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R&B SINGER ALEX WILL PERFORM SATURDAY AT FENWAY AS PART OF ALL-DAY FREE OPEN HOUSE pg 16

JerkFest heading north to Vermont pg 13

RCC president cites state investments, partnerships pg 3

plus Comedian Cristela Alonzo will perform Saturday at The Wilbur Theater pg 16 Thursday, April 23, 2015 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

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Roxbury housing market on upswing Mixed outcomes as investment, new residents drive real estate surge

By ELIZA DEWEY

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to most that Roxbury’s housing market is taking off, continuing the upward trend that real estate developers and residents have noted for some time.

But some might be shocked at the speed at which change is coming to the neighborhood.

The story behind a three-family property on Circuit Street next to the Warren Gardens housing community provides a window into both the area’s improving real estate market and a neighborhood in transition. That home — an attached triple decker — is now for sale, listed at a whopping $929,000.

Real estate broker Robert Nichols says the price reflects the emerging future of which developers are mighty aware. “They know the direction the area is going in, and they’re willing to take the risk on investments,” he says, noting Dudley Square’s ongoing building boom as a key signifier of the area’s future.

While Nichols can’t say who the final contenders are, he says that those who have expressed the most

serious interest are real estate investment companies that own numerous properties across the city.

For some, the increase in housing prices is a welcome change after decades of neglect and disinvestment in one of black Boston’s key neighborhoods.

“This was a segregated community for a long time. We were redlined,” says Lorraine Wheeler of the nearby Moreland Street Historical District neighborhood association, using the term to describe when banks will not invest in certain areas. Redlining was a key factor in the 20th century creation of segregated urban housing markets and black “inner city” areas that suffered from disinvestment. “This was the only place you could buy property if you were a person of color.”

Now, however, she says the neighborhood has gone through a “miraculous resurgence,” with people from outside the community recognizing what locals have always known — that Roxbury is a quick commute from downtown jobs.

Wheeler says the change is welcome in some ways, but that it also does bring its concerns.

See ROXBURY, page 10

BANNER PHOTOS

Chelsea Collaborative Executive Director Gladys Vega speaks to marchers at Forsyth Park near Northeastern University

Workers ‘Fight for $15’ in Downtown Boston Hundreds march for higher wages, unions and more

By ELIZA DEWEY

Labor activists across the country took to the streets last week in coordinated marches calling for higher wages, many times weaving their message into broader calls for unionization, affordable housing, and immigration reform.

Those marching in a Boston demonstration underscored the

Boston Marathon winners

difficulty of trying to make ends meet on a limited pay check.

Kenneth Brimmage, a Burger King employee who currently earns $9 an hour, said he had to factor heavy travel costs into his limited budget. He’s originally from Boston but said he was priced out of the city and now lives in Brockton — and travels to Holbrook every day to work. Despite having to travel far for the rally, he said it was worth it.

“A chance for a better tomorrow is always worth everything you got,” he said.

Sabrina Johnson of Dorchester, a member of Boston Fast Food Workers, said she had to work three jobs to make ends meet. She makes $9.57 per hour at Chipotle, $10 at Logan airport, and $13.39 as a home health aid. She marched in front of the crowd helping to

See WAGES, page 7

Walsh releases workforce report

By YAWU MILLER

PHOTO: DON WEST

Winners of the 119th Boston Marathon, Lelisa Desisa (left) from Ethiopia, and Caroline Rotich, from Kenya. Desisa won the men’s title with a time of 2:09:17 while Rotich won the women’s title with a time of 2:24:55.

The Walsh administration’s first Workforce Profile Report contained few surprises.

Released last week, the report underscored the challenges the city faces in maintaining a workforce that mirrors the city’s majority-minority population. While whites make up 46 percent of Boston’s population, they hold 58 percent of city jobs. Blacks, Latinos and Asians are underrepresented in the higher-paying jobs in city government.

The release of the report,

complete with pie charts, historical comparisons and comparisons to other cities, is a first for a Boston mayor. And, according to the city’s Chief Diversity Officer, Shaun Blugh, the report is a call to action.

“I look forward to working with department heads and cabinet heads on how to address these findings,” Blugh said.

According to the report, blacks, who represent 24 percent of Boston’s population, represent 26 percent of city employees.

Their median salary of $63,000 a year is substantially less than the $73,000 median salary earned by

whites. Latinos make up 18 percent of the city population, yet hold only 11 percent of city jobs.

Their median income is $59,000.

Asians, who make up 9 percent of the city’s population, hold 4 percent of city jobs and have a median salary of $68,000.

Women make up 52 percent of the city’s workforce, when Boston Public Schools employees are included in the tally. Without the schools, women make up only 28 percent of the city’s full-time employees. The median income for women working for the city is

See DIVERSITY, page 11

2 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

Community conversations highlight policing problems

By ELIZA DEWEY

Two different neighborhood meetings last week highlighted deep concerns that many residents have about the Boston Police Department’s track record on community relations, racial profiling and use of force — including concerns voiced by, and about, black police officers.

“Ferguson is everywhere,” said Dr. Kahlilah Brown-Dean while opening up a panel Wednesday night at Northeastern University. “Ferguson happens when we treat black death as nothing more than public spectacle. I cannot watch any more videos.”

In the past few weeks, videos showing the fatal police shootings of unarmed black men Walter Scott in South Carolina and Eric Harris in Oklahoma have gone viral.

Panelist Seneca Joyner, one of the lead organizers of Black Lives Matter Boston, said that she did not think police reform went far enough. “We are interested in abolition,” she said in reference to the police department.

She added that she often told police officers “they are making terrible life decisions” with respect to their career choice.

Other panelists expressed a similar desire for sweeping change.

“Police are no more protected than any other human being in the law,” said Carlton Williams, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Massachusetts. “The law exists, but the societal and cultural will is not there … We need to change the culture.”

The Northeastern panel was co-sponsored by the Northeastern Law School and Suffolk Law School chapters of the National

Lawyers Guild and the United For Justice with Peace coalition.

In a similar vein, a town hall meeting the following night hosted at the Dudley Square library highlighted negative experiences that many have had with the police, while highlighting the promises and limitations of various policy solutions.

Boston resident Carla Sheffield described the 2012 fatal police shooting of her son, Burrell Ramsey-White.

An investigation by the Suffolk District Attorney’s office cleared the officer of wrongdoing in December 2013, saying he was acting in self-defense after Ramsey-White pointed a loaded handgun at him.

city’s Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel, or COOP. The COOP was established in 2007 and reviews a portion of police internal investigations to ensure that they were conducted properly. Tidwell was careful to note that the COOP is not the same as a civilian review board, because it does not conduct its own independent investigations. Rather, it is limited to simply checking whether a police internal investigation was conducted in a “fair and thorough” manner.

The COOP only reviews a sampling — about 18 percent — of police investigations. Earlier this month, Mayor Walsh

promised an overhaul of the COOP, which he agreed does not currently have enough powers to have a real impact.

Tidwell noted that the current system has discouraged many people from filing complaints with the Internal Affairs Department in the first place.

“More [people] would be heard if there were a place independent of the police department doing investigations,” she said.

The panel also highlighted several pending bills at both the state and city levels: a bill from Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz that would require data collection on police-civilian encounters and prohibit racial profiling; a bill from Representative Evandro Carvalho that would remove the District Attorney from investigations of officer-involved deaths of civilians; and two city ordinances

by Councilor Charles Yancey that would mandate the use of body

cameras by police officers and establish a civilian review board for the police department.

Although there was a strong sense among panelists and audience members that adding more diversity to the police force would be useful, many said that the tactic would not be sufficient to create the level of change needed.

“It’s good to have diversity within the police department, but let us not be confused that that is the cure-all,” said Rahsaan Hall, Deputy Director of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice. “There are black cops that do bad things too. Let’s talk about changing the culture of the department.”

Larry Ellison, the President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, was at the Dudley Square

See POLICE, page 21

Police conduct

Terrance Williams, who is running for the City Council’s 4th District seat, spoke about a double-standard he had experienced in his interactions with police, saying he was personally affected by the crackdown on black men in Roxbury following the 1989 death of Carol Stuart, a white woman. It was later found that Stuart was murdered by her husband.

“Some of these officers, they’ll lie to put a case on you, but there’s no consequences if they get caught in a lie,” he said.

Like the Northeastern panel, the Dudley event included a discussion about the different styles of activism surrounding police matters. Panelists also listed some specific avenues for movement, among them a stronger mechanism for civilian oversight of the police and several bills that have been introduced at the state and city levels.

One of the panelists, Natashia Tidwell, currently sits on the

BANNER PHOTO

Atty. Howard Friedman, Natashia Tidwell of the city’s CO-OP, and Rahsaan Hall of the Lawyer’s Cmte. for Civil Rights speak at a town hall at the Dudley Square branch of the Boston Public Library.

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

RCC president cites state investments, partnerships

By YAWU MILLER

In her first year and a half Roxbury Community College President Valerie Roberson closed the school’s longstanding budget deficit, brought the college into compliance with federal financial aid regulations and began a $19 million overhaul of the school’s buildings.

This year, Roberson plans to chart a course for the future with the release of a visioning plan she led with faculty, staff, students and residents and stakeholders in the Roxbury community.

Roberson says turnout for the visioning sessions last month demonstrated deep optimism for the college.

“I’ve been really buoyed by the conversations that I’ve had since I’ve been here, with the community, with businesses, with the community-based organizations that funnel students that are earning their GED or studying English as a Second Language to our college,” she said in an interview with the Banner. “There’s so much support for this college.”

That support is made real through partnerships that provide students with internships that give them valuable experience in the working world.

Students in RCC’s Radiologic Technology program intern in Boston-area hospitals. Criminal Justice students intern in Massachusetts courts, with police departments and in local law firms. A new partnership with WCVB Channel 5 has provided the college’s

Broadcast Media students with internships there.

Roberson also touts the physical investments in the college’s campus which so far have yielded a new cafeteria, renovations to the library, technical upgrades to classrooms, new equipment for the biotechnology labs and a newly-resurfaced track in the Reggie Lewis Athletic Facility.

Roberson says state funds will also be used to install solar panels and a geothermal heat system that will make RCC energy independent.

“We will be able to save a tremendous amount, reduce our energy costs to zero and sell energy back to the utilities,” Roberson said.

Not all of the improvements at RCC are bricks-and-mortar. The college contracted with One Stop, a social service agency that opened an office in RCC’s administration building and helps students obtain services ranging from help with financial aid to legal advice.

“We don’t have the luxury of students coming here care-free,” Roberson said. “Our students come with a bevy of problems ranging from homelessness to lack of adequate child care.”

Roberson’s optimistic outlook isn’t shared by all on campus.

On April 1, a small group of 20 faculty students and staff stood in front of the college to protest what they said were layoffs and budget cuts. Faculty members staged a no-confidence vote earlier this year, but failed to come up with the two-thirds majority needed to pass the measure.

Roberson said no faculty

members were laid off during the budget cuts.

“Most of the changes were at the administrative level so that we could provide the same level of services to students,” she said. “We had to make some really hard calls.”

The rally, which was attended by 20 students and faculty, was a small relatively small affair. And it was somewhat routine for the school, where the faculty has long had contentious relations with the administration.

Righting the college’s financial

aid problems was a much more daunting task. RCC was placed on “heightened financial scrutiny” by the U.S. Department of Education after investigations found that the college had mishandled student financial aid. The designation is not entirely uncommon. RCC was one nine Massachusetts colleges under scrutiny by the DOE this year.

Roberson said the designation provided the college with an opportunity to tighten its administration of financial aid.

“It really entailed us monitoring

all of our processes and systems to make sure we were in full compliance,” she said.

The process has paid off for RCC. The most recent DOE audit of RCC’s financial aid files found the school to be 100 percent compliant with federal standards over the last 16 months.

“I feel good about the progress we’ve made,” Roberson said. “We have really hard-working staff in financial aid. The whole college has pulled together to make our situation improve.”

BANNER PHOTO

Roxbury Community College president says the school is on firm footing after significant investments approved by former Gov. Deval Patrick and the state Legislature.

4 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

EDITORIAL

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INSIDE: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, 16-19 • BUSINESS, 13-14 • CLASSIFIEDS, 21-23

Established 1965

It’s time to build black wealth America is suffering from a substantial wealth gap. A small number of residents control a disproportionate amount of the nation’s wealth. With the publication of The Color of Wealth in Boston report, the issue of wealth disparity took a shocking twist.

