South Boston Today May 12 2022 by SouthBostonTodayOnline

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May 12, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 19

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Downtown Assaults By Teenagers Are Not Hijinks And Must Have Consequences

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ayor Michelle Wu said the city will offer support to a group of juveniles accused in a series of Boston attacks that have resulted in injuries to their victims. Some reporters characterize them as children. They are not. Tell that to the high school teacher and baseball coach in Houston Texas, who in February was beaten up

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May 12, 2022

EDITORIAL Let’s All Help Catch The Graffiti Vandals

hether you are a long time resident or a new arrival, most people could not help but notice that quite a few buildings were “tagged” with spray paint 2 weeks ago with those bizarre looking marking that are often seen in big cities like Chicago and New York. Residents didn’t like it, nor should they. Some call it ‘street art’. And it seems that those who spray it on buildings and even on the occasional private car, fancy themselves as some sort of artists. Well, we hate to burst the bubbles of those wannabe artists, but it’s not art and you are not artists, you are vandals.

And while we’re at it, let’s make something else clear to those who get their kicks out of defacing public and private property: South Boston is not a ghetto. If people in other neighborhoods resign themselves to this type of thing and sit back and accept it, so be it. But graffiti is not acceptable in South Boston. It never has been and hopefully never will be. The business owners and homeowners in THIS community take pride in their property and at least in most cases, work hard to keep it looking presentable. What they don’t need is for little vandals with spray cans

creeping around at night making a mess of the neighborhood with their ridiculous and ugly drawings. It’s been said that when defaced property is allowed to remain for any length of time on a wall, a paved street or other property, it marks the beginning of the end of the neighborhood. We cannot and should not allow that to be the case in South Boston. As soon as it appears, it needs to be erased, painted over, sand blasted or whatever it takes to remove it. But in addition to that, those responsible for doing it should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest, to not only stop

them from doing it in the future. A firm message must be sent to others who might be thinking about taking up this childish pass time to understand that the consequences, if they are caught, won’t be worth whatever thrill they get from it. Every day, more residents are adding security cameras to monitor the inside and the outside of their property. If video footage is available and in the hands of residents showing who sprayed the graffiti on local buildings this time, please make it available to police. If your cameras catch future vandals doing this, please do the same. As

was stated, if this type of activity is allowed to continue, it will only get worse as it will encourage more of it. Some might say that there are much bigger and more important problems to focus on today than hunting down and punishing kids with spray cans and they would be correct. But that doesn’t justify ignoring the smaller issues like vandalism in our community. We doubt that there is any mature resident that wants to have South Boston start looking like the inside of a New York City subway tunnel. But if people sit back and ignore it, there is a good chance that could be exactly what will happen. As Barney Fife used to say – “Let’s nip it in the bud”.

South Boston Branch Library In-Person Presentation by Rare Book Specialist Ken Gloss, Thursday, May 19

enneth Gloss, proprietor of the internationally known Brattle Book Shop in Boston’s Downtown Crossing section, will give an in-person presentation on Thursday, May 19, 6:00 pm at the South Boston Branch Library, 646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA. Ken will discuss the value of old and rare books. Ken, a rare book specialist and appraiser who is frequently seen on national

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TV, will talk in part about the history of his historic bookshop (www.brattlebookshop. com/about), which goes back to circa 1825. He is a second-generation owner. Ken will discuss growing up in the book business, show some of his favorite finds while enjoying “the thrill of the hunt,” and explain how he appraises books and manuscripts. He has many fascinating anecdotes to share about private and institutional collecting as well as

John Ciccone

guidelines for building and maintaining a significant collection. There is also a Q&A session at the conclusion of his talk. Following the talk and question-and-answer session, Ken will give free verbal appraisals of books participants have on hand or will do so at his shop in Boston at a later scheduled date. To register, the Library asks that all interested parties visit https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/626b01275 14d1536008c0c04.

Yankee Magazine Editor’s Choice Award for Best of New England, the Brattle Book Shop is one of America’s oldest and largest antiquarian bookstores. 2022 is the 73rd year of Gloss family ownership. Kenneth Gloss succeeded his late father, George Gloss, a wellknown figure both in Boston and national antiquarian circles. He had worked in the store since childhood and chose to go into the book business rather than

pursue a doctorate in chemistry. He became the sole proprietor upon his father’s death in 1985. “I found that books were in my blood and that I would never be really continued on page 8

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A Few Random Thoughts This Week On Current Topics: SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

he left wing in the country is melting down over the leaked Supreme Court document regarding Row vs Wade. So they are in the streets in certain parts of the country throwing bricks, setting fires and generally acting out like they always do. They are organizing protests outside of the Supreme Court Justices’ homes, harassing them and even threatening their family members. And they think this is just fine. They actually started calling themselves “Good Americans” for doing this, which is almost comical since even the words – Good Americans repulses most leftists. So, showing up at the Judges’ homes and threatening to kill their families is ok, and the Department of Justice stands by and allows it. But when concerned parents show up at school board meetings and complain about the garbage their children are being taught in their public school class rooms, they are labeled as terrorists and investigated by the feds. Anyone else see a problem here? And hey, how do you like last week’s most recent jump of gas prices? It’s just up up and away. The sky’s the limit it seems as Americans struggle to fill their tanks and heat their homes. As most know, this is having an effect on the prices of everything else. How do you like that sticker shock when buying groceries to put food on the table to feed your families? Want to make a repair on your home; maybe buy some lumber at Home Depot to fix the fence? They should

