South Boston Today March 30 2023

Whenever we hear about another tragedy involving gun violence, we grieve along with our fellow citizens and community members impacted by it. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) sees gun violence as a national public health crisis that impacts everyone.

Every time a tragedy happens involving guns, people with mental illness are drawn into the conversation. The truth is that the vast majority of violence is not perpetrated by people with mental illness. State -

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Spring Has Arrived. Why Not Get Out And Enjoy It?

March is always an unpredictable month. It can go from bone chilling cold to temperatures hovering in the balmy 70’s over night. Getting rain and snow in the same week is never out of the question. But one thing the end of March signals is that winter is, for all intent and purpose, pretty much done for. And for most people, with the exception of the hard-core lovers of snow and cold, and yes, there are some of those among us, it’s a personal choice, and that’s good news.

As we move into April

Get

and the weather warms and the days grow longer, most people shed their heavy clothes and venture outdoors during their free time more frequently. Everything is in the process of renewal and re-growth and often brings smiles to the faces to those who’ve been hunkering down indoors for three long months of that cold, wet grey stuff. Spring is here and it’s time to get out and enjoy it. Now, all of these things you know and certainly don’t need this editorial to remind you.

If you live in a city, it would be difficult to find

another urban neighborhood with as many natural and recreational resources to enjoy than in the neighborhood of South Boston. With three miles of sandy beaches, grassy and tree lined parks, ball fields and other outdoor sports facilities and the gem known as Castle Island which attracts people from miles around, there are certainly plenty of opportunities to go out and enjoy the outdoors. Yes, travelling to the Cape, the northern mountains and many other places is always a treat. But that takes time and money and a bit of planning. But

if your time is limited and you don’t feel like filling the gas tank to take that trip out of town, we can just step outside the door and take advantage of all this unique city neighborhood has to offer in the form of active or passive recreation.

It’s a fact, South Boston has become popular for people who want to live in a city, often to be close to their jobs, but still have nature at their doorsteps. Many newcomers have recognized this and that’s one of the main reasons so many people are flocking here; it’s an attraction that can’t be found in many other

places. What so many new people have discovered about what this community has to offer, some who live here may have forgotten.

The message of this week’s editorial is that yes, travelling is a wonderful thing. It’s good for the soul and there are so many great places to venture to. But if you just don’t have the time or the resources to do it as often as you might like, or if you just feel like staying close to home, there is much to do locally as well. And what better time than the arrival of spring to get outside and enjoy it all?

DAYTIME STREET CLEANING

The Daytime Street Cleaning Program runs from April 1 to November 30 in most Boston neighborhoods. Check the posted street sweeping signs on your street for the schedule and parking restrictions.

SIGN UP FOR REMINDERS FROM THE CITY

Search for your street in our database https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/street-sweepingcity. After you find your street, we will give you an option to sign up for our No-Tow reminder service with your email. If the City’s website or the email we send you is different from the posted street sweeping sign, always obey the posted street sign.

The

Nashville Shooting: Who Is Sincere And Who Are The Posers

The recent school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, brought out the usual political posturing by the liberal media and left wing Democrat politicians. Take guns away from all the law abiding Americans and the shootings will stop. Ban so called assault weapons and our problems will be over. It’s the NRA’s fault. Sue the gun makers. All of this feel good narrative has no base in reality and the thing is, those who push this know it won’t work. But they really don’t care, because they figure if they carp and whine loud enough about guns in the hands of American citizens, it will cover up the real solutions that they don’t want and fight tooth and nail to block.

Liberal Democrats are adamantly opposed to armed school security and often, even metal detectors. They demand it be in place at banks where they keep their money, at airports where they constantly fly in and out of, and at court houses where many of them should be hauled to for crimes committed. If we’ve learned anything from school shootings over the years, its that the crazies will target the school where they know there are NO armed guards or police or metal detectors. Last week, it was the same thing. The shooter who called herself Audrey Elizabeth Hale, age 28 had 2 schools in mind to attack. According to the shooter’s own writings that investigators found, she selected the Christian ‘Covenant School’ because it didn’t have armed security while the other one did. If you’re a lunatic looking to create the most mayhem and death, its an easy choice.

So when Schumer and Biden and the rest go to their soapbox and start screaming about gun

control, before the bodies are even cold, it’s to cover their tails for pushing so hard against real solutions that work. FYI: the shooter was under doctor’s care for possible dangerous emotional disorders. This too was a fact that they seem to fail to mention in so many press conferences. That shooter should have been on a government watch list. But considering the feds put so many parents who attend school board meetings worrying about what their kids are being indoctrinated with, maybe there was just no room left on those watch lists.

Now think about it. With all the shootings in Chicago, with the toughest gun laws around, have we ever heard a peep out of Schumer and the rest about the mass shootings that happen in that city every single weekend of every month?

The answer is a loud NO! Why the silence there? Is it because they’d have to admit that gun control doesn’t work? Of course it is.

