The Sunday Globe ran an article in the Money & Careers section about how the Obama compromise on extending the Bush era tax cuts will affect families of different income levels.
Check out the full article: http://www.boston.com/business/taxes/gallery/taxdealbythenumbers/
Here's some telling data:
Population Segment by Income Savings (as % of Income)
Bottom 20% $3,342 (10%)
Middle $3,246 (4.3%)
Top 20% $6,538 (4.5%)
Top 1% $6,788 (1.5%)
Top 0.1% $92,658 (4.5%)
As you can see, these tax cuts aren't exactly progressive with the super rich getting a better deal than the middle or upper middle class. This comes at a time when income inequality in the US, which has been growing for the past 40+ years and has especially accelerated since the mid-1980s, is reaching an all time high. There's a lot of debate about the role the income disparity plays in the US, but in general countries that have a better education system than the US, or rate higher on health indicators, or have lower crime rates also have a more equal distribution of wealth and income. The US' inequality is about the highest in the developed world.
The argument for extending the tax cuts is that raising taxes right now would halt any economic growth that we're seeing. That is essentially true, economists agree that this compromise will help spur economic growth. However, most of that growth and job creation will come from the extension of unemployment benefits and the reduction in the payroll tax, not the continued income tax cuts. Additionally, there is a vocal group of Americans and legislators who feel that reducing the impending deficit should be our #1 priority. Extending tax cuts doesn't do this. Letting the tax cuts expire on earnings over $250,000, $500,000 or even $1 million would have been a reasonable way to let most of Americans continue to have money to spend and put back into the economy while using excess discretionary earnings to bring the budget into balance. There need to be additional tax brackets above $250,000 to account for the incredible income growth and disparity that has occurred at the top end of the income scale. There is always a lot of populist anger when people see sports stars or Wall Street bankers walking away with million and billion dollar salaries and bonuses. It would be nice to see some anger directed towards the broken system that protects them and allows our economic growth to walk away without benefiting the vast majority of Americans for whom that growth has been so elusive.
[Additional source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequality_in_the_United_States]
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Upstairs on the Square
Upstairs on the Square - 91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge (Harvard)
This fall (this post is really old), thanks to Gilt City and my friend Laura, I had an opportunity to try out the 5 course tasting menu with wine at Upstairs on the Square, a pretty swanky place in Harvard Square, with Ann and Laura's friend Dan. I didn't really know what to expect coming in, other than the excessive amounts of pink and stripes used in the dining room decor were not to my liking.
Upon arrival, my concerns about the decor were found to be mostly true, though not as bad as feared. However, things became immediately better when we were presented with the menu.
Let's just say it was a very enjoyable meal. The wine pairings were all good, though I'd say the wine that stood out the most for me was the Sauvignon Blanc. It was probably the best one I've ever had, though that could have had something to do with the fact that our server told us it was a limited edition run that this guy makes only in certain years.
The Heirloom Salad was good, especially the goat cheese, although sometimes the tomatoes were a bit overpowering for me. Same for the Spaghetti au Caviar, although it was good just to have a small portion because it was kind of creamy and that would have become too much if we had tried to eat a whole entree of it. The Salmon was probably the consensus top entree pick out of the group. Here is a dish we wish they didn't have a small portion for. The Salmon itself was great and then the root vegetables and apples were a perfect compliment with a kick from the mustard and horseradish. It was especially nice for fall. The Chicken was also great, although I would say the portion was even more noticeably undersized. I was mostly surprised at how much I enjoyed the spaetzle. At this point in the evening, we were all feeling pretty good from the wine and had been truly enjoying the assortment of fine foods presented to us. I do not think we were prepared for what happened next. The Churros y Chocolat is probably the best dessert I have ever had. Ever. They were perfectly fried and sugary and cinnamon-y and you could dip them in molten dark chocolate. Pairing it with cinnamon ice cream just completed the perfection! Needless to say, we all left on a happy note.
Doing the tasting menu at Upstairs on the Square was certainly an enjoyable experience. The food was very well conceived and prepared, leading to the results described above. It was different enough to be exciting, but familiar enough to be enjoyed. Our server was very friendly and we had a good time, though there were a couple of overly long delays between courses. My biggest knocks on the place are the prices and the atmosphere. It's certainly worth the extra cost for a special occasion based on the food, but the dining room was a little off and also had too much of a stuffy, formal feel for me to make it a top choice.
This fall (this post is really old), thanks to Gilt City and my friend Laura, I had an opportunity to try out the 5 course tasting menu with wine at Upstairs on the Square, a pretty swanky place in Harvard Square, with Ann and Laura's friend Dan. I didn't really know what to expect coming in, other than the excessive amounts of pink and stripes used in the dining room decor were not to my liking.
Upon arrival, my concerns about the decor were found to be mostly true, though not as bad as feared. However, things became immediately better when we were presented with the menu.
The Heirloom Salad was good, especially the goat cheese, although sometimes the tomatoes were a bit overpowering for me. Same for the Spaghetti au Caviar, although it was good just to have a small portion because it was kind of creamy and that would have become too much if we had tried to eat a whole entree of it. The Salmon was probably the consensus top entree pick out of the group. Here is a dish we wish they didn't have a small portion for. The Salmon itself was great and then the root vegetables and apples were a perfect compliment with a kick from the mustard and horseradish. It was especially nice for fall. The Chicken was also great, although I would say the portion was even more noticeably undersized. I was mostly surprised at how much I enjoyed the spaetzle. At this point in the evening, we were all feeling pretty good from the wine and had been truly enjoying the assortment of fine foods presented to us. I do not think we were prepared for what happened next. The Churros y Chocolat is probably the best dessert I have ever had. Ever. They were perfectly fried and sugary and cinnamon-y and you could dip them in molten dark chocolate. Pairing it with cinnamon ice cream just completed the perfection! Needless to say, we all left on a happy note.
Doing the tasting menu at Upstairs on the Square was certainly an enjoyable experience. The food was very well conceived and prepared, leading to the results described above. It was different enough to be exciting, but familiar enough to be enjoyed. Our server was very friendly and we had a good time, though there were a couple of overly long delays between courses. My biggest knocks on the place are the prices and the atmosphere. It's certainly worth the extra cost for a special occasion based on the food, but the dining room was a little off and also had too much of a stuffy, formal feel for me to make it a top choice.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tremont 647
Tremont 647 - 647 Tremont St, South End (Back Bay)
Ann was in town last week so we took an opportunity to use a Groupon and visit Tremont 647 in the South End. It was my first time at the restaurant and it's a place I've been meaning to try since I've been by it so many times going to restaurants in that area.