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start transporting lumber and other building supplies in Brinks Trucks because of how costly it is. Clothing, medical supplies, that new pair of hockey skates the kids need because they out grew their old ones and even soap and band aids are through the roof along with virtually everything else. And Pataki; speaking for Brandon in the White House and his puppet masters tell us each day that things are just wonderful in the country. They know things are NOT wonderful, nor do they want them to be. Record inflation is ruining our nation’s economy and the majority of Americans; according to surveys, are finally starting to get it. All of what’s going on is no accident. It’s the result of not only poor incompetent management, but also a deliberate and calculated plan to make life as miserable as possible for Americans. Like the other Socialists in other countries around the world, the leaders of the Democrat party are doing this to force more people to be dependent on big government, so that big government gets even more control over everyone’s personal lives. The higher the prices go and the more problems caused to American families, the bigger the landslide will be in this November ’s midterm election and the even bigger landslide in 2024. Pelosi, Schumer and the rest know its coming, they can do nothing to stop it, so they are ramming as much of their nation killing lunatic policies through while they still have majorities in congress.

Mention was made above of the garbage being taught in America’s public schools and about the parents rising up in protest. But these upset parents aren’t gathered outside school officials’ homes making threats, shouting obscene slogans and throwing rocks like the Roe V. Wade people and the BLM and Antifa types. Nope, they are doing things the smart and effective way. They are grassroots organizing and putting up parental candidates in the local school board elections and winning by mas-

sive margins all over America. They are literally taking over the school boards and tossing out the people who have been so entrenched for so long that they felt safe making policies that Indoctrinate rather than educate young students. This is sending shock waves all across the nation and it has put so called educators and yes, the teachers’ unions too on notice that they had better change their ways quickly or prepare to lose their power and even be removed. And that’s a good thing.

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Window Into The State House

Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.

Millionaire’s tax fight heats up with campaign launch The Raise Up Coalition officially kicked off its campaign to pass a Constitutional amendment this November to impose a surtax of 4 percent on all income over $1 million. But this is in no way a new debate, as the coalition and supporters in the Legislature have been making the case for a tax on millionaires for years. GBH News’s Adam Reilly writes that during a virtual campaign launch proponents signaled a strategy to tap into the state’s experience with COVID-19 and the toll it took on frontline workers. “Our essential workers have been putting in their fair share, and they continue to. But these folks and their communi-

ties have needs also — needs for better-funded school systems and increased training opportunities, improved infrastructure,” said The Rev. Ann-Marie Illsley, a pastor at Christ Congregational Church in Brockton. The Supreme Judicial Court is still weighing a challenge from opponents to how the ballot question will be described to voters in November, and the Mass Fiscal Alliance announced in a tweet that it had scooped up the domain www.fairshareforMassachusetts.com where “you can learn about the union bosses latest scheme to raise the income tax by 80% on some earners and small business owners.” Toll collections beating expectations

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Public transit ridership has been slow to rebound from the pandemic, but the Department of Transportation has proof that plenty of people are back behind the wheel. Despite more people working from home and commuting less, SHNS’s Chris Lisinski reports that MassDOT has collected $306.5 million in road tolls through the first three quarters of the fiscal year, beating the same period in fiscal 2021 by $70 million. The collections put the state on pace to finish the year in June with $76 million more in toll revenue than expected. COVID-19 wave could be cresting The State House isn’t the only place COVID-19 infections have been rising. Case counts and hospitalizations have been climbing for weeks. Some schools are returning to mandatory masking. And return to work plans have been delayed. But the Globe’s Martin Finucane reports that some public health experts see light at the end of the tunnel. “It’s too early for me to be confident we are peaking but I do think we are getting close,” said Matthew Fox, a professor of epidemiology and global health at the Boston University School of Public Health. Low-income admissions rising at Boston exam schools Changes to the admission policies of Boston’s three exam schools have succeeded in increasing the number of students from low-income backgrounds being admitted to the schools. The Globe’s James Vaznis writes that 45 percent of admission offers to start seventh grade next fall went to low-income applicants, compared to 35 percent for fall 2020, the last time the old admission policy was used. The policy also appears to be having a positive impact on racial diversity.

