Category: Opinions

The school department can’t blame the elimination of World Language in the lower grades on a national teacher shortage when our current teachers are leaving over poor working conditions. Language teaching is not easy (nor is language learning), but being young helps. A language class is very definitely a “core course” both in the skills… Continue reading RE: Schools announce plan to cut K-5 language classes this year amid teacher shortage

The only way to have year-round skating at a reasonable cost is to explore the new eco-friendly technology now being used in Europe called Glice. This technology has been brought to the attention of town officials and the Brookline Recreation folks and they need to give it serious consideration. We would be able to maintain… Continue reading RE: Town still weighing options for deteriorating ice rink

As a parent of two graduates of the Brookline public school’s vaunted World Language Program, the news that the program is being put on hold neither surprises nor disappoints me. After nine years of Spanish instruction, my kids could barely count to 10 en Español — forget about holding a conversation! Perhaps kids studying French… Continue reading RE: K-8 World Language Program at “crisis point,” teachers say

I fully support all efforts to maintain the Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink in a manner as close as possible to its current outdoor design. It is a Brookline treasure. Expanding it and making it an indoor facility would undermine its special qualities. Granted, my views are based in part on a rich storehouse of… Continue reading RE: Town still weighing options for deteriorating ice rink

If you cannot afford a program you end it. The teachers were undervalued and the students were shortchanged. That’s as polite as I can be. Fred Grosso, Boston Read the original article, K-8 World Language Program at “crisis point,” teachers say

Great job by Jonathan Traub in his thorough interview with Sam Kennedy. It’s apparent that Traub has all the tools to be a worthy successor to Dan Shaughnessy. I hope that Linda Pizzuti Henry is reading this! Ray Hoffer, former publisher of Our Town Brookline Magazine, Brookline Read the original article, Q&A: Sam Kennedy on… Continue reading RE: Q&A: Sam Kennedy on his Brookline roots and the state of the Red Sox

Meanwhile, by only a few hundred votes, property owners will see another huge leap in their property taxes, and renters will likely see an increase in their rents. The fact that an authority figure sent out something using town resources had an influence. Just a few hundred votes. Congratulations to Joslin Murphy. Too bad this… Continue reading RE: School officials likely violated campaign finance laws, Town Counsel says

I’ve walked past the bridge for many years. I am delighted the bridge is finally going to reopen. It looks great and the landscaping around it looks very nice, too. Good job! Ben DeWinter, Brookline Read the original article, Carlton Street Footbridge set to reopen in July after decades of debate, delay

I write not in response to any specific article, but rather in general appreciation for Brookline.News. After the untimely demise of the Brookline Tab, the Brookline civic sphere lost a key link to Brookline’s residents. Unless one was already deep in, how could you vote, let alone join a civic group or board, run for… Continue reading RE: Message from the editor

The Harvard Street plan is wrong-minded. Because the MBTA Communities Act guidelines prohibit mandating ground floor retail, the Planning Department has proposed “incentives” that will make potential new housing LESS affordable. The right approach would be to find a viable alternative for compliance with the MBTA-CA, and separately craft a zoning plan for Harvard Street… Continue reading RE: Brookline weighs its housing future as zoning law deadline approaches

I write in response to the June 20 article, “Brookline schools’ equity office faces a reckoning as two leaders step down.” Jenee Uttaro wrote: “… the pressure to navigate highly complex cultural and systemic changes often feels isolating, tokenizing, and unsafe in my brave Black skin.” Jenee’s experiences are not unique. Several of my doctoral… Continue reading RE: Brookline schools’ equity office faces a reckoning as two leaders step down

As a member of the Select Board’s MBTACA Multifamily Permitting Committee, I suspect we may not see the head-to-head matchup over compliance to the MBTA-CA your story anticipates during Brookline’s fall Town Meeting. This week the Committee presented its interim progress report to the Select Board. And while the Committee has not finalized the details… Continue reading RE: Brookline weighs its housing future as zoning law deadline approaches

Amidst all the dreary news of the day, the renaming of the Heath School for Roland Hayes is joyful indeed! I moved to Pill Hill in 1969 (55 years later I am in the same house). I often saw Roland Hayes when he walked the nighborhood, a friendly, elegant, elderly gentleman. I knew his story… Continue reading RE: Heath School to be renamed after pioneering musician Roland Hayes

As the first employees of BEEP from the 1980’s, we would like to share some important information about the person who developed and administered BEEP in the Brookline public schools for its first 15 years — Barbara Murphy. Barbara was part of the Brookline Early Education Project and then became the administrator for the Brookline… Continue reading RE: BEEP 50 years later: Looking back at Brookline’s pioneering early childhood project

I am a (Black) Town Meeting member from Precinct 6 who spoke to have Warrant Article 19 establish a Black and Brown Commission referred to the Select Board. During my four-minute presentation before Town Meeting I stated that “the Black and Brown Commission as proposed will, I believe, wrongfully turn Blacks and Latinos against one… Continue reading RE: Town Meeting update: Members approve ranked choice voting, office of housing stability

As a ranked choice voting (RCV) supporter, I appreciate two questions raised by opponents of RCV: 1. If RCV intends to lift underrepresented political voices, what if it empowers extreme political positions to find seats on the Select Board and School Committee in multicandidate races? 2. Does RCV work best in single-winner elections as opposed… Continue reading RE: Town Meeting update: Members approve ranked choice voting, office of housing stability

The mission of the nonprofit Coolidge is to entertain, inform, and engage, building vital community through film culture. The Coolidge’s expansion addresses several mission and financial-driven objectives. Two new screens will support more curated programming, especially international and documentary films. The new lobby will eliminate the need for customers to queue outside and increase time… Continue reading RE: RE: Coming attraction: Inside the Coolidge Theatre’s construction project

In the fall of 1973 I received home visits from a BEEP staffer, anticipating the birth of our second daughter in February 1974. The support provided by this ground-breaking program (not just medical but a broad net of parenting/educational/social exchanges) felt special to me, and uniquely important even as a second-time parent. And happily, doctors… Continue reading RE: BEEP 50 years later: Looking back at Brookline’s pioneering early childhood project

Imagine an election with candidates Patrice, Brad and David competing for two Select Board seats. A new ranked choice voting system is in play, which means voters must make a first choice and second choice. The election attracts 10,000 voters. Patrice receives 3,200 first choice votes. All of Patrice’s voters make Brad their second choice.… Continue reading RE: Town Meeting update: Members approve ranked choice voting, office of housing stability

I am a Town Meeting member. I moved for referral of the Black and Brown Commission to the Select Board for additional consideration. I said that a vote to refer is in agreement and supports the goals of the article. The group seeking this commission is part of our community. My motion to refer pointed… Continue reading RE: Town Meeting punts on Black and Brown Commission