South Boston Today February 2 2023

Councilor Erin Murphy Is Doing What Needs To Be Done

As a South Boston Newspaper with writers having long established roots in this community, not having very much trust and confidence in those who, over the years have been in charge of running the Boston Public School System (BPS), it probably won’t come as too much of a shock to many. And to be blunt, the leadership of the Boston Teacher’s Union (BTU), has never impressed us much either. These views do not reflect our feelings towards the rank and file of either institution, but for the most part, it refers just the leadership. And it has long been the opinion of many parents of BPS students over the years that information

about any serious problems that take place inside the buildings is often swept under the rug. According to reports, the BPS has been accused of a multitude of cover-ups and lies as they try to hide from the public incidents of violence, including sexual attacks. Let’s be clear, if the motto of some who are in charge is ‘what happens in the schools, stays in the schools’, then those who might be working to enforce such a policy need to be fired.

Having stated how we feel on the issue, it was a refreshing breath of fresh air when Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy recently came out publically with what she says is data, that in the 2021/2022 School year there were 744

reported sexual assaults that took place within the system.

Of course, the sheer size of the number of these sexual assaults isn’t the refreshing news – that news is a disgrace. It’s the fact that someone in a position of authority had the courage to expose it.

Councilor Murphy, who herself is a former Boston Public Schools teacher has come under attack for bringing this information to the attention of the public. As was stated in a story that appeared in last week’s issue of South Boston Today, her name is being dragged through the mud because of her statements. As expected, the BPS is disputing Councilor Murphy’s numbers. So, the

question is – who to believe?

Given the reputation the BPS has had over the years for its alleged cover ups about what goes on inside the school buildings and the reputation Murphy has earned as a straight shooter and telling it like it is, we believe the choice is what’s so often called a ‘no brainer’.

Councilor Erin Murphy has been an advocate for putting police inside those school buildings and she’s not alone. She is joined by three other councilors who are in support as well. Even if the 744 number Murphy has reported were much smaller, it has become clear that a law enforcement presence is a must in the schools. The students have

every right to go to school in a safe environment. And their parents have every right to demand that their children be protected while at school. Instead of being attacked for her courage in exposing a serious situation and her hard work in attempting to rectify it, she should be praised for her efforts. She certainly deserves it.

February 16, 2023, 6:00 pm. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. This group will be held in conjunction with our sister community, Standish Village. Call 617-268-5450 or email Program Director Dean Tricarico at dtricarico@compassonthebay.com for more information and to register for the virtual meeting.

This is a virtual event sponsored by Compass on the Bay Assisted Living and Memory Support Community, 1380 Columbia Road, South Boston.

Have So Called Conspiracy Theorists Been Proven Right?

Recently, maybe even a lot more than usual, we are finally getting to see the problems the liberal news media is having just trying to stay relevant; even alive. It’s shedding viewers and readers like snakes shedding their skins – (my analogy is intentional). Of course, the country has been watching the disintegration of CNN for a couple of years now. But as it shuts down their offices in California, in Atlanta, Georgia and other locations and moving into much smaller, less plush and expensive locations, they are also laying off and even permanently firing much of the staff, including their socalled reporters and anchors.

Last week, CNN announced that, in an effort to try to boost its dismal numbers, they would be bringing in comedians to do broadcasts ,one of which is Bill Maher. As most Americans now look upon that network as a joke, comedians would seem to be a good fit for them. But it’s doubtful that at this point, anything can save them. I mean, the cooking channel probably has more viewers.

But in fairness, CNN is far from being alone in its demise. Many other media forums of the leftist/liberal persuasion are being forced to do the same. And as the number of people paying attention to them and taking them seriously rapidly declines, the number of businesses that support and advertize with them shrinks as well. Businesses know what’s good for their bottom line, and if people are deserting these media outlets in such huge numbers, they apparently are thinking - why waste their money if no one is seeing their ads.

Even some social media giants are finding themselves in situations where massive layoffs are needed. Google is said to be planning layoffs as well as Facebook and others. The answers to why this is happening is pretty simple. These liberal media companies not only cannot be trusted to tell the truth

and report news accurately, but they are censoring and suppressing real news in order to push their political agendas in an attempt to force their views down the throats of the American public. If you disagree with them or even have the audacity to express different opinions, they try to cancel you. And that’s exactly what was attempted just last week with the attack on NEWSMAX TV, only the latest non liberal dominated news outlet to be targeted. Most of our readers know about NEWSMAX, It’s the fastest growing cable news network in the nation. In what seems to me almost no time at all, it is in tens of millions of homes and its numbers continue to climb by the day.

NEWSMAX leans conservative, but also gives the other side a voice and presents the news accurately. What a novel idea and how refreshing. And that’s why AT&T and its affiliate DIRECT TV dropped it and have decided to no longer carry it. They consider NEWSMAX to be a threat for two reasons: The growing influence and reach of NEWSMAX is a threat to the old established liberal media and it’s attracting a ton of advertisers AND, it presents the news of the nation and the world accurately and that accuracy and honesty is in direct conflict with the biased, slanted BS being put out by the media on the left. The public wants real news, not fake news, with truth being important. The AT&T and Direct TV cabal dropped ‘One America News’ (OAN) last year for the same reasons. But they made a huge misstate and underestimated the massive backlash that has resulted.

