CONTINUED ON page 6 Elections ConsequencesHaveAndBeaconHillStillHasWorkToDo August 18, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 31 SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE Anew poll ahead of No vember’s general election shows majority support for the millionaires’ tax amendment, while the Democratic primary races are shaping up ahead of the September 6 state primary. However, the important statistic is that 60%-plus of the voters are undecided. This fact reflects the “who are these people” question in the minds of a seemingly apathetic electorate, exhausted from the ads@southbostontoday.com www.southbostontoday.com @SBostonToday S outhBos tonTod a y @SBostonToday TODAYSouthBoston Online • On Your Mobile • At Your Door Put Your Money To Work! 1.50%APY* Certificate6-Month *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Minimum balance to open and earn APY is $500. Maximum deposit $250,000. The APY for all Certificates assumes the dividends will remain in the account until maturity. Withdrawal of dividends prior to maturity will reduce earnings. Certificates are subject to penalty for early withdrawal. Fees may reduce earnings. Rate is effective August 3, 2022. This is a limited time offer and is subject to change without notice. Other rates and terms available. Subject to membership eligibility, see our website for details. massbaycu.org Earn More at Mass Bay! Only $500 Minimum IRA Certificates, Too! Visit us in So. Boston at 147 West 4th Street or 409 D Street in the Seaport.
W hile summer isn’t over yet, back to school time fast ap proaches and parents need to be on top of just what the schools, especially public schools, plan to teach their kids. It would have been inconceiv able just a few short years ago that there would be some teach ers - not all - backed by left leaning teacher union officials, who would go to great lengths to indoctrinate young students with lessons and curriculum that would go against the wishes of parents. That in so many loca tions in schools around the country, students would actually be in structed by school per sonnel to not tell their parents what they were being taught boggles the mind. How did our country come to this? When what is thought by many to be the antipolice and arelikepropagandaanti-AmericanofgroupsBlackLivesMatterreadilymadeavail able to impressionable young children, even after BLM has been implicated in violent behavior and other ac tivities of questionable legality, there is a prob lem. When the Criti cal Race Theory (CRT) which openly advocates division among students and often encouraging distrust and suspicion among children of dif ferent races and ethnic backgrounds, something is clearly wrong. Those pushing such programs and their motives behind it should be subject to investi gation.Students go to school to learn and be theincatededu subjects that will serve them and prepare them for their future. Math, reading, writing, REAL history and other basics are what’s necessary and is what is expected by parents. The radical ideology of school board members, teachers’ union officials and political activists and operatives of any stripe don’t belong in schools and polluting youngWe’veminds.allheard about such controversies in Boston’s schools including Parents Have The Right And Duty To Monitor What Their Children Are Taught
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those made public at the Condon School right here in our own community of South Boston. Many par ents were outraged. But being outraged or upset alone isn’t enough to put an end to it. Letters and press conferences in oppo sition to in- school indoc trination by our elected officials are fine and needed. But when parents themselves come forward and demand loudly and clearly that their children be educated, NOT indoc trinated, it sends a power ful message and is what is necessary to put an end to these practices. Whether it’s political indoctrina tion or lessons with sexual content, it does not belong in elementary schools. Educators need it made clear to them that these are not THEIR children. They belong to the parents. And parents have every right to know what their children are being exposed to in school and they also have a right to question and to oppose anything that they feel is harmful. Be pre pared to get involved this coming school year.
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August 18, 20222 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com 917 East Broadway • 617.268.4032 • Office hours: Mon-Fri 10:00am - 2:00pm
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.comAugust 18, 2022 3 A s most of our readers know, the Democrats in the US Senate recently voted for the bill with the deliberately mis leading name of ‘The Inflation Reduction Act’. Even many of the nation’s top economists have come out strongly against it and say it will NOT reduce inflation and will have the opposite effect. But even know ing this, all 50 senators on the left side of the aisle (48 Democrats and 2 Independents) voted for it. All 50 Republicans vote against it so the person who occupies the Vice presi dent’s office, Kamala Harris, had to be brought in to break the tie. It would appear that Brandon and the Democrats want their own army to enforce a number of up coming surprises they have for the American people, as they put into the bill the recruitment and hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents. But it’s been reported that buried in at least one of the recruitment outreach attempts were the following require ments for these new agents: Agents must be willing to carry firearms and also willing to use deadly force, if necessary. There was an instant and massive uproar over these job requirements, so they were taken down – but only briefly. They were put right back up a couple of days later and remain there now. Really? Armed IRS agents, car rying firearms and willing to use deadly force? 87 thousand new agents? We’re being told that all these new agents being hired are for the purpose of making tax filing easier. Could there actually be any one besides die hard, Trump hating liberals who are buying any of this? If you put it to a vote among the American public, it’s a very good bet that the people would vote in a landslide to hire 87,000 new Border Patrol officers rather than new IRS agents. To quote the meme going viral all over the country about this: “Think about what they just did. They used OUR taxes, to raise OUR taxes so they could hire 87,000 new agents to rifle through OUR tax re turns to see if we owe more taxes.”
The so-called Inflation Reduc tion Act is being praised by the guy occupying the White House who apparently doesn’t even know what inflation is. He actually came to his podium and claimed there was zero inflation during the month of July. In fact, the inflation rate was 8.5 percent – one of the highest rates in our nation’s history. He should ask real people, who get sticker shock every time they go to the market to buy food for their families or put gas in their cars or need to replace an old broken appliance about inflation. The real people would give him an ear full. But unfortunately, he wouldn’t remember or understand a word said and we all know it.
departments around the
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Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com Boston, MA deadly force, are also pushing the efforts to cut the from police country in the cases of some of them, they would like to com pletely defund police. The increasing number of Ameri cans who are questioning all of this and becoming worried are not so called conspiracy theorists. They are patriotic citizens who are con cerned about developments that have, up until now, never existed in the United States of America and should not now or ever exist here.