This study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found that while white households in Boston had a median wealth of $247,500, African American households averaged close to zero.

This was not a measure of household income. It was, rather, a tally of the assets that households had accumulated over the years with their income, less the amount of outstanding debt. The list included liquid assets, bank accounts, stocks, IRAs and homes. On the debt side were student loans, medical and credit card debt and home mortgages. U.S. blacks were short on the asset side and long on the debt side.

The study performed a significant service by distinguishing the data of U.S. blacks, Caribbean blacks, Cape Verdeans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, other Hispanics and Asians. It was not the objective

of the study to analyze the reasons for the failure to accumulate assets. However, size of family income is a great predictor of asset growth. Whites in Boston had a median family income of $90,000 compared to only $41,200 for U.S. blacks in Boston.

America has become a predatory culture and blacks are often its victims. Wily realtors induced unsophisticated blacks to buy homes they could not afford. The objective was to bundle subprime mortgage loans into collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) to be sold on Wall Street. The failure of those loans almost collapsed the banking system.

The predation continues. The Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is investigating a pattern of exorbitant auto loans and is in the process of regulating payday loans. There seems to be an unrelenting practice of cheating blacks and other low-income citizens.

Inquiry into these matters was beyond the scope of the Federal Reserve study, but the loss of black wealth through predation is undoubtedly substantial.

Bringing back Dudley At a time when men of their vintage would be seeking greater leisure, Cecil and Kenneth Guscott have just launched a major real estate development project for Dudley Square. They well remember the time when Dudley Square was a thriving commercial area. One suspects that the Guscotts are on a mission to rebuild the major center of Roxbury.

That is indeed a mission that community residents as well as public authorities should embrace, especially now with the dedication of the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building.

Dudley Square fell victim over the years to multiple changes in social organization. Decades ago small movie theatres were located around the city. They were conveniently within walking distance for residents. The Roxbury and the Rivoli theatres were in Dudley Square. With the growth of cinema multiplexes local attendance declined and both were later demolished to become parking lots. For a short period after the Roxbury closed it was repurposed as Blairs Foodland but competition from the chains

eventually forced it to close.

Timothy Smith’s and Woolworths were multilevel department stores that thrived, along with smaller five- and 10-cent stores until the development of the shopping malls. The elevated train would carry shoppers seeking bargains on a short ride from downtown Boston. But after the Dudley Square commerce died, the elevated railway was removed to open Washington Street for future development.

The Guscotts lived through all of the changes and retained a steadfast vision of Dudley Square becoming aesthetically developed due to of its strategic location. With the creation of the Bolling Municipal Building from the façade of Ferdinand’s store, the Guscott proposal offers an opportunity for the renaissance of Dudley Square.

Time is of the essence. Official reviews of the Guscott proposal should be expedited so that the necessary additional development in Dudley Square can be completed. The Guscott project is an actuarial race against time.

“I thought the Fed. report said blacks don’t have wealth!”

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A double standard In the April 11, 2015 issue of the New York Times the main editorial is titled “A New Phase in Anti-Obama Attacks.”

It “tells it like it is” and calls the attacks racist. I must say, the bold arguments/ assertions are not easily dismissed.

Frankly, the double standard can seem ubiquitous in the partisan assaults on President Obama’s “legitimacy” as an American citizen eligible to hold his lofty position.

As early as his first campaign, there were the vicious lies that he wasn’t a presidential-eligible American citizen because he was “born in Kenya.” On the other hand, little or nothing was said

about the fact that, in 1936, Senator John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone to American citizen parents stationed on a military base there.

This is important because, according to Prof. Gabriel J. Chin of U. C. Davis Law School, the law that made children born to American citizens stationed in the Panama Canal Zone after 1904 was not enacted until 1937—the year after the senator’s birth!!

The separation of powers between the branches of our government seemed to have been ignored by the 47 Republican senators who wrote directly to the leaders of Iran. Can you imagine the outcry had four liberals and a swing voter on the U. S. Supreme Court done

INDEX NEWS BRIEFS ……………………………………...................12, 20 BUSINESS NEWS ………………………………..................... 13-14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT …………………..................... 16-19 BOSTON SCENES …………………..................................... 15 CLASSIFIEDS ……………………………………...................... 21-23

something equally bizarre during the George W. Bush Administration and invited enemy combatants or dissident leaders from Afghanistan and Iraq to come to Washington and present their “legal” arguments?

If the Republican leadership doesn’t believe that much of this suggests notso-subtle racism, some representatives should secretly converse with their supporters back home in the sports bars, etc., after the constituents have had a few drinks. They might hear shameful comments about POTUS that match those discovered amongst the emails of city officials in Ferguson, Missouri that generated resignations.

— David

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Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5

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The second slaying of Walter Scott

What do you like about living in Roxbury?

By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON

It’s getting so predictable you can mail the script in. A young, or not so young, unarmed African-American is gunned down by a cop. It makes brief news -- except the news is not really news but the script. He was reaching for the officer’s gun, or his Taser or his nightstick. The officer feared for his life. The officer had no choice but to use the required deadly force. Police officials will hold a press conference and solemnly promise there will be a vigorous internal investigation. The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave. The investigation finds that the officer acted appropriately given the deadly threat to his life. The officer has been returned to duty. The case is officially closed. The only wrinkle to this pro-forma script is that if there’s enough of a howl about it, the FBI and Justice Department will promise their own vigorous investigation. That will take weeks, or months, and the result will be the same. There are no grounds for bringing civil rights charges against the officer.

The standard script was rolled out the instant former North Charleston cop, Michael Slager, gunned down the unarmed Walter Scott. The script in the Scott killing, as in nearly all the others from Michael Brown to Eric Garner, is made possible for the same real, compelling and perverse time-tested reasons. It starts with the victim. Chances are the victim will have some kind of criminal record as was the case with Scott, and no matter how petty, or how long past, every detail of it will be endlessly looped before the public. The crude and clumsy message is that he was a bad guy. The dangling implication is that he, his past, and his alleged criminal actions are the reason he’s dead. This, of course, is all based solely on the police reports and statements.

This is how it was initially tailored and massaged with Scott. He has a violent criminal, on the run, who when cornered ran, then fought, and then attacked Slager and he had no choice but to kill to protect his life. The evidence supported this version. Other officers at the scene supported this version. And police officials supported this version. The version we know was a bald-faced lie.

Not one person in the legions of talking heads that have dissected the ins and outs of the Scott killing horror has disputed the point that if Feidin Santana hadn’t been there with his cell phone camera and recorded the horror, the official lie would have stood.

There have been 11 officer-involved shootings in South Carolina since January. Some are just as dubious as the Scott killing. Yet not one of them resulted in even a hint of a dispute of the official version. The trumped up lies to work are dependent on a compliant media that will not ask too many questions about the official version no matter how much of a stretch it is to believe. The days before the video surfaced that shredded the police lie about Scott’s killing, the press account of his slaying read like a verbatim handout from the North Charleston Police Department’s media relations department.

The problem with the silly juvenile attempts by police officials to cover themselves in bad shootings like the Scott killing is they’re routinely believed because they hold most of the cards in these cases. They know that merely dropping a telltale litany of veiled and not-so-veiled hints, innuendoes, digs, and crass, snide, accusing comments, remarks, slander and outright lies about men like Scott is more than enough to divert, distract and pollute the air surrounding the killing. The image mugging often works because it rests firmly on the ancient, shop worn, but serviceable parade of stereotypes and negative typecasting of young black males. It’s the shortest of short steps to think that if Scott can be depicted as a caricature of the terrifying image that much of the public still harbors about black males, then that image seems real, even more terrifying, and the consequences are just as deadly. In other words, if Slager, and those like him, wantonly kill a Scott then there must be a justifiable reason they killed them.

Despite the video, and the shock of many at seeing it, the image mugging of Scott is far from over. Slager’s sad-faced, teary-eyed mother made the rounds pleading for sympathy. And he’ll get a lot of that. Police officials with the help of some in the media are still trying to do damage control by dropping strong hints that there’s more video footage somewhere that gives a more favorable police take on what happened. None of this will alter the horrendous fact that Scott was apparently unarmed and no threat to Slager. But as in so of many of these cases, that means little as long as police officials, much of the press, and the public want and is prepared to believe otherwise when the Walter Scotts are killed.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.

Roxbury has a very rich history. I love the aesthetics and the people’s love of community.

I was born here. I’ve lived here most of my life. I still love it.

Bertram Alleyne

Gloria Fox

Dan Richardson

Alumni Coordinator Roxbury

State Rep. Roxbury

I’ve lived here since 1967. I love my neighborhood. I love the history. We are challenged to make our community stronger, and I’m in for the fight.

I love it here. My family legacy is here in Roxbury. No matter where you live, you can always come home to Roxbury.

Jon Ellertson

Randall Tatum

Wallace Tilford

Utility Worker Mansfield

Civil Servant Roxbury

launched a new strategic plan to guide the work of the organization.

Morton also has a deep personal and professional connection to work force development and education, having served as a leader to two work force development agencies, and was an educator in the Springfield (MA) Public Schools.

“On behalf of the entire General Board of Y Directors, we are extremely pleased and excited to have the opportunity to further the mission and impact of the Greater Boston Y by introducing the caliber of leadership and experience the James brings to the organization,” said Jeff Conway, Chairman of the YMCA of Greater Boston board. “We expect James to have a positive and immediate impact in increasing the visibility of the Y and the work we do in strengthening our communities.”

Morton earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in sociology from the University of Wisconsin and his Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law. He is a

current member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, serves on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and is a trustee of Springfield College. In addition, he has served on numerous YMCA of the USA committees and task forces around brand management, executive leadership and multiculturalism.

The fact that the people who were my mentors still live up the street from me. Now I bring young people to talk to them.

Contractor Roxbury

Retired Roxbury

It’s historic. Roxbury is the hub of Boston, where it all began.

IN THE NEWS

JAMES MORTON The YMCA of Greater Boston announced James Morton as its new president and CEO. Morton will serve as the thirteenth president of the nearly 165-year old causedriven organization. The YMCA of Greater Boston is the largest social services provider in Massachusetts, offering programs and services that nurture the potential of every child and teen, promotes health and well-being, and encourages social responsibility. He will begin his role on April 6, 2015.

Morton joins the YMCA of Greater Boston after serving YMCAs in Hartford, Connecticut and in Springfield, Massachusetts Prior to joining the YMCA of Greater Boston, Morton served as President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford where the Y experienced double digit growth in contributions, developed innovative programming, improved the membership engagement experience, and built many collaborative relationships. He also led a successful $15 million capital campaign and

6 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

Advocates: House budget won’t fix MBTA problems

By ELIZA DEWEY

The budget released by the House Ways and Means Committee last week seeks to tackle the public transit system’s woes by auditing the MBTA’s finances and suspending for five years a 1993 law that makes it more difficult for

state agencies to outsource public services to private entities.

Public transit advocates who were hoping to see an increase in funding for upgrades and repairs expressed disappointment.

Lee Matsueda, a program director at Alternatives for Community and Environment, said he feared the budget signaled that costs

would be passed on to commuters who could least afford it.

“We look at this [proposal] and we see threats of fare increases,” he said. “[Raising revenue] is an important thing, but there has to be controls on that.”

Matsueda said that at the heart of it, the House budget “doesn’t address structural issues,” including

Over 600 guests attend MBLA Gala

TONY IRVING

Annual Gala on April 8, 2015 to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of The Honorable Chief Justice Roderick L Ireland, Diane B. Patrick, Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., and Tony West. The event was held at the Boston Park Plaza and emceed by WCVB-TV CityLine host, Karen Holmes Ward. Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland (Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient), MBLA President Doreen M. Rachal, Diane B. Patrick (Trailblazer Award Recipient), Professor Charles Ogletree, Jr. (Trailblazer Award Recipient)

MAKING FAMILIES BETTER AT OUR NEW, MODERN FAMILY MEDICINE CENTER

longer-term financing.

The MBTA came under fire following the release of a scathing report by a special panel specially convened by Governor Charlie Baker in the wake of the historic winter snowstorms. The MBTA Panel found that roughly $2.2 billion allocated to the system since 2010 for system repairs remains unspent, seemingly deflating calls from transportation advocates for greater funding for the system.