I was not overwhelmed by the decor. It's a small restaurant with more of a laid back, neighborhood feel. It was pretty empty when we got in at 6:30, but quickly filled up.
It has a pretty wide ranging menu so it's hard to describe the cuisine other than American. I think it goes for more of a Southwest feel, but I'm not sure. For the meal, I ordered the crab and shrimp risotto, which was a special, and Ann got the pork chop. I enjoyed my dish but Ann's was a little dry. Overall, I would say the food is pretty good but it wouldn't be my first choice to head back to with so many good restaurants at similar prices in that area. Apparently they do have a $2 taco Tuesdays thing, so that might be worth checking out some time...
Ann was in town last week so we took an opportunity to use a Groupon and visit Tremont 647 in the South End. It was my first time at the restaurant and it's a place I've been meaning to try since I've been by it so many times going to restaurants in that area.
I was not overwhelmed by the decor. It's a small restaurant with more of a laid back, neighborhood feel. It was pretty empty when we got in at 6:30, but quickly filled up.
It has a pretty wide ranging menu so it's hard to describe the cuisine other than American. I think it goes for more of a Southwest feel, but I'm not sure. For the meal, I ordered the crab and shrimp risotto, which was a special, and Ann got the pork chop. I enjoyed my dish but Ann's was a little dry. Overall, I would say the food is pretty good but it wouldn't be my first choice to head back to with so many good restaurants at similar prices in that area. Apparently they do have a $2 taco Tuesdays thing, so that might be worth checking out some time...
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Double Decker Cars on the Fitchburg Line!
Yesterday I got to the train station after work and was greeted by something I had never seen before: a bi-level car at the front of my train! Up until now, the double decker cars had only been used on the South Station lines. I had read about new bi-level cars the T had ordered in the Globe the week before and that they would start using some of the double deckers on North lines soon. It was still neat to see it, though. The best feature is that in the middle of these cars, there is a table where the two sets of seats come together. It's perfect for a laptop or just hanging out with friends and since I get on the first station inbound in the evenings, I can always grab it. The downside so far has been the fact that the wifi doesn't appear to work on the car we have received from the T. In any event, it is good to see. It will allow for less crowding on the rush hour trains.
Here's the article where they talk about the new cars the T has ordered:
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Questions, Questions, Questions
This isn't a political blog, although a number of the views expressed do enter into the political arena. However, with the Massachusetts elections a week away, I feel it is a good opportunity for progress Boston to come out with a stance on the three ballot initiatives that are being put forth this November 2.
2010 Statewide Ballot Questions
Question #1 - Repeal the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages
This question is pretty straight forward. When the legislature voted to increase the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25% last year, they also removed the exemption for alcohol. This means that consumers went from paying no tax to the full 6.25% on any beer, wine, or liquor purchased in state.
The argument for the repeal is that a tax on alcohol drives business away from local stores (particularly to New Hampshire) and that this is double taxation since there is an excise tax on alcohol. The double taxation argument is pretty light since a lot of states charge both excise and sales tax on alcohol and MA has one of the lowest excise taxes in the country. Now it is true that there are probably a few stores along the NH border that are going to be hurt by this 6.25% increase in the price of alcohol, but most consumers are more worried about convenience than driving out of their way to save a couple bucks.
I am against repealing the sales tax on alcohol and so will be voting No on Question #1. In my opinion, a sales tax is a fair, broad based way for a state to raise revenue. In MA, the tax is made less regressive by exempting necessities such as food and clothing. I fully support those exemptions. The question then becomes, is alcohol a necessity? I do not think so. Therefore, it should be taxed like other discretionary items.
Question #2 - Repeal Comprehensive Permits for Low- or Moderate-Income Housing
This is certainly the most complex of the bills and probably the least understood. The summary on the MA Elections website doesn't help a whole lot. Essentially, this bill would repeal the ability for a developer to apply for a comprehensive permit from a city or town's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) if his development contains a certain percentage of low- or moderate-income units and the city or town in which he is applying for the permit does not meet a threshold of having 10% of its housing stock affordable for low- or moderate-income families. This comprehensive permit can allow a developer to bypass certain local restrictions on the plan, size, shape, materials, etc of the development by appealing to the state Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) if his permit is denied or made economically unfeasible by the ZBA. The HAC can force the ZBA to grant a permit if they feel the development is in the best interest of the town.
The argument for repeal is that these comprehensive permits allow developers to bypass the local planning process, thus changing the character of a city or town and are a windfall for developers who just want to push large projects through to make more money.
I feel that the need for working class families to be able to have the option to live where is convenient for them to access the labor market in a state where housing costs can be quite astronomical necessitates the distribution of affordable housing across the state. This statute takes a market based approach by providing an incentive for developers to include affordable units in their developments and increases these affordable units, particularly in communities that would tend to prevent them from being built. I do not know of a better alternative to the affordable housing crisis in MA and therefore will be voting No on Question 2 against the repeal of the affordable housing law.
Question #3 - Reduce the State Sales Tax to 3%
As mentioned previously, the legislature, facing a financial crisis, voted to raise the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25%. This question seeks to reduce that rate below the previous rate to 3%.
The argument for the decrease is that charging a lower sales tax will put more money back in citizens' pockets and allow them to spend it and thus help out the economy. Additionally, by taking away a portion of the state's revenues, it would force state government to be more efficient and cut out wasteful spending.
Everyone wants state government to be more efficient. However, this is not the way to do it and I will be voting No on Question 3. MA's annual state budget is about $32 billion. Approximately half of the budget is legally untouchable by the legislature, going to debt payments, medical care for the poor, and pensions. Reducing the sales tax would take away approximately $2.5 billion in revenue which would have to be cut from the remaining $17 billion. With a structural deficit already looming for next year, that is simply too much money to take away. It would lead to massive across the board cuts that would cripple the ability of the state to invest in programs that can lead to a better future for MA. Better state government will come from increased transparency and participation on the part of voters. As I mentioned above, the sales tax is a broad, relatively fair way for a state to raise revenue. MA's sales tax is not significantly above that of other states. Realizing an equitable, sustainable future will require MA to invest in renewable energy, public transportation, and education in a way that a $2.5 billion cut in revenues will simply not allow.
2010 Statewide Ballot Questions
Question #1 - Repeal the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages
This question is pretty straight forward. When the legislature voted to increase the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25% last year, they also removed the exemption for alcohol. This means that consumers went from paying no tax to the full 6.25% on any beer, wine, or liquor purchased in state.