617-269-193002127Funeral&Cremations Services Why Do The Feds Need Another Armed Force 87,000 Strong? to use
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The people currently in charge of our country are starting to act like the people our Founding Fathers drove out of here during the American Revolution. Think about this also: A greedy king that held himself above the common people was sending armed soldiers to impose and col lect ever increasing taxes on people who could least afford it. Back then, as is the case now, the people being taxed had little if any say on where those tax dollars were going or how they were being spent. Much of that money was being used to fatten the lifestyles and living standards of the ruling class and to pay for things that ruling class used to increase their own personal wealth. If there was opposition to these mandates, those who opposed were met with fierce punishment. Armed tax collectors, backed up by armed soldiers (Brit ish Red Coats at the time), would arrive at peoples’ home to haul you away and confiscate the possessions of those who wouldn’t cooperate. Sound familiar? If not, open a his tory book. You’ll be amazed at the similarities. And that’s one of the main reasons the people during the founding of our country rose up and tossed out the British. Why do IRS agents need to be armed? Why are 87,000 new agents needed? These are legitimate ques tions being asked by a growing number of wary Americans. Now, not surprisingly, some of the same people in positions of power who favor raising this new federallyrun force and arming, giving them permission and even requiring them
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone Information CenterThe Casper’s specializes in Massachusetts Cremation Services & Veteran Services Established in 1930 Let Our Family Help Your Family CASPER Casper Funeral Home Funeral Directors: Joe, Dave & Ken Casper Home of Personal Service Serving Families with Dignity and Respect through the toughest of times for over 80 years Pre-Planning Specialists David Casper Please visit our website for information you may find helpful during a time of need www.casperfuneralservices.com 187 Dorchester Street South
From the perspective of a hardworking millennial (no, no, that’s not an oxymoron), home ownership may seem like an impossible dream. The median sale price for a singlefamily home in Greater Boston tipped the scales at $899,950 in June, then dropped last month to the bargain-basement level of $841,500 as mortgage rates shot up. The me dian condo price in July: $680,000. Such astronomical numbers, limited inventory, and now rising rates natu rally stress those who desperately want to join the party but are getting turned away at the door.
-- Homeowners Haves And Have Nots...
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In BBB’s previous article on QR code scams, we warned that more QR scams would come. Here are some recent ways scammers are using QR codes: Parking meter payment. Fraudulent QR codes are often placed on the back of parking meters, leading victims to assume that they can pay for park ing through the QR code if they do not have change. Con artists can eas ily create a QR code for free online, which they then print on stickers and either cover up an actual QR code or place where it makes logical sense. Af ter paying for the spot through the QR code, some victims return to find their vehicle has been towed or received a parking ticket for non-payment, multi plying the amount of money lost.
Window Into The State House
August 18, 20224 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
-- Maura Healey rolls out her plan to get the T rolling safely She’s got to be hoping it’s not 2015 all over again: Gubernatorial frontrunner Maura Healey ended ulent payment portals, and downloads that infect devices with viruses or malware. While the way victims are exposed to QR code fraud varies, a common theme identified in reports is that most come from unsolicited com munications or a QR code posted in a publicly accessible location.
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The Purpose For QR Codes And Avoiding Scams Misérables) and ignores the incum bents, the smug owners. The landed classes tend to think of themselves as geniuses because they happen to have taken the opportunity to buy a respectable single-family, say, in Milton in 2003 for $450,000 and now it’s worth $1.1 million. Indeed, a brilliant move. They may vaguely sense the anguish of the housing have-nots, but the reality is the lack of supply has made them rich (well, richer than most of us). It’s unlikely much will change in the near term to improve the supply for the next generation of homebuy ers, in part because housing produc tion ultimately is controlled by local forces, often the very citizens who have little to no interest in signifi cantly increasing supply.
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.
-- Wu wants in on pilot program that would end pilot lights Boston Mayor Michelle Wu yes terday initiated what could end up being a complicated, drawn
Cryptocurrency wallets and romance scams. The rise of cryptocurrencies has altered traditional thinking about investments, and the confusion sur rounding these transactions makes it a ripe ground for scammers to take their toll. The trading of cryptocurrencies is conducted online, and the easiest way for both legitimate and fraudulent trad ers to direct investors to their digital wallets is through a QR code. Recent ly, BBB has become aware of scam mers who spend months of their time building a romantic relationship with their victim, which ultimately results in them asking for financial assistance through a cryptocurrency exchange or ‘advising’ the victim on cryptocur rency investment. Believing that the scammer is in dire need or has their best interest in mind, the victim fol lows the provided QR code and trans fers the requested amount to the scam mer’s digital wallet. Many victims lose thousands of dollars before they dis cover they are being scammed. Read about other romance scams.
