The Voices Project

Upset T Rider

After being in Massachusetts for six months, I have found that the bus system here sucks. I know the word “sucks” seems a bit juvenile, but it best describes how I felt this morning. I stood there this morning looking dumbfounded. After waiting for the bus for 20 min and walking around a pile of snow that stood at least 5” tall in front of the bus stop; me, eight months pregnant, and an older man with a cane, looked at each other, astonished by the fact that the bus would actually roll on by without stopping.

The buses are crowed. There are hardly any seats available for the elderly, handicapped, disabled, or pregnant people. There is also hardly any room for carriages. The buses are usually late. In front of the bus stops, the snow is piled up. If the bus driver does not feel like stopping he/she will not, further more the buses do not run often enough.

Why am I complaining, you ask? I am a single mom of two with one on the way. I rely on the bus everyday to get me to and from appointments, the grocery store, and my career development class. The bus is my basic means of transportation.

I know that I am not the only one frustrated with the way public transportation operates in Massachusetts. Everyday you hear complaints from people riding the T. We need to do more than complain, curse, or fuss to the air. It is our duty to attend the public meetings given by the MBTA. There we can voice our opinion, and actually be heard. We can also contact Bernard Cohen, the Secretary of Transportation, or Daniel Grabauskas, the General Manager of the MBTA. In addition, if these actions are not enough we can take our issues to Mayor Thomas M. Menino. It is our responsibility as T riders to make sure that the T is comfortable, assessable, and affordable.

Sincerely,
Troubled T Rider 

Let’s talk about snow!

Since last week, Boston has had 19-inches of snow with two storms combined. Now we have huge piles of snow banks to deal with. During the first snow, Governor Patrick declared a snow emergency that allowed for some sort of clean up effort. With the Sunday Nor’easter, three days after the first storm, the Governor did not deem necessary to do the same. As a result, parked cars were plowed in on some streets.

Consequently, we now have to deal with extremely narrow streets. On top of this inconvenience, there are a lot of sidewalks that haven’t been cleared properly to accommodate pedestrians, especially women with young children and baby strollers. Those sidewalks have been shoveled just wide enough to allow one person to walk in a straight line. And then there is the problem of icy walkways. Thus, some of us are forced to walk on the road which causes a safety hazard.

In local forecasts, temperatures are will not warm enough to make any significant change. Since we cannot rely on Mother Nature to help us melt all this snow anytime soon, I firmly believe that the city of Boston should put in place some effort to remedy the situation like progressively trucking out some of this snow and plowing more of the leftover snow on the roadways and bus stops.

- Helene

Proper Recycling: Small Changes, Big Impact

If every community in our city and around the world should get on board and learn how to proper recycle and take the time to do it. I believe that every neighborhood should be in evolved. Unfortunately, some residents do not know how to recycle property or just don't care. Our city has an excellent recycling program that provides our community with a number of recycling bins for plastic, glass, paper, and cans.

It was agreed that lack of non-participation may be due lack of residents not having information and education about how these services work and what it includes. Many of us had no idea that the city would accept an array of recycling items, for example, scheduled locations to drop off hazardous waste.

If every town, city, and state does their part in recycling it will be good for the planet and good for their community. If you get in the habit of recycling and it becomes part of your or our routine, you will think nothing of it. It really plays important part of our community.

Recycling is good for our environment.

- Contributed by an Anonymous guest author

Open Air: thoughts about homelessness

I just left home with nowhere to go or call my own house. I am not happy. I ask my mother, sister, and brothers “Can I live at your house?” I am someone, and I often hear “No, you’re not.” Thank God for my inner strength which helps me overcome my inner barriers. Thank God, I LOVE THE WORLD!

More access to quality counseling would have cleared the path to more healing. I think there should be more health services for homeless people and the elderly. For example, more trained case mangers, more shelters, and more educational programs are needed to provide consistent services.

Ms. D

Communities coming together to stop city violence

I am Kennekca, a member of the Dorchester community, and I have a lot of major concerns in my community. For example, I think there should be more programs for the youth to go other than the streets. I also think some parents should not let there children run all over them. They should stand up and let them know who the parent is.

I also want to say we need more communities coming together for meetings and we should go to different neighborhoods to talk to youth and parents about these issues. We should come together as one to help our city become a better place to live in. I grew up in Boston and the city was never this corrupt. I used to go out and never have to worry about if I am going to hear a gunshot. My small children have to grow up here and many people don’t understand this violence has effects on children and others in the communities.

This message is coming from the heart, so I hope whoever reads this blog understands what I am talking about. Stop the violence and come together as one and we will make it through with GOD’s help and yours.

Love always,
Kennekca

Domestic Violence in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, a woman is murdered every 9 days as a result of domestic violence. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. A study conducted by Jane Doe, Inc. found that there have been approximately 27 incidents of domestic violence related homicides in Massachusetts from January to August 2007, 17 of which were female victims and 3 were children. Although domestic violence can affect men as well, women are 5 to 8 times more likely to be the victim of domestic violence than men.

Jane Doe, Inc. has expanded the definition of domestic violence to include violence perpetrated against a current or former intimate or dating partner, violence against teens or adults who have a child with the perpetrator, violence within a relationship based on power and control or jealousy, violence perpetrated against any family member and any violence perpetrated against an innocent bystander trying to help a victim.

Who’s at Risk?
Two of the most likely targets of domestic abuse and violence in the last ten to fifteen years are pregnant women and new mothers. A total of 1,367 pregnant women and new mothers have been killed since 1990 across the country. In a study of 724 adolescent mothers between the ages of 12-18, one of every eight pregnant adolescents reported having been physically assaulted by the father of her baby during the preceding 12 months. Of these, 40 percent also reported experiencing violence at the hands of a family member or relative. Domestic violence affects women of any age and teens are no exception. Dating violence is one of the most common forms of domestic violence. Approximately one in five female public high school students in Massachusetts reported to have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from dating partners. Minority women have a higher risk of being a victim of violence, particularly sexual violence, compared to white women. Studies have shown that economic and social factors can significantly effect how women internalize violent incidents and their ability to seek help.

Now What?
Between 2002 and 2003 over 3,900 women and their families sought shelter and support as the result of domestic violence. Many battered women become homeless if and when they find the courage to leave their abuser or if they have been kicked out by their abuser. Ninety-two percent of homeless women have experienced severe physical and/or sexual assault at some point in their lives. In a 1998 study, 22 percent of 777 individuals surveyed stated that they had fled their home because of domestic violence. Victims and survivors of domestic violence have trouble finding apartments because they may have poor credit, rental, and employment histories as a result of their abuse. Requests for emergency shelter by homeless families with children continue to increase in the U.S. each year.

The Crittenton Women’s Union Horizons program was the first of its kind in New England to provide housing and support for battered women and their children. There are now 18 units of space available to women and their families escaping abuse. Horizons can only do so much and there are so many more women suffering from abuse in Massachusetts that need help. There need to be even more programs like Horizons, not only to provide a safe haven for these women, but also to help them realize their independence and potential and create a life for themselves and their families. But first and foremost, women need to realize and understand the risks posed to them and need to be aware of the prevalence of domestic violence. We need to learn how to protect ourselves and where to get help if necessary. Awareness is so important, not to create fear, but to empower women to be prepared and capable to make a change for themselves and their families.

Alicia Stokes
Advocacy Intern, CWU