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Judge to city: Vets can have their longer parade
By adamg on Tue, 03/15/2016 - 3:46pm
WFXT reports.
US District Court Judge Richard Stearns rejected the city's argument that public-safety concerns - in particular the threat of terrorist attack and hours of milling about by drunken louts in Andrew Square - coupled with the ability of parade goers to fill in empty spaces along Broadway - outweighed the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council's First Amendment rights to march as long as they want.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
| Attachment | Size |
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 City's memorandum for shortening the parade | 80.46 KB |
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Comments
I hate this parade.
Andrew Square is going to be a complete and total shitshow.
Between the flat brimmed kids from Quin-Z and the walking dead junkies it's going to be hard to tell who is honoring the troops more.
Can't wait for the organizers to die off.
Andrew Square is a shitshow
Andrew Square is a shitshow every day. You can't blame the parade for that.
Annnnnnnd we're right back where we started....
The bpd doesnt want it to become an even bigger shitshow hence the shortening of the parade.
Aaaaaaaaaand I don't think it
Aaaaaaaaaand I don't think it can get much worse. It's already pretty bad. I think a parade might actually add to that area! It feel like death around there.
For a while there was a sign
For a while there was a sign hanging on a fence in front of new condos that said "Yuppies get out." Yeah it's the yuppies that are destroying this neighborhood with their roof decks and CRVs not the zombie meth-heads roaming around and people screaming at each other in the streets at 2AM nearly every night.
The parade is almost a welcome break from the usual shitshow around here.
Did someone put a gun to your head
and force you to live and/or work there? As for the druggies, what do you suggest be done? Put them in concentration camps? A final solution of some kind? Move them all to an isolated island like before, or give them all section 8 in Brockton, Lynn (still too close? How about New Bedford, Fall River, hell we could use the entire State of R.I. tohouse our socioeconomically deprived, druggies, mentally ill; out of site, out of mind.)? Does the city only exist solely for 'yuppies', college students from God knows where (mostly suburban, non-urban environments), 'rich' people and the 'poor' (THINK: public housing, section 8, homeless shelters, living under a bridge or overpass)?
And why do people like you always feel the need to make a wisecrack about the Boston accent? The world outside your comfort zone and safe space is not required to kiss your ass, that includes everyone conforming to some kind of standard accent that you're comfortable with. I'm reminded of a guy I went to school and worked with from suburban Albany about 20 yers ago; he said to me one day, shaking his head, he'd never before seen white kids, until he moved to Boston, from some city neighborhoods 'acting black', and he didn't mean like middle class wiggas; he meant he'd never met or interacted with 'poor' white kids and people from a big city, and he found them different from small town socioeconomically deprived white kids. He found them disturbing, they made him uncomfortable. I get the impression a lot of people who move to a large urban area like Boston, often from very different environments, think like him. Americans statistically are a mostly suburban people (includes all races, ethnicities, not just white), and urban environments and living, especially large urban environments, is out of their comfort zone. They will move to one for school, job, etc., but eventually move back to their suburban, small town comfort zones. In the mean time, places like Boston (Cambridge, Somerville,etc) must deal with this large, transient, just passing through demographic as best they can, sane way they must deal with the druggies, homeless, many of whom also aren't from here. Large cities in this country (and other countries) share a disproportionate burden of societies down and out, and conversely, being the country's main economic engines. The socioeconomic stratification is more severe in a place like Greater Boston than less vibrant areas. This stratification is a very serious problem that shows no signs of improving.
Oh Good
I was looking for more anti-Irish, anti-Catholic hate disguised in euphemisms to be posted here today.
Lighten up and let the people march everyone. It is a lousy, stupid parade. You are all acting like the dean banning Delta House from marching in the parade in Animal House.
It is one day a year for a few hours in an area of the city most of you abhor anyway.
Where do you live, John?
Can I come over and piss and vomit in your front and/or backyard?
Used to live in South Boston
Don't you know you are supposed to throw the glass empties at the people who abuse your property? That is half the fun of the day.
Wow, the street smarts of people are really slipping.
Please...
Lecture us some more on your amazing street smarts!
Realx Man. Anyway, Readville is Not The City
Just a hick part of Dedham that got attached to the municipality in 1912 as an afterthought. There are parts of Woburn closer to downtown than where you live.
Ooh, neighborhood fights!
When's the last time we had a mayor from South Boston? Oh, right, just before the guy from Readville.
I wouldn't
Gloat about mumbles. Just saying!
Free country
You do what you like. Some of us recognize he left the city better than he found it.
Readville isn't the city? My
Readville isn't the city? My neighbor Angela Menino (and my property taxes) would beg to differ. But I don't go around bragging that I'm going to bottle someone for hypothetically pissing in a yard that I used to own 10 years ago either.