Phishing scams. The design of QR codes makes it impossible for the user to know where the code will direct them after scanning, allowing scammers to send victims to phish ing websites or downloads that will infect devices with malware. After scanning a code found in an email, text or on a flyer, some victims are directed to a website that requests personal information that can lead to identity theft, compromised pass words for online accounts or down loads that track the user’s activity on the device. Many phishing attempts begin with notification of ‘suspicious activity’ on one of their online ac counts and include a link or QR code for the user to verify their identity. In her comparative silence on fix ing the broken management of the T Tuesday, laying out a se ries of specifics she’ll peruse if elected. She clearly intends to clean house at T headquarters and would appoint a transporta tion safety chief (we refuse to use the “cz” word here.). As with Baker, she knows her manage ment ability will be judged by how her results match up with her stated intentions going in. She just hopes her results will be bet ter than his. Healey’s plan would also pursue lower fares and more free service, a greener system, and wider regionalization. Chris Lisinsky of the SHNS, Taylor Dol ven of the Globe, Gayla Cawley of the Herald, and the Framing ham Source bring you the story.
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Coverage of the real estate mar ket generally focuses on the frantic dilemmas of the have-nots (aka Les -- Speaking of moving parts... Okay, never mind, further talk about the possibilities for the eco devo-tax relief bill can’t wait for later, it turns out, because it will just not stop making news in the otherwise quiet marble halls of the State House. Colin Young rounds up the latest twist: Senate President Karen Spilka suggesting Gov. Baker put the more urgent and attractive spending portion of the bill in a new piece of legislation that could pass unanimously in informal session. That’s just part of the story, natch.
T he use and consumer familiar ity with QR codes present an opportunity for businesses to direct current or potential customers to their websites, mobile apps, digital marketplaces, or anything else avail able on the internet. Restaurants of ten use them to allow their diners to access a digital menu, preventing the spread of contagions and saving the business money. Business cards can include a QR code that will direct to an online portfolio, complete with videos and more in-depth information about the services offered than what a standard business card can display. There are many legitimate and helpful uses for QR codes. However, scam mers are also taking note of the tech nology and using QR codes to carry out various Consumerschemes.reports to Better Busi ness Bureau and warnings issued by police departments in cities across the nation detail how some QR codes di rect users to phishing websites, fraud Better Business Bureau Report on page
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.comAugust 18, 2022 5 B oston City Council President Ed Flynn and City Council or At-Large Michael Fla herty are partnering with the Office of Community Preservation to host an information session for District 2 residents on the Community Preser vation Act (CPA) on Tuesday, Au gust 23, 6pm via Zoom. This meet ing aims to provide information and resources for residents, civic groups and organizations in District 2 who may want to apply for funding from the CPA. Topics will include the funding application process, the timeline, eligible projects, and other related information. The CPA provides funding for initiatives related to affordable housing, historic preservation, open space, and outdoor recre ation facilities.The application round for the fall will open in October 2022, close on November 9, 2022 at 5pm, and interested ap plicants must complete eligibility forms by August 31, 2022. Rec ognizing the opportunities that CPA presents for residents and or ganizations who want to preserve and improve our neighborhoods, Councilor Flynn is hosting this meeting to allow residents and organizations to learn more about how they can utilize CPA funding to enhance our community. “With the new round of applica tion for CPA funding available now, we want to make sure that our neighbors have the informa tion and resources to take full advantage of this opportunity QR Codes continued from page 4
Councilors Flynn and Flaherty to Host Community Preservation Act Info Session on Aug. 23rd to fund relevant projects,” said Councilor Flynn. “I’m delighted to partner with the city to host this meeting so that residents can learn more about what CPA can do for our community.” “When I worked to get the CPA adopted in Boston, it was because I knew the transformative effects the funds from the program would have across the city,” said Council or Flaherty. “ I want to make sure residents in our city have every opportunity to harness the impact of these funds, and I encourage folks to come and learn more about the CPA application process, and get their applications in.” To register for the information session, please FahBvOYCaEO8SUHuR45ing/register/tZEkfuyqqjgpHtCsbhttps://us06web.zoom.us/meetvisit:Formoreinformation,pleasecon
tact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 and ed.flynn@boston.gov. reality, the information provided is going to a scammer, which they then use for other purposes. Read more on phishing scams. Utility and government impos tors. Many consumers report they are contacted by their utility com pany, the Social Security Admin istration or the IRS regarding an outstanding debt they must immedi ately pay in full. The representative claims that failure to pay the unpaid bill will result in either arrest, addi tional fines or shutting off access to electricity, gas or water. According to the impostor, the regular payment portal for these services is currently offline, but the victim can submit payment through another portal which, conveniently, they can ac cess by following a link or scanning a QR code. The payment portal the victim is directed to often mimics the real portal down to the finest de tail, providing a false sense of secu rity that it is legitimate. Learn more about impostor scams. False sense of security. Reports to Better Business Bureau and ad ditional screenshots, emails, and texts detail how scammers include a legitimate QR code for the company or entity they are claiming to repre sent to give victims a false sense of security. These QR codes route to the official website for the organi zation, leading victims in receipt of these communications to more like ly believe that the scammer is a le gitimate representative. Other codes will direct the victim to an ‘em ployee profile’ that includes official logos, badge numbers, professional headshots and additional informa tion designed to ease any fears the victim may have. Once the scammer is confident that they have convinced their target, the likelihood that the victim will provide whatever infor mation or money is requested drasti cally increases. Learn how to spot a fakeHowwebsite.toavoid QR scams Confirm QR code before scan ning. If you receive a QR code from a friend via text or a message on social media from a workmate, be sure to confirm with that person they meant to send you the code to verify they have not been hacked. Keep in mind what you know about the person messaging you. Are they active in cryptocurrency investments, or is this message a little out of character? How often do you talk to this person, and does it make sense they would come to you with this opportunity? Trust in your intuition and avoid scanning any QR code until you know they sent it on purpose. Do not open links from strang ers. If you receive an unsolicited message from a stranger that in cludes a QR code, BBB strongly recommends against scanning it. If the message promises exciting gifts or investment opportunities under the condition you ‘act now,’ be even more cautious. Scammers use this type of language consistently and rely on their targets to make im mediate decisions before taking the time to verify its authenticity. Be wary of short links. Suppose a shortened URL appears when hover ing your camera over a QR code. In that case, there is no way of know ing where it will direct you once the link is followed. Make sure you are confident that the QR code is legiti mate before following short links, as it may send you to a malicious web site. Once on the website, look at the URL and verify the domain and subdomain make sense for the orga nization that supposedly operates it. Scammers often switch around the domain and subdomains for URLs or slightly misspell one word to make websites appear legitimate. Check for tampering. Some scam mers attempt to mislead consumers by altering legitimate business ads or placing stickers on the QR code. Keep an eye out for signs of tam pering and, if discovered, have the business check that the posted QR code is genuine. Most businesses permanently install scannable QR codes in their establishments using laminate or placing it behind glass. They will often include the busi ness’s logo in the code itself, often in the middle. To learn more about protecting your information online, read the BBB’s tips on data privacy and cy ber security. If you’ve been the victim of a QR scam, report it at BBB.org/ScamTrack er. Information provided may prevent another person from falling victim.