May 12, 2022

Wiseguy loses fight to make Healey give him his money A Superior Court judge sided with Attorney General Maura Healey in a case brought against the Democrat by former Boston mobster Vincent “The Animal” Ferrara. Ferrara sued to force Healey to return $268,000 that was seized from him as part of what Healey’s office has described as a “broad, ongoing criminal investigation.” While Ferrara claims that money was earned legitimately, the Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter reports that Judge Elaine Buckley ruled that the money was seized legally with a warrant. Rise in stimulant use sounds alarm bells Opioid use continues to take more lives, but Christian Wade writes in the Newburyport Daily News that a new report on the rising use of stimulants, including methamphetamine, has officials worried about a looming crisis. The public health focus for years has been on curbing and treating opioid addiction, but the report finds that the state lacks adequate stimulant-specific treatment programs. Wade writes that there were 1,124 deaths from stimulants such as cocaine in 2020 and 103 attributed to methamphetamine. “Knotty problems” persist at epicenter of Boston’s opioid crisis The tents are gone. But the problem isn’t. The Globe’s Danny McDonald writes about life in the neighborhood near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard where addiction and homelessness still thrive despite the city’s efforts to connect people with services. Potential LeBoeuf challenger says she got the signatures The legal ramifications of Rep. David LeBoeuf’s arrest last month on drunk driving charges are still to be determined, but one consequence of the incident could be that LeBoeuf draws a challenger for reelection. The Telegram’s Marco Cartolano reports that Michelle Keane of Worcester confirmed she was able to gather continued on page 8

May 12, 2022

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SEN. COLLINS SUPPORTS SPORTS WAGERING LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE Conference Committee to Resolve Differences with House

ast Thursday, State Senator Nick Collins supported S. 2844, An Act Regulating Sports Wagering, as it passed the Massachusetts Senate. This landmark bill, having now passed the Massachusetts Senate, would legalize sports betting throughout the Commonwealth, with significant public support. If passed, the bill would allow Massachusetts residents ages 21

and older to place bets on professional sports at casinos, slot parlors, and other licensed gaming locations. Now Massachusetts residents now have the opportunity to join their counterparts in 33 other states throughout the country in betting on professional sports. It is estimated that this bill would generate $35 Million yearly in revenue for the Massachusetts General Fund, with 9% of that deposited in the

Public Health Trust Fund, which was established to prevent and treat gambling addiction. Senator Collins also co-sponsored amendments that would legalize betting on college sports—a measure that was included in the House bill—which was not adopted in the Senate. A conference committee will be established to reconcile differences between the two bills. “This legislation would put us

on par with a significant majority of other states in the country,” said Senator Collins. “It will create jobs and revenue in an industry that was overdue for regulation.”

REP. BIELE VOTES TO PASS $49.7 BILLION HOUSE BUDGET Includes over $441 million for the City of Boston; invests in education, recovery, and public services

ecently, State Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass the House budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). Funded at $49.73 billion, the House budget makes major investments in housing, behavioral health, education, public safety, and housing, among other priorities. Locally, the City of Boston is set to receive over $441 million in local aid—an increase from last year’s House budget. Under the House FY23 budget, the City of Boston will receive $227.2 million

in Chapter 70 education funding which fully funds the second year of a six-year implementation plan for the Student Opportunity Act. The House budget also includes over $213.8 million in Unrestricted General Government Aid for the City of Boston, representing an increase from last year’s budget, and providing additional resources for the City of Boston. The FY23 House budget also provides $110 million for a yearlong extension of universal school meals across the Commonwealth, providing immediate relief to families by saving them up to $1,200 every year from reduced grocery expenditures. Additional education funding allocations in the House budget include: • $440 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker; • $243 million for charter school aid, fully funding charter school reimbursement; • $77 million for regional transportation; and • $22 million for homeless student transportation. Additionally, the House budget allocates resources for local public safety programs, including funding for dedicated state police patrols along Castle Island,

Marine Park, Carson Beach, Day Boulevard, and M Street Beach. Additionally, the House FY23 budget adopted an amendment filed by Rep. Biele to provide funding for the Boston Fire Department Training Academy and the Boston Fire Department’s hazardous materials response team. “The House budget invests in programs and services, such as public safety and recovery services, that will help residents and neighbors throughout our community, while increasing resources to the City of Boston for education and local aid from last year’s levels,” said Rep. Biele. “I am thankful to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, and my colleagues in the House for their support in making these crucial investments to help residents across our state and in our community.” The House FY23 budget also reflects a strong commitment to addressing health and behavioral health needs across the Commonwealth with crucial investments, including: • $188.6 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services; • $48.3 million for early intervention services, with dedicated funding to help its workforce

recover from the pandemic; • $12.5 million for behavioral health supports; and • $10 million to expand emergency diversion boarding programs within the Department of Mental Health. For housing and homelessness prevention, the House FY23 budget allocates $150 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), $140 million to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), $100 million to homeless individuals, $92 million to housing authority subsidies, and $59.4 million to HomeBASE. Additionally, the budget invests $349.7 million in environmental services, including funding increases for state parks and environmental protection. The House budget was introduced in April 2022, following a review of the Governor’s proposal and a series of budget hearings held by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. After three days of debate and over thousand five hundred proposed amendments, the budget passed the House of Representatives 155-0 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

6 Assaults continued from front page

by middle school students after he tried to discipline them and suffered a broken arm as a result. Middle school – ages 11-13. Mental health support is necessary long before children reach middle school, and some observers feel that it is a gratuitous kneejerk political reaction to offer such services to those teenagers who are committing acts of terror, when these persons display criminal behavior that causes real harm. It is not hijinks at work. The same behavior is on display in the Boston Public Schools, disrupting education at every grade level but certainly more so in the middle and high schools. With the good weather on its way, the motor scooter, ATV and other motorized cycles will add their form of terror to the city streets. Last week, two of these 13-yearold juveniles were held on bail following their arraignment on various assault charges related to at least

