inside this week
BPS opens centers for Puerto Rican families pg 2
A&E
business news
NON-BINARY TALENT SHINES AT ROXBURY’S OUT’HOOD FEST pg 22
Boston Builds Credit aimed at helping 25,000 Hub residents pg 20
plus Q&A: Kiersey Clemons stars in ‘Flatliners’ pg 22 Wole Soyinka collection at Cooper gallery pg 23 Book review: ‘We Were Eight Years in Power’ pg 24 Thursday, November 2, 2017 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
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Justice bill passes in Senate
Bill eliminates some mandatory minimums, includes bail reform By YAWU MILLER
The state Senate passed a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill last week that would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for some drug crimes, eliminate fees charged to defendants, and redirect savings from the expected reduction in the state’s prison population toward drug treatment, job training and job creation programs aimed at rehabilitating people leaving prison. By a vote of 27 to 10, the senators voted in the bill during a latenight session that ended after 1 a.m. The bill’s passage comes after a years-long push by criminal justice reform activists to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and reduce the state’s prison population. “Today the Senate took real action to stand with communities across the commonwealth and end the vicious cycles of incarceration and crime,” said Sen. Sonia ChangDiaz in a press statement. “This bill won’t finish the work of reforming our justice system, but it is a courageous and giant step — and we shouldn’t accept anything less.”
Activists have long complained that the Massachusetts prison population has swollen with nonviolent drug offenders serving mandatory sentences. For many who are in the throes of addiction, incarceration does little to help, says Calvin Feliciano, political director for SEIU 509. “It doesn’t solve the problem,” he told the Banner. “It criminalizes people who are petty dealers. It’s the wrong way to address the problem.” Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins said the bill’s emphasis on treatment of drug addiction over incarceration could go a long way toward reducing the state’s costly prison population. “Almost 70 percent of my population is incarcerated because of their habit,” he said. Tompkins also praised the bill’s bail reform measures, noting the inefficiency of the current system. “If someone can’t pay $100 or $250, the commonwealth picks up the tab for thousands of dollars to incarcerate that person,” he said. Under the Senate bill, possession with intent to distribute drugs
See REFORM, page 16
PHOTO: COURTESY MEREDITH NIERMAN/WGBH
Mayor Martin Walsh and District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson greet each other prior to the WGBH debate.
Jackson, Walsh face off in final mayoral debate
Candidates clash on housing, policing, race issues By KAREN MORALES
Mayor Martin Walsh and District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson continued to wrangle over issues of affordable housing, racial inequality, economic development, transportation and education during their second debate last week. Broadcast live from WGBH’s Brighton studio, this debate was the last chance for the candidates to communicate their campaign platforms before a live audience and convince voters before the Nov. 7 general election. The event
was moderated by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. In a poll conducted by WGBH, 26 percent of likely Boston voters said the biggest issue in the city is housing, while 11 percent said crime and another 11 percent responded with public schools.
Housing
As Walsh has stated throughout his campaign, his administration set out to create 53,000 new housing units over three years and so far, the city has permitted 22,000 units, with 9,000 of them designated as affordable.
In the debate, Jackson countered that the Mayor has permitted too many luxury units and not enough affordable ones, and maintained that instead of eradicating the Boston Redevelopment Authority as promised, Walsh simply rebranded it as the Boston Planning and Development Agency. “The BPDA is not a transparent organization, it’s not a city agency,” said Jackson. “The money it collects does not go back to the city.”
See MAYORAL DEBATE, page 18
Tight competition in at-large race Pressley running on anti-violence record By YAWU MILLER
BANNER PHOTO
At-large Councilor Ayanna Pressley greets supporters at Marcella Park.
On a sunny autumn Saturday, Roxbury residents gathered on the baseball diamond at Marcella Street for a ceremony dedicating the playground to Jermaine Goffigan, a 9-year-old boy killed by a stray bullet during a 1994 Halloween party at the nearby Academy Homes housing development. On hand was Mayor Martin J.
Walsh, state Rep. Chynah Tyler and at-Large City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who was making one of many stops on a day filled with campaign activities. But for Pressley, this was an important one. She was here this day for Jermaine’s grandmother. “Every year I visit with Mrs. Holmes and pray over the spot where Jermaine lost his life,” she told the Banner. “Every time I come it’s as if they’ve lost him that year.”
Pressley, who has made providing services for children and families facing trauma a hallmark of her City Council work, knows the challenges of dealing with the loss of a loved one well. “Trauma is a barrier to learning,” she said. “It affects every family member.” Pressley brought attention to the issue in 2010, holding a fourhour hearing during which 300 families testified at City Hall on the effects of trauma in their lives.
See PRESSLEY, page 19
2 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
BPS opens centers for Puerto Rican families Boston Cares initiative aims to ease transition By KAREN MORALES
Boston Public Schools has opened pop-up centers to receive families from the Caribbean who have lost their homes to Hurricane Maria and Irma and help them transition into housing, public education, and a way of life in Boston. “We have brought together over 30 different departments and community organizations over the last two weeks to plan for this effort,” said Tommy Chang, BPS superintendent. “It’s a complete collaboration across the city of Boston and I’m very grateful that everybody is willing to invest time and resources so families can transition to Boston and BPS as easy as possible.” The initiative, called Boston Cares, provides one-stop-shops for arriving Puerto Rican families to be linked to all necessary services such as school placement, finding housing, food pantries, medical or mental health assistance, legal support and more. BPS has partnered with Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, South Boston en Accion, and Sociedad Latina as locations for the popup centers, in addition to four welcome centers at BPS locations. Last Monday and Tuesday,
42 families arrived and received help from BPS, with that number expected to double over time, said Monica Roberts, assistant superintendent of engagement for BPS. “We plan to accommodate every family that comes,” said Roberts. Chang said that there are 200 seats available at schools for arriving students, and “If more is needed, more will be created.” In accommodating new students and possibly creating more seats, Chang said if there’s an impact on the BPS budget, “We’ll figure out a way to absorb those costs — it’s too important.” He added, “It’s not something I’m even worried about right now.”
Much-needed support
Sonia Gomez-Banrey, Director of Countdown to Kindergarten, told the Banner, “We know that one of the hardest things for Boston is finding inventory for housing. If people do not have a place to live, we will make referrals to shelters and guide them with filling out Section 8 housing applications.” The issue hits close to home for Gomez-Banrey. Her family is from San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria hit, she lost contact with her mother on
BANNER PHOTO
Countdown to Kindergarten Director Sonia Gomez-Banrey describes the school department’s efforts to welcome families upended by Hurricane Maria. the island for two weeks when power was lost. “I know of the devastation and how hard it is,” said Gomez-Banrey, whose mother arrived in Boston two weeks ago and is staying at her home in Roslindale. “She’s just so thankful to be here and have access to basic
things like clean water and a hot shower.” Roberts stated that BPS is working to welcome new students, some of whom are coming from Puerto Rico on their own, with “little time lost” and with emotional, social, and Spanish language supports.
ON THE WEB Specific locations and hours of popup centers can be viewed online at:
https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/ bpscares
Vote for Michael Flaherty on Tuesday, November 7th! #3 on the Ballot for Boston City Councilor At-Large
I am committed to making Boston a city that is guided by our collective goals for inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunity. As your Boston City Councilor At-Large: • I have supported a property tax deferral program for seniors and longtime homeowners in the city. • I have called for expanding police presence and community partnerships in all of our neighborhoods to protect our children from drugs, gangs, and violen violence. • I have fought hard to strengthen Boston’s public education pipeline by expanding early education opportunities, putting more advanced work programs in more of our schools, and improving transition from highschool to college. Paid for by the Flaherty Committee
www.MichaelFlaherty.com
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3
School officials describe BuildBPS planning process By KAREN MORALES
In 2015, Mayor Martin Walsh unveiled a 10-year $1 billion master plan for Boston Public Schools, BuildBPS, that his administration says will transform schools into more innovative, modern and exemplary learning models. Last weekend, BPS held a fall open house to showcase updated data, research and community input they have compiled over the last two years. BuildBPS is led by the City of Boston, the Boston School Committee, and the Boston Public Schools. Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA) serves as the lead planning and design firm, and Pinck & Co. serves as the project manager. BPS Operations Chief John Hanlon presented this information at a public meeting during the open house in the Bruce C. Bolling Building, with BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang and City of Boston Education Chief Turahn Dorsey also present. The $1 billion initiative will be financed with $730 million dollars from the city’s bond capital and $270 million invested by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), according to Hanlon. “The mayor wants to leverage our triple bond rating and obtain a quarter of a million dollars from MSBA,” said Dorsey. The $1 billion will go towards new construction, expansions, renovations, reconfigurations,
maintenance and repairs, technology infrastructure, classroom furniture, accreditation investments and schoolyard improvements. Hanlon said more than $28 million of the budget has been used so far, for projects like Dearborn STEM Academy, Boston Arts Academy, Another Course to College and Mattapan Early Elementary School. Last spring, 12 neighborhood workshops were held with a total of 450 people in attendance. At these workshops, 451 investment ideas were put forth by the public. “It’s important for us, as a school district, to hear from people, the real stakeholders,” said Hanlon. After an attendee at last week’s meeting pointed out that 450 people might not be a fair representation of the entire student and parent community in Boston, Chang said that the team is working on having ongoing platforms for suggestions to be submitted by the public. “We’re learning how to test ideas. This process is new for BPS,” added Dorsey. “We’re trying to find the right modality to reach everyone because there are barriers everywhere to each mode of communication.” Fr o m t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d workshops, the BuildBPS team learned that the majority of people cared about access to high quality schools in their neighborhoods, clear educational pathways from pre-kindergarten to graduation, fewer transitions
between schools, modernizing buildings with technology, improving physical condition of buildings and increasing accessibility for students with disabilities. Hanlon said that these ideas are now currently being reviewed by city and BPS officials with finances, equity, and the principles of the BuildBPS master plan in mind. In November, a recap of themes brought up in the community meetings will be released, and stakeholders will meet in December. In January 2018, the next round of community engagement starts up again. As shown in the BuildBPS Master Plan, the project’s team visited all of the Boston Public Schools’ buildings and rated each one based on four categories: building; site; learning environment effectiveness; and learning space effectiveness. In addition, the capacity of each BPS building was measured and analyzed. According to the BuildBPS Master Plan, “Capacity raises a complex set of questions about how much space is available, and how that space may be appropriately used to serve students of particular ages, in various programs, for a wide range of uses.” The way the buildings are being utilized today, capacity is at 69,100 seats, which includes extra empty classrooms and classrooms that are not full, according to the Master Plan. Through continued investments,
BANNER PHOTO
Turahn Dorsey, John Hanlon and Tommy Chang speak to parents during a BPS open house. BuildBPS plans to “move from the current capacity of today towards the educational capacity of tomorrow” with 55,500 seats, city officials say. Hanlon stated that this doesn’t mean that schools will lose seats, but that the team is looking into reconfiguring grades or consolidating buildings and spaces to include additional spaces for enrichment programs, specialty subjects and counseling. Unease and distrust rose among the public last year when emails obtained by the parent group Quality Education for Every Student showed BPS officials, staff, and the mayor discussing how an outside consultant report, the McKinsey Report, could be used to drive
BPS Policy. The report included a recommendation to close as many as 50 school buildings. Mayor Walsh responded to QUEST’s assertion that the email communications proved lack of transparency with the public over school closings in an email to the Banner last June. “While I appreciate the input of the McKinsey report, it is only a starting point for analysis, and I have made it clear that I am not comfortable with any proposal that would close schools until we complete our comprehensive facilities master plan,” his statement read.
ON THE WEB BuildBPS: https://www.bostonpublicschools. org/BUILDBPS
4 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
EDITORIAL
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Established 1965
A losing strategy America has waged a war on drugs since 1970 that has cost almost $1 trillion. The cost for law enforcement in 2015 was $36 billion. Another estimated $40 billion is spent each year for incarcerating persons convicted of drug related crimes. Together that totals $76 billion, not including the social cost of imprisoning a family’s bread winner. An objective analysis would have to conclude that America has lost the war on drugs. Yet in his remarks on the opioid crisis Trump seems not to have been told the news. His Attorney General Jeff Sessions has promised to escalate the campaign to arrest drug dealers, Trump has once again promised to build the wall to close off Mexico, and he promised a dynamic advertising campaign similar to Nancy Reagan’s flawed “Just Say No” to drugs campaign. The major drug problem now is that an estimated two million Americans are addicted to prescription opioids.
