Federal Agents Make Major Arrest in Boston, Seize 70 Weapons

[From article]
Dozens of gang members from New England were pulled into custody early this morning in a massive sweep that cleared weapons, drugs and dangerous criminals off the streets, according to state and federal authorities.
“This is the culmination of a 14-month investigation that targeted high-ranking members and associates of several gangs - most in Boston, but as far-reaching as New Hampshire and Rhode island,” U.S Attorney Carmen Ortiz said this morning at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse.
Members of the massive 18th Street Gang, the East Side Money Gang and the Boylston Gang were arrested in an early morning campaign that saw 400 state, federal and local law enforcement officers bring down 40 gang associates, according to authorities. One gang member was arrested this afternoon, and three others members were already in custody before this morning’s raid, according to authorities.
The suspects face a variety of state and federal charges, including federal RICO conspiracy charges stemming from an attempted murder, according to prosecutors. They stand accused of running a huge network that pumped guns and drugs throughout eastern Massachusetts.
[. . .]
There are 22 accused gang members who are fugitives from justice, but that number is expected to change as law enforcement tracks them down, according Ortiz’s office. The gangs involved in the bust hail from Chelsea, Brockton, Malden, East Boston, Revere and Everett, according to authorities.
[. . .]
Throughout the course of the investigation, more than 70 guns were taken off the street, authorities said. Many of the weapons had their serial numbers removed, according to law enforcement officers.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/06/feds_dozens_of_gang_suspects_swept_up_in_rico_raids_today

Feds: Dozens of gang suspects swept up in RICO raids today
Bob McGovern

Thursday, June 09, 2016

Boston Herald

CBS Boston Liberal Journalist Worried More About Facebook Deceptions, Than White House National Security Fraud

Jon Keller, CBS News Boston, MA

Jon Keller is an opinion reporter on WBZ-TV (CBS News) in Boston, MA. He also is a regular on the local PBS television show Beat The Press hosted by Emily Rooney, daughter of CBS News famous journalist Andy Rooney.


Keller is at far left of this image

He appears to be indignant about deception. But only by individual civilians. Not a problem when the White House fools the people and journalists. Below is an email I sent to him on May 17, 2016. No reply as usual. He has never responded to my previous comments to his misguided criticism of his colleagues.


Ben Rhodes, White House National Security Adviser 

Saw your report on WBZ-TV news at about 5:20 PM on Tuesday May 17, 2016, regarding false Facebook posts which fool the public. I am curious why that gets priority over the reports that high ranking national security mogul Ben Rhodes, boasted of fooling American voters and taxpayers about the Iran nuclear deal. How he boasted of how stupid Americans are and how smart he and his colleagues are. Isn't that an abomination deserving of your access to air time? Or do you share the elitist attitude of the White House staff? Then there was similar boasting by Jonathan Gruber, about how stupid Americans are that the health care law was passed by his propaganda too.



Low information voters is nothing new. H.L. Mencken regularly ridiculed Americans for that 50-80 years ago. He was not a White House official. Does how one reacts to knowing that, measure the integrity of the individual?

See also Congressional hearing on May 17, 2016 before Government Oversight Committee on the deception of Rhodes. The Democrats on the committee argued that because some working for George Bush deceived Colin Powell about weapons of mass destruction, that makes it OK. Republicans and Democrats wonder why Trump is so popular.

[Entire hearing is about 2 hours and 45 minutes]

http://www.c-span.org/video/?409709-1/house-oversight-committee-examines-iran-nuclear-deal-messaging 

Snowflakes Cannot Tolerate Crowded Subways

This is an apparent snowflake who is unable to wait two minutes for the next train or to move to another car which is not so crowded. He is probably unable to function in New York City or Tokyo, where the trains are really crowded. 

[From article]
Buses and subway cars are often over-crowded to a degree that would be considered inhumane.
[. . .]
The current state of service is no way to treat the good citizens of the commonwealth—it is patently disrespectful and lacking in the moral decency that is integral to the American ideal.

