the City plowed snow out of a parking space reserved for delivery vehicles. They pushed the snow right up against the rear of the HP space. They did not clear snow from the HP space. They did stop short of plowing the snow into this HP space.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCBZSORjJhQmC8spdRzEg5aMcMwf3jaE_9sPSyd_2sxKemonZ4JjwPmbcY_YDq76iiLpMTK1uMmxLmrWzAG1yb7b4uKAqdKt_A8x6Em-l8R5wAaad25rC8AS3gTePqLR83MWa/s1600-h/IMG_9506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051481209302934834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCBZSORjJhQmC8spdRzEg5aMcMwf3jaE_9sPSyd_2sxKemonZ4JjwPmbcY_YDq76iiLpMTK1uMmxLmrWzAG1yb7b4uKAqdKt_A8x6Em-l8R5wAaad25rC8AS3gTePqLR83MWa/s400/IMG_9506.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">More photos from Franklin St shows a dedicated HP space with snow plowed into it. Above shows the whole space as one would drive by, and below how it looks if a PWD with a HP plate of plackard would try to access this HP space. As you can see it would be impossible to park here as the HP space is filled with huge piles of snow. This series of photos shows how the City does clear some spaces, but not HP spaces, and even plowes snow into HP spaces. This outrageous discrimination continues despite dozens of complaints, and two years after I filed a MCAD complaint against the City of Cambridge for failing to clear snow and denying access to PWDs during the winter.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRD7uEADvkniVsmHNM3hFwtqAl7ZeJuCcYNn7YrJQUoyIthmXzRdDWQOgfHK5ThBGRhl5VHgRV-c0VEHWvK9ho3GS_UpKqN9hZMtXKuNQDUYiMXhdw61cFwnFHsJMqI0Zes7l/s1600-h/IMG_9507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051481217892869442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRD7uEADvkniVsmHNM3hFwtqAl7ZeJuCcYNn7YrJQUoyIthmXzRdDWQOgfHK5ThBGRhl5VHgRV-c0VEHWvK9ho3GS_UpKqN9hZMtXKuNQDUYiMXhdw61cFwnFHsJMqI0Zes7l/s400/IMG_9507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I would like to point out that the City managers report In City Council re snow clearance after the Feb 14th snow storm is unacceptable, and fails to include any evidence that supports his disingenuous claims. In fact his report does not include and ststement from the Camb Commission for Persons With Disabilities, who discussed the City's failure to clear snow even 5 days after the storm. It also does not include any statement from Susan pachico who is the director at the Senior Center who oversees the City's Snow Exemption Program.</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">These photos are just some of the dozens of photos I took to document the City of Cambridge's failure to clear snow, and continues violations of the civil rights of PWDs.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Who wouldn't be outraged??????</span></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-44768675160648780772007-03-31T12:13:00.000-05:002007-03-31T12:38:32.206-05:00Veneer of Civility<span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">Recently the debate about continued censorship of submissions to the list serve of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association has heated up again, after a rash of posts were refused, and one lovely and well respected lady was coerced into apologising for stating her (very polite) opinion about development in lower Cambridgeport. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">Several of my posts have been rejected, and I have often been called a liar in so many words by none other that the President of the CNA as well as other CNA board members, and then not allowed to respond with documented evidence of facts supporting my submissions, therby allowing list serve members to be mis informed at the whim of the list serve moderators and CVA board. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">Board members reqularly talk trash, make false accusations, and even call people "paraniod" etc, when views and opinions posted differ from their own, and allow other list serve members to bash those with different opinions, even when it breaks the rules. The Board then attempts to instruct others on "civil discourse" and how to be a "good neighbor." </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">Recently I had to inform the president of the CNA that if my submission was not posted I would post it on my blog, send it a a letter to the editor to the Chronicle and post it in Dana Park. After a standoff, my submission was posted. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">A board member, who moderates the list serve recently posted this re censorship on the CNA list serve in response to many, and I repete many complaints of censorship of ideas under the guise of breaking the rules...</span><br /><br /><blockquote><p>I would not characterize what the moderators of this list are doing as censorship. But if that's the word some would like to use, so be it. </p><p>The only motivation of rejecting certain posts is to conform with the purpose of this list is as stated on the home page: "This group is designed to be a forum for issues related to the Cambridgeport Neighborhood. Issues of note include<br />development, community meetings and/or events, crime alerts, etc."That shouldn't be confusing. It is a forum to share information pertinent to the neighborhood, and to discuss in a civil manner those issues. </p><p>The list must not serve as a forum where individuals are insulted. If that is how a member decides to write<br />in a posting, that post may be rejected.