For the past five years I have been
thinking, talking and writing about my new community in Inman Square. Two of my
chief interests have been the issue of traffic safety and the cultural
significance of Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci Community Plaza. I am currently set to
wondering whether these priorities are mutually antagonistic, or rather
represent a shared goal.
A while ago I heard about the
City’s plans to “renovate” the Plaza. Obviously, then, I wasn’t the only one
concerned with local traffic safety. There has been at least one bicycle
fatality in the recent past, on Cambridge Street, right beside the Plaza’s
sidewalk. Without trying to explain away this heart-rending tragedy, it is
plain that many drivers are unaware or inconsiderate of cyclists, while at the
same time bikers often disregard their own safety and that of pedestrians.
Any solution to these systemic
patterns of danger, aggression and uncivility should at least be thoroughly
considered. That is the ostensible reasoning behind this Vellucci project. If
the end result is in fact a safer neighborhood and a more seamless commute,
then the sacrifices incurred may indeed be justifiable. That is my hope,
anyway, since the project is already underway and seems most likely to proceed
apace.
A considerable group of residents
and a small but mostly deep-rooted collection of local businesses are strongly
opposed to the plan. A major part of their objection, for some at least, has
focused on the removal of the trees providing the Plaza with shade, oxygen and
beauty. They have claimed that the removal of trees is not only unethical and
ecologically damaging, but is proceeding without concern for the community,
democratic principles, legal due process and zoning regulations. A few weeks
ago I saw a flier asking people to come to City Hall to support their
“moratorium” to halt the tree-cutting. It was scheduled for Noon that day so I
went and met some of the people involved in this movement, held signs
protesting the tree removal, and learned about the legal case to halt the
chainsaws at least for now.
A week or two later the advocates
for the trees and the Plaza met with the City Council, and while I was unable
to make it, from what I heard it sounded like we had at least bought some time.
Two days later I read my email
early in the morning and saw a message from the tree-advocates sent the night
before, saying tree cutting was going to take place after all, this very
morning! A protest was planned 20 minutes from when I read this so I rushed out
to join and hold signs etc…
It was cold and early but their was
a comforting solidarity and, if not optimism, at least a sense of stubborn
purposefulness as we did our best to get our message across to pedestrians
cyclists and drivers en route to work or school. Some of the protestors were
excited that the landscapers were not there as scheduled: maybe we had won after all. But the cynic in me
suggested they might just be waiting till most of us left after the hour-long
protest. I myself had other things to do that morning and left after half an
hour. When I made my way home around lunchtime I stopped to take a look and,
indeed, they were already cutting trees.
I stayed for a while again, holding
signs and talking while breathing in the sawdust. Someone said,
“We’re
living in a fascist city”
Another replied,
“If
that wasn’t plainly obvious before, it sure is now.”
These views
may seem extreme, but the heart of it to me seems to be the question begged,
how can such a purportedly liberal and democratic city so brazenly violate the
will of the community without recourse to due process?
I spoke a
little with City Councilor Quinton Zondervan, who voted with the (two-thirds)
majority of the Council to approve the project, yet also advocates for the City’s
trees, or so he claims. My main question to him was whether he honestly
believes the end result will be a safer intersection for all. He said he did. I
am inclined to take him at his word, and his reasoning, if not enough to fully
convince me, still made sense and appealed to my rational side that this was
thought-out and at least had a chance of making the neighborhood safer. If that
is the case, I would personally say it will be worth it. Some disagree with my
prioritization, to be sure, but also many raise good questions whether this
will in fact make the roads safer and not, perhaps, even worse. For his part,
Councilor Zondervan told me it was the hardest decision he had had to make so
far on the Council, in this his first term. I spoke briefly about other local
issues and wished him good luck on his re-election campaign this Fall.
To anyone
who would like to learn more, there will be an informational meeting Wednesday
(2/13) at 7pm at the First United Presbyterian Church on Cambridge Street,
right across from what’s left of Vellucci Plaza. See you there.
