South Boston Today April 27 2023

SouthBoston

Is The Rattus Norvegicus Problem As Bad As That Of New York City

Complaints about rats (scientific name-Rattus Norvegicus) from Boston residents have skyrocketed over the last few years. The city logged 2,253 rat complaints last year compared to just 1,212 in 2020, an increase of 86%.

Boston city officials are pushing to appoint it’s very own Rat Czar. We can picture the local laughing hysterically, as they are learning from their relatives in New York City. New

toilets, on trains, in bed. And that’s not all. New York City has a new rat czar, and the rats are everywhere.

Everyone who lives in New York has rat tales to tell. For most, the encounters with rats are persistent, but fleeting. A jump scare in the night, from rodents skittering across the sidewalk. The sound of track rats scrambling, deftly avoiding the third rail, in the subway station during the commute home. A rat-clogged car engine.

faith in Kathleen Corradi, New York City’s new director of rodent mitigation - better described as Rat Killerto oversee rat reduction efforts. NYC is experiencing record numbers of rat sightings with no indication that the trend will reverse.

Here are a few of the reported stories: A woman who now happens to work as a public health analyst was living on 112th Street in Manhattan when she witnessed a rat “flip itself

itself off, and run away.” And, of course, every New Yorker’s worst nightmare: the man who fell into a rat-filled sinkhole. (“He didn’t want to yell because he was afraid there were going to be rats inside his mouth,” his brother said.)

Late one night while he was living in a basement apartment in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, Ben Regenspan, 37, became one of the unlucky New Yorkers to witness a rat emerge from their toilet. Mr. Regenspan, a software engineer, heard a splashing sound while brushing his teeth. “I screamed, flushed, he swam back down. I poured in a bunch of cleaning products and flushed

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PUBLIC NOTICE: OPEN DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF MCCA PARCELS ON D & E STREET

On Tuesday, May 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will host a community discussion at the Condon School regarding the future of MCCA owned parcels on D & E Street by the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). MCCA officials will be presenting and available to answer questions.

City Planners Need to Give REAL Input To Residents, Not Lip Service

There have been reports of meetings, both public and in private, to discuss possible future changes to access streets and roads leading in and out of Boston. Granted, the traffic patterns in Boston could use some adjustments and improvements. And we’re not even talking about the potholes that plague the city.

To mention that point, it’s been noted for years that the roads built by the Romans 2000 years ago are still in use and in good condition, but roads in Boston and other cities often resemble craters on the surface of the moon and in need of repair every couple of years. Some would say it’s what happened when modern engineers appeared on the scene. But we digress.

What has many residents as well as commuters who must drive in and out of the city for their jobs concerned are some of the plans being proposed. Now it’s pretty much known by most that there are some people in decision making positions who would like nothing better than to create rules, regula-

tions and laws that would ban all privately owned cars from city streets. That would be paradise for many environmentalists whether they admit to it or not. But a total ban, at least into the near future, would be impossible and it would be wrong. But to succeed, most big plans must start off small and in increments, Pilot Programs.

Residents have expressed fears that some of the new transportation plans being ‘suggested’ would eventually squeeze out motor vehicle traffic in many areas; only to be expanded as time goes by. They want to add more bike lanes – pretty much everywhere – and, more problematic, one dedicated lane for both trucks and buses. So, what lanes will be available for regular vehicular traffic?

There are problems with adding too many bike lanes in a congested city. One issue and the biggest one is that already heavy traffic, especially during the morning and evening rush hours would become worse – MUCH worse. Another is that there are just not enough people riding bikes

to justify some of the overkill of new lanes envisioned by environmentally concerned planners whose suspected goal is to make it so difficult for people to actually own cars in Boston that they will become frustrated, give up their cars and buy a bike, skateboard or maybe a bus pass.

The dedicated truck/bus lane sharing will reduce traffic laden roads down to one lane in and out of South Boston. Somehow this is the BTD solution to move busses quicker to South Station and beyond while the tax payers of South Boston sit in never ending traffic due to commut-

er cut through patterns. You can’t make this stuff up!

Plans/schemes like those mentioned above if they ever do come to fruition would most likely cause people to move from Boston rather than comply. And could that be part of a master plan as well?

We have a suggestion for those planners and designers who feel that they should decide what’s best for the masses. Find out what the people want – you know, the people who actually pay the taxes that pay the salaries of the planners:

Bring your ideas before the communities. Show

the taxpayers what options might work better to make life in the city easier for those who will have to live with the finished product after the planners and designers have left and moved on. Seek real input from residents and not just pretend to listen, smile and nod and then do whatever you plan to do anyway. Putting these plans on the ballot to be voted on would be good. But by all means, be up front and honest and take seriously the concerns of those who live here. It’s not only the smart thing to do, it’s the right way to go.

“Talk is cheap if it doesn’t motivate action” -Dan Bongino

Is Our Beautiful Country Becoming A Circus?

On a television talk show last week, the host asked a guest if America was turning into a circus. The guest said he believed there was certainly something to ponder about that question,he thought about it for a few seconds and said “Well, not the whole country, but there certainly is a potion of the population that’s trying real hard to make that happen. And the current administration in Washington seems to be all in for bringing our country to the point of resembling a circus; maybe even to freak show status.”