-- MBTA overtime on the fast track; $199,000 top OT earner with others closing
Targeted: Boston Children’s Hospital harassment campaign
-- Still a no: Diehl declines another debate invitation GOP gubernatorial hope ful Geoff Diehl says he won’t participate in a debate sponsored by WBUR, WCVB and the Globe, marking just the latest invitation to face off against rival Chris Doughty Diehl has turned down.
Boston Children’s Hospital says it has been deluged with calls, emails and even death threats in recent days, appar ently sparked by misinformation spreading online about the facili ty’s transgender surgery services. WBUR’s Martha Bebinger re ports the harassment campaign appears to be spreading to other hospitals that perform similar procedures as well.
continued from front page Window continued from page 4 bickering and chicanery dominating Washing ton DC. Seasoned observers comment that “it has never been this bad”. Others believe that a ‘democracy re-set’ is underway. Some candidates are promoting ideologies within their campaign strategy. Others focus on the delivery of the services that the office requires. For example, Secretary of State Wil liam Galvin promotes his effectiveness as a regulator of the financial sector and overseer of elections, while his challenger Tanisha Sul livan promotes using that office to “advance abortionSeptemberrights”.6th Election
The constitutional amendment that would create a 4% surtax on income over $1 mil lion, also known alternately as the “Fair Share Amendment” and as the “Millionaire’s Tax” is leading among likely voters in the general election, according to the new poll from The MassINC Polling Group. Results from the poll show 57% of likely voters saying they’ll vote yes for the mil lionaires’ tax, and 37% of likely voters saying they’ll vote no. Revenues from this tax would be used for public education, public colleges and universities, and for the repair and main tenance of roads, bridges, and public trans portation — subject to appropriation by the state Legislature. In the Democratic primary, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, former Boston City Coun cilor Andrea Campbell and incumbent Bill Galvin lead their respective races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
August 18, 20226 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Good start: Berkshire Flyer riders want more service to and from New York A month after the launch of a longawaited pilot program, the Berkshire Flyer weekend trains between New York City and Pittsfield continues to draw a regular crowd of riders, many of whom say they would like to see service extended to allow for lon ger weekends, Matt Martinez of the Berkshire Eagle reports.
The MBTA has spent $60 mil lion on overtime pay so far this year, with at least one worker earning twice their base salary in OT pay, the Herald’s Joe Dwi nell reports.
WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann notes that Diehl’s only faceoff with Doughty so far came on the radio program of Howie Carr.
Elected officials have jobs to do, political ideologies aside. out and fascinating political/ policy story Tuesday, announc ing she wants Boston included on the list of 10 Massachusetts communities that will form a pilot project on the steep restriction of fossil fuels in the design of new construction. There is the incon venient truth, so to speak, that 10 other places have already applied. The Herald has an AP story and the Globe has Sabrina Shankman.
The closest race is for state auditor, according to the poll. Transit advocate Chris Dempsey and State Sen. Diana DiZoglio are tied in that race with 14%. The majority of respondents (66%) were either undecided or refused to answer. Results from the poll also found that Massachu setts voters support cracking down on wage theft at jobs sites and encouraging responsible develop ment principles generally and for publicly funded projects. The poll was conducted by The MassINC Polling Group and was sponsored by the Respon sible Development Coalition. Beacon Hill Action With these elections looming, it bears noting that the recently concluded legislative session had varying degrees of success, hope and angst. The sports betting industry won a bill that will legalize wagering on professional and some col legiate contests, though betting on Massachusetts colleges and universities will not be allowed un less they are playing in a tournament like March Madness. The state’s slots parlor, casinos and racetracks would be able to obtain sports bet ting licenses subject to a $5 million application fee and each casino would be allowed to partner with two mobile betting platforms. Another seven mobile betting platform licenses would be available as well. Wagers would be taxed at a rate of 15 percent if placed in person and 20 percent if placed via a mobile platform. Tax relief remains on the agenda, but, according to House Speaker Ron Mariano, the economic development bill is “going to remain in conference until we take a deeper dive and have more time to really analyze the effects of the 62F matter that we just learned about earlier this week.” He was referring to the 1986 law that may trigger $3 billion in tax relief. He went on to say, “he said that taxpayers can count on getting their share of the state’s excess revenue under Chapter 62F”. In addressing mental health access, the bill that the Senate passed unanimously in November would mandate insurance cov erage for an annual mental health exam, similar to an annual physical. The bill that the House passed unanimously in June, ac cording to Mariano, would “complement” the Senate bill and “focus on a little bit of a different area” with the goal of “creating a complete mental health program for our citizens in the Commonwealth.” Infrastructure funding, climate policy and clean energy legislation were enacted but other legislation was left for future consideration Informal sessions are likely to continue in the House and Senate through early January, giving lawmakers the opportunity to keep moving bills. As long as there’s unanimous consent among legislators present a pared down economic development package could move through during these sessions.
