On Brookline

“The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation—that away,
Men are but gilded loam, or painted clay.
A jewel in a ten-times barr’d-up chest
Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.”

- William Shakespeare

On Wednesday, Boston Archdiocese Cardinal Sean O’Malley will visit the site of the St. Aidan’s housing project to “bless the construction” (even though we haven’t given $6 million in public funds to a religious organization). The project could use some blessing. And so could the neighbors who have been beaten silly by O’Malley’s development crew - the bullies known as POUA.

Maybe O’Malley’s visit signals a watershed of sorts with the project.

Maybe he has come to see for himself what his development director (Lisa Alberghini) and a handful of town flunkies have wrought in the neighborhood. Maybe he’ll have read the settlement agreement between neighbors and the Archdiocese to see first hand how those in his employ have callously disregarded its provisions.

Maybe he’ll want to know how it came to pass that two in his flock—Selectmen Bobby Allen and Nancy Daly—called attempts by neighbors to protect their interests “outrageous” and “a shame”, after the case had been settled. He may want to re-tell them the parable of the Prodigal Son and the importance of reconciliation in achieving progress.

If there is to be reconciliation, it will have to come from O’Malley. Only he has the authority to rein in his agents on the project. More, the Cardinal’s visit gives some reason for hope inasmuch that he is the only person with the moral stature to upright this disaster of deceit.

I happen to think that the Cardinal is an extraordinary individual. He is the rare cleric who is genuine both to the Christian pedagogy and an ambitious human agency. Last month, after Pope Benedict met with the victims of clergy sexual abuse we learned that it was O’Malley who brokered the healing sessions. He has made the Boston Archdiocese more transparent and responsive to those in the pews. And he has shed his predecessor’s want for political influence in favor of spiritual affluence.

I hope that the Cardinal has healing in mind for his Wednesday visit. I hope he speaks to neighbors so that he can hear first hand of the toll this project has taken on them. I hope he asks his development team why the buildings are not being draped to prevent the release of asbestos and lead from window caulkings (pictured left, click to view) when they agreed to this as part of the lawsuit settlement.

I hope he demands an explanation as to why his development team has instructed their lawyers to threaten neighbors with lawsuits should they contact their town government to protest the use of public funds on the project.

I hope he comes away understanding the corrosive effect that this project (and this process) has had on the cause of affordable housing in Brookline.

I hope all this, but I doubt it will happen.

It’s more likely that this earnest man knows little of what has been done in his name, because he’s been briefed by the team he ought to be dismissing. He’ll drive off; and we’ll be back to neighbors fighting the developer over promises unmet and lawyers exchanging letters.

Right now, the idea of affordable housing at St. Aidan’s is a doubt that those of significantly low reputation can pull this project off. It will take a person of extraordinary character—like O’Malley—to salvage the project from the ill-will and resentment ginned up by the Town and POUA.

Otherwise, what’s that story about building your house on a hill of sand?

Email the author.

Archie asks the Cardinal if he’s willing to challenge town officials on their approach to affordable housing, an approach that has relied too much on St. Aidan’s.

Jim,
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t the Archdiocese wish at the beginning to demolish St. Aidan’s in its entirety? It was primarily due to efforts of neighbors that the Church structure was to be retained as part of this housing project, presumably for historic reasons related to John F. Kennedy’s connections to St. Aidan’s. (I’ve suspected that some of these neighbors thought such an effort might thwart the entire project in their concerns that there not be another Dexter apartments complex in the neighborhood.) So is the Cardinal’s visit aimed at the worthy goal of providing much needed affordable housing in Brookline or at salvaging the project? Perhaps there are other sites, such as in South Brookline, that could accommodate affordable housing that the Cardinal might be urged to visit and bless for such development.

So here’s a question the Cardinal might ponder and perhaps ask of our Town officals:

“How many affordable units would have been in place in Brookline, and for how long, IF the Town had required developers of residential developments to provide affordable units on site rather than permit them to opt out with in lieu payments to the Town affordable housing fund that ended up funding the St. Aidan’s project which has yet to deliver even one (1) unit of affordable housing?”

For some time Town officials have declined to answer this question. Perhaps the Cardinal can persuade a response.

Archie Mazmanian