These drugs are not brought into the country over the Rio Grande. The Medicaid program of the Affordable Care Act now treats 30 percent of those addicted to opioids who are not elderly adults. Trump’s attack on Obamacare would end that service. More than 33,000 people were killed by opioids in 2015. Projections are that more than 93,000 drug deaths could occur annually by 2027 if the problem is not resolved. The cost of continuing the present failing counterstrategies would be financially destabilizing. Perhaps it is time to decriminalize drug addiction and treat addicts as medical patients. Portugal has demonstrated the benefits of this approach. It is much less expensive to treat addicts than to imprison them. There have already been some policy measures in this direction. With the high death rate from drug addiction in the U.S., a remedial policy is long overdue.
“He’s going to prevent medical attention with his attack on Obamacare while Jeff Sessions throws addicts in jail.” USPS 045-780 Melvin B. Miller Sandra L. Casagrand John E. Miller Yawu Miller
Publisher/Editor Co-publisher Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Senior Editor ADVERTISING
Rachel Reardon
Advertising Manager NEWS REPORTING
Karen Miller Karen Morales
Health Editor Staff Writers
Time to occupy With the passing time, the institution of the funeral becomes more significant to African Americans in their vintage years. Even to those with little philosophical bent, the growing loss of friends and family members causes one to consider the brevity of life. The impediments confronting blacks in America are so challenging that often only the most talented pastors can assure the grieving of the ultimate blessing of life. When the obituary of the deceased lists numerous achievements it is relatively easy to offer communal gratitude for those blessings. At the funeral of Muriel Walker, an ordinary citizen with a strong independent streak, Rev. Julian A. Cook relied upon Luke 19:13 to inspire the mourners. Indeed, many blacks suffer from the
infirmity of being risk-averse. In Jesus’ proverb in the book of Luke, a wealthy man gives his servants money to invest while he is away. They are instructed to occupy themselves with increasing their fortunes. When he returns, those who decided “to occupy” were rewarded, and the wealthy man took his capital away from the one who failed to invest and gave it to the others. This is a profound message on the ultimate cost of fearfulness. Muriel lived for 100 years when times in America were tough. Yet she maintained her rugged independence. Rev. Cook reminds us that it is time to occupy, another expression for “get busy,” and increase our assets. But by turning to Saint Luke, he also informs us that “to whomever much is given, of him will much be required.” Luke 12:48.
Contributing Writers
Kenneth J. Cooper Anthony W. Neal Sandra Larson Brian Wright O’Connor
Staff Photographers
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Contributing Writers Colette Greenstein Celina Colby Susan Saccoccia Lloyd Kam Williams PRODUCTION Daniel Goodwin Shannon Owens
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The Boston Banner is published every Thursday. Offices are located at 1100 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124. Telephone: 617-261-4600, Fax 617-261-2346 Web site: www.baystatebanner.com Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA. All rights reserved. Copyright 2017. The Banner is certified by the NMSDC, 2016. Circulation of The Bay State and Boston Banner 27,400. Audited by CAC, June 2016. The Banner is printed by: TC Transcontinental Printing 10807, Mirabeau, Anjou (Québec) H1J 1T7 Printed in Canada
INDEX BUSINESS NEWS ………………………………...................... 20 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT …………………...................... 22 CLASSIFIEDS ……………………………………....................... 26
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OPINION
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Militarizing police under a cloak of secrecy
How do you think the government should best respond to the opioid crisis?
By LISA ROSENBERG In a move that will further militarize police departments across the country while decreasing accountability, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that strips away limits on weapons of war that the Defense Department can hand over to state and local police forces. The president’s order expands an existing Pentagon program that authorizes the transfer of military-grade tactical weapons, surveillance equipment and vehicles to civilian police departments, eliminating restrictions on the types of weapons that can be transferred and vastly reducing oversight of the program. The weapons program became notorious when police fitted with battle gear were photographed pointing assault weapons at protesters in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. After the images went viral, then-President Barack Obama issued an executive order that placed restrictions on the program and established reporting, oversight and training requirements for law enforcement agencies requesting the military equipment. The Obama-era order prohibited weapons like bayonets and grenade-launchers from being transferred to local law enforcement. Reversing the ban, the Trump order places weapons designed to be used by soldiers on battlefields in the hands of police, opening the door to intimidation and abuse of civilians which could result in a chilling effect on public dissent and protest. At the same time, abuses will be harder to detect. The President’s executive order will scrap minimal transparency requirements that had applied to the already secretive program, leaving the public in the dark about dangerous weaponry flowing into their communities. It took a strategic campaign by journalists and open government advocates to pry information from the Pentagon and local police departments to get basic figures on the amount and type of equipment that local police and sheriffs received, exposing just how prevalent the program is across the country. Now, even those minimal accountability measures have been stripped away. Contrary to the administration’s claims that the program will make us safer, expanding the weapons transfers while reducing accountability exacerbates the threat to public safety. Just last month, a government watchdog agency released a shocking assessment of the Pentagon program, exposing how easy it is for military weapons to fall into the wrong hands. Posing as a fake law enforcement agency, investigators requested and received over a million dollars in rifles, pipe bomb equipment, and night vision goggles after the Defense Department failed to verify the identity of individuals receiving the equipment. By expanding the program and decreasing safeguards to prevent abuse, the President increases the likelihood that dangerous weapons could fall into the hands of individuals who intend to do us harm. It now falls to Congress to push back against the creeping authoritarianism evidenced by the President’s decision to further militarize law enforcement while shackling oversight. To preempt this administration’s misguided actions, Congress must, at a minimum, assert its oversight authority and put in place requirements to ensure that if any transfers are permitted, they are subject to transparency mandates and that the Pentagon and police departments remain accountable to the public.
“
The President’s executive order will scrap minimal transparency requirements that had applied to the already secretive program, leaving the public in the dark about dangerous weaponry flowing into their communities.”
— Lisa Rosenberg
Lisa Rosenberg is the executive director of OpenTheGovernment, a nonpartisan coalition advancing transparency for accountability.
Very seriously. They need to use both treatment and enforcement of drug laws
Robert Santos
It’s bad out there. You see it in the streets. The government should put more money into treatment.
Nestor Castro
Unemployed Roxbury
Mass Health Coordinator South End
They should do more than what they’re doing. They should stop with the tax cuts for the rich and put money into treatment. And the president should shut his mouth.
I think they should get help for people who are struggling. More treatment beds instead of leaving people out in the cold.
Larry Ricketts
Brianna Allen-White
Call Center Coordinator Roxbury
Student Roxbury
The government should put more into treatment. They should deal with the people who want help.
Darrene Hurt Student Dorchester
I think they should collect unused prescriptions and keep drugs out of people’s hands. I don’t think there should be a war on drugs. That’s overdoing it.
Calvin Reece Case Manager Dorchester
IN THE NEWS
IMARI K. PARIS JEFFRIES Parenting Journey announced Imari K. Paris Jeffries has been named executive director of the organization. In this role, Paris Jeffries will lead Parenting Journey as the nonprofit continues to pursue and amplify its pro-family agenda. For more than 30 years, Parenting Journey has partnered with parents and caregivers to build stronger families by developing the inner strengths, life skills, and networks of resources they need to succeed. Since 2007, over 52,000 parents have participated in Parenting Journey programs—to the benefit of more than 131,000 children. “We are thrilled to have Imari lead and advocate for Parenting Journey,” said Anne Peretz, founder and board member of Parenting Journey. “His experience as a leader, community activist, and innovator will have an incredible impact on our organization and its efforts to promote policies, regulations, and community initiatives that support strong family growth and development.”
“Parenting Journey’s mission to build strong families aligns with my own personal values,” said Paris Jeffries. “We’re working hard to change the narrative around what makes a good parent. Parenting is universal and we strive to create a loving community that provides compassion and respect for all parents.” Prior to joining Parenting Journey, Paris Jeffries was CEO of Italian Home, a behavioral health organization in Boston. He served as the COO of Jumpstart, a national early education organization, for a year in their Greater Boston location; CEO of Boston Rising, an anti-poverty initiative, for over two years; and spent five years as the Executive Director of Friends of the Children-Boston, a mentoring organization for children of high-risk communities. An active member of the community, Paris Jeffries serves as a Trustee of The University of Massachusetts System and on the board of directors for the Appalachian Mountain Club. He
has also recently been appointed by Governor Baker to serve on the Black Advisory Commission. Paris Jeffries has previously served on the boards of the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership, Save the Harbor, Save the Bay, Third Sector New England, the Elizabeth Peabody House, and the African American Federation of Greater Boston.
6 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Edwards campaign takes aim at rival’s electoral base By KAREN MORALES
In the Sept. 26 preliminary election, Lydia Edwards finished just a percentage point behind North End resident Stephen Passacantilli. Last week she took the fight to the heart of his electoral base, holding a reception at a North End restaurant to meet with voters. In the preliminary election for District 1, which includes East Boston, the North End and Charlestown, Edwards received 77 votes fewer than Passacantilli, with 3,547 votes. Edwards and Passacantilli advanced to the Nov. 7 general election, while East Boston resident Margaret Farmer, who received 522 votes, will not be on the final ballot. The North End is a particularly challenging neighborhood for East Boston resident Edwards. Passacantilli won 71 percent of the area’s votes in the preliminary to Edwards’ 26 percent — but despite this, she told attendees of last week’s reception, “I feel welcome here.” The gathering took place at The Living Room, an intimate space where attendees were able to have one-on-one conversations with the candidate. “The North End is a pivotal community in this election,” Edwards told the audience. “I don’t want to continue seeing the privatization of our waterfront.” Edwards spoke about the biggest issues facing Boston’s oldest neighborhood: longtime residents
being priced out by new developments and the disruption of the community by student sublets. “They are welcome here, but they should be respectful of the fact that this is our home where people get up for work in the morning and raise families,” she said. The seasoned community organizer said she would communicate with universities in Boston about controlling the amount of students taking up housing stock in the city. Another pressing issue for the North End is the role of Airbnb short-term rentals. “It is one of the worst things to happen to our housing stock,” said Edwards. The candidate supports Airbnb only if it’s used “the way it was intended to,” she said, “as side income for homeowners and tenants.” She added, “I would also like to see a registry created for all Airbnb hosts in Boston.” The successful advancement to the general election of Edwards, who is African American, may signal a demographic shift in voting power in District 1, a traditionally Italian-American stronghold. And against Passacantilli in particular, whose grandfather was a North End city councilor for more than 20 years.
Making inroads
Edwards won 49 percent of the votes in Charlestown, with 1,317 of 2,675 votes. Gabriela Coletta, the Edwards campaign manager, said this strong showing may be because of Edwards’ educational background, including a
BANNER PHOTO
District 1 City Council candidate Lydia Edwards addresses supporters during a fundraiser at The Living Room in the North End. law degree, appealing to the large number of master’s and doctorate graduates in the neighborhood. In East Boston, with its large proportion of Latino residents, Edwards took the lead with 52 percent of the votes, while Passacantilli received 36 percent. These results could be an indication that the electoral strength of Latinos and millennials may soon eclipse the older white ethnic vote. For decades, Boston’s Italian American demographic
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elected their own city councilors, state representatives, and senators.
