"Everyone Wins!" A Big Success

Posted by John Kelly

The rally on Huntington Avenue was a great success on Friday, thanks to everyone who came or wished they could have come, like Liz Casey and Karen Schneiderman and Jeff Thompson.

Lots of storyboards on the bricks went up (and more are going to get made soon). Bill Henning emceed, lots of people spoke, the weather was great, and hundreds of flyers got handed out. More than 40 people came, including city counselors Felix Arroyo and Chuck Turner, and Sam Yoon's assistant Erin Leonard. Cambridge Commissioner for disabilities Michael Muehe came (he got to see the curb cut at Symphony Hall finally fixed after complaining about it five years ago), and WalkBoston's Ann Hershfang came, too..

The media made a good showing too, with Neighborhood Network News, the Fenway News, the Boston Courant, the Boston Herald, and Boston Globe videographer Chona Camomot covering the story.

We collected 53 signatures on our petition. Thanks to Gary Devino, who only had one person refuse. Thanks also to NAG assistants Lidia Alvarado and Rob DuBuske, and Pam Beeler for lending her wheelchair.

The Herald had a short piece on Saturday, with photos of Eileen Brewster and Larry Braman.

I went on Neighborhood Network News on Friday, and cameraman Rich Rosenthal told me that there would be a follow-up story on Wednesday, October 10 -- Boston Comcast Channel 9, at 5:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., or 11 p.m..

There was a letter in the city weekly section yesterday about the Globewatch column from last Sunday on the Morville House sidewalk being dug up with no access.

In other stories, Sunday's Globe Magazine had follow-up letters on Geoff Edger's Perspective piece from September 16.

Cambridge's Larry Braman has a site with additional photographs. Some great pictures.

Felix Arroyo gave a great speech and committed to holding hearings on contractors not maintaining access around their construction sites. Chuck Turner was the first to sign our petition.

And if you are available, please come next Friday, October 12, at 2 p.m. to share your experience of going over brick at Symphony Hall with city counselors. Michael Flaherty and Michael Ross are confirmed.

Neighborhood Access Group's monthly meeting will be Saturday, October 13, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at 334 Massachusetts Ave. Hopefully, it will be in Basement Level A.

Details to follow.