The poll shows Driscoll with 15% of sup port for the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, ahead of State Rep. Tami Gouveia with 8% and State Sen. Eric Lesser with 7%. The major ity of respondents for the race (62%) were either undecided or refused to answer. In the primary for attorney general, Campbell garnered 24% in the poll, leading labor attor ney Shannon Liss-Riordan with 16% and lawyer Quentin Palfrey with 4%. Half of respondents were either undecided or refused to answer. In the race for secretary of state, the longtime incumbent holds a significant lead. Galvin is up with 43% of support, ahead of Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan with 15%.
Former aide gives Barney Frank’s career graphic novel treatment It’s been nearly a decade since Barney Frank last represented the Bay State in Congress, but thanks to a former aide-turnedcartoonist, the lawmaker’s career is being memorialized in graphic novel form. ‘Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank’ was writ ten and drawn by former aide Eric Orner and tracks Frank’s rise into the ranks of Democratic leadership, scandals and all.
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.comAugust 18, 2022 7
• $30 million to transform publicly-owned land into green, mixed-income communities
ensure a deeper impact for low, moder ate, and middle-income Bostonians. Thirty million dollars will be offered from funding sources controlled by the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing. The Neighborhood Housing Trust Fund (NHT) is contributing the remaining $20 million in revenue from commercial real estate extractions, through the Linkage program. There will be a virtual Applicant’s Conference on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 10:00 am. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent by Friday, August 26, 2022, and a final proposal by September 30, 2022, no later than 4 pm. Interested ap plicants may register for a package here.
ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TRUST FUND (NHT) The NHT Fund supports home ownership, rental, cooperative, transitional, and permanent housing developments. The NHT is funded through a project linkage fee system for commercial development projects above 100,000 square feet and sup ports homeownership, rental, coopera tive, transitional, or permanent hous ing. The fund provides financing for projects serving households earning at or below 80 percent AMI and gives preference to populations living with disabilities. Funding is awarded as gap financing, and each applicant may receive up to $1 million per project. Priority is given to projects serving the greatest number of low-income households. The program also has a preference for projects that are near transit, and include family-sized units with two or more bedrooms. Boston’s Neighborhood Housing Trust Fund is funded through a commercial project linkage payment fee system.
M ayor Michelle Wu an nounced that the City of Boston has released two Requests for Proposals (RFP), totaling $50 million for affordable housing projects. This funding is available to create and preserve rental, cooperative, and homeowner ship developments in Boston. “Safe and stable housing is criti cal for the health of our residents, families, and communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This funding will ensure significant investments go toward safe, accessible affordable housing in our neighborhoods across the city. I’m grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Neighborhood Housing Trust, and the Community Preservation Committee for their leadership and partnership with our nonprofit and for-profit community development organizations to ensure Boston is a city for everyone.” The $50 million available represents the contributions of three different City sources whose combined resources will Funding will support the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Boston
MAYOR AFFORDABLEANNOUNCESWU$50MILLIONAVAILABLEFORHOUSING
• $26 million for property acqui sitions to prevent displacement
The majority of these ARPA funds will be released through additional competitive requests for proposals, some in combination with public land disposition. Some portion of these funds may be distributed through this RFP to eligible projects.
The Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Community Preservation Committee, and the Neighborhood Housing Trust will prioritize development proposals that produce significant percentages of housing for residents who have low incomes and those that serve home less individuals, seniors, and residents with disabilities. The development projects must support the City of Boston’s goals to further fair housing, efficiently use City resources and land to increase the production and preser vation of mixed-income housing, and help preserve affordable housing in at-risk expiring use developments. “Once again, Mayor Wu is demon strating that she gets it—she is truly a mayor for everyone. We appreciate her recognition that the provision of affordable housing is critical to the City’s vibrancy—and how she is making these new resources avail able,” said Amy Schectman, Presi dent & CEO of 2Life Communities. “This commitment is fantastic! We are thrilled to support this exciting effort and hope that through this significant funding, our model for aging in community can be replicat ed to ensure older adults in Boston can live full lives of connection and purpose in the places they treasure.”
• $19 million to create new permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals with substance use and behavioral health disorders
These investments include: • $58 million for affordable hous ing production and financial support to homebuyers
“Accomplishing our vision for the Blue Hill Ave B1 parcels is highly dependent on our ability to secure funding from the Mayor’s Office of Housing,” said Dariela Villon-Maga, President and Owner, DVM Consult ing. “Without it, we would not be able to offer the level of affordability the Dorchester and Mattapan community truly needs. It allows us to create new, safe, energy-efficient homeownership and rental opportunities for those that need them the most. MOH is a critical partner to affordable housing develop ers working to combat Boston’s hous ing affordability crisis.” In addition to these City sources, the Mayor’s Office of Housing has at its disposal significant federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that can be used for affordable housing development. In July, the Boston City Council approved Mayor Wu’s precedent-setting investment in af fordable housing from ARPA funds, committing more than $205M to addressing specific housing issues.
