Bay State Banner - April 8th

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State school intervention sparks pushback pg 3

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CITY WALLS REPLACE GALLERY WALLS DURING PANDEMIC pg 11

Small business loans now available pg 9

plus Q&A with Porsha Olayiwola, Boston’s Poet Laureate pg 11 Boston theaters take their productions online pg 12 Vol. 55 No. 37 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965

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Walsh calls for face masks, curfew Mayor announces new measures as city prepares for spike in COVID cases

By KENNEAL PATTERSON

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The Civil Service Commission ordered the Boston Police Department to place a black applicant at the top of the list after finding he was wrongfully bypassed for employment.

Civil Service raps BPD for bypass of black applicant Lawyer says case fits pattern of inequitable hiring

By YAWU MILLER The state’s Civil Service Commission has ordered the Boston Police Department to place a black applicant at the top of its list for hires after a department investigator bypassed him for consideration over a criminal case 16 years earlier for which he was not convicted.

The commission made its judgement after an attorney for Malik Morgan argued that three

white officers were hired in the same year Morgan applied, despite having records of criminal convictions similar to or more serious than the charges for which Morgan was not convicted. The case marks the second time in two years the department has been ordered by a superior court judge to re-instate a black applicant.

Eddie Crispin, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, said black applicants are routinely

bypassed for BPD positions for minor infractions, such as driving offenses, for which white applicants are given a pass.

“What’s unusual about this case is that this guy was already in law enforcement,” he said. “Everything in his record spoke to the fact that he could do a good job.”

Morgan took the civil service exam to join the BPD after serving as a police officer for five years

See BPD, page 14

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Boston reached 1,877 Sunday, Mayor Martin Walsh recommended that Bostonians wear face masks outside their homes and announced a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the next six weeks in the city.

Walsh said the measures are in keeping with recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as cases in Boston and Massachusetts approach what public health experts expect will be a peak in April.

“In the last 48 hours, we’ve had an increase of 511 new cases,” Walsh told reporters during his daily press briefing on City Hall Plaza. “That’s 27% of our overall coronavirus cases in the City of Boston. That’s what a surge looks like, and we are at the beginning of this surge.”

Walsh emphasized that face masks will not necessarily protect those who wear them from contracting the coronavirus, but that they can prevent those who carry the virus from spreading it to others. He urged Bostonians who are required to work outside their home to maintain safe distancing of at least six feet from others.

“We are at the beginning of the surge,” Walsh said. “Every step we take to limit the number of people working together will make a difference.”

He added, “What the data continues to show is that right

now, every single day is critical to saving lives in our city. What the model continues to show is that distance and distancing will make that difference.”

The mayor also said the city will take more aggressive steps to close down basketball courts and other outdoor sports facilities, noting that some people are still using them in violation of social distancing guidelines. Walsh said police officers will be monitoring parks and playgrounds to ensure sports facilities are not in use.

“No group activities should be happening anywhere,” he said.

Additionally, Walsh advised all senior citizens to stay home and refrain from going outside their homes for any reason.

But he also emphasized that young people are not at all immune to COVID-19, noting that 45 percent of all positive tests are for people under the age of 40.

“We are now seeing more cases of severe illness in young people,” he said. “Whether you get sick or not, you have to follow these guidelines.”

Response by local elected officials to the COVID-19 outbreak continues at a rapid pace.

Besides the mayor, Boston’s city councilors and U.S. and state legislators have been working to create policies and share updates with constituents. Here are some of the most recent developments.

Rental assistance

Twelve Boston City Councilors

See COVID, page 7

Health centers face financial strain Leaders cite pressure from the pandemic

By SARAYA WINTERSMITH Community health centers in Massachusetts are feeling financial pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, so much so that advocates say the centers need more state and federal assistance to stay open.

The small nonprofits deliver care to many underserved patients on MassHealth, Medicare or without health insurance. In Massachusetts, where the first

community health center in the country was established more than five decades ago, 52 centers serve about one million people, about a seventh of the state’s population.

In the best of times, community health centers operate on tight margins financed mostly by revenue from patient services and grants. But the coronavirus outbreak is forcing health centers to shift from primary care, dentistry, optometric and chronic illness management services to urgent

care. The subsequent decrease in patient service revenue, advocates say, makes their ability to withstand the outbreak tenuous.

“We’re trying to make sure that we stay in the fight to combat the spread of this disease, especially for this vulnerable population, and it’s having a dramatic effect on us,” said Stan McClaren, chief executive officer of Dorchester’s Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center.

The coronavirus outbreak is forcing health centers like his to

See HEALTH CENTERS, page 6

PHOTO: JOHN WILCOX, MAYOR’S OFFICE

Mayor Martin Walsh dons a face mask during a press conference at City Hall.

2 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER

Pandemic poses risks for U.S. consumers Scams, unscrupulous lenders could wreak havoc on borrowers

By CHARLENE CROWELL For the foreseeable future, “normal” life will be indefinitely suspended due to the global pandemic known as the coronavirus.

Record-breaking employment layoffs in the month of March resulted in the Department of Labor reporting that 10.4 million consumers lost their jobs and filed for unemployment compensation. As medical experts continue to track the virus, the Washington Post reported more than 10,800 related deaths.

Beyond these statistics, untold numbers of additional school and retail closures, and an expanding army of people working from home have also been directly affected by the virus.

Consumers both young and old have passed as the virus continues to spread across the country. Its viral wrath has spawned hot spots from the Pacific Northwest’s Seattle, to the Gulf Coast’s New Orleans, the Midwest’s Detroit and the nation’s largest urban metropolis, New York City.

Zeroing in on the economic impacts of the crisis, people everywhere are struggling with

competing needs in their lives.

When living costs exceed available financial resources, tough times lead to tough decisions about how to feed families, keep a home to live in, ways to keep utilities working and a myriad of other day-to-day needs.

Despite a $2 trillion federal rescue enacted with bipartisan support, checks of $1,200 promised to taxpayers, along with an additional $500 per child will arrive too late for first of the month April payments for bills like mortgages and rental payments. Many leaders also warn that despite its size or range of areas addressed, the legislation was not enough.

In a March 27 House floor statement, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee warned colleagues that their job was not yet complete. “[I] must make clear that the legislation is far from comprehensive, and that there are issues it leaves unaddressed and areas where it falls short…The American people need help now and this bill represents a down payment on that relief,” said Waters.

A similar reaction came from AARP chief executive Jo Ann

Jenkins.

“Older Americans face the onetwo punch of coronavirus’s health and economic consequences, and many need immediate relief and ongoing help and support to cope with the pandemic,” noted Jenkins. “Those needs are only set to grow in the weeks and months ahead.”

What can really make a difference between life’s success and failure is not just what leaders do but also what they didn’t do when they had the chance. The recent legislative package was silent on interest rates, as well as forgiveness of federal student loans, negative credit reports or bans on private evictions for late rental payments.

As the cost of living has risen faster and higher than most consumer incomes for more than a decade, the likelihood of a savings account large enough to cover household expenses for a month or more is slim to none.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the agency tasked with protecting consumers from unscrupulous lenders has been conspicuously subdued. Instead of forceful and timely agency alerts via multi-media communications warning consumers about opportunistic scam artists, CFPB has offered a modest tip sheet on how consumers – not government – can protect themselves. Fortunately, as the viral saga unfolds, some news outlets are reporting

on the potential harms of consumers turning to payday and car-title loans.

A joint response by five federal regulars - Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) – came on March 26 in a statement that encouraged banks, savings and loans, and credit unions to offer “responsible small dollar loans” to consumers and small businesses during the pandemic.

According to the regulators, “responsible small-dollar loans can play an important role in meeting customers’ credit needs because of temporary cash-flow imbalances, unexpected expenses, or income disruptions during periods of economic stress or disaster recoveries.”

Without any specifics defining “reasonable small dollar loans”, the regulators’ statement could be an inducement to join triple-digit lenders’ financial exploitation.

For black America and other communities of color, predatory short-term loans of $500 or less began decades ago when payday and car-title storefronts took prominent residence in our neighborhoods across the country. Loans that were marketed as quick fixes for millions of

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consumers morphed into longterm financial nightmares that deepened debt with every renewal. In many cases, the interest paid on these loans was often double or triple the amount of principal borrowed.

A coalition of civil and consumer rights organizations released a joint statement warning of the possible spike in high-cost lending by the nation’s depository institutions – banks, credit unions and savings and loans.