“Who ever thought that our country would ever throw open our borders and allow hundreds of thousands to just pour in? It’s unimaginable that our government knows that the deadly Fentanyl drug is flooding our country; coming right through that open border, and no serious effort is being made to stop it. The estimated number of Americans who’ve been killed by this poison is more than 300.000 so far and most of them are our young people. We’re being invaded and under attack in a war that we are not even trying to win.

Schools are being caught all over this country allowing porn in the libraries of elementary school libraries, allowing Drag Queens to perform in front of small children and adding racist Critical Race Theory into the curriculum which urges students to distrust and even hate one another. The Democrats in Congress, in the US House of Representatives – every last one of them, just tried to block a Republican bill known as the “Parent’s Bill of Rights”. What was so bad about that bill that every Democrat felt the need to vote against it? Let’s have a look: The Bill requires that parents must have the right to know what’s being taught in their child’s school and to see the reading material. It states that Parents have the right to be heard in regard to their kids’ education. That parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy and that parents must have

the right to be updated on any violent activity in the schools. These reasonable guidelines are apparently repulsive to congressional Democrats.

There is yet another act to the circus coming out of Washington DC and of course, it’s spearheaded by some of the most radical leftists in the Massachusetts delegation. Every circus has a clown show and this group provides the cast. But instead of piling out of a tiny car like the circus clowns do, this group; made up of the comedy team of Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and Ayanna Pressley will be travelling around the country on a tour bus. The purpose? To change the makeup of the United States Supreme Court. This bunch is furious that the justices continue to block so many of the crazy Socialist programs and policies they want to put in place and the out of control spending they want for it. This, by the way would just add to the fact that the Democrats are spending money our country doesn’t have and destroying our economy. So because the court won’t let them have their way, they want to add many more members to the court in the hope that they can get what they want. Oh yes, they also want to get rid of Justice Clarence Thomas. Because if there is anything liberal democrats hate more than Donald Trump, it’s an African American Conservative in a position of power; especially one who is a roadblock to their lunacy and America hurting plans.

Other happenings around the country; adding more fuel to the ‘culture war’ taking place (between good and evil) are the boycotts of companies and firings of media personalities. The biggest boycott; maybe of all time, is the one against Budweiser. The person Bud Light selected to be the new face of the company is transgender Dylan Mulvaney. While many longtime Bud Light drinkers have a problem with her; particularly because she goes around embarrassingly acting like an 8 year old,

the even bigger problem so many ‘Bud’ drinkers have is with the new Assistant Vice President of Marketing the company brought in, Alissa Heinersheid. She came right out and stated, in so many words, that Bud was a company with a passé reputation, too fratty and catered too much to mid western, heartland and middle class customers. She said it was time for the company to move on and seek new customers. In other words, she looks down on the people that made Bud Light the most popular beer in America; they’d stick around no matter what, or so she thought, but she implied that Budweiser now only cared about expanding to newer; or more ‘hip’

groups. The result, as we all know and Budweiser learned is you don’t insult and dismiss your loyal base of customers and expect them not to retaliate. The company is now said to be approaching 8 billion in lost revenue and worth and the4y are in panic mode.

There are those who say that privately owned companies have the right to pick and choose which directions they want to go in and if they want to go woke, they have every right. And that’s absolutely correct. But consumers also have rights. They can pick and choose where to spend their hard earned money. It’s a powerful trump card and Conservatives have learned to play it well.

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY

John Ciccone

Now It’s The Senate’s Turn

With passage of the House Ways and Means $56.2 billion budget, Massachusetts is one step closer to major investments in education, transportation and housing.

Representatives added roughly $120 million to the bottom line of the budget passed Wednesday, mostly for local-level earmarks.

All eyes now turn to the Senate, which traditionally produces its own budget sometime in May.

And as with almost every major piece of legislation, you can bet on the Senate serving up its own version, Douglas Howgate of Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said. “The question is: What do those differences look like in terms of the magnitude and scope,” Howgate said.

When it comes to tax relief, for example, Howgate says “the themes are likely to still be the same” in terms of how to cut costs for low-income Bay Staters and also keep those with opportunities to relocate to other states. Here’s what policy proposals budget watchdogs including Howgate tell MASSterList they’re watching as the Senate prepares to drop its own budget:

• 62F tax cap law: The House would amend the tax rebate law to send equal refunds to each taxpayer. Both Gov. Maura Healey’s and

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.

the House budgets would exempt millionaire tax revenue from 62F.

• Millionaire tax: The House would split funding evenly between education and transportation but focus on K-12 and the MBTA. Healey would focus on higher education and MassDOTlevel investment.

• Tax relief: House plan largely mirrors Healey’s, but on a slower schedule.

• iLottery: House budget legalizes online wagering to fund child care initiatives.

• Pandemic programs: The House seeks to extend pandemicera eviction protections and fund universal free school meals.

Regardless of the Senate’s take, one thing is clear: Massachusetts is making major investments in new and expanded policy. The House spending plan is more than 13 percent higher than last year’s operating budget, yet pushed through this year’s budget with almost no discussion and with lockstep votes on every amendment as well as the overall package.

Delve into the nitty-gritty of what made it into the House budget and what didn’t with this report from Chris Lisinski of State House News Service.

Pentagon leak suspect had ‘arsenal,’ discussed ‘mass’ violence

The Massachusetts Air National

Guardsman who allegedly stole classified Pentagon documents and leaked them in a private group on the social media platform Discord had a history of making violent comments, sought information about how to commit a shooting, and had a “virtual arsenal of weapons” in his home, reports Kelsey Ables of The Washington Post. Jack Teixeira is scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester on Thursday for a detention hearing.

