Cars Tresspass On Pedestrian Streets

By Plamena Pesheva

DOWNTOWN CROSSING – A silver BMW with Massachusetts plates drives down Winter Street and makes a left onto Washington Street Maneuvering between the pedestrians, the young driver slows down. It is illegal to drive on Washington Street, Winter Street or Summer Street because they are pedestrian only streets but the policeman in the booth a block away didn’t enforce the rule.

"I’m just going to park out here," the BMW driver Mike said. He quickly drove away after a reporter told him what he was doing was illegal.

"He got lucky," Downtown Crossing store employee said.

The fine is $100 ticket for those driving through illegally.

Randi Lathrop, Boston Redevelopment Authority project manager, said the police is in charge of enforcing the rules that no cars without a permit enter those streets.

The Authority is negotiating a plan to make the area around One Franklin a pedestrian zone by leveling the streets and getting rid of the sidewalk and expanding the current pedestrian zone.

Jessica Shumaker, a spokeswoman for the BRA, said because sidewalks still exist, pedestrians are hesitant to walk on the streets, which then encourages cars to drive on the streets.

"The project is more than just a pedestrian destination for shoppers," Shumaker said referring to the One Franklin redevelopment project. "We are looking to attract new retailers."

Shumaker said the majority of businesses are supporting the plan, but businesses question how deliveries will be handled.

Lathrop said businesses will have to change how they operate. Deliveries will have to happen during certain times, before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

The Authority plans to install electronic bollards, series of posts preventing vehicles from entering an area, that will allow only for deliveries during certain times and emergency vehicles.

While the BRA finishes the design, a date of completion has not been set. Shumaker said goal is to start the project before the new One Franklin redevelopment project is completed in 2012.

Because there are three stops around the Downtown Crossing, Shumaker said the project won’t create a problem of too many people using public transportation.

"I don’t see it impacting the T negatively," she said.

Mr. Begirone, cashier for the Garage at Rowes Wharf, said the plan to make the area pedestrian only is a good idea. He said many people walk in Downtown Crossing and often do not see the cars.

"It is my view it doesn’t affect the garage; it affects the people who work in Downtown Crossing," Begirone said.

Pi Alley Parking Garage, at 275 Washington St, refused to comment on how it could affect their business.

"I don’t think we’ll be affected at all," said Seanna Weiss, Macy’s aesthetician. She said she sees a lot of cars driving through illegally.

A New Kind Of Crime In Your Backyard

By Plamena Pesheva


As Crime Rates Go Down and People Feel Safe In The Neighborhood, GPS Devices Get Stolen

DOWNTOWN CROSSING -- Crime has dropped by 24 percent last year from 2006.

"We’d like to think we’ve helped," said a police spokesman Officer James Kenneally.
Kenneally said the crime rates have gone down mainly because the police have increased foot patrols in the area.

"It is the neighborhood with the lowest crime rates," said Rosemarie Sansone, president of theDowntown Crossing Association.

Officer Thomas Lema said in an e-mail that police have been targeting drug dealers, many of whom have been identified as homeless, around Boston Common.

"As a result of the drug arrests and displacement of others associated with this type of crime," Lema said, "we have seen a reduction in the numbers of assaults and robberies that are crimes associated with drugs."

Denise Henrahan, a substance abuse councilor at the Kingston House which is a homeless shelter, said many of the homeless at the shelter abuse drugs and have committed crimes.

"They tell me what I want to hear," Henrahan said. "They try to do good."

Police reported a 36 percent increase of thefts in Downtown Crossing from motor vehicles in 2006. According to a police report for District 1(Downtown), 171 GPS devices were stolen from motor vehicles in 2007.

Officer Kenneally said GPS systems are stolen because they are easy to get and are wanted because of their high value. He said the police are trying to raise awareness and educate people not to leave them in their cars.

"That’s an invitation for trouble," Kenneally said.

Kate Crawford, who has worked at the Downtown Crossing Association for two years, said she has not seen GPS devices being stolen.

"It’s a matter of people not taking proper precautions," Crawford said.

In the first two months of the year crimes such as robbery, larceny and car theft have dropped by 87 from the same time last year. Crimes such as rape, aggravated assault and burglary have increased by 37 crimes. Even though crimes have increased, the police report shows that the crime in A-1 Downtown Area has decreased by 49 crimes.

Street Vendors Concerned About Their Future

By Plamena Pesheva

DOWNTOWN CROSSING – A black minivan has replaced Gabriel Ruiz’s pushcart on Winter Street. He is one of the vendors who has had to give up carts in front of the building since Filene’s Basement closed temporarily in Sept. 2007 and the One Franklin redevelopment project started in Downtown Crossing.