A shift
Gloribell Mota, Lead Organizer for Neighbors United for a Better East Boston ran for state representative in 2007 and saw firsthand the limited political power immigrants and Latinos in East Boston had a decade ago. “No one was representing or talking to the Spanish-speaking immigrant voters and people of color,” she told the Banner in a phone interview. “The politicians at the time didn’t speak their language, have the same culture, or connect with them, which resulted in low voting participation. One of the main reasons why I ran was because I didn’t understand how the local politicians were serving their constituents, if they couldn’t even communicate with them.” Now, she observed, there has been a huge shift in voter participation from those once-marginalized groups due to a combination of population influx and a change in campaign strategy seen in Spanish-English campaign literature and the use of canvassing volunteers who speak Spanish. “There are now efforts to reach out to them directly in this election cycle, which is why we’re seeing these numbers in East
Boston,” she said. “What I’m excited to see,” Mota continued, “Is the upcoming youth who were born here from immigrant families who support progressive policies and voted for Bernie Sanders in the presidential election. They’re a demographic that hasn’t been very active yet in municipal elections, but it would interesting to see if they offset the traditional vote.” Edwards told the Banner that her campaign focuses not only on local issues, but larger social justice goals that “are a part of a greater movement that millennials are attracted to.” Recently, Charlestown resident and former opponent in the city council race Jack Kelly endorsed Edwards, which could help her capture more of Charlestown’s votes. Former candidate Farmer has also endorsed Edwards. With Edwards’ lead in East Boston partially offsetting Passancantilli’s lead in the North End, Farmer’s endorsement could give Edwards more of an edge if she is able to pick up Farmer’s votes. Edwards supporter Sarah Duncan, a North End resident who wishes to see less development blocking the waterfront, called Edwards a true public servant. She said, “For me, it’s important to have women and people of color in power.”
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7
8 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
HEALTH NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER
Neonatal abstinence syndrome: Cuddling as the first line of treatment When you hear the words “substance use disorder,” (SUD) the image of a male immediately comes to mind for most people. That’s understandable. In this country the SUD rate for males ages 12 and older is 10 percent versus 5.7 percent for females, according to Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. But there’s another group of individuals dependent on opiates who are not initially counted. Newborns. An estimated 6 percent of pregnant women use illicit drugs, and the uptick in maternal opioid use has resulted in a dramatic increase in a drug withdrawal syndrome in newborns called neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS. The opiates pass through the placenta that connects the baby to the mother before birth. As a result, the baby becomes dependent on the drug as well. There has been a 5-fold increase in NAS since 2000, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Every 25 minutes a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal. “Symptoms occur within two to three days after birth,” explained Elisha A. Wachman, M.D., a neonatologist at Boston Medical Center, home of the Grayken Center for Addiction. “All have manifestations of NAS, but not all require [medication] treatment.” Symptoms are primarily neurological in nature. The baby
may experience irritability, tremors, poor sleeping, difficulty eating, vomiting or diarrhea. The most recent available data suggest that twelve percent of all NAS babies in the state are cared for by BMC. In many hospitals babies born with NAS are treated with methadone in the neonatal intensive care unit, but Wachman explains a different approach practiced at BMC. Parents are the primary caretakers. “Cuddling is the first line of treatment,” she explained. “We make sure they are sleeping, eating and comfortable. We hold them a lot and keep the lights low.” Babies born with NAS are making strides. Following a week of conservative treatment, only 30 percent of the infants require methadone because of continued symptoms of withdrawal. This plan of treatment also significantly decreases the cost of care. In addition to caring for babies with NAS, BMC works to ensure a safe delivery for pregnant women with SUD, many of whom are initially treated in BMC’s Project RESPECT, an acronym for Recovery, Empowerment, Social Services, Prenatal care, Education, Community and Treatment. The program provides a combination of obstetric care and substance use disorder treatment for pregnant women and their newborns. The multi-disciplinary team includes obstetricians qualified to administer
buprenorphine, which reduces symptoms of withdrawal, a psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders in pregnancy, an addiction psychiatry nurse practitioner and a licensed independent clinical social worker. “Relapse prevention and engagement in recovery treatment are our biggest initial challenges,” explained Kelley A. Saia, M.D., director of Project RESPECT. “We mainly manage methadone, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines and other mood stabilizers.” Each patient is managed individually. Patients face their share of challenges in addition to SUD. “These women are often overwhelmed by housing instability, food insecurity, safety issues and intimate partner violence,” explained Saia. “Our patients are often less able to handle illness.” Research suggests that substance use may effect women differently from men. Some women may
experience heart and neurological problems. Others are more likely to have anxiety or depression or be victims of domestic violence. That is one of the reasons that the participants in RESPECT have a consult with the program’s addiction psychiatry nurse practitioner, explained Saia. There is also an increased possibility of pregnancy-related complications. “Recent data … find alarming rates of maternal mortality due to substance use,” said Saia. They also have higher risks of hemorrhage, hypertension and pulmonary embolism. The challenges do not end with child birth. “Our biggest concern is how to help a new mother early in recovery to manage sobriety, motherhood, earn an income [and] provide for herself and her family,” Saia explained. The biggest risk is relapse and overdose. Because of this concern Saia and her cohorts maintain close contact
with the mothers the first four to six months after delivery. They are then transitioned to a primary care physician who has training in addiction. Planning is in the works to follow women for 12 months after delivery. These services for pregnant women with SUD have met with great success. In Project RESPECT, medication stabilization has improved from 27 to 100 percent at four weeks according to the program’s last quality assessment review. This is an important step in treatment, as this phase establishes the minimum dose of medication required to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. Project RESPECT, innovative treatments for NAS, and many other substance use programs at BMC are the backbone of the Grayken Center for Addiction, a leader in the treatment, prevention, research and training for substance use.
HE’S MORE THAN A LEADER;
HE’S A SURVIVOR. Michael Botticelli’s personal struggles with addiction led him to Washington D.C. where he served as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. While in the nation’s capital, he looked to Boston Medical Center for its groundbreaking advancements in addiction medicine. These unprecedented treatment programs and initiatives brought him to BMC to serve as Executive Director of the Grayken Center, where he is helping make long-term recovery a reality.
N T C E
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See Michael’s story and learn more at BMCAddiction.org
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9
FEMA had plan for hurricane response in Puerto Rico The disaster-relief agency won’t release plan even as document for Hawaii remains public By JUSTIN ELLIOTT AND DECCA MULDOWNEY, PROPUBLICA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, citing unspecified “potentially sensitive information,” is declining to release a document it drafted several years ago that details how it would respond to a major hurricane in Puerto Rico. The plan, known as a hurricane annex, runs more than 100 pages and explains exactly what FEMA and other agencies would do in the event that a large storm struck the island. The document could help experts assess both how well the federal government had prepared for a storm the size of Hurricane Maria and whether FEMA’s response matches what was planned. The agency began drafting such advance plans after it was excoriated for poor performance and lack of preparation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
FOIA request
ProPublica requested a copy of the Puerto Rico hurricane annex as part of its reporting on the federal response to Maria, the scale and speed of which has been the subject of scrutiny and criticism.
More than a month after the storm made landfall, 73 percent of the island still lacks electricity. Early last week, a FEMA spokesman said he would provide a copy of the plan that afternoon. It never came. After a week of follow-ups, FEMA sent a statement reversing its position. “Due to the potentially sensitive information contained within the Hurricane Annex of the Region II All Hazards Plan, there are legal questions surrounding what, if any, portions of the annex can be released,” the statement said. “As such, the documents that you seek must be reviewed and analyzed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by FEMA.” The statement did not explain what legal questions apply. As ProPublica has previously reported, FEMA’s Freedom of Information process is plagued by dysfunction and years-long backlogs. For example, FEMA hasn’t responded to a request for documents related to Superstorm Sandy that we filed more than three and a half years ago. After FEMA declined to release
PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SGT. JOSE AHIRAM DIAZ-RAMOS
Puerto Rican residents walk in flooded streets in Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept. 22, 2017, following Hurricane Maria. the Puerto Rico hurricane plan, we found the agency’s equivalent plan for Hawaii posted, unredacted, on the internet by the Department of Defense. The Hawaii plan includes granular details down to, for example, how many specially outfitted medical aircraft the federal
government would send to Hawaii after a Category 4 hurricane. It also describes an 85-step process to restore electricity on the islands. Asked why the Puerto Rico plan was too sensitive to release publicly while the Hawaii plan was not, a FEMA spokesman
said: “We aren’t able to speak for DoD or the State of Hawaii.” Do you have information about FEMA or other agencies’ responses to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico? Contact Justin at justin@propublica.org or via Signal at 774-826-6240.
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10 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
District 7 candidates debate at Islamic Society Ctr. Candidates agree (mostly) on affordable housing, clash over education policy By YAWU MILLER
In a debate last week, both candidates in the race for the District 7 City Council seat agreed to push the city to require deeper affordability on new housing developments, to update the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan and make the body that oversees it more democratic, and to push for greater transparency for development projects on public land. Housing issues dominated the sole debate scheduled for the District 7 race. Held last Friday at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, the event was co-sponsored by Reclaim Roxbury, Alternatives for Community and Environment, and Neighbors for Neighbors. The questions for the candidates were preceded by statements from Roxbury residents. “I worry that with the developments coming into Roxbury and the rising rents, I’ll be priced out,” said Amanda Govan, before the two candidates were asked whether they would sign onto a letter calling on the Boston Planning and Development Agency to require income guidelines for affordable units built in Roxbury to be capped at 30 percent of the HUD-designated area median income, which would mean $31,000 for a family of four. Currently, units designated as affordable in Roxbury can be sold to people making as much as 120 percent of the AMI, which comes to $124,100 for a family of four. “I share some of the same apprehensions and anxieties,” said candidate Rufus Faulk, questioning whether his 3-year-old daughter would be able to afford to stay in Roxbury. “Signing onto that letter would be a priority from day one.” Candidate Kim Janey noted that two-thirds of District 7 residents earn $55,000 or less per year. “That is the reason people can’t afford rents,” she said, noting that average rents in Boston are $2,000 a month. Janey added, however, that she supports more moderately-affordable housing as well. Janey said she would support a more democratic Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, advocating for the group to have veto power over
development projects. “I have seen the frustration of community members who come out to the meetings and are not heard,” she said. Faulk, too, said he would support strengthening the oversight committee. He also noted his opposition to the 300-unit apartment complex proposed for 45 Townsend Street in Roxbury, though that project is by a private developer and not in the RSMPOC’s purview. Faulk seized the opportunity to get in a dig at Janey, who has received some campaign contributions from local black developers, including John B. Cruz and Lisa Guscott. “I am not taking money from developers, because I believe you have to be independent,” he said. The focus on housing reflected the organizations sponsoring the debate and the prevailing concern in Boston’s black community that rents and housing costs are too high and that many in the community can no longer afford to live in the city.
LAUREN MILLER PHOTOS
(above) District 7 candidate Kim Janey. (below) Artist Napoleon Jones Henderson listens to Faulk and Janey debate.
Audience questions
Audience questions covered a wider range of topics, including education, employment and campaign funding sources. When asked what they would do to provide adequate resources to public schools in District 7, Janey cited her work as a policy director for Massachusetts Advocates for Children and said she would advocate for more students being in rigorous advanced work classes that help propel them
See DISTRICT 7, page11
LAUREN MILLER PHOTOS
(left) Former City Councilor Chuck Turner chats during a warm-up exercise. (right) Audience members at the Islamic Cultural Center of Boston.
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Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11
LAUREN MILLER PHOTOS
(above) Joshua McFarlane and Liz Miranda. (below) Yusufi Vali, executive director of Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center.
LAUREN MILLER PHOTO
Rufus Faulk gives opening remarks during the District 7 debate. universities, as nonprofit entities, are not permitted to make political contributions under federal law.