Matsueda argued, however, that the governor’s report was not the final word. “The public needs to consider that this report is one view – Charlie Baker’s view – of what needs to happen,” he said.

“To transform the MBTA we need to invest in the system, particularly in communities that depend on public transit, not penalize them with fare increases.”

Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means budget allocates the same level of direct MBTA funding as the governor’s budget proposal released in early March: $187 million.

Rafael Mares, a senior attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation, said that his group was “pleased to see that the House budget generally reflects the continued importance of funding our transportation system.”

However, Mares added that the $187 million should actually be increased to $202 million to be consistent with the commitments that were made with the Transportation Finance Act of 2013.

There are disagreements about how binding that 2013 legislation is. As the Banner reported when the governor first released his budget, a spokesperson for state’s Administration and Finance office said the 2013 law did not specifically mandate a dollar amount, and that the $202 million was only included in a “draft schedule” published later. Mares told the Banner by email that while this claim is technically correct — “a legislature cannot bind a future legsilature when it comes to authorizations” — the $202 million amount was laid out in a budget accompanying

the law, which presumably would have shaped the MBTA’s assumptions about how much money it had to spend.

Both Mares and Matsueda mentioned a long-running claim among transit advocates that old Big Dig-related projects continue to place a heavy burden on the MBTA. The MBTA took on $1.8 billion in projects to offset the negative environmental impact of the Big Dig. While some of those costs have since been assumed by the Department of Transportation, the remaining debt has long served as a rallying cry for advocates.

Mares noted an amendment to the House budget by Representative Denise Provost that would add $125 million in contract assistance to pay for the cost of lingering Big Dig projects. Mares said this would “help the MBTA get on more stable financial footing going forward.”

However, MBTA Panel report states that those payments were on track to decrease significantly over the next few years while the T’s overall budget shortfall continues to balloon.

Representative Evandro Carvalho, who recently was elected the chair of the Boston coalition within the Massachusetts legislature, said he was looking forward to a hearing on April 27 in which the MBTA Panel would discuss their findings with the legislature’s joint transportation committee.

“We’re looking at the whole system to see how it should work,” he said. He clarified that fare increases, attempts to crack down on fare evasion, and ideas to perhaps change the current fare system – such as a pay-by-distance system like the kind used in Washington, DC – are all on the table for him at this point.

The House Ways and Means budget is the second step in the state’s budgeting process, which began with the release of the Governor’s budget proposal in early March. The next step will be debate and a vote on the Committee’s proposal on the House floor.

The University of Massachusetts Boston invites the public to its annual community meeting to learn about the latest happenings at Boston’s public research university, from academic programs and community partnerships to campus improvements and future plans.

Wednesday, April 29, 6-7:30 p.m.

Campus Center Ballroom University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Boulevard

Due to improvement-related construction on campus, we encourage guests to park at the Bayside Lot (200 Mount Vernon Street) and take the free shuttle to campus.

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Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

Eastern Bank Career Fair Join us on Tuesday, April 28th 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM 195 Market Street, Lynn MA

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Veronica Turner of 1199SEIU leads marchers down Boylston Street.

wages

continued from page 1 hold a large banner for the Boston Fast Food Workers group.

The Boston march, organized by a local group called the #WageAction Coalition (yes, hashtag included), framed itself as the kickoff for a global series of marches and protests on April 15. In the United States, the national movement is known as the Fight for Fifteen, named after its call for a $15 minimum wage — at either the city- or industry-level, depending on the location — from Seattle to New York. Boston organizers decided to march on April 14 in part out of respect for the anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing the following day.

Multiple parties

Last week’s march included workers from a diverse range of low-paying jobs, including fast-food workers, home health care aides, taxi drivers, airport security and luggage workers, and adjunct professors.

While the inclusion of this last group may seem surprising to some due to their high level of education, organizers stress that adjunct professors often live at near-poverty levels and make very low levels of pay compared to their tenured colleagues for the amount of hours that they end up working.

As the march wound through the heart of the city’s hospitality and dining districts, some employees in hotel and restaurant uniforms came out to watch. When asked by the Banner for comment, multiple workers declined because they were on the job and not supposed to speak to press.

One onlooker, however, lent his support from his parked pickup truck. Ron Talbot, a carpenter with Local 51 in Dorchester, said that while he was satisfied with his own level of income, he wished the best to protesters.

“We always like to see people marching peacefully,” he said. “If they need to make more money, then good for them.”

Although the signs and chants of the event mostly centered around the call for a $15 hourly wage, at times the labor message mixed heavily with other concerns that community organizers and working-class Bostonians frequently raise.

“Up with wages, down with rents! Chinatown is not for sale!” shouted Chinese Progressive Association organizing director Karen Chen while the large crowd paused at the intersection of Essex and Washington streets. CPA has been vocally opposed to the ongoing development of the neighborhood, which has seen a large uptick in luxury development and a subsequent skyrocket in rents.

Data from the 2008 American

Community Survey — the most recent available — showed that 59 percent of Chinatown resident households had a total income of less than $25,000. Yet the median price for luxury units in Boston’s central neighborhoods is now $1.4 million, according to a LINK Boston analysis cited in a recent Boston Globe article.

Broad agenda

Another speaker with Right to the City Coalition took to the stage to bring attention to housing issues.

“It’s time to end ‘no fault’ evictions, it’s time to end housing discrimination against people with felony records, it’s time to end skyrocketing rents,” he said, highlighting three issues that affordable housing advocates frequently invoke.

Immigration issues also factored into some protesters’ messages, reflecting the large immigrant make-up of certain labor groups there.

“We want the exploitation to stop, especially for the workers that are undocumented,” one protester said in Spanish while addressing the crowd where it first gathered at Forsyth Park.

Organizers also used the march to highlight several site-specific worker issues beyond the call for higher wages: a demand from healthcare workers at Tufts Medical Center for a commitment to free and fair union elections as part of the hospital’s merger talks with Boston Medical Center; complaints about a switch from a union contractor to a non-union contractor overseeing janitors at an office building located at 31 James Street; and charges that a cleaning company subcontracted

by AMC Loews owes workers a total of $24,000 in back-pay for violations of unpaid overtime work.

City Councilor Tito Jackson stopped by the march as it worked its way past the Prudential Center.

He led a loud call-and-response chant as marchers passed by, shouting “Show them what democracy looks like!” to people who responded, “This is what democracy looks like!”

“I’m here to stand with the lowest-paid workers in our communities – the folks who don’t have lobbyists,” he told the Banner.

While the strategy of the #WageAction Coalition in Boston thus far has been industry-specific and not specifically aimed at a citywide $15 minimum wage, Jackson said he was in favor of such a standard across the board.

Other specific legislative fixes called for by organizers included a Senator Dan Wolf bill to increase pay at fast food chains to $15 and the end of a sub-minimum wage for restaurant servers. The latter group currently makes $3 per hour with the assumption that customers will subsidize the rest of their wages with tips.

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Thank you to the Dudley Square and Roxbury communities for your faith and support.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and The Dudley Vision Advisory Task Force Cordially invite you to the Grand Opening of the new Boston Public Schools headquarters at the Bruce C. Bolling Building

Saturday, April 25, 2015 12:30 PM For more information please contact Kaira Fox Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services at 617-635-3296 or via email kaira.fox@boston.gov

8 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

City floats latest Cass Blvd. plan at community meeting New bus lanes, street widening dropped; community still skeptical of plans

By SANDRA LARSON

The Boston Transportation Department last week unveiled its latest revision of Melnea Cass Boulevard redesign plans, reviving a process stalled by community resistance at several stages over the past three-and-a-half years. The new plan no longer includes the bus rapid transit lanes that were a key part of earlier versions.

The last public meeting on the project was in March 2013, when residents expressed alarm at the revelation that the street would be significantly widened to accommodate dedicated BRT lanes. That design, which included 108-foot-long pedestrian crossings at some intersections, was vigorously protested.

One of the outcomes of the 2013 meeting was a series of walkthroughs along the street in which city officials conferred with elected officials and community members, including Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard, a group formed specifically to push back against the widening of the street.

Feedback from these on-theground discussions and prior community meetings led to a decision to hold off on the bus rapid transit lanes, which is a faster bus system featuring high-capacity vehicles, widely spaced stops and dedicated bus lanes.

“Center-median BRT is going on a shelf,” said Patrick Hoey, the BTD senior transportation planner who has moderated the half-dozen public meetings on Melnea Cass

redesign thus far. “We heard loud and clear what the community was concerned about.”

Yvonne Lalyre, a longtime neighborhood resident and a co-founder of Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard, spoke early during the event and expressed appreciation for the growing transparency of the process.

“We don’t endorse everything in the new plan,” Lalyre said, “but we feel the department has been listening to us, and the process has been successful.”

The new design includes offstreet two-way bicycle tracks on both the north and south sides and wider sidewalks further removed from street traffic. The plan preserves the existing two lanes of automobile traffic in each direction. It adds street parking at some points and left-turn

BANNER PHOTO

The Boston Transportation Department released a plan calling for off-street two-way bicycle tracks on both sides of Melnea Cass Boulevard and wider sidewalks further removed from street traffic.

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lanes at some intersections, including Washington Street, where new commercial development is expected on several long-vacant parcels. The “slip lane” that now allows rapid right turns onto Melnea Cass from Tremont Street will be closed off for improved pedestrian safety.

Melnea Cass Boulevard will not be widened, but some of the crosswalks are still 70 to 84 feet, leading to concerns about the pedestrian experience.

“Don’t forget the elders,” cautioned state Rep. Gloria Fox. Several attendees called for walk signals to be timed longer to accommodate older residents. Others worried about an especially long crosswalk at Albany Street near the Orchard Gardens K-8 School, and asked for traffic calming measures.

Lalyre said the south side bike lane should be omitted in order to save trees. But others support the added south side bike lane, saying it could encourage bike transportation to and from Dudley Square and the new Tropical Foods store. A bike lane currently runs along the north side of the street, part of the South Bay Harbor Trail meant to connect Ruggles Station and Lower Roxbury to the Boston waterfront.

The current plan removes 151 trees (50 fewer than in the 2013 plan), adds 167 new ones, and retains 336, Hoey said, resulting in a net gain of 16 trees.

One attendee suggested traffic lanes could be reduced by a foot or so to help narrow the street. Bicycle advocates urged planners to look to the new Commonwealth Avenue improvement plans for good ideas on safer intersections.

The street redesign has been under discussion since 2011. The BTD is the lead agency among a group of city and state agencies involved in the project, funded with roughly $9 million in federal and state money along with $600,000 in city of Boston funds. Officials have repeatedly described the plan as integrating the goals of Boston’s “Complete Streets” initiative, the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan (RSMP), and the state-led Urban Ring project that includes a BRT corridor linking Roxbury and other Greater Boston communities.

Most residents agree on the need for a safer, more attractive thoroughfare, but early on, there was a sense that the current planners were not aware of area planning history, and along the way sharp questions arose on the need for new BRT lanes and

the street widening and excessive tree removal that would result.

State Rep. Byron Rushing stood up to remind everyone that Melnea Cass Boulevard is one of the after-effects of the massive demolition for a planned I-95 highway extension through Boston in the 1960s. Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed, and the curving boulevard was built in 1981 on one of the paths bulldozed at that time.

“I don’t want us ever to forget that no matter what you dislike about Melnea Cass Boulevard, if it wasn’t for this community, it would have been an eight-lane highway going through here. We stopped that,” Rushing said.

“So when we come to redesign, it is appropriate that the community be asked,” he added. “[At the first meeting in 2011] people felt they were not being asked. But people in the community took leadership. The whole community now has a place to have a say that they know will be listened to.”

After the meeting, Rushing said he feels the process is now on the right track. Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard co-founder Kay Mathew also had positive words, especially about how community activism changed the plans.

“I’m feeling optimistic,” Mathew said. “This was a real grassroots victory.”

Rushing, Fox and other attendees called for another walk-through to examine the new plan and another public meeting before the design proceeds.

Hoey noted that the past year’s walk-throughs had also generated some interim action items that will be done in the next few weeks, such as refreshed pavement markings and VMS (variable-message sign) boards displaying safety reminders to drivers on the fast-moving thoroughfare. He agreed to schedule a walk-through for June, while his team also examines ways to save more trees and create safer intersections.

“We’ve made drastic changes to get to where we are,” Hoey said.

“We’re moving in the right direction, right? And now we’ll tweak things based on this meeting to make it better.”