“This is the worst possible time for banks to make predatory payday loans,” said Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, the Center for Responsible Lending, Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, National Consumer Law Center.

“Around the time of the last recession, a handful of banks issued ‘deposit advances’ that put borrowers in an average of 19 loans a year at over 200% annual interest,” continued the leaders. “These bank payday loans disproportionately harmed the financially vulnerable and badly damaged banks’ reputations. Since 2013 when regulatory guidance warned against this form of credit, banks have mostly stayed away. We trust that they will continue to do so as they do not want to repeat mistakes of the past.”

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending.

Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

State school intervention sparks pushback

By YAWU MILLER City councilors, parents and teachers lit into board members of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in a meeting last Tuesday, urging them to suspend a controversial memorandum of understanding that outlines the state’s intervention into the Boston Public Schools.

State Education Commissioner Jeff Riley signed the MOU with BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius March 10 and released it to the public on Friday, March 13, as Mayor Martin Walsh announced the closure of Boston schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While many who testified last week focused on the state’s checkered record of interventions in BPS schools, some education activists are raising concerns about a little-known initiative Riley is piloting in schools across the state that is now set to include 15 in East Boston and Charlestown.

The Boston schools were added to Riley’s Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning, a group that began with 22 schools and districts throughout the commonwealth, announced in late 2019. Riley in June of 2019 said the collective would serve as “a research and development hub of educators, schools, and districts focused on incubating and assessing innovative approaches to deeper learning, including standards-aligned instruction and assessment.”

DESE spokeswoman Jacqueline Reis said the program focuses on professional development for teachers with an aim toward promoting a concept called “deep learning.”

“Kaleidoscope is a professional development program focused on promoting engaging instruction that asks students to work on real-world tasks while building skills like collaboration and creativity,” Reis said in a statement emailed to the Banner.

School districts applied to be entered into DESE’s Kaleidoscope network of schools, but some public school advocates in Boston expressed concern that the 15 Boston Schools were added to the network without the consent of school leaders, students, or parents.

Charlestown High School teacher Matt Ruggerio learned he would be part of the network when his principal informed him

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The state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released an audit of Boston Public Schools in March. on March 13. While the principal’s message emphasized that the network would provide the school with instructional support, he said Professional development has not been a priority. Instead, teachers and students there have for years been advocating for increased social workers and counselors in their school.

“It’s something I know students and staff felt strongly about,” he said. “One of the things I found appealing about Charlestown is that it seems like a school that’s taking a thoughtful approach to supporting students.”

Boston Education Justice Alliance Executive Director Ruby Reyes took exception to the fact that the predominantly Latino and black families in East Boston and Charlestown weren’t given an option to not join the Kaleidoscope network.

“When you pick a specific target community and you make decisions for them, that is racism,” she said. “That’s what Riley is doing with this Kaleidoscope initiative by targeting East Boston and Charlestown.”

Community pushback

During the DESE meeting last week, many of those who testified urged the board to withdraw the MOU, citing what some said was the agency’s dismal record of school

turnarounds in Boston.

“The state has continually underfunded urban public schools for decades,” said City Council President Kim Janey. “What our schools need are the necessary resources that benefit young people and that eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps.”

Riley, through Reis, declined to comment for this story. In the statement emailed to the Banner, Reis said DESE and Cassellius agreed to postpone negotiations over the implementation of the MOU for 60 days after BPS schools shut down.

“We believe the MOU is a fundamentally supportive model that commits BPS to focusing on four primary initiatives to support students – including a major focus on improving the 33 lowest-performing schools in the district – and commits DESE to helping BPS with four supporting initiatives and providing additional resources to the district, both to shore up other schools and to improve services like transportation and facilities that affect students throughout the district,” the statement reads.

In addition to the Kaleidoscope Network, the spokeswoman said, DESE will assist BPS in brokering partnerships between BPS schools and outside entities, help BPS recruit and retain teachers of color and provide a DESE employee to work with BPS on upgrading

essential facilities such as student bathrooms.

While DESE has committed $4 million to aid BPS schools — a fraction of a percentage point in the district’s $1.3 billion budget — Mayor Martin Walsh has committed $100 million in new funding to aid Cassellius’ plan over the next three years.

At-large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George said that most of the problems DESE officials identified in a recent audit of BPS stemmed from decades of

state underfunding in Boston. She questioned the lack of community input into the DESE plan.

“If you truly want to address and eliminate the problems in the Boston Public Schools and support our families during COVID-19, I ask that you listen to and work with our communities, our families, our educators and students,” she told the board members.

Responding to the statements from Boston educators and city councilors, Riley suggested they did not understand the nature of DESE’s intervention in BPS schools.

“This is not receivership,” he said. “This is not an [empowerment zone]. What this is, is — there are specific targets in the next three years that we’re asking BPS to hit, one of which is about improving those 33 lowest-performing schools where the mayor has generously agreed to give $100 million to support Dr. Cassellius in her work to improve those.”

Responding to charges that DESE is providing no support to BPS schools, Riley indicated the agency might advocate for more funding for the district, but also suggested the city’s per-pupil allocation is high.

“We’re going to hopefully provide some financial support to the district, although Boston is currently one of the wealthiest-spending per-pupil districts in the state,” he said. “But we think that because of some specific needs that our students have in Boston, that we’ll be able to get some additional dollars to them.”

At Whittier Street Health Center, we have transitioned our organization to rapidly respond to the need for screening and testing of COVID-19 patients at both of our clinic sites (1290 Tremont Street and 279 Blue Hill Ave in Roxbury) and on our Mobile Health Van, while also continuing to address the urgent non-COVID-19 related medical needs.

Our clinical providers also provide urgent and non-urgent medical telehealth services by phone. We have expanded our social services programs to meet the needs of our patients, including adding an Emergency Daycare Program to provide care to the children of our brave essential staff in the city, expanding our Food Pantry and Medication delivery for our patients.

Please stay safe and healthy!

WHITTIER STREET HEALTH CENTER @ FREDERICA M. WILLIAMS BUILDING

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City Council President Kim Janey.

1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 617- 427-1000 • www.wshc.org

4 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER

EDITORIAL

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INSIDE: BUSINESS, 9 • ARTS & CULTURE, 11 • CLASSIFIEDS, 14

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Established 1965

A public health disaster calls for a commander in chief According to the Constitution, “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”

That is a customary authority for most nations. However, the Founding Fathers also determined that the president, in his role of commander in chief, would also assume that position over “the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States.” From the beginning of the Republic, the president was authorized and expected to perform as commander in chief for the states in the time of war and conflict.

This was an extraordinary concession when one considers the great apprehension between the states during the early years of the Republic. This was the time that the American citizens found it necessary to adopt the Second Amendment to assure that residents of every state had the right to bear arms against the potential intrusions of the neighboring states.

Over the years, armed warfare involving the United States has induced citizens to consider a candidate’s potential performance as commander in chief when they are assessing their vote for president. This qualification has often been used in the past to challenge unfairly the capacity of a woman in that role.

No one expects the commander in chief to be able to lead American troops in battle as Teddy Roosevelt did when he was a cavalry colonel, leading his “Roosevelt Rough Riders” to victory at San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War of 1898. Military matters are now managed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff with ultimate oversight by the president. Yet citizens still expect the commander in chief to respect our nation’s heroes, like Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and to maintain the national commitment to “freedom and justice for all” even if that

resolution becomes periodically frayed.

One duty that the people continually anticipate is that as the commander in chief, the president will use his office and special authority to protect citizens from harm, just as the militia might have done if they were still vital institutions. Indeed, that is not too much to expect since the police organizations in the various states are committed to “protect the citizens and serve the public.”

The National Emergencies Act enables the president to utilize special authority to cope with emergencies affecting the whole nation. Trump declared a national public health emergency on March 13, 2020 to battle the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are differing opinions as to whether Donald Trump has adequately met those responsibilities in protecting Americans from the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world. Trump was late in recognizing the seriousness of the infection. He then failed to require every state to establish social distancing regulations that are presently the only viable remedy. Projections are that up to 240,000 American lives may be lost from COVID-19 before the pandemic is over.

Trump has also failed to intervene aggressively to assure that states afflicted with COVID-19 have ventilators and personal protective equipment for medical personnel and others. Just as national manufacturing capacity during wartime has to be devoted to munitions, America’s production capacity must now be directed toward care for the medically afflicted.

It is appropriate for members of Congress as well as private citizens to evaluate the president’s performance, in his constitutionally established role as commander in chief.