Campaign finance
P
District 7 continued from page 10
toward attending exam schools, and would work to bring more black and Latino teachers into the system. “That’s what I’ve been doing and that’s what I’ll continue to do as the next district councilor for District 7,” she said. Faulk rebutted Janey’s response, claiming that the quality of education in District 7 has been on the decline for the last 20 years, although BPS data do not support this claim. “You can’t claim to be a leader in education policy and yet the quality of our schools has been on the decline,” he said. When asked how the candidates would ensure how district schools do not lose funding to charter schools, Faulk said he would work to make sure the state budget fully funds Boston schools. Janey cited her record opposing Question 2, which would have
raised the cap on charter schools, and advocating for BPS funding. Asked how she would ensure there’s funding for youth summer jobs, Janey said she would make such jobs a priority and also pressure locally-based corporations to provide summer and year-round jobs. Faulk said his first job was through the city’s former red shirt summer jobs programs. He said he would conduct an assessment to find out what the actual demand is for summer jobs. Asked what she would do to make sure District 7 residents have access to good-paying jobs, Janey cited the importance of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour through the Fair Share Amendment ballot question, and emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses. “They employ us,” she said. Faulk cited his solidarity with Northeastern University cafeteria workers, then took another dig at Janey, claiming that the university is supporting her campaign, though he offered no proof — and
The final question from an audience member was, “Have you received money from either developers and contractors looking to build in Roxbury?” The question seemed aimed at Janey, who has been targeted by opponents circulating an anonymous letter pointing out that her campaign has received donations from several developers. “The short answer is no,” said Rufus Faulk. “I’m not going to be bought off by people who are trying to displace us from our
homes. My campaign is grassroots. Community-driven.” He said he has stood against the Rio Grande project, a residential tower proposal for Dudley Square by a black-led development team. Faulk, who reported $1,175.37 in his campaign account (including $1,133.35 in non-itemized receipts) as of the Oct. 15 filing deadline, has received far fewer donations than Janey, who reported a balance of $20,185.26. Janey acknowledged that donors included those involved in construction and real estate, but noted that they accounted for less than 5 percent of the funding she has raised, and that the developers are of the
community. “That less-than-five-percent [of donations] have been from black business owners from our community,” she told the audience. “We talk about wanting affordable housing. Who builds that? Cruz Construction. They create jobs and employ people who look like us in our community. So I’m proud to have the support of Cruz.” Janey garnered 1,534 votes in the Sept. 26 preliminary, besting a field of 12 candidates. Faulk had 719 votes. The two will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot to replace outgoing District 7 Councilor Tito Jackson, who is challenging Mayor Martin Walsh.
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12 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
OPINION
The Poor People’s Campaign and the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize: A national call for a moral revival By PHILLIP LEDERER
The mass meeting at Boston’s historic Trinity Church on Oct. 19 was packed with men, women, and children, rich and poor, of all races and ethnicities. The jazz band warmed up, a piano, bass guitar, and drums. And we sang, call and response: Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom I said I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom Well I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom Hallelu, hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, hallelujah The moral revival signaled the kickoff of a modern civil rights movement and launch of a new Poor People’s Campaign. We were revitalizing what the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had started before his assassination. In the 1960s, Dr. King had surprised many by adding opposition to the Vietnam War to the civil rights campaign he was leading. The same linkage of struggle on behalf of the poor, with opposition to militarism, is now a logical path. Reverends Liz Theoharis and William J. Barber II, leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign, took the stage at Trinity Church and both spoke with a prophetic fire. We must challenge systemic racism, poverty, voter suppression, environmental destruction, and militarism, they argued. Wars increase social upheaval and hurt the poor. Instead, invest in schools, affordable housing, job training, and healthcare for all. But how to finance the Poor People’s Campaign? The answer is simple. The Costs of War project at Brown University documented that the U.S. federal government has spent or obligated $4.8 trillion on wars in the Middle East. Most Americans are not aware of that enormous waste of money and
human lives. Professor Andrew Bacevich has argued that our military is on autopilot and these foreign wars are not putting Americans first. But what part of the military budget should be cut first? Nuclear weapons. The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on Oct. 6 to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations in more than 100 countries. ICAN received the Nobel Prize for their work supporting a new nuclear ban treaty. I am a practicing doctor, and my organization, Physicians for Social Responsibility, emphasizes the humanitarian consequences of nuclear war. Health professionals argue that the complete abolition of nuclear weapons is the only cure to the grave threat that these weapons represent. How much money would the adoption of the nuclear ban treaty save? America’s annual expenditure on nuclear weapons is approximately $60 billion. That money could help fix our struggling schools and broken social safety net. A grassroots nonviolent protest movement linking the Poor People’s Campaign and abolition of nuclear weapons is desperately needed. Such a movement should be led by the poor and working class. In the 1960s, Ella Baker, cofounder of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, stated, “Strong people don’t need strong leaders.” At Trinity Church, Reverend Barber brought us to our feet, with the words of Amos 5:16. Go out into the streets and lament loudly. Get everyone who is willing to fill up the malls and shops with cries of doom. Empty the stores, offices, workplaces, and enlist everybody in a general cry. When I hear you crying in the streets, then I’ll help you.
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Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13
Filling the gaps for formerly incarcerated Bostonians Office of Returning Citizens director working to solidify partnerships, offer wraparound services By SANDRA LARSON
Kevin Sibley is director of the city of Boston’s Office of Returning Citizens, a newly launched initiative within the Office of Public Safety to support individuals returning to Boston after release from state, federal and county correctional facilities, as well as others who were previously incarcerated. Sibley holds an MBA from Cambridge College and a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies from UMass Boston. He has two decades of experience in community-serving nonprofits and grantfunded initiatives, including The Home for Little Wanderers, The Boston Foundation’s StreetSafe Boston initiative, the John P. Holland Community Council, Greater Boston Kappa Charities and the GEAR UP program. Sibley serves as area director with the Kappa League, a national youth development program that teaches career readiness techniques and life skills with a collegiate focus to young men in grades 8–12, and is also an entrepreneur with his own travel agency. He lives in Dorchester. A few weeks into his new role, Sibley spoke with the Banner about the opportunities, challenges and goals he sees ahead.
What is the problem or challenge now – why is the Office of Returning Citizens needed? The challenge is that we have over 3,000 citizens a year coming back from incarceration, and not having a solid plan or partnership with all the agencies in the commonwealth. We have some great agencies, but we want to create a partnership and collaboration with all of them to make sure our citizens are not overwhelmed, and can get the information and help they need.
The city’s announcement said the new office will help fill gaps that exist within local, state, federal and county efforts. What are some of those gaps? What I’ve been doing [in my first weeks] is meeting with various partners in housing, employment, education, and health. From health partners, we’ve discovered that if someone is incarcerated for over 30 days, and was homeless, they’ll lose their chronic homelessness certification. Once they’re released, they don’t have that certification and have to start again. So that’s one of the nuances we deal with. Another is lack of access to identification. [And] we’re working with Lifeline cell phone providers, because having a cell phone is crucial. For employment and education, we are aligning ourselves with organizations that can help
with job readiness.
What have been your first tasks on the job? The key number one item we’re completing is putting together an advisory team of partners. As of right now, we have approximately seven partners we’re in discussion with. And that will grow. We have meetings all this week and next week to look at the partners, learn what their best practices have been and how effectively they’ve run their models.
What’s exciting so far? I’ve had an amazing reception from all our partners. They believe the office is a great idea and look forward to working with the city in this capacity.
How will you reach the people who need your services? Directly, and through partners. We’re having a website created now. Also, we’ll be going into different prisons and jails throughout the commonwealth to talk about our program and what we can provide.
And what exactly can you do for them? They’ll receive wraparound services. As an example: We realize that many of our community residents may need housing. We are taking an approach where we’re not looking at naming a shelter, but at rapid housing. As we look at the rapid housing concept, we may also be looking at some type of health or mental health check, and then at education or employment. So we’re able to wrap up all these services for our ‘customer,’ or citizen, and help them see beyond what they’ve seen before. We help create a path.
How will you measure success? Our immediate goal is to offer services to people in any way we can. There are so many factors in measuring recidivism, so we can’t necessarily say we’ve affected that. What we can do is provide excellent services. Our success will be measured by the partnerships we create and by the success of those individuals who we put into those various pipelines. We’re changing the paradigm. We all deserve second, third, maybe fourth chances. Success is being able to get up after falling down.
What portion of those 3,000-plus returning citizens will your office touch? That is something we will follow up on next year and assess. If we can just serve a portion of that number, maybe 10 or 20 percent in our first year, that will be positive. Since it is voluntary, we can’t say. Also, it requires time for
Learn how to ski or snowboard this winter Apply to be an adult volunteer for Youth Enrichment Services (YES)’s Learn-to-Ski or Snowboard & Teach program at www.yeskids.org/learnteach. Learn with us, then teach Boston youth. No transportation required. Must be 18+. Application deadline 11/15. Know how to ski or snowboard already? Apply at www.yeskids.org/ssvolunteer. E-mail volunteer@yeskids.org or call 617-267-5877 X 24 for more information.
people to feel comfortable, to feel safe, to feel they can trust us. Accessing our office is totally voluntary — 100 percent voluntary. We want to make that clear so [formerly incarcerated individuals and their families] understand we are not under the watchful eye of wherever they’re being released from. The challenge is immense. It could be seen as an overwhelming task. However, this is a task for entire communities to embrace. Families, organizations, churches — everyone who has been touched by this issue. Statistically, one in three men of color born after 2001 will have been affected by incarceration. It affects a lot of people and we want to make sure our office is assisting our residents of Boston.
Are you a Boston native? I am. I grew up here in Boston, on Waumbeck Street during the New Edition days, and Shawmut Avenue, Dudley, Mattapan... I was educated here, at Jamaica Plain High School. But in the summers, my mother sent me to Troy, Alabama. My grandparents had a little land there, and a mini-farm with chickens and pigs. We fed them, planted, harvested. That’s where I learned about hard work, from sunup to sundown.
How will you bring your prior
MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY DON HARNEY
Director Kevin Sibley speaks at the Oct. 26 launch event for the new Office of Returning Citizens, located at 22 Drydock Ave. in South Boston.
experience into this role? This job is very special, and a unique fit with what I’ve done in the past. My education, professional experience and connections allow me to really build the initial pieces for the office. I’ve worked with people outside prison walls all my life. I have family members who have been in and out of the system and have needed assistance. I have friends in that situation. Those personal experiences help fuel my desire to help. And my education helps me understand the business aspects of the office, that we are not successful unless we involve the community and create public private partnerships. My experience working with different agencies will come into play. I know there are individuals and organizations that want to help
and need to be shown how to help.
Will you continue to do some of your other mentoring activities? Absolutely. Mentoring never stops. It happens in the grocery store, outside the gas station, on your walk to the train station. So I’ve been mentoring for well over 18 years, and many of those fruits have come to bear in young men and women being successful in their organizations.
Is there anything else you want to mention? One of the things we’re looking to do next year is to have a program for children of incarcerated parents, some type of toy drive for them. And we’re looking at internship pipelines for employment. There are a lot of things in the works.
14 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
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16 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
reform
continued from page 1 including cocaine will no longer trigger a mandatory minimum sentence. Second offenses and drug violations within 300 yards of a school also no longer trigger mandatory sentences. The threshold for felony larceny, which was last set at $250 in the 1980s, will increase to $1,500 under the bill. Judges would be required to assess whether defendants are a flight risk or a danger and determine how much they can reasonably pay before determining bail amounts. The bill would also eliminate fees and fines charged to indigent defendants, including those for public counsel or parole. Included in the bill is a requirement that inmates in solitary confinement be given access to showers and books and be evaluated by mental health professionals. The House will take up the bill next. Advocates say the Senate’s reform measures will face stiffer resistance from the more conservative state representatives, who are more tightly controlled by legislative leadership.
Arroyo back at Registry
BANNER PHOTO
Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo celebrates his return to the office after a months-long suspension with a fundraiser at Merengue Restaurant in Roxbury.
right direction,” said Rahsaan Hall, tool. Facing a mandatory five-year director of the ACLU of Massachu- sentence, defendants will often setts Racial Justice Program. “There’s plead guilty to a lesser charge Differing opinions rather than contest charges with Criminal justice reform has a lot more that could be done.” Hall noted that selling heroin a trial. long been a priority of members Nine of the state’s 11 district atof the Massachusetts Legislative and the synthetic opioid fentanyl Black and Latino Caucus and the still would trigger mandatory min- torneys penned a letter panning the Senate bill. Progressive Caucus. The Senate imum sentences. “This undermines the cause Many prosecutors and police bill, sponsored by Progressive Caucus member William Browns- officials in Massachusetts are in and pursuit of fair and equal jusberger, goes a long way toward favor of mandatory minimum tice for all, largely ignores the ink success by discovering your ‘ikigai’ the reason for beingoften in Japanese. Prosecutors use terests of victims of crime, and achieving the criminal justice re- - sentences. forms for which community activ- lengthy mandatory sentences for puts at risk the undeniable strides offenses such as trafficking drugs and unparalleled success of Masists have been advocating. “This is a significant step in the in a school zone as a bargaining sachusetts’ approach to public
safety and criminal justice for at least the last 25 years,” the district attorneys wrote. Hall says locking up nonviolent drug offenders is not effective at combatting the state’s drug problem. “There’s no research that supports the notion that mandatory minimums prevent overdoses or reduce drug use,” he said. “They’re trying the same thing over and not getting different results.” Activists say they expect that the district attorneys will have
more sway over members of the House, a more conservative body than the Senate. Hall said the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences might be a sticking point for the House. Tompkins echoed what appears to be a prevailing sentiment among criminal justice reform advocates: that the bill is only the first step in a longer push for reform. “The longest journey begins with a single step,” he said. “This is a first step.”
