By Patrick McGroarty
News Editor

Gov. Deval Patrick said last Thursday that improvements to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line were a priority for his administration, even after an independent Transportation Finance Commission report concluded last week that transportation infrastructure across the state would require billions of dollars in improvements to maintain current service levels and to grow the state's economy.

Speaking to the Reporter as he left a fundraiser for At-large city Councillor Sam Yoon at the Chau Chow restaurant on Morrissey Boulevard, Patrick pointed out that the Fairmount project was one of four transportation projects that will receive an injection of funds from the $1.47 billion immediate needs bond bill he signed two weeks ago.

"There is money in the bond bill for the Farimount project, and the bond bill reflects our priorities," said Patrick. "We need more investment in transportation in many areas, in upgrades, in new service. To strengthen our economy, develop new industry, and attract new investment, we are going to have to make those improvements."

Earlier, during his brief remarks to a crowd of hundreds that had packed the restaurant's dining room, Patrick addressed the issue of violent crime that has brought a media spotlight to Dorchester in the past week. Patrick echoed comments he made earlier in the week at a meeting of the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties, saying that in addition to a diverse network of social programming and effective police work, a greater commitment from adult residents in affected neighborhoods could help turn the tide on violent crime.

"If you want real solutions to crime show up, come and get it," he said. "We need adults acting like they have a stake in each other's children, not just their own. It works. If we do that, we all win."

Yoon told the crowd that he had chosen Chau Chow rather than a venue in Chinatown, where he has a strong support base and has held many campaign events in the past, because it Dorchester his home neighborhood.

"I decided that I'd like people to come visit Dorchester, where we have the largest Vietnamese community in New England right here in my neighborhood," he said.

The fundraiser also featured an appearance by U.S. Representative Michael Honda (D-California) and several of Yoon's council colleagues: Council President Maureen Feeney, as well as councillors Sal LaMattina and Steve Murphy. Mattapan state Rep. Willie Mae Allen also attended the event.