New BPS Exam School Policy Increased Diversity in Admission Invitations for SY 2022-23

oston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius today released data showing that the district’s new exam school admissions policy increased the socioeconomic, geographic, and racial diversity of students who were invited to attend the district’s exam

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

May 12, 2022

nine separate attacks “terrorizing unsuspecting citizens” in downtown Boston, the district attorney’s office announced. The teenagers appeared in Suffolk County Juvenile Court. One of the juveniles was charged with 14 counts from nine incidents and ordered held on $5,000 bail. The other was charged with nine counts from five incidents and ordered held on $3,500 bail, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. Roving bands of youths have been implicated in a growing number of “violent” attacks on pedestrians in Downtown Crossing and Boston Common. Police have arrested several children in different related incidents they attribute to a “specific group of violent juveniles,” according to police reports obtained by MassLive. But many of the perpetrators involved are too young to be arrested, Hayden said, citing a 2018 criminal justice reform law that prohibits the arrest or prosecution of children under

the age of 12 and limits the ability of law enforcement agencies to hold children under the age of 14. Hayden said it’s up to Mayor Michelle Wu and city officials to connect the children and their families to services, including an 11-year-old girl who has been identified as a ringleader. “Our hope, and practice, is always to keep children from getting involved in court. But the frequency and seriousness of these incidents demanded an approach that would address the immediate public safety threat presented by these juveniles,” Hayden said. Mass Live stated that according to police reports, five teenagers were arrested in connection with a Downtown Crossing attack earlier this month when a group of girls and one boy attacked a woman standing at an intersection, calling her a “white b--- with braids,” the report states. The incidents also include a March 21 attack of an 81-year-old man at a McDonald’s on Washington Street by four juveniles. Three

juveniles also allegedly shattered the Silvertone Bar and Grill’s storefront window on the same day when their attempts to order alcohol were denied, police reported. A late April incident happened in the Common when the group allegedly harassed a woman walking with a small child. Two Suffolk University students who saw the encounter told the kids to stop their behavior. According to the Globe report, that’s when it escalated and one of the teenagers, a girl, allegedly punched one of the students in the face. Most experts believe that these teenagers have needed mental health and other services long before this stage of their lives, and now they need consequences. Mayor Wu should direct city funding to behavioral health service to pre-school and kindergarten ages, working with families in need and helping them to have healthy environments for learning and living. The court system should deal with these lawbreakers.

schools for the 2022-2023 school year. “The driving focus of our work at BPS over the past three years has been to increase access to a wide variety of opportunities for all of our students, especially those who have encountered barriers for far too long,” said BPS Superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius. “It is incredibly gratifying to know that the policy is working as intended and as a result, more Boston students have an equitable chance to get an excellent education.” An analysis by the BPS Office of Data and Accountability showed that the new Exam School policy increased the diversity of those invited to attend the district’s three exam schools - Boston Latin School, Boston Latin Academy, and the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science. When compared to grade 7 invitations sent for the 2020-2021 school year, historically underrepresented groups of students received an increased percentage of invitations: students experiencing housing insecurity, in the care of the Department of Children and Families or living in housing owned by the Boston Housing Authority

(+6 percentage points); economically disadvantaged students (+10 percentage points); English learners (+5 percentage points); and students with disabilities (+3 percentage points). Approximately 76% of invitations went to students of color, an increase of 16 percentage points from SY20-21 invitations. For SY22-23 admissions, there were a total of 1,283 eligible applicants in 7th grade. Of the total eligible applicants, 1,000 students (78%) received invitations to an exam school for 7th grade. 85% of invited students received an invitation to their first-choice school, 11% to their 2nd choice school, and 4% to their third-choice school. Overall, there were 462 invitations to Boston Latin School, 321 to Boston Latin Academy, and 217 to the John D. O’Bryant School. For grade 9, 43% or 424 of the 984 eligible applicants were invited to an exam school. “The new admissions policy provides a transformational opportunity for many students to attend our exam schools who otherwise may not have had the chance,” said Jeri Robinson, School Committee Chairperson.

“This new policy opens the door for many of our students while still ensuring the high levels of rigor for which the exam schools are known.” Exam School invitations were sent to students in Grades 7 and 9 on April 29, 2022. These are the first invitations to be issued under the new Exam School Policy, which was thoughtfully crafted by a city-wide School Committee task force, recommended by Superintendent Cassellius to the School Committee and approved by the Boston School Committee in July 2021. The goal of the new admissions policy is to increase access to the district’s exam schools for all Boston children by removing barriers and increasing opportunity. The data from this year’s exam school invitations demonstrates that the new admissions policy increased the socioeconomic, geographical and racial diversity of students who received invitations to the District’s exam schools. A student population that reflects our City’s rich diversity improves the educational experience of all Boston students. The 2022-2023 school year for BPS students starts on September 6, 2022.