Now that I have the knee jerk
Now that I have the knee jerk response out of the way, let me also offer a factual one. Readville, originally known as Dedham Low Plains, was a heavily industrialized part of Dedham, thanks to the many mills powered by the Mother Brook. In 1868, roughly equal parts of Dorchester, Milton, and Dedham voted to create the new town called Hyde Park. Eventually, in 1912, the town voted to be annexed by Boston, like Roxbury, Dorchester, Charlestown, Brighton, and West Roxbury had before.
In the time between Hyde Park's founding and its annexation, South Boston (except for the small bit earlier ceded from Dorchester) was filled, transforming it from tidal mudflats to developed land.
No
No John, It's not just about the drunks. This group that throws the parade is a nuisance. Not only are they unwilling to compromise with anything, they also are a bunch of homophobes, and they waste your tax dollars in legal issues. Every god damn year they find something to sue about when it concerns the parade. Either the route, or the gays, or something else. And I guarantee, next year they'll sue for something else. Trust me on this one.
It's time for these people to be shown the door, and if Boston really wants a St Patricks Day parade, lets another group... a group that is less drama filled run the show. It's clear these folks don't want to grow up, compromise, or move ahead in the times. They'd rather just sue and be a bunch of cry babies to get their way.
I personally think the city was in the right for forcing the parade route. I'd like to smack the judge who thought this was a 1st amendment matter.. it's not. The city issues the permit. The streets they use are managed by the city. The city has every right to tell this group where and when the parade should be held. If these people don't like it, oh well, you'll need to compromise then to have one or don't have one at all.
Almost all other parades do what the city says without much push back. For example, Boston Pride Parade was moved around a bit last year. Not a peep from the organizers, they just did it. Because they want to continue to have a parade. Maybe the folks in South Boston can learn something from other organizers... but I doubt that. Some people just do not want to change and expect everyone else to bend over backwards for them.
Fuck them. I wish this whole damn thing would finally be put to rest forever. It's so fucking tiring hearing this crap year after year.
You really don't have to follow this
It post lengthy comments.
It's a free country. Skip to the next post, guy.
Geez.
If you don't want to hear about this crap
Ignore it.
Ignore the parade.
I'm a lot more conservative, and a lot more Irish, than you are, yet this will mark my 46th consecutive year of avoiding the parade.
The city is being selectively punitive with this, and they are getting spanked in federal court for doing it.
yup
I am well aware I can just ignore it. And have until today with the post above and another on another thread. But ignoring it would also mean I would have to avoid this site. And I don't want to do that. :-)
Of course I don't have to comment either, but then again.. commenting and having a debate about a post is kinda the point of this site :-)
But I do understand where you are coming from. This whole thing just irritates me. Its just like...can't you just have a parade without any issue, ever? And if not, maybe let someone else who can throw a parade? I mean, it's about having a parade to celebrate, not who's throwing it, right?
I Never Said I Agreeded With The Organizers
You do have an inherent bias against the parade because you have told these boards that you are gay and yes the actions of the SBAWVC are churlish towards gays. That they are like that is silly and childish.
However they did win their case and have beaten back each appeal.
I can't stand that parade. As the son of Irish immigrants I find the eiresatz of the peninsula to be idiotic.
Why doesn't everyone just ignore the legally protected parade and be happy? I wish Cambridge ramped back up their parade. Their response in the mid 90's to the instrangance of SB was great.
Yup, too.
It's not just that. As I said to Waquiot above, its more about.. can't they just have a parade without some drama?
And that's kinda my second point.. why not someone else who has less drama associated with them. Its about having a parade, right?
wow. Life would be a lot
wow. Life would be a lot easier if you stop stressing over small things. It's only a parade. That's a lot of anger you got there.
It's my understanding that
It's my understanding that parade organizers of any parade invite groups to march. A lot of the past controversy was that a group wanted to march but hadn't been invited by the organizers. As for the route, the bands, etc have to make it back to their buses/rides which most likely will be parked near the start of the parade route. They'll be heading back that way anyway so might as well make it part of the parade. That said, I lived in Southie for a few years and went to the parade one year. I didn't think it was that great (seemed like more politicians than anything else marching) and the crowd - at least near where I was standing - was obnoxious, drunk, urinating on houses. I won't be going back. But to those that do go, have fun and Happy St. Patrick'd Day!!
HAHAAHHAHA
Unreal
Luck of the Irish
It's the Dorchester Heights monument that played a huge role in this.
Activist judges at it again.
Activist judges at it again.
THANKS OBAMA
.
A bit of friendly sarcasm yes?
Who appointed Judge Stearns?
City obviously didn't prove
their
"but we don't want to pay our cops for the extra detail workthreat to public safety" argument well enough.I wish they would cancel the
I wish they would cancel the damn thing period. I live WAY off the route and still have to deal with human waste on my property. And before you start on me, I am OFS. I have begrudgingly taken my kids in the past, and instantly have regretted each time.For a variety of reasons - including a drunk girl literally falling into my baby carriage (thankfully my husband and brother grabbed her before she crushed my 2 month old), the beer spilled on my son last year, not to mention the language. Everyone is so upset about the tradition and historical part, but how many of you will I see at the exercises at Dorchester Heights on Thursday. I go every year, and the crowd is always the same folks. See you Thursday! Oh wait, no I won't.
