By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 28th, 2009
BOSTON - A psychiatric patient was shot dead by an off-duty security guard after stabbing his doctor at a Massachusetts General Hospital facility Tuesday afternoon, police said, marking the third attack in a Boston hospital since last Thursday.
Boston Police Department spokesman Sgt. Eddy Crispin said police identified Jay Carciero, 37, of Reading as the attacker. The stabbing victim is in stable condition and is expected to live, Crispin said.
The stabbing occurred around 2 p.m. at 50 Staniford Street in Boston, an office building where the hospital’s Bipolar Clinic and Research Program is located.
“What we know at this point is that apparently the suspect was stabbing a medical doctor who was working at the building,” Crispin said. “The security guard ordered the patient to drop his knife, he didn’t, and the security guard shot him.”
BPD has not released the names of the doctor and the security guard. However, a relative of the doctor told The Boston Globe the victim was Dr. Astrid Desrosiers, a MGH psychiatrist who worked at the center.
Crispin said the case is still under investigation. The attacker’s motivation remains unclear, he said.
This was the second attack at the MGH in a week. A 27-year-old female worker was assaulted inside a restroom by a homeless man Thursday afternoon, according to an Oct. 27 article in The Boston Globe. David Flavell, 40, a repeat sex offender, was identified as the attacker and ordered Tuesday to go through a mental competency evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital, the Globe reported.
A 38-year-old man was also badly hurt in a stabbing Sunday at Boston Medical Center, officials said. The victim, whose name has not been released, was stabbed in the neck. His attacker is still at large.
(Daily Free Press staff Jenny Roche contributed to the reporting of this article)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Extremists more likely to be vocal, study finds
By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 28th, 2009
BOSTON - People with extreme views tend to be more expressive about their opinions than those with moderate views, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology July issue and featured in an Oct. 21 Science Daily article.
Stanford University psychology professor Dale Miller and Ohio State University communication professor Kimberly Rios Morrison conducted the study based on Stanford undergraduate attitudes towards campus alcohol policies.
“The purpose of the studies was to see whether group members whose opinions differ from the majority in one direction are more comfortable expressing their opinions than group members whose opinions differ from the majority in the opposite direction,” Morrison said in an email.
The study found that some extremists are more expressive because they falsely believe there are more people agreeing with their views than there actually are.
“In our studies, we found that the ‘extremely pro-alcohol’ students were the most likely to falsely believe they are in the majority,” she said. “These students differ from the majority group opinion in the direction of the Stanford student stereotype, which is to be slightly or moderately pro-alcohol.”
Morrison said the research focuses on alcohol-related policies because they are salient in the lives of college students.
One of the factors to consider about extremists’ potentially false perceptions is the extent to which they personally identify with the situation in question, she said. For example, Stanford students who considered Stanford important to them are particularly sensitive to perceptions of others’ views in deciding whether to speak up.
“[T]hese individuals are most motivated to express opinions that make them fit in with their peers,” she said. “This also suggests that perhaps strong Stanford identifiers are motivated to believe their opinions are widely held in the first place.”
This study may have potential implications about people who share their political opinions, Morrison said. For example, people with more extreme liberal views are more likely to display political paraphernalia or attend protests because they think the majority of their community supports them.
“Expressing opinions to one’s peers, putting a bumper sticker on one’s car, organizing a political rally, and even posting on a blog are all forms of opinion expression that may be most prevalent among those whose extreme opinions are consistent with the group stereotype,” Morrison said.
BU political science professor Timothy Longman said U.S. politics generally tends to favor the middle ground.
He compared the U.S. to Europe, where he said a wide range of political parties allow a much wider expression of diverse opinions, and said the minority nature of extremists in the U.S. may make them more vocal.
“It may be that the lack of productive outlets for their views in the political system drives some people in the U.S. to become more harsh in expressing their opinions,” he said.
BU sociology professor John Stone said there is a barrier of expression between more vocal extremists and less vocal moderates.
“Perception and reality are often far removed, particularly for small groups holding atypical views,” he said. “Extremists talk to extremists. Moderates talk to moderates.”
Many students said they agree with the study’s suggestions.
“I’ve come across people with really radical views,” College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Emma Kuebler said. “If you say something slightly different, they get pretty upset.”
She said public opinion on President Barack Obama is a good example.
