Brookline Library Survey

For those of you who live in Brookline:

During my Library Trustee campaign back in the spring, residents of the town brought to the candidates a variety of issues regarding the library. While most residents think the library is doing a great job (and we very much appreciate hearing that), there are always suggestions of other things that the library could do.

To that end, the Trustees have created a survey to ask Brookline residents what they consider their top three areas of interests. If you are a Brookline resident, please take a moment to fill out the survey and let us know what you'd like to see in your public library. Have your library card number ready, as you will need it to take the survey. You will get to pick three top areas of interest and rank them 1, 2, and 3, with 1 being the most important.

Please feel free to distribute this link to other Brookline residents.

Brookline Library Board of Trustees Survey

BDTC Garden Party, 2010

Yesterday, Nomi and I took the afternoon to attend the Brookline Democratic Town Committee Garden Party. Although I'm a registered Democrat in the town of Brookline, I haven't been to the party in years, mostly because I'd been working on Columbus Day. This year I happened to have the day off, so Nomi and I got a babysitter and decided to hang out with local and state politicians.

Michael Dukakis at the BDTC Garden Party 2010 Photo copyright ©2010 M. Burstein. Permission to reproduce is explicitly denied.

Because it's such a contentious election year, there were a lot of current officeholders and candidates who made a point of showing up, even if only briefly. Secretary of State William Francis Galvin was around, and Diane Patrick showed up to talk about her husband's re-election campaign for governor. I also got to meet Martha Coakley briefly and I let her know that a former student of mine had worked for her during the senate race.

We also got to see a few other politicians I wanted to see.

Nomi S. Burstein, Michael A. Burstein, Congressman Barney Frank Photo copyright ©2010 C. Caro. Permission to reproduce is explicitly denied.

Barney Frank has been our congressman ever since we moved to Brookline, and I've met him only once or twice before. This time, I had a copy of his biography in hand for him to autograph, and I had a chance to thank him for the honesty in his letters to constituents. I contact Congressman Frank's office whenever there's an issue I disagree with him on, and he always replies back explaining not only that he disagrees with me, but why he does. Once he even got me to change my mind with his reasoned arguments. I appreciate that level of forthrightness in a politician.

Michael A. Burstein, Steve Grossman Photo copyright ©2010 N. Burstein. Permission to reproduce is explicitly denied.

Steve Grossman is a candidate for Treasurer this year, and if he's elected he'll be the first Jewish candidate elected to a statewide office in Massachusetts in many years. Nomi and I supported Grossman in 2002 when he ran for governor, and I was sorry when he dropped out. He's a good man, and I hope he'll win election this year to Treasurer.

Alan Khazei, Michael A. Burstein Photo copyright ©2010 N. Burstein. Permission to reproduce is explicitly denied.

Alan Khazei isn't exactly a politician; he ran in the special senate race this year, and when he lost the primary he threw his support behind Coakley. Khazei had been my first choice in the race; I really like the City Year program (although I was never a participant). I hope Khazei will consider another run for public office in the future; in the meantime, I was glad to hear him tell me how much he likes the Brookline Library.