Martha Fields Ikigai Workshop Nov 8, 2017 • 5:30-7:30 PM
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic illness and death in the United States. One in 11 Americans have diabetes — that is more than 29 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another 86 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition that, when poorly managed, can lead to serious complications and poor health outcomes (e.g., blindness, kidney disease, amputation). In Boston, and particularly in the city’s underserved neighborhoods, racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by diabetes: According to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) while 8.6% of all Boston residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, 14.1% of Boston’s black residents and 12.6% of its Latinos currently live with diabetes. BPHC also reports that diabetes-related hospitalizations and deaths per year are significantly higher among African Americans and Latinos. These statistics, alarming as they are, do not account for people who are at risk of developing diabetes. Committed to health equity and to raising awareness about diabetes and healthy living, Whittier Street Health Center is proud to participate in American Diabetes Month. We encourage everyone to take full advantage of our services, including our diabetes clinics, supported by a clinical pharmacist, wellness programs which include nutritional counseling by a licensed dietician, and fitness classes in our state-of-the-art Wellness and Fitness Club.
Achieve life and work success by discovering your ‘ikigai’ - the reason for being, in Japanese. Join this three-part series to learn more about achieving success in work and life as well. Free with RSVP: northeastern.edu/crossing
n Watch your weight n Eat healthily n Get more physical activity (at least 30 minutes each day) For more information, visit us at www.wshc.org under Clinical Services and Wellness Services tabs; give us a call at 617-427-1000; or simply walk in. Our dedicated staff will be more than happy to assist you.
Whittier Street Health Center 1290 Tremont St. Roxbury, MA 02120 T: 617-427-1000
1175 Tremont Street, Roxbury • 617-373-2555 Bay State Banner-Ikigai.indd 1
A few quick tips: If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk. To help prevent type 2 diabetes:
10/19/17 11:23 AM
Whittier @ Quincy Commons 282 Blue Hill Ave. Roxbury, MA 02120 T: 617-585-2550
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17
Voter fraud commission wants data it can’t keep it safe By JESSICA HUSEMAN AND DEREK WILLIS, PROPUBLICA
The voter-fraud-checking program championed by the head of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity suffers from data security flaws that could imperil the safety of millions of peoples’ records, according to experts. Indivisible Chicago, a progressive advocacy group in Illinois, filed a public-records request with Illinois and Florida for information on the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program. Crosscheck was created and run by the Kansas secretary of state’s office and is often cited by Kris Kobach, Kansas’ secretary of state, as a way to identify voters casting ballots in more than one state. Indivisible Chicago then posted emails and other documents it received, including messages exchanged between elections officials in Illinois and Florida and Crosscheck. The emails and records revealed numerous security weaknesses. Crosscheck’s files are hosted on an insecure server, according to its own information. Usernames and passwords were regularly shared by email, making them vulnerable to snooping. And passwords were overly simplistic and only irregularly changed. “It blows my mind — this is complete operational security incompetence,” said Joe Hall, the chief technologist for the Center for Democracy & Technology, an organization that promotes internet freedom. “You should consider all of that stuff in the hands of people who are clever enough to intercept
someone’s email.” The Kansas secretary of state’s office did not respond to emailed questions about Crosscheck’s security. Crosscheck was conceived in 2005 as a way to, as the name implies, let states compare their voting rolls to prevent people from registering in multiple states. Kansas operates the program at no cost to the states that participate. Crosscheck assures them — about 30 states use the program as of now — that it employs “industry standard encryption technology and passwords.” Hall disputes that. “It’s a complete lie,” he said. Kobach co-chairs President Donald Trump’s voter fraud commission, which has been under heavy scrutiny over whether it will be able to secure the vast voting data it has requested, including names, addresses and dates of birth for virtually every voter in the country. When Kobach requested this data in June, the commission was scorched with criticism and lawsuits in both federal and state courts over privacy concerns. Kobach sent a second letter to states in late July promising data would “be kept confidential and secure throughout the duration of the commission’s existence.” Experts say the documents released by Indivisible Chicago undercut Kobach’s claims that he understands how to protect voter data. “This raises serious concerns about the security of citizens’ data not only in Crosscheck, but with the voter fraud commission run by the same
Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund 2017-2018 Program Grants
The Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund was established on February 1, 1974, by a vote of the Library Trustees. The income is to be used for “literary instructive purposes at its Dudley Branch Library.” The Fellowes Trust Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the following grants awarded for Fiscal Year 2018. Play Reading Book Club, sponsored by ArtsEmerson Youth Arts for Social Change Conference & Job Fair, sponsored by Boch Center Take Back the Kitchen Classes, sponsored by Haley House Makanda Project Concerts, led by John Kordalewski Memoir/Personal Essay Writing Workshop, led by Naomi Lomba-Gomes Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, led by Bonita Jones Piano Classes, led by Carlos Vargas Smart Phones Workshops, led by Joel Mackall of Reidren Business Group, Tracing Our Roots workshops, led by Joel Mackall of Reidren Business Group Due to the renovation of the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library, these programs will take place at alternate locations in Roxbury. For more information on the dates and locations of these programs please visit the library’s website at www.bpl.org. To be placed on the mailing list to receive information about the programs, email fellowestrust@yahoo.com.
people,” said David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research. “They tell the voters, the states and the courts ‘trust us’ with personal data, but they refuse to answer basic questions about how they plan to secure or use that data.” Concern over the commission’s ability to keep data secure given the new information about Crosscheck’s methods is “absolutely justified,” said Kenneth White, director of the Open Crypto Audit Project, and a security researcher and consultant. Crosscheck’s data is stored on an FTP server run by the Arkansas Office of the Secretary of State. FTP servers are unencrypted, leaving passwords and downloads readable by electronic spies. It is standard across the industry to instead use SFTP (short for “SSH File Transfer Protocol”), which protects data from prying eyes, according to Hall. He compared FTP servers to a postcard and SFTP servers to a letter sealed in an envelope and locked in a vault. Employees of the Arkansas secretary of state’s office send login credentials to election officials in states participating in Crosscheck and restrict access to either the public IP address or a range of addresses used by election officials in those states. That’s an important step to ensure users can only access the system through one of the approved IP addresses, according to White — but he said well-resourced attackers would be able to get around this protection. And because Crosscheck routinely emailed full credentials, hackers may not even need to work particularly hard to do so. They could
simply “spoof” — essentially, mimic — the email address of a state authority and send an email to Crosscheck’s administrators adding a different IP address, said Shawn Davis, the director of forensics at Edelson PC, a Chicago-area law firm specializing in cyber security. The firm has begun working with Indivisible Chicago, and Davis will testify before an upcoming joint session of the Illinois House and Senate to discuss Crosscheck’s vulnerabilities. “Hackers do take these steps,” said Davis. “They are pretty patient — if they want to get the data they’ll do these things.”
Who’s really in charge of the voting fraud commission?
Newly released email data shows two Republican not-yet-members potentially influencing a controversial letter — even as a Democratic member claims he was largely excluded from the process. Illinois has been a member of Crosscheck since 2011, but emails released by Indivisible Chicago show that no Illinois official inquired about data security issues until this July, when Indivisible Chicago raised questions. In response, Vipin Nischal, an analyst at the Arkansas secretary of state’s office, confirmed the use of an FTP server but claimed “no unauthorized or anonymous access” had been found. Bryan Caskey, Kansas’s director of elections, said officials at the Kansas secretary of state’s office, which performs the matching work, also have access to the data. Arkansas employees sent emails to Crosscheck members containing
the FTP address, the username and the password in the same email, which is considered bad security practice. Operating procedures included in the records request show that this practice was standard — Crosscheck instructed all three things to be sent in a single email every January before the matches were done. Hall called this “completely, unbelievably irresponsible.” The Illinois State Board of Elections, which fulfilled one of the records requests from Illinois, redacted the FTP address but did not redact usernames and passwords. Passwords were emailed to all states in the same manner, leaving them vulnerable to similar exposure through public-records requests in other states. The passwords are simplistic, and emails from Crosscheck’s operators show they were rarely changed. “Due to the heavy work load on our IT Director, we will not be able to update the passwords for this data pull,” an Arkansas employee said in an email to Crosscheck participants in 2011. “If there is a specific state that really needs/ wants their password changed, please let me know and I will see what I can do for you.” Emails from Arkansas employees to the Illinois State Board of Elections in 2016 and 2017 also contained the same credentials. “[Secretaries of state] took an oath to the people of their states to protect the state constitution, and part of that is the safekeeping of the citizens information,” said White. “They are abdicating that responsibility by putting their data in this sort of system.”
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18 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
mayoral debate continued from page 1
The mayoral challenger said he would eradicate the BPDA and create a new city department in its place. He also said he would utilize public land for housing and ensure that each development would have one-third low income units, onethird moderate income units, and one-third market rate units. Moderator Braude said New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have mandated rent control as a solution to skyrocketing rents, and asked whether the candidates would consider doing the same in Boston. “I don’t believe rent control would work,” said Walsh. Jackson said he would consider it but proposed that he would work to raise the percentage of affordable units required in new developments from 11.5 to 25 percent and he would spend $5 million on creating flexible housing vouchers. Walsh contended that although 11,000 vouchers are currently issued by the city of Boston, vouchers are a short term solution and he prefers to invest in permanent housing for residents. As Jackson has stated many times throughout his mayoral campaign, he said the Walsh administration does not create enough affordable housing units and that the definition of affordable is still not accessible to many. “Affordable for the Walsh administration is [for incomes of ] $70,000 and up,” he said.
Racial Inequality
Moderator Braude shifted the debate towards the topic of racial
inequality and asked Jackson whether he thinks Walsh believes that black lives matter. “The Department of Justice said he didn’t do what he should have done,” said Jackson referring to charges of racism at Boston Latin School last year and the mayor’s delayed response to it. “Whether he believes black lives matter or not,” he continued, “his actions are what I take issue with.” Those actions, Jackson said, include putting forward a RFP to do a disparity study after another disparity study found only 0.5 percent of city contracts are given to businesses owned by people of color, which Jackson said, “makes no sense.” Jackson said the mayor’s “respectful disagreement” with the NAACP’s 218-page report that found that Walsh fell short in accomplishing campaign promises to increase educational outcomes, and provide employment, housing and public safety for communities of color, was dismissive. There is a 33-year difference in life expectancy between Roxbury and Back Bay residents, Jackson noted, with people typically living to age 58.9 and 91.9 in each respective neighborhood. A telling WGBH poll asked voters whether they think Boston is a city where their hopes and dreams can be realized. The results showed that 56 percent of white voters responded “yes,” compared to only 33 percent of black voters. “The NAACP report was a generational report,” said Walsh. “That’s failed policies by the federal government, by state government, and the city of Boston since I’ve been mayor, and before I was mayor.” He continued, “I have never
backed away from the issue of race. We had the first town meeting in the city of Boston where a mayor talked about racism.” He also noted his executive order last year to change the number of city-owned contracts and said 50 percent of public school educators hired since he became mayor are of color. “I do not deny there are issues we have to deal with, but we are talking about generational issues here that my administration is tackling,” he said.
Boston Police Department
Jackson said he would issue body-worn cameras and create a civilian review board to oversee the BPD, and modify the civil service exam to increase the number of officers of color in the Boston Police Department. He would also eradicate the “biased hair test that gives false positives for short curly hair,” he said, adding, “The city of Boston has spent over $1 million defending this test.” Walsh responded that Boston currently has the most diverse command staff in the history of the BPD and the most diverse cadet class. However, he continued to dodge the question of body-worn cameras, stating that the pilot study conducted by Northeastern University will be released sometime in December and that “it’s about building trust.” According to a WGBH poll, 78 percent of likely Boston voters are in favor of body cameras for police officers. Jackson cited the lack of diversity in public safety jobs as another concern, noting that 75 percent new BPD hires are whites, as are over 90 percent of new firefighters.