“That’s the most extreme case I’ve seen,” she said. “People are either very pro-Obama or against him.”
CAS sophomore Joe Reytan also said he agrees with the study.
“People who are very into their views generally think their views are right,” he said.
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 28th, 2009
BOSTON - People with extreme views tend to be more expressive about their opinions than those with moderate views, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology July issue and featured in an Oct. 21 Science Daily article.
Stanford University psychology professor Dale Miller and Ohio State University communication professor Kimberly Rios Morrison conducted the study based on Stanford undergraduate attitudes towards campus alcohol policies.
“The purpose of the studies was to see whether group members whose opinions differ from the majority in one direction are more comfortable expressing their opinions than group members whose opinions differ from the majority in the opposite direction,” Morrison said in an email.
The study found that some extremists are more expressive because they falsely believe there are more people agreeing with their views than there actually are.
“In our studies, we found that the ‘extremely pro-alcohol’ students were the most likely to falsely believe they are in the majority,” she said. “These students differ from the majority group opinion in the direction of the Stanford student stereotype, which is to be slightly or moderately pro-alcohol.”
Morrison said the research focuses on alcohol-related policies because they are salient in the lives of college students.
One of the factors to consider about extremists’ potentially false perceptions is the extent to which they personally identify with the situation in question, she said. For example, Stanford students who considered Stanford important to them are particularly sensitive to perceptions of others’ views in deciding whether to speak up.
“[T]hese individuals are most motivated to express opinions that make them fit in with their peers,” she said. “This also suggests that perhaps strong Stanford identifiers are motivated to believe their opinions are widely held in the first place.”
This study may have potential implications about people who share their political opinions, Morrison said. For example, people with more extreme liberal views are more likely to display political paraphernalia or attend protests because they think the majority of their community supports them.
“Expressing opinions to one’s peers, putting a bumper sticker on one’s car, organizing a political rally, and even posting on a blog are all forms of opinion expression that may be most prevalent among those whose extreme opinions are consistent with the group stereotype,” Morrison said.
BU political science professor Timothy Longman said U.S. politics generally tends to favor the middle ground.
He compared the U.S. to Europe, where he said a wide range of political parties allow a much wider expression of diverse opinions, and said the minority nature of extremists in the U.S. may make them more vocal.
“It may be that the lack of productive outlets for their views in the political system drives some people in the U.S. to become more harsh in expressing their opinions,” he said.
BU sociology professor John Stone said there is a barrier of expression between more vocal extremists and less vocal moderates.
“Perception and reality are often far removed, particularly for small groups holding atypical views,” he said. “Extremists talk to extremists. Moderates talk to moderates.”
Many students said they agree with the study’s suggestions.
“I’ve come across people with really radical views,” College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Emma Kuebler said. “If you say something slightly different, they get pretty upset.”
She said public opinion on President Barack Obama is a good example.
“That’s the most extreme case I’ve seen,” she said. “People are either very pro-Obama or against him.”
CAS sophomore Joe Reytan also said he agrees with the study.
“People who are very into their views generally think their views are right,” he said.
T cameras aid in crime prevention, officials say
By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 27th, 2009
BOSTON - Surveillance cameras have dramatically enhanced security and helped crime investigation in T stations and buses and will soon have a trial run on Green Line trains, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials said.
Cameras have helped identify more than 230 instances of criminal activity or incidents, Transit Police Deputy Chief Lewis Best said.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email that the MBTA has more than 1,000 surveillance cameras in the subway system and on buses.
“The mere presence of cameras is a deterrent to anyone who is even contemplating a criminal act,” he said. “Cameras also allow MBTA personnel and Transit Police to monitor the subway stations and tunnels 24 hours a day.”
Currently, more than 300 MBTA buses are equipped with eight cameras each, Best said. More than 700 cameras are also installed in subway stations on the Red Line and Orange Line for security and operational needs.
“The camera system is one effective layer of security in our overall mission to safeguard the transit system,” Best said. “It’s a great investigative tool for the Transit Police, and also helps us as a preventive measure.”
A bus surveillance camera captured a head-on collision between the bus and a car that drifted across the median line in Holbrook Wednesday. The video was posted on the MBTA’s website Thursday.