May 12, 2022

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MAYOR WU LAUNCHES GREEN NEW DEAL FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS More than $2 billion planned in facilities investment, including $605 million in FY23 Capital Plan

uilding on her campaign commitment to deliver a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools (BPS), Mayor Michelle Wu today laid out a $2 billion plan to overhaul BPS facilities, including new construction and renovation projects, as well as district-wide upgrades. The plan will be kick started by a $605 million investment in the FY23-27 Capital Plan to launch major new projects, with new staffing and planning tools to deliver urgent improvements for BPS communities. The Green New Deal for BPS will accelerate work to decarbonize the City’s building sector, while delivering urgent improvements to environmental health, justice and safety for BPS students, families and educators. BPS facilities make up nearly half of City-owned building emissions. School construction, renovation, and retrofit projects will support citywide climate action while also building community resilience to extreme weather events. Mayor Wu made the announcement alongside Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson, standing in front of the McKinley Elementary School and McKinley South End Academy–one of the highest needs school buildings in Boston, serving some of the City’s most marginalized students. The McKinley is one of several schools targeted for major investment, with a programming study proposed in the FY2327 Capital Plan to bring students, families, and educators to the table to collaboratively assess the school’s needs and propose a vision for improvements. “The Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools is a pledge to listen to and rebuild trust with our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is a new, all hands on deck approach, with new financial resources, planning tools, and staff capacity to deliver urgent improvements to our school buildings. With

students, families, and educators at the table, we’ll continue investing until every school can cultivate the healthy, nurturing environment our kids deserve.” The projects reflected in the FY23-27 Capital Plan include 14 new school construction or major renovation projects, as well as significant upgrades to athletic facilities at White Stadium. Also included in the plan are district-wide capital investments that will bring facilities improvements to nearly every BPS community, including energy and water efficiency upgrades, the installation of solar panels, renovations to bathrooms and kitchens, school yard improvements, and the installation of air conditioners and drinking water fountains. These projects represent a significant increase in City funds for school facilities projects and an acceleration of major new projects. Only nine new schools were built in Boston in the last 40 years, leaving decades of deferred maintenance to address urgently. “Every child deserves a modern, up-to-date and well-equipped learning environment that stimulates their creativity and fuels their excitement about learning,” said Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. “Creating high quality schools in every neighborhood was a goal of mine when I first came to Boston. The City’s commitment to creating 21st-century school buildings and classrooms across Boston is an important step forward for our students and families, and for the entire BPS community.” “This is a once in a generation opportunity to modernize our school facilities while also investing in projects that will help ensure a healthier planet for all,” said Boston School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson. “The School Committee looks forward to working in partnership with students, families, teachers, and the entire BPS community to make this vision a reality for Boston’s young people.”

“The condition of our BPS facilities has long been a civil rights issue, and this historic investment is generations overdue,” said City Councilor Kendra Lara. “With the looming climate crisis, Boston should be setting the standard for green infrastructure, and a Green New Deal for BPS sets a clear, bold vision that guides us in the right direction. I’m excited to partner with BPS students, families, and staff to deliver on that vision.” For the first time, students, families, and educators can use a new Building Dashboard built internally by the BPS Facilities team over the last year–for a comprehensive look at the data guiding the City’s capital project proposals. The Building Dashboard integrates data from across 30 different maintenance categories with the SY22 Opportunity Index, which assigns a score to schools that serve the highest concentrations of students in need based on a variety of factors. The Dashboard then assigns each BPS facility a Building Needs Score to assess facilities holistically across the entire district, and is updated by the BPS Facilities team as new information becomes available. By providing an objective assessment of relative need, the Dashboard informs the prioritization of school buildings targeted for renovations or other upgrades in the FY23-27 Capital Plan. The City is also investing in new tools to guide more transparent, data-based, effective decision-making on school facilities for future Capital Plans. Starting this spring, BPS is working with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC to develop a Facilities Condition Assessment to independently validate the data in the Dashboard, provide an objective and detailed analysis of our school buildings’ needs, and make recommendations for renovations and upgrades. The full study will be completed in 18-24 months. In addition, the Public Facilities

Department is working with DLR Group, Inc. to develop a School Design Study to work collaboratively with BPS community members to create programming and design guidelines for safe, sustainable, and inspiring school facilities. This study is intended to accelerate the programming and design phases of future projects, enabling the City of Boston to take on school facilities upgrades at an unprecedented pace. It will be complete in 12 to 18 months from when the project kicks off this summer. The new approach to school facilities management will be driven by a coordinated, interdepartmental team. To spearhead a new approach to BPS facilities planning, Mayor Wu has asked Dion Irish, Chief of Operations for the City of Boston, and Indira Alvarez, Chief Operations Officer for Boston Public Schools, to manage an interdepartmental team. Mayor Wu’s FY23 budget proposal includes 25 new staff positions to execute on school construction and renovation projects, including project managers, coordinators, and construction directors. This new staff capacity will be key to ensuring that this work is delivered efficiently, effectively, and on a clear timeline while minimizing disruption to school communities. This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s commitment to expanding opportunities for Boston’s youth including recent expansions of Early College and Innovation Pathways programming and the launch of a partnership between the Public Works Department and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to train high school students in electric vehicle maintenance.