Already, it’s being reported that tens of thousands of AT&T/Direct TV subscribers are cancelling subscriptions during last week alone, because of what many consider blatant censorship of Conservative views. And it looks like this is just the beginning. The boycott is gathering steam by the day. Some might say that AT&T/Direct TV have

the right to carry or not carry other news outlets if they choose and maybe that’s true. We’ll find out soon enough when the courts step in to make a ruling. But whether it’s true or not, the public definitely has the right to subscribe or not subscribe to those companies that censor. Of that there is NO doubt.

While big media censorship is a terrible thing, as they try to manipulate the thinking of the American people instead of reporting accurately and truthfully, it does seem to have one upside. It has helped to bring increased awareness to the public about just what’s been going on in this country. It has shed an even brighter light on the coordinated

effort by the liberal left, including the media, the leftist politicians and even the medical industry and Hollywood to tear down the cherished traditions of Americans and remake the country into a Socialist state where the government controls everything as it chips away at our liberties and freedoms. Now of course, some would call these accusations a ‘conspiracy theory’. But after seeing what’s been taking place, especially during these last 2 years, most people have finally come to realize that calling someone a ‘conspiracy theorist’ is just an attempt to discredit people who can see through all the BS they’ve been fed.

John Ciccone

Wait, and See?

Maura Healey is starting to get a bit of a “Gov. Wait and See” rap in certain quarters of the State House, as she tells reporters (aka “certain quarters”) that issues like the T and tax credits and the housing crisis deserve a strong response, and that response is coming soon. There’s a feeling that with an election that was a foregone conclusion, and a transition that was fairly lengthy, we should be seeing more specifics by now. Yesterday on WGBH, Healey said her package of new tax credits, for child care and other purposes, will be, in fact, coming soon.

Today brings a formal session in the House, the first of the year, at which the major business is adopted of rules for the 2023-24 session; highlight there is expected to be the end of the rule allowing remote voting on House roll calls, a pandemic contrivance. It’s likely to result in more activity in the frequently-quiet State House, though formals and roll calls are arguably too few and far between.

Expect the House to seat Kristin Kassner, who incumbent Len Mirra by a single vote after a recount. The building will also be keeping its eye

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.

on the Senate Democratic caucus across the hall. And of course tongues will be wagging, most Republican legislators will be applauding, and pundits will be assessing the meaning of Jim Lyon’s ejection at long last as state GOP chair after the party careened disastrously to the right in the last election cycle.

Sports Betting opens

After years of anticipation, the commencement of sports betting in Massachusetts proceeded — well, eventfully, because the casinos and public officials made an event of it all, but apparently without difficulties or snafus.

Still closed: Despite injunction, Woburn teacher strike reaches third day

Schools in Woburn are closed again after another day of negotiations failed to produce an agreement between the district and striking teachers. Talks will resume today, according to Max Larkin of WBUR, who also explores what impact the walkout could have on a push by the Mass. Teachers Association to get lawmakers to restore the legal right

of public teachers unions to strike. No tax credits for you, not now anyway

Alison Kunitz of MassLive reviews Gov. Healy’s past comments on the tax credit question, and her appearance yesterday “Boston Public Radio,” when she said she’s still studying the options. House Speaker Ron Mariano sounded a similar strain, saying he wants to see how inflation and the economy perform. The News Service’s Chris Lisinski runs down the issues still being mulled, and the governor’s time with Jim and Margery.

Healey promises to be pretty transparent, but won’t file openrecords legislation

Gov. Healey told Jim Braude and Margery Eagan yesterday she will comply with the state’s openrecords law, from which the governor is exempt, except when she deems it appropriate not to. She said she won’t file legislation ending the executive exemption.

Party-line vote recommends seating Kassner

Today marks the last day that Rep. Lenny Mirra’s Wikipedia page can refer to him as a rep in the present tense, after a special House committee voted on party lines to give the seat to Kristin Kassner, who lost by 11 votes in the initial count, but won by a single vote in the recount. Observers are still wondering why Mirra didn’t dispute the election before it was certified Dec. 8.

Wu files the home-rule petition needed to reinvent the BPDA

It was a lynchpin of her State of the City Speech and it’s central to her strategy to change how Boston does housing - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu filed the home-rule petition with the City Council to dissolve the two entities making up the Boston Planning and Development Agency, and replace them with a single department with the same name but a new mission. “This home rule petition will formally end the decades-old urban renewal mission of eradicating so-called ‘blight and decay,’ and rededicate our resources toward Boston’s urgent needs: resiliency, continued on page 5

Ed Flynn Partners With U.S. Census Bureau to promote Economic Census

City Council President Ed Flynn is proud to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to promote the 2022 Economic Census in the City of Boston. The Economic Census collects important data on the country’s businesses once every five years to provide a comprehensive look at the U.S. economy on a national, state, and local level. Data from the Economic Census provides the foundation for key measures of economic performance such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Producer Price Index (PPI), which

is used by all levels of government, including the City of Boston, to make informed budgetary and economic decisions.