Station and bus cameras have also helped identify suspects for crimes committed in the system. Last Wednesday, police arrested five suspects allegedly involved in a fight last month on the 28 bus from Mattapan Station to Ruggles Station.
The test cameras on Green Line trains, announced Saturday, are part of an MBTA safety initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Best said.
“It’s part of the MBTA Pilot Program, a test for us to see if this technology works,” he said. “It also goes along with our ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign, asking the riders to report criminal activities.”
Pesaturo said vigilant staff and police, new technologies and upgraded security facility will ensure security in T stations in case of emergencies.
“The T is constantly developing new methods and procedures designed to enhance safety and security,” he said. “MBTA personnel and Transit Police have trained with local police and rescue personnel to be prepared with an appropriate response for any type of emergency.”
Simmons College junior Cara Shiraka, who rides the T daily, said she doesn’t believe the T can handle emergencies well.
“I fainted on the T once, and there were no personnel to help me,” she said. “There are so many cars and you never know what’s going on.”
She said installing cameras may increase security on the T.
“It’s probably a positive thing if they can keep an eye on the trains,” she said.
Many Boston University students said although they are not conscious of the security system in the T, they try to stay cautious while riding.
College of Fine Arts junior Jaki Doyka said she feels secure on the T.
“The T stops running at 12:30 [p.m.], which is a big inconvenience, but I think it also eliminates after-hour criminal activities,” she said.
College of Communication junior Melanie Prescott, a Los Angeles native, said the T is more accessible than the subway in LA and she feels safe on the T during the day.
“I’m always a little paranoid and aware of my surroundings, but I feel fine taking the T during the day,” she said. “I don’t enjoy taking the T at night, but I take it when I have to.”
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 27th, 2009
BOSTON - Surveillance cameras have dramatically enhanced security and helped crime investigation in T stations and buses and will soon have a trial run on Green Line trains, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials said.
Cameras have helped identify more than 230 instances of criminal activity or incidents, Transit Police Deputy Chief Lewis Best said.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email that the MBTA has more than 1,000 surveillance cameras in the subway system and on buses.
“The mere presence of cameras is a deterrent to anyone who is even contemplating a criminal act,” he said. “Cameras also allow MBTA personnel and Transit Police to monitor the subway stations and tunnels 24 hours a day.”
Currently, more than 300 MBTA buses are equipped with eight cameras each, Best said. More than 700 cameras are also installed in subway stations on the Red Line and Orange Line for security and operational needs.
“The camera system is one effective layer of security in our overall mission to safeguard the transit system,” Best said. “It’s a great investigative tool for the Transit Police, and also helps us as a preventive measure.”
A bus surveillance camera captured a head-on collision between the bus and a car that drifted across the median line in Holbrook Wednesday. The video was posted on the MBTA’s website Thursday.
Station and bus cameras have also helped identify suspects for crimes committed in the system. Last Wednesday, police arrested five suspects allegedly involved in a fight last month on the 28 bus from Mattapan Station to Ruggles Station.
The test cameras on Green Line trains, announced Saturday, are part of an MBTA safety initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Best said.
“It’s part of the MBTA Pilot Program, a test for us to see if this technology works,” he said. “It also goes along with our ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign, asking the riders to report criminal activities.”
Pesaturo said vigilant staff and police, new technologies and upgraded security facility will ensure security in T stations in case of emergencies.
“The T is constantly developing new methods and procedures designed to enhance safety and security,” he said. “MBTA personnel and Transit Police have trained with local police and rescue personnel to be prepared with an appropriate response for any type of emergency.”
Simmons College junior Cara Shiraka, who rides the T daily, said she doesn’t believe the T can handle emergencies well.
“I fainted on the T once, and there were no personnel to help me,” she said. “There are so many cars and you never know what’s going on.”
She said installing cameras may increase security on the T.
“It’s probably a positive thing if they can keep an eye on the trains,” she said.
Many Boston University students said although they are not conscious of the security system in the T, they try to stay cautious while riding.
College of Fine Arts junior Jaki Doyka said she feels secure on the T.
“The T stops running at 12:30 [p.m.], which is a big inconvenience, but I think it also eliminates after-hour criminal activities,” she said.
College of Communication junior Melanie Prescott, a Los Angeles native, said the T is more accessible than the subway in LA and she feels safe on the T during the day.