Wind power will forever change views in Nantucket, off coast

The full scale of the impact of the six offshore wind developments currently planned for Nantucket’s waters came into view in a recent publication by Mayflower Wind (now SouthCoast Wind). Nantucket is essentially “ground zero” for large-scale offshore wind development, writes Greta Feeney of N Magazine. A city of white turbines will dot the horizon once the massive project is built out.

Making the grade: MCAS has some supporters after all

A newly formed coalition of education organizations has thrown its support behind the controversial MCAS exams that have been the center of the debate around achievement and equity for years, reports Sam Drysdale for State House News Service. The state’s

largest teachers union, meanwhile, has learned schools will be turned into “testing warehouses” to get students to pass.

Roughly 27,000 drunken-driving convictions could be tossed out following court ruling

Tens of thousands of drunkendriving convictions are being called into question after the Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday unanimously upheld a prior ruling that some breathalyzers used by the state were improperly calibrated and maintained from 2011 to 2019, and that some state officials knew about it and covered it up, WCVB reports.

More action against neo-Nazis, demands veterans’ group

After a neo-Nazi organization has targeted Jewish, Black and LGBTQ people from across New England, a veterans group is calling on law enforcement to crack down on the behavior, reports Phillip Martin for GBH. The Task Force Butler Institute, a self-described anti-fascist research group made up of U.S. military vets, released a 300-page report Tuesday documenting acts of violence carried out in recent years by the Nationalist Social Club-131, or NSC-131. The Anti-Defamation League describes NSC-131 as “a neo-Nazi group with small, autonomous regional chapters.”

Rats continued from front page again,” he said. He did not see the rat again, but he was traumatized, and tried his best never to sit down on that toilet afterward, instead using the commode at work for sitting purposes. He did not stay in that apartment much longer. “Once I moved, I lost the acute fear,” Mr. Regenspan said. “But I still close the lid on the toilet. Always.”

Could it be that in order to defeat the rats, we need an army of rats? Are rats even capable of being defeated? One observer expressed doubt. “The rats, like cockroaches, are going to outlast us.” she said.

“After everything is said and done, they have the will to survive.”

Here in Boston, with proximity to the Boston Harbor, the incessant neighborhood construction projects, the

MBTA system as a safe haven for rats throughout the city, the trash problem in the Back Bay alleys, the New Market meat, fish and produce facilities, and the roadway, utilities and other construction, the rodent population has a smorgasbord of food offerings.

Council President Ed Flynn, in calling for a hearing on the creation of the Rat Czar office, noted that he is following the development of

New York City’s rodent control plans closely and that he has spoken with Mayor Wu’s administration about the creation of a pest control office. Flynn envisions that the responsibilities of this position would in large part include educational outreach, as well as collective coordination with several municipal departments, residents, and neighborhood associations to address this public health emergency.

Council President Flynn Calls For Office of Pest Control

In a key effort to tackle the persisting issue of rats in the City of Boston, Council President Flynn is calling for a hearing on the creation of an Office of Pest Control to lead rodent mitigation operations. This follows a recent hearing in which Councilors Flynn, Breadon, Coletta and city officials at the Inspectional Services Department, Public Works and Code Enforcement discussed the City’s multipronged approach towards tackling pest control. Council President Flynn will introduce this hearing order at this week’s Boston City Council meeting.

Since the pandemic, pest control has

become a major quality of life issue for residents as food sources moved from restaurants directly to residents’ homes, as well as an uptick of reports of rodent activity and sightings to the city. At the hearing, the Councilors noted that this issue of pest control has become a top constituent complaint across neighborhoods in Boston.

“We have to step up our efforts to address this serious public health and quality of life issue,” said Council President Flynn. “While I commend the Public Works and Inspectional Services team for the great work that they are already doing, we need additional resources and to designate one point person in the

City that has overall responsibility and authority on all matters relating to rats and pest control. The creation of an Office of Pest Control would provide the attention and oversight that our neighbors and taxpayers deserve to oversee the City’s rodent mitigation efforts.”

Council President Flynn noted that he is following the development of New York City’s rodent control plans closely and that he has spoken with Mayor Wu’s administration about the creation of a pest control office. Council President Flynn envisions that the responsibilities of this position would in large part include educational outreach, as well as

collective coordination with several municipal departments, residents and neighborhood associations to address this public health emergency.

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

Council President Flynn Announces $8.5 million in District 2 CPA Funding

received funding in the categories of affordable housing, historic preservation and open space, parks and recreation, for a total of $8.5 million.

Last week, the Community Preservation Committee awarded a total of $40 million to 56 projects for this year’s round of Community Preservation funding. Seven projects in District 2

In South Boston, $2.5 million was awarded to repurpose the McDevitt Hall on E Street into affordable senior rental housing, which includes 35 units of affordable housing for neighbors ages 62 and over. In the Fort Point neighborhood, $395,500 was awarded to the historic Congress Street Fire Station for exterior restorations, which includes repair and repointing of masonry at the side and rear elevations of the Firehouse.

In Chinatown, a total of over $4.2 million was awarded to partially fund the creation of 44 units of affordable homeownership housing and

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES RFP TO RENOVATE, REBUILD, AND RE-IMAGINE WHITE STADIUM

Public-private partnership would deliver a new home for Boston Public Schools athletics and a better resource for students, families, and the community.

