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Editorial Points for This Week

March 8, 2007

The real voices of Codman Square

This newspaper reported last week about a new grass-roots initiative that is being organized in the Codman Square neighborhood. On Feb. 24, some 70 residents from in and around the square gathered together at the Dot Y to network, to engage in discussions of issues, and to look for solutions to problems that are common to urban communities here and elsewhere.

The event was called "The Codman Square Connection," and it's a project coordinated by a 21 year-old Boston College senior. The organizer, Cynthia Loesch, is a lifelong resident of Codman Square, and a member of a family that had for years devoted itself to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

"It's the first time so many groups have come together in this way," she said. "They made the connection today."

Also unveiled that day was a new website, codmansquare.org, designed as a way to keep neighbors informed and connected about their common interests. On a blog hosted at the site, reaction to the new effort was enthusiastic:"What a great web-site," said activist Liz McNeil. "This has been needed for a long time. Thank you for making it possible."

Another responder, Marianne McLaughlin, said, "Thanks for creating this web site and for hosting/facilitating a terrific event&endash;the beginning of a new day/new way to connect.

Congrats! Keep up the great work!"

Mt. Washington Bank vice president Jim Morgan said, "Great meeting on Saturday! As a community bank, this kind of civic action and communication is a sign of the type of energy we like to see when entering a new market. The spirit of cooperation and community I witnessed on Saturday further strengthens my opinion about what a great business decision Codman Square is for Mt. Washington Bank.

We will get some announcements posted here soon about upcoming events and milestones related to the branch construction project.

Having a site like this should be a great tool for our fellow merchants."

Susan Bowen wrote, "I live near the Fairmount Street area in Dorchester. I love Codman Square! The people are friendly and outgoing. It is unfortunate that some people continuously rate neighborhoods as 'violent'… I would imagine that there is crime here in the Codman area but I feel the rate of crime etc. is blown out of proportion. This is after all a city and crimes of all kinds do occur from time to time."

To see such a diverse group of persons -- from a variety of faiths, skin color, age groups, and ethnicity -- come out for in support of the Codman Square area is an encouraging sign of vitality for the future of that neighborhood. Those who attended this first Codman Square Connection -- people who live and work in the area -- are the legitimate constituents who deserve to be heard and responded to by government agencies.This initiative is no grandstand, self-aggrandizing play for attention by some self-anointed individual posing as a community leader. Cynthia Loesch and her family have a history of standing up for what's right in the neighborhood, and this new effort deserves the support of all concerned residents.

-- Ed Forry

 

 

 

 

 

 

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