Homeownership
FALL FAIR Saturday, November 4th
Walsh stated that poverty has gone down 14 percent and arrests have decreased by 30 percent. He pointed to his creation of the My Brother’s Keeper program as a positive way to create opportunities for youth in Boston and keep them away from criminal activities.
plans to finance all of his proposed initiatives, noting that the city councilor had delayed in releasing a budget proposal as promised. Jackson said his FY19 Budget would be released in the next 48 hours. The budget was uploaded online two days later and can be read on Tito Jackson’s campaign website.
Business Development
Transportation
For Jackson, the $25 million tax incentive offered to GE was too much, and he would not offer any sort of financial incentive to Amazon, the giant online retailer looking to locate their second headquarters. “I helped bring Google into Boston based on the workforce and locale that we have,” he said. Walsh said that GE has invested $25 million in local education, $25 million in job training programs in Boston and $10 million in healthcare. As for Amazon, Walsh argued that its location in Boston could give the state a chance to look at new MBTA investments and improvements.
Education
In response to Jackson’s accusation that the mayor is willing to expedite business deals like GE and Amazon but not properly fund public education, Walsh said he doesn’t want to simply throw money at schools, but build pathways to success. He said that the current $1.1 billion school budget is up since 2013, and cited the BuildBPS plan and Dearborn STEM Academy as successful initiatives. Jackson said, “As mayor, I will fully fund BPS for more nurses, art, music, and computer science education. I would democratize the education system and the school committee, which would not be appointed by the mayor.” Braude asked Jackson how he
Both candidates agreed on issues of transportation such as bringing back late night T service and increasing the use of bicycles. Walsh said he is open to the possibility of a Red-Blue Line connection, and Jackson said he wants to look into creating bus rapid transit, a successful transportation option in places like Mexico City. To close the debate, both candidates were asked to say the best thing they thought their opponent accomplished during their political career. “The best thing the mayor has done is try to deal with the issue of opioids. I don’t think he has been all successful in that space, but I do believe that he has made an attempt,” said Jackson. Walsh thought that the best thing Jackson has done is to care passionately about the kids in Boston. “We may not agree on everything but the bottom line is we care about those kids that are right here.” Jackson called out Walsh for continuing to have two City Hall officials that have been federally indicted still on the payroll. During the debate, the mayor was again asked whether he appeared before a grand jury and again, Walsh declined to respond because he said there is still an open case that will be heard in January. But he defended keeping the officials on staff. “They are getting paid. Because in the United States of America, people are innocent until proven guilty,” said Walsh.
Where Their Future Begins Educating Children ages 4 months to 5 years old with a focus on learning through play, physical activity, nutrition and social-emotional health
Now Accepting Applications for the Fall! Call 617-442-8800 ext 1219 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury www.dimock.org
Learn how the Boston Home Center can help you buy, maintain or retain your home! Mildred Ave. Community Center 5 Mildred Avenue, Mattapan Saturday, November 4th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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The Boston Home Center HomeCenter.Boston.gov 617.635.HOME (4663) BOSTON HOME CENTER
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Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19
Pressley
continued from page 1 Pressley is campaigning for re-election on her record of working to expand the city’s response to trauma, as well as her work on the issue of displacement of low- and moderate-income tenants in Boston’s real estate market and on anti-violence initiatives. Next week voters will cast ballots for mayor and district and at-large City Council candidates. While much of the news coverage has focused on hotly contested district races in Roxbury’s District 7 and the East Boston-Charlestown-North End District 1, the four incumbent at-large councilors are battling for dominance on the citywide ballot. Pressley and the other at-large councilors — Michael Flaherty, Annissa Essaibi-George, and Michelle Wu — are facing challenges from perennial candidate Althea Garrison, business owner Domingos DaRosa, IT specialist William King and Pat Payaso, a clown formerly known as real estate developer Kevin McCrea. The race clearly is lopsided, with the four incumbents among them reporting more than $600,000 cash on hand as of the Oct. 15 Office of Campaign and Public Finance filing deadline, while three of the four challengers reported less than $1,000 in their accounts. Payaso put $1 million of his own funds in his account, but has spent less than $500 on the race. In the last municipal election cycle, Pressley continued a streak of first place finishes, garnering 31,783 votes citywide, closely
“
I want to earn the votes and the confidence of the voters to continue to do this work” — Ayanna Pressley
followed by Michelle Wu, who had 28,908 votes. This year, the competition for the number one seat may be more heated. Wu, who reported $208,017 on hand as of Oct. 15, has been campaigning in the predominantly black and Latino wards where Pressley has typically won the majority of the vote. On the Sept. 26 preliminary election day, Wu was stationed outside the Higginson-Lewis school, a Ward 12 polling location where four precincts vote, an indication she may be pushing to secure more votes in the predominantly black and Latino strongholds where Pressley has dominated in past elections. Some in the black community say it’s important that Pressley maintain her dominance in the atlarge race. “I think it’s very important that we have a black woman at the top,” said community and political activist Sarah Ann Shaw. “Because she’s the person that she is, she stands up for issues that benefit not only people of color, but all people. That’s why she is the top vote-getter.” Pressley, who had $58,317 in her account on Oct. 15, said she’s focused on getting re-elected. “I want to earn the votes and the confidence of the voters to continue to do this work,” she said.
20 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
BUSINESSNEWS Initiative helps build credit www.baystatebanner.com
CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS
BIZ BITS
TIP OF THE WEEK Steps to improve cybersecurity
There was a time you could run a small business with a bank account, a telephone, an internet connection and some sort of physical base. These days, cybersecurity has been added to this list as a necessity nearly every small business owner needs to consider. This is especially true for small businesses such as law offices or accounting firms that deal with a client’s highly sensitive information. Despite recognizing the need for effective IT security to guard against the next cyberattack, 83 percent of businesses say organizational difficulties put their company at risk, according to a global survey conducted by Citrix. In addition, 74 percent of businesses say they need a new IT framework to improve security and reduce risk. Because of the highly technical and complicated nature of cyberattacks, many small business owners don’t understand the enormity of these threats, and most learn the hard way. Cybersecurity is a very real and very serious matter, but the more you know about it, the better you can prepare against an attack. n Assess current security tools. Your company’s data is only as safe as the technology it employs. Instead of thinking how well protected you are, consider bringing in an outside consultant to expose your vulnerabilities. n Invest in staffing. It can be challenging for a small business to hire new employees. But because the cyber threat is so real and potentially devastating, hiring knowledgeable and experienced security personnel might be the most important step you can take to protect your business. n Encrypt your data. You may trust your personal photos and music to the web, but your business’s and your clients’ data raises a whole other host of concerns. Many business-class cloud services employ encryption technology, which transforms data in an indecipherable code that can only be opened with a specific key as it travels between secure destinations. n Create and enforce a standard IT policy. Whether you have a traditional office setup, contractors working remotely or a bring-your-own-device policy, make it a priority for employees to understand the security risks involved with using unapproved applications. n Be proactive. Stay updated on the latest developments and concerns in the cybersecurity landscape and how you can improve your company’s defenses. — Brandpoint
NUMBER TO KNOW
$1.8
million: A note with Albert Einstein’s handwritten notes on how to live a happy and fulfilling life were recently sold at a Jerusalem auction house for $1.8 million.
TECH TALK Twitter to label election-related ads Twitter recently announced it would begin labeling election-related advertisements in response to a threat of regulation from the U.S. government over the See BIZ BITS, page 21
PHOTO: MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY DON HARNEY
Mayor Martin Walsh announces the Boston Builds Credit program, which will help residents access loans and mortgages.
Boston Builds Credit aimed at helping 25,000 Hub residents The city of Boston’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) last week launched a first-in-thenation citywide credit building initiative, Boston Builds Credit, aimed at helping at least 25,000 Boston residents attain a credit score of at least 660 by the year 2025 through financial education and one-on-one financial coaching. The program will be launched in Roxbury, and will expand to Dorchester and Mattapan in the following years. The program is a partnership between the OFE, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and LISC Boston. The planning process and program development is supported by a grant from Citi Community Development, and funding from Bank of America. Mayor Martin Walsh announced Boston Builds Credit, and the related program Bank On Boston, at an event welcoming the Cities for Financial Empowerment Coalition conference to Boston. The CFE Coalition is a nonprofit that works to improve the financial stability of low-and-moderate income households through local government. Boston was selected to become a member of the Coalition in 2015. In Boston, an estimated 100,000 people do not have a credit score, and 136,000 have a poor credit score. These individuals pay higher interest and fees on mortgages, home insurance, car loans, and college financing, causing “expense inequality,” a term used to describe the sustained overpayment of interest and fees on financial products. A good credit history is a prerequisite for everyday financial
products and services such as lowcost credit cards, bank accounts or car loans. Renting an apartment, paying for home insurance, signing up for utilities and even landing a job can also be affected by a person’s credit history, or the absence of one. A good credit score is necessary to attain the tools to access a college degree, buy a home, or start and grow a small business. BBC’s interim goal is to help 3,000 Bostonians achieve a prime score and/or average credit score increase of 30 points over the next three years. United Way has convened many of the partners over the past few months, including community-based organizations, employers and financial institutions to develop the initiative and raise funds, as well as provide training to financial coaches in partnership with the Credit Builders Alliance. In addition to its partnership with Boston Builds Credit, United Way this year is also investing over $600,000 in community-based organizations in Boston to support financial coaching and credit-building work. “We are grateful for the collaboration of so many committed community and funding partners who are participating in this initiative and who will be working with us to promote economic prosperity for all Bostonians,” said Michael K. Durkin, United Way president and chief executive officer.
Action plan
The City and its partners, in collaboration with numerous community partners, have developed the following plan to guide BBC’s implementation:
1. Implement citywide strategies: n Launch a public education campaign to reach residents with credit building information and tools n Train credit building specialists to provide services n Build a network of credit building resources with multiple points of access. BBC is partnering with more than 25 non-profit agencies collectively representing over 100 Boston community-based organizations to implement credit building across the city. Credit building workshops, along with individualized credit building services will be available both directly and through referrals across this network. n Facilitate access to safe credit products. BBC is partnering with a number of financial institutions to ensure that safe, affordable credit building products are available and that consumers are aware of and have access to these products. 2. Test citywide strategies in specific neighborhoods BBC will provide intensive and coordinated outreach to and services for residents living and/or working in particular neighborhoods identified as high need. This place-based strategy will be piloted first in Roxbury where there is need and to take advantage of the Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment, which already offers free financial coaching. In subsequent years, the place-based strategy will be tested in two additional neighborhoods — Dorchester and Mattapan. 3. Effect systems change Bolstered by a robust learning
and evaluation component, BBC will effect systems change as follows: n Promote investments imbued with a credit building lens. BBC will seek to build the field by encouraging more grantmakers, municipalities and social investors to increase their investments in programs that integrate credit building to enhance both client and organizational outcomes. n Replicate in other municipalities. BBC will serve as a national model for other municipalities interested in creating similar citywide credit building initiatives. To do so, BBC will develop an implementation toolkit that will be available along with training and consulting opportunities to interested municipalities. n Disrupt predatory practices. BBC will work to disrupt highcost, predatory practices by promoting the introduction of better products and services into Boston, starting with the three neighborhoods identified for place-based credit building. n Promote access to accurate, real time, accessible credit education. BBC aspires to open up a dialogue with credit industry stakeholders and to help bridge gaps in understanding, debunk myths, and foster a collective sense of urgency to help set consumers and small businesses up for success. n Promote consumer protection. BBC will advocate for strong consumer financial protections at both the local and state levels, and contribute where appropriate to federal efforts to educate legislators on issues and initiatives that
See CREDIT, page 21
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21
BUSINESSNEWS CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS
credit
JOBS
continued from page 20 seek to improve the lives of all Americans. BBC invites the participation of additional partners — Boston’s community-based organizations, employers, small business owners, financial institutions, the credit industry, funders, residents and others — to join this effort.
Bank On Boston
How are your timemanagement skills? By KAILA KEA, ZIPRECRUITER.COM
Time management and scheduling skills are highly valued by employers across several rapidly growing industries, including information technology and construction. The following questions can be used to assess whether your time management and scheduling skills are laudable or lacking.
How much time do I have each day to complete work? Good time management and scheduling skills start with knowing how much time you have to work with. This may vary by industry, season and customer needs, but a typical workday might allow for 5-7 hours to complete tasks.