Although the Economic Census is being conducted in 2023, the data collected will be based on 2022. The Economic Census will survey over 4 million businesses from 19 economic sectors that comprise 950 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries nationally. Mailing of the Economic Census will start Tuesday, January 31, 2023, with responses due by Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

“I look forward to partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to promote the 2022 Economic Census. We have many leading industries, along with small and mid-sized businesses, right here in Boston which help drive both our city and region’s overall economy. This is an important survey to fill out so that we can have the data to accurately assess the economic health of our city and how we fare regionally and nationally,” said Council President Flynn. “It is important that we work closely with the U.S. Census Bureau to promote the Economic Census amongst our business communities to maximize response rates. I encourage our business communities, both large

Boston Water and Sewer Commission Selected as Biden-Harris “Get the Lead Out” Inaugural Partner

Boston Water and Sewer Commission has been chosen to participate in the Biden-Harris administration’s “Get the Lead Out” Partnership, comprised of over 100 state and local officials, water utilities, labor unions, and other organizations committed to advance and accelerate lead pipe funding and replacement. Boston Water and Sewer Commission recently was an invitee to and participant in the White House Summit on Accelerating Lead Pipe Replacement hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, during which the Biden-Harris administration announced new actions and progress to deliver clean drinking water, replace lead pipes, and remediate lead paint.

BWSC Chief Engineer John P. Sullivan, P.E., was honored to represent the agency at the summit and participate in the Partnership’s launch.

“BWSC looks forward to joining this collaboration, which will be essential in creating new innovative practices and approaches and wider awareness throughout the country to effectuate the elimination of lead service lines in older properties,” said Sullivan.

BWSC also will contribute its own significant expertise and experience removing lead service pipes to the Partnership’s collaborative efforts, as over the past three decades the agency has been a national leader in successfully removing lead pipes.

“As a result of the hard work of the men and women of BWSC who work tirelessly to prioritize lead pipe removal, in 2022 BWSC replaced over 300 lead service lines in Boston,” said BWSC Executive Director Henry F. Vitale.

The Get Out the Lead Partnership will further incentivize BWSC to remove Boston’s remaining lead service pipes, whose locations are largely identified but whose removal requires knowledge and cooperation on the part of their property owners. Executive Director Vitale said that, during this initiative, the Commission will:

• Increase its public awareness campaign through targeted outreach and inspections to property owners where the service pipe material is unknown;

• Increase efforts publicizing BWSC’s Private Lead Incentive Replacement Program which provides owners with up to $4,000.00 towards the cost of removal of the private lead service lines; and

• Advise all consumers of the dangers of lead in drinking water and inform them of steps to take to avoid lead exposure.

At the source of supply, Boston’s drinking

and small, to partake in the Economic Census.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@ Boston.gov.

water, which is provided by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), is lead-free when it leaves the reservoirs. Neither MWRA’s, nor the Boston Water and Sewer Commission’s water distribution mains contain lead. Replacement of lead service lines is an important public health issue because lead can enter the drinking water when the water remains unused for long periods of time and water service pipes and household plumbing containing lead dissolve into the water. Excessive amounts of lead in the body can cause serious adverse health effects including damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to infants and young children, whose physical growth and mental development can be impaired by lead contamination. Also vulnerable are pregnant women, whose fetuses can be harmed by lead.

For more information about lead in drinking water and to find out how to test tap water for lead, Boston residents may contact the Commission at the Lead Hotline at (617) 989- 7888. Customers may also visit the Commission’s website at bwsc.org with any questions and obtain free brochures about lead in drinking water.

For more information about the Get the Lead Our Partnership, click below:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/ statements-releases/2023/01/27/fact-sheetbiden-harris-administration-announces-newactions-and-progress-to-protect-communitiesfrom-lead-pipes-and-paint/

Window continued from page 4 affordability, and equity,” the mayor told the Council in her filing.

Mayor defends The Embrace at mayors’ conference.

The Globe reports that Wu spent part

of her time at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors defending “The Embrace,” the Boston Common sculptural tribute

to Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, which has generated some criticism and snickers since its unveiling.

I Was Just Thinking…

to his untimely death) shocked the nation. My wife and I watched in disbelief, as this young man, only twenty-nine years old, pleaded for the officers to stop hitting and kicking him.

These Memphis police officers had Nichols on the ground, and he appeared defenseless, but they continued to hit and kick him. You mean to tell me those five officers on scene, who were bigger and stronger looking than Nichols, couldn’t subdue and handcuff him without beating him unmercifully.

stop guys, what are we doing? This isn’t right.”

I think those are some of the questions that millions upon millions of Americans asked themselves after reflecting on what they saw transpire on those videos. Yet we haven’t come up with the answers because we don’t know what went on inside the minds of those five police officers.

What transpired, and took over their sense of reason, nullified their Humanity, allowing them to act in such a savage, ruthless manner?

women look at what is going on today and say, no way am I going to become a police officer. They feel that nobody respects the police, so why do that? They think it’s too dangerous and indeed it has become more dangerous than ever before.

During the last five years, hundreds and hundreds of police officers throughout the nation have turned in their gun and badge and opted for a safer profession. Or they retired, got out of Dodge. And who could blame them.

