Tom Benner (#316) joined the Reservoir Lofts community in August, 2008. He has professional experience working with several north east dailies and most recently with the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
Tom lists as his qualifications:
Communications director, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Boston, Mass., May 2008-present. State House Bureau Chief, The Patriot Ledger/GateHouse Newspapers, Boston, Mass., 2001-2008. Business editor, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass., 1999-2001. Editorial page editor, The Daily Record, Morristown, NJ, 1992-1999.
Tom lists as his reasons for wanting to be a Trustee:
I'd like to improve the quality of life for Reservoir Lofts and maintain and strengthen property values, with two specific strategies in mind. On the community property, I'd like to incorporate greener thinking on issues such as indoor lighting—saving money and energy with a more efficient, less wasteful hallway and stairway light system. Looking outward to our neighborhood, I'd like to work on making Reservoir Lofts and Fresh Pond a more livable, pedestrian-friendly place. I'd like to boost our rating on walkscore.com, a website that gives our community a low score as a pedestrian- and bike-friendly place. I'd like to reach out to city and state policy makers on issues such as poor shoveling and snow-plowing to and from the Alewife T. I'd like Reservoir Lofts as a community to have a voice in future development, in favor of smart growth and against highway-style development (such as the giant CVS sign and gaudy fluorescent signage across the street). I'd also like to arrange regular meetings with the mall and store owners across the street to discuss late-night noise and litter issues and neighborhood-friendly policies and people-oriented services. In my professional life as a journalist, I have spent a lot of time in public and government relations, spending time with state and city officials who set the policies that determine the future of our communities. I'd like city and regional planners to start thinking about the Fresh Pond neighborhood as a place where families live and prosper, a place we call home, not just one big traffic intersection for cars passing through. Reservoir Lofts is a new community filled with energetic, talented, civic-minded residents. Fresh Pond is a great place with many resources—everything from a wonderful nature and recreation area to mass transit into a great city and employment center. We can make our community an even better place if we work to have a guiding hand in how it grows, expands and flourishes.
Copyright ©2009-2024