Let’s be clear, no one but the criminally insane (or people who feel the more mass shootings there are, the better the chances that guns will be confiscated from all) isn’t sickened by mass shootings; especially if it happens in a school. But it should be noted, that each year, guns are used by law obeying American civilians to protect and save innocent lives more than half million times. It’s a fact, look it up. There are now more than a hundred million gun owners in the US who legally possess firearms for sport and protection of life, family and property. If all one hundred million law abiding US citizens had them taken away, which would be impossible, only the criminals would have them; we all know this. This would leave the public at the mercy

of armed criminals, since it’s well known that try as they might, police can’t be everywhere. After a home invasion or murder or robbery, in nearly every case, the police arrive after the crime is committed. Calling 911 is nice, but often too late to prevent an attack.

History teaches us that before tyrants can take over a country, and turn it into a brutal dictatorship where freedom and liberty is eliminated, they confiscate the weapons owned by citizens. Hitler did it in Germany, Mao in China, the Russians did it and what follows is a mass extermination of anyone who

opposes the tyrants in charge. Will that ever happen in the US? Doubtful. There are too many Americans who’ll stand up and stop it. But, nothing is guaranteed.

So as this latest tragedy plays out in the media, watch closely who goes to the podium to make statements. Most will be sincere in their sadness and offer real solutions to attempt to solve the problem of school shootings. But there will be some, who will use this as simply another opportunity to get press exposure and push their own political agenda just like they do with every serious and tragic event.

Window Into The State House

Kicking Butts!

Kids are kicking butts and they’re taking the fight to the halls of the State House. Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to outright ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol vapes and cigarettes when its law took effect on June 1, 2020.

Lawmakers’ goal was to slash tobacco use, particularly rates of underage smoking that had spiked alongside the rise of vaping. Teens appear to be vaping less in years since, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, but youth on Wednesday will meet with lawmakers to tell them there’s more work to be done. Students participating in this year’s Kick Butts Day, sponsored by The 84, a statewide antitobacco youth initiative, will lobby lawmakers through an equity lens.

Researchers say tobacco advertising has historically targeted low income communities of color. And products are still finding their way in. The Bay State’s legal crackdown appears to have set the stage for a booming black market. Tobacco seizures are up in Massachusetts,

a recent state report found. Sales are up “a significant” amount in border states Rhode Island and New Hampshire, as is apparent cross-state smuggling. Mass officials reported more than 106,000 vaping seizures in fiscal 2021 and 71,000 in fiscal 2022.

New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association Executive Director Peter Brennan said the state’s “failed tobacco policies have robbed the state of millions” in tax dollars while “criminals and petty smugglers are reaping millions” on the illicit market. Just last month, Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office announced charges against a pair of men allegedly engaged in a tax evasion scheme involving both marijuana and flavored tobacco vaping products. She calculated lost tax revenues to the tune of $4.8 million.

But despite the the problems facing Massachusetts, a Stanford Medicine report concluded “the best way” to cut tobacco use is keep teens from getting started in the first place, because once someone gets hooked “it’s difficult to quit, even for people who want to.” Massachusetts

lawmakers are considering stricter penalties. One bill proposes raising even higher taxes on the sale of vape products. The 2020 law raised a 75% excise tax on e-cigarettes.

Tragic timing: Lawmakers commit to gun bill as hundreds rally for reform days after Nashville shooting

Hundreds of mothers and gun control advocates packed the State House to demand stricter gun laws days after a mass shooting at a school in Nashville claimed six lives, including three children. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem said she is “committed,” and pledged the Legislature would focus on ghost guns, reducing violence through a public health lens by investing in community programs, and making Massachusetts a leader in the collection and analysis of gun data and research, writes Sam Drysdale of State House News Service. When it comes to gun reform on the national level, Republicans remain a major hurdle, writes Yvonne Abraham for The Boston Globe.

Healey signs first major

piece of legislation

Three months after taking office, Gov. Maura Healey signed her first major piece of legislation, a $388.7 million supplemental budget with an additional $740 million in borrowing, writes Matthew Medsger for The Boston Herald. It includes $85 million to bolster the state’s emergency shelter system and a $130 million off-ramp for a pandemic-era boost in federal SNAP benefits that expired this month. It also extends several COVID policies including remote meetings and to-go cocktails for restaurants.

Pedestrian deaths spike by 35% in Massachusetts

The Bay State saw a 35% spike in pedestrian deaths in 2022, when 101 people were killed by vehicles. That’s up from 75 people the prior year, according to a study released Thursday by WalkBoston, a statewide advocacy organization, writes Tonya Alanez for The Boston Globe.

Sounding the alarm: Nurses say hospital care on the downslope

Most nurses in Massachusetts believe the quality of hospital care has deteriorated over the past two years, says a Massachusetts Nurses Association survey. The 2023 “State of Nursing” results reveal 85% of nurses agree. Additionally, 53% of union nurses surveyed believe hospitals that rely on travel nurses have worse care.