Mayor Michelle Wu announced the release of a request

for proposals (RFP) to renovate, rebuild, and reimagine White Stadium in Franklin Park. The RFP seeks to bring new resources and a new partnership to White Stadium that will realize its full potential as a hub for the Boston Public Schools (BPS)

66 units of affordable rental housing at Parcel R-1 at Tyler and Hudson Street. St. James the Greater Church also received $400,000 in grants for restoration of the historic exterior structure of the Church and masonry and drainage system repairs.

In Downtown, Tremont Temple Baptist Church received $750,000 in restoration funds for masonry and building repairs. On Beacon Hill, Peter Faneuil House received $280,000 in funds to rehabilitate the basketball court and to perform masonry repairs.

“I would like to thank Mayor Wu, Councilor Flaherty, and the Community Preservation Committee for their steadfast leadership and the work of neighbors and civic orga-

nizations who continue to apply for this critical funding. Over the past five years, we have continued to enhance our neighborhoods and city through CPA funds,” said Council President Flynn. “I am excited that over $20 million will go towards funding affordable housing across the city this year, including over $4 million to create 110 units in Chinatown to support our immigrant neighbors and working families, and $2.5 million to create affordable housing for seniors at the McDevitt Homes in South Boston. CPA funding will continue to play a key role in helping our city to provide affordable housing for both low and middle income residents, our seniors and working families.”

athletics program, enhance athletic offerings to BPS students, and bring significant benefits to Franklin Park and the surrounding communities.

“In a championship sports town, our young people deserve to have access to world class facilities and programs for their growth and development,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This renovation of White Stadium will restore it as a

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I Was Just Thinking…

DeLauro (D-Conn) was thrilled when Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg presented a proposal to spend $20 million for specific gender and sexual preference crash test dummies which will start the fight to battle “the gender inequity among vehicle safety and crash victims.”

She emphasized that Buttigieg was doing important and critical work.

by Kevin Devlin

The nation is facing a myriad of problems today and we need responsible leadership in the nation’s capital. But what do we get? A proposal to spend millions on developing gender equity crash dummies. That’s what.

During a House Appropriations subcommittee meeting last Thursday, Representative Rosa

Despite the United States facing constant railroad derailments and collapse of infrastructure, Buttigieg wants to address inequity by using gay crash test dummies in automobile crash safety tests.

“Today’s cars and trucks are designed for the safety of straight, white males,” Buttigieg stated, “but they are murdering members of the LGBTQ+ community by the millions. This must end.”

Engineers had initially stated they’re having problems developing anything except male and female dummies since those are the

only two kinds of physical bodies, even though sources have reported that Buttigieg has ordered several thousand gay dummies (as well as female dummies, trans dummies, and dummies of color) to be utilized in crash tests.

“Once we have full representation among our stock of dummies,” he said, “…we will be able to build cars that work for everyone!”

Are they for real?

Spending millions to fund a socalled critical issue to develop gender equity crash dummies is absurd.

When will it end?

Common sense dictates that unless you are in an armored vehicle or an Abrams tank, and you are in a serious car crash, it isn’t going to matter who you are or what your sexual preference is.

How much do they think they can squeeze from taxpayers?

Our national debt is in the trillions, but our so-called leaders want to spend, spend, spend.

It is foolhardy.

WU continued from page 6

treasure for athletes across the state and will help make Boston the best city in the country to raise a family.”

The City and BPS envision revitalizing White Stadium as a centerpiece of BPS athletics benefiting Boston’s students. The stadium has served as a home field for many Boston athletes and community members since it was constructed in 1945. However, White Stadium is currently in disrepair and in need of revitalization. A fire destroyed the interior of the East Grandstand, which is not usable. The West Grandstand does not meet modern accessibility and building code requirements to serve all Boston students and communities and lacks the spaces and amenities needed to be a Citywide resource for BPS athletics.

The RFP seeks a qualified partner to provide needed capital investment to make White Stadium a high-quality venue for BPS athletics and other

events, along with an operational program that enhances BPS athletics, activates Franklin Park, and provides a valued and welcome resource for community stakeholders. The selected partner would receive a 10-year lease with potential renewals of the West Grandstand and the right to license the use of the field and public areas of the East Grandstand for a set number of events annually during the term of the lease. The selected respondent will bear the costs of maintaining the field in any condition required for their proposed use.

“We are excited to explore this opportunity to give BPS athletes access to state-ofthe-art athletic facilities,” said BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper. “This is a chance to reimagine White Stadium as a hub for BPS Athletics, and we appreciate the City’s efforts to reimagine the incredible potential of the stadium to support our student athletes in building leadership skills on

and off the field.”

Given White Stadium’s importance to Franklin Park and the surrounding communities, proposals must include a narrative of the community benefits supported by the rehabilitation and redevelopment, including any benefits to the local community beyond those generated by the proposed program itself. Those seeking to submit bids to the RFP are asked to submit a preliminary transportation plan that addresses the details of how people will travel to and from the stadium for events and how they intend to mitigate parking and traffic impacts in the surrounding community. Additionally, they will be required to complete a detailed plan acceptable to the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) prior to entering any agreement. A thorough community process will take place in the coming months to ensure that the selected respondent and program benefit

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) realizes this and last Wednesday, desirous of addressing the nation’s $31 trillion debt, introduced a bill to cut federal domestic spending to 2022 levels simultaneously imposing caps on government funding for the ten years.