But we need police officers.

by Kevin Devlin

Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”

(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

The recently released videos showing five Memphis police officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols (which ultimately led

We heard him say, “Mom, Mom” several times, calling out to his mother, hoping, pleading that somehow, she could help, could save him from this horrifying situation. But this didn’t deter these officers from continuing this vicious physical onslaught. They were somehow immune to his cries of mercy.

What motivated these officers to act in such a manner?

Why did they do this?

Why didn’t at least one of them pause and say, “Wait a minute,

Vision/Actual Need continued from front page a City Council, which seems to think that they know how to run the City better than she. To get through a home rule petition approval for her proposals - rent control/ stabilization and/or modifying the BPDA –there will be those on the one hand, opposing it, but more problematic, others who will try to extract unreasonable political commitments, given that these proposals are so important to her political agenda, short and long term.

Even with their support, given that state of affairs nationally, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, US Representative Ayanna Pressley and others, do not have real impact on State Legislators who have to deal with near-to-home constituents. Folks in the suburban communities, if organized, can thwart macro housing initiatives, if they feel it may affect their quality of life.

The stakes are high, and the political capital needed to be spent is equally as high.

During her State of the City address recently, Mayor Wu noted that she aims to “sustainably” increase the population of Boston from its current number of 675,000 to 800,000. Affordable housing also figured in her goals. Wu said that more than 3,800 housing units were permitted, in -

A cardinal rule in good policing is to de-escalate, not escalate a situation, which it seems these officers did, because they certainly didn’t show any restraint whatsoever during this horrific scene. Nor did they show remorse. Or mercy.

Good people become good police officers to help others. They believe in law and order. They want to protect and serve. They don’t want to abuse, bully or beat senseless those they are duty bound to protect from harm.

Many of our young men and

cluding 1,300 affordable units. Wu said, “every square foot of city-owned property” has been analyzed “and we have identified several parcels that could be used for affordable housing units.” If “local builders work with us to design high-quality, affordable homes that enhance the surrounding neighborhood, we will give you the land for free. And we will provide increased mortgage assistance so our residents can afford to buy these homes,” said the mayor.

While her vision is laudable, her Inspectional Services Department (ISD) can’t keep up with her goal, let alone the actual demand and obvious need. To do so, ISD needs many, many more staff.

On another initiative, Wu set a goal of 2030 to have the city’s public housing developments become fossil fuel-free. “Our neighborhoods must be climate resilient and community focused. This year we will launch a civic space master plan,” said the mayor. The current Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) managed by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for years has been weatherizing, retrofitting and replacing anything energy inefficient in public housing, and the City needs to coordinate with that ongoing and successful program.

The elephant in the agenda is her rent con -

Innocent, law-abiding citizens need and want the police to show up at their doorsteps, or on the corner, in a store, on the street, in a train station, wherever, whenever, to help them when they are in danger. That is what keeps a civilized society together, that being law and order, not violence or chaos.

We must hire and train those who would not abuse their power.

And those unfit or unable to uphold lawful duties should be fired or not hired in the first place.

trol/stabilization agenda item. The yet to be filed rent-control bill will come as a home-rule petition, starting first with the Boston City Council. That bill then would head up to Beacon Hill, requiring approval by the Legislature and the Governor’s signature. Pieces of the mayor’s vision began to leak out over the last week or so, and she’s expected to file something in the near future on the topic she ran heavily on in her mayoral campaign.

It’s one thing to campaign on and promote on one’s ideological vision, but getting others, whose support you need to implement that vision, means you must persuade a majority to share that vision. The challenge is that, in this case, in the arena of politics, political ideology must be rooted in both the economic reality of supply and demand, as well as appreciation for the mobility of money.

Mayor Wu’s agenda, as publicly revealed in her state of the city remarks, is ambitious in its expansiveness. However, a cursory analysis suggests that there is an inherent dichotomy between and among her initiatives. She will likely be confronted with this reality as her proposals advance through the process. It will be interesting to see how she moves them forward.

MAYOR WU SUBMITS HOME RULE PETITION TO END URBAN RENEWAL

Proposal will protect ability to preserve affordable housing and implement future climate resilience measures, modernize BPDA charter

Mayor Michelle Wu today submitted to the City Council a proposed Home Rule Petition to end Urban Renewal in Boston. If approved by the City Council, the Home Rule Petition would be sent to the State House for approval by the Massachusetts legislature. The proposed legislation would create new tools to meet future needs such as climate change resilience infrastructure, and retain the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) ability to enforce restrictions that protect community assets, such as affordable housing and open space. The proposal will also update the statutory mission of the BPDA by establishing a new charter for advancing resilience, affordability, and equity. Mayor Wu today also submitted an order to the City Council requesting a two-year extension of remaining

Urban Renewal plans to allow time for legislative approval of the Home Rule Petition.

Urban Renewal

The proposed Act would end the ability to make land takings based on blighted, decadent, or substandard conditions in the City. It also entitles the agency to enforce any conditions and restrictions in existing plans that protect important community benefits such as affordable housing, open space, and community uses.

New Charter

The legislation directs the BPDA to prepare and implement plans that address three key planning principles: 1) resiliency, including climate change mitigation and adaptation; 2) affordability, including the creation and retention of affordable housing and support for local businesses; and

3) equity, in the form of community

development plans that ensure the equitable distribution of benefits derived from development in the City, and redress historical inequitable policies that may have led to inequities in the City’s growth. The legislation would require that all plans be approved by the mayor.