Am I comfortable saying ‘no’ to use my time wisely? No matter what industry you work in, you can be sure that people are a part of it. In some cases, people can unintentionally thwart our efforts to manage our time well. While most group tasks at work, such as meetings and training, are mandatory, some things can wait until you have managed your time according to the schedule. You can politely yet assertively say “no” to spontaneous lunch invitations, pleas for immediate assistance with assignments, or other potential threats to effective time management and scheduling.
After my work is finished, do I usually have extra time or am I just barely meeting the deadline?
Examine your work patterns to assess your skill set. If you find that, during a typical workday, you are often rushing to complete work with no additional time between the end of one assignment and the start of another, you may not be managing your time well.
What kind of feedback have I received about my time management?
ON THE WEB For up-to-date information on BBC, please visit www.bostonbuildscredit.org Find out more about the national Bank On movement at www.cfefund.org/bankon or about Bank On Boston at www.bankon-
boston.org. Additional information about the Office of Financial Empowerment may be found at
www.ofe.boston.gov
Walsh also announced the launch of Bank On Boston, a new city-led program to connect residents with reliable, non-predatory financial products and services that can help them save, grow, and access their money. In Boston, approximately 10 percent of households do not have a checking or savings account, and rely on costly alternative financial services, such as check-cashing and payday loans.
Bank On Boston will identify local financial products and services that meet “safe banking” standards, known as Bank On Certified Accounts. Bank On Certified Accounts must be low-cost or no-cost, easy to use, and safe. Bank On Boston is part of a nationwide movement of Bank On programs led by the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund. Bank On Boston will raise public awareness, expand access to financial education, and help
Biz Bits
running and any images associated with election campaigns.
continued from page 20 lack of disclosure for political spending on social media networks. Twitter will launch a website detailing what ads are currently running on the social media outlet. Users can see how long the ads have been
THE LIST According to Forbes, America’s top 10 most generous philanthropists are: 1. Warren Buffet ($2.8 billion) 2. Bill and Melinda Gates ($2.1 billion)
connect residents to other OFE asset building initiatives such as Boston Saves, the Boston Tax Help Coalition, and Boston Builds Credit. The program in Boston is organized by the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), with the help of local financial institutions, community organizations, and city, state, and federal partner agencies. Walsh launched the Office of Financial Empowerment in 2014. Its mission is to connect city residents seeking to improve their financial situation with access to asset building programs, financial education and individualized coaching, and income support. By assisting residents to obtain the tools to achieve financial prosperity, economic well-being can become a reality for Bostonians of all ages.
Written by the Mayor’s Press Office
3. Michael Bloomberg ($600 million) 4. George Soros ($531 million) 5. Chuck Feeney ($482 million) 6. Walton Family ($454 million) 7. Paul Allen ($341 million) 8. James & Marilyn Simons ($293 million) 9. Gordon & Betty Moore ($289 million) 10. John & Laura Arnold ($277 million) — More Content Now
Have the people at work dubbed you Punctual Patty or Tardy Tim? Consider some of the feedback you’ve received from colleagues and management about your timeliness. If they have noticed that your scheduling skills are impacting business operations negatively or positively, they will likely speak on it, and you can use this feedback to assess your skills.
How long do work assignments typically take me to complete compared to how long I expect them to take? Plans do not always go according to schedule, and we have to make adjustments. But, if you find that you are consistently taking longer than anticipated on assignments, this may be a sign that your time management and scheduling skills need to be refined.
On average, how many times per day am I overbooked? Do you carefully schedule commitments then check before adding new ones? Or, are you accepting new commitments then finding that there is too much on your schedule? Overbooking inhibits effective time management. Keeping your schedule nearby and checking it hourly can help with this.
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imagine inclusivity Non-binary talent shines at Roxbury’s OUT’hood Fest By CELINA COLBY
Last week, The Theater Offensive debuted OUT’hood FEST, a music festival featuring original works by LGBTQ artists of color, at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. Born from the OUT’hood Residency Program, a Theater Offensive program that supports artwork by and for LGBTQ people, the festival featured six talents over seven days. Black Venus, a Boston-bred writer, actor and vocalist kicked off the festival with their multimedia piece “Speculum” over a two-day period. In their artist statement Black Venus wrote, “To be black and queer is to be rendered invisible. Throughout our existence, black queer and trans people have carved out our own spaces to overcome dominant social perspectives that invalidate our
lives and experiences.” Hip-hop artist Billy Dean Thomas, known as “The Queer B.I.G,” performed from her 10-track conceptual album Rocky Barboa. The album follows the narrative of a boxing match while drawing parallels between the bob and weave of the fight and the rhythm and rhyme of the hip-hop genre. The fight theme also references Thomas’s own experience fighting for recognition as a queer artist in a male dominated genre.
Thomas graduated from Smith College with a degree in Cultural Psychology and that intellectual background shines in her lyrics, which highlight intersectional feminism and #blacklivesmatter among other topics. The festival represented inclusivity in both gender and sexual orientation and artistic media. In addition to traditional performances, the festival also hosted experiences and installations with crowd participation. OUT’hood Resident Artist Eddie Maisonet led “The
ON THE WEB To learn more about the OUT’hood artists, visit: www.thetheateroffensive.org
QTPOC Mixtape Project,” an interactive piece meant to make space for the stories of Boston queer people of color. Storytelling stations facilitated by Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC) and Community Storytellers Erin Ebony, Danny Harris Sr., J.D. Stokely and Cheyenne Harvey, fostered a group dialogue about the changing culture of Boston, and what that means for the queer community. Maisonet is an Afro Puerto Rican queer non-binary artist, who aims to create healing in his community through storytelling. Through sharing experiences, people can both come to terms with their own stories, and learn from those of others. The OUT’hood Residency Program supports local artists with mentorship, resources and See OUT’HOOD FEST, page 24
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Q&A
Alive and Kiersey! Kiersey Clemons stars in ‘Flatliners’ By KAM WILLIAMS
One of the most respected young entertainers around, actress/musician Kiersey Clemons has quickly become known for her versatility as well as her captivating screen presence. The in-demand actress has five films released in 2017 and 2018, and recently made headlines by landing the coveted female lead opposite Ezra Miller in the DC Comics adaptation, “Flashpoint.” In the film, she will be playing tough-as-nails journalist Iris West, and the character will be introduced on Nov. 17 in the much-anticipated “Justice League.” Earlier this year, Clemons starred opposite Jeff Bridges and Kate Beckinsale in “The Only Living Boy in New York,” directed by Marc Webb. The year 2018 is also shaping up to be big for Clemons. She’ll be heading the cast in the thriller “Sweetheart,” and playing the female lead in “Hearts Beat Loud,” a story following a Brooklyn record store owner who struggles over the course of the summer to let go of both his shop and his college-bound daughter . Clemons enjoyed a breakout role in the Sundance hit “Dope,” which was nominated at multiple festivals including Cannes and the Deauville American Film Festival. In 2016, “Dope” was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture. Clemons is making her mark on television, too, where she has a recurring role as Bianca on the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning series, “Transparent.”
See CLEMONS, page 25
“Speculum,” a multimedia piece by Black Venus at the OUT’hood Fest. PHOTO: DOM WISE
PHOTO: COURTESY WARNER BROS.
Kiersey Clemons
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23
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An archive of their own
Wole Soyinka collection takes back African representation By CELINA COLBY
“WOLE SOYINKA: Antiquities Across Times and Place,” on view at the Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African and African American Art in Harvard Square, features nearly three dozen objects from the famous African playwright’s personal collection. Contemporary works by Nigerian artists who have been inspired by Soyinka’s writing augment his personal pieces. The resulting exhibition presents a dynamic response to the question, “What does it mean when artists collect art?” Soyinka largely chose the pieces from his own collection, and curator Awam Amkpa, an NYU professor and former student of Soyinka’s, put together the contemporary works. “I looked for artists who were using the same aesthetic vocabulary,” he says. “It’s not art for art’s sake. These objects have community significance.” Soyinka’s collection has a strong emphasis on Yoruba art objects, which often bear a religious significance and function. Throughout the exhibit, quotes from Soyinka open a window into his collecting practices. In one of these excerpts he says that his eyes weren’t opened to the
PHOTOS: CELINA COLBY
Wole Soyinka’s collection, on display at Harvard’s Cooper Gallery, features works by contemporary Nigerian artists.
ON THE WEB For more information about WOLE SOYINKA collection, visit: www.coopergalleryhc.org.
pilfering and repatriation of African art objects by other nations until he returned from studying in the United Kingdom in 1960. Then, he says, “Out of resentment for centuries of robbery, I began to collect – collect in inverted commas, in deference protection to the real collectors.” The contemporary works
reflect this history of stolen culture. Osaretin Ighile’s piece “Oba Ovonramwen” features a sculpture in metal and wood of Ovonramwen, the last independent king of Benin, Nigeria, where the artist is from. The figure of the king himself looks like one of the ancient sculptures, but Ighile has draped the seated statue in colorful reclaimed plastic. The bits of crates and plastic bags make a draped garment for the king out of what is essentially garbage. In 1897, Ovonramwen was
forced to surrender to the encroaching colonialism of Britain and lost the kingdom to them. Ighile’s piece reflects the European treatment of ancient African objects. They were looted and appropriated for white museumgoers and patrons to gawk at, while lost to the people for whom they bore civic and religious significance. Ighile’s “Oba” also wears a metal cuff around his neck, attached to a chain. He, and the art, is captive and cast off. Amkpa says he was most surprised by the inclusion in Soyinka’s pieces of a spiritual mask
from the Congo. A sharp contrast to the Yoruba works, the “Kuba Kete Mask” features an elongated face and neck with wide eyes and tight lips. Whereas many of the Yoruba works have open but not engaged eyes, the “Kuba” head appears to be staring directly at you, haunted by what it sees. For Soyinka, art collection is a means of taking back control. The exhibition is an African representation that he has built himself. Amkpa says, “For Africans that are always being archived by others, this is an opportunity to make an archive of their own.”
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24 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
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BOOK REVIEW
‘We Were Eight Years in Power’ puts results and effects of 2016 election into perspective By KAM WILLIAMS
“For so much of American history, the fact of black people is a problem... The demonstrable truth has been evaded in favor of a more comforting story... [But America is] a country trying to skip out on a bill, trying to stave off a terrible accounting... It’s clear to me that the common theory of providential progress, of the inevitable reconciliation between the sin of slavery and democratic ideal [is a ] myth.” — Excerpted from Chapter 1 (pages 66-73) In 2015, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me” earned the #1 spot on my annual Top Ten Black Books list. And, after reading the equally-remarkable “We Were Eight Years in Power,” there’s a good chance he’s about to repeat that feat. William Faulkner once observed that, “The past is not dead. It isn’t even past.” That unsettling sentiment courses through the veins of Coates’ latest opus.
The title ostensibly implies that it’s about Barack Obama’s being followed in office by a president with diametrically opposed values when it comes to the welfare of black folks. After all, Trump seems to believe there are good and bad Nazis and good and bad Ku Klux Klansmen. Isn’t that like suggesting there are good and bad rapists and good and bad murderers? The book does bemoan the fact that the dramatic difference in administrations has been marked by a revival of the dormant white supremacist movement. However, Coates’ genius rests in his putting that resurgence into proper perspective. There is a chilling precedent for what transpired last November when the nation elected the candidate running on the slogan “Make America great again!” The author cites how, in the wake of the Civil War, the ex-slaves were bitterly disappointed when the egalitarian Reconstruction plan for the South was dismantled by the former Confederate states and replaced by the Jim Crow system of segregation.
That devastating development inspired black South Carolina Congressman Thomas Miller (18491938) to lament, “We were eight years in power” in reference to the brief period of African American optimism in terms of securing equality under the law. The quote serves a dual purpose here, as it talks about a dream rudely deferred while simultaneously issuing a dire warning that history might very well repeat itself. Thus, “We Were Eight Years in Power” serves as a clarion call for vigilance about the possible erosion of African-American advances presumed sacrosanct. Consider these riveting, well-reasoned ruminations of the most-prodigious black visionary around; a must-read indeed.