“These spending limits are not draconian, they are responsible. Federal spending exploded in the last two years when Democrats controlled all,” McCarthy said on the House floor. “Limited government spending will reduce inflation and restore fiscal discipline in Washington.”

If Washington wants to spend money, it will have to come together to save money,” McCarthy added, “just like every household in America.”

And that would mean not wasting money on this so-called equity justice crash dummy initiative as proposed by Buttigieg.

Because it’s just plain dumb.

Franklin Park and the surrounding communities.

“White Stadium has been activated in empowering ways to uplift culture, community, and unity throughout the years,” said Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor.

“We’ve seen this through the use of White Stadium for events ranging from the celebration of Boston’s Caribbean community to addressing the COVID-19 crisis with vaccination clinics. We look forward to engaging with community members in conversation through listening sessions to collectively reimagine White Stadium so that it remains a space in our community where everyone can take advantage of this beloved space in Franklin Park.”

Additional information, requirements, terms and conditions, and all other related information is set forth in the RFP documents on the City’s purchasing website. Proposals must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on June 26, 2023.

The Voices of BPS Parents and Families Matter to Me. I Am Listening.

Boston, the facts are in. Parents and families in BPS are telling us loud and clear: They want safety officers in their children’s schools. It’s not often we get a message from stakeholders that is as unequivocal as the one we are receiving from parents about school safety.

An overwhelming 81% of BPS high school parents in a recent poll say they are fearful about the safety of their children in Boston Public School buildings. And, while only 58% of white parents expressed concerns about school safety, the number for non-white parents is eye-opening. Overall, more than 75% of all Black, Latino, and Asian parents are concerned about their students’ safety in BPS schools.

Only 15% of BPS’s student body is white, and most of those children are clustered in a limited handful of schools. In real numbers, progressive activists

and the parents of only about 3,000 white students are leading our BPS safety conversations, claiming that school safety officers and metal detectors are not needed. Meanwhile, the parents of 30,000 students of color in BPS feel afraid for their kids and want school officers and other safety measures implemented immediately. Why are the voices of the 30,000 being marginalized and ignored?

It does not sit right with me that a small minority of white voices, often the voices of activists who do not have students in our public school system, are leading our conversations about how to address violence and fear in our school buildings. Nearly 85% of our BPS families are non-white, but their significant and serious concerns are not being heard by City leaders.

An issue often described as “divisive” and “controversial” is the use of metal detectors and safety officers in buildings. But, if we listen to parents and caregivers, the “controversy” falls away. Three in four BPS parents, 75%, say they favor returning safety officers to schools, and support metal detectors.

Every day, I hear directly from parents, teachers, and even students that they are afraid to go to school and fear violence in the buildings. Concerns about BPS make up the bulk, by far, of the calls and emails to my office. In January, I reached out to Superintendent Skipper expressing my concerns over the

incidents of violence being reported.

“It is clear that the Boston Public Schools require immediate public safety attention and swift actions to ensure a safe learning environment for all our students.”

On Friday, May 5th at 10:00am I am sponsoring a City Council hearing to discuss the need for more collaboration between Boston Police and the Boston Public Schools to ensure our students and staff are safe. I am committed to centering the voices of frustrated and frightened parents as we chart a path for BPS back toward safety and peace in our school buildings. I invite the public to participate directly or by emailing my office.

By wide margins, parents and caregivers want safety officers in our school buildings to ease the burden on teachers and staff, so that children can learn, socialize, and grow in the safe, nurturing school environments they deserve.

The parents, grandparents, and caregivers of BPS students are majority Black and Latino. Asian families are significantly more likely than any other race to enroll their children in our public schools.

Does their deep anxiety about the physical and emotional danger their children too often face in our schools not matter?

Do their beliefs and opinions about how best to keep their children safe not matter?

Does including their voices, center-

ing their concerns, prioritizing their pleas not matter?

Well, it matters to me. The school children of Boston matter to me. The voices of their parents and caregivers matter to me. The frustrations and the legitimate fears of mothers, fathers, and grandparents matter to me.

As a 25-year public school educator, I know parents. I know students. And I know that schools run best when they are as free as possible from strife and the threat of violence.

It’s not rocket science. It’s common sense. The normalization of violence in schools can never be allowed to take hold.

Parents are not afraid to tell the truth to pollsters, to the media, to each other, to the Mayor, and to us: Put our children’s safety first by putting the necessary safety resources back in the schools where they belong.

The parents aren’t afraid to tell us the truth about what’s wrong in BPS.

The question is whether we City leaders are too afraid to listen.

To the South Boston Community, Family, and Friends

It is with a heavy heart that we announce our retirement and closure.

Joseph’s Bakery & Deli has been a mainstay in South Boston since 1967. The residents of South Boston and surrounding communities have always been our greatest supporters. It is all of you that made the early mornings and late nights worthwhile. When Joseph’s opened, we promised to be committed and dedicated to providing quality breads and baked goods. Over the years, we expanded to prepared foods and catering. While the food business became and re -

mained competitive, you supported us. You worked with us, your kids worked with us, and their kids worked with us!

Our daughters grew up working here. We are proud of their successes and honored to share the family business with our grandchildren and great grandchildren. They have spent many hours working, learning, and building lifelong relationships. As parents, we cannot have asked for anything more.

To our immediate and extended family & friends, we would not have been successful without you. Your dedication, loyalty, and contribu-

tions were unwavering. Whether you baked, cooked, or worked in the front & back of house, we APPRECIATE YOU.