</p><p>Marco Werman<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;"></span><br /></p></blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">Here is my most recent submission, and which breaks no rules. It has not been posted, even though many others submitted after I submitted mine were posted. Now, why would this be? When the list serve announced it would delay posting submissions to make sure the one per day limit was observed, it promised no censorship. Now many posts are censored, and for no way for list serve mambers to see just what is not allowed. In fact, my most recent submission discusses, in a most civil way, the dangers of censorship in a democracy.</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663333;">The Veneer Of Civility</span></div><br />Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 08:46:48 -0700 (PDT)<br />From: Kathryn Podgers <a href="mailto:kathypodgers@yahoo.com">kathypodgers@yahoo.com</a><br />Subject: Veneer of Civility<br />To: <a href="mailto:cportneighbors@yahoogroups.com">cportneighbors@yahoogroups.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#996633;">Hi Folks, genuine civility being rare, some adopt a veneer of civility to promote their adgenda, even to the detriment or the community. Surely, there must be a forum, in a democracy, where the open exchamge of ideas is not only "permitted" but welcome. Free Speech is not the issue, the issue is self government. Not exclusive cliques excluding others by invoking arcane "rules" under a veneer of civility, which hides the basest of all human weakness, the notion that "I am your better, because I have a better education, more money, bigger car, more esteemed title." And excluding others using the veneer of civility in group settings by projecting onto others, that they are not really welcome, because they are inferior to the civilized elite.<br /><br />Objections to abuses delivered by this sham include claiming one is not "behaving" and calling the police to remove the "violent" individual. We saw this during the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's, and we saw this when our neighbor, Eli Yarden was falsly accused of not speaking to an adgenda item, when in fact he was. Under the colour of law, to enforce the "rules" and preserve the veneer of civility, the mayor of our City, with the reporters all watching, and even the invited school children enthralled by this improbable action, called the police to remove the offender, an 83 year old man, who had broken no rules, was speaking on an agenda item, and, unlike many of the City Councillors, who remained covered by their thin veil of the Veneer of Civility, knew what the adgenda item was about and was articulating his educated opinion acording to the rules.<br /><br />One cannot expect to wear the veil if one also wants to remain silent when vile acts are perpetrated publically. To remain silent in the face of oppression of an individual in the public areana, makes one a silent partner of the oppressors, and lends support to this form of use of force to perpetrate a crime against civil discourse, a crime against humanity, and human sensibilities.<br /><br />One cannot remain silent when another uses the veneer of civility under the colour of law to violate our most hard one liberties.<br /><br />Here in CNA group, some of those who cry foul the loudest, how invoke the veil against others, are often the worst attackers when they wish to be. So, we also get to see "the pot call the kettle black."<br /><br />Much has been writen about the veneer of civility, and the best is probablly the Eisenhower paper re Civil Rights. The worst abuser in my life was probabally McCarthy, who destroyed the lives of many good people, before the rest of congress finally overcame the gag of the veneer of civility and put an end to the witch hunt. below, please find a definition, and a section of a collegiate paper discussing this issue.<br /><br />Take care<br />Kathy<br /></span><br />The VENEER OF CIVILITY...a definition and an interesting discussion...<br /><br /><a href="http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/veneer.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/veneer.html</a><br /><br />Civility<br />"We have avoided fighting and discourtesy.<br /><br />We have kept up a facade of good manners at the cost of not accomplishing much."<br /><br />A frequently cited reason for communication difficulties is the veneer of civility that pervades faculty interactions. Faculty often appear unwilling to pursue issues that may be divisive or provoke debate. Unpleasantness is avoided at all costs.<br /><br />Unfortunately, as several of those interviewed stated, this often means that the most crucial issues facing the department are never discussed. One faculty member, explaining why the department had not made changes in the curriculum in 20 years, said, "I think we are afraid to look at it [the curriculum] because of the big fights over what should be required."<br /><br />Another professor noted, "By not discussing departmental policy we don't disagree too much - on the surface." Relations may seem calm, but this calm is achieved at the expense of common purpose and community.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-15612840.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-15612840.html</a>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16872158.post-30275992535135247762007-03-22T19:40:00.000-05:002007-03-22T20:11:20.007-05:00All but one present and accounted for! Cambridge City Council learns to obey Open Meeting law?