Register To ParticipateAllston Brighton TAB Blog
Shame on Boston College
Posted on June 25, 2007 by Greg Reibman
Filed Under Boston College |
We received an email today from Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn pointing out that Steve Costello, a resident who was recently kicked out of a B.C. task force meeting for creating a disturbance, was reportedly arrested several years ago for an incident which, as best I can tell, had nothing to do with the issues at hand. (And which, for all we know, may have even been dismissed.)
Now I wasn’t at the meeting and I don’t know Costello. He might be a great guy. Or he may be a jerk. And I don’t know if his behavior justified this action.
But I’m much more troubled that an institution like B.C. would attempt to discredit a member of the community using a smear tactic.
Hey Jack, next time stick to the high road.
Comments
4 Responses to “Shame on Boston College”
Leave a Reply
I’m not normally one to defend Boston College’s spokesman, Jack Dunn, but here I believe he may have reason to be defended.
As first reported by me on the Brighton Centered blog:
http://brighton-community.blogspot.com/2007/06/scuffle-at-bc-task-force-meeting.html
and subsequently picked up by the Universal Hub, there is an archived article from 10/29/02 from the BU student newspaper, The Daily Free Press:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2002/10/29/News/Recent.Rash.Of.Motorcycle.Theft.Plagues.Allston-309399.shtml
referring to a police incident at a Lake Street address involving someone by the name Stephen Costello (who reportedly wielded a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute). During the BC Task Force meeting, Steve Costello noted that he lived on Lake Street. It was a police blotter (incident report), with no follow up on possible charges filed or convictions/acquittals, and was reported as such.
While the A-B TAB may not necessarily feel the events of 10/02 and 6/07 are related, I believe that the community will disagree. If this individual acts belligerently at future meetings, the community will now be well informed to know that he might possess a weapon — and will have to deal with the situation with great care and police involvement.
I don’t know why Jack Dunn, however, would call up the A-B TAB to tell them something they probably already know, since many A-B TAB reporters appear to read the Brighton Centered blog on a regular basis.
Michael: I think there are two separate issues here. First is the question: is he dangerous to be around? I’m going to leave that one to the police, who were called that evening. But again, you only cite the man’s arrest. Without knowing if he was convicted or not, you are making an incomplete judgment.
But my main complaint is with Dunn. BC should be able to promote and defend its actions in the community without resorting to Karl Rove-like tactics.
What happens when citizens present things as fact that are downright untrue at meetings?
Not sure I understand your question/point.