We will always cherish the memories and conversations with all who have passed through our doors. Through the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives we were afforded the wonderful opportunity to get to know most of you on a personal level. We will carry you all in our hearts for years to come.

We look forward to the future but will always remember the past. From the bottom of our hearts, we are grateful and humbled. You are

a community like no other and we thank you.

With our sincerest thanks, Joseph & Carmela Masciave and Family

Councilor At-Large Erin J. Murphy

Guy The Wine Austria

Austria has a 4000-year history of viticulture, but it wasn’t until the mid-eighties before they started making high-quality wine for world consumption. Surely the wine producers of today hate to be reminded of the “anti-freeze scandal” of 1985 which accused certain winemakers of adding diethylene glycol to their wines to impart sweetness and body.

Once the media and public found out that diethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze, the Austrian wine industry completely tanked. Yet, there was good to come of this

scandal. As producers rebuilt the image and quality of Austrian wines they created a foundation that has put them at the top of the heap with regard to laws and regulations, innovation, quality, investment, and technology.

The Best White Wines of Austria

What grape comes to mind when thinking of Austria? Perhaps Gruner Veltliner since it is the most widely planted and most important white grape in Austrian wine production. This typically dry, melon and pear-scented wine shows hints of savory tones like lentil and white pepper. However, this grape is capable of greatness and can range in style from light and lean to rich, intense, and exotic.

It all depends on the region and the style of the producer. Most of the value Gruner Veltliner wines will fall into the category of light, and crisp. Other white varieties of note would include Riesling which is dry, minerally, and delicious. Grapes like Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Neuberger, Roter Veltliner, Rotgipfler, and Zierfandler are all delicious in their own right, but less known in the US.

The Best Red Wines of Austria

Some of the red wines of Austria

MCM Properties

include; Zweigelt, Blaufrankish, Pinot Noir, and Blauer Portugieser. Many of the Austrian red grapes are hybrids or a crossing of two varieties. Zweigelt (a crossing of Blaufrankish and St. Laurent) is the most widely planted and is capable of making outstanding wines as long as the yields remain relatively low.

Blaufrankish has fewer plantings country-wide, but in the region of the Mittelburgenland, this grape truly hits its apex. Pinot Noir from the Thermen Region can be exciting and a delicious alternative to the high-priced wines of Burgundy.

The Austrian wine labels may still trouble the average wine buyer but try to be adventurous and understand that it’s all pretty simple. The actual classifications mirror those of Germany (which is not exactly easy), but the wines are dryer in style. There are, of course, the exotic and deliciously sweet wines from the shores of Lake Neuseidl on the border of Hungary. This shallow body of water provides the perfect climate for the botrytis cinerea spore to grow on the grapes which extract moisture and concentrate the sugar.

Generally speaking, it’s typically easy to find a delicious, crisp, refreshing Gruner Veltliner or Riesling from the Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, Traisental, or Weinviertel regions. The Wachau has its own three-tier classification system: Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd.

The style of wine goes from lightest to fullest, with the must weights and alcohol levels being higher going from Steinfeder to Smaragd. Again, all of these wines are dry with a very pronounced granitic mineral tone and ripe tree fruit character. They can be unbelievably delicious and exciting to enjoy with food.

At the recent Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry breakfast in Dorchester: Jim Brett, President and CEO, New England Council; Massachusetts State Senator Nick Collins; and U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch.

Virtual Public Meeting

617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St

May 10, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Proponent:

Mark Little

Project Description:

Virtual Public Meeting

6 Elkins Street

Zoom Link: bit.ly/617DorAve

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 107 0319

The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and stakeholder. Interpreting services are available to communicate the content of these documents at no additional cost to you. If you require translation services, please contact the following: Tyler.C.Ross@boston.gov. The meeting is scheduled for 4/5/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date.

Meeting of the general public to review 617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St. This meeting will be focused on the proposed 617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St project. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 45-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A.

mail to: Tyler Ross

B oston Planning & Development Agency

O ne City Hall Square, 9th Floor

B oston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.4214

email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

website: www.bit.ly/617DorchesterAve

Close of Comment Period: 5/15/2023

May 2, 2023

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/6ElkinsSt

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 118 2400

The BPDA is hosting a Public Meeting for the 6 Elkins Street project located in South Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Project Notification Form. The meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A and comments from the Public.

The Proposed Project will include the construction of a new approximately 97,000 gross square foot research laboratory development, including office, laboratory, research and development uses, along with approximately 4,400 square feet of publicly accessible retail/restaurant space and approximately 8,250 square feet of incubator lab space. The proposal also includes approximately 48 parking spaces in a one-level below grade garage.

mail to: Ebony DaRosa

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4419 email: ebony.darosa@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Don’t Forget Pick Up After Your Pet!

Pet waste discarded on the street or in catch basins carries harmful bacteria straight into the waterways we rely on for recreation. Always remember to “Scoop the Poop” and dispose of pet waste in the trash. Proper disposal of pet waste protects the environment and our waterways from contamination.

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Please join us for a Virtual Community Meeting

Wednesday, May 3rd @ 6:00pm

776 Summer Street Deconstruction Update

Please register in advance for this webinar by scanning the QR code. This meeting will provide updates on the ongoing deconstruction at 776 Summer Street, including progress to date and the schedule of work in the near future. We will also discuss the East 1st Street sidewalk and parking lane take over. To submit questions or comments ahead of the meeting please reach out to HRPInfoNortheast@hilcoglobal.com.

