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Letters to the Editor

Gloom and doom merchants

When Congressional Republican opposition leader Sen. Mitch McConnell stated his number one goal was to ensure that the Obama presidency fail, he meant what he said.

These right-wing Republicans, governing without empathy for fellow citizens, are as hypocritical and duplicitious as any political group in recent memory.

Seems like America is heading for another Civil War. It’s surely not Christian thinking in caring more about millionaires than millions of Americans. The global economic disaster and the eventual decline of America will be because of its greed and racism.

Laura Palmer Edwards
Via e-mail


A business model that works for Boston residents

I want to commend Mayor Thomas Menino for encouraging the development of access to the computers in the Timothy Smith Network and supporting the training and skill building of Boston residents. It was a treat to hear him speak at the Dudley Library Certificate Ceremony for the 70 men and women who have already completed the Timothy Smith Online Learning Readiness Program. I also greatly appreciate the way the mayor encourages folks to use their training as a basis for the next steps in their educational pursuits and work.

The mayor spoke about the new Dudley Area Development as a potential source for new jobs and work, especially opportunities associated with the money that is being put into the restoration of Ferdinand Building. Given the mayor’s commitment to training and skill-building programs, what I am expecting is that part of the Ferdinand Building restoration project will involve securing commitments that some jobs there be set aside for folks who successfully complete these training programs.

I believe it important for the mayor and City Council to go strongly on record, telling both restoration contractors and the people who would be running business or programs after construction that their employment of residents of Boston must comply with the Boston Residents Jobs Policy criteria. They need to know that the Boston Residents Jobs Policy applies to sub-contractors and that they are responsible for ensuring compliance of their subcontractors.

The Kroc Center was a good model of ways in which the community and the people involved in development worked together to ensure that local residents would be involved in the hiring process. Getting the community involved in the hiring and recruitment meant that there were checkpoints to ensure that jobs actually go to residents. In the future, such a process could also ensure that some jobs go to folks who have completed job readiness and training programs.

How we start to model practices that put Boston resident jobs up front with the Ferdinand Building is important so we have a great model ready for other developments that are expected to take place in the South End, Chinatown and the University of Massachusetts Boston’s program.

Another crucial step is to anticipate opportunities and jobs. As the Ferdinand Building Restoration gets underway, designs are coming forward about the kinds of jobs that would be available upon completion. Training programs should be designed and offered during the restoration process to get residents the necessary skills for these anticipated opportunities and jobs.

Businesses that plan to locate in these development projects should be committed and involved with these training programs and be willing to work several months beforehand with them in order to ensure that Boston residents are prepared to take those jobs.

Mel King
Boston

+ Add Comment
Oct 4 19:35pm by G. Djata Bumpus [107.3.53.92]

I have admired Mel King for five decades, in his drive for the betterment of communities in Boston. However, the type of
"jobs" that politicians talk about have nothing to do with the future of the individual, regarding his or her personal development. In other words, at least to me, the end result of genuine economic development is human - not financial.

Training programs for more or less menial labor may serve some young people temporarily; yet, they'll mean nothing in terms of future development as an independent but cooperative, competent, and caring citizen. After all, what good does it do to get a "god" job, if the next paycheck is lost because you've been robbed by your neighbor? We need to work towards building better communities.

Besides, the training programs have gone on for ages, but they do nothing to convince a sizable amount of greedy youth in the community not to engage in drug-dealing and prostitution. Of course, greed is always short-sighted, from the cheating spouse to the BP oil spill. We need our youth to be thinking about the future, not just for themselves, but for those who will follow them. The plans by Menino, King, and the others always ignore that.

Moreover, how can politicians and others pretend to be thinking about the progress of our communities, without having programs that are directly geared towards young people? And our youth as well need to think about their economic future. Now, to be sure, African Americans, as a people, are legendary for collecting baubles, but we never save. We have never been taught to, as the children of the wealthier have. Consequently, a good goal for young people to save towards is their college education. Consequently, beginning in middle school, children should learn to save money for their future education.   

Finally, after saving, what happens to the money, if the student does not go to college? Let it be available to the student when s/he is ready. It may go towards tuition in a trade school. It may be usable as down-payment on property. It should not be available as cash or to buy a car or pay rent. The point is that it is about moving the person forward.

G. Djata Bumpus, Amherst, MA