ON THE WEB FOR MORE INFORMATION—including meeting minutes and slides and links to the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan, the Urban Ring plan, area development proposals, and—see the project website: www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/melnea.

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Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

Racist posts on NY cop blog raise ire at time of tension A blog hosting posts from former and current New York City officers reinforces the worst kinds of stereotypes

By JOAQUIN SAPIEN PROPUBLICA

Week after week, racist posts appear on Thee Rant, a blog for current or former New York City police officers: African Americans are called “apes;” a retired officer says one of the blessings of retirement is not having to work the Puerto Rican Day parade, with its “old obese tatted up women stuffed into outfits that they purchased or shoplifted at the local Kmart store;” a Middle Eastern cab driver berated by an officer is termed a “third worlder” who should have his “head split open.”

And week after week, the department’s top officials are, at once, embarrassed and powerless.

“It’s very disturbing stuff. Outrageous stuff,” said Stephen Davis, the chief spokesman for the NYPD. “We see it. It’s a problem.”

At the heart of the problem are the limits the department faces in what it can do.

“Monitoring these things is challenging,” Davis said. “There are privacy issues involved. We can’t go and peel back email names and tags and try to find out who these people are.”

The issue of the blog, started by former NYPD officer Ed Polstein in 1999, has gained notoriety most recently after a white South Carolina police officer shot a black man

to death. Shortly after a video of the officer appearing to shoot the fleeing man in the back went viral on the Internet, Thee Rant blew up with comments.

“Cop looked good in his stance,” read one post.

Polstein, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has said previously that anyone wishing to post on the blog has to provide proof that they are a current or former member of the NYPD. But whether they are, and how many have signed up, are among the many mysteries surrounding Thee Rant. The blog says it garners 120,000 page views daily.

Leonard Levitt, a respected former Newsday reporter who runs the website NYPD Confidential, said he has stopped assigning much significance to Thee Rant.

“To be honest, I don’t read it,” Levitt said. “I’d say these guys represent the worst elements of the department. I don’t think they speak for the average cop. I have a feeling it’s four or five guys doing most of the yowling.”

Incidents of officers being investigated or punished for their behavior online, in social media or on personal cell phones, have cropped up in Illinois, Missouri and Florida in recent weeks and months.

In a St. Louis suburb, for instance,

an officer was fired after posting racist remarks about the protests in Ferguson. In San Francisco, eight officers were fired for exchanging racist and homophobic text messages.

Relations between the police and minorities have been fraught in New York for decades. The assault on Abner Louima and the killing of Amadou Diallo during Rudy Giuliani’s administration sparked a rise in tension. The aggressive stopand-frisk tactics during Michael Bloomberg’s mayoralty deepened the mistrust and anger. And the choking death of Eric Garner on Staten Island last year provoked protests and slogans.

William Bratton, Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s police commissioner, has acknowledged the poor relations and vowed to improve them.

The existence of Thee Rant, and the occasional, perhaps outsize attention it gets, have not made Bratton’s efforts easier.

Garner’s death prompted some of the more extensive back and forth on the blog. Garner was killed when an officer sought to subdue him during a stop for illegally selling loose cigarettes. Bratton initially said it appeared the officer had used an improper chokehold. But a grand jury on Staten Island declined to indict the officer.

On Thee Rant, support for the

officer was substantial. And occasionally ugly.

“A more accurate headline would be ‘Non Compliant Fat Bastard Gets Just Due In Resisting Law Enforcement Officers’,” read a post in reaction to headlines in the city’s papers.

“Yes, they’ll pay off the ‘family,’” started another. “It’s a lot cheaper than a riot…And therein lies the problem...The cities of America are held hostage by the strong-arm tactics of the savages.”

Davis, the NYPD spokesman, said department policy is that officers should not be on social media, as well as blogs, except for official business. The department has shown it is willing to act against problem officers when it can. In 2012, New York City police officers were disciplined over racist and violent comments made on Facebook, many of which targeted the annual Labor Day West Indian Parade, describing the event as a “scheduled riot” and comparing it to working at a zoo.

Free Speach

“We don’t know how many active police officers are on it,” Davis said of Thee Rant. “If we did identify active officers speaking on the site in that capacity they would be disciplined for violating policy.”

“Unfortunately,” he added, “it’s one of these things that we don’t have ownership of. We don’t have any control over it. Some say that’s good, others maybe say it’s bad.”

Davis said he did not know of any active effort to determine whether current officers are commenting on the site or who they are. He said the department would investigate any specific allegation that a particular officer was behind objectionable comments.

“It’s, in a sense, unfortunate that a lot of it is done under the

banner of freedom of expression now,” Davis said.

Polstein, who joined the department in 1988, told the New York Daily News in 2005 that he’d started the blog as his personal diary. “It was how I felt at the moment,” he told the News. “It is my constitutional right to vent.”

Over the years, the local media has occasionally reported on Thee Rant. In one recent instance, the blog decided to go after a reporter who had done a story about the South Carolina shooting comments.

One contributor to the blog found a video of the reporter at a conference, posted it, and then encouraged others to mock the reporter’s looks.

The coverage prompted objections from at least one current or former officer, who suggested Polstein should take a more active role in moderating the blog.

“There hasn’t been a moderator on here in days,” the officer wrote.

“If Ed had any loyalty to active duty cops, he’d remove the law enforcement angle of the board and let er rip. As it is, anytime a lazy reporter wants to smear the NYPD, all he has to do is come here and read the ravings of some diaper wearing geriatric that fell hard off the Aricept train and say that it was an active NYPD cop saying it.”

The NYPD’s Davis said he hoped the police union might step in to rein in the blog.

“A lot of retired people are still active in the union and it doesn’t do anybody any good to have these remarks out there,” he said.

“They really don’t help. But that’s the nature of the social media beast right now.”

Al O’Leary, spokesman for the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, declined to comment for this story.

10 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

Roxbury

continued from page 1 “You’re trying to balance all these things,” she says. “People who are trying to retire should be able to sell their property for as much as they can like people in any other community.”

At the same time, however, she says that the rising prices might squeeze out some of the neighborhood’s long-time residents — not just renters, as affordable housing advocates often point out, but also long-time homeowners approaching retirement who cannot afford a large increase in property taxes.

“People who have traditionally been here and have weathered through problems we’ve had like crack cocaine, street violence and poor schools should be able to benefit [from the neighborhood changes]” she says.

Demographic change

Wheeler also highlights another group that may fall into a kind of housing gap: second- or third-generation Roxbury young professionals who earn too much to qualify for affordable housing but not enough to be able to afford property in the neighborhood of their parents and grandparents.

Nichols is upfront about the changes he sees in the area as a real estate broker, especially with the continued influx of students from nearby universities into areas beyond Mission Hill.

“Let’s be honest, [the market] is going to change the demographics of the area,” says Nichols, who grew up in Grove Hall and is the founder of Boston Trust Realty Group.

He notes that college students

and young professionals can provide something that low-income residents often cannot: a large lump sum up-front to cover a security deposit and first and last months’ rent.

Still, the Circuit Street property is not an example of an outside developer trying to flip a house for a quick buck — a practice that affordable housing advocates have criticized elsewhere.

Not yet, anyway.

The owner moved to the United States from Montserrat decades ago, worked as a contractor from the time he was young, and originally hoped to hold onto the property longer before he ran into some unexpected health problems. No longer able to work, he hopes to sell the property for a price that reflects the amount of work he put into it.

Nichols, who spoke to the Banner with the seller’s permission, says the owner originally bought the property for $365,000 and then invested at least $250,000 in head-to-toe renovations of the building, including roof work, all new windows, new hardwood floors, heating and electrical work, and stainless steel kitchen fixtures. The building is also larger than a typical triple-decker, with over 5,000 square feet and the ability to reconvert the first floor back into the split-level, 5-bedroom unit that it once was.

While the house on Circuit Street might be at the forward front of market changes, it is not an anomaly. Just a stone’s throw away on Rockville Park off of Warren Street, a pair of attached 3-family buildings is listed for $999,000.

While the listing does not describe the same kind of

BANNER PHOTO

Founder of Boston Trust Realty Group Robert Nichols stands in front of the 30 Circuit Street property. The 3 units on the right-hand side are for sale for $929,000. investments as the Circuit Street property, the price listing seems to signal a strong optimism on the part of the seller — and another example of a changing market that just 15 years ago might not have been predicted.

Rising rates

Vernon Barsatee of Exit Bayside Realty says that while a listing of more than $900,000 for Roxbury sounds “a little overpriced,” he does expect to see prices increase significantly in large part due to

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development in Dudley Square.

“Since they’re putting that new federal building there, that’s having a big impact,” he said, referring to the new Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building that houses the administrative headquarters for the Boston Public Schools.

It is worth noting that incoming Superintendent Tommy Chang recently moved to Roxbury, and other realtors have noted an influx of BPS employees seeking property in the area. Barsatee estimates that Roxbury housing prices will

jump by 10 to 15 percent within the next year.

Those prices still put the neighborhood behind trends that Barsatee sees in other neighborhoods, but not by much. He says a triple-decker in Jamaica Plain or South Boston can go for anywhere from $900,000 to $1.2 million, depending on the location.

“Southie right now is through the roof,” he says. “It’s been a bit of a phenomenon, especially in the Seaport district with those new condominiums.”

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

diversity

continued from page 1 $65,000, compared with $73,000 for men.

The figures released in the Walsh administration report are not far off from figures released in recent years.

“Obviously, it’s not really surprising,” said Alexandra Oliver-Davila, executive director of Sociedad Latina and a member of the Latino Coalition of Greater Boston. “I hope that they actually use to make the changes we’ve been fighting for so long.”

There are signs of increased diversity in the report. People of color make up 64 percent of Walsh’s cabinet — the most diverse in the city’s history. And among department heads, the percentage of blacks has increased from 15 percent under the administration of former Mayor Thomas Menino to 18 percent. The percentage of Latino and Asian department heads — 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively — has remained unchanged.

There are also signs of decreasing diversity in the Fire and Police departments. The fire Department, which is 77 percent white, is among the least diverse in the city. The most recent class of 53 recruits hired by the Fire Department included 52 whites and just one African American.

In the Police Department, the most recent class to graduate from the Boston Police Academy included 34 whites, 2 blacks, 6 Latinos and 1 Asian.

Until 2004, Police Department hiring was under a court-under consent decree stemming from a 1973 discrimination case. Under the terms of the consent decree, the department was required to consider one black or Latino candidate for every white candidate considered for hire, and file a written report detailing why any candidate was not hired with attorneys for the Boston branch of the NAACP. The consent decree was to remain in effect until the

percentage of black and Latino officers on the force matched the percentage of those groups’ populations in Boston.

Continued progress

By 2001 the percentage of blacks and Latinos in the department was on par with Boston percentages. A U.S. District Court judge released the department from the consent decree in 2004.

Blacks now make up 23.5 percent of uniformed officers, and Latinos just 9 percent.

Blugh said the administration will be hiring a diversity officer for the Boston Fire Department to help diversify recruitment classes.

To diversify Police Department recruits, Blugh said the administration is considering re-instating the cadet program, a program that was originally designed to bring in more officers of color. Under that program, recruits who served for two years would be eligible to be hired as officers as long as garnered a passing score on the Civil Service exam.

Under the Menino administration, the program was widely seen as a back door for patronage hires.

Between 1993 and 1996, 96 percent of the officers who were hired through the program were white.

Blugh said the number of officers who could be hired through the cadet program would be contingent on the city’s budget for the program.

City Councilor Charles Yancey said using the cadet program would not likely put a dent in the growing inequality in the Police Department. He suggested the city instead seek to end its use of the Civil Service exam in admitting recruits.

“We have to take a fresh look at what the city’s needs are, and based on that make changes to how we hire police,” he said. “We should not be bound by the Civil Service system.”

Earlier this year City Councilor Michael Flaherty filed a bill that he says would increase diversity in the Boston Police Department.

Ward 9 Democrats invite you to Party Caucus

WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF OTHERS, WE ALL GET BETTER

Remind yourself or a loved one to make a primary care appointment today. From world-class physicians to nutritionists, mental health counselors, and even a food pantry, we’re here to help.

Always take care of those around you.

bmctogether.org 1-844-MY-BMC-DOC CCGN6078 - AD- Bay State Banner 1-4 pg - run 4-2 - 5.933x7.792 - PRINT.pdf

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3/30/15

3:58 PM

my life. my college.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2015, promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Piano Craft Guild Apartments, in the Danny Sloan Community Room, 791 Tremont Street. Enter through Northampton Street parking lot, accessible by ramp or stairway.