“I’m always a little paranoid and aware of my surroundings, but I feel fine taking the T during the day,” she said. “I don’t enjoy taking the T at night, but I take it when I have to.”
City encourages caution despite H1N1 preparations
By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 27th, 2009
BOSTON - The City of Boston is well prepared to deal with H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu this fall, but people should be more cautious and informed about ways to prevent flu, city public health officials said Monday.
Representatives from Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Public Schools spoke about the precautions the city is taking regarding H1N1 influenza at a hearing at Freedom House in Dorchester. City Councilor-At-Large John Connolly and City Councilor Charles Yancey of the Committee on Environment and Health and City Councilor Chuck Turner held the hearing.
“We must take this very seriously,” Yancey said. “Far too many people in the city are not taking this seriously.”
Barbara Ferrer, executive director of BPHC, said approximately 23,000 people have been infected with flu since the spring, and there have been five deaths from H1N1 out of 450 confirmed cases reported in the city of Boston.
Swine flu, as opposed to seasonal flu, has a tendency to strike in young people, she said.
“This is different from the patterns we usually see in seasonal flu,” she said. “For other flu, the ill and hospitalized are elderly. We see a lot of [sick] people that are younger.”
In Boston, an estimated 11 percent of all adolescents contracted swine flu in the spring, Ferrer said. Children younger than 18 years old made up 64 percent of flu victims in the city.
“Schools are particularly hard hit,” she said. “We closed 20 schools in the city because they weren’t able to operate safely.”
The pandemic also appears to have a bigger impact on Hispanics and blacks, Ferrer said. Thirty-seven percent of all swine flu cases occurred in black people, although black people comprise only about 26 percent of Boston’s total population. One-third of all confirmed cases were seen in the Latino population.
Overall, almost three-fourths of people hospitalized for the virus in Boston have been either black or Hispanic, Ferrer said.
“In Boston, people who did end up being hospitalized, 50 had asthma, and residents of color are more likely to have asthma,” she said.
She said although the flu has become more prevalent with fall, the City of Boston has thorough measures in place to handle any outbreak.
“We are very well prepared for that,” she said. “We have been working for years, actually, on plans about what to do if there was an overwhelming number of people who needed to seek care at the same time.”
Boston school officials said school policies have also changed, as fewer than half as many people are now seeking treatment as in spring.
“Schools are encouraged to go about the business of education,” said Carolyn Riley, senior director of Special Education for BPS. “School closings are not recommended.”
To prevent flu, Ferrer encouraged people to wash hands frequently, cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing and try to avoid close contact with others if possible, such as shaking hands and hugging.
“It’s good to modify these activities when we are facing an outbreak,” she said.
Director of the Infectious Disease Bureau Anita Barry offered advice for college students in an interview before the hearing. She said although the H1N1 vaccine currently isn’t largely available, students should seek it out as soon as it is.
“The vaccine is slowly becoming available,” she said. “We expect there’ll be a larger amount [of vaccine production] sometime towards the end of November. But it’s important to remember that we recommend flu vaccination up until April.”
Barry also said students should be careful when going to parties, where personal space is limited and people tend to share cups.
“You need to make it some kind of a trend that everyone uses their own cups,” she said. “And if you aren’t feeling well, stay away from parties.”
Harvard University freshman Ben Blatt, one of the few civilian attendees at the hearing, said he’s not too worried about the flu.
“I haven’t gotten the flu shot or anything, although they offered it,” he said. “I’m not that terribly concerned.”
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 27th, 2009
BOSTON - The City of Boston is well prepared to deal with H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu this fall, but people should be more cautious and informed about ways to prevent flu, city public health officials said Monday.
Representatives from Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Public Schools spoke about the precautions the city is taking regarding H1N1 influenza at a hearing at Freedom House in Dorchester. City Councilor-At-Large John Connolly and City Councilor Charles Yancey of the Committee on Environment and Health and City Councilor Chuck Turner held the hearing.
“We must take this very seriously,” Yancey said. “Far too many people in the city are not taking this seriously.”
Barbara Ferrer, executive director of BPHC, said approximately 23,000 people have been infected with flu since the spring, and there have been five deaths from H1N1 out of 450 confirmed cases reported in the city of Boston.
Swine flu, as opposed to seasonal flu, has a tendency to strike in young people, she said.