“If Obama had losses of that magnitude, they’d be sending a lynch mob to the White House.”

USPS 045-780 Publisher/Editor

The Boston City Council proposed a resolution last week in support of those who had been financially affected by the coronavirus. Their proposal, if accepted by higher authorities, would excuse rent or mortgage payments without consideration of the financial loss to landlords from the pandemic. This creates more confusion in an already confusing situation. There are remedies available to help for rent and mortgage payments at the state and federal level. The state Legislature recently

passed eviction and foreclosure protections. Emergency changes to the unemployment system have broadened the types of employees that are eligible, and benefits are being made more quickly. Mayor Martin Walsh of the City of Boston has started a rent fund for those that cannot access unemployment funds. There are many programs to help people during this time, and it would be beneficial if the Boston City Council helped to guide their constituents to the programs already available.

John E. Miller

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5

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Why Trump did and will continue to play politics with COVID

By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON We have a very active flu season, more active than most. It’s looking like it’s heading to 50,000 or more deaths.” This was Trump speaking on Monday, March 23 at what had by now become his ritual Monday briefing of the White House coronavirus task force. Now, Trump’s pronouncement came fully two weeks after the massive outcry from health officials, governors, mayors and the general public to take seriously the monumental health threat COVID-19 posed to the public.

Trump, though, still couldn’t quite do that just yet, for two huge political reasons that ranged far beyond just his gear-up for a tough reelection fight.

He had spent virtually the entire three-plus years of his administration selling the public on his boast that he had practically single-handedly turned the economy around. That he had put just about everyone back to work. And, that most importantly, under his magical stewardship, there would be even more economic nirvana for everyone in the future.

The polls showed that a big chunk of American voters bought his boast. Though he might get more minuses than pluses in his overall approval ratings, the one consistently bright spot was that he got just as consistent high marks from a majority for his handling of the economy. Trump well knew that a robust economy with near-full employment was the ace card for presidents seeking reelection.

The old political truism was, “It’s the economy, stupid.” The history of presidential elections amply showed that almost no sitting president has ever been ousted from office during happy economic times.

There was another reason for Trump’s see-no-COVID-evil stance. He had built his political career on elevating the blame game to a high art. His bash of immigrants, Muslims, blacks, Hispanics and women was near legendary. Trump knew what many demagogues long knew, and that is pointing the blame finger at the most vulnerable and reviled groups in society could be a winning political formula. This was often the ticket for many politicians to win an office and stay in an office.

So, COVID was no exception. Trump slapped the tag “the Chinese virus” on it and sent many Americans scurrying to the barricades in terror of Chinese people or any person with an Asian appearance. There was the predictable upswing in taunts, stares and shunning of some Asians. The ploy for a moment was to sell COVID as made-in-Asia and thus totally foreign to the U.S. For Trump’s political purpose, it was simply a problem someone else made, not one of his.

Now, what happens when the crisis blows up and the duck, dodge, blame and finger-pointing won’t work? When there is a loud public, media and medical community demand to do something quick? Worse still, when the stock market plunges and Wall Street investment houses sweat with worry?

Suddenly there’s the nightmare that people are questioning the effectiveness of the nation’s top leader. There’s the colossal danger that the one ace card Trump had, namely his providing an economic and financial nirvana in America, was rudely yanked off the table. That screams for a sharp volte-face. Trump now had to sound and appear to act like the second coming of Lincoln and FDR. What ensued was a blitz of press conferences, briefings, tough directives, demands and commands to health officials and manufacturers of medical equipment, and travel bans. He even threatened to quarantine entire states.

This was all topped with the demand that Congress immediately shove billions out to any and every American to offset he economic damage. The only thing left was to hope that the wartime president posture would work and make more believers than disbelievers in the power of a president — Trump that is — to effectively rally the country to defeat the COVID enemy. In the end, though, it was still all politics to him.

“

Trump knew what many demagogues long knew, and that is pointing the blame finger at the most vulnerable and reviled groups in society could be a winning political formula.”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.

Stricter measures in place for social, physical distancing in the city of Boston MAYOR’S PRESS OFFICE In an effort to curb the anticipated peak of COVID-19 in the coming days, Mayor Martin Walsh today announced strict new measures for social and physical distancing for residents in the City of Boston.

As of Sunday, April 5, there are 1,877 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Boston residents, representing an increase of 259 cases from the previous day. Public health modeling indicates that Boston is only 11 days away from peak demand for hospital resources, an estimate that emphasizes the critical need to flatten the curve immediately.

Social and physical distancing remain the primary strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The new measures that Mayor Walsh is putting into place strengthen the guidance previously issued around social and physical distancing, which include staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of six feet or more from others.

Social and physical distancing remain the primary strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

These new measures will be effective on Monday, April 6, through Monday, May 4, 2020, and include: ■ We’re encouraging everyone to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose when in public.

■ The Boston Public Health Commission is issuing a Public Health Advisory for everyone in Boston except essential workers to stay at home from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.

■ We’re closing City of Boston parks with recreational sports areas.

Effective Tuesday, April 7, the following restrictions will be in place for city-owned buildings: ■ City Hall will only be open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone entering City Hall, includ-

ing employees, must complete a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms. If you need to visit City Hall for essential services, you must make an appointment.

■ Public access to 1010 Mass.

Ave. will be limited to the Public Health Commission on the 2nd Floor. Residents must be accompanied when entering the building.

To learn more, you can watch the Mayor’s press conference or read about the new stricter measures online. If you have more questions, or want to learn about City COVID-19 programs, please visit our COVID-19 website or call 3-1-1, Boston’s 24-hour constituent hotline. You can text BOSCOVID to 99411 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in six languages.

IN THE NEWS

REGINALD MOBLEY Looking to expand its repertoire to include more composers of color and to reach a broader audience across Greater Boston, the Handel and Haydn Society has named its first-ever programming consultant. Reginald Mobley, director of H+H’s “Every Voice” program and a classically-trained countertenor, will take on the role immediately.

Starting with programming for the 2021-22 subscription season, Mobley will work with H+H to expand the canon beyond well-known composers in Western Europe. The organization will look to increase representation from composers of color, including works from Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and other countries around the globe. By increasing the diversity of the compositions it performs, the programming will also help the organization connect with a broader audience across the region. Mobley will also continue to lead the “Every Voice” program, which celebrates the diverse communities that make up the city of Boston through music.

“Baroque and Classical orchestras worldwide have consistently embraced many of the same composers, appealing to a

PHOTO: LIZ LINDER

familiar audience. But in doing so, we are leaving behind some wondrous music by incredibly talented composers,” said David Snead, President and CEO of the Handel and Haydn Society.

“In his three seasons leading our Every Voice concerts, Reggie has shown his talent for finding brilliant but neglected works by composers of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, and more. Now Reggie is going to help us bring

those voices to subscription concerts as well.”

A native of Florida, Mobley studied at the University of Florida in Gainesville with Jean Ronald LaFond and at the Florida State University in Tallahassee with Roy Delp. He started his classical music career as a member of twice GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Seraphic Fire and has appeared with symphonies and at festivals across the world. At the Handel and Haydn Society, he had the honor of becoming the first black person to lead H+H in its Bicentennial year. Mobley has worked in musical theater, performing cabaret shows of gospel, jazz, and torch songs in jazz clubs around Tokyo.

“I have always tried to present an un-straightwashed and un-whitewashed music history, especially in the classical space,” said Mobley. “I applaud H+H for recognizing the need to diversify their performances and reach out to new audiences. I look forward to working with them to open up the audience’s eyes to an unconventional and spellbinding collection of composers and broaden their appreciation for Baroque and Classical music.”

6 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER

“

health centers

We provide a lot of preventative care that allows the hospitals not to be deluged with a bunch of folks showing up in the emergency rooms, which is the most expensive type of care, so health centers save the health care systems quite a bit.”

continued from page 1

adopt new ways of operating with less revenue and less staff.

“We provide a lot of preventative care that allows the hospitals not to be deluged with a bunch of folks showing up in the emergency rooms, which is the most expensive type of care, so health centers save the health care systems quite a bit,” McClaren said. “During normal times, we’re the buffer. But during these times, it’s extremely critical that we’re here to be the buffer.”

In-person check-ups have been postponed or replaced by virtual telehealth appointments. Dental and eye care — revenue-generating services — have been shut down to ensure safety. The remaining staff, in some facilities, have rationed personal protective gear as they screen or test patients for signs of sickness.