Why: To elect delegates to the Democratic Party State Convention, to be held September 19, 2015, in Springfield.

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M

Y

Who: Any resident of Ward 9 (lower Roxbury and parts of the South End) who is registered as a Democrat as of January 31, 2015 is eligible to vote or to run for a Delegate position and sit at the Convention. Any member of the public may attend and observe.

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Contact for more information: Jeff Ross, Chair, at 617-504-0732, jeffross98@yahoo.com.

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NEWSBRIEFS Treasurer calls on SEC to urge greater disclosure from oil and gas companies

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State Treasurer Deb Goldberg today joined 61 institutional investors who control nearly $2 trillion in assets in signing a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White, calling for increased disclosure by oil and gas companies of climate-driven financial risks that could substantially impact the holdings of shareholders. The letter, organized by the nonprofit sustainability advocacy group Ceres and signed by five other state treasurers, argues that a series of carbon asset risks from fossil fuel companies form material, or financial risks, for shareholders. Expanding carbon-reduction regulations, increasing costs of carbon intensive exploration projects and decreasing oil demand may limit the ability of companies to earn a strong economic return on carbon assets, the signatories wrote.

“In the 21st century, confronting the threat of climate change is no longer simply an admirable environmental goal,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “This is a critical economic issue, and fossil fuel companies owe shareholders an honest and complete set of answers as to how they will mitigate these risks.”

“We have found an absence of disclosure in SEC filings regarding these materials risks, which constitute ‘known trends’ under SEC rules, and respectfully ask the Commission to address this issue in comment letters to issuers,” the investors wrote. “We are concerned that some carbon assets—current and future hydrocarbon reserves and resources of oil and gas companies—may become stranded assets.”

A copy of the letter can be viewed at http://www. ceres.org/files/confidential/ investor-sec-letter-inadequate-carbon-asset-risk-disclosure-by-oil-and-gas-companies.

Earlier this month, Goldberg proposed, and the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, the nine-member board that oversees the state’s $62 billion pension fund, unanimously approved a series of reforms to its custom proxy voting guidelines designed to strengthen corporate governance and protect the value of the fund’s investments.

The changes include voting for proposals that seek increased investment in renewable energy sources; proposals that request reports on company energy efficiency policies and goals; and proposals that call for linkage of executive pay to non-financial factors, including performance related to social and environmental goals.

Goldberg has said repeatedly she believes that business leaders who invest in renewable energy and adopt energy efficiency measures will position their companies ahead of competitors in terms of their ability to realize long-term savings on energy costs in the decades ahead, avoid regulatory penalties, and as a result, maximize shareholder value.

A businesswoman, local official and community leader, Deb Goldberg took office as Massachusetts State Treasurer in January 2015, pledging to protect taxpayer dollars with disciplined fiscal management, bring new levels of transparency to state government

and advance policies that break down barriers and create economic empowerment.

Tufts Health Plan creates collaborative to address challenges and encourage growth for small businesses To encourage the growth of local small businesses, Tufts Health Plan has developed the Small Business Accelerator Forum, a collaborative where leaders from relevant industries can engage with small business owners on how to best leverage the opportunities and overcome the challenges they face in today’s marketplace.

At the first event on May 5, Tufts Health Plan in collaboration with Eastern Bank, Whittier Street Health Center, the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council and El Mundo, will host a panel discussion on: n Understanding health insurance options and the implications of health reform n Obtaining access to capital n Identifying programs to help propel Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs) The evening will open with remarks by keynote speaker Shaun Blugh, the newly appointed chief of diversity for the City of Boston and will also celebrate the accomplishments and development of local businesses in the Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury areas.

“We are excited to create a space where local small businesses owners can get the information they need to thrive in the marketplace,” said Juan Lopera, Tufts Health Plan’s director of health care services. “Our speakers represent a variety of industries and all bring knowledge and best practices that can be leveraged by attendees to help grow their businesses.”

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Whittier Street Health Center, 1290 Tremont Street in Boston. For more information and to register, visit TuftsHealthPlan.com/forum.

Walsh announces 2015 coffee hour series Mayor Martin Walsh will join the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in hosting the 17th Annual Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series in local parks citywide from May 6 to June 17.

The Neighborhood Coffee Hours give residents an opportunity to speak directly with the mayor. Through these discussions and a suggestion box at each site, Walsh looks forward to hearing how the City of Boston can improve upon local parks, public areas, and city services.

“These Coffee Hours provide me with a great opportunity to get out and meet residents one-onone,” said Walsh. “If someone has an issue that we can help with, would like to know more about city services, or just want to come out and have some coffee and refreshments in one of Boston’s local parks with neighbors, we extend a warm welcome.”

All participants will enjoy coffee and breakfast treats provided by Dunkin’ Donuts and fresh fruit from Whole Foods Market. In addition, each family

See NEWS BRIEFS, page 20

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

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Celebrating sustainability, Caribbean culture in Vermont

By MARTIN DESMARAIS

Nicola Williams and her Williams Agency, a marketing and event planning agency focused on food, culture and arts, has 20 years of success with events in and around Boston. Now, Williams is heading north with plans to put on Vermont’s first Caribbean foodie festival this summer.

Set for Killington Resort in Killington, Vermont, from July 31 to August 1, the Vermont JerkFest & Reggae Festival will celebrate all things spicy and jerk hot, featuring local Jamaican jerk spiced food, spirits, craft beer and entertainment.

Williams hopes that the Vermont JerkFest can build on the success of the Boston JerkFest, which the Williams Agency has put on for the last two summers and will do so again this summer on June 25 and June 26 in the South End. Last year, the event attracted 4,000 people. This year

IF YOU GO WHAT: Vermont JerkFest & Reggae Festival WHERE: Killington Resort, Killington, Vt. WHEN: July 31-August 1, 2015 WHAT: Boston JerkFest WHERE: Boston’s South End WHEN: June 25-26, 2015

Williams expects 5,000.

She says the Vermont JerkFest can come close to those numbers even though it is the first year.

At the heart of the JerkFest is the Jamaican hot and spicy seasoning, jerk, which is used in a rub to marinate and cook all sorts of meat from chicken to goat to shellfish, but the festival is really a cultural celebration of all things Caribbean, including a focus on locally produced food, the importance of sustainable agriculture and a strong connection between people and the land they live on.

PHOTO: MARCELINE V PHOTOGRAPHY

See JERKFEST, page 14

Attendees enjoy some food at the 2014 Boston JerkFest.

Are you a Boston-area small business owner and/or leader?

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14 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

BUSINESSNEWS CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS

JerkFest

continued from page 13 For Williams, who is Jamaican, these environmentally aware attitudes are at the heart of her culture and are what really bring people together to celebrate at events such as the Boston JerkFest.

While the Boston event may be able to draw on a large Caribbean population in the city, Williams sees a prevailing attitude in Vermont about preserving the environment and the importance of the local farming industry that could attract attendees.

Many local Vermonters may have little experience with Jamaican or Caribbean culture, but the similar, earth-oriented values — celebrated at the JerkFest — should provide an immediate connection.

“Vermont reminds me of Jamaica in many ways with the connection to the land, to the mountains, to farms. Vermonters are also like Jamaicans and very down to earth and hard-working,” Williams said.

“Those are some of the attributes that attracted me to Vermont.”

There is also hope that the Vermont JerkFest, especially since it is being held at Killington Resort, which can handle a large influx of

PHOTO: KENNY HYDE

Attendees dance at the 2014 Boston JerkFest. visitors with its hotels, will attract travelers from the large Caribbean communities in Boston, Hartford and New York, as well as from Canadian cities including Montreal and Toronto.

“We very confident that it is going to be a great event and we are going to reach all sorts of people,” Williams said. “It is not just for one community, everybody is invited to come and we expect many people of different nationalities and backgrounds to attend.”

The Vermont JerkFest will kick

off Friday July 31 with a Rum & Brew Tasting session featuring local craft beer, cider and mead and plenty of rum varieties. It will end the night of Saturday Aug. 1 with the Killington Jerk Jam, featuring reggae bands.

Local support

In between, on top of jerk food of every imagination, there will also be “Spice Lane,” which will showcase local specialty products, including hot sauces, desserts and cheeses; “Jerk Cook-Off ” competition and

“Seafood Throwdown” competition; as well as chef demos, a children’s activity zone and a culture stage promoting traditional and folkloric traditions of the Caribbean.

Mike Solimano, president of Killington Ski Resort, said he is very excited to have the event coming to Killington. According to Solimano, the decision to open up the resort to the Vermont Jerkfest was a result of the resort’s goal to continue to grow the number of events offered during the summer months.

The town has seemingly rolled out the red carpet for the JerkFest as well.

“The whole town is a partner for us as well,” Williams said. “They have really embraced and welcomed us.”

Williams started the Cambridge-based Williams Agency in 1995 and has been an organizing force behind the largely successful, decades-running, Cambridge Carnival International event, which has drawn as many as 100,000 to the day-long, fall event celebrating many African-rooted cultures with music, a parade and food.

The agency also organizes other food and cultural festivals such as the Boston Local Food Festival, Hyper-Local Brewfest and Local Craft Brewfest.

Williams has always balanced her background in marketing, brand development, advertising, public relations and event promotions with her love of food, cultural events and the diversity that such celebrations often promote.

It became a great market niche for her agency as it has grown along with the explosion of the foodie culture around Boston and the clamor to support locally produced agriculture products.

“The local food movement is very much part of our values and we have been part of that movement from the start,” Williams said.

In expanding to Vermont with the JerkFest concept, Williams is drawing on the vast experience of Jamaica Awareness, a Florida-based Caribbean cultural promotion organization, which organizes food and ethnic festivals all across the country, including the Miami Reggae Festival. Williams called Jamaica Awareness and its executive director Sydney Roberts and “ideal partner” in the organizing and promotion of the Vermont JerkFest.

It all cooks up to have Williams expecting to taste success with the new Vermont event.

“I am looking forward to a spicy summer,” she said.

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Jeremiah E. Burke High School Students in BUILD Entrepreneurship Program Tour Google Offices in Kendall Square Twenty-five lucky 9th grade students from the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, who are currently enrolled in BUILD’s four-year entrepreneurship program, won a field trip to Google’s offices in Kendall Square, Cambridge, last Thursday, April 9th. In an exercise to teach their students about using social media for business, BUILD had hosted a crowdfunding competition between the four local BUILD high schools, to see who could get the most “shares” for their campaigns. The winning students were accompanied on the field trip by their four BUILD mentors, teachers, and program coordinators, and were treated to box lunches, a career panel discussion with four Google software engineers, and a tour of the innovative, high tech, office space. The trip was coordinated by Google’s Kurt Fennell, a technical account manager for gTech Publishers. Google supports the BUILD program with funding and by providing volunteers and mentors.

BUILD is an innovative, college preparatory program, whose mission is to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, low-income high school students to college and career success. BUILD partners with four Boston high schools where the aggregate graduation rate is less than 45%. In BUILD’s 15-year history, 99% of students completing the program have graduated high school and 95% have been accepted to college.

(For more info contact Will Leitch at BUILD: wleitch@ build.org) Top to bottom: Google Software Engineer Kwasi Mensah, with 9th grade BUILD student, Isaiah Murray, from the Jeremiah E. Burke High School; BUILD Entrepreneurship Coordinator Clara Diaz, student Isaiah Knight, and BUILD Teacher John Bernier; The career panel discussion was hosted by Google’s Kurt Fennell, on right, and panelists (l to r) Stevie DeGruff, Harriet Holcomb, Kwasi Mensah, and Michael Diamond.; BUILD mentor, Gilad Rosenzweig, BUILD students: Alandre Francois and Ranyae Newburry Walkers, from Jeremiah E. Burke H.S.

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Q&A

Comedian discusses importance of having ‘a voice’ Cristela Alonzo will perform Saturday at the Wilbur Theater

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN

ALEX

R&B SINGER TOUTS ‘COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE ARTS’

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN

B

orn into a musical family as the middle of five boys and three girls in Manchester, Ga., a small town outside of Atlanta, Alexander Harris began singing gospel in his father’s church at the age of seven. The aspiring singer led the family band A7, but it was only a matter of time before he would step out on faith and become a solo artist.