South Boston Catholic Academy News

A BIG Thank you to Librarian Dani!

• “The most important asset of any library goes home at night—the library staff.”— The Reverend Timothy S. Healy, SJ • “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” —Albert Einstein • “Libraries always remind me that there are good things in this world.” —Lauren Ward • “Libraries store the energy

that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.”—Sidney Sheldon

It is easy to say that the students, families, faculty and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy love going to the Library, especially to the South Boston

Branch Public Library. A BIG Thank you to the Children’s Librarian, Danielle Crickman, (Librarian Dani) and to all those that work there for being so welcoming and helpful to everyone including the SBCA students, families, faculty and staff. Our students love going on class field trips to the South Boston Branch Library to get their new Library Cards, to sit and listen at Storytime, to borrow great books to take home and read with their families and friends and so much more things to do at the Library.

Librarian Dani has also come to SBCA to visit with the students and to explain what makes the Library so

special and the importance of reading. She comes and reads great stories to them, too. She teaches them how to find books in the Library that they are interested in, books they need to help with classroom projects and book reports, etc... Whether you are young, middle aged or older, there is always something for everyone at the Library. We are all grateful and lucky to have such a great local Library to go to in our neighborhood.

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

Compass on the Bay Awarded Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ Accreditation

First Community Outside of CT to Achieve Honor

Compass on the Bay, a memory support assisted living and community managed by Senior Living Residences, has earned the Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ accreditation.

Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ standards assess an organization’s ability to provide collaborative care in a safe, functional, and respectful environment to help ensure not only quality of care but the quality of life. Accredited communities have demonstrated adherence to 60 standards of care and extensive training practices for the care of individuals living with dementia, and have embraced and implemented a person-centered plan for all residents.

Compass on the Bay is the 8th organization to receive a Purple Flag accreditation, and the first outside of CT.

Notable attendees and titles at the flag raising ceremony:

• Senator Nick Collins

• Christopher Carter, President of Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA) and Member of Purple Flag Governance Committee

• Tadd Clelland, President & CEO, Senior Living Residences

• Caity Burke, Executive Director, Compass on the Bay ABOUT SENIOR LIVING RESIDENCES

(SLR)

Senior Living Residences (SLR), based in Braintree, MA has been at the forefront of developing and pro-

viding service-enriched independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care options for seniors in New England for more than 30 years. SLR currently operates 18 senior communities throughout New England. More information about Senior Living Residences and Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® can be found at SeniorLivingResidences.com.

To learn more about Compass on the Bay and Senior Living Residences, please contact Pam Maloney at pmaloney@slr-usa.com.

ABOUT PURPLE FLAG FOR DEMENTIA CARE™

Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ is an accreditation program developed to recognize excellence and drive continuous

improvement in the quality of services provided by those who care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ originated through a collaboration between the Institute for Senior Living Education (ISLE), the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA), and the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter in an advisory capacity. Upon approval, providers receive the distinctive purple flag as a symbol that communicates their commitment to leadership in the field of memory care.

To learn more about Purple Flag and for media inquiries, please contact Chris Carter at cpcarter@ctassistedliving.com.

More on Compass On The Bay and this distinguished certification next week!

Once again, nobody steals the sports spotlight like the NFL. And even with the NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs in full swing, the NFL Draft will capture the attention of many sports fans around the country this weekend.

Round 1 is on Thursday night. Rounds 2 and 3 are on Friday night. And Rounds 4 through 7 are on Saturday afternoon.

This year’s Draft is in Kansas City. Here’s the official Draft order, as of Wednesday, a day before Round 1:

1) Carolina Panthers (from Chicago Bears)

2) Houston Texans

3) Arizona Cardinals

4) Indianapolis Colts

5) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)

6) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)

7) Las Vegas Raiders

8) Atlanta Falcons

9) Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)

10) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)

11) Tennessee Titans

12) Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)

13) Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets)

14) New England Patriots

15) New York Jets (from Green Bay Packers)

16) Washington Commanders

17) Pittsburgh Steelers

18) Detroit Lions

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20) Seattle Seahawks –) Miami Dolphins (Forfeited - Tampering)

21) Los Angeles Chargers

22) Baltimore Ravens

23) Minnesota Vikings

24) Jacksonville Jaguars

25) New York Giants

26) Dallas Cowboys

27) Buffalo Bills

28) Cincinnati Bengals

29) San Francisco 49ers (Traded to New Orleans Saints)

30) Philadelphia Eagles

31) Kansas City Chiefs

This order is subject to change, and most likely will, given the expectation for draft-night trades.

Right now, all eyes are on the Carolina Panthers, who are on the clock at No. 1 overall. The Panthers traded wide receiver

DJ Moore and four draft picks to the Chicago Bears back in March, in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick.

The expectation there is that Carolina will draft a quarterback. In recent days, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis’ odds to be taken at No. 1 have surged up to +1000, but Alabama quarterback

Bryce Young is still the heavy favorite to be taken by the Panthers as the top pick, at -2000. Levis has the second-best odds, while Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud has the third-best odds to be taken No. 1, at +2500. After that, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is at +7500, followed by Alabama linebacker Will Anderson at +20000.