About the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) The Mayor’s Office of Housing is responsible for housing people expe riencing homelessness, creating and preserving affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can obtain, maintain, and remain in safe, stable housing. The department develops and implements the City of Boston’s housing creation and home lessness prevention plans and collabo rates with local and national partners to find new solutions and build more affordable housing, particularly for those with lower incomes.
This year’s RFPs will also en hance the City’s long-standing focus on advancing equity in every stage of the housing creation and preser vation process. The RFPs require developers to report on how they will ensure the City of Boston’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) minority-owned businesses are represented throughout the development and property man agement process. Development teams that are certified minority-owned busi ness enterprises (MBE) and owners of 25% or more of the proposed project will receive the highest preference when award decisions are being made. Development teams where 25% or more of soft costs go to MBE consul tants that have been identified as part of the team at the time of application will also receive an advantage. Ap plicants must also provide information on how resident services offered in a multifamily development will help support the economic mobility of residents who will live in affordable housing units. All new construction projects funded in this latest round will be re quired to follow the Zero Emissions Building (ZEB) requirements out lined in the MOH Design Standards. Developers will be required to submit a preliminary Net Zero Strategy as part of the design submission. New multi-family buildings must use elec tricity and on-site photovoltaics as the sole (or primary) fuel source.
• $20 million for greening afford able housing through deep green energy retrofits of existing buildings
August 18, 20228 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
ContinuingEast
L ast week, I talked about the great wines to be had from Croatia; this week I want to continue to go further inland to look at some more wines that are increasingly proving to be delicious alternatives to wines that are already well-known. Cabernet Sauvignon, Purcari, Moldava,2021, ($18.99) will sur prise you. Full bodied, dark fruit notes, well structured. Black cherry, plum, blackberry, oak, tobacco and black pepper notes on the palate. Medium acidity, with a long finish. Try this one with any red grilled meat, pungent cheese or as a base for a Burgundy-style sauce. Chateau Vartely, Feteasca Regala ,2020, ($19.99). Château Vartely Feteasca Regală 2020 is a fresh aro matic wine with light mineral notes and pleasantly expressed acidity, with a delicate aroma of wildflow ers, elegantly combined with notes Guy of ripe apricots. Grapes are carefully harvested in vineyards in the center of Moldova, in the area of Codru. It’s very enjoyable right now, but can be laid down for the next 5-6 years and is a great compliment to Camenbert or Smoked Gouda, Pulled Pork and Burgers from the grille. Fautor Blanca Cuvee, NV, ($14.99). This one has a Yellow color with green reflections, with a dazzling aroma of citrus, green apples and meadow grass, giv ing it a balanced and fruity taste. Its Yellow color with green reflec tions, with a dazzling aroma of cit rus, green apples, meadow grass, balanced and fruity taste. Its yellow color with green reflec tions, along with dazzling aromas of citrus, green apples and meadow grass give it a balanced and fruity taste. As you might guess, this wine is versatile- have it with Summer salads, any white meat dish, espe cially from the grill and your favor ite pasta dishes, too! Asconi, Sol Negru Traminer,2020, ($10.99). This wine, like its German cousins, is aromatic with notes of roses, jasmine, and dried herbs. It’s dry on the palate, exhibiting good minerality and fin ishes with a satisfying, moderate length. Locals love this one with light salads, as well as pork and seafood dishes. As we can actually go outside and not faint, I thought I’d finish with another sparkler, maybe in celebra tion of that! Located at the foot of the Carpathian mountains in West ern Romania, you’ll find one of the region’s most advanced winery and vineyards, making huge inroads in wine production, Cramele (Winery) Recas. Documents suggest the win ery was already in existence with a receipt for the purchase of land dated to 1447! My friend and fellow writer, Peter Dean, was there recent ly and gave me a few of his favorite picks, one of which is Sanziana Pinot Grigio Rosé 2019, ($9.50). A Rosé made from Pinot Grigio –light pink, red berries and meadow flowers on the nose, the palate has ripe, red fruit but there is an interest ing balance here between the full flavors and a dry, sandpaper texture that lends it a bit more seriousness. With a surprisingly long finish for a Rosé and a little sherbet lift on the tailend. This is one of eight Pinot Grigio rosés that Cramele produces under different exclusive labels.
WineThe
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Based on what has been hap pening in America lately, it clearly appears that our laws have been trampled upon, their true purpose violated, by those ostensibly hell bent on not defending the rule of law, but of destroying Democracy. And any political opposition which stands in their way. by Kevin Devlin at Moakley Park. Life changes, however, after one of the friends overdoses on a drug. They all make a pact that none of them will follow him to the grave. They also find out that talk is cheap and one by one, the scourge that has infected an entire community and killed their friend also breaks their pact. It is hard hitting, but it all happened.
August 18, 202210 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
If the search was constitutional, why wouldn’t Garland release the affidavit, showing it was indeed con stitutional, thereby alleviating the fears and mistrust millions of people have towards the government and their duplicitous undertakings?