Gun Violence continued from front page

ments to the contrary only serve to perpetuate stigma and distract from the real issues.

Far too often, we hear stigmatizing comments and generalizations about people with mental illness being violent, which simply isn’t true. This kind of misinformation comes as a punch in the gut to those of the family and community members of NAMI living with mental health conditions.

The overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent. Most people with mental health conditions will never become violent, and mental illness does not cause most gun violence.

In fact, studies show that mental illness contributes to only about 4% of all violence, and the contribution to gun violence is even lower.

Research shows an increased risk of gun violence comes from a history of violence, including domestic violence; use of alcohol or illegal drugs; being young and male; and/or a personal history of physical or sexual abuse or trauma. Mental illness alone is not a predictor of violence. Furthermore, it also distracts people from the real issue when it comes to guns and mental health: suicide.

News reporters’ portrayal of the perpetrators needs to be thought-

ful and accurate, such that the sensationalized public response to these tragedies does not end up discouraging people with mental health conditions from seeking treatment. Stigma far too often prevents people from getting the help they so desperately need.

“When people unfairly connect mass shooters with mental illness, it stigmatizes the millions of people living with mental health struggles who are not violent,” said NAMI’s National Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Kimball Angela.

While the relationship between mental illness and gun violence is very low, reasonable options are needed. This includes making it

possible for law enforcement to act on credible community and family concerns in circumstances where people are at high-risk. An honest and productive national conversation is needed about all the factors that play into this type of violence and what can be done to prevent these tragedies. Only then can meaningful solutions be found to protect our children and communities.

In a diverse nation with more guns than people and a constitutionally protected right to bear arms, the complex mix of circumstances and cultural forces that fuel gun violence pose daunting challenges for those who

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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.

SEN. COLLINS, REP. BIELE HELP PASS $388.6MM SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

State Senator Nick Collins and State Representative David Biele joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature in passing a $388.6 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The legislation funds vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, economic development, and more.

The bill further authorizes $740.3 million in bonding to bolster the Commonwealth’s clean water and other public works projects for cities and towns, as well as to support the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for competitive federal grant funds.

“This legislation provides critical funding to support our childcare system, emergency shelter and food assistance programs, and economic

Mayor Wu and Councilor Flynn Attend Women Veterans Roundtable 2023

Mayor Michelle Wu and Council President Ed Flynn attended the 2023 Women Veterans Roundtable organized by the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans Services. Held annually, this event invites a

development initiatives.” said Senator Collins. “The supplemental budget reflects our Commonwealth’s values, and I am proud to support it.”

“This supplemental budget provides for our children and our most vulnerable residents, while authorizing crucial investments in capital expenditures for economic development and local manufacturing.” said Rep. Biele. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for these key investments in our communities, while ensuring that Massachusetts remains competitive for federal grants.”

The bill invests $388.6 million to address several time sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP

food assistance benefits to provide a path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, and $45 million for emergency shelter assistance.

The bill also authorizes $740.3 million in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $125 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts.

Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:

• $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund

• $34 million for a program to revitalize underutilized properties

• $30 million for state matching funds to compete for federal broadband expansion grants and improve state broadband infrastructure

• $15 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, which supports innovation within the state’s manufacturing industry, including by offering technical assistance to manufacturers and attracting talent from outside of the state

• $14 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program

• $9.3 million for broadband middle mile supports

• $8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund.

Having been passed by the Senate and the House, the supplemental budget now goes to the Governor for her signature.

number of women veteran panelists to speak on different topics. This year, the topics included education, professional development, wellness and health.

Women veterans are the fastest growing population at the Department of Veterans Affairs today. Women comprise nearly 20% of active military personnel and 10% of the veteran population. Since serving on the Boston City Council, Councilor President Flynn has partnered with his colleagues to advocate for women veterans. He has held hearings to discuss the need for better gender-specific care and mental health support for women veterans. In 2020, he met with Senator Markey and Senator Warren to support the passage of the Deborah Sampson Act,

which expanded various programs related to health care and benefits for women veterans at Veterans Affairs (VA). Recently, Councilor Flynn and Veterans Commissioner Rob Santiago attended the 2023 Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Mid-Winter Conference in Arlington and met with congressional members to discuss issues such as ensuring equity in veterans care, including services and benefits for women, LGBTQ+ and minority veterans, as well as bolstering mental health resources and expanding the VA’s capacity to deliver timely and high quality care to veterans.

“Thank you to all of the incredible women veterans for their service and for sharing their experiences to advocate for the larger community. I am grateful to the Office of Veteran Services, Commissioner Santiago, Council President Flynn and the Massachusetts Women Veterans’ Network for their partnership and relentless work to provide these

leaders with the resources they deserve.” said Mayor Wu.

