“Quite the Dreamersâ€
Dear Editor:
Massachusetts’s politicians and many of its residents need to stop pipe dreaming and face reality for perhaps the first time in their life.
As the horror and cost of the construction of the Big Dig is always present, the leaders and the residents still hold on to and actually “believe†that Massachusetts will deliver them a full scale gambling casino or two, haven’t we heard this before? Ten years ago? Gone bust, twenty years ago, gone bust. And even thirty years ago there were serious plans to develop casinos. The politicians that you vote into the state house as well as surrounding cities aren’t capable of planning a birthday party for a six-year-old child! I mean, how hard is that? A cake, some ice cream, other kids to attend, and maybe some balloons or a clown. They, up on Beacon Hill would botch it, that’s where you could hire the clown from though. Is the statehouse a house of government of a clown school?
In the 1980’s, we were told that the Big Dig project would be completed only for one of the tunnels to collapse and crush a woman to death. Not to mention gushing ocean water seeping into all of the tunnels. How about new ceiling lamps and plaster crashing down on us. Shoddy work, because the State House and associates were more concerned in making their relatives and friends wealthy with lucrative contracts in construction, electric, plumbing, etc. Their incurable greed made them take their eye on the ball.
And now they think they’re clever enough to build gambling casinos. I find that amusing and let me tell you all a fact of life. No resident of Massachusetts over forty years old will live long enough to see a casino East of Worcester.
How about the Farmer’s Market near Haymarket? Eight years later, this beautiful building still sits vacant; tell me, what’s the problem there? You can’t even get that open. Never mind, we know what the problem is or rather who the problem is. I’d rather see the pushcart guys out there rather than some organic “Yuppie†selling me a single apple for five dollars. We could open a second clown school there, before they have to label it a national historical building.
Now, more up to date, we find that certain people have this new toy that they’re fondling with. And that happens to be the hallucinogenic notion that Boston can host the Olympics, never, no way and at no time would this work.
The City of Boston is not physically laid out to handle this type of event. Hot shots from New York and New Jersey volunteered their help to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh by offering stadiums, arenas and use of land to host some of the Olympic events, and take the strain off Boston. Well if Boston needs New York and New Jersey to help with this project, then I guess Boston can’t handle it, can they?
The late former Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino and current Mayor Martin Walsh look at Boston as a world-class city. I say, “hardlyâ€, it’s more like Mayberry R.F.D., compared to the large cities of the world. Just a tiny spec in a world of large dots on the globe.
Yes, they are quite the dreamers.
H.H. Pizziano
Chelsea, MA
Fundraiser to help a wounded vet, May 29
Dear Editor:
In 2004 James Crosby, a Winthrop resident, went to Iraq as a United States Marine to serve his country. Shortly after arriving in Iraq, James was severely injured by shrapnel, became paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
In January of 2014 Veterans Assisting Veterans, a non-profit group of veterans raised $17,000 and bought James a Trac Chair. The Trac Chair is a highly specialized wheelchair designed to give people like James freedoms they could only have prior to their injuries.
James is extremely grateful for the chair, he can now enjoy all outdoor activities because of the new Trac Chair. The Trac Chair allows James to go to the beach, visiting the woods or driving through snow. In addition with this new chair he’s able to push a button and stand up to look someone in the eye, which is something he could never do prior to his injury.
However there’s a big challenge. James needs someone with him or he can’t use the chair to go anywhere except near his house. He’s able to drive the chair up a ramp onto the back of his pick up truck, but because he can’t walk he can’t get down from the truck. James appealed to the VA Boston for a wheel chair lift but was denied because someone stated that the Trac Chair is considered recreational. When members of VAV heard this we were outraged. “How does giving someone a somewhat normal life, a war hero, being considered a recreational. Prior to James going to war he had a normal life.†said VAV President Dennis Moschella.
James Crosby served his country honorably, was wounded and sacrificed his ability to walk. He made a commitment to his country and we as veterans are not going to wait for a government bureaucrat to help James. Veterans Assisting Veterans board members have served in different wars and conflicts. As veterans they know what to do.
On Friday May 29, at 7 p.m. VAV will be hosting a comedy show fundraiser at the Mottolo Post VFW 10 Garafolo St. Revere. Proceeds of this event will be for the purchase a wheel chair lift for James.
The price of this lift is approximately $4,000.
Dennis Moschella
President, Veterans Assisting Veterans