Modernizing the BPDA

Since 2016, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) has been the operating name of two legal entities: the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) of Boston. This legislation will simplify Boston’s quasi-governmental entity by abolishing the BRA and EDIC and transferring the powers and duties of those entities into a new, singular entity named the BPDA. As Mayor Wu announced in her 2023 State of the City address, the quasi-govern-

mental entity, which will be named the the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) legally upon passage of this legislation, is envisioned to be staffed by City employees who work for a City Planning & Design Department and report to the Chief of Planning. The migration of current BPDA staff to this new City department will take place over the next 1 to 2 years.

Temporary Urban Renewal Extension

The Order submitted today, which requires approval of the City Council, the BPDA Board, and the Comcontinued on page 8

BOSTON ANNOUNCES RETURN OF FREE TAX SERVICES FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS

Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) will again offer free tax preparation services to Boston residents earning $60,000 or less a year. The BTHC and its community partners are providing tax services remotely and in-person at over 30 neighborhood tax sites. Residents can file safely while maximizing their refunds and credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit. Tax preparation assistance is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Cantonese. The schedule can be found by visiting bostontaxhelp.org or calling 3-1-1.

“Boston residents can save hundreds of dollars per household through the Boston Tax Help Coalition’s free tax preparation,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These free, multilingual tax assistance services are available across thirty locations and remotely serve as a valuable resource that supports thousands of Boston residents in maximizing their refunds safely. I encourage every qualified Boston resident to take advantage of this model program.”

Part of the Center for Working Families, a department in the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, the Boston Tax Help Coalition has served approximately 193,000 households and returned over $348 million dollars in tax credits and refunds since

its creation. The program allows residents to keep more of their earned income and maximizes the impact of their tax credits by eliminating tax preparation fees. Tax preparers assess filers’ eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a credit for low- and middle-income workers, and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Both credits greatly reduce poverty for working families by providing a financial boost. As of December 2022, 31 million eligible workers and families have received an estimated $64 billion in EITC with an average return of $2,043 nationwide.

“All qualified Bostonians should take advantage of the Boston Tax Help Coalition’s free tax preparation in order to maximize their refund and

receive the tax credits due to them,” said Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Worker Empowerment. “The Coalition’s partners and volunteers are IRS-trained and are providing a valuable service to our residents at locations conveniently located in Boston neighborhoods.

continued on page 8

Guy The Wine Spanish Reds

When you think about Spain, lots of images may come to mind. Bullfights, women and girls wearing the traditional Mantillas and sporting elaborate fans, many of them generations old. The country, which occupies the larger part of the Iberian Peninsula, is also one of the largest wine-producing countries in the world. Red wines made from Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes are some of the best value/quality combinations you’ll find anywhere. The following definitely fit that description...

T Toro Tempranillo, Toro, Spain, ($11.99) is a great example of complexity and layers of flavor for a very reasonable price. Dark fruit and ripe tannins shape this amazing value made from 100% Tempranillo. The nose and palate display blackberry and plum framed with a hint of soft spice which ends in a long

Wu continued from page 7

finish. Try this one with any red meat, roasted or grilled, as well as Duck Confit or a dish of fresh pasta in a hearty red sauce.

La Legua Quinta Del Manco Tempranillo-Garnacha, 2020, ($15.99). James Suckling describes it as “showing aromas of spiced plums, blueberries, fresh violets, licorice, and wet earth. Medium-to full-bodied with chalky tannins. A little chewy, yet flashy and succulent, with notes of spices and chocolate to close. 90% tempranillo and 10% garnacha.”This wine from the country’s Cigalas region has a 13.5% ABV, mild compared to many others in the area; nevertheless, the nose and structure will surprise you. Try this one with an array of Tapas to bring out its best.

R. López de Heredia Viña Cubillo, Crianza Rioja, 2013, ($29.99). Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the mid palate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering a gentle tannin grip, a snap of peppery spices and a repeating floral character. If you like to lay down your wines, this one should be drinking very well through 2029.

Familia Torres Winery, Altos Ibéricos Crianza, 2017 ($13.99)

monwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development, extends protections on 12 existing Urban Renewal plan areas beyond the current sunset date of March 31, 2023. The extension will guard land use protections currently in place and give time for the Home Rule Petition to pass. Once passed, the temporary extensions will remain in place through March 31, 2025, or until

Free Tax Service continued from page 7

Congratulations to the Coalition as it enters its 22nd year!”

“Often, receiving a tax refund is people’s first step toward household budgeting and building family wealth,” said Urban Edge CEO Emilio Dorcely. “As part of the Boston Tax Help Coalition, Urban

If the dark cherry red color on this Tempranillo doesn’t reel you in, the intense aromas of raspberry and red cherry certainly will. Produced by Familia Torres Winery, which has made wine in Spain for over 150 years now, this wine is made with fruit primarily grown in the Rioja Alavesa region, known for its higher elevation and cooler temperatures. The growing site results in Tempranillo that has “heightened acidity and tons of character,” says Liz Martinez, the beverage director at Daxton Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan. “Juicy and decadent with sultry red fruit and a kiss of baking spice and pepper, this wine entices with a medium body that is pleasantly rich in flavor, and it has a nice

passage of the proposed Home Rule Petition.