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20160326/NEWS/160327412

Guest column: MBTA fare hikes will worsen riders' plight
By Joseph Levendusky
Posted Mar. 26, 2016 at 7:53 AM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle

Harvard University Degree a Plus in Boston City Council, But Worshipped in Cambridge City Council

Michelle Wu, Boston City Council President

“'People very much respect the work that goes into a Harvard degree,' Michelle Wu, President of Boston’s City Council, added." Not as bad as Cambridge where City Councilors worship Harvard University and its graduates. Most Cambridge councilors have a degree from one Harvard tub or another. It is almost a requirement to be elected to the Cambridge City Council, a subsidiary of Harvard University.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/4/1/harvard-grads-boston-government/

Alumni in Boston Government Disprove Harvard Stereotypes
By MAHNOOR B. ALI,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
April 1, 2016

One Dead After Ammonia Leak At Boston, MA Seafoods Company

Stavis Seafoods, Boston, MA

[From article]
The Seaport seafood company where a worker died amid a massive ammonia leak Wednesday has been cited in the past for safety violations, some involving its refrigeration system.
In 2009, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Stavis Seafoods for safety violations related to its refrigeration system. The company was also fined by OSHA in 2000.
“OSHA’s inspection found the initial evaluation of hazards associated with the refrigeration system had not been conducted; standard operating procedures had not been developed for all system activities or were incomplete,” OSHA’s 2009 statement read.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/03/plant_where_man_died_was_fined_before

Plant where man died was fined before
Matt Ingersoll

Friday, March 25, 2016

Boston Herald

Another Major Drug Bust in Massachusetts

[From article]
Drug-dealing, gun-toting gangs that have terrorized a South End neighborhood — turning a local park into an open-air narcotics and weapons mart — have been targeted again by federal agents and police, who arrested 22 men yesterday in the third sweep in five years of the Lenox Street Housing
Development.
Many of the suspects rounded up during a series of pre-dawn raids yesterday are members of the Lenox Street Cardinals and other gangs menacing the Lenox Street Housing Development and nearby Ramsay Park, including the Villa Victoria Pirates and the Mass. Ave. Hornets, authorities say. All told, 19 suspects face federal gun and drug charges, 14 of whom were arrested yesterday. Eight other suspects, facing state drug charges, also were arrested.
[. . .]
The gangs are accused of selling heroin, methamphetamine, crack cocaine and guns.
“Through their sale of weapons and drugs, these defendants bring violence, fear and intimidation to a community in the heart of this city,” U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said in a statement. “Lenox Street’s residents, surrounded by illegal activity and the violence that accompanies it, are made to feel like prisoners in their own homes.”
The majority of the 27 who were charged in the investigation — with street names such as “Buns,” “Bleed,” “9-Ball,” and “Blaze” — have long rap sheets. Eleven of them have already been shot or stabbed, “many more than once,” court documents show.
Police Commissioner William B. Evans said the arrests “send a strong message that illegal drugs and guns have no place on the streets of Boston.”
The Lenox Street development — which sits across the street from the long crime-ridden Ramsay Park — was considered by police to be one of the city’s top 10 hot spots for violence last year, with 30 shootings and more than 75 reports of shots fired in the area from March 2012 to June 2015.
Lawmen arrested 21 people there in 2011, then they returned a year later to round up more members of the Lenox Street, Villa Victoria and Annunciation Road gangs.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/03/27_charged_in_major_drug_sweep

27 charged in major drug sweep
Laurel J. Sweet, Owen Boss, O’Ryan Johnson

Friday, March 25, 2016

Boston Herald

Gentleman Shot In East Boston, MA; Two Shot in Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA

5:15 AM March 23, 2016 WCVB-TV reported two shot in Jamaica Plain.

* * *

http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20160322/man-shot-east-boston-taken-away-critical-condition

Man shot in East Boston; taken away in critical condition
By adamg on Tue, 03/22/2016 - 10:51pm

On Wordsworth Street near Pope, shortly after 10:30 p.m., 

Stanley Staco reports.