“I would like to thank the Administration, Veterans Commissioner Rob Santiago and the Office of Veteran Services for organizing today’s Woman Veterans Roundtable and to the panelists for sharing their insights with us. This is an event I look forward to every year to listen and learn about the experiences of our women veterans and what kind of support they need and deserve.” said Councilor Flynn. “I will continue to be an advocate for our women veterans, who not only served our country with honor and bravery, but who are also resilient, tenacious and offer valuable insights and perspectives to what it means to be a veteran. They earned their benefits and I wish to recognize and celebrate their service and sacrifices for our country.”

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

I Was Just Thinking…

by Kevin Devlin

Last Friday, March 24, House Republicans passed the Parents Bill of Rights aimed at providing parents with a greater role in what’s being taught in their child’s public schools.

This new legislation would allow parents to review the curriculum of their child’s school and be informed if the State alters the States challenging academic standards. Parents would be given the right to meet with each teacher of their child not less than twice during each school year, to review the school budget, which would

include revenues and expenditures of their child’s school and be provided with a list of the books and other reading materials contained in the library of their child’s school. Parents would have the right to address the school board of the local educational agency, to protect their child’s privacy, to know any information about violent activity or information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs in the child’s school. It would also give parents, “the right to know if a school employee or contractor acts to change a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name; or allow a child to change the child’s sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.”

The legislation was introduced by Representative Julia Letlow (R-La.) who argued parents deserve more transparency from their schools and more of a say in what their children are taught.

“It is not an attempt to have Congress dictate their curriculum or determine the books in the library,” Letlow said, while debating the bill. “Instead, this bill aims to bring more transparency and accountability to education, allowing parents to be informed and when they have questions and con-

cerns to lawfully bring them to their local school boards.”

But when the legislation was passed in the House, Democrats went ballistic.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said, “They want to ban books…bully the LGBTQ+ community…bring guns into classrooms…and don’t want the children of America to learn about the Holocaust.” Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-NY) said the bill was fascism. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) said it would result in “hate, bigotry, and yes, sometimes death of our students.” Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) claimed the bill would “terrorize teachers.” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said, “Don’t we want our children to know that slavery was wrong as I fight against slavery today that still exists?” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) warned it would hand “a vocal and extreme minority of parents the power to dictate what every American child learns.”

Their nonsensical outbursts had nothing to do with what is written in the legislation.

They are only fearful they’ll lose power and control and will be unable to use education as a tool to indoctrinate instead of educating.

Unfortunately, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York vowed the legislation would face a “dead end” when it reaches the Senate.

Yet this war by the Dems is far from won and many battles will ensue because parents nationwide have awoken.

Parents have a First Amendment right to assemble in a lawful and appropriate manner and express their opinions regarding their child’s education. And Federal, state, or local authorities should never seek to criminalize parent’s lawfully expressed concerns about their children’s education.

Parent’s rights don’t cease when their child walks into school, because they have the fundamental right-inherent natural rights-to direct the upbringing of their children. This includes their education, morality, religion, and medical care.

Parents should, no must, have as much say as they deem necessary in the education of their children. Their children are their responsibility. It’s not the teacher’s role, a politician’s job, or a bureaucrat’s two cents, to tell parents what’s best for their children.

After all, it’s their child.

Not the teacher, the politician, or the bureaucrat’s child.

hope to understand and address it. “Why would anyone kill all those innocent people?” That’s the natural question when we learn of yet another senseless gun massacre against strangers in a public place. The answer we often hear is “mental illness,” an explanation that fits the common perception that people with serious mental illnesses are dangerous. But most violence, including lethal and near-lethal violence, is not causally linked to mental illness. Given that so many individuals have a mental health diagnosis, and the large majority of those individuals are never violent, psychiatric illness is too blunt an instrument to serve as a useful indicator of violence risk. Indeed, if serious mental illnesses suddenly disappeared, violence would decrease by only about 4%. More than 90% of

violent incidents, including homicides, would still occur. Even mass shooters, who might seem most likely to be driven by mental illness, don’t necessarily suffer from major psychiatric disorders. Arguably one of the best such reports on the topic, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, found that only 25% of such assailants had a diagnosed mental illness. Although it is difficult to obtain precise data on the gun-prohibited status of every mass shooter, less than 5% of these individuals had a record of a gun-disqualifying mental health adjudication, such as an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.

Meanwhile, “Why did he kill all those people?” is so compelling a question that it seems to demand an answer. If mental illness isn’t usually the cause, what is? The honest response from

science is that we don’t know all that much. Sometimes, a stew of alienation and resentful anger directed against a dehumanized “other” is at play. In rare instances, acute psychotic symptoms such as paranoid delusions contribute. In addition, crisis, trauma, and significant personal loss are common to some assailants, but those factors ultimately reveal little since they are shared by many people who never engage in a mass shooting.

Given these realities, erroneously placing mental illness at the center of the American gun violence narrative stymies solutions to both of these public health problems, which come together only on their edges. The real story — and the real need — regarding mental illness and violence is suicide. Not only are most firearm deaths suicides, but most suicides are causally linked to mental illness.