Executive Order on New Direction for Planning and Development

In her 2023 State of the City last week, Mayor Wu announced a new direction for planning and development that ensures resilience, affordability and equity goals guide the City’s growth. Today, Mayor Wu also issued an Executive Order to ensure that direction. The Executive Order directs the BPDA to invest in reforming

Edge has been a trusted and reliable place where hundreds of families in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain can go for free tax preparation and filing services each year. We applaud the City of Boston and Mayor Wu for their citywide efforts in providing this vital service to Boston residents.”

“ABCD is proud to be a longstand-

lift from the acid,” Martinez says, adding that the wine is incredibly balanced. “It’s one of the best examples in its category and of incredible value.”

Luberri Biga de Luberri Rioja ,Crianza, 2017, ($12.99) For a Tempranillo that’s “juicy and fresh with a bit of sass,” Whitney Pope turns to this one by Luberri-Monje Amestoy, made in the town of Elciego within the Rioja region. This wine is dry with an exciting balance of red plum, dill, and leather flavors. A sprinkle of savory spices on the back end results in a memorably edgy finish.

Drink this right away as the second entry in Luberri’s lineup is intended to be enjoyed in its youth.

Boston’s zoning code and to prioritize community engagement in that planning work. It also directs the Chief of Planning to create a coastal resilience delivery team responsible for preparing Boston for sea level rise and directs the BPDA to use its portfolio of property to advance the City of Boston’s priorities. The Executive Order also instructs the BPDA to use its existing powers to act in accordance with the Home Rule Petition filed today.

ing partner of the Boston Tax Help Coalition and kicking off a new tax year with the Mayor and others once again,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. “Free tax preparation services fight poverty by channeling money directly back into the hands of residents and under resourced communities. People have

an opportunity, they don’t often have, to take a lump sum of their hard earned cash and pay off debts or save toward things like buying a house or furthering education. With extraordinarily high food and energy prices today, they are also able to help meet immediate needs like rent and transportation.”

Children’s Winter Fest returns to Boston Common February 22

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department present the annual Children’s Winter Festival on the Boston Common Parade Ground on Wednesday, February 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit boston. gov/winterfest for more information about this family-friendly school vacation week event.

The free festival is open to all and offers music, giveaways, winter activities, treats, and crafts. Featured attractions include large inflatable in-

stallations such as the All-Star Challenge, Everest Climb ‘N’ Slide, and a Fun House Maze. Kids and their caregivers can also enjoy rides in the park on the Trackless Train, a ski lift photo booth, slap shot hockey, snow throw, pop-up mural activity from the Mayor’s Mural Crew, a LEGO build activity with a Master Model Builder, and much more.

The event is hosted in partnership with title sponsor Highland Street Foundation, presenting sponsor L.L. Bean, contributing

sponsors Dunkin’, H.P. Hood, College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, and media sponsor The Boston Globe. Additional support is provided by Xfinity, Mission Realty Advisors, LEGO® Discovery Center Boston, Lighthouse ArtSpace Boston, and the Baby Lab at UMASS Boston.

The Boston Common Parade Ground is located at the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets. Call (617) 635-4505 or email parks@ boston.gov for more information. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks, visit Boston.gov/Parks, join our email list at bit.ly/GetParks-Emails, and follow our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Annual SBCA Boxing Show Has Returned For 2023

It’s back. Tommy McGrath, President of the South Boston Citizens Association along with Peter Welch, owner of Peter Welch’s Gym at 371 Dorchester Ave., South Boston will again be sponsoring this year’s

March 18th Boxing Show. Join us for this year’s show on Saturday, March 18th at the Peter Welch’s Gym, in South Boston. Doors open at 4:00PM and First Bout will be at 4:30PM

Admission is free of charge to all.

Virtual Public Meeting

The South Boston Citizens’ Association March 18th Boxing Show has been part of the events put together by the Citizens’ Association for over 75 years, and at the request of many past and present South Boston resi-

dents, the show must go on especially after the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“Once again Peter Welch has

continued on page 11

South Boston

Old Colony Phase 6

February 15, 2023

6:00 PM

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3j2EkpD

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 559 7626

Public meeting to discuss and take comment on the proposed Notice of Project Change and the new 121A project for Old Colony Phase 6. Phase Six will be comprised of approximately 89 apartments with 1-5 bedrooms for individuals, families and seniors. In addition, it will include approximately 6,662 gross square feet of accessory community space that will be available for lease to local community service organizations that improve the quality of life for community residents. It is anticipated that the space will initially be leased by a local South Boston arts organization that works with low-income individuals.

mail to: Caitlin Coppinger

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor

Boston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.4280

email: caitlin.coppinger@boston.gov

website: www.bit.ly/OldColonyPhase6

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Highlights from Music Class

To supplement music class, students who are in the SBCA Choir learn about vocal technique and expand their song repertoire. Regular singing engagements include the students’ Mass and the Christmas and Spring Concerts. It is

wonderful to see many of our students who are enjoying being in the SBCA Children’s Choir. In Music Class they have been incorporating movement into the music piece entitled “Syncopated Clock”. In this activity, the use of scarves parallel

the beat and melodic contour of the piece. Students also immerse in music literacy by learning the rudiments which include note reading.

