A decline in local funding tops the list of concerns for new Allston-Brighton City Councilor Jerry McDermott after his first month in office.
McDermott, chairman of the Financial Services and Community Investments Committee and the Public Utilities and Cable Communications Committee, as well as vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said nearly every issue in the Allston-Brighton area would be affected by state-level cuts in local aid.
Since his term began in January, McDermott said he has been meeting with a number of representatives from various community groups, including civic activists, health and human service producers, school principals and youth workers.
‘I’ve been trying to meet with as many people as I can just to see how I can be of the most assistance to them before the budget season starts,’ he said.
The budget is one of McDermott’s main concerns, he said.
‘Every issue we’re concerned about is going to be directly affected by the cuts in local aid announced by [Governor Mitt] Romney,’ McDermott said.
These cuts, so far totaling $24 million on top of the $29 million in cuts already made to the city’s budget, are expected to be near $100 million for the 2004 fiscal year, he said.
Allston-Brighton residents may feel the pinch as the district looks at closing schools, specifically Baldwin Elementary, to save money, according to McDermott.
He added the district will have a ‘serious problem come summertime,’ when funding cuts for city jobs or summer activities, or closures of pools and parks, result in ‘young people with lots of idle time,’ McDermott said.
‘In the heat of the summer in the city, that’s not a good recipe,’ he said.
McDermott said he plans to seek help from students at Boston College, Boston University and Harvard University to increase the number of activities available for Allston-Brighton youth.
The slumping national economy has also affected the area, McDermott said, and job creation in Allston-Brighton is another important item on his agenda. He said the city is planning a spring job fair, featuring positions in a variety of fields, from biotechnology firms to small retail stores.
‘Whatever job postings [Allston-Brighton businesses] may have, whatever the range, from white-collar to blue-collar, we need to have some kind of catalyst to get people working again,’ he said.
Despite the decline in available jobs, Allston-Brighton’s large student population helps boost the economy, McDermott said.
‘The students do deliver a big shot in the arm when it comes to the economy of Allston-Brighton,’ he said, ‘although some people would say rather tongue-in-cheek that they’re a big shot in the head.’
Though students and residents may occasionally clash, McDermott said he believes most students living off-campus respect longtime residents, and student-resident relations are improving.
‘Our business districts have never looked better and I want the students to be able to come and spend their disposable income right here in Allston-Brighton rather than go over the border to Brookline or downtown Boston,’ he said.
McDermott also said he often keeps students in mind when dealing with quality-of-life issues, such as street cleaning, trash pickup and graffiti removal.
‘If you let the place become unsightly, we’re going to be inviting the wrong element into our neighborhood,’ McDermott said. This affects students, he said, who are often easy prey for criminals.
‘To me it is certainly an area of concern, even though most students don’t register to vote here it’s part of my responsibility to see that they are protected,’ he said.
In addition to protecting students, McDermott also said he supports recently proposed measures to crack down on students who have outstanding debts, like parking tickets.
‘Students have a good time here, get a great education, but they can’t just take off without paying the bills that they owe…it’s just a fairness issue,’ he said.
McDermott also said he does not support Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s rent-control plan, which was defeated by the council when it was raised.
‘I would have voted against it if I had been on the council,’ he said.
‘As I drive through Allston-Brighton, I see a lot of ‘for rent’ signs up,’ McDermott said. He added that with local universities increasing on campus housing opportunities, students will move out of the area.
‘We’re going to see more apartments free up for Allston-Brighton families, so we should see the rents continue to taper off and balance out,’ he said.