Politicians Spend Money To Avoid Solving Problem, "Don't Kill The Job"

What an exciting idea. Too much money spent on "consultants" and "studies" on how to end homelessness. Now computer programmers will design a software system to coordinate information on resources that are available now. How many other boondoggles will be found to spend taxpayer money on not ending homelessness? Great idea Mayor Walsh. It's like "Don't kill the job." all over again. Last thing taxpayers want is to put people without homes into homes. That would end homelessness, and grants to study how to end it. How many people could be housed with the money wasted on a web based computer system? Typical waste of taxpayer money with no effect on the alleged problem.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/3/4/mayor-addresses-homelessness/

Boston Mayor Selects Company to Fight Homelessness
By KIER W ZIMMERMAN

Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
March 4, 2016

Boston, MA Gentleman Pleads Guilty To Human Trafficking in New Jersey

[From article]
A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges in New Jersey.
Camden County prosecutors say Javann Hall faces a seven-year state prison term when he's sentenced April 1. The 30-year-old Dorchester man pleaded guilty on Monday.
Hall was arrested during an undercover prostitution investigation at a Cherry Hill hotel in January 2015.
Authorities say Hall dropped off a Boston woman who had been advertised online. The woman was arrested after she solicited an undercover detective and was taken into custody without incident.
Further investigation revealed that Hall was using threats of violence to force the woman to engage in prostitution activity several times a day.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/03/massachusetts_man_admits_to_human_trafficking_in_new_jersey

Massachusetts man admits to human trafficking in New Jersey
Associated Press

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Boston Herald

Enraged Boston, MA Driver Shoots Another Over Cleared of Snow Parking Space

If the gentleman, suspect used a tire iron instead would that mean that there are too many tire irons? Maybe just maybe some special education is needed by the dumbed down population. This is a matter of perspective, not choice of weapon.

[From article]
The annual Hub tradition of fighting over parking spots after a snowstorm took a nearly lethal turn yesterday when a dispute in Dorchester led to a shooting.
Police Commissioner William B. Evans said a 34-year-old Dorchester man was shot in the stomach during a “silly” argument over a parking spot.
“There’s way too many guns,” Evans said near the scene of the shooting, which took place about 2:30 p.m. on Nightingale Street. “When people are shooting over something like a parking spot, we have a problem.”
The 27-year-old shooter, Evans said, fled the scene in a black BMW but drove only a short distance up the street before ditching the car.
[. . .]
The victim was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where Evans said he is expected to survive his injuries.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/01/dorchester_man_shot_in_stomach_over_parking_spot_spat

Dorchester man shot in stomach over parking spot spat
O’Ryan Johnson
 Tuesday, January 26, 2016

East Boston Gentleman Sought In MBTA Double Shooting

SOUGHT: Double-shooting suspect Rogelio Alvarado, 21, is seen in this photo provided by MBTA transit police. 
(Courtesy of Richard Sullivan/Transit Police)

[From article]
Rogelio Alvarado, whose last known address was in East Boston, is wanted in connection with the Jan. 19 double shooting and should be considered “armed and dangerous,”
according to a message posted yesterday on the Transit Police Department’s blog.
Transit police detectives executed a search warrant yesterday on White Street in East Boston and have obtained an arrest warrant charging Alvarado with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and numerous firearm violations.
The brazen daylight shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. a week ago
today when two men arguing aboard a Blue Line train as it pulled into the station started a fight that spilled out onto the platform,
police said.
The two male victims, a 29-year-old and a 43-year-old, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
[. . .]
Anyone with information about Alvarado’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact transit police detectives at 617-222-1050, send anonymous text tips to 873873, or to use
the department’s SeeSay app.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/01/t_police_seek_help_in_hunt_for_double_shooting_suspect

T police seek help in hunt for double-shooting suspect
Owen Boss
Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Limited Vision Of Massachusetts Officials On How To Improve Mass Transit

Future New York subway cars could look a lot more like the London Tube and Paris Metro, a new design released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revealed.

New York City (a real world class city), has adopted an idea from the far east to increase subway capacity by ten percent. NYC's system carries about 6 million each weekday. If only some MA state and local officials would read about the world, they might learn something outside of their bubble. Here's a recent report on NYC's plans.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/25/mta-to-test-open-gangway-trains-to-give-passengers-more-room/

MTA to test open-gangway trains to give passengers more room
By Danielle Furfaro
January 25, 2016 | 3:31pm
New York Post

* * *

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3416768/MTA-reveals-new-open-gangway-subway-train-design.html

New York subway cars of future: MTA unveils $52m plans for 'bendy' cars that passengers can walk through
The open gangway configuration seals the space between cars
It allows passengers to spread out and move from one to another
Design predicted to increase passenger capacity by up to 10 percent/car
MTA said it plans to spend $52m on 10 open gangway cars for two trains
By Dailymail.com Reporter and Associated Press
Published: 23:50 EST, 25 January 2016 | Updated: 07:18 EST, 26 January 2016