The argument for the repeal is that a tax on alcohol drives business away from local stores (particularly to New Hampshire) and that this is double taxation since there is an excise tax on alcohol. The double taxation argument is pretty light since a lot of states charge both excise and sales tax on alcohol and MA has one of the lowest excise taxes in the country. Now it is true that there are probably a few stores along the NH border that are going to be hurt by this 6.25% increase in the price of alcohol, but most consumers are more worried about convenience than driving out of their way to save a couple bucks.
I am against repealing the sales tax on alcohol and so will be voting No on Question #1. In my opinion, a sales tax is a fair, broad based way for a state to raise revenue. In MA, the tax is made less regressive by exempting necessities such as food and clothing. I fully support those exemptions. The question then becomes, is alcohol a necessity? I do not think so. Therefore, it should be taxed like other discretionary items.
Question #2 - Repeal Comprehensive Permits for Low- or Moderate-Income Housing
This is certainly the most complex of the bills and probably the least understood. The summary on the MA Elections website doesn't help a whole lot. Essentially, this bill would repeal the ability for a developer to apply for a comprehensive permit from a city or town's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) if his development contains a certain percentage of low- or moderate-income units and the city or town in which he is applying for the permit does not meet a threshold of having 10% of its housing stock affordable for low- or moderate-income families. This comprehensive permit can allow a developer to bypass certain local restrictions on the plan, size, shape, materials, etc of the development by appealing to the state Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) if his permit is denied or made economically unfeasible by the ZBA. The HAC can force the ZBA to grant a permit if they feel the development is in the best interest of the town.
The argument for repeal is that these comprehensive permits allow developers to bypass the local planning process, thus changing the character of a city or town and are a windfall for developers who just want to push large projects through to make more money.
I feel that the need for working class families to be able to have the option to live where is convenient for them to access the labor market in a state where housing costs can be quite astronomical necessitates the distribution of affordable housing across the state. This statute takes a market based approach by providing an incentive for developers to include affordable units in their developments and increases these affordable units, particularly in communities that would tend to prevent them from being built. I do not know of a better alternative to the affordable housing crisis in MA and therefore will be voting No on Question 2 against the repeal of the affordable housing law.
Question #3 - Reduce the State Sales Tax to 3%
As mentioned previously, the legislature, facing a financial crisis, voted to raise the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25%. This question seeks to reduce that rate below the previous rate to 3%.
The argument for the decrease is that charging a lower sales tax will put more money back in citizens' pockets and allow them to spend it and thus help out the economy. Additionally, by taking away a portion of the state's revenues, it would force state government to be more efficient and cut out wasteful spending.
Everyone wants state government to be more efficient. However, this is not the way to do it and I will be voting No on Question 3. MA's annual state budget is about $32 billion. Approximately half of the budget is legally untouchable by the legislature, going to debt payments, medical care for the poor, and pensions. Reducing the sales tax would take away approximately $2.5 billion in revenue which would have to be cut from the remaining $17 billion. With a structural deficit already looming for next year, that is simply too much money to take away. It would lead to massive across the board cuts that would cripple the ability of the state to invest in programs that can lead to a better future for MA. Better state government will come from increased transparency and participation on the part of voters. As I mentioned above, the sales tax is a broad, relatively fair way for a state to raise revenue. MA's sales tax is not significantly above that of other states. Realizing an equitable, sustainable future will require MA to invest in renewable energy, public transportation, and education in a way that a $2.5 billion cut in revenues will simply not allow.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Foundry on Elm
Foundry on Elm - 255 Elm Street, Somerville (Davis Square)
Tuesday evening, my roommate Jay and I took a short trip back to good old Davis Sq to see The Social Network at the Somerville Theater. The movie was awesome and we hadn't had dinner yet, so afterwards we headed over to the new place in the square, Foundry on Elm. It's a place I've been meaning to check out since it opened about a month ago.
Even on a rainy Tuesday, there was a pretty good crowd at 9:30 so the place had a good atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and the menu had a number of interesting items, particularly the appetizers. However, neither of us were very hungry so I merely got the Bratwurst and Jay ordered the Burger. No appetizer was necessary once we saw we got bread and the bread was amazing. I would say it might have been the highlight of the whole meal! It was warm and had a thin crust with a soft middle and it was served with fluffy butter that was just incredible. (Another great part of the meal was being able to order Schlitz, which brought me back to $1 sliders and $2 Schlitz on Tuesday nights at Merle's in Evanston!)
In comparison, my Bratwurst was a bit of a letdown. It certainly was not as good as what you can find at Jacob Wirth. I'm not saying it was bad, it just wasn't as good as my expectations had set it out to be. That said, I will definitely be back. There is a lot on that menu I would like to try and it fits in with the theme lately of old school foodie restaurants (see Stoddard's Fine Foods which I need to write a post for as well) that seem to be popular. I will just have to go again when my appetite allows me to venture into the appetizer and entree sections.
Tuesday evening, my roommate Jay and I took a short trip back to good old Davis Sq to see The Social Network at the Somerville Theater. The movie was awesome and we hadn't had dinner yet, so afterwards we headed over to the new place in the square, Foundry on Elm. It's a place I've been meaning to check out since it opened about a month ago.
Even on a rainy Tuesday, there was a pretty good crowd at 9:30 so the place had a good atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and the menu had a number of interesting items, particularly the appetizers. However, neither of us were very hungry so I merely got the Bratwurst and Jay ordered the Burger. No appetizer was necessary once we saw we got bread and the bread was amazing. I would say it might have been the highlight of the whole meal! It was warm and had a thin crust with a soft middle and it was served with fluffy butter that was just incredible. (Another great part of the meal was being able to order Schlitz, which brought me back to $1 sliders and $2 Schlitz on Tuesday nights at Merle's in Evanston!)
In comparison, my Bratwurst was a bit of a letdown. It certainly was not as good as what you can find at Jacob Wirth. I'm not saying it was bad, it just wasn't as good as my expectations had set it out to be. That said, I will definitely be back. There is a lot on that menu I would like to try and it fits in with the theme lately of old school foodie restaurants (see Stoddard's Fine Foods which I need to write a post for as well) that seem to be popular. I will just have to go again when my appetite allows me to venture into the appetizer and entree sections.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Parish
Parish Cafe and Bar - 361 Boylston Street, Back Bay (Arlington)
My roommate, Sanjay, and I went here on a Tuesday night to meet up with my friend, Laura (it's one of her favorite Back Bay spots) and it was packed. They have a large outdoor patio on Boylston and people were out enjoying the weather. Inside was equally full but we were able to find seats at the bar. I hoped this would be an indication of good things to come and I was not disappointed.