The 39-story mixed-use project will bring a hotel, office, retail and residential space, as well as a new location for Filene’s Basement in the lower four levels. The anticipated completion date is Jan. 2011.

Rosemarie Sansone, president of the Downtown Crossing Association, said some establishments do not want the vendors outside their buildings.

"The developer [of the new project] has said that they don’t want any pushcarts directly in front of the building," Sansone said.

Vendors have raised questions about what will happen to them after the project is complete. James Adler, president of Boston Skyline, has been a vendor for 24 years. He said the new project is great for the city and businesses, but he is unsure of how it will affect him.

He said the Downtown Crossing Association, which was created by The Boston Redevelopment Authority, used to provide them with storage facilities, uniforms, uniform pushcarts and cart repairs.

Adler said the vendors have been on their own since 2000.

"They are not doing much rather than collecting revenue and getting approval to be in front of the buildings," Adler said.

He said vendors need to meet with the BRA and the city to discuss the issues. Mayor Thomas M. Menino has publicly said he favors keeping the pushcarts in Downtown Crossing.

"The problem is Downtown Crossing Association, whom we’ve paid millions to, isn’t helping us," Adler said. "Even though the mayor is a strong supporter, it seems they are not interested in our best interest going forward."

Sansone said the vendors are challenged to keep their businesses alive, but are encouraged by the changes. After the completion of the project, more people will be attracted to the area, which would increase their ability to do business.

"My goal is to work very closely with vendors to succeed," Sansone said. "It is my job to make sure the program runs smoothly, and that we offer them all of the professional tools we have."

The sidewalk around the new building will be leveled, which will make it only a pedestrian street. Sansone said the pushcart vendors will be in the middle of the street or in another location on Franklin, but they will not be in front of the building.

She said the association is providing opportunities for vendors. They are concerned about stabilizing the vendors, providing product diversification, and looking at their appearance to attract customers.

"I believe we can find a happy solution," Sansone said.

She said the city is very supportive of the program as well as the colleges in the neighborhood such as Emerson College and Suffolk University.

Gabriel Ruiz, who owns Boston Red Dogs, has been a vendor for 17 years.

"Downtown Crossing for me is the best place to work," Ruiz said. "And Downtown Crossing is the only place to give you a chance to work all year round."

Ruiz expects the redevelopment project to bring a lot of positive changes to Downtown Crossing, but he is unsure if those changes will be better for the street vendors.

"We are an easy target," Ruiz said.

Dance The Time Of Your Life

By Plamena Pesheva

DOWNTOWN CROSSING – Valerie Wilder, executive director of Boston Ballet, has performed around the world. Unlike companies in Europe, where the government fully sponsors the arts, the United States government does not. Wilder does whatever she can to find money for Boston Ballet.

"You are always around very creative people," Wilder said. "You are in contact with people and it’s exciting."

Wilder, appointed executive director in 2002, leads the fourth largest ballet company in North America raising money and building its endowment. Under Wilder’s direction, the contributed income has increased.

"She is the supporting system we need," said Brynn Hale, outreach manager for CityDance.

Recently, the company came back from a six-week tour in Spain.

"We were a hit," Wilder said. "They embraced the company, which was exciting."

Previously Wilder served as the executive director of the National Ballet of Canada from 1996-2002.

Wilder’s interest in the performing arts started while living in Japan when her parents took her to her first ballet show at age 4. After the show she said she told her parents:

"This is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life."

She started going to ballet classes at age 7.

At age 2, Wilder moved to Japan with her parents. She realized she would have to leave Japan and get better training. At 15, she traveled by herself from Japan to the Royal Ballet School in London.

In 1970, Wilder joined the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto as a dancer, where she danced for more than 10 years and traveled around the world.

While still a dancer in Canada, Wilder was chosen by other dancers to be on the National Ballet Board of Directors. Wilder said she stopped dancing after starting her own business of advising dancers. She said it wasn’t hard for her to leave dancing, because she did the same work and worked with the same people.

"I didn’t miss [dancing] because I stayed involved," she said.

She was a financial advisor to dancers, among whom was Erik Bruchn, a male dancer. Wilder called him "one of the best."

One of the major challenges is finding money for the Boston Ballet. Unlike companies in Europe and Canada, where the government funds the arts, in the United States the money comes solely from tickets and donations.

This year Boston Ballet is performing "The Nutcracker,""Romeo and Juliet," "Swan Lake" and two contemporary programs.