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5zsjOWPG1xp2NPppoTuHCNfrOvAHHqnI__FRA0UOoUeVXrJ1ffYrhkaGkrSUPH5dV7JsYRYVvjAkzh_KNWbrQomWaMGtotpEEnAAMYd24Inv1KF8NQmzuJh-K8ZCY51VSAgK/s1600-h/IMG_9522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044914760955261778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5zsjOWPG1xp2NPppoTuHCNfrOvAHHqnI__FRA0UOoUeVXrJ1ffYrhkaGkrSUPH5dV7JsYRYVvjAkzh_KNWbrQomWaMGtotpEEnAAMYd24Inv1KF8NQmzuJh-K8ZCY51VSAgK/s400/IMG_9522.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Once again I arrive at City Hall to find a vehicle illegally parked and blocking access both the the emergency egress to City Hall during a schedualled meeting, but also blocking the accessible route and dedicated HP space. click on the photo for a large view and see the Traffic and parking supervisor in the window looking at me, even as I photograph the car. Below is the supervisor, who identified himself to me as Paul Doyle. he responded to my question of why he didn't ticket the car that was illegally parked by ststing that he disagreed with me that it was illegally parked, blocking the emergency egress, the accissible route and the Accissible HP space, because he observed, "people can walk around the car so it is not illegal, it is not blocking anything." The cambridge Police later told me the police do not have jurisdiction over the parling at City Hall, because it is "private property!" LOL I sent an email question about this to Michael Muehe, and I am still awaiting a reply. (Don't worry, I won't hold my breath.) BTW, by law the State Police do have jurisdiction over State Property.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTwRRhbu3ShCh-Yi54mI-A45mTjcVy5zKVfYLwt5L3QpT3P7ntOiFt3BLyhRn3N4l3u1keJAnKk_lYwtI3PGNgFPtI3AWtjxgbEx2MEcF5CkJuOGJgsm3u48Geg7KCnl44l6Z/s1600-h/IMG_9523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044914769545196386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTwRRhbu3ShCh-Yi54mI-A45mTjcVy5zKVfYLwt5L3QpT3P7ntOiFt3BLyhRn3N4l3u1keJAnKk_lYwtI3PGNgFPtI3AWtjxgbEx2MEcF5CkJuOGJgsm3u48Geg7KCnl44l6Z/s400/IMG_9523.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Below is a photo of three City Councillors in attendence at the march 19th City Council meeting. Craig Kelley, Anthony galluchio and Michael sullivan are usually present at the start of City council meetings. The empty seat belongs to Marjorie Decker, who, usually is not in her seat at the beginning of meetings. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxnuHGF7j9aXmn0VpcE5mS6VbCNjcCmU0p70lgQ5vio6iHTmnNmUgcTfsGyUC6irFT9PSPiNIM4dWs8-EZ3h_QrNe0OhGFHcJuWHyO7nkjUbjWn1eoAlhIWXnsCqRF-kpgE6H/s1600-h/IMG_9525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044914778135130994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxnuHGF7j9aXmn0VpcE5mS6VbCNjcCmU0p70lgQ5vio6iHTmnNmUgcTfsGyUC6irFT9PSPiNIM4dWs8-EZ3h_QrNe0OhGFHcJuWHyO7nkjUbjWn1eoAlhIWXnsCqRF-kpgE6H/s400/IMG_9525.JPG" border="0" /></a> S<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">urprise, Surprise! In the photo below, all four City Councillors that sit by the windows were in their seats at the begining of the City Council meeting. Everyone commented on this, the public section was abuzz with this unusual appearance of our elected representivitives. We, those members of the public who came to speak, and be heard by the City Council before they vote on matters before them, we were treated to a special and surprising treat. These four city councillors were actually present and accounted for at the meeting and for public comment! This is very unusual, as, like Marjorie Decker, these four, Vice Mayor, and State Rep Tim Toomey, Denice Simmons, Henrietta Davis and Brian Murphy are usually absent for public comment.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHpX2coc7eFTPvq9Bw6SCtGlfLz2gNoBjzKsOqy7qpMp3vfCtt4bzVn4vXmilIWM5o6cuObLBtM4NdMEb6FCYGw35Ys_hpWONAsV9cnj1lbP1onkAKHqC_HvDYXtQmNPMB29H/s1600-h/IMG_9526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044914786725065602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHpX2coc7eFTPvq9Bw6SCtGlfLz2gNoBjzKsOqy7qpMp3vfCtt4bzVn4vXmilIWM5o6cuObLBtM4NdMEb6FCYGw35Ys_hpWONAsV9cnj1lbP1onkAKHqC_HvDYXtQmNPMB29H/s400/IMG_9526.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Below is the Mayor, and master of ceremonies, Ken Reeves. he was unusually subdued, and stated that everyone had to obey the rules. The Cambridge Chronicle had documented the failure of the City Council to obey it's own rules, and the state of Mass Open Meeting Law. I am wondering if some secret admonishment was handed down by the State, requesting the Cambridge City Council to please, if you don't mind, stop breaking the toothless law.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTczfCigkCt8wl88XOnc5pX7QMJZxarLVMqrrEPHSJ9GRYbXW4DVKR_RDB3n6UUXlUeJDdjY9xbK8AQNiq3bmSQOwCsVYh8wXnSPdSk56JMKqxdFITW8XPJBNCqdphhpgEXYC/s1600-h/IMG_9527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044914803904934802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTczfCigkCt8wl88XOnc5pX7QMJZxarLVMqrrEPHSJ9GRYbXW4DVKR_RDB3n6UUXlUeJDdjY9xbK8AQNiq3bmSQOwCsVYh8wXnSPdSk56JMKqxdFITW8XPJBNCqdphhpgEXYC/s400/IMG_9527.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Whatever was the reason, it sure felt good to be speaking to actual City Councillors, Marjorie Decker excluded, and not to empty chairs. Even if they don't actually listen to us, and are busy updating their palm pilots, if feels different to see faces and bodies, that empty space.</span><br /><div></div>Kathy Podgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07489944336685763154noreply@blogger.com0