Compared to a lot of the Back Bay, Parish is a good, affordable option. They serve a refreshing variety of entree size salads and sandwiches for around $12 per plate (the $32 double lobster roll is an outlier). I went there with all intentions of eating healthy but when I saw 'The Coppa', I knew I was done for. The menu describes it as
My roommate, Sanjay, and I went here on a Tuesday night to meet up with my friend, Laura (it's one of her favorite Back Bay spots) and it was packed. They have a large outdoor patio on Boylston and people were out enjoying the weather. Inside was equally full but we were able to find seats at the bar. I hoped this would be an indication of good things to come and I was not disappointed.
Compared to a lot of the Back Bay, Parish is a good, affordable option. They serve a refreshing variety of entree size salads and sandwiches for around $12 per plate (the $32 double lobster roll is an outlier). I went there with all intentions of eating healthy but when I saw 'The Coppa', I knew I was done for. The menu describes it as
"A slow roasted pork belly sandwich on a sesame seeded bun topped with American cheese, Hellman's mayonaisse, carmelized onions-red jalapeno peppers. Sided with your choice of homemade potato salad or cole slaw."They had me at pork belly. If there's one thing I have come to realize, it is that I am becoming a big fan of the fatty, flavorful, less conventional parts of the animal. Perhaps this is the best thing that Anthony Bourdain has taught me. It started with bone marrow. Now it's pork belly. I first had pork belly at People, a tapas restaurant in Chicago about a month ago. It was shredded inside a small slider, but the flavor was phenomenal! This time they did not disguise the texture of the cut. My sandwich was literally packed with gooey pieces of essentially pig fat packing an overwhelming flavor of pork goodness. By the end of meal was hands were so greasy I felt like I had washed them in olive oil. If this disturbs you, I apologize. If it does not, you need to try it! Parish has definitely gotten my attention and I'm sure I'll be going back. I might not order the 'The Coppa' every time, but it definitely made me appreciate what they have to offer.
Tale of Two Bike Days
This past weekend I left the car in Acton and enjoyed a weekend of biking and train riding. Normally this would be all good news, but this weekend it was more of a mixed bag. More on that in a bit.
Day one of bike riding was awesome! I took the train up to Newburyport with my roommate and friend from work. [Aside: Newburyport has become my favorite North Shore train destination. See Best Commuter Rail Destinations for more details.] It is great being able to take the trains on the commuter rail for free. There, we met another work friend and were off to Plum Island. I have been there before, but this was the first time biking. It's only a few miles but I was in the lead and it was a little tiring getting over there. However, arriving at the entrance to the wildlife refuge, it was nice to just cruise by the line of cars parked on the side of the road waiting to be let in. $2 later and we were riding down a flat paved road with no cars and views of the Parker River tidal marshes off to our right. We biked a few miles down to the end of the pavement and then back up to the main parking lot, which leads out to a beautiful sandy beach. The water was cold but it was the perfect temperature to just relax and enjoy the sun and cool ocean breeze. Definitely a nice way to relax after putting in about 15 miles of work! We then rode into Newburyport itself and grabbed some amazing $10 lobster rolls before heading back to the train and making it home to Somerville in plenty of time for a shower, some relaxing, and dinner.
Day two was not so great. I woke up on Sunday to a light but steady rain. I was heading up to Wilmington on the Lowell line, so with the lack of good transit options, that means a 2.5 mile ride to West Medford station. This was my first experience biking in the rain and it was not too pleasant. Even with a rain jacket, I still got soaked. After a while that no longer bothered me but the worst thing was all of the road grime that gets kicked up by your tires while you're riding along. I dusted myself and bag off and was able to dry out on the train and thankfully it was not raining when I rode home that evening. It was still nice to be able to get around the Boston area without a car though.
OK, I know this post is dragging on, but I have three more quick annoyances I want to share.
1. Fare collection on the way home from Newburyport - I realize Newburyport is Zone 8 and I only have a Zone 6 pass. However, I do pay the MBTA $223 per month to have that pass and you think they would give me a break and let me ride for free when the difference is that small. Most conductors do this. At the very least, make me pay the difference between a Zone 6 and 8 one way pass, which is $1. However, this conductor decided to charge me the full $2.50 interzone fare to get me to Zone 6. Thanks.
2. Drivers in the city - I will be the first to admit that bikers in Boston do not exactly bike safely or always follow the rules. However, if you are driving in the city these days you need to keep your eyes out for them. On the way home we were going up Cambridge Street through Inman Sq and I was cruising along at a pretty good clip. All of a sudden this jerk in a white pickup pulls out all the way through the bike lane without even looking. I had to brake so hard that my back tire almost spun out. While I was riding past and yelling at him he made a gesture like "Quit your bitching." "F you and learn how to drive, dick!"
3. Waiting to go home from Wilmington, we see the train show up on time. However, it stops a good 300 yards from the station and turns off the lights. I see a figure in blue (conductor or engineer) run from the train and into the bushes behind a strip mall. 5 minutes later he returns and gets back in. The train immediately starts up again and we're off, 5 minutes late. It would be nice to have taken care of whatever personal business this was during the turnaround.
Day one of bike riding was awesome! I took the train up to Newburyport with my roommate and friend from work. [Aside: Newburyport has become my favorite North Shore train destination. See Best Commuter Rail Destinations for more details.] It is great being able to take the trains on the commuter rail for free. There, we met another work friend and were off to Plum Island. I have been there before, but this was the first time biking. It's only a few miles but I was in the lead and it was a little tiring getting over there. However, arriving at the entrance to the wildlife refuge, it was nice to just cruise by the line of cars parked on the side of the road waiting to be let in. $2 later and we were riding down a flat paved road with no cars and views of the Parker River tidal marshes off to our right. We biked a few miles down to the end of the pavement and then back up to the main parking lot, which leads out to a beautiful sandy beach. The water was cold but it was the perfect temperature to just relax and enjoy the sun and cool ocean breeze. Definitely a nice way to relax after putting in about 15 miles of work! We then rode into Newburyport itself and grabbed some amazing $10 lobster rolls before heading back to the train and making it home to Somerville in plenty of time for a shower, some relaxing, and dinner.