“We’re seeing a precipitous decline in the number of patients,” said James Hunt, president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. “We know that there will be a surge. We’re trying to maintain our staffs and trying to respond to the pandemic.”

The federal government has already sent $2.5 million to the state’s 38 federally-qualified health centers under the coronavirus relief bill signed by President Donald Trump on March 6.

The other 14 centers are licensed through hospitals, or affiliated with the federal designees.

Hunt said that while that cash infusion was helpful, “we believe there will be further need of community health centers in the weeks

— Stan McClaren Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center

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Codman Square Community Health Center. and months to come.”

More federal funds are on the way through the coronavirus spending bill signed by the president on March 27. The measure contains $1.32 billion for the nation’s nearly 1400 community health centers, but it’s not clear how much of that will come to Massachusetts.

The state has also begun taking action to support the cashstrapped centers, earning praise from advocates even as they ask for more.

Last month, Gov. Charlie Baker signed an order requiring insurers to cover “medically necessary”

COVID-19 related services delivered via telehealth. MassHealth will also reimburse health centers for services rendered through telehealth at the same rate as in-person visits. The changes allow health centers to collect revenue when virtually delivering care, keeping patients out of harm’s way.

“I think that we would all agree we’ve made more progress in telehealth in the last few weeks than we’ve made in the last several years,” said Christina Severin, chief executive officer of Community Care Cooperative. The federally-recognized cooperative, which was recently awarded $1 million in

private funds to further expand telehealth capacity, is composed of 19 health centers across the state.

Even though telehealth services are emerging as a pandemic workaround for chronic disease management, health center workers say they have their limits, especially for patients without access to a phone, the internet or a computer.

“A telehealth visit will not be exactly like a face-to-face visit, and I think that understanding what things telehealth cannot do — that’s going to be important now,” said Dr. Julita Mir, chief medical officer of Community Care.

Saraya Wintersmith covers Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan for WGBH News 89.7.

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He said he and the organization’s board are trying hard to keep the doors open and continue serving Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan.

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COVID

continued from page 1 have called on state and federal officials to implement a moratorium to freeze all rents and mortgages until the end of the pandemic. The resolution passed on Wednesday with a 12-1 vote, with only Councilor Frank Baker opposing. The Boston City Council does not have authority to enact the moratorium but can instead urge officials to exercise their influence.

“It is well within our power as a body to advocate for a rent, mortgage, eviction and foreclosure moratorium,” said Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, who authored the resolution. “It is in fact the least we can do at a time where so many of our residents are at risk of losing their housing and businesses.”

Arroyo had already attempted to pass the resolution during the previous week’s council meeting, but Baker blocked its passage.

Baker said Wednesday that the resolution would send a dangerous message, especially due to the Council’s inability to enact the moratorium.

Councilor Lydia Edwards said that the resolution was not calling on renters and homeowners to stop paying their bills. Rather, it’s merely symbolic — aimed at encouraging Mayor Marty Walsh, Gov. Charlie Baker and President Trump to authorize such a moratorium and provide relief.

Arroyo noted that various cities across the country have already acted where Massachusetts has not.

“The cost to our communities is tragic, and with state and federal intervention it can be avoidable,” he said.

Edwards also introduced the idea of using funds from the Community Preservation Act to provide rental assistance. She said that the emergency assistance would not be a voucher program, but rather a “bridge over troubled waters.” Money from the CPA is currently going towards alternative housing programs, including a first-time homebuyer program.

But Edwards said that emergency assistance is needed immediately.

“This is an attempt to align our resources with the urgency of now,” she said.

Councilor Kenzie Bok, however, said she did not think using CPA funds would be appropriate for this purpose.

In other housing news, Massachusetts House members voted last Thursday for legislation that would place a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in Massachusetts. Landlords have filed for more than 500 evictions in housing courts across the state since March 16, housing activists say.

“Equitable recovery”

The city council has already begun planning for the pandemic’s end. Councilor Michelle Wu stressed the importance of an “equitable recovery” once the public health crisis has abated. Bok agreed, noting that the FY2021 budget should promote this recovery.

“This is way beyond just a public health pandemic,” Wu said.

“It’s really an economic crisis, and it’s a situation that has been deepening pre-existing systemic inequities across our city.”

If the city does not plan for an equitable recovery, said Wu, “the same communities that were experiencing public health disparities

“

It is well within our power as a body to advocate for a rent, mortgage, eviction and foreclosure moratorium. It is in fact the least we can do at a time where so many of our residents are at risk of losing their housing and businesses.”

— Ricardo Arroyo

even prior to COVID will continue to bear disproportionately the cost of this pandemic over the long run.”

Other relief measures

The council offered shortterm crisis-relief measures as well.

Councilor Ed Flynn introduced a resolution urging insurance companies to provide coverage during the pandemic.

“I believe it is critical that our residents have continuous access to their health insurance, as well as auto, home, renter’s and life insurance that are necessary,” he said. “Because of the virus we see significant job losses for our residents and families, many of whom may be unable to pay their insurance premium as a result.”

Councilor Liz Breadon added that there should be no impediments to residents seeking medical care, even if individuals offer out-of-network insurance.

“They should have a seamless system that anyone can access care wherever they can,” she said.

Edwards also acknowledged the uptick in financial hardships.

She called for a hearing regarding economic relief and incentives for the restaurant industry.

“The fact of the matter is, before COVID-19, a lot of workers who worked in this industry were economically vulnerable,” she said.

As of January, the minimum wage for tipped workers in Boston is $4.95. Now, those employees are receiving unemployment benefits that are two-thirds of their income, based off of the $4.95 wage. These employees cannot survive off that, said Edwards.

“We can incentivize restaurants that are getting relief to either adopt the minimum wage or adopt $15/hour for their workers,” said Edwards.

Arroyo called for an order regarding the “Invest in Boston” ordinance. The ordinance was passed in 2013, said Arroyo, but it has not been implemented since its passage. “Invest in Boston,” said Arroyo, amended the Municipal Banking Commission and called for responsible banking practices in Boston.

“It called on banks to offer loan modifications for up to six months for Boston residents who are experiencing loss of income, as many Bostonians are now due to COVID-19,” he added.

Under the ordinance, the Municipal Banking Commission would meet twice a year. All meetings and data provided by banks applying for Boston city funds would be made public. Furthermore, said Arroyo, it “would have ensured that banks with City of Boston funds as deposits would be willing partners in foreclosure prevention, home and small business

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Bright sun and empty streets greeted pedestrians in Dewey Square Monday morning. loan modifications and the continued employment of Boston residents.”

The ordinance was never implemented, “for reasons that remain unclear,” said Arroyo.

Bok agreed with the importance of a public process and noted that work was underway to revive the commission.

PPE shortage

Healthcare workers across the world are suffering from debilitating shortages of face masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Flynn

commended these workers for their courage and encouraged more protective measures. He said that hospitals should consider triage outside of the facility and designate certain floors for COVID-infected patients.

He advocated for childcare support for the workers, physical distancing and the cessation of staff reductions.

Other councilors echoed strong support for health care workers.

“Among the many heroes out there it’s important that the council recognizes these brave men and women who are literally saving

lives every day and putting their own lives at risk as well,” said Councilor Matt O’Malley.

Bok added, “We use the word ‘frontline’ for a reason. This is like a wartime situation in a bunch of ways. And I think it’s scary for everyone how quickly that’s developed.” She applauded the bravery of the workers, adding, “We all have to be in solidarity in this time.”

Councilor Andrea Campbell noted that the solidarity should extend to undocumented immigrants, as they make up a portion of these frontline workers.

Let’s stay connected.

(From a safe distance.)

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8 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER

Pandemic in Boston: scenes of a deserted city

AT

9 a.m. in Dewey Square, commuters normally stream out of South Station, competing with crawling auto traffic as they head to downtown office towers. Monday, the scene downtown was eerily quiet with lone commuters traversing empty expanses of pavement. In Downtown Crossing at 8:45, Washington, Winter and Summer streets were desolate, with storefronts darkened and few pedestrians. Normally busy even on holidays, Chinatown was bereft of cars and pedestrians. (clockwise from upper right): A loan pedestrian passes through Dewey Square at 9 a.m.; a cyclist rides on deserted Chinatown Streets at 9:15, covered up in Copley Square at 8:15; shops closed at 8:50 in Downtown Crossing; a line in front of the St. Francis House homeless shelter on Essex Street at 8:30. South Station’s doorways were mostly empty as the M.B.T.A. reduced service on most lines. BANNER PHOTOS

Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

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Small business loans now available

By KENNEAL PATTERSON Last Friday, a $350 billion economic aid program for small businesses opened as part of the economic recovery Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Paycheck Protection Program, offered primarily through the Small Business Administration, is designed to “provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.”