“This is different from the patterns we usually see in seasonal flu,” she said. “For other flu, the ill and hospitalized are elderly. We see a lot of [sick] people that are younger.”
In Boston, an estimated 11 percent of all adolescents contracted swine flu in the spring, Ferrer said. Children younger than 18 years old made up 64 percent of flu victims in the city.
“Schools are particularly hard hit,” she said. “We closed 20 schools in the city because they weren’t able to operate safely.”
The pandemic also appears to have a bigger impact on Hispanics and blacks, Ferrer said. Thirty-seven percent of all swine flu cases occurred in black people, although black people comprise only about 26 percent of Boston’s total population. One-third of all confirmed cases were seen in the Latino population.
Overall, almost three-fourths of people hospitalized for the virus in Boston have been either black or Hispanic, Ferrer said.
“In Boston, people who did end up being hospitalized, 50 had asthma, and residents of color are more likely to have asthma,” she said.
She said although the flu has become more prevalent with fall, the City of Boston has thorough measures in place to handle any outbreak.
“We are very well prepared for that,” she said. “We have been working for years, actually, on plans about what to do if there was an overwhelming number of people who needed to seek care at the same time.”
Boston school officials said school policies have also changed, as fewer than half as many people are now seeking treatment as in spring.
“Schools are encouraged to go about the business of education,” said Carolyn Riley, senior director of Special Education for BPS. “School closings are not recommended.”
To prevent flu, Ferrer encouraged people to wash hands frequently, cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing and try to avoid close contact with others if possible, such as shaking hands and hugging.
“It’s good to modify these activities when we are facing an outbreak,” she said.
Director of the Infectious Disease Bureau Anita Barry offered advice for college students in an interview before the hearing. She said although the H1N1 vaccine currently isn’t largely available, students should seek it out as soon as it is.
“The vaccine is slowly becoming available,” she said. “We expect there’ll be a larger amount [of vaccine production] sometime towards the end of November. But it’s important to remember that we recommend flu vaccination up until April.”
Barry also said students should be careful when going to parties, where personal space is limited and people tend to share cups.
“You need to make it some kind of a trend that everyone uses their own cups,” she said. “And if you aren’t feeling well, stay away from parties.”
Harvard University freshman Ben Blatt, one of the few civilian attendees at the hearing, said he’s not too worried about the flu.
“I haven’t gotten the flu shot or anything, although they offered it,” he said. “I’m not that terribly concerned.”
Monday, October 26, 2009
City grapples with public safety resources
By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 13th, 2009
BOSTON - The City of Boston should raise more funding for public safety, promote crime education and get community members more involved to ensure a safer city, Boston city officials said, though statistics show crime is decreasing.
According to the Boston Police Department, most types of crimes such as homicides, robberies and thefts have been decreasing since last year, except for a slight increase in number of rapes and attempted rapes.
While public safety issues remain a concern, Boston’s long-term crime rates are decreasing overall, Nick Martin, the campaign spokesman for incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino, said in an email.
“The Mayor has been both a local and a national leader in his work to create safer communities,” he said.
He credited Menino’s public safety initiatives with the crime reduction in the city. Menino started the Violence Intervention and Prevention program and Safe Street Team initiative to tackle areas with prevalent violent crime.
“His emphasis on community policing - the idea that the same officers patrol the same beat in order to build successful relationships with the community - is a nationally recognized model,” he said.
Despite improvements in public safety in the city, domestic violence and sexual assault still remain a common issue in Boston and the state, Toni Troop, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Coalition against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, said in an email.
“While we’ve made progress in raising awareness and changing the norms around sexual assault and domestic violence, these crimes still occur at unacceptable rates in all communities throughout the state,” she said. “Students are not immune either.”
This year has had particular challenges due to the economic crisis, she said.
“A bad economy doesn’t create new batterers or cause sexual assault, but it does create new and greater dangers for victims,” Troop said. “We have seen our members facing a greater demand for services and fewer resources, straining advocates and the network of programs.”
Although BPD was not available at press time to provide specific statistics, the Boston Indicators Project suggests that gang activity in Boston is increasing. The BIP website also indicates that the rate of youth violence is rising due to a low public budget for youth activities, fewer entry-level jobs for young people, more students dropping out and an increase in the availability of guns.
One obstacle to greater city safety is lack of funding. According to BIP, federal funding for the BPD has declined since 2001, with the number of police officers also declining.