No one from Southie says "OFS
No one from Southie says "OFS".
A parade of any kind is no place for a 2 month old.
I guess your son isn't allowed at sporting events.
Have fun Thursday. I'll be at work. Not all of us have state jobs.
You're demented.
Whacko would be proud.
Clearly they do. Would you
Clearly they do. Would you like to see my birth certificate? Old forms? What? And for the opinion of my two month old, why not? Supposed to be a family event right? For families? And why should I have to stay locked in my house, because everyone else wants to run around drunk? Your argument sucks, like your opinion.
Parades and kids
I'm sure I've seen two-month-old babies at the Somerville Memorial Day parade. Why shouldn't they be there?
Exactly
There are tons of babies and kids of all ages at Boston Pride too. It SHOULD be no issue to bring children to a parade. But the Southie one is a drunken shitshow, so...
OFS?
OFS?
Originally from Southie
They must've liked what Dorchester did with OFD and copied it (but is there a Southie equivalent of DBC?).
Oh
FFS
A well-kept secret
I'm interested in Boston History and would like to go to the ceremony this year at Dorchester Heights. I tried Googling Evacuation Day 2016, checked roughly a dozen sites and could find no information at all, just historical background. Can anyone give me information on the time of this year's event? The lack of readily available info makes me wonder if the organizers are interested in inviting the general public, or if they want to keep it for themselves.
I'll comment later maybe
I'll comment later maybe tomorrow with info. My battery is dying. It is a really insular event though...usually a mass down the street and then March up the hill. Speeches musket firings and the like
I very interesting
Grave yard is the one on allandale rd, the graves date back to revolutionary war. Prior to Brookline leaving Boston, or maybe even existing.
Thursday March 17!
Thursday March 17!
Memorial Mass at St. Augustine's Church, 181 Dorchester Street, 9 am
Procession to Dorchester Heights 9:45
Historical Exercises at Dorchester Heights 10 am
Historical Exercises at Fort Hill, Roxbury 11 am
Lunch at the Shirley Eustis House, Noon!
All welcome!
~~~~~~~
You might be more interested in the dedication of a cannon on the grounds on June 4. There will be a big ceremony, activities for kids, the outline of the original structure, and a few others things. All free...use public transport (I think the event starts at 11 on the 4th but will ping Adam about it on Twitter in May about it)
Old St. Augustine's
That mass is in the chapel in the graveyard on Dorchester Street. "New" St. Augustine's has been divvied up into housing.
The church there is interesting. It is the only one I have been in in Boston where people, primarily priests, are buried under the floor with the seating being over the crypts like in many European churches.
It is an interesting little chapel that does not get a lot of use.
They have weekly masses and
They have weekly masses and many, many weddings. It's open all the time. You should visit.
Thank you
Thank you everybody for the info. I've walked past that chapel many times and have wondered about it. I'm sad to see these iconic Southie churches converted into condos, but I'm glad the buildings at least are not demolished.
It's not (and never has been) a secret.
On Thursday March 17, 2016 the South Boston Citizens's Association will conduct their yearly ceremony. It's the 240th anniversary of the British being forced out of Boston.
There will be a Mass at Saint Augutine's Chapel (at the corner of Dorchester Street and West Sixth Street) at 9 am.
Upon the conclusion of the Mass the crowd will travel up to Dorchester Heights (10:15-10:30ish). A brief civic exercise will commemorate the event of long ago.
Check out the South Boston Citizen's Association web site or their Facebook page. The details that you need are there.
Your comments are way off the mark. This group puts this on each year. School kids go to it, veterans groups attend and people from all over go. Just the opposite, they would love to see a bigger crowd there, so bring a friend or ten.
OnFS
Obviously not f-ing smart if you're trying to bring a 2 month old to a parade
what's wrong with bringing a baby to a parade?
The parade is on Sunday.
The parade is on Sunday.
So all that security they say that they need ...
Doesn't seem to be working out?
Good! Now can all of the
Good! Now can all of the people who hate Southie, hate Irish heritage, hate Evacuation Day, hate parades, hate having a fun time in the city of Boston just zip it till next March? If you despise the parade and think veterans marching is the equivalent of green vomit then you are disrespectful and ill informed and please don't attend! No one is forcing you to. Let those of us who like to celebrate a little Irish Boston history and heritage and applaud the veterans marching enjoy the parade without all of the bitching and whining from the people who have obviously never even been to it. Stay home and be bitter instead of participating in life. Sláinte!
As David Bernstein pointed out on Twitter
The City's mayor kind of sucks.
Thanks Marty, at least your friends have good jobs.
Very late edit - I meant the City's lawyer. Freudian slip I guess.
First the Olympics
Now the parade. Who is the moron who is advising the Mayor? Is he going to tell the Mayor to march in half the parade?
Bravo
Two good freedom-of-speech rulings in one day.