“T he government doesn’t lie to us,” said a news commentator on TV last week. I couldn’t believe he said it with a straight face. I’d like to meet this man and sell him those thou sands of acres I own in New Mexi co. After all, I wouldn’t lie to him. Which brings me to the disturbing, I t’s funny. Kevin Devlin, who wrote “The Southie Pact,” and I have been friends for a long time. We went to High School together. We played basketball at Southie High together. We went to Boston State College together. We both wrote columns for South Bos ton newspapers. Now, we have both written books. I finished Kevin’s book recently, and it was enlight ening, alarming, at times too real, but it had to be written, and it had to be written by someone who was there and who knew the behind-thescenes stories. “The Southie Pact” is about a group of close friends, complete with Southie nicknames, who grew up playing hockey at the Murphy Rink, getting their coffees at the Java House and their meals at a small Italian restaurant on L Street. They work out together at the L and play Little League together I Was Just Thinking…
Garland declares his actions are in accordance with the rule of law. That nobody is above the law. That the DOJ and FBI are just do ing their job. Then he should prove it. Transparency is needed. The DOJ and the FBI are sup posed to work for, and not against Americans, which includes Trump whom they detest with a passion perhaps never witnessed in Ameri can politics.
The law, “by no means confines itself to its proper functions,” wrote French writer, Frederic Bastiat. “And when it has exceeded its proper functions, it has not done so merely in some inconsequential and debatable matters.” He further wrote that when this happens, the law has been used, “… in direct opposition to its own purpose” and that “the law has been used to destroy its own objective: It has been applied to annihilating the justice that it was supposed to maintain; to limiting and destroying rights which its real purpose was to respect. The law has placed the collective force at the disposal of the unscrupulous who wish, without risk, to exploit the person, liberty, and property of others. It has con verted plunder into a right, in order to protect plunder. And it has con verted lawful defense into a crime, in order to punish lawful defense.”
divisive issue being talked about throughout the country, that being the raid of former President Trump’s house at Mar-a-Lago. Was it a constitutional search? Or was it an unwarranted, un constitutional fishing expedition by the Democrats to see if they could dig up any dirt for the Janu ary 6th Committee? As of this writing, Attorney Gen eral Merrick Garland has refused to release the affidavit-the basis for the raid given to the court-so it can be determined if the raid was unconsti tutional or above board. The Trump team has also asked for the attorneyclient material seized in the raid to be returned or for a special master to be chosen to read through this material and protect the privileged material. “When Merrick Garland was nominated, many of us thought he was an excellent choice. He had im peccable ethics and a reputation and integrity, “stated legal scholar, Jona than Turley. It was hoped he’d be “…that moderating force” yet “… every time he’s faced these political controversies, he’s really failed to act,” and “…failed to recognize the concerns of millions of citizens.”
“The Southie Pact” A Review by Brian P. Wallace
The ODs, the cluster suicides, the broken dreams, the broken families, the shattered community that had no idea what to do or who to turn to for help. It seems like overnight a once thriving, close knit com munity, is burying their children at a prodigious rate. Friends turn on friends as they escalate from percs to OCs to heroin. What allows one former user to break free from the poison while his, or her, best friend is being waked at O’Brien’s? That is the overriding question, and only someone like Kevin could even ask the question in a caring manner, which walks the line between so manyUnlikeissues.allthe Southie gangster books which glamorize their kind of life, this book does no such thing. This book hits home. It is well written and suspenseful all in one. There is a nice twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming. Kevin’s characters are people we all know. His use of Southie landmarks like the Sugar Bowl, the Heights, the churches, M Street Park, and much more give the book a realistic feel, especially if you are from Southie. He also accurately describes the changing face of South Boston, due to overdevelopment and gentrifica tion, which creates friction in the town. It is on point and totally up to date. I congratulate my friend on a solid book that had to be writ ten and is written by a person who cares, who has written about it and has seen many of the kids he wrote about lost to the street. It is available on Amazon and is a must read. This is a work of fiction based on fact. (This article first appeared in South Boston Today on January 25, 2018 - “The Southie Pact” written by Kevin Devlin can be purchased on Amazon)
This week, Danny discussed some of the top stories from Patriots training camp: F ootball is in the air. Training camps are in full swing, and preseason games have begun. Here in New England, all eyes are on the Patriots as they take another step in re-charging the bat tery of the organization since Tom Brady’s departure. And now, not only Brady’s departure, but also Josh McDaniels’ departure. McDaniels is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. In his absence, Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn’t just trying to help Mac Jones make the crucially important leap from year one to year two in his NFL career. He’s also looking to see who’ll be the best offensive play caller in New England this season. The Patriots have nobody working under the official title of “offensive coordinator” at the moment. They do, however, have multiple guys who are said to be managing that role. Those guys are Matt Patricia, Joe Judge, and, yes, Belichick. On the team’s website, Patricia is listed as “Senior Football Advisor/ Offensive Line.” Judge is listed as “Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks.” It’s somewhat odd because Patricia was previously the Patri ots’ defensive coordinator, while Judge was previously the Patriots’ special teams coach. Both Patri cia and Judge left New England to become head coaches, but then returned to the Patriots when head coaching didn’t work out for them. And Belichick, well, he’s obviously a defensive-minded coach at his core. So what does that mean for Jones, who enters his second NFL season? I like Jones. I’m glad the Patri ots drafted him. But do I like him enough to expect him to lead the Patriots back to a division title this season? I’m not so sure about that. Let’s see what Vegas thinks. Entering Week 2 of the Pre season, the Buffalo Bills are not only the favorite to win the AFC East, but they’re also the favorite to win the Super Bowl LVIII, at +600. The Patriots are No. 21 on that list of Super Bowl odds, com ing in at +4200 to win it all. The Miami Dolphins are four spots ahead of them, at +3800 to win the Super Bowl. So, let’s put aside the Super Bowl for a minute. And let’s just talk about getting back to the playoffs. Last year, the Patriots finished in second place in the division at 10-7, just a game behind the 11-6 Bills. The Pats were the No. 6 seed in the AFC, and had to go to Buffalo for their Wild Card playoff game. And that was a bloodbath. The No. 3 seed Bills whooped the Pats, 47-17, and then went on to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. So, is Jones good for 10 wins again? How about 11? I think he is. By looking at their schedule, I think it’s more likely than not that the Patriots end up somewhere in the 9-win to 10-win range. But regardless of who’s calling the plays and what the odds are, all eyes are on Jones’ second-year leap in the NFL. I wish I knew what to expect. But I don’t. —One player Jones won’t have with him in the Patriots’ offense in 2022 is running back James White. White has retired from foot ball, and will be a huge loss for an organization that relied on his pass-catching abilities out of the backfield way more than anyone gives him credit for. And he gets a lot of credit. He just doesn’t getOutenough.ofallthe reliable guys that Brady had played with during his 20-year Patriots career, I’d say White was Top-3. Yes, that’s a bold claim, but I’m just telling you how I feel. The only other offensive play er who was more reliable than White during the Brady era, in my opinion, was Julian Edel man. Throw Rob Gronkowski into that Top-3 as well, and you have the three players who I felt most confident in when it came time for Brady to move theAndchains.even though White’s career seemed to go by in the blink of an eye, his presence was undeniable. It wasn’t flashy, but it was qui etly ruthless against any defense that felt as if they were about to slow down Brady and the Patriots’ offense. Oh, what’s that? A little dump off to White for an eightyard gain and a first down? Everyone knew it was coming, and they still couldn’t stop it. Not even when the Super Bowl was on theWhiteline. will go down as a Patriots legend. And in my book, he’s one of the most important players of the Brady era. Follow Danny on Instagram @ DannyPicard.