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Wine Guy

Is It Hot Yet?

ike other enduring varieties, this wine goes back through the millennia, with mention of it being grown in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, it’s grown in almost every major wine producing area in the world but enjoys many of its best brands grown in the various California AVAs. (In case you’re wondering, that’s short for American Viticultural Area, which is a designation much the same as an AOC, or Appellation d’Origine Controllee in France. These areas and their stringent quality controls help to assure the best wine, often for very attractive prices.) Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel, 2019, ($25.99) is a consistently big but smooth wine and has been the holder of numerous 90+ rankings by some of the toughest critics over many years. This one has an expressive burst of aromas of deep dark fruits, leading into layered tones of lifted red fruit and a soft, delicious mid-palate. A juicy, vibrant entry with notes of mint, sarsaparilla, and fresh plum is interwoven with supple, textured tannins and acidity on the

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enough signatures in the limited days after LeBoeuf’s arrest, but before the May 3 deadline, to qualify for the Democratic primary in September. The Harvard elemenLibrary continued from page 2

happy if I abandoned the business.” Among the many organizations in which Kenneth Gloss is a member are the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, the New England Antiquarian Booksellers of America, the Massachusetts

May 12, 2022

strawberries, and flowery incense, with just hints of cigar and dried orange peel emerging with time in the glass. While it’s not a blockbuster, it brings huge intensity and richness in a medium-bodied, weightless, elegant package that delivers ripe tannins and notable acidity.” (95 pts.) While not nearly as big a name as Ridge, Thacher Vineyards make some of the biggest Red Blends in the country. Their 2018 Thacher “Controlled Chaos” Red, Paso Robles, ($29.99) is a Zinfandel -dominated Red Blend comprised

of tart and roasted cranberry aromas that meet with loamy soil and wild desert herbs on the nose of this blend of 64% Mourvèdre, 14% Zinfandel, 12% Grenache and 10% Counoise. There’s an eclectic mix of fresh red fruit, dried herbs, light pepper and crushed brick flavors on the palate, which makes for an easydrinking table wine. You can have this one with any kind of meat or meat-dominated food; think Hanger Steak and Red Potatoes, Open-faced Steak sandwiches, with a warm Bernaise and Mushroom sauce or a Sunday Roast. Might be your best bet, no matter how many other bets you make, for the Playoffs. The Prisoner, Salado Zinfandel, 2019, California, ($25.99) has a dark ruby color with bold aromas of black licorice, black pepper, cherry, and baking spice. The entry is rich, full, and scintillating. The palate is mouthwatering and smooth with a hint of chocolate and the finish is voluptuous with soft, velvety tannins. Wilfred Wong of Wine.com calls it,” robust, extracted, and long-lasting. This wine plays up bold berries and wood nuances in its aromas and flavors. Pair it with barbecued skewered pork”, while The Wine Enthusiast says,”This posh, smooth and layered wine is well packed with blackberry and blueberry flavors and sprinkled with black and white pepper. A very full body and velvety tannins give it a broad, mouth-coating texture that helps carry all that tasty fruit flavor through the finish.

UMass poll underscores national divisions on abortion A new poll from UMass Am-

herst taken in the wake of a leaked draft opinion that suggests the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade found 50 percent of Americans say the court should keep the

50-year-old precedent in place while 34 percent want it overturned. WCVB-TV reports the polls finds 45 percent of voters want Congress to pass a law legalizing abortion nationwide.

and Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers Association, the Committee for the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair and the Boston Society. He also is a Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society as well as serving on the Board of Overseers of the USS Constitution Museum. The Brattle Book Shop is proud

to have been a contributor to the WGBH Annual Auction each year that the station has held this fund drive. Ken has appeared on national and local TV numerous times over the years and has been a popular guest on WBZ Radio as well as other radio, TV, and cable stations numerous times. His bylined articles

continue to appear in various antique journals and in print and online consumer publications. The Brattle Book Shop is also the recipient of several “Best of Boston” awards in the categories of Best Book Shop or Best Antiquarian Book Shop. In addition, it has been included in a list as one of North America’s best bookstores.

long, complex finish. This wine is made to be paired with grilled steak, sausage and peppers with cheesy polenta, or pasta dishes with tomatobased sauces such as baked rigatoni or pappardelle Bolognese. Semi-hard cheeses such as dry jack – our favorite is from a local Sonoma producer, Vella Cheese Company – and aged cheddar or gouda are great pairing suggestions for happy hour or a last minute get together. Oak Ridge Zinfandel AV Estate Grown Lodi, 2019, ($14.99) comes from one of my favorite areas in California, Lodi County. This county consistently produces high quality reds for tremendous value, especially this little beauty. Wine Enthusiast has consistently rated it a Best Buy, saying, “Smooth, supple and concentrated, this lavishly fruity and jammy wine coats the palate with blackberry syrup, maple and boysenberry flavors. It’s velvety and viscous”. Open it about 30 minutes before you want a glass and you’ll be impressed by the body and depth, the resonant berry notes and long finish, despite the fact that, even with a 14% alcohol level, it’s not overly thick. Beautiful medium body and a great change of pace if you’re a Cabernet Sauvignon drinker most of the time. Probably the most dominant name in California Zinfandel, Ridge Vineyards produces a wide array of top quality wines. The best value, imho, is their 2019 East Bench Zinfandel, ($29.99). Jeb Dunnock says” Based on 100% Zinfandel, the 2019 Zinfandel East Bench has a great perfume of red plums, wild tary school teacher is still deciding whether she wants to run.

