Ross doesn't want you to live with your Friends
Beacon Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Editorial
At issue: Councilor Michael Ross' power-tripping smackdown on college apartments.
Our view: The measure is discriminatory and insulting to students, the lifeblood of Boston.
Suppose some Boston city councilor proposed to ban more than four gay people from living together, claiming that such large gatherings of gays was a public nuisance. Or imagine if a councilor proposed such a Gestapo-like imposition on the city's Jews, or such a nouveau-Jim-Crow decree on Boston's blacks.
There would be national upheaval, and our hypothetical anti-Harvey Milk would probably lose his council seat. Fortunately for him, Michael Ross, the new president of Boston's City Council, picked a less organized scapegoat: college students.
Blaming everything from public disturbances to rising rents on college students, he ushered a city ordinance through the council in 2008 aimed at limiting the number of college students living together to four.
The order was met with a resounding "Meh" from police and landlords, who recognized it as an unenforceable joke. The city's Inspectional Services agency has already declared that Ross' bill violates federal law.
Undeterred, Ross is now proposing the council force colleges to report the addresses of their off-campus students to the city so it can prosecute students living in groups of five or more. Emerson rightly opposes the motion. In an impressive display of civil disobedience, Emerson's vice president of public affairs, David Rosen, said the college would not turn over off-campus students' addresses unless ordered by a judge.
Here's the real problem: Everyone Mike Ross' proposal would affect has bigger fish to fry. College students are hunting for jobs in a shrinking market (and looking to save money by splitting rent many ways); police and inspections officers are fighting real crime; landlords are trying to stay afloat as the national housing bubble pops. Eliminating five-student living arrangements won't solve any of those problems, and would probably make it more difficult for students and landlords to deal with the recession.
Our view: The measure is discriminatory and insulting to students, the lifeblood of Boston.
Suppose some Boston city councilor proposed to ban more than four gay people from living together, claiming that such large gatherings of gays was a public nuisance. Or imagine if a councilor proposed such a Gestapo-like imposition on the city's Jews, or such a nouveau-Jim-Crow decree on Boston's blacks.
There would be national upheaval, and our hypothetical anti-Harvey Milk would probably lose his council seat. Fortunately for him, Michael Ross, the new president of Boston's City Council, picked a less organized scapegoat: college students.
Blaming everything from public disturbances to rising rents on college students, he ushered a city ordinance through the council in 2008 aimed at limiting the number of college students living together to four.
The order was met with a resounding "Meh" from police and landlords, who recognized it as an unenforceable joke. The city's Inspectional Services agency has already declared that Ross' bill violates federal law.
Undeterred, Ross is now proposing the council force colleges to report the addresses of their off-campus students to the city so it can prosecute students living in groups of five or more. Emerson rightly opposes the motion. In an impressive display of civil disobedience, Emerson's vice president of public affairs, David Rosen, said the college would not turn over off-campus students' addresses unless ordered by a judge.
Here's the real problem: Everyone Mike Ross' proposal would affect has bigger fish to fry. College students are hunting for jobs in a shrinking market (and looking to save money by splitting rent many ways); police and inspections officers are fighting real crime; landlords are trying to stay afloat as the national housing bubble pops. Eliminating five-student living arrangements won't solve any of those problems, and would probably make it more difficult for students and landlords to deal with the recession.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Kate
posted 2/26/09 @ 6:40 PM EST
This editorial was, for lack of a better word, kickass. It was beautifully written, interesting, and humorous. Kudos to the author(s).
Brendan
posted 2/26/09 @ 10:47 PM EST
Comparing something you consider unfair to the Nazis should win you the argument... People love that, and it is very original.
Scott
posted 2/26/09 @ 11:11 PM EST
For the love of god, lie lie lie. Tell ISD or your landlords that you aren't a student, you're a bike messenger, waitress, graphic designer. This rule is stupid because it's impossible to administer, they are begging kids to lie to them so the codeys (ISD) so they don't have to fill out more paperwork. (Continued…)
Dan
posted 2/27/09 @ 9:13 AM EST
Godwin: it's not only a good idea, it's the Law.
I'm not a fan of the residence law: it'll drive up rents and cause other problems, and it's part of Menino's ongoing campaign to force schools to build more dorms. (Continued…)
Former Beacon Writer
posted 2/27/09 @ 2:43 PM EST
Talk about poor taste. You do realize that Mike Ross' father, Stephan Ross, survived 10 concentration camps during the Holocaust, and was rescued by American soldiers at Dachau. (Continued…)
Emerson Student Body
posted 3/01/09 @ 11:29 PM EST
you are the biggest idiot i've ever read in my entire life. this is the single worst article - and also the single worst, inappropriately stupid article headline - the beacon has ever had, and that's saying a lot. (Continued…)
Ben
posted 3/02/09 @ 5:40 PM EST
"Expect a lot of feedback on this editorial. None of it good."
Wait, but the first three responses were good! No comprendo! No comprendo, senor!
Dave
posted 3/03/09 @ 3:59 PM EST
This article deserves nothing less than a retraction and an apology. It's a disgrace. You have embarassed the college and everyone who contributes to this paper. (Continued…)
Amsterdam Cheapo
posted 3/04/09 @ 9:50 AM EST
Great headline. This is a aisgraceful attempt to show the voters that he is pro-active and on top of things.
dsaklad@gnu.org
thezak
posted 3/05/09 @ 5:09 AM EST
The stenographic machine record of public meetings of our Boston City Council is available. Read the actual debate, testimony, remarks of our Boston City Councilors, request the stenographic machine record at http://www. (Continued…)
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