City Councilor-at-Large Sam Yoon, who is running as deputy mayor alongside mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty, said the city council is trying to get more Safe Neighborhood Initiative grants and federal state money, including “grants for equipments that have been donated by the fire department [and] upgrades to emergency systems.”
Natasha Perez, spokeswoman for City-Councilor-at-Large and public safety committee vice chair Flaherty, said the people of Boston should be more active in reporting local crimes using new technology.
“The city has a policy that they try to develop a pattern, so if someone gets raped in an area, there’s no notification until three people are raped in that area,” Perez said. “It’s important that we change that to get people involved in protecting their neighborhood.”
“The Boston Police Department has only 30 percent of rape cases solved,” she said. “We need to try to involve people early in that process.”
Perez also said education is extremely important to deter crime.
“Twenty-four thousand dropped out [of Boston Public Schools] over the last 16 years,” she said. “We need real reform now. You don’t bring down crime until you educate people and put them to work.”
BPD spokesman James Kenneally said the BPD is trying to reach out the people in Boston.
“The biggest thing is for us is to build trust with the community,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure quality of life and peace of mind to the people of the city, getting out, being visible, talking to citizens in Boston and finding out what’s important to them.”
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 13th, 2009
BOSTON - The City of Boston should raise more funding for public safety, promote crime education and get community members more involved to ensure a safer city, Boston city officials said, though statistics show crime is decreasing.
According to the Boston Police Department, most types of crimes such as homicides, robberies and thefts have been decreasing since last year, except for a slight increase in number of rapes and attempted rapes.
While public safety issues remain a concern, Boston’s long-term crime rates are decreasing overall, Nick Martin, the campaign spokesman for incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino, said in an email.
“The Mayor has been both a local and a national leader in his work to create safer communities,” he said.
He credited Menino’s public safety initiatives with the crime reduction in the city. Menino started the Violence Intervention and Prevention program and Safe Street Team initiative to tackle areas with prevalent violent crime.
“His emphasis on community policing - the idea that the same officers patrol the same beat in order to build successful relationships with the community - is a nationally recognized model,” he said.
Despite improvements in public safety in the city, domestic violence and sexual assault still remain a common issue in Boston and the state, Toni Troop, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Coalition against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, said in an email.
“While we’ve made progress in raising awareness and changing the norms around sexual assault and domestic violence, these crimes still occur at unacceptable rates in all communities throughout the state,” she said. “Students are not immune either.”
This year has had particular challenges due to the economic crisis, she said.
“A bad economy doesn’t create new batterers or cause sexual assault, but it does create new and greater dangers for victims,” Troop said. “We have seen our members facing a greater demand for services and fewer resources, straining advocates and the network of programs.”
Although BPD was not available at press time to provide specific statistics, the Boston Indicators Project suggests that gang activity in Boston is increasing. The BIP website also indicates that the rate of youth violence is rising due to a low public budget for youth activities, fewer entry-level jobs for young people, more students dropping out and an increase in the availability of guns.
One obstacle to greater city safety is lack of funding. According to BIP, federal funding for the BPD has declined since 2001, with the number of police officers also declining.
City Councilor-at-Large Sam Yoon, who is running as deputy mayor alongside mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty, said the city council is trying to get more Safe Neighborhood Initiative grants and federal state money, including “grants for equipments that have been donated by the fire department [and] upgrades to emergency systems.”
Natasha Perez, spokeswoman for City-Councilor-at-Large and public safety committee vice chair Flaherty, said the people of Boston should be more active in reporting local crimes using new technology.
“The city has a policy that they try to develop a pattern, so if someone gets raped in an area, there’s no notification until three people are raped in that area,” Perez said. “It’s important that we change that to get people involved in protecting their neighborhood.”
“The Boston Police Department has only 30 percent of rape cases solved,” she said. “We need to try to involve people early in that process.”
Perez also said education is extremely important to deter crime.
“Twenty-four thousand dropped out [of Boston Public Schools] over the last 16 years,” she said. “We need real reform now. You don’t bring down crime until you educate people and put them to work.”
BPD spokesman James Kenneally said the BPD is trying to reach out the people in Boston.
“The biggest thing is for us is to build trust with the community,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure quality of life and peace of mind to the people of the city, getting out, being visible, talking to citizens in Boston and finding out what’s important to them.”