Day two was not so great. I woke up on Sunday to a light but steady rain. I was heading up to Wilmington on the Lowell line, so with the lack of good transit options, that means a 2.5 mile ride to West Medford station. This was my first experience biking in the rain and it was not too pleasant. Even with a rain jacket, I still got soaked. After a while that no longer bothered me but the worst thing was all of the road grime that gets kicked up by your tires while you're riding along. I dusted myself and bag off and was able to dry out on the train and thankfully it was not raining when I rode home that evening. It was still nice to be able to get around the Boston area without a car though.
OK, I know this post is dragging on, but I have three more quick annoyances I want to share.
1. Fare collection on the way home from Newburyport - I realize Newburyport is Zone 8 and I only have a Zone 6 pass. However, I do pay the MBTA $223 per month to have that pass and you think they would give me a break and let me ride for free when the difference is that small. Most conductors do this. At the very least, make me pay the difference between a Zone 6 and 8 one way pass, which is $1. However, this conductor decided to charge me the full $2.50 interzone fare to get me to Zone 6. Thanks.
2. Drivers in the city - I will be the first to admit that bikers in Boston do not exactly bike safely or always follow the rules. However, if you are driving in the city these days you need to keep your eyes out for them. On the way home we were going up Cambridge Street through Inman Sq and I was cruising along at a pretty good clip. All of a sudden this jerk in a white pickup pulls out all the way through the bike lane without even looking. I had to brake so hard that my back tire almost spun out. While I was riding past and yelling at him he made a gesture like "Quit your bitching." "F you and learn how to drive, dick!"
3. Waiting to go home from Wilmington, we see the train show up on time. However, it stops a good 300 yards from the station and turns off the lights. I see a figure in blue (conductor or engineer) run from the train and into the bushes behind a strip mall. 5 minutes later he returns and gets back in. The train immediately starts up again and we're off, 5 minutes late. It would be nice to have taken care of whatever personal business this was during the turnaround.
I'm back!
Wow. I didn't realize it had been so long since I've posted. I'll be coming back with some (hopefully) substantial posts over the next couple of days. I certainly have a few things to talk about.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Urban Gardens
Our porch garden!Urban gardening is a fulfilling and easy way to improve the sustainability of any city. Not only are you sourcing some of your fruits and vegetables from your own backyard, cutting down on transportation emissions, but all of that greenery does more than improve the view. It also improves local air quality and can cut down on the 'heat island' effect that all of the concrete, etc of a city creates. In addition, plants and soil trap rainwater, preventing it from rushing into storm drains and carrying all of the pollutants of the street with it. If you live in a city and have access to outdoor space, get a green thumb and fill it up with as many plants as possible!
Petunias
Green Peppers
CucumbersTuesday, April 20, 2010
How ExxonMobil greenwashing almost ruined the NCAA tournament for me
I had meant to make this post back when the NCAA tournament was going on, but ... well ... I'm getting around to it now.
Every year I get excited about the NCAA tournament and this year was no exception. There were some real exciting games and great upsets. However, one thing I did not enjoy was all the greenwashing by Exxon. It seemed they had a commercial played during every timeout on CBS. In particular, the Capturing CO2 ad really struck me as inaccurate.
In the ad, a scientist working for Exxon describes CO2 as an impurity of natural gas that can be taken out and stored safely away from everybody (and the atmosphere in particular). Unfortunately, this is not exactly true. CO2 is a natural byproduct of natural gas combustion because it exists within the molecular structure of the gas itself! Although carbon sequestration should become part of a comprehensive solution to global warming, no one has been able to successfully achieve this on the scale required and it has many environmental, economic, and health related risks. In the end, we need to move away from fossil fuels and into a renewable energy future if we are ever to achieve the dream of a sustainable future.
This topic is still relevant because Thursday is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day so many companies will be out there trying to promote themselves as environmentally friendly. Be sure to read between the lines, do your own research and don't fall for the hype! Earth Day is a great opportunity to generate awareness and inspire action and should not be hijacked for a little corporate greenwashing.
Every year I get excited about the NCAA tournament and this year was no exception. There were some real exciting games and great upsets. However, one thing I did not enjoy was all the greenwashing by Exxon. It seemed they had a commercial played during every timeout on CBS. In particular, the Capturing CO2 ad really struck me as inaccurate.
In the ad, a scientist working for Exxon describes CO2 as an impurity of natural gas that can be taken out and stored safely away from everybody (and the atmosphere in particular). Unfortunately, this is not exactly true. CO2 is a natural byproduct of natural gas combustion because it exists within the molecular structure of the gas itself! Although carbon sequestration should become part of a comprehensive solution to global warming, no one has been able to successfully achieve this on the scale required and it has many environmental, economic, and health related risks. In the end, we need to move away from fossil fuels and into a renewable energy future if we are ever to achieve the dream of a sustainable future.
This topic is still relevant because Thursday is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day so many companies will be out there trying to promote themselves as environmentally friendly. Be sure to read between the lines, do your own research and don't fall for the hype! Earth Day is a great opportunity to generate awareness and inspire action and should not be hijacked for a little corporate greenwashing.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Rowes Wharf Sea Grille
Rowes Wharf Sea Grille - 70 Rowes Wharf, Waterfront (Aquarium)
For the Winter 2010 Boston Restaurant Week finale, I went to Rowes Wharf Sea Grille with Ann, Kyle and Melissa. It is located in the very posh Boston Harbor Hotel. The decor was maritime themed and very refined. As I feared, it was a little too staid and lacked the energy of a hipper, more accessible restaurant. This may have had something to do with being tucked away in a hotel, which I feel always removes a certain authenticity from restaurants.
I had heard about the place in the Globe when they described it as the first truly great seafood restaurant in the city actually located on the waterfront. And what a picturesque waterfront location it is. We were seated next to the window, which was nice even though it was night. The view looks out over the middle of the harbor and just off to the right you can see the glass-enclosed back side of the Moakley Courthouse.
Let's get to the food. Surprisingly they had chosen to put their most expensive entree, the Filet, on the Restaurant Week menu so three of us chose to get it. Knowing this, I decided to go seafood for my appetizer and ordered the New England clam chowder. I'm not going to claim to be a chowder expert, but this was real good. The steak was exceptional as well, although we all ordered ours medium rare and they came out a range of medium to medium well. This was really the only disappointment of the night. My Cheesecake with Blueberry compote was delicious as well. On top of that, our server was extremely attentive so it is no surprise that the Sea Grille ranks at the top of OpenTable's list for service.
