Congressmen Ride to Rescue Of North Harvard Residents

Returning victorious from their crusade to Washington. North Harvard residents last night appeared optimistic about their chances of preventing the BRA from demolishing their homes.

Stevan Goldin '64-4 cited a bill pending in the legislature, a statement by Rep. Thomas P. O'Neill and Senators Leverett Saltonstall '14 and Edward M. Kennedy '54, and an informal injunction issued in Cambridge District Court on Monday as the major weapons in his forces' arsenal.

The House Rules Committee yesterday passed a bill introduced by Senator Beryl Cohen (D-Brookline) which provides for the BRA to rehabilitate rather than destory the homes in the controversial area. The bill -which had been blocked in the Rules Committee for several days -- is scheduled to come up for an open public hearing at 1 p.m. Monday. Cohen said last night that he was "optimistic" about the bill's chances of being passed.

William P. Homans, Jr.'41, attorney for the Allston group, sought a court injunction Monday prohibiting the BRA from further demolitions and evictions. Although the judge said that the case for the injunction would not be held until Sept. 1, he issued what Goldin termed an "unofficial injunction." Goldin explained that under the ruling, if the BRA attempts to evict any more people or tear down any more buildings, the court will take action against them.

Goldin said that the North Harvard resistance had hired its own architect to go through the area and make a survey of the residences in question. "The only real criticism will come from an independent source," he explained.

He went on to say that the federal investigators who explored the area Tuesday cannot be expected to impede the BRA's plans to tear down dwellings there. "The Urban Renewal Authority is part of the same outfit; they're out to protect the BRA," Goldin charged.

He told the Summer News that BRA bull dozers were removed from Allston yesterday "and the fans cheered."