* * *

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20160125/NEWS/160127325

MBTA looking for ways to reduce crowding on the Red Line
By Andy Metzger
State House News Service
Posted Jan. 25, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Updated at 4:51 PM
Cambridge Chronicle

Late Night MBTA Services In Boston For Young Invading Population

Discontinued Due To Cost And Low Ridership

Councilor Devereaux believes the population of Boston? Cambridge? is getting younger. The Boston area including Cambridge was dominated by students, usually young people, for a teeny tiny number of years. Politicians are getting older. Does that have anything to do with the low voter turnout? Devereux suggested spending taxpayer money to convince corporations to subsidize late night MBTA service. Why doesn't she do it and not spend money? She appears comfortable with the elected criminal class (Noam Chomsky's term) explaining that $14 million is a small amount. Best suggestion of the evening was to raise fares, to increase ridership? Why didn't MBTA managers think of that?



[From article]
City Councilor Jan Devereux, who participated the discussion, noted that the young crowd was not typical of public meetings, and was indicative of the region’s changing demographics.
“We have a young population, and we’re getting younger. The jobs we’re creating are attracting a younger work force, so I anticipate the demand for late-night service will increase,” she said.
[. . .]
Devereux proposed the MBTA hire a marketing consultant to gain interest from corporate sponsors, and said $14 million is small compared to the profits of bio-techs and other large employers.
[. . .]
The MBTA hasn’t done enough to talk about this issue, and there’s a lot more people who need to hear about it,” [Jonathan] Alves said.
[. . .]
Some meeting-goers suggested raising the rate of monthly T passes, which are “dirt cheap” in comparison to New York City or Washington, DC.

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20160124/residents-speak-out-in-support-of-late-night-t-service/?Start=1

Residents speak out in support of late-night T service
By Natalie Handy
nhandy (at) wickedlocal.com
Posted Jan. 24, 2016 at 9:48 PM
Updated at 10:01 PM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle

Picking Up The Pieces Of Boston Families

[From article]
The organization is emphasizing 5 basic strategies to help parents better engage with their kids:
• Maximize love and manage stress — Toddlers need to feel secure in order to have the confidence to explore the world; parents need to provide patience and cuddle them.
•  Talk, sing and point — Be sure to have conversations with your kids as you walk through a neighborhood. Talk about your surroundings.
•  Count, group and compare — Math begins way before school starts. Toddlers can learn distances, sizes, numbers and patterns with simple activities at home.
• Explore through movement and play — Kids learn by touching, banging, crawling and so on. Help them explore their surroundings.
•   Read and discuss stories — The more you read to your children, the better prepared they will be to read at school. Ask them questions while you are reading to help get them engaged.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/jaclyn_cashman/2016/01/cashman_city_nonprofit_step_up_to_help_community_learn_basics

Cashman: City, nonprofit step up to help community learn ‘Basics’
Jaclyn Cashman

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Mass Bay Transportation Authority Hearings

Harvard University could invite what are called "members of the community" (Ew!), to share the HU shuttle van services, which run very late night as if they are ride-sharing taxis. HU could charge some chump change to ride along. MBTA (once known as Mr. Bulger's Transportation Authority) could keep paying remarkable pensions to their retirees and maintain their large taxpayer funded budget. Spending Other People's Money Society rules the Commonwealth. Donald Trump where are you?



http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/1/21/residents-criticize-MBTA-proposals/

Local Residents Criticize Potential MBTA Cuts
By JOSHUA J. FLORENCE and MIA C. KARR,

Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
January 21, 2016

Ronald Reagan Remembered, GE Moves To Boston

Ronald Reagan Spokesman For GE

1-8-07
The GE Years: What Made Reagan Reagan
by Thomas W. Evans
The Education of Ronald Reagan: The General Electric Years and the Untold Story of his Conversion to Conservatism,

Ronald Reagan :"served as host of the General Electric Theater on television. His contract also called for him to spend a quarter of his eight years (1954-1962) with the company touring the forty states and 139 plants of GE’s far-flung decentralized corporate domain, addressing 250,000 employees and their neighbors.