Robert Nelson, the district director of SBA’s Massachusetts office, told the Banner that the SBA started accepting applications on Friday, April 3.

“These are intended to be lifelines to help small businesses survive what we’re currently going through, and to recover,” he said.

The SBA will forgive paycheck protection loans if employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks, and if the funds are used for payroll, rent, mortgage and utilities. The loans are available through June 30. Nelson noted that if employees are brought back onto payroll by that date, the loan may also be forgiven.

In acknowledgement of the ongoing crisis, the SBA has deferred loan payments for six months. Loans are up to $10 million, with an interest rate of 1% and a maturity of two years.

Nelson urged small businesses and private nonprofits to talk to their existing bankers.

“What the bank is going to be looking for is documentation from the small businesses as far as what their payroll is and what their employee levels are,” he said. “It really is a pretty simple program. The application is pretty simple.”

The SBA has already been processing high numbers of applications since Friday, although news media have reported that some banks have been slow to process the loans.

“Many lenders worked overnight and through the weekend in order to be able to submit a whole slew of applications to the

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Downtown office buildings are largely empty as many employees work from home.

SBA,” Nelson said.

Small business owners can apply through the SBA or their participating lenders. Small business owners can also use the funds to rehire recently-laid off employees, as the program will

“

What we’re doing is we’re providing a 100% guarantee to the bank, to give them the incentive to help us to make these loans.

There’s no collateral required on the loans, there’s no personal guarantee.”

— Robert Nelson, district director, SBA Massachusetts office

be retroactive from Feb. 15.

“What we’re doing is we’re providing a 100% guarantee to the bank, to give them the incentive to help us to make these loans,” Nelson added. “There’s no collateral required on the loans, there’s no personal guarantee.”

Other emergency funds are available through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, or EIDL, which offers low-interest loans up to $2 million. The first payment is deferred for a year, and Nelson said that the payments are “intended to be really affordable.”

The EIDL Emergency Advance program further provides immediate relief to struggling businesses. Small business owners can receive advances up to $10,000 after they apply for the EIDL. These advances do not have to be repaid.

“We’re told that even applications that are denied or declined would be eligible for the economic injury loan advance,” said Nelson.

Nelson said that the SBA

streamlined the process through their website, and the application is fairly easy to complete. “It will probably take them a matter of minutes to get through that initial application and to request the advance,” he said.

Markey talks business

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and state Rep. Liz Miranda also addressed protective measures during an online conference on Thursday.

Markey acknowledged the $1,200 payments that will go to eligible U.S. taxpayers as part of the $2.2 trillion relief package that passed last week. He noted that this check may come on top of unemployment benefits for certain families.

Markey also acknowledged the Payroll Protection Program. According to the Tax Foundation, the Small Business Administration is providing “100% federally-backed loans for certain payroll expenses through June 30, with up to eight weeks of forgiveness for small businesses, certain

nonprofits and self-employed individuals. The loans are forgivable if employers retain employees at comparable salary levels prior to the crisis.”

The program is meant to protect the payroll of small businesses, said Markey, “so that when we come out of the crisis people can jump off that life raft and go right back to work.”

COVID-19 has severely impacted the economy, especially in places that were struggling prior to the virus. Miranda said that her district, the 5th Suffolk, which includes parts of Dorchester and Roxbury, is already one of the poorest districts in the commonwealth.

“For communities of color, low-income communities, folks are really worried that we aren’t getting our fair share quick enough,” she said, advocating for an equitable distribution of resources.

Markey noted the difficulties of dealing with the federal government. He said that he reached out to Vice President Mike Pence weeks ago regarding the PPE shortage. He then called on the president to use the Defense Production Act, he said, which gives the government more control over industrial production. The president only invoked the act on Thursday.

“We have a president who is incompletely incompetent,” said Markey, adding, “He just has ignored the reality of what we need.”

Miranda agreed. “Incompetence is costing lives,” she said.

She’ll continue pushing through to the federal level to demand more resources, she added.

For all residents, Markey emphasized the importance of staying inside, a proven way of slowing the virus.

“I hope you’re abiding by all the advice we’re getting from medical experts,” he said. “We have the best in the world, right in Boston, and if we listen to them, we’ll make it through and minimize the impact this incredible challenge is going to present to us, the whole rest of this country and the world.”

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TIP OF THE WEEK

Pork and Beans — by way of — Brazil

HOW TO BECOME A BETTER COOK THIS YEAR Although cooking is a skill that improves and develops over time with practice, learning how to be a better cook might feel impossible due to time constraints or continued failed recipes. To get the most out of your kitchen and break through the frustration of learning to cook, here are some tips from EatingWell.com: n Get the right equipment: The seven essential types of pots for one-pot meals include skillets, Dutch ovens, woks, roasting pans, casserole dishes, slow cookers and salad bowls. To be fully stocked, include a saucepan and at least two cutting boards (one for meat and fish, and one for everything else).

Feijoada completa takes a good idea to the extreme

By Ari LeVaux / More Content Now ARI LEVAUX

P

ork and beans is an ageold combination, expressed in countless ways around the world. Southwestern pinto beans refried in lard. Asian tofu with pork sauce. The all-American can of pork and beans. Wherever there are pork and beans, there is pork with beans.

Portugal’s feijoada (faysh-WA-da) has spread to the farthest reaches of its empire. Each former colony’s version is built on a different bean: red beans in the Iberian motherland, white beans in Angola, kidney beans in Macau. But the world’s favorite feijoada is probably the one made with black beans.

The national dish of Portugal’s largest former colony, Brazil, is usually what we are talking about when we talk about feijoada.

In any Brazilian restaurant, in or outside of Brazil, from swanky steakhouse to the eminently practical pay-by-weight buffet, there will be a dark, chunky vat of feijoada waiting for you. It isn’t glamorous, but it hits the spot.

The ascent of Brazilian feijoada began in the slave quarters, urban slums and poor rural villages. Beans were used to extend the mileage from each precious scrap of meat, and extract nutrients from bones.

Over time less desperate cuts made their way into the panela de feijoada, along with smoked meat and sausage.

I learned how to make feijoada from Edilson Oliveira, owner of Oliveira’s Steakhouse in Somerville, Massachusetts. His first and only question was, “With or without pig feet?”

I soon realized that when it comes to his feijoada, such flexibility is rare.

I asked about adding other meats like beef to a pork feijoada. He shook

his head sympathetically. “Beef meat will confuse the taste,” he said. “It will make no sense.”

Oliveira’s feijoada recipe is one that any Brazilian would immediately recognize as an exemplary representation of this national art form. It’s a feijoada that breaks no rules, takes no chances, crosses no lines and contains no adulterants.

A feijoada you could bring home to mama.

Most Brazilian meals are served with a shaker or bowl of cassava flour. This gritty powder, called farinha (far-EEN-ya), is hugely important in Brazilian food and culture.

Like feijoada, farinha began as a coping mechanism for the poor. It absorbs water from its surroundings and becomes a thick paste. A bowl of broth and a dish of farinha was a normal meal for the poorest Brazilians. In the same way beans can stretch the goodness of a chunk of meat, a few spoonfuls of farinha will stretch the goodness of a bowl of feijoada. And even well-fed Brazilians add farinha to many dishes, either plain or in its toasted form, farofa (fa-ROW-fa).

While feijoada and farinha or farofa make a filling meal, on special occasions a whole spread is built around feijoada. Feijoada completa (comb-PLAY-tah) includes fried greens like collards or kale, along with rice, orange slices and pickled vegetables.

Brazilians are known to take good ideas to extremes, and a feijoada completa is no exception. It’s the Carnival of pork and beans.

Along the lines of “with or without feet,” the only room for improvisation in this recipe is in the kinds of pork to use. There should be at least three types of pork. The recipe here gives one example of this dish.

