• GETTING THE COMMITTEE BACK TOGETHER: When the City Council subcommittees were reorganized at the start of this term to ensure a better balance of responsibility, one of the ideas was that all committees would meet on a more regular basis, instead of some meeting almost monthly, and others once every couple of years, as it had been under the old system. So, with the fall Council schedule ramping up in a few weeks, how are they doing? According to agendas posted on the city Web site, the Economic Development Committee has met nine times since the start of 2008; Education — two; Finance (the whole Council) — five; Municipal Operations — 10; Public Health & Human Services — eight; Public Safety — seven; Public Service & Transportation — three; Public Works — five; Rules & Legislative Affairs — one; Traffic & Parking — six; Youth, Parks, and Recreation — two.
• END OF EDDY’S CONVERSATION: Bill Eddy says he’s done talking about street vendors. There had been some quiet speculation — reported here earlier — that Eddy might be the most likely target for vendor advocates looking at a last-ditch effort to reverse a 6-5 vote in favor of proposed new regulations. But in an e-mailed statement, Eddy says he’s staying put. “My position was crafted in response to concerns presented by local tax-paying restaurants and our police chief, while seeking fairness for vendors,” he writes. And when the vote comes up for ordination on Sept. 9, “I will again, without hesitation, vote in favor of the item. I am neither an expert on street vendor ordinances nor inflexible. However, I believe government must make decisions and move on to other important matters. It is time for this Council to move forward and see if our efforts have produced the fair solution that we sought.”
• DEVAL, IGNORED: Gov. Deval Patrick won a key speaking spot on Tuesday night’s Democratic National Convention schedule in Denver, sandwiched right in between keynote speaker and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Sen. Hillary Clinton. But unless you switched to NECN (or listened to NPR), you probably missed his address. The main cable news networks used his time to run commercials and preview the Clinton address, merely showing him in the background as the pundits talked. Not the nationwide introduction some Patrick fans had hoped for. Worcester-area Convention attendees say the speech was pretty well received on the floor, although some of those from the Massachusetts delegation were reportedly busy trying to get a second of face time with Michelle Obama and presumed vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden, seated in the box behind the Massachusetts crew.
• GRAY DAYS FOR THE GRAY LADY: Things aren’t getting any better over at the New York Times’ New England Media Group, which includes The Boston Globe and the Telegram & Gazette. While July advertising revenue at the whole company was down 16.2%, it fell 24.5% at NEMG. That’s the largest drop among any of the company’s smaller groups; ad revenue at the New York Times Media Group was down 15.3%, while the Regional Media Group fell 18.1%.
•”P” IS FOR “PERTURBED”: All WCCA wants is to know exactly where they stand. Here’s the story they tell: On Aug. 19, the Cable Advisory Committee met to approve a final draft of their PEG (Public, Educational, Government) channel recommendations. WCCA, in the guise of Executive Director Mauro DePasquale, went to the meeting as the “P” of PEG. The recommendation draft was approved by the committee, but no copy was made available to WCCA. DePasquale says after the document was voted on and approved, he was told a copy would be e-mailed to him. But according to an update on the WCCA blog, despite a re-request for the recommendations, the station has not yet received a copy.
• THE NOT-QUITE GARAGE: Worcesteria<O> used the new “Garage Mahal” for the first time over the weekend for a daytrip into Boston. A few things we noticed, for what it’s worth. WHERE TO?: When you leave the garage on the first floor and cross over into Union Station, you end up facing a wall in what used to be Union Station’s back hallway. Now, it’s a main entry point. There’s zero signage there about where to go if you want to find the busport. To your left is the sign that reads “Parking Lot,” to the right is a security office with a hallway that leads to the general station — but nothing tells you that. If you don’t know your way, it could become a guessing game. I GOTTA PAY FOR THIS?: Yes, the parking costs are clearly displayed when you enter the garage. But on the way out, the sign reminding and directing customers to pay in the garage “lobby” is located on a support beam ten feet above your head. So while we noticed it, the eight cars that were clustered at the exit trying to get out without paying (or figuring out how to pay) obviously weren’t as observant. Mayhem. And it wasn’t just them. At least four other people asked directions to get to the “lobby,” which was right in front of them. HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THIS? Worcesteria went to the pay lobby, walked up to the automated machines and — wait a minute. No credit cards accepted at this time? “Sorry for the inconvenience.” OK, no biggie. There’s still the ATM in Union Station. Back to the doors to the station and — wait a minute. They’re locked. If you take the last train in from Boston on a Saturday night and get in at midnight and don’t have cash on you, get ready to explore the Canal District looking for an ATM. (For the record, we’d like to thank the stragglers leaving the station who, sensing our frustration, held the doors for us to get back in.)
• ONE-ON-ONE: And lastly, from everyone at Worcester Magazine, thank you to departing owner/publisher Allen Fletcher — for everything. You’ve made it a pleasure to work here for all of us, regardless of whether it’s been one year or 15. Thank you, and good luck. o
