SM_bos
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Comments
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On the article Braintree High Loses State Semi-Finals to Central Catholic
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On the article Patrick Budget Eliminates 44 Tax Deductions
SM_bos
9:46 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
ReplyBravo to Walter. . . It's pretty crazy if we're tripling our budget in 20 yrs unless overall growth has tripled. And we should be supporting savings.
I'll also add that the proposed mixed-bag of increases and decreases is very opaque to most taxpayers. (I suspect this is deliberate, but thats another issue). We need the Patrick Admin- or the press- to provide a few examples. Single mom and 3 kids earning $40k. Couple without kids earning $130k. Couple with kids earning $200k, Single earning $75k, etc.
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On the article Letter: Tree Removal on Tremont Street Comes as a Surprise
SM_bos
11:35 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ReplySara, thank you for the follow-up and for doing some digging. I walked past this area tonight and definitely recalled having seen these trees leaning pretty far over West Brookline Street. It seems that communication with neighbors could have been more pro-active, and the year-long wait for a new tree seems a bit long, but the City does seem to be trying to do the right thing.
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On the article Protests Planned Against MBTA Bag Checks
SM_bos
6:38 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ReplySeems like an area where both sides of the political aisle might find common ground. Honor the Bill of Rights, even when it might be a risk or make someone uncomfortable!
On a practical note, why isn't everyone more careful to clarify what's a search, a check, or a swab? The language seems to matter quite a bit here.
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On the article Letter: Tree Removal on Tremont Street Comes as a Surprise
SM_bos
5:40 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ReplySouth End Neighbor, are you only complaining in the Patch? Or have you actually contacted your councilman to ask? Or outrageously demand? I agree I'd rather have the trees. Just figure we can reserve some outrage for the really important things. Or at least withhold it until all the facts are known.
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On the article Should Teachers, Child Care Workers Submit Fingerprints for Background Checks?
SM_bos
9:03 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
ReplyAgree we should take reasonable steps to protect kids but knee jerk laws arent always the best answer. One question; would any of the awful examples of child abuse above have been prevented by these precautions? Are there any examples anywhere, ever? or are we just addin one more step? One more bureaucracy? One more cost without ANY benefit?
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On the article Should Teachers, Child Care Workers Submit Fingerprints for Background Checks?
SM_bos
9:02 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
ReplyAgree we should take reasonable steps tonprotect kids Question; woul any of the awful examples of child abuse above have been prevented by these precautions? Are there any examples anywhere, ever? or are we just addin one more step? One more bureaucracy? One more cost without any benefit?
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On the article Gun Laws Top Boston City Council President Murphy's 2013 Goals
SM_bos
11:11 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
ReplyDoes Councilor Murphy understand that automatic rifles are already (mostly) banned? Or that many rifles not considered "assault rifles" are semi-automatic? Or that Boston already makes it very, very difficult to get a permit to carry a handgun? Or that the vast majority of guns taken off the streets of Boston are from people who are already violating numerous laws? Is he vehement about enforcing and prosecuting those existing laws more forcefully?
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On the article Should Teachers, Child Care Workers Submit Fingerprints for Background Checks?
SM_bos
11:08 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
ReplyYogasong raises another point. With any background check, what is the cutoff? Obviously a child-abuser or hardened criminal would be ruled out. But what if someone got in a fight when they were 22 and was convicted of assault, can they not work with kids when they are 32? Marijuana possession? Simple robbery? I'm not against the idea, but the ever increasing bureaucracy is not always a great thing.
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On the article Should Teachers, Child Care Workers Submit Fingerprints for Background Checks?
SM_bos
8:06 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
ReplyHave Oregon, NY, or Maine's laws prevented any crimes against the children they are meant to protect? Some data from them would be a start. What is the cost of the law, which is an intrusion into people's lives, in terms of dollars and more government?
SM_bos
7:19 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sounds like the basketball team played hard.
However I hope these kids get punished: https://twitter.com/Local_FD_PD/statuses/311254325227835392
And these kids: http://www.universalhub.com/2013/and-today-suburban-teens-act-out-t