We will never solve the problem of gun violence in America by “fixing mental health.” That is a simplistic notion, one that focuses on a serious but different public health problem. In reality, the causes of gun violence in the United States are numerous and complex — and so are the solutions. But if we pursue proven measures designed to prevent access to firearms among people most at risk for perpetrating violence at their riskiest times, we will be moving significantly in the right direction. If health care providers use their influence to advocate for evidence-based gun safety policies and practices; if we implement firearm safety conversations systematically in clinical care; and if we teach these skills to future providers, we will save many more lives than if we only work to heroically treat yet another catastrophic shooting victim.

Chief Jemison Welcomes New Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Luis R. Frias II

Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison announced the hiring of Luis R. Frias II as the new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). Frias will serve as a member of the Agency’s senior leadership team and be charged with the development and oversight of the Agency’s equity and diversity priorities. In this capacity, he will work to establish collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and foster a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and supportive agency.

“I’m happy to welcome Luis to the Agency and look forward to the important and positive impact he will have on helping us plan a more equitable Boston,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “I am excited to work with him to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are

priorities in all of the BPDA’s work, and to ensure we are building a City that best serves our residents.”

“I’m pleased to join the BPDA and to help advance its mission to create and guide inclusive and equitable growth in our city,” said Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Luis Frias. “In my short time here, I’ve already witnessed the passion, dedication, and brilliance of this team. I’m deeply honored to be in this role, as we work together to shape Boston’s future.”

Frias has spent the last decade working in higher education. He joins the Agency from Northeastern University, where he served as the Program Manager for Engineering PLUS, a National Science Foundation grant focused on creating networked communities and inclusive infrastructure across the nation to achieve the transformative, systemic, and sustainable change

needed to increase undergraduate and graduate degree attainment for BIPOC and women engineering students. He also served as the Associate Director for Diversity Programs for Northeastern’s College of Engineering, where he focused on both College and University level DEI initiatives.

While working at Northeastern, he also received the Black Heritage Award, given to Northeastern staff and administrators in recognition of their years of dedicated service to Northeastern, to students, and to the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute. A Worcester native, he graduated from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts in 2013 with a major in Legal Studies. He also received a Master’s from Northeastern in Applied Educational Psychology in 2020.

The work of the Director of DEI will build on efforts already under-

way to support equity by creating affordable housing, jobs, resilient infrastructure, and open space in every neighborhood. Additional efforts underway include leveraging funding from large real estate development to support workforce development and training, equitable procurement policies, requiring diversity criteria for developing publicly-owned land, and the BPDA’s DEI in Development policy, announced in 2022, to promote diversity within large private development projects in the City of Boston.

Councilors Flynn, Bok, and Mejia’s Digital Equity and Broadband Hearing

This Friday, City Councilors Ed Flynn, Kenzie Bok, and Julia Mejia will hold a hearing to discuss digital equity and municipal broadband in relation to affordable housing in the City of Boston. The hearing is scheduled for March 31st at 10 a.m. at the Boston City Council Iannella Chamber. Residents are encouraged to participate and testify in person or via videoconference by reaching out to shane. pac@boston.gov. The hearing will be broadcasted live on Xfinity 8/ RCN 82/ Fios 964 and streamed at: boston.gov/city-council-tv.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago, the digital divide in our society became exacerbated and affected many of our neighbors, communities of color, and our seniors. The Boston City Council made it a priority over the past three years to improve digital equity, and worked

with our city and community partners to narrow this gap. At the Council, budget was granted to fund a Digital Equity Assessment and an analysis of the potential for Municipal Broadband, which helped identify the remaining gaps in our communities and also recommended a higher enrollment of residents in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

“Whether in education, business, work or otherwise, the internet has become indispensable to everyday life. We must discuss ways to make sure that residents, especially those in affordable housing and those who are experiencing a non-competitive service in their neighborhoods, will be provided choices and reliability to access affordable internet services and digital resources.” said Councilor Flynn. “It is important that we continue working with the City, internet providers and our commu -

nity partners to ensure that everyone, especially those in affordable housing developments in Boston has reasonable and reliable internet access.”

“We need to seize this moment of federal investment to ensure excellent internet access for every affordable housing resident in Boston,” said Councilor Bok, Chair of the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology. “From work opportunities to school assignments to civic life, every Bostonian deserves to see digital equity made a reality in all our neighborhoods, and I’m proud

of the work the Council is continuing to do in partnership with the Mayor to make that so.”