May 12, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

2022

South Boston Sr Babe Ruth Baseball Tryouts

Tryouts will take place on Thursday May 26th, Monday May 30th, and Wednesday June 1st all at 5:30pm at King Field at Joe Moakley Park.

All players aged 16-18 are eligible to play and those who have turned 19 on or after January 1st of this year or after are also eligible to play. There are several openings on this year’s team due to a large amount of graduates from last year’s group. The team will play a 12 game regular season schedule in the South Shore League throughout June and July with playoffs to follow. The team is also looking for assistant coaches that may be interested in donating a few hours a week to help out during the season. Anyone interested can reach out via email to wconnor16@gmail.com.

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South Boston Catholic Academy News

Congratulations to this year’s First Holy Communion Class!

n Saturday morning, May 7, 2022, the Second-Grade students at South Boston Catholic Academy and in the Parish Religious Education Program

received their First Holy Communion at Gate of Heaven Church. The Celebrants at this Mass were, our Pastor, Father Robert Casey, our Parochial Vicar, Father Christopher

Boyle and Monsignor Liam Bergin. Thank you to Father Casey, Father Boyle, Monsignor Bergin, our Principal, Dr. Helenann Civian; Vice Principal, Mrs. Denise Moriarty; our Second Grade Teachers, Ms. Stephanie Olsen and Ms. Meghan Leslie and to all the families and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy and to our Parish Religious Education Director, Mr. Chance Hebert; our Second Grade

May 12, 2022

Rel. Ed. Teacher, Mrs. Joan Dixon and all the families in the Parish Religious Education Program and to all who helped to make this First Holy Communion extra special. Congratulations and God Bless all these wonderful children and their families! New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org for more information about South Boston Catholic Academy.

May 12, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

This week, Danny reacted to how NESN is mistreating its streaming audience:

used to advocate for liveTV streaming services. I was actually one of the first people to do it. I was adamant to people: “Cut the cord!” And then Fubo TV and NESN decided to ruin all the fun. Full disclosure, I don’t know whose fault it is, Fubo TV or NESN, or both, but one of these two companies needs to cut the bleep. Because now, instead of being able to save money by cutting the cord and using just one live-TV streaming service to watch sports during the most exciting sports season of the year, I have to pay for two live-TV streaming services. Those two streaming services are Fubo TV and Youtube TV. I’ve had Youtube TV since it began. I’ve never been shy about my love for it. I’ve raved about Youtube TV on social media, and I’ve converted family and friends to the service. In all honesty, I should probably get some kind of paycheck from Youtube TV for all the marketing I’ve done for them. But anyways, Youtube TV was great, up until recently, when NESN became no longer available

on the service. NESN is home to the Red Sox and Bruins, and so, what the hell is somebody like me supposed to do when I get a notification one day that says Youtube TV and NESN were “unable to reach a new agreement”? “Hi Daniel, We’re writing to let you know that our agreement with New England Sports Network (NESN) has expired. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a new agreement to continue offering you this network. Starting Saturday, October 31, 2020, NESN will no longer be available on YouTube TV, and you will no longer have access to any previous recordings from NESN. We regret the inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your membership as we strive to make YouTube TV the best streaming experience. Sincerely, The YouTube TV team” Now, to be fair, this rant is somewhat overdue, as I received this message back in October of 2020, as you can see. But I kept my mouth shut because I figured that a deal would eventually get done, and I wouldn’t have to go

back to the normal cable that I’ve been telling everyone to abandon for the last few years. Well, here I am, in the spring of 2022, and I now have to pay for both Youtube TV and Fubo TV in order to watch the Red Sox and Bruins, because the only reputable live-TV streaming service that NESN is available on is Fubo TV. What a joke. You might be asking yourself, “Danny, why aren’t you putting any of the blame on Youtube TV for this?” It’s simple. Is any other regular network having a contractual issue with Youtube TV? I can’t find one. In fact, over on Fubo TV, you can’t even get TNT or TBS, which is hilarious because if the Bruins somehow advance to the second round of the playoffs, there will be a game or two on either TNT or TBS, meaning, if you left Youtube TV in order to watch the Bruins on Fubo TV, you might have to miss a few playoff games. The worst part about all of it is, they’re rubbing it in our faces, and have no problem doing so. Every time I’m watching a Red Sox or Bruins game

on NESN, I see advertisements for the partnership between NESN and Fubo TV. So, clearly, the two companies are in bed with each other on this move from Youtube TV. And it really is a shame. You can literally watch anything you want on Youtube TV, except for the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins. I can get up in the morning and turn on Youtube TV and watch four hours of a New York City sports radio show — WFAN’s Boomer and Gio — on CBS Sports Network from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., but if I want to watch the Red Sox take on the Orioles on a Tuesday night in April, I have to pay for an entirely new live-TV streaming service. I get it, business is business. And NESN decided to take care of theirs. But while they do so, they’ve decided to care less about their audience, all because they know that suckers like me will have no choice but to bend the knee and make the move to multiple streaming services. As loyal fans, we deserve better. Follow Danny on Instagram @DannyPicard.