It was another great Restaurant Week experience. I would recommend it for a more formal celebration or possibly a date if you're looking for something romantic with a harbor view.
For the Winter 2010 Boston Restaurant Week finale, I went to Rowes Wharf Sea Grille with Ann, Kyle and Melissa. It is located in the very posh Boston Harbor Hotel. The decor was maritime themed and very refined. As I feared, it was a little too staid and lacked the energy of a hipper, more accessible restaurant. This may have had something to do with being tucked away in a hotel, which I feel always removes a certain authenticity from restaurants.
I had heard about the place in the Globe when they described it as the first truly great seafood restaurant in the city actually located on the waterfront. And what a picturesque waterfront location it is. We were seated next to the window, which was nice even though it was night. The view looks out over the middle of the harbor and just off to the right you can see the glass-enclosed back side of the Moakley Courthouse.
Let's get to the food. Surprisingly they had chosen to put their most expensive entree, the Filet, on the Restaurant Week menu so three of us chose to get it. Knowing this, I decided to go seafood for my appetizer and ordered the New England clam chowder. I'm not going to claim to be a chowder expert, but this was real good. The steak was exceptional as well, although we all ordered ours medium rare and they came out a range of medium to medium well. This was really the only disappointment of the night. My Cheesecake with Blueberry compote was delicious as well. On top of that, our server was extremely attentive so it is no surprise that the Sea Grille ranks at the top of OpenTable's list for service.
It was another great Restaurant Week experience. I would recommend it for a more formal celebration or possibly a date if you're looking for something romantic with a harbor view.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Real vs. Green Economy and Craig's List (and reading material)
Lately I've been spending a lot of time on Craig's List for various reasons. On Saturday, I bought a road bike from another guy in Somerville after a couple of weeks scouring for a good deal. I gave away an old video camera that had been gathering dust in my parents' basement to an art student who was excited to get it. I'm in the process of selling a couch from our apartment and am attempting to sell some Canon Mt passes as well as an extra mirror I have for a Civic Coupe.
What does this have to do with progressBoston you ask? A site like Craig's List is a key tool in living a sustainable lifestyle. The internet makes getting rid of your old junk much easier as there are now thousands of pairs of eyes to check it out instead of the dozens that would stop by a yard sale. As with yard sales though, one person's junk is another person's treasure and by re-selling it, you have extended the usable life of the object. This is great because it keeps it out of landfills and prevents the energy intensive process of making a new object. I feel that it also encourages a sense of community and allows people to help each other out in a way that can be lost in a modern, urban environment.
I recently joined a Sustainable Systems at Work discussion group. The first session outlined the need for corporations to take responsibility for their environmental impacts and Interface Global CEO Ray Anderson described himself as a "plunderer of the natural world." Most corporations take raw material from the Earth to create a product that will never return to the Earth in its original form. This is true of the company I work for and there must be a better way.
In many ways, our current economy has been built on this unsustainable practice. Our GDP grows and we feel 'richer' when we spend money on cheap items that will only be thrown away in a year or two. A site like Craig's List allows these items to extend their useful life (Obviously, this only works for a short period of time and products should be designed to return to their natural state which is why Cradle to Cradle is on my reading list). One of the benefits of the Great Recession is that it has placed more of a focus on person to person relationships and making due with what one has instead of a blatant consumerism. If this feeling can be extended to change our purchasing habits when we are making money then maybe there is hope for us to truly find a sustainable life model and protect our planet's resources. Capitalism and environmentalism are not naturally at odds (read: Natural Capitalism); we merely have to place a price on protecting the environment to make capitalism sustainable. Therefore, when someone says they are supporting the economy by purchasing something, it's important ask if it is a sustainable economy that they are supporting.
What does this have to do with progressBoston you ask? A site like Craig's List is a key tool in living a sustainable lifestyle. The internet makes getting rid of your old junk much easier as there are now thousands of pairs of eyes to check it out instead of the dozens that would stop by a yard sale. As with yard sales though, one person's junk is another person's treasure and by re-selling it, you have extended the usable life of the object. This is great because it keeps it out of landfills and prevents the energy intensive process of making a new object. I feel that it also encourages a sense of community and allows people to help each other out in a way that can be lost in a modern, urban environment.
I recently joined a Sustainable Systems at Work discussion group. The first session outlined the need for corporations to take responsibility for their environmental impacts and Interface Global CEO Ray Anderson described himself as a "plunderer of the natural world." Most corporations take raw material from the Earth to create a product that will never return to the Earth in its original form. This is true of the company I work for and there must be a better way.
In many ways, our current economy has been built on this unsustainable practice. Our GDP grows and we feel 'richer' when we spend money on cheap items that will only be thrown away in a year or two. A site like Craig's List allows these items to extend their useful life (Obviously, this only works for a short period of time and products should be designed to return to their natural state which is why Cradle to Cradle is on my reading list). One of the benefits of the Great Recession is that it has placed more of a focus on person to person relationships and making due with what one has instead of a blatant consumerism. If this feeling can be extended to change our purchasing habits when we are making money then maybe there is hope for us to truly find a sustainable life model and protect our planet's resources. Capitalism and environmentalism are not naturally at odds (read: Natural Capitalism); we merely have to place a price on protecting the environment to make capitalism sustainable. Therefore, when someone says they are supporting the economy by purchasing something, it's important ask if it is a sustainable economy that they are supporting.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Olive's
Olive's - 10 City Square, Charlestown (North Station)
As you hopefully know by now, Boston's winter/spring Restaurant Week is upon us. This means a lot of activity for the progressBoston blog as I usually like to try out two new restaurants each time. For the first restaurant, I was inspired to try a neighborhood I don't venture to very often, Charlestown. It's kind of tucked away across the Charles from the North End, but the City Square section is very quaint and historic. It was here that Todd English founded his breakthrough restaurant, Olive's. Now I'm not really sure what to think of Todd; he may be a little too commercial and overrated now and judging by what I've read in the papers may have a bit of an ego. However, my only intent here is to judge his restaurant.
Ann and I were joined by our new friends Lisa and Brad for this outing. The restaurant's decor was classy and yet had a modern enough feeling that it didn't feel stuffy. One thing I did not like was how crammed everything was, especially near the entrance, with tables tucked inches away from where people were standing. The bar was likewise too small to really enjoy grabbing a pre-meal drink. Fortunately, we were seated in the more open dining room near a large window with a view of the Square and the Zakim Bridge beyond (about as good as a view as you can get in most Boston restaurants).