PHOTO: GABRIELLA DEMCZUK
Ta-Nehisi Coates
OUT’hood Fest continued from page 22
financial assistance. The Theater Offensive itself has been supporting LGBTQ artists and making work for an LGBTQ audience since 1989. Their mission is more important than ever in a cultural
climate where artists of color and LGBTQ makers still struggle for representation. OUT’hood Fest provided a platform for both underrepresented artists and bold, important artworks. It begs the audience to imagine what spectacular work could be created, and shown, if every festival included these groups.
AT A GLANCE “We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
One World, Hardcover, $28.00, 394 pages To order a copy of “We Were Eight Years in Power,” visit: www.amazon.com/exec/
obidos/ASIN/0399590560/ref%3dnosim/ thslfofire-20
NEIGHBORHOOD MATTERS: A lunchtime film series that celebrates ways in which community groups have shaped the neighborhood surrounding the Northeastern campus.
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017
THE BAY STATE BANNER:
NATIVE BOSTON
Unity, Progress and 50 Years of Advocating Change
with special guests Nicholas Brown, Professor, Northeastern, J. Cedric Woods, Director, Institute for New England Native American Studies UMass Boston
with special guests Tracy Heather Strain, Professor, Northeastern & Derek Lumpkins, Director, Northeastern Crossing
PHOTO: DOM WISE
“Speculum,” a multimedia piece by Black Venus.
COMING TO HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ: Thu Nov 2 - Fulani Haynes’ Jazz Collaborative presents Jazz By Any Means Necessary, 7pm Fri Nov 3 - “So Very Thankful” Open Mic, 6pm Thu Nov 9 - “Lifted Boston” Open Mic, 7pm
12 – 1pm | 90 Snell Library | Northeastern University Free and open to the public | Lunch will be served
Fri Nov 10 - The House Slam ft. Nicole Homer, 6:30pm
Haley House Bakery Cafe - 12 Dade Street - Roxbury 617-445-0900 - www.haleyhouse.org/bakery-cafe
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 25
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Clemons
continued from page 22 Her additional TV credits include Steven Spielberg’s “Extant” alongside Halle Berry and Fox’s “New Girl.” She can also be seen on the Netflix original series “Easy,” a sex-positive anthology with genuine portrayals of modern relationships. Clemons trained at Los Angeles’ famed improvisational company The Groundlings. She is also a classically trained musician who has collaborated with Grammy Award-winner Pharrell, providing vocals on multiple tracks on the “Dope” and “Transparent” soundtracks. In 2015, she appeared in Lady Gaga’s music video “Til it Happens to You,” directed by Catherine Hardwicke. The Oscar-nominated song was specifically composed for “The Hunting Ground,” a critically-acclaimed documentary about the rape epidemic on college campuses. And she is currently working on her debut solo album. This month, Clemons’ passion for fashion will merge with her entrepreneurial mindset as she launches the Kiers Collection in partnership with Zappos. Zappos will sell the shoes exclusively for 60 days before the collection expands to the rest of the retail world. The collection includes nine shoes she designed in conjunction with popular footwear designers Musse and Cloud. In her spare time, Clemons
continues to support causes she feels strongly about, such as the Sierra Club, and lends her voice to support assorted women’s organizations, educating and taking action on pressing issues facing females worldwide. Here, she talks about playing the role of Sophia in “Flatliners,” a remake of the 1990 horror classic co-starring Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt and Hope Davis.
What interested you in “Flatliners” and in playing Sophia? Kiersey Clemons: The script was so fun! But I think the biggest thing was that I got to play a med student which is a very rare opportunity for a young woman of color. So, I was really excited about representing. Also, the original was made before I was born, and I liked the idea of reimagining the movie to bring it to an audience of my generation involving technology and science in a more modern way. And I felt lucky to be able to collaborate with Niels [director Niels Arden Oplev] and, obviously, with the amazing actors in the movie. All of that made the project really enticing.
Did you go back and watch the original before shooting the film? KC: I did, when we were already on location in Toronto. I watched it after we had our first cast meeting with Niels, primarily because we make a few nods to the original film, and I wanted to be aware of what had happened
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there, even though we separate the two pictures.
What was it like working with Ellen Page and the rest of the cast? KC: We all really got along and became great friends. What was interesting about this ensemble cast is that we were all born in different countries and had different acting styles. We couldn’t tell how it was all going to play out, but it couldn’t have gone any better.
With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in? KC: I don’t know. I think we’re
all pretty hungry for original content at the moment. I’m sure there’s a movie out there that I haven’t even seen yet that I might like to remake, but I can’t think of anything right now.
It’s rare enough for someone to excel in one field, but you’ve managed to achieve that in both movies and music. What’s going on with you musically? KC: Well, I just finished shooting “Hearts Beat Loud” about a father-daughter duo band. Nick Offerman plays my dad. We filmed all the original music, which I’m excited about, live. All the vocals
are live, too. And I got to use an Ableton sync pad. It’s so sick! I really love music, and if I can keep incorporating music into movies, that would be awesome. I’m always writing my own music, but I don’t necessarily consider myself a musical artist. I just like to write and sing and dabble with instruments, I’m kinda going with the flow.
I wouldn’t call collaborating with the likes of Pharrell and Lady Gaga just dabbling. KC: I’m not against releasing some original music, but first I have to find the right group of people to work with.
The Boston Wagner Society presents
Wagner’s Greatest Hits Excerpts from Der fliegende Holländer, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Die Walküre, Parsifal, and Die Meistersinger
With Soprano Sarai Cole, Heldentenor Adam Russell, Baritone Philip Lima, and Pianist Matthew Larson Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 3 p.m Free and open to the public • A reception will follow This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administrated by the Mayor’s Office of Arts + Culture.
Hibernian Hall 184 Dudley Street Roxbury, MA
For more information, bostonwagner@comcast.net; 617-844-1323
26 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER 26 • Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Boston’s official 2017 Christmas tree
PHOTO: OURTESY BOSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT
Boston’s official 2017 Christmas tree is a 53-foot white spruce tree donated by Bob and Marion Campbell and family of Blues Mills in Inverness County on Cape Breton Island. The tree is due to arrive on the Boston Common November 21.
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL
LEGAL
LEGAL
INVITATION TO BID
Boston, MA requesting that the court authorize the Personal Representative to sell the decedent’s real estate at a private sale.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.
DESCRIPTION
DATE
TIME
*OP-366
69kV Electrical Systems Maintenance
11/21/17
2:00 p.m.
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11/22/17
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*To access and bid on Event(s) please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com. **To obtain the bid documents MWRADocumentDistribution@mwra.com.
please
request
Docket No. SU16P1038EA
Citation on Petition for Sale of Real Estate by a Personal Representative
Felix D Arroyo Register of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17P2261GD
Citation Giving Notice of Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Incapacitated Person Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of Jalon R Wynn Of Mattapan, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person
Estate of Palmel Moore Date of Death: 01/25/2016 To all interested persons: A petition for Sale of Real Estate has been filed by Monica J. Moore of Mattapan, MA requesting that the court authorize the Personal Representative to sell the decedent’s real estate at a private sale. You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 11/16/2017. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return date, action may be taken without further notice to you. WITNESS, HON. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court. Date: October 10, 2017
Felix D Arroyo Register of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
WITNESS, HON. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court. Date: October 19, 2017
to:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 11/30/2017. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return date, action may be taken without further notice to you.
Docket No. SU09P0354AD1
Citation on Petition for Sale of Real Estate by a Personal Representative Estate of Charles T. Simpson Date of Death: 09/21/1993 To all interested persons: A petition for Sale of Real Estate has been filed by Venesha Simpson of
To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Wanda M Simmons of Mattapan, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Jalon R Wynn is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Wanda M Simmons of Mattapan, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve on the bond. The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondent is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 11/16/2017. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date. IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense. WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court. Date: October 17, 2017
Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17D2237DR
Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Takeisha Maria Farrow
vs.
Kenny Farrow
To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for irretrievable breakdown The Complaint is on file at the Court. An Automatic Restraining Order has been entered in this matter preventing you from taking any action which would negatively impact the current financial status of either party. SEE Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411. You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon: Takeisha Maria Farrow, 323 Seaver St. Boston, MA 02121 your answer, if any, on or before 12/21/2017. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court. Witness, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court. Date: October 13, 2017
Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. 17P2300 Estate of Mary Alice Flucas Date of Death July 27, 2016
INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Tonya Flucas of Boston MA Tonya Flucas of Boston MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve with surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 27
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
Hingham Affordable Housing 3 Bedroom Detached Condos Price: $224,400
Affordable Rental Housing 9 WILLIAMS STREET RENTAL HOUSING 9 Williams Street, Roxbury, Ma 02119
Weathervane @ Chestnut Gardens 137 Beal Street Public Information Meeting 6:30pm, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 Hingham Town Hall Application Deadline December 26, 2017
ADVERTISE
YOUR CLASSIFIEDS (617) 261- 4600 x 7799
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FIND RATE INFORMATION AT
www.baystatebanner.com /advertise
For Info and Application: Pick Up: Hingham Town Hall, Town Clerks Office or Public Lib. Phone: (978) 456-8388 Email: maureen@mcohousingservices.com
MAX INCOME 1—$54,750 2—$62,550 3—$70,350
4—$78,150 5—$84,450 6—$90,700
Assets to $75,000 Units by Lottery 1st Time Homebuyers
Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com
Canton Affordable Housing 3 & 4 Bedroom Duplex and SFH Price: $212,900 & $230,500
Acorn Estates
Off Randolph Street in Canton, MA Open House: Saturday, November 11, 2017—10:00—12:00 p.m. 90 Saddleback Road Public Information Meeting 6:30, Monday, November 6th Canton Public Library Thomas Aldrich Meeting Room Application Deadline December 9, 2017
MAX INCOME 1—$54,750 2— $62,550 3— $70,350 4— $78,150
5— $84,450 6— $90,700 7— $96,950 8— $103,200
Assets to $75,000 Units by lottery 1st Time Homebuyers
For Info and Application: Pick Up: Canton Town Hall, Town Clerks Office or Public Lib. Phone: (978) 456-8388 Email: lotteryinfo@mcohousingservices.com
Type
Studio
Section 8-PBV from BHA 30% AMI
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
0
3*
3
0
See below*
See below*
See below*
See below*
60% AMI
0
1
7*
2
Gross Rent**
N/A
$1,164
$1,396
$1,613
70% AMI
0
0
4
1
Gross Rent*
N/A
N/A
$1,448
$1,630
UNIT TOTALS
0
4
14
3
*Preference for persons with mobility impairment 1- (1br PBV-BHA unit) 1- (2br 60% AMI unit) *Rents are based upon adjusted gross income. Section 8 available through the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). To apply, households should contact the BHA, 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111 ** Gross Rent includes utility allowance with tenant payment for heat, hot water, and electricity.
Use and Occupancy Restrictions Apply Applications may be requested by email at 9williams@winnco.com or picked up during the following dates and times at: 207 Dudley Street Roxbury MA 02119 (Management Office) Reasonable accommodations made Applications available: Monday-Friday 10/16/17 – 10/27/17 & Monday 10/30/17 Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday 10/21/17 Hours: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. AN INFORMATION SESSION WILL BE HELD AT 464 TREMONT STREET BOSTON MA (Castle Square Apartments Community Room) THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 6PM-8PM Applications will be available at the information session. For more information or an application to be sent by mail or alternate means, call Madison Park Management Office during the application period of 10/16/17 to 10/30/17. Phone: 617-445-8338 Deadline for completed applications to be in the Lottery is: In person at the Management Office by 4:00pm 11/10/17 or mail postmarked by 11/10/17 SELECTION BY LOTTERY Two units have a preference for persons with mobility impairment. Preference for households of at least one person per bedroom. Maximum Income Limits by Household:
Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com
HH size
60%
70%
1 Person
$43,440
$50,700
2 Persons
$49,680
$57,950
3 Persons
$55,860
$65,200
4 Persons
$62,040
$72,400
5 Persons
$67,020
$78,200
6 Persons
$72,000
$84,000
**Voucher Holders not subject to minimum income requirements or rent at payment standard** Contact (617) 445-8338 or TDD: 1-800-439-2370 for Reasonable accommodations regarding the application process or to request an application by mail Translation assistance is available. 2101 Washington Street Rental Housing is an equal housing opportunity Managed by WinnResidential
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