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WHAT TO WATCHTweet of the Week
NFL FRIDAY, AUG. 19 Preseason Week 2 Carolina at New England 7 P.M. NFLN MLB THURSDAY, AUG. 18 Boston at Pittsburgh 7:05 P.M. NESN FRIDAY, AUG. 19 Boston at Baltimore 7:05 P.M. SATURDAY,NESNAUG. 20 Boston at Baltimore 4:05 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, AUG. 21 Baltimore at Boston 7:10 P.M. TUESDAY,ESPNAUG. 23 Toronto at Boston 7:10 P.M. WEDNESDAY,NESNAUG. 24 Toronto at Boston 7:10 P.M. NESN a high level, and Diana was there every step of the way. “Thank you to Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and the entire Patriots organization for giving me the op portunity to live out my childhood dream. To be able to play my entire career for one franchise, in front of the best fans in the NFL, has been a tremendous blessing and honor. To my teammates, thank you for push ing me to be a better person and player. I truly value and appreciate the lifelong relationships I’ve built along the way. It’s these relation ships that have helped shape me to be the man that I am.
years. Our fans will remain eter nally grateful for his record-setting performance in Super Bowl LI when he helped the Patriots over come a 28-3 deficit by scoring 20 points, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime. “As great of a player as James has been for us, he’s an even better person,” added Kraft. “He is a man of great character and integrity and earned everyone’s respect through his work ethic, professionalism and positive daily demeanor. James became a part of the Patriots’ fam ily while in New England and while his presence in our locker room will be missed, we are happy for James and his family as they embark on a new adventure. As a three-time Super Bowl Champion, we look forward to celebrating his career contributions for years to come.”
“To my loving parents who have done everything possible to help me achieve my goals as a player and a person, thank you for your unyielding love and support,” added White. “You took the time in taking me to camps and workouts to assure I was in the best possible position to achieve my dreams. I am forever grateful. Most impor tantly, thank you for pushing me to be the man that I am today. I hope I have made you both proud. “To say that Foxboro will always hold a special place in my heart is an understatement. It’s been the most significant chapter of my adulthood; my kids were born here; it’s the place we know the best as adults and where I have grown and created my family. Thank you to every coach, friend, family member who have watched and supported me throughout my career, it did not goOnunnoticed.”instagram, Tom Brady called White’s career, “perfect.” “Teammate, champion, foot ball player through and through. Congrats on the perfect career @ sweetfeet,” said Brady. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft also had ex tremely high praise for White. “James defines the term consum mate professional,” said Belichick in a statement. “His dependabil ity, consistency, unselfishness and performance under pressure are elite. Combining great intel ligence, quickness and elusiveness, James was a perfect fit for our pass offense. While soft spoken, he brought exceptional leadership and competitive toughness to the team. He was a multi-year team captain and one of the most respected, best team players I have ever coached.” “James White has always been one of the most reliable and de pendable players on the field,” said Kraft in a statement. “He’s a soft-spoken leader who has led by example and was the best at what he did, leading all NFL running backs in receptions and receiving touchdowns over the past seven
August 18, 202212 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com SPORTS TODAY
RETIREMENTANNOUNCESFEET’‘SWEETWHITE
The pass-catching running back finishes his eight-year career with 25 touchdown receptions and 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, but no Super Bowl moment more notable than his game-winning two-yard touchdown run in over time of Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons. White was drafted by the Patri ots out of Wisconsin in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. “It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of New England as a Pa triot,” said White in a statement. “Reflecting on my nine years in the NFL, and all the sacrifices it took to get here, there are many people that were just as much part of this journey. Thank you to my wife and kids for sacrificing my time with them to allow me to play football. My wife, Diana, especially. People do not fully appreciate the sacri fices that our significant others and families have to make to allow us to do everything to perform at such SBT Staff
N ew England Patriots run ning back James White has announced his retire ment from football. White, 30, began this year’s training camp on the PUP list with a hip injury. He played in just three games last season.
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