Taking the stage name of ALEX, the R&B

and soul singer has opened for numerous musicians including Al Green, Eric Benet, John Legend, and Kirk Franklin. He’s also released the singles Don’t Walk Away and Hope for Us (available on iTunes), and Chocolate Tears which made it onto the American Blues Network this past March.

ALEX is scheduled to perform in Boston at Fenway Park this Saturday as part of a celebration for the first-ever baseball game between the North Carolina Central University Eagles and the Florida A&M University

Rattlers, two historically black colleges and universities, playing at the historic ballpark.

The Eagles-Rattlers game is part of an allday free open house at Fenway Park that includes a job and college fair.

ALEX, who previously has sung before a Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway, says he is excited to be back.

“This time the HBCU’s are making history. This is their first opportunity to

See ALEX, page 19

Named as one of “Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch” and “One of the 50 Comedians You Should and WILL Know” by Vulture.com, Cristela Alonzo has had a whirlwind year. She is the co-creator and star of the ABC television sitcom Cristela and also serves as a co-producer and a writer on the show.

She also has released her first stand-up CD, Some of the Hits, through Comedy Central and will be making her feature film debut in the upcoming Angry Birds movie. In addition, Alonzo has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Chew, Conan, and as a guest cohost on The View.

Alonzo spoke to the Banner recently about her comedy influences, diversity in television and who makes her laugh today.

You’ve had a whirlwind year. Have you had any time to enjoy the success you’ve had this past year?

CA: Not at all. I feel like it’s something that you maybe celebrate after the fact. Where I’m at right now, considering the way that I was brought up, having the opportunity just means that you have to work really hard to keep that opportunity going. It’s not about really taking inventory about what’s happening. It’s just to kind of make sure that it doesn’t stop or you try your best not to make it stop.

When you worked at the comedy club in Dallas, do you recall what it was that first inspired you to do standup?

CA: I was always doing stand-up. What the Improv did was teach me that it was a job. I didn’t know you could do that.

I would see it growing up and I

See ALONZO, page 17

IF YOU GO

ALEXBLINK PR

WHAT: Cristela Alonzo, presented by The Women In Comedy Festival and The Wilbur WHERE: The Wilbur Theater WHEN: 9:45 p.m. Saturday TICKETS: $22; www.ticketmaster.com

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT

Alonzo

The word diversity is being thrown around these days on television, especially with the success of shows like blackish and Empire. Does that create any more pressure on you, for the show, and what you’re doing?

continued from page 16 would hear it growing up. It’s such a weird job that I didn’t know how people became comics. It wasn’t until I started working at the club that I realized that people would go around the country telling jokes every week. I thought “Oh, my god this is interesting.” This is what I want to do.’ I got to see some amazing comics back in the day and for me, it’s come full circle.

CA: We’re at this time where finally people are noticing that not everybody is the same color.

And it’s so fantastic. It’s 2015 and it’s like they just realized that “Wow, we all don’t look alike.” I feel now that this is a great year.

For me, ABC did such a great job of having Fresh Off the Boat, blackish and me on the line-up that I feel like it’s a step forward, but at the same time, yes, I think that with Latinos, especially with my show, I get so many people

Out of all the comics that you saw there and growing up, would you say any one of them influenced you or inspired you in any way?

CA: There were a couple that inspired me for different reasons.

People always say that Richard Pryor is a really big influence on them and I agree. Richard Pryor was very important to me because he had such a hard childhood and so did I. When I heard him do his stand-up, when I heard him do his set, I related to it and it made me feel that one day I was going to be able to talk about my childhood. He was so great and so unique and his life was original and distinct to him in creating his voice, that when I saw his stand-up, you actually heard him talk about things that maybe people considered sad and turned into a funny thing. Richard Pryor was very important to me.

Ellen DeGeneres was very important to me. Ellen actually taught me how absurd you can see things in everyday life, the

PHOTO: IAN WHITE

Cristela Alonzo will perform Saturday at The Wilbur Theater. absurdities. She can make you laugh by telling you the story about her thinking that she was going to be raised by wolves.

It made so much sense. You’re thinking, “Oh, my god.” The fact that she could be so great in the mundane, I always found that so inspiring.

Stand-up has been a great source for you to express yourself. If you hadn’t been able to do stand-up how would you have been able to express your stories growing up?

CA: It’s never occurred to me.

In order to do this job and have a chance to be successful at it you have to only want to do it and never think about ever doing anything else. For me, I’ve never thought about anything else.

I always thought that I would keep trying until it hit. One of the reasons why I started doing stand-up was because I used to do theater and I was a woman of color and they told me years ago that, you know as a Latina, if I did Chorus Line and Westside Story, I was done. There weren’t opportunities for Latinas. I started doing stand-up because I wanted to write stuff myself. I wanted to make sure that I got the job and I knew that in order to get a job I had to create everything myself. I wasn’t going to let anybody else create it for me.

Really, being a woman of color and trying to get a voice in this industry that’s what really propels me to do my standup and tell the story.

saying, “You represent the culture, you represent this. If you’re representing the culture, I have to tell you Latino moms are not like the mom on your show. Latinos don’t do this. Latinos don’t do that.” You get criticism, you get praise. I always tell people, especially Latinos who criticize the show, which are very small in the numbers, “The word Latino covers a lot of different countries and I can’t represent different countries. It’s impossible. I can tell you that my mom is like that.”

I wish that other moms weren’t like my mom. My mom is a very strict woman and I have to show

See ALONZO, page 18

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Alonzo

As far as stand-up who makes you laugh these days?

continued from page 17

CA: I love Chris Rock. …That’s actually one of the reasons why I like to talk about race and about social issues that I deal with on the show, because of him. I think that what he does in his stand-up is, he gives people a voice that somehow wouldn’t have a voice.

He represents a group of people that I think my show does, that have never really had a chance to be heard until recently. Chris Rock, I love. Gabriel Iglesias is one of my best friends. I love him to death. He’s in the Latino community and not only in the Latino community, he’s surpassed it. He’s

her like that because that’s who she was. Because there are so few shows that have diversity, I think minorities want to support these shows to keep them on the air. I tell everybody that if a project fails, the industry thinks “Oh, the audience doesn’t want to see it,” and then they won’t give another person an opportunity for another five years. It’s stressful and you hope you do it right but in order to do it right, I feel like that you just have to be honest.

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global now. He’s the nicest guy ever. When you see how hard he works, when you see him travel the country, travel the world, having people from around the world laugh at what he does is so inspiring. My favorite part of the show is when they announce him, when he walks on to the stage and the crowd is with you. For me, when you see the crowd so excited to see the performer come out and they give a standing ovation, it’s such a weird, magical, powerful feeling, because you realize that his voice is important to everybody in that room. I think Chris Rock and Gabriel Iglesias are very important.

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

A&E ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT

ALEX

continued from page 16 perform on a major league field,” said the performer by phone to the Banner recently. “It’s a historic event that I’m honored and humbled to be a participant of.

As an artist I see it’s my social responsibility to use my talent as an arts platform to empower the community.”

For ALEX, community and social responsibility are more than just words. Growing up in the Harris household, education was a priority and the value and importance of it was instilled in all the children. ALEX and his siblings are all college graduates.

Theory and practice

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and Psychology from LaGrange College in Georgia, ALEX attended Boston University and graduated with a Master’s in Theology and Social Work. He continued his graduate studies in Adolescent Counseling at Harvard University. The singer is also working on his doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. It’s no wonder the singer was inspired to create the organization, The Arts Conservatory for Teens based in St. Petersburg, Fla. ACT’s mission is to educate, empower and enrich the lives of youth and teens from the ages of 11 to 18 by fostering creativity through arts education, theatrical productions, career guidance,

healthy living and leadership development.

ALEX was motivated to create the nonprofit in part due to his travels throughout the world. In addition to performing concerts in the countries he traveled to, he would often hold master clinics for students and was inspired by “seeing the power and motivation happen,” says the singer. Looking to make a bigger impact in the community, ALEX founded ACT. His goal was to “integrate an opportunity for longevity, for community building and the best of human behavior in the community.”

The singer and songwriter is passionate about his music and also about empowering youth and teens through the arts. “I see the charity as my social responsibility.

I think everyone has one. There are those who discover it and respond to it and others just kind of move around it.”

When asked about balancing the two careers, he says, “It’s been about finding a great team.” He goes on to add, “We have other people who work with our organization who have the same passion for community engagement and empowerment for our young leaders now. We just don’t think about it as a tomorrow gig. We think about it as a now gig. No one is island. We definitely need the support of others and great partnerships. Our model lends itself to great partnerships. We seek to maximize the existing resources in the community and then together bring about a community legacy.”

This Mother’s Day, give the gift that goes beyond a bouquet of flowers.

Give the gift of hope to local women in need.

Visit www.voamass.org to make a donation!

Honor someone special in your life.

For every $20 gift you make in honor of your loved one, we will plant a flower and stake with your message at one of our women’s programs.

Mail donations to: Volunteers of America Massachusetts 441 Centre St. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Or call (617)390-0221

20 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

news briefs

YBWS.ORG

continued from page 12

in attendance will receive a flowering plant grown in the city’s greenhouses as a gift from the mayor. Residents at the event will also be eligible to win a raffle prizes from Dunkin’ Donuts. Information will be available on City programs from the Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools, Boston Police Department, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families.

For more information and updates on possible weather cancellations, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at(617) 635-4505 or online at Facebook https://www.facebook. com/bostonparksdepartment or Twitter @bostonparksdept.

All coffee hours will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Locations are weather permitting unless otherwise noted. Coffee Hours being held in conjunction with park openings are also noted.

Dates for the full schedule of the mayor’s 2015 Neighborhood Coffee Hours are as follows:

PURPLE AFFAIR Anniversary Reception

MAY 1 6-9PM

ST

LIVE BAND & DANCING MUSIC BY ELEVATION THEORY AWARDS PRESENTATION SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT AND MORE!

n Wednesday, May 6 dgerly Road Playground E (park opening) 6 Edgerly Road, Fenway

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n Monday, May 11 Almont Park 40 Almont Street, Mattapan

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n Tuesday, May 12 Gertrude Howes Playground 68 Moreland Street, Roxbury

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n Friday, May 15 Ringgold Park 10 Ringgold Street, South End

300 The Fenway, Boston, MA Linda K. Paresky Conference Center

n Tuesday, May 19 Clarendon Street Play Lot 260 Clarendon Street, Back Bay

JOIN LINDEN PONDS FOR A SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE!

n Wednesday, May 20

illings Field B (Walsh/Kennedy Tot Lot) 369 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury n Thursday, May 21 Myrtle Street Playground 50 Myrtle Street, Beacon Hill n Tuesday, May 26 Martin Tot Lot 95 Myrtlebank Avenue, Dorchester n Wednesday, May 27 Peter Looney Park 34 Union Street, Charlestown n Thursday, May 28 Brewer-Burroughs Playground 2P Brewer Street, Jamaica Plain n Tuesday, June 2 American Legion Playground (park opening) 25 Glendon Street, East Boston n Wednesday, June 3 I acono Playground (park opening, rain or shine) 150 Readville Street, Hyde Park n Thursday, June 4 Fallon Field 910 South Street, Roslindale n Monday, June 8 Ringer Playground 85 Allston Street, Allston-Brighton n Tuesday, June 9 Ronan Park 92 Mount Ida Road, Dorchester n Tuesday, June 16 Christopher Columbus Park (rain or shine) 110 Atlantic Avenue, North End n Wednesday, June 17 Sweeney Playground 180 West Fifth Street, South Boston

Coming to Art is Life itself!

Get an inside look at vibrant retirement living! Tour our beautiful campus and maintenance-free homes. Discover dozens of exciting amenities, clubs, and activities. See the continuing care neighborhood, offering memory care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care right on campus.

Thu 4/23 - Relationships and You with Michelle Cook + Open Mic Thu 4/30 - Linda and Sumner McLain Storytelling Musicians + Open Mic Program starts at 7pm - come early for dinner!

Bring your friends and family!

The House Slam!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Fri 4/24 - Featured Poet: Elizabeth Acevedo + Team Finals, doors open at 6:30 pm http://www.houseslamboston.org/

300 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham, MA Independent living and continuing care tours 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Coming Events Sun 5/10 - Mother’s Day Brunch, 10am-4pm (advance tix available online) Fri 5/21 - Teachers Are Awesome reception, 5:30-9:30pm

Call 1-800-617-9189 for more information and directions, or to learn about other upcoming events if you can’t make this date.

