A Political Brain Fart
As you probably already know, the Democratic National Convention is taking place in Boston this July. Boston beat out other cities for this honor with the lure of a predominantly democtratic state and the success burial of the central artery (Big Dig).
When I first heard that Boston was wooing the committee, I was excited. I’m quite proud of my city and wanted to show it off to the world. However, my excitement dwindled after 9-11 when our world changed and I didn’t want such a high-profile event in my backyard. For better of worse, a few months later Boston won the competition.
Now with only 4 months to go until the convention, the reality of the hell it is going to cause is finally beginning to kick in.
First, the convention is taking place at the Fleet Center. This facility is within 50 feet of a government building on one side and a major highway/tunnel on the other side. To top it all off, the commuter rail train station is on the first floor and the orange line and new green line subway tunnels are underneath. Talk about a terrorists dream come true: Gov’t building, public transit hub, 30,000 conventioners, and all of the nation’s media with cameras watching.
Second, the MBTA (Boston’s transit authority) has decided that it would make the most sense to close ALL local subway and train stations. This means that any commuter on the green line, orange line or northern commuter rail lines will be forced to get off their train north of the city and take shuttle buses into the city. The city keeps talking about 30,000 people coming to attend the convention…yet they’re closing down all public transit that gets to the event. Make sense?
Third, the old elevated green line tracks that run along two sides of the Fleet Center will not be removed on time (budget reasons) so now that old green and rusty eyesore will great the visitors.
Fourth, the nearby street remodeling (grassy medians, street lamps, pot hole repairs, etc..) that was supposed to be completed before the convention won’t be completed on time.
Fifth, the Big Dig is still officially a year away from completion so the route leading to and along one side of the convention center will be a barren landscape of rubble and bent steel.
Sixth, they are now contemplating shutting down the major highway that brings you into the city because it’s too close to the Fleet Center (terrorists). That’s a brilliant idea now that they’re closing down the train station and subway stations.
Looking back, we should have waited until the 2008 election. By then, the new (larger) convention center in South Boston would be complete, new hotels will have opened, the Big Dig would be removed and new parks completed.
Oh, and did I mention that because we’re the closest building to the Fleet Center many of the media networks are renting office space on the first 6 floors of our condo building (the lower half of our building is offices and the top half is residential). I’m glad we’re going to be in Provincetown that whole week.
Anyway, here’s my dinner tonight: spinach salad with grilled chicken. MMMMMM
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Let’s see: the site of GAStronomy and brain farts. There is just way too much bodily functions going on here for my taste, but that is just me. I am in complete agreement with Karl. The city is going to shuttle over 100,000 people for the 30,000 attending the convention. However, I suspect the money which will be pumped into our local economy and the “PR” Boston will secure will make it a worth while torture. I have to leave now. My brain is wanting for to fart.