“Access to the internet has become an essential need for all residents,” said Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia and co-sponsor of the hearing order. “I look forward to discussing how we can work with the City of Boston to ensure digital equity is available to all Bostonians, including our most vulnerable residents”

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

Guy The Wine On The Sweet Side

Many of the fastest-growing wines in the world today are not what you’d expect. Insead of being dry with a full body and long finish, they’re sweet, very often sparkling, with shorter finishes and lighter bodies. Whether you’re already enjoying this category or are considering a change, I think you’ll enjoy the following…

Vietti Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta Vietti, Italy, ($16.99). The grapes for this wine are selected from vineyards on the Vietti estate located in Castiglione Tinella. Only the best Moscato grapes with extended maturation are used for the Cascinetta. The grapes are crushed, pressed and naturally clarified. Must is stored, without sulfite, at low temperature in order to naturally prevent fermentation. The result is a wine with notes of sweet fruits, honeysuckle and caramel. It’s typically enjoyed with lighter foods-salads, grilled chicken, and shellfish.

Domaine Des Nouelles Rosé d’Anjou, Loire Valley, France, ($12.99).In Anjou, one of the Loire Valley’s major wine-producing zones, reds and rosés made from cabernet franc are of great renown. Unlike the dry rosés of Touraine, Sancerre and other Loire-based appellations, rosés from Anjou (Rosé d’Anjou) are known for being off-dry and slightly sweet. This bottle from Domaine des Nouelles is fruit-driven, bright, and loaded with flavors of sweet cherries, red currants and rose petals. Serve chilled with sweet crepes, a fresh bowl of strawberries or simply sip it solo.

Niepoort Ruby Port, Douro, Portugal, ($17.99). When the Niepoort

Councilors Flynn and Flaherty Public Infrastructure Safety Hearing April 4th

In January this year, City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large

routine inspections and systems in place for maintenance and repair.

family moved from Holland to the Douro region of Portugal in 1842, one of the great Port houses of Oporto began. And in 1987, as the fifth generation to make fortified wines for the family business, Dirk Niepoort started following a brand-new path. Considered a true Renaissance man, Dirk continues to make Port using the same traditional methods as his ancestors while also leading the way as one of Portugal’s most innovative, creative, and exciting producers of dry table wine. Dark red in color, with a fresh vibrant aroma of dark fruits which follows through on the palate along with a mineral character, this is a youthful wine with good extract and great balance, offering superb drinkability.

Patrick Bottex Bugey-Cerdon La Cueille, Savoie, France, ($22.99).

Vin du Bugey-Cerdon is an unusual non-vintage sparkling red wine from the Savoie in eastern France. A blend of 80% Gamay with 20% Poulsard (a local grape), Patrick Bottex’s ‘La Cueille’ is a deep rose in color with a lovely taste of wild strawberries. Ever so slightly sweet, it makes a delightful aperitif, or party wine. And with just 8% alcohol in it, you can feel free to open a bottle for an afternoon dessert fest. Pair it with strawberry shortcake, cookies, and even soft, ripe cheeses.

“I like sweet wines. My idea has always been that when you’re young, you like sweet wines; and then you get sophisticated, and you drink dry white; and then you get knowledgeable, and you drink heavy reds; and then you get old, and you drink sweet again.” - Sally

Jessy Raphael

Michael Flaherty refiled a hearing order to discuss the safety of light poles, bridges, and other public infrastructure in the City of Boston. The hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 4th at 2 pm at the Boston City Council Iannella Chamber. Residents are encouraged to participate and testify in person or via videoconference by reaching out to shane.pac@boston.gov. The hearing will be broadcasted live on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/ Fios 964 and streamed at: boston.gov/ city-council-tv.

This hearing was originally filed in September last year, when a pedestrian crossing the Evelyn Moakley Bridge in the South Boston Waterfront was struck and injured by a falling light pole. At the time, the Public Works Department swiftly inspected all city bridges in the area and removed 23 of the light poles that were deemed not completely satisfactory, with two additional poles having already been previously removed. It is critical that the city continues to ensure our city’s public infrastructure is safe and structurally sound, and there are

“Unfortunately, this incident shed light on our aging infrastructure, light poles, and bridges - especially against the harsh New England weather, sea air and salt water.”

Council President Flynn said. “Councilor Flaherty and I look forward to receiving an update from our city and state partners on the inspection and audit of all light poles, bridges, and public infrastructure, and any relevant plans to make all necessary repairs in a timely manner. We must work with our bridge engineers and design consultants to prevent an incident like this from happening again.”

Councilor At-Large Flaherty said, “We, as a city, have a responsibility to make sure that we regularly inspect roads, bridges, light poles and street signs as a matter of public safety. We live in New England and our area is subject to harsh weather conditions that tend to deteriorate building materials and fixtures quicker than other places.”