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SPORTS TODAY BRUINS NO- Tweet SHOW IN of the CAROLINA, Week LOOK TO FORCE A GAME 7

SBT Staff

his isn’t the best playoff series to watch if you’re a Boston Bruins fan. After losing a pivotal Game 5 in Carolina, 5-1, on Tuesday night, the B’s are now on the brink of elimination, trailing the Hurricanes 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Game 6 is back in Boston. Carolina beat the Bruins in Games 1 and 2 in Carolina, but then the Bruins made a goaltender switch and were able to protect home ice, winning Games 3 and 4 at the TD Garden, evening up the series at 2-2. Linus Ullmark made the start between the pipes for Boston in the first two games, but he allowed a total of eight goals in those two games, as the Bruins lost 5-1 in Game 1, and 5-2 in Game 2. Since, the B’s have turned to goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who’s allowed a total of eight goals in three games. Four of those goals allowed came in Game 5, where Swayman struggled. According to reports, Swayman will remain in goal for the B’s in a must-win Game 6 back at the TD Garden in Boston on Thursday. If the Bruins can win Game 6, they’ll force a Game 7 back in Carolina on Saturday.

RED SOX NOTES: WACHA PLACED ON DL, SALE’S RETURN DELAYED

May 12, 2022

WHATTOWATCH NHL THURSDAY, MAY 12 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Gm 6: Carolina at Boston 7 P.M. TNT SATURDAY, MAY 14 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Gm 7 (if necessary): Boston at Carolina TBD NBA FRIDAY, MAY 13 Eastern Conference Semifinals Gm 6: Boston at Milwaukee TBD ESPN SUNDAY, MAY 15 Eastern Conference Semifinals Gm 7 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Boston TBD MLB SATURDAY, MAY 14 Boston at Texas 7:05 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, MAY 15 Boston at Texas 2:35 P.M. NESN

second inning that gave Boston a 6-0 lead. Right-handed reliever Tyler Danish picked up the win for the Red Sox in two innings of relief. And if you’re a casual Red Sox fan, you might be asking yourself, “Who?” Boston has struggled mightily through the first month of the season. That blame can be dished out to the entire team, with pitching being no exception. So the latest news about two of the Red Sox’ top pitchers is, well, not good. Starter Michael Wacha, who is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in five starts, has been placed on the 15-day injured list with

what the team is calling “left intercostal irritation.” For those who don’t have time to google what that is, it’s soreness in the left side of his upper body. He started feeling that soreness after a side session he threw over the weekend. In other bad news, Chris Sale’s return from a stress fracture in his rib cage has been delayed a few weeks because of a “personal medical issue.” Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told reporters that the issue is “not orthopedic, not Covidrelated, and not baseball-related.” Sale’s projected return is now late June.

BRADY SIGNS DEAL WITH FOX SPORTS

it’s being reported that Brady’s postplaying deal with FOX is worth $375 million over 10 years. So far in his NFL career, Brady has made $303 million. This isn’t the first major shakeup in the NFL broadcast booth this offseason. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman — who had been FOX’s longtime broadcast duo — both fled for ESPN, where they’ll now be taking over Monday Night Football duties. Aikman’s deal with ESPN is reportedly worth $90 million. Buck’s deal is reportedly worth around $75 million. Over on NBC, the legendary Al Michaels is leaving Sunday Night Football to pair with Kirk Herbstreit for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football broadcast, moving Mike Tirico into the full-time spot next to Cris Collinsworth on NBC.

SBT Staff

he Boston Red Sox began a fivegame road trip on Tuesday night, and snapped a five-game losing skid by beating the Atlanta Braves, 9-4, thanks to a Rafael Devers grand slam in the

SBT Staff

his NFL offseason has been a wild one for Tom Brady, to say the least. First, Brady announced his retirement from football. Then, he announced his return to football and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, Brady is in the offseason news again. Only this time, it’s related to his post-football career. On Tuesday, FOX announced that Brady will be joining its NFL broadcast team as the “lead analyst” once he officially decides to hang up the cleats. “We are pleased to announce that immediately following his playing

career, 7-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady will be joining us at FOX Sports as our lead analyst,” said FOX CEO Lachlan Murdoch in a statement released on social media. “Over the course of this long-term agreement, Tom will not only call our biggest NFL games with Kevin Burkhardt, but will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives,” added Murdoch. “We are delighted that Tom has committed to joining the Fox team and wish him all the best during this upcoming season.” FOX did not release the terms of Brady’s contract with the company, but