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Recession fading on Newbury St.
By Yue Huang
BOSTON - Newbury Street retailers, many hit hard by the economy, are seeing signs of the recession easing since the summer.
With rents up, sales down, many stores quit Newbury Street in 2007. Closed or relocated shops include large chain stores such as Gap and Pottery Barn, and smaller retailers such as clothing store Tess & Carlos and Kidder Smith Gallery. International coffee and tea retailer Whittard of Chelsea closed its Newbury Street store after its entire U.S. branch was sold to a private equity for experiencing trade difficulties.
But Newbury Street now seems busier time than it was early this year. At restaurant Stephanie’s on Newbury, almost every table on the patio was taken. Many retailers said they see a ray of hope as business slowly picks up.
“We are actually doing pretty well,” clothing store French Connection assistant manager Heidi Soto said. “February and March were tough, but we are pretty busy in the summer.”
Sales on Newbury Street are highly seasonal and sales decline is expected in the winter, Soto said, adding “no one likes to come here when it’s cold.”
She said the company has adopted new strategies to survive the recession. One is having many more sales because sales items are more appealing to customers.
“We never had sales before,” said Soto. “So our new clearances items are easier to sell.” However, the company still makes more profits from the full price items and sales are for attracting more customers to visit the store who may end up buying full price items, she noted. “It’s the secret that many customers don’t know. When we sell one piece of full price clothing, we make a lot more money than selling multiple sales items.”
Niketown manager Lee Morong said customers are much more interested in discounts during the bad times.
“We don’t have sales all the time,” Morong said. “But of course sales items are always a little easier to sell because everyone loves bargaining.”
Jackie Lacey, assistant manager of Aldo Accessories, a store that sells jewelery and women accessories, said their sales stay consistent because there’s a strong parent company supporting each chain.
“ALDO is a big international company,” Lacey stated. “I’ve heard that sales are very good internationally, which kind of balances out the situation here.”
Lacey said although she noticed the empty shops on the street, she’s not too worried about the economy, saying that “it’s always a hit or miss – some stores are doing well, some are awful. It’s how business works.”
One type of shops that are fortunate enough to avoid the winter sales decline dilemma is gift shops.
“People love to do Christmas shopping here, so winter isn’t too bad for us,” said Sarah Hewitt, manager of handmade cosmetics store Lush. She added that Lush has also been planning more events in or outside of the store to attract new customers, so sales have been consistent in the past years.
“In the summer we have many outdoor events to increase traffic,” Hewitt said. “When our Greece Lightening came out, we had Greek theme parties here, which was a lot of fun.”
Compared to low end retailers, luxury stores and art galleries seem to be experiencing a harder time.
“We are doing ok, but not as good as expected,” said Umar Shirkh, the manager of Kashmir, a luxury housewear store that has been open for 11 months. Shirkh said Kashmir’s chains in New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago are all slammed hard by the economy.
“Luxury sellers are suffering a lot because people just don’t have a lot of cash to buy luxury now,” Shirkh said, sounding slightly disappointed. “Shoppers are also getting wiser and like to ask for bargaining.”
Art galleries on Newbury Street, many of which sell high-end art, are also struggling due to the economic downturn.
Antoinette Hocbo, media coordinator for Copley Society of Art, said this year has been particularly rough for the gallery which has been standing on Newbury Street since 1879.
“We are definitely feeling the repercussion of the economy,” said Hocbo. “Sales are down and there are more people who come in to look but a lot less people buying things."
Hocbo pointed out that the reason her gallery is suffering, like many other galleries on Newbury Street, is that they don’t usually offer any sales.
“We are nonprofit and artists have already discounted the price when we collect them,” she said. “We had some sales in the winter and I remember some artists being very upset about it.”
Street art seller Deidre Kennea, who has been selling paintings during weekends in the summer for six years, said she has seen changes in the past three years.
“I must say that business is strongly affected by the recession, all of our business” Kennea said, pointing at two other street sellers. “You will not believe how many galleries have been closed or moved.”
Kennea said the sales slump also due to depressed tourism.
“You’ll notice there are fewer tourists, and therefore fewer customers,” Kennea said. “As for locals, many who decided to save during the recession just stopped shopping here.”