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

SCHO L ARS HIP OPPO RT UNITIES 2023

Massport is currently accepting applications for the following Scholarships:

• THOMAS J. BUTLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service in South Boston, with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• DEBORAH HADDEN GRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service or employment in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Revere or Winthrop, with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• LOWELL L. RICHARDS III MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, or Winthrop, with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• DIVERSITY STEM SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded to high school seniors of color who reside or attend school in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, Revere, Worcester, Bedford, Concord, Lexington, or Lincoln, and are involved in community service with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Scholarship applications must be received by Massport no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023. For more information on these scholarships, including application checklist and criteria please visit www.massport.com

SBCA Cultural Fair South Boston Catholic Academy News

¡Hola y Bienvenidos! The 5th and 6th grade students presented their chosen Spanish-speaking country at the SBCA Cultural Fair! Each student completed a trifold board on one of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries. Some students chose to make food from their country including empa-

nadas, gallo pinto and plantains! K14th grades came to the Cultural Fair to learn about the countries and get their homemade passports stamped. Here are some of the favorite things the students liked learning about regarding their Spanish speaking country…Sampling the different foods, the different customs,

cultures and traditions and colorful and historical sceneries, the famous people, such as athletes, singers and actors that came from the different countries and the famous mountains and waterfalls.

The students in the 5th & 6th grade did an amazing job with this Spanish class project. A BIG Thank you to our Spanish Teacher, Ms. Taylor Avery for her wonderful guidance and help. You can see from all their work, time and energy that the students and their families put

into this class project that they truly loved learning about these Spanishspeaking countries. All the students at SBCA loved touring, viewing and learning about these Spanish-speaking countries, too and, of course, were so excited to get their very own passports stamped from these different countries.

New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

It’s that time of year. Spring is in the air. Baseball is about to begin. NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs are right around the corner. The Masters is next weekend. And of course, it’s WrestleMania season. That last one isn’t for everyone. But I’m just as jacked up about the 39th “Showcase of the Immortals” as I am anything else on that list of things to watch this spring.

I’ll close this out with my WrestleMania predictions. But, I thought it would be worth more of my time to open with some odds on the 2023 MLB season, and what we can expect from the new-look Boston Red Sox. First off, the favorite to win the 2023 World Series is the defending champion Houston Astros, at +600. Then, you have the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves tied for the secondbest odds, at +750. Followed by the New York Yankees at +850 and the New York Mets at +900.

The Red Sox’ odds to win it all are in the bottom half of the league, at +6000. As for the AL East, the Red Sox have the second-worst odds to win the division, at +1800. The team with the worst odds to win the East is the Baltimore Orioles, at +2500. The Yankees are the

favorite at +130, followed by the Toronto Blue Jays at +200, and the Tampa Bay Rays at +270. So, the expectation is for a major drop-off between the projected top three teams in the division, and the Red Sox and Orioles. But is that entirely fair to the Red Sox?

The emotional response is, “Of course it’s fair, Danny. Those idiots let their captain leave for the San Diego Padres! How do you expect the Sox to get better without Xander Bogaerts?” Well, for what it’s worth, you probably had the same exact emotional response when they traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. But just a year later, the Red Sox won 92 games in 2021 and went all the way to the ALCS.

My point is, I don’t think you can use the loss of Bogaerts to claim the Red Sox will never be good again. But the question becomes: Did the Sox make any additions this offseason that will help fill the void of not having Bogaerts anymore? The experts will tell you that the signing of Masataka Yoshida, Justin Turner, Adam Duvall, and Corey Kluber might be enough to at least make the 2023 Red Sox exceed their low expectations entering the season. But I’m going to put

the spotlight on Chris Sale.

Sale is re-joining the Red Sox rotation after multiple injuryplagued seasons. And even though he’ll have Kluber as his top-of-therotation partner, the loss of Nathan Eovaldi in free agency to the Texas Rangers might prove to be a bigger loss than Bogaerts, when it’s all said and done. Eovaldi’s absence puts even more pressure on Sale to perform the way everyone in this town expects him to, beginning with his first start, this Saturday against the Orioles at Fenway Park.

If you can pitch in this league, you will always give your team a shot to make the postseason, especially with the new expanded playoff format. The 2023 Red Sox have an over/under win total of 78.5. Last year, they won 78 games. Before that, the last time they won less than 84 games (not counting the 2020 Covid season), was in 2015, when they won 78 games. I think these Red Sox are good for 83 wins, and that could very well squeeze them into a Wild Card spot. So, take the over on Red Sox win total, in my opinion. For the World Series? I’m feeling like something crazy might happen. I’m getting nuts and taking the Seattle

Mariners to win it all at +2000. I might even bet Mariners’ star Julio Rodriguez to win the AL MVP with the fourth-best odds, at +900.

Now, onto my WrestleMania predictions. And yes, you can bet on this. First off, the over/under on title changes — for both nights of WrestleMania combined — is 3.5. I’m taking the under, at -120. Even if three titles change, that seems like a lot for one event. The two titles that I will guarantee you change hands are the Undisputed tag Team Titles, and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. These are the two biggest matches on the card. If Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens don’t win the Tag Team titles over the reigning champion Usos, then I will never discuss wrestling with you again. And in the Main Event, Cody Rhodes absolutely has to win the Undisputed WWE Universal title. Roman Reigns has had it long enough. If Cody doesn’t win it to close out the show on Sunday night in LA, then the WWE will have failed.

