Flee! The Democrats are coming to Boston (convention to cause traffic snarls; locals aim to leave)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/11/04 | Anna Badkhen

[Libloather]

Flee! The Democrats are coming to Boston
Massachusetts braces for convention to cause traffic snarls; locals aim to leave
Anna Badkhen, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, July 11, 2004

Medford, Mass. -- When the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Boston in two weeks, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn would like to be there, mingling among some 35,000 fellow Democrats, and celebrating the presidential nomination of a Massachusetts favorite son.

Instead, McGlynn said, he will be manning a red, white and blue roadblock on an interstate off-ramp in Medford, seven miles north of Boston's convention center.

"Don't get me wrong," said Glynn, "I'm with the convention, I support it. I'm particularly excited to see a hometown boy nominated for president."

But a traffic plan prepared for the July 26-29 event will shut down some 40 miles of major roads around Boston -- including Interstate 93, the main road from northern Massachusetts into Boston -- forcing motorists destined for the city to cut through Medford via a small two-lane road decked with corner shops and traffic lights standing just a few hundred yards apart.

McGlynn says he is prepared to set up his own barricades to stop the traffic from wreaking havoc in his suburban community of 57,000 people.

[Libloather]

"We're talking 10-14-mile backups! It will split our city right in half!" McGlynn cried. "I'm afraid if they dump all the traffic out here there will be a traffic jam from Medford all the way to San Francisco."

Gridlock across America...

[dfwgator]

Lock up your sons, the Democrats are coming to town.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Every time Democrats take on a project they make a mess of it. Typical of their philosophical persuasion, they never actually stop to think out the consequences of an action. If it feels good, they simply do it, and let everyone else clean up the resultant mess.

[metesky]

"Don't get me wrong," said Glynn, "I'm with the convention, I support it. I'm particularly excited to see a hometown boy nominated for president."

Having been born in Colorado, Kerry is not a "hometown boy". He has roots in Massachusetts the same way I have roots in Greece.

I was born in Boston. I'm a "hometown boy".

[GSlob]

Paul Revere's ride comes to mind: "The Dems are coming!"

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

The cops are gearing up for some serious trouble with the black-suited "Anarchist " wing of the American Communist party, also known as democrats.

While Ted and the Johns preach socialism and treason within, out in the streets their goons are expected to be raising hell.

Perhaps it's the dems way of getting back at the uncooperative police union.

[punster]

I thought they were putting up barriers so the trash would not spread to the outlying areas. The city of Boston will be overflowing with white trash and other trash.

[woofer]

Paul Revere's ride comes to mind: "The Dems are coming!"

One if by land, two if by sea...

And three if by chauffuered Limo and chartered jet.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[NHResident]

McGlynn thinks that San Francisco is located just west of Framingham! For a Mass-hole, knowledge of geography isn't a strong point.

Unfortunately, all too many of them know which way to go to avoid paying the inane tax load in their own state.

[SamAdams76]

This is going to be a disaster. Fortunately a lot of people are taking vacation that week because it will be virtually impossible to get anybody downtown for anything that week.