For more information, go to: www.facebook.com/haleyhousebakerycafe/events

Haley House Bakery Cafe - 12 Dade Street - Roxbury 617 445 0900 - www.haleyhouse.org/cafe

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Linden Ponds values diversity. We welcome all faiths, races, and ethnicities, and housing opportunities are available for low and moderate income households.

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Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

police

LEGAL

continued from page 2 meeting. In a follow-up phone conversation with the Banner, he said he shared some of the frustrations expressed by community members at the town hall.

Ellison said that he thought the main source of the problem stemmed from a reluctance to change system-wide.

“It’s still the [former Boston Police Commissioner Ed] Davis administration in place,” he said.

“The chief, the current commissioner, and probably 85 percent of the command staff were appointed in some capacity by Ed Davis and [former mayor Tom] Menino — so there really hasn’t been much of a change. It’s recycling.”

Diversity issues

Ellison added that a major part of the problem was a lack of promotion of black officers and other officers of color to the upper ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and captain. He said that he was not talking about promoting officers of color with lower scores on

police exams, but rather about what he says is a racial disparity in promotions among officers with the same police scores. In years past, Ellison led a forceful charge against former Commissioner Davis based on similar allegations.

The police department boasted earlier this year of hiring its “most diverse command staff ” ever, which Ellison described in an email as “the same old, tired song about the command staff.”

Police department spokesperson Lt. Michael McCarthy called all of Ellison’s claims “entirely inaccurate.” He pointed to the diversity within the command staff that the department previously has touted, but also said that half of the promotions enacted by Police Commissioner William B. Evans over the last 14 months to sergeant, lieutenant and captain positions were officers of color.

According to police department data, 11 of the 21 promotions to captain, lieutenant or sergeant positions within the last year or so were black or Hispanic officers.

McCarthy said there are three minority captains, something he called “a first in the history of the

LEGAL

police department.”

He also flatly dismissed Ellison’s observation about a high rate of staff holdovers from the Davis administration.

“I’m not sure what he’s basing that on,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s time maybe for a leadership change in MAMLEO, someone who’s closer to the issues.”

In a follow-up phone call, Ellison explained that he was not arguing with the factuality of the 50 percent promotion rate touted by Evans, but said it was not enough to create any substantial change in the department.

“We’re just maintaining [the numbers of officers of color],” he said, adding that the retirement of officers prevents any net change.

“Where is the movement?”

While Ellison did describe some initial outreach on diversity from Commissioner Evans, including a meet-and-greet in February that was supposed to “hit a reset button” on race issues within the department, he said there was no real follow-up in his eyes.

“There’s really no relationship with our organization and the current [Evans] administration,” he said.

LEGAL

Roxbury celebrates Patriots’ Day

BANNER PHOTO

Sgt. Paul Tobin of the Massachusetts National Lancers portrays William Dawes, who passed through Roxbury on his April 18 1775 ride to Lexington to ward colonists of approaching British troops. The re-enactment is part of the Roxbury Collaborative’s annual Patriots’ Day celebration at the First Church of Roxbury in John Eliot Square.

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL

LEGAL

INVITATION TO BID The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

TIME

*WRA-4032

Invasive Plants Control at the MWRA Chestnut Hill Reservoir

05/08/15

2:00 p.m.

**OP-280

Fire Alarm System Service Central and Western Massachusetts

05/14/15

2:00 p.m.

**6650A

Southborough Water Quality Laboratory Upgrades

05/28/14

2:00 p.m.

*To access and bid on Events please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com. **To obtain Contract Documents send request to the MWRA’s Document Distribution Office at MWRADocumentDistribution@mwra.com.

Medford Housing Authority Request for Proposals (RFP) The Medford Housing Authority (MHA) is requesting proposals for the Modernization of the Sewer Ejector Pump System at the Tempone Apartments, 22 Allston Street, Medford site. Qualifying firms must provide full basic services including investigation and initial design through preparation of contract documents, bidding and construction contract administration. The person charged with this project, including project management, must be an Architect or Engineer registered in MA with Mechanical Engineering certification and experience in the design of sewage ejector pump systems, or utilizing a consultant with similar certification and experience.

The Construction Estimate cost is: $75,000.00. The estimated total not to exceed fee (Basic Services) is $15,000.00.

RFP’s can be obtained from the MHA, 121 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. Copies may be picked up during regular business hours, or by downloading from www.medfordhousing.org after April 29, 2015 and all addenda will be posted on this website as well. A pre-bid conference will be held on Tues., 05/05/15, @ 10:00 a.m., at 22 Allston St., Medford, MA. RFP’s will be due by Wed., 05/13/15 @ 10:00 a.m., at the MHA office.

The work performed under this contract is subject to the requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.

AA/EOE MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 100 SUMMER ST., SUITE 1200 BOSTON, MA 02110 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic proposals for the following project will be received through the internet using Bid Express until the date and time stated below, and will be posted on www.bidx.com forthwith after the bid submission deadline. No paper copies of bids will be accepted. Bidders must have a valid digital ID issued by the Authority in order to bid on projects. Bidders need to apply for a digital ID with Bid Express at least 14 days prior to a scheduled bid opening date.

Electronic bids for MBTA Contract No. B73CN01, REPLACEMENT OF SHORE LINE BRIDGE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (CLASS 1, GENERAL TRANSIT CONSTRUCTION AND CLASS 4B, STEEL SUPERSTRUCTURES - PROJECT VALUE - $11,193,000.00), can be submitted at www.bidx.com until two o’clock (2:00 p.m.) on May 28, 2015. Immediately thereafter, in a designated room, the Bids will be opened and read publicly.

Work Consists of: 1.

Installation of drilled shafts for two track cantilever overhead contact system (OCS) structures.

2.

Installation of temporary support of excavation and temporary vertical protection shields.

3.

Installation of drilled shafts, abutments, and backwalls for proposed bridge.

4.

Construction of steel through plate girder bridge over the Shore Line tracks.

5.

Installation of drainage structures.

This Contract is subject to a financial assistance Contract between the MBTA and the Federal Transit Administration of U.S. Department of Transportation.

FTA Participation 80 percent.

Bidders’ attention is directed to Appendix 1, Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Insure Equal Employment Opportunity; and to Appendix 2, Supplemental Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Program in the specifications. In addition, pursuant to the requirements of Appendix 3, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Participation Provision, Bidders must submit an assurance with their Bids that they will make sufficient and reasonable efforts to meet the stated DBE goal of 10 percent.

Additional information and instructions on how to submit a bid are available at http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/current_solicitations/ On behalf of the MBTA, thank you for your time and interest in responding to this Notice to Bidders Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Francis A. DePaola, P.E. Interim General Manager of the MBTA April 20, 2015 MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 100 SUMMER ST., SUITE 1200 BOSTON, MA 02110 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic proposals for the following project will be received through the internet using Bid Express until the date and time stated below, and will be posted on www.bidx.com forthwith after the bid submission deadline. No paper copies of bids will be accepted. Bidders must have a valid digital ID issued by the Authority in order to bid on projects. Bidders need to apply for a digital ID with Bid Express at least 14 days prior to a scheduled bid opening date.

Electronic bids for MBTA Contract No. A90CN08, VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT, PARK STREET STATION, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, (CLASS I, GENERAL TRANSIT CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT VALUE – $4,539,149.00), can be submitted at www.bidx.com until two o’clock (2:00 p.m.) on May 28, 2015. Immediately thereafter, in a designated room, the Bids will be opened and read publicly.

The Work includes but is not limited to replacement of an existing elevator, elevator hoistway and elevator headhouse which extends from the Green Line platform level up to the street at the corner of Tremont Street and Winter Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Below the elevator at the Red Line level, the existing elevator machine room and equipment will be replaced with new construction. Included is mechanical, electrical, communications and plumbing work to support the design. Site work includes replacing paving adjacent to the new headhouse as shown on the drawings.

This Contract is subject to a financial assistance Contract between the MBTA and the Federal Transit Administration of U.S. Department of Transportation.

FTA Participation anticipated to be 80 percent.

Bidders’ attention is directed to Appendix 1, Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Insure Equal Employment Opportunity; and to Appendix 2, Supplemental Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Program in the specifications. In addition, pursuant to the requirements of Appendix 3, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Participation Provision, Bidders must submit an assurance with their Bids that they will make sufficient and reasonable efforts to meet the stated DBE goal of 15 percent.

LEGAL Additional information and instructions on how to submit a bid are available at http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/cur rent_solicitations/ On behalf of the MBTA, thank you for your time and interest in responding to this Notice to Bidders.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Francis A. DePaola, P.E. Interim General Manager of the MBTA April 20, 2015 Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU10D1437DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Lourdes Velazquez

vs.

Angel M. Castillo

To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for irretrievable breakdown of the marriage under G.L. c.

208, Section 1 B. 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: Lourdes Velazquez, 172 Seavers Street, Apt. 3, Boston, MA 02121 your answer, if any, on or before 05/28/2015. 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. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: March 11, 2015

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

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

Docket No. SU11P0834EA

Citation on Petition for Order of Complete Settlement of Estate Estate of Printis Washington Date of Death: 11/09/2010 To all interested persons: A petition has been filed by Velma Brinson of Mattapan, MA requesting that an Order of Complete Settlement of the estate issue including to approve an accounting and other such relief as may be requested in the Petition. For the Second Amended 1st and Final Account.

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 04/30/2015. 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. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: March 27, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

22 • Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL

LEGAL

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS PROBATE COURT Case NO. SU15E0046PP

SUFFOLK ss.

To Charles M. Freeman, Jr. of Boston in the County of Suffolk and to all other persons interested.

A petition has been presented to said Court by Cecile Durham of Randolph in the County of Norfolk representing that she holds as tenant in common an undivided part or share of certain land lying in Boston in said County of Suffolk, and briefly described as follows: 66 Colorado St., Boston in the County of Suffolk, which she wishes to hold in severalty: Lot 23 on a subdivision plan drawn by H.M. Fletcher, Surveyor, dated May 6, 1950, filed in the land Registration Office as plan No. 650-W, Certificate of Title No. 53066, bounded: NORTHWESTERLY by Colorado Street, fifty (50) feet; NORTHEASTERLY by Lot 5 as shown on the aformentioned plan, one hundred (100) feet; SOUTHEASTERLY by Lots 15 and 16 as shown on said plan, fifty (50) feet; and SOUTHWESTERLY by Lot 22 as shown on said plan, one hundred (100) feet. setting forth that she desires that - all the following described part - of said land may be sold at private sale for not less that $180,000.00 dollars and praying that partition may be made of all the land aforesaid according to law, and to that end that a commissioner be appointed to make such partition and be ordered to make sale and conveyance of all, or any part of said land which the Court finds cannot be advantageously divided either at private sale or public auction, and be ordered to distribute the net proceeds thereof.

If you desire to object thereto you or your attorney should file a written appearance in said Court at Boston before ten o’clock in the forenoon on the 7th day of May, 2015, the return day of this citation.

Witness, Joan P. Armstrong, Esquire, First Judge of said Court, this 7th day of April, 2015.

Felix D. Arroyo, Register.

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

Docket No. SU15D0524DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Gregory C. Jones

vs.

Renee E. Jones

To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for irretrievable breakdown of the marriage pursuant to G.L. c. 208, Section 1 B.

LEGAL

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 04/30/2015. 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.

matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

The estate is being administered under formal 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 recipients 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: March 27, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15P0823EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Vibert Malcolm Cato Date of Death: 03/14/2014 To all interested persons: A petition has been filed by Akosua K. Williams of Alachua, FL and Vibert M. Cato, Jr of Brockton, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. And also requesting that Akosua K. Williams of Alachua, FL and Vibert M. Cato, Jr of Brockton, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond.

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 05/14/2015. 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. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: April 13, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15P0611EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Richard Bullock Date of Death: 01/28/2014 To all interested persons: A petition has been filed by Tyrone Bullock of Dorchester, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. And also requesting that Tyrone Bullock of Dorchester, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond.

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 05/14/2015. 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.

The estate is being administered under formal 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 recipients 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.

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: April 08, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

The estate is being administered under formal 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 recipients are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any

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: Harry Katz, Esq, 294 Washington Street, Suite 351, Boston, MA 02108, your answer, if any, on or before 06/04/2015. 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. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: March 24, 2015

REAL ESTATE For Rent

ROXBURY, 2 bedroom, 3rd Floor, Heat and hot water included. On bus line. $1,175 a month.

