Tommy, Tommy, Tommy…One might think that if one has just survived his closest election in years, one would think before one speaks out. Your contempt for the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, the MA State Police, and the surrounding municipal safety agencies is obvious and sad. Those men and women constantly work to keep our region safe. When one of the LNG tankers arrive, no matter what country it originated from, all of these agencies have and will continue to work together. Where will you be? Clear on the other side of the city where people don’t say they live in Hyde Park or Boston. They live in Readville. Well, excuse me! If a neighbor of yours dials 911, does the Readville Police Department respond?
Before spouting off about being “very disturbed by the attitude of the Coast Guard in this matter”, let’s take a look at the facts.
- The Coast Guard has studied the matter of receiving ships from Yemen for a year before making its decision.
- There have been hundred of deliveries from tankers carrying LNG to this Everett facility without incident. Where was this fervent opposition to all of the prior LNG deliveries? I’ll tell ya! It’s political because the Christmas terror attempt was from a Nigerian resident living in Yemen.
- The Everett Marine Terminal has been in operation longer than any other LNG receiving facility in the United States. Between 1971 and 2003, this facility received approximately 50% of all of the LNG imported into the U.S. (Distrigas website)
- The U.S. Coast Guard requires background checks for all crew members on all ships. Safety sweeps will be made offshore prior to any ship entering the port.
- In addition to following Coast Guard regulations, ships must also follow guidelines set forth by such “shady” agencies as the International Maritime Organization, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Transportation, AND the Department of Homeland Security…You know, the same agency you so eloquently said whose director “should take hold of the situation.”
What exactly does the Coast Guard do to make you “very disturbed”?
- Is it the shutting down of the Tobin before, during, and after the tanker sails underneath? No?
- Then it must me the coordinated water escort by the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, State Police, Environmental Police, Boston Police, Boston Fire, Chelsea Police, Chelsea Fire, Everett Police, and Everett Fire (not to mention the surrounding communities supporting these agencies while they focus on the delivery). No?
- How about the simultaneous land escort (yes, LAND ESCORT while the ship passes) by these same agencies? It must be that. Of course?
Boss Tweed types like you love to throw “Money means more to them than safety” comments out without thinking things through. I don’t know the answer to this, but I’d assume that Distrigas pays for these security measures. If not, what sort of politician are you? To me, not being the savvy political mind like you, it seems like an obvious requirement. Spending all this money on safety really shows how much they do not care for the safety of the people in this state.
Instead of trying to play this political game, why don’t you focus on making Boston a better city? You told us to measure you by the improvement in schools. I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath waiting to see education improve.
How about trying to improve the quality of life in the city? The only thing I see different over the many years is that you’ve given me a nice pretty big blue recycle bin. What about bringing our city into the 21st century and install 3-1-1 to improve the city’s response to non-emergency services. Look at NYC’s 311 (http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/apps/311/homepage.htm).
Other than that, I’m happy that you’re my mayor.
3 comments:
Obviously you have not gotten over the Flaherty Yoon meltdown. The Mayor's concern is the changing political situation in Yemen and the shift of shipping LNG through Yemen. It does no harm to tweak the system a bit. The Mayor has total respect for all the law enforcement agencies and the USCG. Where did this opinion come from? He has never shown such an attitude toward them. As far as Readville is concerned, it is a neighborhood of Boston that we are justifiably proud and is a separate neighborhood having been so stipulated by the Boston City Coucil August 26, 1976 @ 2:00 PM.
How about we look at this from the point of view of someone who will evaporate if the tanks blow. Im in Charlestown, very close to where the tanks are, its slightly freakish to watch the sky fill with helicopters and state, local and unmarks are everywhere. Then you know "tanks comin in". On the other side in Everett is my husbands work. We have both been told if one tank goes and they all blow, we wont feel a thing, so dont worry about it! So if he wants to keep more tankers coming in from a country known for training terrorists...well then baby mumble away!!!!!
Would I prefer a different mayor? Yes.
Our Honorable Thomas Menino, Mayor of the City of Boston, said that he's "very disturbed by the ATTITUDE of the Coast Guard." What attitude has the Coast Guard given him to cause him to be disturbed? OR, did he not say what he actually meant to say? How about "decision"? Is that what he meant? If so, it would be the first time the may has ever mumbled up his words.
He's also been videotaped saying, "You could have one of those individuals, terrorists, stow away in the ship. One person could do the whole damage." and "It's all about the bottom line. It's not about the safety of the folks who surround Boston Harbor."
How is that decision "all about the bottom line"? Please tell me what financial incentive the U.S. Coast Guard has in deciding to allow this ship to come through.
This terminal has been open for almost 40 years. The threat of what would be a truly horrific accident/attack has been with us just as long. I'm not discounting the danger at all. In order to ensure safe delivery, the men an women of our federal, state, and local agencies put their lives on the line for the citizens/workers around the facility.
So, let's not accept anything from Saudi Arabia because 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers came from there. Or, nothing from Nigeria, UAE, Yemen, Egypt, or any other country where a terrorist has lived at one point in time. While we're at it, let's shutdown the border with N.Y. Why? Timothy McVeigh was born there. Plus, he was Catholic. I guess that I need to move out of the city.
How about this? Let's pay even HIGHER prices for energy to pay for the cost to ship it from other parts of the country. I'm sure we'd all be in favor of this. Right?
I'm just pointing out that poor use of words and generalizations about topics like this do not help the situation.
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