To apply music literacy, the students get to play on different instruments either individually or as a group. This gives them the opportunity to be a performer/collaborator and build their confidence on stage. In celebration of MLK Day, the students learned about Freedom

Songs which were used during the Civil Rights movement. These songs reflect the social struggles at the time and the fight for equal rights.

“Music is life itself.” — Louis Armstrong. “Where words fail, music speaks” - Hans Christian Andersen New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

St. Peter Academy News

Excellence in Education Scholarship Program 2023

St Peter Academy, established in 2004, owes its existence to the unbridled commitment of a core group of South Boston parents who believed that the values and traditions of a Catholic religion-based education were worth preservation. Now located in its permanent home at 371 West Fourth Street, it has afforded a quality education over the past 18

to more than 2,000 students. The Academy continues to thrive and will be adding additional Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms this year.

St Peter Academy has established an Education Foundation. The Foundation will award scholarships and financial aid entering Grades 1 – 6 to past, present, and future Academy children, families and ed-

ucators who exemplify the qualities inherent in service to others. Applications will be considered based on South Boston residency, financial need, academic performance. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2023. Please email spa@stpeteracademy. com for an application.

Please join us for an In-Person Open House featuring Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 6 only. Tuesday, February 7th at 3:00 pm. RSVP to spa@stpeteracademy.com

St. Peter Academy is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, communitybased private school and serves

students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the yearround toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Two Scholarships will be offered this year for applicants for Grades 1 through 6. You may request scholarship information from the Front Office (spa@ stpeteracademy.com). Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing spa@ StPeterAcademy.com.

Boxing continued from page 9 stepped up to help continue this great tradition after a brief pause. Peter’s passion for the sport of boxing is what will make this show a success as he has done in the past” Said McGrath. This year’s Boxing Show Chairman, Suffolk Register of Deeds, Stephen Murphy, along with event

supporters Congressman Stephen Lynch, City Councilors Michael Flaherty, Ed Flynn, Erin Murphy and Frank Baker, State Senator, Nick Collins , State Representative David Biele and organizers Mike Larkin, Ed Kelley and Peter Welch, owner of Welch’s Gym, will be looking for young boxers of all ages to partici-

Keep fats oils and grease out of your pipes this holiday season!

Excess fats, oils, and grease (FOG) may result from preparing food and should never be poured down the sink, or flushed down the toilet. FOG that’s poured into the sink or toilet will harden in the pipes causing backups in your plumbing and Boston’s sewer system. Always dispose of FOG into the trash. BWSC encourages you to Can The Grease! After cooking, let FOG cool in the pan. Once cooled, pour or scoop FOG into a can, cover the can with a BWSC Grease Lid and store it in the freezer until full and dispose of the can on your regular trash collection day.

Boston residents can request a FREE BWSC Grease Lid! Call BWSC at 617-989-7599, or request one online at www.bwsc.org.

pate in this year’s show. Every young man or lady who participates in this year’s show will be awarded a trophy and fight night tank top.

Tryouts will be held this Friday, February 3rd at 6:30PM and Saturday, February 4th at 12:15PM at the Peter Welch Gym, 371 Dorchester Ave. South Boston.

All young men or ladies will be

trained by expert staff. All tryouts and training are free to every young man or lady participating in this year’s show. All boxers will be matched, by age, weight, and experience and must report to the Peter Welch’s Gym with a mouth-guard, shorts and sneaker.

Tommy McGrath

He did it again. Tom Brady has retired for the second time. This time though, it has to be final. There’s no turning back now. Brady is done. He told us so in a video posted to social media on Wednesday morning.

“Good morning guys,” said Brady, while recording himself sitting on a beach. “I’ll get to the point right away. I’m retiring, for good.

“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. So, I won’t be long-winded. I think you only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so, I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me: my family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors, I could go on forever, there’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love you all.”

Brady was emotional throughout the 52-second video. Towards the end, he nearly broke out into tears, but was able to keep it together and end it with a smile. The retirement announcement comes just two-anda-half weeks after his Tampa Bay

This week,

Danny reacted to Tom Brady announcing his second retirement from football:

Buccaneers were eliminated in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs by the Dallas Cowboys. Tampa Bay lost 31-14 at home. Brady finished the game 35-of-66 for 351 pass yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Not necessarily the numbers of a guy who can’t play anymore.

But Brady turns 46 in August, and he would be lying if he told you his 2022 season was ideal, even if the Buccaneers did win their division and host a playoff game. The truth is Tampa Bay’s season was infuriating. They only won the NFC South because it was the worst division in football. The Bucs were the only team in the playoffs that finished the regular season with a record under .500, at 8-9.

For Brady, something seemed off. In a vacuum, his numbers weren’t terrible. But anybody who’s followed Brady’s career knows that he wasn’t his usual self in 2022. That started in training camp, when he left the team and even missed a preseason game for personal reasons. When he returned, he was a little snippy in a press conference, saying, “I’m 45 years old, man. There’s a lot of [expletive] going on.” A few

months later, in the regular season, Brady missed a team walkthrough the day before an away game against the Steelers, because he attended Robert Kraft’s wedding the night before in New York City. Brady met the team in Pittsburgh. The Buccaneers lost that game, 20-18. But even the games he did win in 2022, Brady’s body language wasn’t the same. He looked uninterested. Clearly — especially after news broke of his divorce with Gisele — Brady’s mind was not right.