1st and last month. Available May 1. Call (617) 461 6904

REAL ESTATE Ashland Woods Apartments

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division Docket No. SU15P0748EA Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Tatyana Buynitsky-Wingham Date of Death: 12/05/2014 To all interested persons:

14 Ferndale St, 3rd Floor, Dorchester 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths Hardwood floors Off-street parking

A petition has been filed by Marina Buynitsky of Tappan, NY requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. And also requesting that Marina Buynitsky of Tappan, NY be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond.

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 05/14/2015. 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.

The estate is being administered under formal 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 recipients 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.

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: April 10, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Apartment for Rent

Docket No. SU15P0691EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Luria J. Williams Date of Death: 01/08/2015 To all interested persons: A petition has been filed by Shirley R. Odoms of Mattapan, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. And also requesting that Shirley R. Odoms of Mattapan, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond.

$1850 per month Utilities not included

Call D. Ramsey 617-903-2000

OFFICE SPACE DORCHESTER/ MILTON 1st Class Office Space Corner of Gallivan Blvd and Washington St ample parking.

$650/mo. $695/mo. $1500/mo. heated

OWNER

617-835-6373 Brokers Welcome

Brand New Apartment Homes Opening Summer 2015!

15 Apartments Reserved as affordable for those who qualify with these income limits: Maximum Income Limits 1 Person $48,800 3 Persons $62,750 2 Persons $55,800 4 Persons $69,700 Contemporary One Bedrooms and Two Bedrooms Available! ‫٭‬100% Smoke Free ‫٭‬Washers & Dryers in apartments ‫٭‬Spacious Floor Plans ‫٭‬Balconies *Fitness Center One-Bedroom Rent: $1,103

Two-Bedroom Rent: $1,292

Resident is responsible for water and sewer costs and all utilities Applications may be obtained by contacting Corcoran Management Company, attention Ashland Woods at 781-884-1940 or TTY 800-439-2370 until May 7, 2015 Applications may also be picked up at the Ashland Public Library, 66 Front Street, Ashland from March 30th until 3:00PM on May 14, 2015 Preference will be given to disabled households in need of accessible apartments. Preference for households with at least one person per bedroom Applicants may visit the Ashland VFW, 311 Pleasant St. when management will be available to assist them on the following dates: April 27, 29, 30 and May 1st from 10AM—4PM and on Tuesday, April 28th from 10AM to 6PM and Saturday May 2nd from 10AM to 2PM. An informational session will be held Tuesday, April 28th at 6pm at Ashland VFW Resident selection is based on a lottery which will be held on May 27th at 10AM at Ashland VFW. Deadline for applications is 3PM on May 14th at Corcoran Management Company, 100 Grandview Rd, Suite 205, Braintree, MA 02184 or postmarked by that date.

Ashland Woods offers free translation services. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities is available.

Thursday, April 23, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

Parker Hill Apartments Brand New Renovated Apartment Homes Stainless Steel Appliances New Kitchen Cabinets Hardwood Floors Updated Bathroom Custom Accent Wall Painting Free Parking Free Wi-Fi in lobby Modern Laundry Facilities

Two Bedrooms Starting at $2200 888-842-7945

REAL ESTATE

Wollaston Manor Senior Living At It’s Best

Bedford Affordable Housing The Crossing at Bedford www.TheCrossingAtBedford.com

A senior/disabled/ handicapped community

1BR condominium for $156,500 2BR condominium for $177,000

0 BR units = $1,027/mo 1 BR units = $1,101/mo All utilities included.

This is a lottery for the 2 affordable homes available at The Crossing at Bedford. These 2 homes will be sold at affordable prices to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. It is anticipated that the first affordable homes will be ready in Summer 2015.

Call Sandy Miller,

For details on the development, go to www.TheCrossingAtBedford.com For details on the lottery, go to www.s-e-b.com

91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170

Property Manager

#888-691-4301

Program Restrictions Apply.

CHELSEA APARTMENT

4+ bdrms Newly renovated, 2000+ sq ft apt in 3 fam, no smkng/pets, hrdwd flrs, eat-in kit, pantry, lg master bedroom, din and lv rm, laundry rm, enclosed frnt/bck prchs, off street prkng, T access, min to Bost.

Sec 8 OK

MAX INCOME Public Informa�on Mee�ng 1—$46,100 2—$52,650 Town Hall 173 Main St Groton MA 3—$59,250 4—$65,800 Tues, April 14 at 6:30pm Lo�ery (same Loca�on ) Assets to $75,000 Tues, May 5 at 6:30 Homes sold by lo�ery Applica�on Deadline April 28, 2015

For more information on the Development, the Units or the Lottery and Application Process, please visit: www.s-e-b.com/lottery or call 617.782.6900 (press 2 for homeownership and then press 6 for The Crossing at Bedford).

Applications and Required Income Documentation must be delivered, not postmarked, by 2 pm on June 9th, 2015. A Public Information Session will be held on April 28th, 2015 at 6 pm in Bedford Town Hall (10 Mudge Way) The lottery will be on June 23rd, 2015 in Bedford Town Hall.

Applications and Info Packets also available at: Bedford Public Library located at 7 Mudge Way (Hours: M- Th, 9-9, F 9-6, Sa 9-5, Su 1-5)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BANNER call (617) 261-4600 • baystatebanner.com

HELP WANTED

Please call LaNette between 11-1 to make appointment for interview Adams & Swett 617-268-8000

The Senior buyer at the Massachusetts Port Authority implements appropriate purchasing process for requests made by departments to ensure the best value is received for the Authority. Contacts vendors and requests materials and follows-up to ensure delivery date and payments are made within budget guidelines.

EDUCATION LEVEL: Associate’s degree in business or equivalent related work experience required.

UNIQUE EXPERTISE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATIONS: 1. Working knowledge of word processing or similar program.

2. People Soft or similar purchasing/accounting system experience preferred.

3. Professional purchasing certifications are preferred.

4. Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

5. Ability to pass a Massport controlled substances test and background security checks.

Taylor Cove, Taylor Cove Drive Andover, Massachusetts

For information visit www.massport.com.

Please apply online at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/massport/default.cfm

TO BE SOLD BY LOTTERY TO ELIGIBLE HOMEBUYERS (4) 3 Bed, 2-1/2 Bath Townhouse Style Condominiums $191,000, 1900 – 1925 Estimated Sq Ft. Max Income 1 Person - $46,100 3 Persons – $59,250 5 Persons – $71,100 2 Persons - $52,650 4 Persons - $65,800 6 Persons - $76,350 Other Restrictions Apply

Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. is a growing, employee owned, midsize national consulting engineering firm with offices in the Northeast, Florida and U.S. Virgin Islands. Our reputation is one of quality service delivered on time, on budget, and with dedication and loyalty to our clients. We are providing opportunities to professionals who share our commitment to provide innovative, collaborative and sustainable engineering and planning solutions to the challenges our clients face, while enhancing the communities in which we work and live.

OPEN HOUSE: 2 Taylor Cove Dr., Andover; 5/16/2015; 11AM -1PM INFO MTG:, Andover Town House (Old Town Hall); 5/18/2015; 6PM – 8PM

Call 617-261-4600 x 7799 or visit www.baystatebanner.com now to place your ad.

Delivery Driver’s Assistant

EXPERIENCE IN RELATED FIELD: 1 - 3 years’ relevant purchasing and negotiation experience required. Familiarity with processes to increase participation by MBE/WBE firms strongly preferred.

4 AFFORDABLE TOWNHOUSE CONDOMINIUM UNITS

BIG RESULTS!

Long term care experience preferred.

Senior Buyer

HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

SMALL ADS BRING

We offer excellent benefits, free parking, and easy accessibility by public transportation and a pleasant facility located on an l0 acre wooded estate.

n Must have experience driving vans n Must know Boston and surrounding areas n Have a valid driver license and provide copy of current clean driving record n Must be willing to take drug test n Ensuring all paperwork related to delivery of rugs or pick up of rugs is signed for and completed n Must be able to do heavy lifting at times. 60+ pounds

Applica�ons also available at Groton Town Hall

APPLICATION DEADLINE: RECEIVED BY 6/11/2015

The Benjamin Healthcare Center have Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants positions open for dedicated, committed, and compassionate individuals to work with us at our skilled nursing and long-term care facility located in Boston.

Households cannot have more than $75,000 in assets. The Maximum Household Income Limits are: $48,800 (1 person), $55,800 (2 people), $62,750 (3 people), $69,700 (4 people)

For Info and Applica�on: Email: karen@mcohousingservices.com Call: Karen Morand @978 235‐5595

Applications at: Andover Town Offices, Planning Office 36 Bartlet Street, Andover Memorial Hall Library 2 North Main St, Andover Or Write To: JTE Realty Associates, P. O. Box 955, No. Andover, Ma. 01845 Or e-mail: taylorcove@jterealtyassociates.com MAILING ADDRESS MUST BE PROVIDED 978-258-3492

RNs/LPNs & CNAs

The job will require working on the road as a helper or delivery driver when necessary.

Groton MA AFFORDABLE HOUSING Academy Hill Groton MA

HELP WANTED

The 1BR home is 788 sqft and has 1 full bathroom. The 2BR home is 1,144 sqft and has two full bathrooms. Both homes include one surface parking spot.

617-283-2081 Three, 2 Bedroom Town homes Prices: $148,950

Property Manager United Housing Management LLC is seeking an experienced professional to manage a Market Rent Development. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in managing at least 150 units of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) with the ability to interpret and analyze financial projections, experience and skills in team building and motivation, including organizational skills with strong verbal and written communication; ability to relate effectively with people of various backgrounds. Proficiency in a second language is a plus. Professional Certification as a Property Manager and Tax Credit Specialist are required. Transportation is a must. Submit resume and cover letter to: United Housing Management LLC, 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, Ma 02121.

Fax: 617-442-7231 no later than May 1, 2015. United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BRIDGE ENGINEER LEVEL II: Self-motivated team player with four (4) to eight (8) years of experience in bridge engineering to join our growing team in Manchester, NH or Portsmouth, NH. Responsibilities include inspection, analysis and design of New England State Agency and municipal bridges including construction inspection and administration. Experience in steel and prestressed concrete design required, timber experience a plus. Individual should possess a BSCE degree at a minimum (Masters preferred) and a P.E. license or ability to obtain. (Career Code STJ10415).

LAND ACQUISITION SPECIALIST: We are seeking a Land Acquisition Specialist to join our Transportation Services Group in our Manchester, New Hampshire office. This part-time, as needed position requires 10 years of experience assisting in the process of acquiring Right-of-Way and land rights on infrastructure improvement projects. (Career Code TMC10415) Please send resume citing Career Code to: HOYLE, TANNER & ASSOCIATES, INC., 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101 or e-mail jhann@hoyletanner.com or fax to 603-669-4168.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER www.hoyletanner.com

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Offer ends 5/17/15, and is limited to new residential customers. Not available in all areas. Requires subscription to Starter XF Triple Play with Digital Starter TV, Performance Internet and XFINITY Voice® Unlimited services. Two-year term agreements required.

Early termination fee applies. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including regulatory recovery fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $3.50/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $1.00/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. After 12 months, regular monthly charge applies to DVR service (which includes HD Technology Fee). After applicable promotional period, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for Starter XF Triple Play is $147.49/mo. and for DVR service is $19.95/mo. (pricing subject to change). TV and Internet service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service.

Internet: WiFi claims based on September and November 2014 studies by Allion Test Labs, Inc. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Reliably-fast claim based on 2014 FCC “Measuring Broadband America” Report. XFINITY WiFi is included for XFINITY Internet Performance service and above only. Requires compatible WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device. Hotspots available in select locations only. Voice: $29.95 activation fee may apply. Service (including 911/emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service charge and standard installation charges. Samsung Galaxy and Visa® prepaid card require subscription to qualifying HD Triple Play with minimum term agreement.

Early termination fee applies. Prepaid card mailed to account holder within 18 weeks of activation of all required services and expires in 90 days. Cards issued by Citibank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa® U.S.A. Inc. and managed by Citi Prepaid Services.

Cards will not have cash access and can be used everywhere Visa® debit cards are accepted. © 2015 Comcast. All rights reserved.

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