Expect Cody to be the new WWE Champion.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the 2023 MLB season, and WrestleMania 39:

KRAFT: LAMAR JACKSON WANTS TO PLAY FOR PATRIOTS

At the NFL League Meetings in Arizona this week, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke to the media and had nothing but praise for quarterback Mac Jones, who will be entering his third NFL season in 2023.

But after the on-camera media session was over, Kraft decided to tell reporters about a text he received from rapper Meek Mill late last week.

“Meek Mill texted me and said ‘Lamar Jackson wants to come to the Patriots,’” Kraft told the media. “I said, ‘That’s Bill Belichick’s decision.”

Jackson, 26, was given the nonexclusive franchise tag by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, meaning, he still has the ability to talk with other teams about a contract. But if a deal with another team is reached, that team would have to also send two first-round picks to the Ravens.

On Monday, the same day that Kraft spoke to the media, Jackson tweeted out that he had demanded a trade from the Ravens

Tweet of the Week

in early March.

“A letter to my Fans: I want to first thank you all for all of the love and support you consistently show towards me,” Jackson said in a thread of tweets. “All of you are amazing and I appreciate y’all so much. I want you all to know not to believe everything you read about me.

“Let me personally answer your questions in regards to my future plans. As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl.

“You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again.”

Kraft’s decision to randomly tell the media that Lamar Jackson wants to come to New England is certainly interesting. But it should also be noted that Kraft spoke very highly of Jones in the very same media scrum.

“I’m a big fan of Mac,” said

Kraft. “I think that we experimented with some things last year that frankly didn’t work when it came to him, in my opinion. I think we’ve made changes that put him in a good position to excel.

“He’s in the stadium almost every day now in the offseason. I think bringing in Bill O’Brien will work towards his advantage. I’m very positive and hopeful about this upcoming year. I’m personally a big fan of Mac.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick had a chance to give Jones the same type of praise, but he refused to do so. When asked about Jones being the team’s starting quarterback to begin the 2023 NFL season, Belichick — in the only way he knows how — was noncommittal to Jones.

“Everybody will get a chance to play,” Belichick told reporters at the league meetings this week. “We’ll play our best players. Every position. Everybody will get a chance to play. Everybody who is on our roster, if they earn an opportunity to play based on what they do in practice, then they’ll get an opportunity to play.”

Given the owner’s positive comments on Jones, one would think it wouldn’t be hard for the coach to also share the same sentiment. Still, Kraft — who, again, said it was Belichick’s decision on whether

or not to acquire Jackson — still believes in his coach.

“I think Bill is exceptional at what he does and I’ve given him the freedom to make the choices and do the things that need to be done,” said Kraft. “His football intellect and knowledge is unparalleled from what I’ve seen.

“I still believe in Bill. I’d like him to break Don Shula’s record, but I’m not looking for any of our players to get great stats. We’re about winning and doing whatever we can to win. That’s what our focus is now. It’s very important to me that we make the playoffs. That’s what I hope happens next year.”

SBT Staff

Holy Week & Easter Schedules

NOTE: Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at Castle Island: 6:13am

Saint Brigid Church:

Palm Sunday: 8am, 10:30am, 6:00pm

Holy Thursday: 7:00pm – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 8:00-9:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Go od Friday: 7:00pm

Easter Sunday: 8:00am, 10:30am

Gate of Heaven Church:

Palm Sunday: 9:00am, Noon, 6:30pm

Holy Thursday: 8-9:00am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Good Friday: 3:00pm

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil – 7:30pm Evening Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection

Easter Sunday: 9am, Noon. (No 6:30pm Mass on Easter)

Saint Augustine Chapel:

Good Friday: 4:30pm

Saint Peter Lithuanian Church:

Palm Sunday: 9:00am (English), 10:30am Lithuanian

Holy Thursday: 7:00pm (Lithuanian)

Good Friday: 7:00pm

Easter Sunday: 9:00am (English), 10:30 (Lithuanian)

St. Monica Church:

Palm Sunday: 10:30am (English), 12:30pm (Spanish)

Holy Thursday: 7:00pm (Bilingual – English and Spanish)

Good Friday: 3:00pm (English), 7:00pm (Spanish)

NOTE: Good Friday: Walking Stations of the Cross

Meet at 10:15am at St. Monica

Ho ly Saturday: 8:00pm (Bilingual-English and Spanish)

Easter Sunday: 10:30am (English), 12:30pm (Spanish)

Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel:

Palm Sunday: 9:30am, 11:30am, 7:00pm

Holy Thursday: 7:00pm, Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday: 12:00pm Stations of the Cross (No Mass), 3pm (Ma ss), 7:00pm (Mass)

Holy Saturday: 7:00pm Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday: Masses 9:00am, 11:00am