Here in New England, all eyes will be on the Patriots, who enter Draft night with a total of 11 picks in seven rounds. The Pats have No. 14 overall, but who knows if they’ll actually remain in that spot. History tells us there’s a strong possibility that the Patriots trade back, either for a later pick in the first round, or multiple picks in later rounds. But trading up from No. 14? Not likely.

What makes this year’s NFL Draft even more interesting here in New England is the recent legalization of sports betting. By now, you’ve probably downloaded one of the many sportsbook apps on your smart phone. If you haven’t, it’s worth checking out, even if you don’t place any wagers. You can essentially bet on anything, all draft long.

For example, not only can you put money on who will be drafted from No. 1 - No. 10 overall, but

you can even bet on the position of the player selected as Mr. Irrelevant — the final pick in the draft. Right now, “defensive lineman” is the favorite for that, at +380. You can even bet the position of the player first selected by each team. For the Patriots, the favorite to be their first pick in this year’s draft is an “offensive lineman” at +200, followed by “quarterback” at +300, “cornerback” at +400, and “wide receiver” at +500.

My money there is actually on a cornerback, at +400. Here are a few other interesting position props to keep you active during the Draft:

-Total Number of Quarterbacks

Drafted in Round 1

Over 4.5 -275/Under 4.5 +198

-Total Number of Running Backs

Drafted in Round 1

Over 1.5 -215/Under 1.5 +158

-Total Number of Tight Ends

Drafted in Round 1

Over 2.5 +198/Under 2.5 -280

-Total Number of Wide Receivers Drafted in Round 1

Over 3.5 -138/Under 3.5 +104

-Total Number of Defensive Backs Drafted in Round 1

Over 5.5 -188/Under 5.5 +140

-Total Number of Offensive Linemen Drafted in Round 1

Over 6.5 -112/Under 6.5 -118

-Total Number of Offensive Players Drafted in Round 1

Over 16.5 -400/Under 16.5 +270

-Total Number of Defensive Players Drafted in Round 1

Over 14.5 +270/Under 14.5 -400

Whatever you do, please gamble responsibly.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft:

WHAT TO WATCH

SPORTS TODAY

JETS ACQUIRE RODGERS IN BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

Aaron Rodgers is finally going to New York. After months of speculation — and expectation — Rodgers was finally traded to the New York Jets on Monday, officially ending his 18-year career with the Green Bay Packers.

In the trade, the Packers sent Rodgers, their 2023 first-round pick (No. 15), and a 2023 fifthround pick (No. 170) to New York. In exchange, the Jets sent their 2023 first-round pick (No. 13), a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207), and a conditional 2024 secondround pick to Green Bay.

That conditional second-round pick going to Green Bay can become a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays this season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The trade came just days before this weekend’s NFL Draft. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a press conference on Monday that he wanted to get the deal done before the draft, for obvious reasons.

“It wouldn’t have been the end of the world [if the trade happened after the draft], but at the same time, I think it would have certainly changed things quite a bit,” said the Packers GM. “So, getting it done was important. I just think certainly the capital for this year was very important, certainly more valuable than future

Tweet of the Week

stuff, for our football team. So, there were a number of reasons, but that’s why.”

Rodgers held the upper hand in trade negotiations, as he publicly stated he intended on playing for the Jets in 2023. Once the trade became official, Rodgers made a heartfelt post on instagram, thanking everyone in Green Bay.

The post read:

“Thank you. I’m not sure it’s possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the @packers, our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players that I crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people who I got to meet along the way, in one post with 10 pictures, but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, filled with love, joy, and peace about my time in green and gold.

I grew up in Green Bay, drafted at 21, fell in love with the game, met some lifelong friends, and take with me memories that will last a lifetime.

I’m grateful to the late Ted Thompson for drafting me, for my head coaches, especially the 13 years with Mike McCarthy, and the last 4 with Matt LaFleur. I had some incredible men to work with in the QB room over the years including

Tom, AVP, Luke, and Connor.

Huge thank you to my guys in the equipment room, Red, TBone, Odea, Kev, Bryan, Andy Grouber, All my dear friends in the training room over the years, Nate, Flea, Doc McKenzie, Doc Gray, Pepp, and Cuz. The legendary Adam Korzun and his incredible staff; Dougie, Crabby, and Scotty, for always looking out for me; Tom, Nate, Sarah, and Jason in PR, Evan for bringing my work life to film, The Rock and Wayne, for giving words to the highlights of my career, Grey, and Big Rob for your work with our guys over the years, Bloke, Thad, Grant and Gizz in the weight room, Bob Harlan, Russ Ball, Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst for your stewardship of the organization, every one on the 3rd and 4th floors who make that building run smoothly, and so many countless others at the loading dock, tours, concessions, maintenance, our field crew, etc.

To the fans, THANK YOU, you made every run out of the tunnel special, every home game magical, and it was my honor to be your QB.

To my teammates, I love you all, and am thankful for the moments on and off the field that brought us close. I played with legends, I played with friends; thanks for believing in me and having my back always.

APRIL 29

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Gm 7 (if necessary): Atlanta at Boston 7:30 P.M. TNT

NHL FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Gm 6 (if necessary): Boston at Florida TBD

This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you’ll always have my heart.”

A breakup like this one is never easy, for the player or the team. But both sides are showing nothing but respect for each other as they part ways.

“I know this: He’ll always be a Packer,” said Packers GM Gutekunst. “He’ll be one of the best who have ever done it around here. I have a lot of respect how he went about it, and he’ll be missed.”

SBT Staff