Despite some sales decline, new signs hanging on empty window shops reveal that many new stories are set to open soon. The closed tea store Whittard of Chelsea will be replaced by Lisa’s Nails; clothing retailers Ben Sherman, Ted Baker and furniture store Jonathan Adler are also renting space for their new chains.
Caitlin Scannell, a local of Boston who shops on Newbury St. twice a week, spoke hopefully about traffic on the street.
“People never seem to stop shopping,” Scannell said. “Every time I come here, there are always people.”
Micaela Morales - Scolly, manager of accessory shop Maya that has been on Newbury Street for 15 years, also expressed optimism about the economy.
“Our old customers always come back because we sell unique items and we know what they want,” she said. “If things get worse I don’t know, but if it stays the same, we are going to stay. We are very positive.”
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Energy drinks on the rise despite risks, statistics show
By Yue Huang
Published on the Daily Free Press on Oct. 7, 2009
BOSTON - Jasmine Vakhshoorzadeh, a pre-med junior in Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences, said she once had four energy drinks in one night to sustain her through a late night study session.
“The energy drinks definitely kept me awake and wired so I could focus,” she said. “I don’t think I could’ve stayed awake without them. It’s both the sugar and caffeine that help me.”
She also said she often gets headaches without caffeine and needs to consume forms of it such as Amps and sodas on a regular basis to stay awake.
For many, the caffeine of coffee is no longer an effective energy boost. Studies show the popularity of energy drinks has dramatically increased among college students in recent years.
According to Business Week’s website, Red Bull sold over four billion cans of energy drinks in 2008 worldwide. And energy drink companies like Red Bull are marketed towards college students.
CAS sophomore Jess Wise, a Warren Towers Campus Convenience cashier, said energy drinks are very popular on the BU campus, especially Red Bulls and Five-Hour Energy shots.
“People come here really late at night,” she said. “Sometimes from 10 [p.m.] to 3 [a.m.] we sell 100 energy drinks.”
She said students seem to believe caffeinated, sugary energy drinks are particularly effective.
“No one buys the decaf ones, although they are supposed to have the same effect,” she said.
Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation professor Joan Blake said the various forms of caffeine make its consumption highly individualized.
“It used to be that coffee was the most potent source,” Blake said. “But now with these energy drinks, students can be taking in a fair amount of caffeine.”
Sarah Butler, a nutritionist at the BU Nutrition and Fitness Center, said energy drinks are not controlled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because they fall into the category of food supplements, which means their effects and ingredients, besides caffeine, are almost entirely unregulated “and therefore cannot be reliably safe.”
Butler also said caffeine consumption within three to five hours of bedtime will cause trouble falling asleep and frequent brief awakenings during the night that may be unnoticeable.
“This will lead the person to feel tired the next day, so they will consume more caffeine to stay awake,” she said.
But some BU students said they aren’t worried about potential harmful effects of energy drinks.
College of Communication senior Serra Ercil, who drinks energy drinks once a month, said she drinks energy drinks when she needs to pull an all-nighter to study.
“I actually feel more tired a couple of hours after I drink energy drinks, but it does give me more energy after I just drink it,” Ercil said. “Some people drink every day, but I don’t, so I don’t really have health concerns.”
COM senior Brad Garoon, who drinks an average of four energy drinks a week, said he drinks them whenever he feels he needs energy.
“I like the taste of it,” he said. “I drink it mostly for doing homework, less often for going out when I’m really tired.”
Garoon said although he’s aware of potential side effects, he’s not too concerned.
“I assume they aren’t that good for you. But I drink low calorie Monser, so calorie-wise, it isn’t bad,” he said. “I try not to drink them more than once a day.”
But CAS freshman Caitlin Pancarician said she never drinks energy drinks.
“Those scare me because so many horrible things can go wrong with them,” she said. “If I need to stay up to study, it’s always coffee.”
Butler said students should choose well-balanced meals as their primary energy source.
“Caffeine is a stimulant and thus makes us feel like we have more energy,” Butler said. “Real food is actually the preferred source of energy for our bodies.”
Besides healthy diets, Blake suggested students to limit their caffeine intake to 300 milligrams a day, pay attention to nutrition labels and get adequate sleep.
“You can’t have a poor diet, lack of sleep and drink drinks that are high in caffeine and expect to be healthy,” Blake said.
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