Opinion :: Guest Opinion
Why the Green Ticket Bill was worthy of a Maiden Speech by Aaron Michlewitz
MySouthEnd.com ContributorWednesday Feb 3, 2010 Tradition is a big part of the House of Representatives.
While some customs might be deemed as silly or outdated, they are respected and carried on through generations of the Commonwealth’s elected leaders. From the way members address each other as Gentleman and Gentlelady to the Sacred Cod that hangs in the back of the Chamber that represents the Commonwealth’s initial reliance on the fishing industry and traditionally hangs in the direction of whichever party is in control of the House (Although, some might say that it has faced left for so long that this practice is more myth than anything). These traditions surround you.
One of these lesser known traditions that I got to experience recently was that of the Maiden Speech. Every newly elected representative must choose one issue or bill that is important enough to him or her to make his or her first speech about on the House floor. A freshman representative may not speak on any other matters until he or she has made a Maiden Speech. For some it is an opportunity to speak on issues like taxes or affordable housing; issues that should resonate in the representative’s district.
I chose the Green Ticket Bill.
A bill that might not grab the headlines or get much attention, but a bill that will hopefully go a long way in improving the quality of life for us in the South End and the other downtown neighborhoods in the Third Suffolk District. One common theme amongst these ten neighborhoods is the challenge of keeping our streets clean. The intent of the bill is to force those who do not pay the City of Boston Code Enforcement’s Green Tickets to finally have to pay up on their debts. Currently, building owners can accumulate countless green tickets for putting their trash out improperly, but the City has no legislative authority to actually collect on those fines. Our legislation would roll over those unpaid fines onto the property owner’s property taxes the following year. The Green Ticket Bill would finally put some teeth into those tickets.
A three-year period that ended in 2009 saw 45 percent of tickets unpaid and close to five million dollars in fines remain uncollected to this day. In an economic climate where we are watching cut after cut to basic services with many calling for new avenues of raising revenue to balance our budgets, it seems reasonable that collecting on revenue that is sitting on the table waiting for us should become a priority.
That is what the Green Ticket Bill will do.
It will also strengthen the City’s ability to crack down on absentee landlords who refuse to enforce the trash regulations onto their tenants. These properties, and we all have them in each neighborhood, are usually the biggest culprits on why our streets are struggling to stay clean.
The bill passed the House, last week passed the Senate, and currently sits on the governor’s desk with every indication of him signing it shortly.
When I ran for office last year, I prioritized the need for our district to return to issues you see at your doorstep. That is why I made the Green Ticket Bill a priority and that is why I was proud to make my Maiden Speech on it.
If you have any questions or comments on this legislation or any other neighborhood issue, please feel free to contact my office at rep.aaronmichlewitz@hou.state.ma.us or 617.722.2488.
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