Voting in Boston on September 11?
I drove through Union Square in Allston tonight, and there were several signs up telling people to vote in elections on September 11. Say what?
Category Archives: Boston
Where’s the ballot for the upcoming Boston election?
The deadline for determining whose names would be on the ballot for the upcoming election in the City of Boston was months ago. Why hasn’t the Boston Elections Department published the ballot? Why hasn’t the City Council published lists of candidates for the open Council seats? How are responsible voters who actually try to learn… Read More »
Boston City Council elections should use preferential voting
As noted at Universal Hub, the Boston City Council submitted a home-rule petition over the summer, asking the State Legislature to allow them to dispense with a preliminary election which would have winnowed the field of at-large candidates from nine down to eight. The legislature agreed, and Governor Patrick signed the legislation. When I first… Read More »
CVS asking for ID for credit-card purchases
Just sent this feedback to CVS through their Web site:
Good apology from NSTAR
An employee from NSTAR called this morning about my recent complaint and asked to speak to me. My wife answered the phone and asked what to do, and I told her to ask him to communicate with me in writing, since I had no desire to waste my time speaking with him on the phone.… Read More »
Idealism vs. pragmatism in genocide prevention
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has set off a firestorm by refusing to endorse House Resolution 106, which calls upon the Federal government to recognize the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. The ADL’s position is consistent with their longstanding policy not to get involved in the debate. They don’t… Read More »
NSTAR turns off paper billing without customers’ consent AGAIN
[Update: See NSTAR’s apology.] I wrote last year about NSTAR’s turning off paper billing without prior consent for customers enrolled in their e-Bill program. I sent a sternly worded complaint to NSTAR about this as well as complaining to the Department of Telecommunications and Energy. Well, they’re at it again.
MBTA complaint of the day
It never ceases to amaze me that the folks who run the MBTA can’t seem to handle the simplest aspects of running a working public transit system. Over and over again, I’ve found myself complaining to them about things that just shouldn’t come up, because they should just be handled properly to begin with.
Speed kills
Four teens were killed, and a fifth critically injured, in a single-vehicle car accident in Leicester last Friday night. The driver of the car was traveling at over twice the speed limit. The local high school principal was quoted in the paper as saying, “It’s not like they did anything wrong.” I just sent the… Read More »
Beating a ticket
Approaching a red light on Washington St. at the intersection with Waverly Ave. near Newton Corner. Thought the two cars riding the yellow line at the red light were turning left (cars often don’t signal turns at that intersection, or for that matter anywhere else in the Boston area). Started to pass them on the… Read More »