FEIJOADA BRASILEIRA Serves: Everyone, provided there is farinha n 2 lbs. dry black beans n 1 lb. pork belly n 2 lb. smoked ham hock (bone included) n 1 lb. sausage (linguica, kielbasa or bratwurst) n 5 garlic cloves (smashed with salt) n 4 bay leaves n Salt and pepper n Optional accompaniments: farofa, collards, rice, orange, minced onion as a garnish Add the beans to a large pot, and then water, to twice the depth of the beans. Bring to a boil and cook for about an hour, or 25 minutes in the pressure cooker, so the beans are soft but not mushy.

Meanwhile, brown the pork under the broiler, each type of pork in its own oven-safe pan — I use cast-iron. Rotate the pans and stir the parts as necessary so nothing stays too close to the broiler for too long. The sausage needs the least amount of time — it just needs to be browned on the outside. Cut the sausage into rounds, add the mashed garlic to the pan and cook the sausage and garlic on medium heat until browned, but not burned. Then turn off the heat.

When the meat is cool enough to work with, remove it from the greasy pans. Oliveira recommends leaving the melted fat behind. “Otherwise it would be too heavy.”

Cut the meat off the bones and into pieces of half an inch or less on a side. Add the meat, bones, bay leaves and browned garlic from the sausage pan back to the bean pot, along with enough water to cover everything. Cook another hour or two, seasoning with salt and pepper. The next morning it will be even better, and thicker.

It’s always OK to add water.

Serve with all of the available fixings.

n Organize your work space: Create a

clutter-free prep space that has space for a cutting board, ingredients and a bowl or two. Keep knives close by and position a garbage can within arm’s reach. n Keep a well-stocked pantry: As you

use up ingredients, jot down your pantry items on your grocery list. n Use herbs and spices: Herbs and spices

create bright, aromatic, vibrant-tasting dishes without loading up on salt, sugar, butter or cream. n Read your recipe: When you’re ready to

cook, read the entire recipe first. Reading the recipe first will help you know that to expect as you move through the steps. n Mise en place: Having your ingredients

prepared and organized is known as “mise en place,” which translates to mean “everything in place.” Pull out all the ingredients needed and set them up in order of use. n Have a sharp knife: Invest in a good

chef’s knife, paring knife and a hand-held knife sharpener.

FUN FACT

LARGEST CONSUMER OF KALE BEFORE IT WAS TRENDY According to NPR, prior to the kale craze of today, the largest wholesale purchaser of kale in the 1990s in the U.S. was Pizza Hut. The pizza chain garnished all their buffet tables with kale.

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National Poetry Month with Porsha Olayiwola — Boston’s Poet Laureate

By SUSAN SACCOCCIA

“999 Cranes” by Silvia Lopez Chavez at Ruggles Station. PHOTO: CELINA COLBY

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

City walls replace gallery walls during pandemic

M

The “Breathe Life” murals

by ProBlak

By CELINA COLBY

any arts organizations that have had to close their doors are turning to the internet to continue displaying work and engaging the community. Theater shows are streaming online, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is on Spotify and the Museum of Fine Arts is debuting exhibitions on Instagram. But there’s another accessible venue available as well: the street. For those in a position to enjoy social-distanced walks outdoors, public art around the city has become a crucial way of continuing to experience art in person.

While breathing in the fresh air, add some positivity to your daily walk with these murals and public art pieces.

“Breathe Life 3” by ProBlak at 808 Tremont Street. PHOTO: CELINA COLBY

Roxbury native and Boston street art legend ProBlak began his series celebrating black children in 2017 with the “Breathe Life” mural at 324 Blue Hill Avenue in Grove Hall. The mural depicts a young boy in a fantastical landscape blowing into a toy house. Last year, ProBlak debuted “Breathe Life 3” at 808 Tremont Street, just a few blocks from where he grew up. The mural shows a black brother and sister joyfully playing together against a similarly fantastical backdrop.

Both murals are meant to illustrate joy, an emotional more essential than ever during this pandemic.

Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola writes and performs poems rooted in Afro-futurism, magical realism and science fiction.

The Jamaica Plain resident is also artistic director of MassLEAP, a literary nonprofit serving youth, and co-founder of “House Slam,” a free poetry gathering that in normal times meets twice monthly at the Haley House Bakery Café in Roxbury.

As the city’s poet laureate, Olayiwola cultivates opportunities to engage people of all ages in writing poetry and works to increase the number of events that bring poets and audiences together. Pandemic or not, April — National Poetry Month — is no exception. On Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m., Olayiwola will hold a virtual session at www. instagram.com/wburartery on creating poems, and read from her new book, “i shimmer sometimes, too.”

Here, Olayiwola talks with the Banner about celebrating National Poetry Month during this time of physical distancing.

Q. How can Bostonians take part in National Poetry Month while staying home?

A. I love National Poetry Month. It’s a uniting entity for the poetry diaspora, a way for us do some of our work with the rest of world through events that engage folks who don’t usually identify themselves as poets. Virtual readings such as the April 17 event can bring people together around poetry and help us cope with this trauma.

How are you celebrating National Poetry Month?

My goal is to read poems every

See OLAYIWOLA, page 13

“999 Cranes” by Silvia López Chavez

This vibrant mural on the side of Ruggles Station depicts two hands holding a paper crane. Around it, geometric shapes like arrows and targets mix with organic floral patterns, all in flat planes of bold color. The intention of the mural is to illustrate that a journey never goes in a straight line. The mural references both physical journeys, like those taken on the nearby Orange Line, and metaphorical journeys. Now, the piece speaks to the current climate, in that the COVID-19 pandemic is full of unknowns, no straight answers or lines, but that community and creativity will allow people to persevere.

See STREET ART, page 13

PHOTO: CARLIE FEBO

Porsha Olayiwola, Poet Laureate of Boston

12 • Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER

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From stage to social-distanced screening Boston theaters take their productions online

By CELINA COLBY Boston’s theaters may be dark, but the talent that usually fills them is alive and available to stream online. In collaboration with ArtsEmerson and Huntington Theatre Company, WGBH will air a broadcast of the onewoman play “Mala” by Melinda Lopez on April 9 at 10 p.m. The performance can be seen on WGBH 2 and YouTube TV. Viewers may be less formally dressed than during a typical night at the theater, but organizers hope the emotional impact of the show will be just as strong.

“Mala,” written and performed by former Huntington Theatre playwright-in-residence Melinda Lopez is an award-winning play about a woman struggling to live her own life while caring for her ailing and increasingly ornery mother. It explores the role death plays in our contemporary lives and the lengths we can, or can’t, go to for our loved ones. The performance was taped in 2018,

but this is the first time it will be broadcast.

“At the time this was filmed, we were so grateful to the Huntington and to WGBH for their interest in capturing this show during its return to Boston,” said ArtsEmerson’s artistic director David Dower.

“But we had no idea how urgent and moving it would become to have it available to air in the middle of this moment. It seems now like a bit of a miracle that it exists to be shown in this way.”

The broadcast will also kick off the start of a new online series produced by ArtsEmerson called “Together Apart: Explore New Worlds from Your Home.” The series will feature past ArtsEmerson shows as well as live and pretaped conversations with artists who participated in them on the ArtsEmerson blog. Viewers will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions in an attempt to bring the arts community together despite being physically separated. The series kicks off on April 9 with a discussion between Melinda Lopez and David Dower about “Mala.”

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Melinda Lopez performs her one-woman play “Mala.”

The broadcast of “Mala” is part of a slow but steady movement in local theaters to bring previous productions into the homes of social distancers. After having to cut their run of “Pipeline” short, Cambridge’s Central Square Theater is streaming a multi-camera video version online. In lieu of purchasing a ticket, theater lovers pay on a sliding scale starting at $10 for the link to the stream.

Payments over $20 are tax-deductible donations as well.

Nothing quite compares to live theater, but the commitment of local theater companies to making their work accessible to viewers at home is admirable, especially during a time that’s economically devastating for many small arts organizations.

“Theater is a powerful medium to process challenging times,” says Jon Abbott, president and CEO of WGBH. “So with our Boston theaters dark, we are thrilled to be able to bring this important work to local audiences.”

ON THE WEB ArtsEmerson’s accompanying artist discussion about “Mala” will be available April 9 at artsemersonblog.org

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street art continued from page 11

“A World of Innocent Wonder” by Cedric Douglas Hidden within Northeastern University’s campus is a mural that perfectly illustrates the possibilities of imagination and creativity. “A World of Innocent Wonder” depicts a small child

holding a spray paint can. From that can, an energetic splash of hues and shapes emerges, including a dinosaur, a mountain landscape and a burst of primary colors. The mural shows how art and imagination can create a whole world where there was once just a wall, just like Douglas’ works do all around the city.

