DogBoston’s Dog Blog

From a Catherine Williams article from Projo.com, I think the first line says it all:

Yellowing grass and flower beds in new Big Dig parks prompted members of a quasi-public board to weigh in yesterday on whether to allow dogs in the downtown greenway.  

Emphasis on the words “quasi-public.”   This is way too true. 

Sure. You can get involved, but only if you know the right people.  The DCR (Dept of Conservation and Recreation) is a broken and stodgy institution, and according to an insider, they are having a meeting today January 10th from 3 to 5pm EST.  

Is this posted on their website?   Nope.  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news.htm  Not here.

So who knew?  And even if people knew where to go, how can reasonable, 9-5 working residents get involved in a day-time meeting… when the meetings are suited only for the people on the inside? Doesn’t sound very inclusive to me.  

Apparently only after their plans are made, will they communicate with us… the lowly public… oh I mean, the really lowly, dog-owning public.

I have a problem with criticizing without a suggestion for improvement, so here’s mine.  Look at what Somerville is doing with their ResiStat program.  Community meetings.  Meetings are held after 6pm (usually 7pm),  so … people can actually go to them.

Somerville ResiStat

Boston Dog Owners, it’s not just about the Greenway (or the Brownway as semi-dog-hating -yet-dog-owning DCR members joke to one another regarding dogs peeing on some plants).  You should start getting upset about this… say right about… now.