For my three courses, I went with the Lobster Bisque, Crispy Confit Duck, and Rich Chocolate Tart. I was very impressed with the Bisque, as I usually am. Perhaps I was spoiled by Salts, but I did not find the Duck as enjoyable as I had hoped. The "cassoulet style" was interesting, but having a duck leg sitting in a heavy sauce type thing made it hard to enjoy the flavor. Finally, the Tart was very different with caramel corn included on the plate. This I really enjoyed, but found the creme fraiche sucked all of the flavor out of the chocolate when I included even just a little dab.
I also got to try a bit of Ann's Carbonara and Pork Chop, both very good. Lisa and Brad differentiated themselves by additionally getting the Salmon Cake, Lasagna, and Cod and I did not hear any complaints. For the other desserts though, the Tapioca was overpowered by the kumquats.
Overall, it was a fine experience and worth checking out but I'm not sure it would be a first choice destination restaurant compared to some others in Boston.
As you hopefully know by now, Boston's winter/spring Restaurant Week is upon us. This means a lot of activity for the progressBoston blog as I usually like to try out two new restaurants each time. For the first restaurant, I was inspired to try a neighborhood I don't venture to very often, Charlestown. It's kind of tucked away across the Charles from the North End, but the City Square section is very quaint and historic. It was here that Todd English founded his breakthrough restaurant, Olive's. Now I'm not really sure what to think of Todd; he may be a little too commercial and overrated now and judging by what I've read in the papers may have a bit of an ego. However, my only intent here is to judge his restaurant.
Ann and I were joined by our new friends Lisa and Brad for this outing. The restaurant's decor was classy and yet had a modern enough feeling that it didn't feel stuffy. One thing I did not like was how crammed everything was, especially near the entrance, with tables tucked inches away from where people were standing. The bar was likewise too small to really enjoy grabbing a pre-meal drink. Fortunately, we were seated in the more open dining room near a large window with a view of the Square and the Zakim Bridge beyond (about as good as a view as you can get in most Boston restaurants).
For my three courses, I went with the Lobster Bisque, Crispy Confit Duck, and Rich Chocolate Tart. I was very impressed with the Bisque, as I usually am. Perhaps I was spoiled by Salts, but I did not find the Duck as enjoyable as I had hoped. The "cassoulet style" was interesting, but having a duck leg sitting in a heavy sauce type thing made it hard to enjoy the flavor. Finally, the Tart was very different with caramel corn included on the plate. This I really enjoyed, but found the creme fraiche sucked all of the flavor out of the chocolate when I included even just a little dab.
I also got to try a bit of Ann's Carbonara and Pork Chop, both very good. Lisa and Brad differentiated themselves by additionally getting the Salmon Cake, Lasagna, and Cod and I did not hear any complaints. For the other desserts though, the Tapioca was overpowered by the kumquats.
Overall, it was a fine experience and worth checking out but I'm not sure it would be a first choice destination restaurant compared to some others in Boston.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nico
Nico Ristorante - 417 Hanover St, North End (Haymarket)
A couple weekends ago, Ann and I went out in the North End in search for a late night drink and small bite to eat. We didn't have a plan and so like many Bostonians, were walking up and down Hanover St looking for a reasonably priced, able to be seated place. We ended up at Nico. Compared with a couple of the other places nearby, the menu was reasonable. Additionally, it being about 9:30 on a Saturday, the place had a pretty lively bar scene going on compared to some sleepier establishments nearby.
We kept it simple and just split and appetizer and entree between us. The appetizer was the Prosciutto and Fresh Parmagiano and it was amazing. It had an intense salty flavor that was almost debilitating but it was just also extremely tasty. For the entree, we got the Spaghetti Calamari. We had told our waitress (who was very friendly and approachable) that we were going to be sharing and she brought out the entree on two plates with portions that were essentially a meal for each of us. I'm not sure if this was because it was so late at night, but it was a nice gesture. The dish was good, but certainly not outstanding. I would like to go back and try some more of the menu to see what else they do well.
A couple weekends ago, Ann and I went out in the North End in search for a late night drink and small bite to eat. We didn't have a plan and so like many Bostonians, were walking up and down Hanover St looking for a reasonably priced, able to be seated place. We ended up at Nico. Compared with a couple of the other places nearby, the menu was reasonable. Additionally, it being about 9:30 on a Saturday, the place had a pretty lively bar scene going on compared to some sleepier establishments nearby.
We kept it simple and just split and appetizer and entree between us. The appetizer was the Prosciutto and Fresh Parmagiano and it was amazing. It had an intense salty flavor that was almost debilitating but it was just also extremely tasty. For the entree, we got the Spaghetti Calamari. We had told our waitress (who was very friendly and approachable) that we were going to be sharing and she brought out the entree on two plates with portions that were essentially a meal for each of us. I'm not sure if this was because it was so late at night, but it was a nice gesture. The dish was good, but certainly not outstanding. I would like to go back and try some more of the menu to see what else they do well.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Diva
Diva Indian Bistro - 246 Elm Street, Somerville (Davis)
I'm surprised I've waited this long to post about Diva. Perhaps it's because it's so close and familiar that I don't feel it's an event going there. In fact, because of Ann's and my newfound love of Indian cuisine, I've probably been to this restaurant more than almost anywhere else in Boston.
Our experience Friday along with Sanjay and Lauren was pretty typical of what Diva has to offer. We were going around 8:30 on Friday night so we were pretty sure it would be busy. Sanjay tried to call ahead and was told they don't take reservations but just come on over. He put our name in and we had a 30+ minute wait. Standing there, a group comes in from outside and just sits down. Confused, we ask the hostess and she's like "Oh, we had to seat them, they have reservations." Needless to say she was surprised to hear we were told they don't take reservations. Apparently we had spoken to someone else. That is my biggest complaint with Diva, you never know who you're dealing with. You always see the same characters in the restaurant, but you never really get assigned a server and it's unclear who the manager in charge is or if he really cares that things are being run well. This happened to us where our server was also busing tables so some things took a long time to come around, like our check. Like I said, typical.
Enough of that. Let's get to the good stuff. The food. It's incredible (at least for a non-Indian like myself). I don't think I've had a bad meal there. My favorites are the Tandoori Tikka and anything in their Masala sauce. Their chicken curry is also very good, but I'd say neighboring Namaskar's is slightly better. They have a fairly limited wine and beer list, but Ann really enjoys their lychee martinis. All of their breads are really good and I've had many good appetizers with several more to explore. Let's just say we never leave hungry.