While Bostonians are now confined within their walls most of the time, that doesn’t have to stop

the spread of invention, exploration and artistic joy.

ON THE WEB Find more Grove Hall murals to explore:

www.boston.gov/news/five-artists-selectedpublic-art-projects-grove-hall-business-district (below)“A World of Innocent Wonder”

by Cedric Douglas at Northeastern University. PHOTO: CELINA COLBY

“

Olayiwola continued from page 11

day for 30 minutes. Li Young Lee, in his poem “The Undressing,” is devastating in his word choice, yet it feels so soft. I’m reading fiction too. “An American Marriage,” by Tayari Jones, is fantastic. I cry when I read it.

National Poetry Month seems like a good time to honor artistic heroes and ancestors. Who are some of yours?

Nikki Giovanni’s “Love Poems” still moves me. Octavia Butler’s 1993 book “Parable of the Sower” is so well versed in humans that she writes the future. One of her characters runs for president with the motto “Make America great again.” I’ve been re-reading Toni Morrison as a form of research for her play “The Bluest Eye.” And June Jordan’s “A Poem About My Rights” has great authenticity. She can take something mundane, like taking a walk at night, and what that means as a woman, in a way I can identify with.

Love is one of the major power tools we have to get through this.

— Porsha Olayiwola

What are some of the projects you are working on?

I’ve been exploring the link between the black diaspora and water. Two years ago, I visited a slave port in Nigeria. We saw a well that slaves had to drink from, poisoned with a concoction by a conjure man that made them forget their memories during the Middle Passage.

Meanwhile, I’m feeling how good it is to be next to my partner and in contact with my friends and colleagues. Love is one of the major power tools we have to get through this.

What are you looking forward to doing when this physical distancing is over?

Having a picnic in a park.

ON THE WEB Learn more at: www.porshaolayiwola.com The ARTery’s Linvingroom livestream: www.wbur.org/artery/2020/03/30/artery-living-

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BPD

continued from page 1 at the Boston Housing Authority and five years at Boston College.

Despite positive recommendations from his past employers and a competitive score on the civil service exam, a BPD investigator flagged a then-16-year-old criminal record stemming from an incident between Morgan and his mother.

In 2001, Morgan, who was then 18, engaged in what he and his mother said was a loud argument that resulted in a domestic violence call. While one responding officer reported that Morgan’s mother accused her son of throwing liquid and a shoe at her, both she and Morgan told the BPD investigator that their confrontation was verbal, not physical.

Morgan was arrested the evening of the 2001 incident, but his case was continued without a finding and dismissed 10 months later after he completed community service and wrote a letter of apology to his mother.

In a scenario some say is all too familiar, BPD officials told Morgan he had been bypassed, citing “significant concern with [his] felonious conduct and un-

“

We know that people of color are passed over more frequently than their white counterparts.”

— Sophia Hall, attorney for Malik Morgan

truthful reporting.”

Morgan, who was never convicted of a felony crime, hit back.

He filed an appeal with the Civil Service Commission. His attorney, Sophia Hall of Lawyers for Civil Rights, noted in her complaint the cases of three white men who were selected by BPD. One had admitted to purchasing alcohol for a minor in a 2012

police report, yet denied intending to do so during his background investigation. That same applicant had speeding and rightof-way violations on his driving record and had his license revoked in 2012 and 2015.

Another white candidate had been arrested for disturbing the peace in 2007 and was arraigned for committing a crime in 2006.

Both charges were dismissed. In addition, that candidate did not report being fired from a job and denied receiving a warning at another job.

A third white candidate was arraigned in 2011 for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in 2011, and in 2009 was charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime with intention to commit a felony. Both sets of charges were dismissed.

Morgan’s attorney, Sophia Hall, said she was not surprised by the apparent disparate treatment her client received.

“We know that people of color are passed over more frequently than their white counterparts,” she said.

Just how many black and Latino candidates are passed over is unknown, however. Crispin said MAMLEO routinely receives complaints from black and Latino officers who are bypassed, but he added that many applicants might not be aware that his group can offer assistance.

Seeking to put numbers on the disparity, Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a Freedom of Information Act request in January of last year for data on BPD bypasses, but the department has not released the data, despite the 10-day response time required by law.

In June of 2019, after waiting 116 business days, LCR filed a lawsuit in federal court charging that the police department has repeatedly failed to respond to public records requests. While attorneys for BPD sought to have the suit dismissed, a Superior Court judge in March ruled that the suit may proceed.

In the meantime, people of color applying to become BPD officers are subject to a decision-making process that often appears arbitrary, a situation Hall

attributes to the law governing the department’s hiring process.

Criminal convictions and traffic violations don’t automatically disqualify an applicant, Hall said.

When an applicant’s statements to police are at variance with the employment or police record, it doesn’t necessarily mean a candidate is lying. In Morgan’s case, he was found to be “untruthful” while another in the same class of recruits made a statement that didn’t match his earlier statement on a police report and was not determined to be lying.

“The statute does say you cannot be hired if you have a felony conviction,” she said.

“Short of that, there are no standards in place.”

In a 2018 case argued by Lawyers for Civil Rights, a Superior Court judge ruled that BPD was not justified in bypassing a black applicant for an 18-year-old felony charge that was continued without a finding, ruling that “there is no such statutory definition in Massachusetts under which a CWOF would be considered a conviction.”

ADVERTISE IN THE BANNER

Call 617-261-4600 ext. 7799

BAYSTATEBANNER.COM

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

TIME

WRA-4834

Supply and Delivery of Sodium 04/21/20 Hypochlorite to John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant and William A. Brutsch Water Treatment Facility

1:00 p.m.

WRA-4835

Supply and Delivery of Sodium Hypochlorite to Various MWRA Wastewater Facilities and Clinton Wastewater Treatment Plant

04/21/20

2:00 p.m.

WRA-4836

Hazardous Waste Removal at Deer Island Treatment Plant

04/21/20

2:00 p.m.

WRA-4837

Supply and Delivery of Sodium Hydroxide to Deer Island Treatment Plant

04/21/20

2:00 p.m.

WRA-4838

Struvite and Grit Removal at Deer Island Treatment Plant

04/21/20

2:00 p.m.

WRA-4839

Supply and Delivery of Sodium Bisulfite to John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant and Clinton Wastewater Treatment Plant

04/21/20

2:00 p.m.

LEGAL

LEGAL

Mandatory pre-bid conference call & site video: 4/13/20 @ 9:00 a.m. E-mail Peter.Cruz@jacobs.com for details on how to participate. No award will be given to a contractor not prequalified by MBTA in Cl. 1, General Transit Construction, or Cl. 3, Trackwork, for a $6.9 million contract value at the bid deadline and not at the pre-bid. Bid deadline is Thurs., April 23, 2020, 2:00 p.m.

attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 05/07/2020. 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 day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU19A0198AD CITATION G.L. c. 210, § 6

To access and bid on Event(s) please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com.

In the matter of Adrianna P McDonald To any unnamed or unknown parent and persons interested in a petition for the adoption of said child and to the Department of Children and Families of said Commonwealth.

INVITATION FOR BIDS TIE INSTALLATION ON 3 MASSDOT RAIL LINES - READVERTISED The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Rail and Transit Division (MassDOT) is accepting sealed bids to rehabilitate railroad rights-of-way.

This Invitation for Bids is issued pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30, §39M. THE PROJECT: Furnish 4,000 new wood crossties and install up to 27,000 new wood crossties on three separate MassDOT-owned freight lines in SE Mass. Relay tie plates and 23,000 crossties will be supplied by MassDOT. Project includes removing existing ties, placing new ties, spiking, gaging, anchors restoration, tamping, ballast installation, shoulder restoration, removed scrap tie disposal and OTM disposal. Contractor must show evidence of having worked on an active railroad and was able to complete the work with no impacts to railroad operations. Construction cost estimate is $6.9 million.

Prospective bidders must be prequalified in accordance with MBTA “Procedures Governing Classification and Rating of Prospective Bidders.”

Bidders must provide: 1. List of equipment that will be used 2. Completed Bid Bond; 3. List of all work in the last 3 years of similar size and scope demonstrating experience & qualifications; 4. List of ongoing projects and 3 references from projects listed; 5. Approved FRA drug & alcohol testing plan.

