Last year when my friends pitched the idea of moving to ‘Allston-Rock City’ I was hesitant, to say the least. I cringed at the idea of 30-minute walks to campus and cat-size rats. They told me we’d live less than five minutes away from every bar on this side of town and that Allston is Disneyland for college students. I caved.
Two months into my life as a full-fledged Allston resident, I’m still deathly afraid of rats and don’t particularly appreciate the people who think my street is Bourbon Street. However, I have come to love the Russian grocery just down the street and the little bodegas. And hipsters and recent immigrants interacting daily is the stuff of sitcom glory. I’ve even ventured into Brighton and found a townie bar and enjoyed a few Buds there while watching the Pats play.
On Nov. 3, townies, hipsters and immigrants will decide who will represent Allston-Brighton as the district councilor. As a new and proud Allston resident I ventured out to a debate between the two candidates for the district City Council seat.
The city current councilor, Mark Ciommo, was not what I expected of someone who represents such a diverse and vibrant neighborhood to be. Instead of reaching out to college students who may not be the best neighbors in the world (sometimes screaming down Ashford Street actually bothers people), Ciommo wanted to get rid of students. Students volunteer countless hours in the city’s schools and account for almost a third of the population.
Given that most Boston University students who chose to move off campus live in the Allston area, I find it appalling that it would be so acceptable to openly attack a block of voters. While it would be difficult to find a candidate that wants to grant liquor licenses to places so they can stay open until 5 a.m., our city councilor should at least be open to all constituent’s ideas. Ciommo is not that person.
Alex Selvig, the challenger, will not support you blocking off Gardner Street for a massive slip ‘n slide, but he will crack down on your crappy landlord who refuses to fix anything. He’s also vowed to combat the rat problem, starting with making sure there are more than seven people licensed to bait and trap rats. And he’s said ‘No More Than Four,’ the city ordinance that barred you and your friends from renting an apartment together just because you happened to be undergraduates, is unenforceable.
Last year, people our age voted and changed the nation with the election of Barack Obama. Whether or not you drank the Obama juice, the point is that students have an impact on the course of the country and the city we call home for now. We need to get out to the polls and vote for a councilor that will represent all of Allston-Brighton.
Camille Roane
COM 2010
Daily Free Press Copy Editor Spring 2009
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