I, personally, thought he would come back for at least one more season, whether it be in Tampa Bay, or somewhere like Las Vegas. His quarterback abilities were still good enough for him to make a serious attempt to go out on top, or at least, finish his career with more success than he had in 2022.

That’s now not going to be the case. Brady is all done.

“Tom’s impact on our franchise these past three years has been immense and we are appreciative of the time we had with him here in Tampa Bay,” said the Glazer Family in a statement. “He set an exceptional standard that elevated our entire organization to new

heights and created some of the most iconic moments in our history. Tom’s impact will be felt within our community for many years to come and we will forever be grateful for those unforgettable memories that he provided during these final seasons of his legendary career. We wish him the best in this next chapter of life and are confident he will find similar success in his future endeavors.”

As for Brady’s future endeavors, it’s expected he’ll soon officially join the Fox Sports crew on Sundays. Last year, Brady signed a massive 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox Sports to become their lead NFL analyst when he retires, working alongside Kevin Burkhardt, who stepped into Fox Sports’ main role after Joe Buck left for ESPN Monday Night Football.

Clearly, Brady still loves the game. And it will be cool to hear his thoughts on the game during broadcasts. Here in New England, we’ll be waiting for Brady to sign a one-day contract and officially retire as a member of the Patriots. It was a fun ride while it lasted. Congrats on retirement, Tom. Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

EAGLES, CHIEFS ADVANCE TO SUPER BOWL

If you’re a Patriots fan, Super Bowl LVII will be a tough one to enjoy.

The Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the big game on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Arizona. As of this week, the Eagles are a 1.5-point favorite, with the over-under being 49.5.

Both Philadelphia and Kansas City finished the regular season with a 14-3 record. Each team was the No. 1 seed in their respective conference.

The Eagles were the first to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, after defeating the No. 2 seed San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship last Sunday. Philadelphia won the game at home, 31-7, but there’s no denying injuries were a major factor.

San Francisco played most of the game without a quarterback who could throw the football.

Rookie Brock Purdy — who replaced an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in the middle of the season and led the 49ers to this point — injured his throwing arm during their first possession of the game.

With seven minutes left in the first quarter, Purdy had his arm hit as he was about to throw, fumbling the ball, which was recovered by the Eagles. Purdy was replaced by then-backup Josh Johnson.

Tweet of the Week

Johnson was technically the 49ers’ fourth-string quarterback, behind a season-long depth chart of Trey Lance, Garoppolo, and Purdy. But unfortunately for San Francisco, Johnson also got hurt, and had to leave the game early in the third quarter. That left the 49ers with no choice but to send Purdy — elbow injury and all — back into the game.

Because Purdy couldn’t throw the ball, San Francisco’s only hope was to score with a creative running game. But at the time of Johnson’s injury, the Eagles led 21-7, and they made sure the 49ers weren’t going to beat them with a run-only offense.

After the loss Purdy was diagnosed with a complete tear of his UCL that will require offseason surgery.

On the other end, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts finished he game 15-of-25 for only 121 pass yards, zero pass touchdowns, and zero interceptions. All four of the Eagles’ touchdowns came on the ground. Hurts had one of those rushing touchdowns, while Miles Sanders had two, and Boston Scott had the other.

Later on that night, the Chiefs held their own a home in Kansas City, to end the Cincinnati Bengals’ season. Not without some

controversy though.

Kansas City won the game, 23-20, thanks to a game-winning 45-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with three seconds remaining. The Chiefs moved up into field-goal range thanks to a 15-yard “unnecessary roughness” penalty after Patrick Mahomes was hit late as he was already running out of bounds.

Prior to that possession, the Bengals had a chance to go on a game-winning drive of their own by forcing Kansas City to punt with 2:30 left in the fourth. But with the game tied at 20-20, the Bengals were stopped and had to punt it back to the Chiefs with 41 seconds remaining.

It wasn’t the best game of Joe Burrow’s career. He finished 26of-41 for 270 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. he was also sacked five times.

On the other end, Patrick Mahomes — with a busted ankle and all — limped around and finished 29-of-43 with 326 pass yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The two touchdown passes were Kansas City’s only touchdowns of the game. They were thrown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Travis Kelce. Butker was 3-for-3 on field goals.

Since Mahomes has become

Kansas City’s full-time starting quarterback in 2018, the Chiefs and Eagles have only played once. That game was last season, in Week 4 in Philadelphia, where the Chiefs won, 42-30.

Mahomes finished that game 24-of-30 with 278 pass yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Three of Mahomes’ five touchdown passes were to Tyreek Hill, who is no longer a member of the Chiefs organization.

Hurts finished the game 32-of-48 with 387 pass yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Entering Super Bowl LVII, Hurts is the favorite to win Super Bowl MVP, at +110. Mahomes is right behind him at +130. After that, it’s Kelce at +1200, AJ Brown at +1300, DeVonta Smith at +2400, Haason Reddick at +3000, and Sanders, Jerick McKinnon, and Isiah Pacheco at +5000.

SBT Staff