Bid documents available 4/8/20 via COMMBUYS, the Commonwealth’s procurement website (www.commbuys.com). Prospective bidders must be registered in COMMBUYS and must download plans, specs and all other documents required to submit a bid. Questions must be submitted through the Q&A Tab in COMMBUYS. Respondents must sign in on COMMBUYS to post questions.

WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court.

Date: March 25, 2020

A petition has been presented to said court by Jelix Carrasquillo of Roxbury, MA and Tiffany Foster of Roxbury, MA requesting for leave to adopt said child and that the name of the child be changed to Tiffany Da’nae Foster.

If you object to this adoption you are entitled to the appointment of an attorney if you are an indigent person.

An indigent person is defined by SJC Rule 3:10. The definition includes but is not limited to persons receiving TAFDC, EACDC, poverty related veteran’s benefits, Medicaid, and SSI. The Court will determine if you are indigent.

Contact an Assistant Judicial Case Manager or Adoption Clerk of the Court on or before the date listed below to obtain the necessary forms.

MASSDOT RAIL AND TRANSIT

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 04/16/2020.

WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court.

Date: February 21, 2020

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU20P0523EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of: Sergio Rocha Goncalves Date of Death: 10/08/2019 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Manuel John Goncalves of North Attleboro, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Manuel John Goncalves of North Attleboro, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve With Personal Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration.

IMPORTANT NOTICE 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

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU20P0441GD

Citation Giving Notice of Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Incapacitated Person Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of: Gwendolyn Chaplin Of: Roxbury, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Keisha Cobb of Roxbury, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Gwendolyn Chaplin is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Keisha Cobb of Roxbury, 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, and 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 04/16/2020. 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: March 19, 2020

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Thursday, April 9, 2020 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

DND Affordable Rental Opportunity Talbot Commons - Phase 1 Multiple Addresses in Dorchester, 02124: 14 & 18 New England Ave

•

15 & 17 Mallard Ave

•

207 Norfolk Street

•

3 6 3 25 3

2-Bedrooms* 3 Bedroom* 1-Bedroom 2-Bedroom** 3 Bedroom

BPDA Income Restricted Homeownership Opportunity

50 Symphony Road, Boston, MA 02115

4-6 Norfolk Terrace

40 Income-restricted Units 19 New Construction and 7 Moderate Rehab to be rented through lottery 14 units are currently occupied with no waiting list. Filled on turnover by this lottery NUMBER OF UNITS NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

REAL ESTATE

RENT

MAXIMUM INCOME IN AMI

up to 30% household income up to 30% household income $1,359 $1,530 $1,359

30% AMI 30% AMI 60% AMI 60% AMI 60% AMI

3 INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS # OF UNITS

# OF BEDROOMS

PRICE

1 1 1

1 2 2

$186,400 $221,900 $288,700

HOUSEHOLD SIZE

1 2 3 4 5 6

Maximum Yearly Income based on Number of People in Household (2019 limits, provided by DND) 30% AMI

60% AMI

1 2 3 4 5 6

$24,900 $28,450 $32,000 $35,550 $38,400 $41,250

$49,800 $56,880 $64,000 $71,100 $78,800 $82,500

80% AMI 80% AMI between 80% and 100% AMI

MAXIMUM INCOME PER HOUSEHOLD SIZE (2019 limits, provided by BPDA)

* The three 2 bedrooms and one 3-bedroom units are Homeless Set-asides filled through direct referral from HomeStart. For more information, please visit https://www.homestart.org/bostonhsa or call 857-415-2139 **Two of these units are built out for people with mobility impairments + one is built out for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLD

MAXIMUM INCOME LIMIT IN AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI)

80% AMI

$63,500 $72,550 $81,600 $90,650 $97,950 $105,200

100% AMI

$79,350 $90,650 $102,000 $113,300 $122,400 $131,450

Applications are available online or by email from 4/13/20 – 4/26/2020 After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has decided to cancel the in-person application distribution period. To request an application online, please visit: bit.ly/50symphony

Minimum Yearly Income Based on the Number of Bedrooms NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

30% AMI

60% AMI

1 2 3

No Minimum No Minimum No Minimum

$41,133 $49,371 $57,024

Minimum Incomes do not apply to households with housing assistance like Section 8, MRVP, Vash

Applications are available March 30, 2020 through April 24, 2020 After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has decided to cancel the in-person application distribution period.

To request an application online please go to: http://bit.ly/talbotcommons1 If you cannot complete the application online (recommended), please call us at (617) 287-9580 to request that we mail you one and to ask for any guidance you might need to complete the application.

When you call, you will be asked for your full name, complete mailing address, and phone number.

This is a City and HUD requirement.

Application must be submitted online OR postmarked by April 24, 2020.

Reasonable accommodations made.

Selection by Lottery.Income, Asset, & Use Restrictions apply. Preferences apply. For more information, language assistance, or reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities please call or email.

For more information, language assistance, or reasonable accommodations email WinnResidential at TalbotCommons@winnco.com or call (617) 287.9580 / TTY/TDD: (800) 439-2370

If you cannot complete the application online (recommended), please call us at 617-306-4540 to request that we mail you one and to ask for any guidance you might need to complete the application.

When you call, you will be asked for your full name, complete mailing address, and phone number. This is a City and HUD requirement.

For more information please visit: www.thehenrylottery.com or contact us via email at thehenrylottery@nemoves.com DEADLINE: Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Friday, May 1st 2020 Mailed to: The Henry Lottery c/o Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 399 Boylston Street, 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02116 Selection by lottery.

Asset, Use & Resale Restrictions apply.

Preference for Boston Residents.

Preference for Households with at least one person per bedroom.

Preference for First-Time Homebuyers For more information, language assistance, or reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities please call 617-306-4540 or email thehenrylottery@nemoves.com

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS! Post your own

real estate properties and job openings. BAYSTATEBANNER.COM HELP WANTED

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

The Bourne Housing Authority on Cape Cod (MA) seeks an experienced housing administrator for the leadership and management of the following Mass. State and Federal Housing Programs: Total units; 231. Fed. elderly (56 Units); Fed. Vouchers (76 Units); State 705 Program (14 Units); State Handicap 689 Program (16 Units); State Disabled Independent Adult Vouchers (20 Units); State MRVP Vouchers (13 Units). The salary range is $85,082 to $94,536 in accordance with the DHCD Executive Director Salary Schedule/Calculation worksheet. The work week is 37.5 hrs. per week. Four years experience in a housing, community development, public administration or closely related field. Knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finances and maintenance systems in public or private housing. One year’s experience overseeing at least three staff persons or program administration is required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required. Knowledge of laws regulating State and Federal housing programs. Experience working with people of various socio-economic backgrounds. Must be bondable. Certification as a Public Housing Manager from a HUD approved organization is desired or obtained within one year of employment. Working knowledge of and experience with the development/redevelopment of affordable housing and management of capital improvement projects is preferred. Demonstrated ability to learn and use the agency’s computer system is preferred. A bachelor’s degree in a related field may substitute for up to two years of experience. The position is open until filled and salary is based upon experience and education.

Submit cover letter and resume to: Leo Dauwer, Search Consultant.

20 Shady Lane Needham, MA 02492. Attn: Bourne HA Search email: dowerassociates@comcast.net No faxes, please.

EOE

Advertise in the Banner: (617) 261-4600 ext. 7799

The Plainville Housing Authority is accepting applications for a parttime, 16 hours per week, Executive Director. The Plainville Housing Authority is a public housing agency managing 40 units of Massachusetts Chapter 667 housing.

Minimum requirements include at least two years of experience in housing, community development, public administration or a closely related field. Computer proficiency is required. Knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finances and maintenance systems in public housing is required. Candidate must have strong written and verbal communication skills as well as the willingness to work with people of various socio-economic backgrounds in addition to knowledge of laws regulating State of Massachusetts housing programs. Applicant must be bondable and pass a criminal history screening. Certification as a Public Housing Manager (PHM) or Massachusetts Public Housing Administrator (MPHA) from a HUD or DHCD approved organization is required or must be obtained within one year of employment. Two-year full time post-secondary education in a related field may substitute for up to one year of experience.

The Plainville Housing Authority will also entertain proposals for a Management Contract with an area Housing Authority.

Salary is commensurate with experience and education in accordance with DHCD guidelines and salary schedule.

Please submit a cover letter and resume with three references to: Plainville Housing Authority, Executive Director Search, 140 East Bacon Street, Plainville, MA 02762.

The search will remain open and resumes will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

The Plainville Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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