Finally, the atmosphere is lively, drawing in a good neighborhood mix of young professionals and college students with Friday night being particularly busy. I must say that despite the generally lackluster service, Diva is still one of my favorite places to go in Boston with great food and reasonable prices.
I'm surprised I've waited this long to post about Diva. Perhaps it's because it's so close and familiar that I don't feel it's an event going there. In fact, because of Ann's and my newfound love of Indian cuisine, I've probably been to this restaurant more than almost anywhere else in Boston.
Our experience Friday along with Sanjay and Lauren was pretty typical of what Diva has to offer. We were going around 8:30 on Friday night so we were pretty sure it would be busy. Sanjay tried to call ahead and was told they don't take reservations but just come on over. He put our name in and we had a 30+ minute wait. Standing there, a group comes in from outside and just sits down. Confused, we ask the hostess and she's like "Oh, we had to seat them, they have reservations." Needless to say she was surprised to hear we were told they don't take reservations. Apparently we had spoken to someone else. That is my biggest complaint with Diva, you never know who you're dealing with. You always see the same characters in the restaurant, but you never really get assigned a server and it's unclear who the manager in charge is or if he really cares that things are being run well. This happened to us where our server was also busing tables so some things took a long time to come around, like our check. Like I said, typical.
Enough of that. Let's get to the good stuff. The food. It's incredible (at least for a non-Indian like myself). I don't think I've had a bad meal there. My favorites are the Tandoori Tikka and anything in their Masala sauce. Their chicken curry is also very good, but I'd say neighboring Namaskar's is slightly better. They have a fairly limited wine and beer list, but Ann really enjoys their lychee martinis. All of their breads are really good and I've had many good appetizers with several more to explore. Let's just say we never leave hungry.
Finally, the atmosphere is lively, drawing in a good neighborhood mix of young professionals and college students with Friday night being particularly busy. I must say that despite the generally lackluster service, Diva is still one of my favorite places to go in Boston with great food and reasonable prices.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Good Biking Day!
So I missed another full month of posts...
The good news is that today we got some amazing weather and I took the opportunity to get out and bike around. I went up to Tufts to play some soccer and then made a loop out to Union Sq and back. I must admit that city biking has really grown on me over the last year and a half or so and it's not so bad getting around, despite narrow streets and potholes and all.
In more transit related news, I decided to ride my bike to the commuter rail at West Medord for the first time. As I've complained about before, it is so frustrating that even though that station is only about 2 1/2 miles away it is almost impossible to get there conveniently. I must admit the ride was not too bad. It only took about 15-20 minutes to get there, which is better than waiting in the cold for the bus or riding all the way into North Station for the subway. Of course, this option is only really enjoyable when the weather is nice and today was certainly that day.
The good news is that today we got some amazing weather and I took the opportunity to get out and bike around. I went up to Tufts to play some soccer and then made a loop out to Union Sq and back. I must admit that city biking has really grown on me over the last year and a half or so and it's not so bad getting around, despite narrow streets and potholes and all.
In more transit related news, I decided to ride my bike to the commuter rail at West Medord for the first time. As I've complained about before, it is so frustrating that even though that station is only about 2 1/2 miles away it is almost impossible to get there conveniently. I must admit the ride was not too bad. It only took about 15-20 minutes to get there, which is better than waiting in the cold for the bus or riding all the way into North Station for the subway. Of course, this option is only really enjoyable when the weather is nice and today was certainly that day.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
South Station Expansion
Last week there were a couple of articles in the Globe about a proposed expansion of the commuter rail facilities at South Station. The first article described the collapse of the initial deal involving the Postal Service, MBTA, and a private developer that was going to develop the property and allow the MBTA to expand with 5 more tracks and platforms at South Station to relieve congestion. The next day, another article was published saying that the T was now thinking about purchasing the entire 15 acre site and adding as many as 11 additional tracks to South Station. The major concern is that with the private developer dropping out, the MBTA, already $4 billion in debt, may not be able to secure the financing to make the deal work.
The MBTA can't afford not to make the deal the work. As the articles point out, next year commuter rail service is scheduled to be expanded to Worcester now that the state has worked out a deal to purchase the tracks from CSX that run between the state's two largest cities. Additionally, the long-proposed South Coast commuter rail expansion to New Bedford and Fall River is slated to occur in 2015 or 2016. Add to that anticipated increases in ridership on other commuter rail lines and on Amtrak in the Northeast and there is certainly a need to expand Boston's busiest rail station. Located in downtown Boston, there is certainly limited room adjacent to South Station so an opportunity to pick up prime real estate such as this should be seen as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and the state and MBTA should make all efforts to complete the deal. David D'Alessandro, who recently completed a top to bottom financial review of the troubled agency stated in the Globe that the T still has certain assets that it could sell to possibly finance such a purchase. In addition, development of the rest of the property could easily pay for some of the up front costs. This is more than just a nice opportunity for the T, it is an essential expansion project if sustainable rail travel is going to be allowed to continue to grow in the Boston area and throughout the Northeast.
The MBTA can't afford not to make the deal the work. As the articles point out, next year commuter rail service is scheduled to be expanded to Worcester now that the state has worked out a deal to purchase the tracks from CSX that run between the state's two largest cities. Additionally, the long-proposed South Coast commuter rail expansion to New Bedford and Fall River is slated to occur in 2015 or 2016. Add to that anticipated increases in ridership on other commuter rail lines and on Amtrak in the Northeast and there is certainly a need to expand Boston's busiest rail station. Located in downtown Boston, there is certainly limited room adjacent to South Station so an opportunity to pick up prime real estate such as this should be seen as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and the state and MBTA should make all efforts to complete the deal. David D'Alessandro, who recently completed a top to bottom financial review of the troubled agency stated in the Globe that the T still has certain assets that it could sell to possibly finance such a purchase. In addition, development of the rest of the property could easily pay for some of the up front costs. This is more than just a nice opportunity for the T, it is an essential expansion project if sustainable rail travel is going to be allowed to continue to grow in the Boston area and throughout the Northeast.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Groupon
So as my friends already know and I am coming to realize, I have become a little obsessed with Groupon. Basically, each day a new deal (or two!) is announced for given cities that if enough buy in on it, everyone gets the deal. You can check out the Boston deals here. A lot of the recent deals have been for restaurants, including a couple of my local favorites (Red Bones, The Middle East). It is certainly a good way to get a deal and try out some places you might not have otherwise gone to.
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