[From article]
General Electric Co. announced on Wednesday that it will be moving its headquarters from Fairfield, Conn., to Boston, starting this summer.
[. . .]
GE has been based on a 68-acre suburban campus in Fairfield since 1974. Its new home will be built in Boston's Seaport District, with the full move to be completed by 2018.
The $130 billion global industrial giant said it has been weighing a headquarters move for more than three years. That search may have become more urgent after a 2015 state budget raised taxes on corporations.
[. . .]
Although the tax breaks are generous, they were not the key reasons for GE's choice of Boston.
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said the company was looking for "an ecosystem that shares our aspirations. Greater Boston is home to 55 colleges and universities. Massachusetts spends more on research & development than any other region in the world, and Boston attracts a diverse, technologically fluent workforce."
GE also said Boston offered "connections with the world." That can be read as: Logan International Airport. Unlike Fairfield, Boston offers nonstop flights to London, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo, Santiago and many other global destinations.
New York officials had hoped to attract GE, but the company said it not only is pulling out of Connecticut but will be selling its offices at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan.
[. . .]
Boston's advantages showed up in another way on Wednesday. The Federal Reserve gave it a pat on the back in its Beige Book, an eight-times-a-year report on growth.
The Beige Book described Boston's economic activity as "upbeat."
Fed researchers concluded that while the New York and Kansas City regions were essentially flat, other parts of the country were reporting growth and Boston was particularly healthy.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/13/462960233/ge-brings-things-to-life-in-boston-lights-out-in-connecticut

GE Brings Things To Life In Boston; Lights Out In Connecticut
Updated January 13, 20167:00 PM ET
Published January 13, 20165:34 PM ET






MARILYN GEEWAX

Man Shot To Death In East Boston

[From article]

Boston police say a man was shot to death early this morning in East Boston.
The victim, who police said has not been identified, was located on Falcon Street shortly after 1:35 a.m. "suffering from apparent gunshot wounds."

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/01/man_found_shot_to_death_in_eastie

Man found shot to death in Eastie
Laurel J. Sweet

Sunday, January 10, 2016
Boston Herald

Body Found In Charles River, Boston

[From article]
MA State Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney's office are investigating a body pulled from the Charles River this morning.
An initial report came in around 10 a.m. of a body in the water near the Fiedler Footbridge. state police said. The state police marine unit responded.
Jake Wark, a spokesman for the district attorney, said the body appears to be that of an adult male. No further identifying information was immediately available.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2015/12/mans_body_found_in_the_charles

Man's body found in the Charles
Jack Encarnacao
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Boston Herald

Boston, MA Policeman Attacked, Suspect Arrested

Screen grab from video embedded

[From article]

The officer was situated in a tactical cruiser when a man walking on Congress Street crossed in front of the cruiser and went up to the driver’s side window saying, “You heard about the war, right?” Without warning, police said the man began to strike the officer in the face with his fist.
The officer fought back with strikes of his own while attempting to radio for assistance. The man fled on foot into the garage where back-up units found him scaling a fence. Officers struggled to apprehend the man, who was yelling “You are all doomed, and you’re going to die. They told me to do this.”
Eventually, police were able to take Andrew Bowman, 23, of Everett into custody and charged him with assault and battery on a police officer causing injury, disorderly person, trespassing and resisting arrest.
“It’s disheartening that these are the dangers officers have to face and be for on a daily basis,” said Police Commissioner William Evans. “This officer displayed incredible restraint, defending himself without the use of a baton, pepper spray, or deadly force, even though the situation may have warranted it.”

http://www.wcvb.com/news/man-arrested-in-new-years-day-attack-on-boston-police-officer/37236486

Man arrested in New Year's Day attack on Boston police officer
No deadly force used by police
UPDATED 11:26 PM EST Jan 02, 2016

Harvard University Expands Without Limit

As Harvard University grows so does its bureaucracy. Its own KSG reported on inane events resulting from large bureaucracies, which require rules for all workers. Essays on tyranny of bureaucracy explain what administrators with chronic edifice complexes are bringing to Boston.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/12/22/allston-harvard-rights-transferred/

After Land Rights Deal, Harvard Continues Allston Expansion
By JONAH S. LEFKOE and HANNAH NATANSON,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
December 22, 2015