THURSDAY, JULY 15,2004

THE BOSTON GLOB

Opinion All

JOAN VENNOCIII

Innovation

over limits

on greenway

BOSTON, city of innovation. Boston, city

of limitation.s.

The mayor of Boston, the governor of Massachusetts, the senior US senator from Massitchusetts, both leaders of the

House and Senate, and the head of the Massachusetts Ilirnpike Authority made a rare joint appearance this week to announce something they labeled "extraordinary": They stood together in one room in Boston City Hail, agreeing after years of disagreement to establish an independent, nonprofit organization to oversee a swath of new green space freed up by the Big Dig's dismantling of the overhead highway that sliced through Boston.

The details are not yet worked out. But the concept behind this greenway is an amazing anitribution to 21st-century Boston. Buiying the road that carries commuters out of the city and using the land above it to strengthen the city as a destination to live in, work in, and play in is a priceless urban commodity. This priceless commodity did not come cheap,

but no one ever said innovation comes without upfront expense. The Big Dig took too long and cost too many billions

of taxpayer dollars. But decades from today, the reconnecting of Boston's waterfront to its downtown will be viewed as the bridge to a new era.

Building a bridge to the future Is one

thing. Getting this political gang in one location was quite a feat in itself and remained so until the last minute.

"My God, it is a cast. of thousands. Of course, i didn't know we were coming until 10 minutes ago," Charles Rasmussen, spokesman for House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, whispered to Ann Dufresne, spokeswoman for Senate President Robert Travaglini, before the event got underway. "He hadn't made up his mind?" Dufresne whispered back. "No," replied Rasmussen.

Agreement occurred for one reason. The Rose Kennedy Greenway matters a

great deal to Rose Kennedy's son, Massadiusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

He wanted the management matter resolved before an official dedication cuemony that is planned for July 26, the first

day of the Democratic National Convention. And so it is, at least in theory.

How this new governing entity ultiinately raises enough money to support

the project is still unclear, as are other governing logistics. The pact sets up a Greettway Conservancy, governed by a politically appointed 10-member board. Turnpike Authority chairman, Matthew J. Amorello, has the power It) recommend an executive director and five hoard members. This is the same Matthew J.

Amorello whose job Governor Mitt Romney is dedicated to eliminating. This week state lawmakers sent Romney a measure that would reshape the way Massachusetts manages its roads and mass transit. While it would not merge the Turnpike Authority and the Highway Department, as Romney desires, it would evenhrally scrap the chairman's post held by Amor-

en°.

The fact that Amo relit) ends up with so

much power in the Greenway Conservancy is a testament to two basic realities: The Turnpike Authority will be paying fur greenway maintenance through 2012, ;Ind Kennedy did not care about the Romney-Amorello battle. If consensus meant empowering Amorello, so he it.

Kennedy ly is the ollto political figure in Massachusetts with the respect, clout, anti presence to get these players together to reach seine type of consensus, flawed dough it may be. Kennedy's father-in-law. retired judge taIntend Reggie, 'wiped broker the deal that Romney joked made Middle East negotiations look like "child's play." Tile governor's joke, echoed by others, underscores a serious point. flow much will Boston, city of innovation, be dragged down by Boston, city of limitations, in the years ahead?

()tilers will have the privilege of chronicling future turf wars, power plays, and ego trips. But as Boston prepares to show itself off to the world, it is a good time to take stock, quietly, of the balance between native intelligence and native crankiness. Why is it so difficult to get together in one room? What mere might he acromplished if it were done more tremiently? tbssent desemis its place in the cradle of litarty, but dissent as a was' to consolidate power drains energy from the bust of endeavors.

When it come:, to the new greenway, what will happen after convention delegates leave town aild oboe is less urgency to the goal of pleasing hit Kennedy? How will the new Greenway Conservancy raise erica igti money to make ail iinzavative eoncept a reality for Boston?

The people who this week finally agreed tO agree will have to work out the answers to those   stions and inure. The issues arc not insurmountable. After all, for Roster city of innovation, the sky is the limit -- unless Boston. city of limitat ions, gets in the way of the sky.

Joan Ven noch i's e-mail (a/dress is rtiamcla (c,N;lobe.com.