South Boston Today August 17 2023

Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new tax incentive program to help developers convert downtown office space to housing. Conversions remain relatively rare, but more cities are looking at ways to push them forward. This program would waive up to 75% of property taxes for up to 29 years for such conversions with the goal of addressing both commercial vacancies and housing shortages, The challenge is risky and expensive, and its success is yet to be realized nationwide as less than 500 conversions have occurred over the last 20 or so years, according to analyses.

Officials hope it can help address both the increased vacancy of commercial real estate downtown since the onset of the pandemic and the tight supply of housing citywide that’s been driving up costs for years. With downtowns around the country struggling in the wake of the

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EDITORIAL

With the coming of autumn, a traditional activity for families; especially families with small children often consists of a trip to a rural area/ a farm for a visit to a corn maze. If you’re not familiar with a corn maze and curious about what to expect, try driving around the streets of South Boston lately. It might give you an idea of what to expect. If you’re able to get off your block with your car, the odds are, you’ll immediately come face to face with a ‘Street Closed ‘or ‘Detour’ sign. As you change directions and head down what is a different street well known to you, you’ll probably encounter a friendly police officer waving you off telling you to seek an alternate route to your destination. As you back up your vehicle to obey the officer’s instructions, you’ll drive one block only to encounter another street cordoned off by ‘Caution Tape’ indicating that yup, that street is closed too, either be-

cause of construction or utility company repairs.

As frustration begins to set in and your temperature begins to rise, you find yourself pretty much driving around in circles in a town so familiar to you, that you’ve almost been able to navigate the streets blind folded if you had to - but no more. Not this summer , during the week during the day time.

This massive construction activity and total disruption of South Boston has now been going on for many months, but it has never been this bad. It seems now everywhere we look, no matter which direction we turn, there is construction, blocked streets and disarray, when all people are trying to do is get from one point to another. Now, leaving or entering this community is a major task. GPS can’t help, Marco Polo would find it difficult to discover a way in or out and it changes daily.

Call it a conspiracy theory,

but some residents are wondering if all of this, as intense as it is, isn’t a covert effort to make life living in South Boston; especially for longtime residents who are just not used to disruption, at least at this level, so miserable that they want to just pack up and move. Is that a far out theory? Probably. But as of late, most of what’s accused of being a conspiracy theory has proven to be true. We guess it’s up for debate.

When entering an actual corn maze, it’s difficult to know which way to turn first in order to get to through it and out of it. Will turning left to find the way out be the correct way? Maybe a right turn will do it. More often than not you come to a big wall of corn that blocks your path causing you to turn around and try a different route yet again. But navigating a corn maze is supposed to be fun; and it is. Navigating the streets of South Boston this summer is not.

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

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

Concert by The Swinging Standards at Compass on the Bay

August 17, 2023, 6:00 pm at Compass on the Bay Assisted Living and Memory Support Community, 1380 Columbia Road, South Boston. Join us for our Summers on the Lawn Concert Series as we listen to The Swinging Standards!

Music with Matt Browne at Compass on the Bay August 24, 2023, 6:00 pm at Compass on the Bay Assisted Living and Memory Support Community, 1380 Columbia Road, South Boston. Join us for our Summers on the Lawn Concert Series as we host Musician Matt Browne!

Variety Show by Richie Bern at Compass on the Bay August 31, 2023, 6:00 pm at Compass on the Bay Assisted Living and Memory Support Community, 1380 Columbia Road, South Boston. Join us for our Summers on the Lawn Concert Series as we host Richie Bern and his Variety Show!

There Is Another Clown Show But Most Aren’t Watching

With all the issues facing our great country such as (where to begin) skyrocketing prices on fuel, food, utilities, building supplies, bare shelves, inflation worse than it has been for 50 years, criminals overwhelming our open borders, crime rates soaring and pretty much the whole world laughing at us now, there are those who will swear that the Biden Regime and the Democrats in DC are doing just fine and our country is thriving. I’ll give some of them the benefit of the doubt and assume that when they say these things, they just don’t realize how foolish they sound to the overwhelming and growing number of Americans who can clearly see what’s happening to us.

“Biden didn’t say that. And if he did, he didn’t mean it. And if he did, you don’t understand it. And if you did, its not a big deal, and if it is, its taken out of context, and if it wasn’t, others have done it, and if they haven’t, at least mean Orangeman gone.”

This quote is from a meme going viral across the nation and much of the rest of the world. This is what people who are still, actually insisting that Joe Biden is doing a good job sound like to normal people.

Now, in a desperate effort to distract from all the real problems mentioned above facing the country, the clown show of Trump indictments continues. It seems each time Biden the father and Biden the son are implicated in ‘questionable dealings’ including money laundering and even bribes by foreign countries and Cocaine mysteriously showing up in the White House, they slap another indictment on Trump and the media runs with it all

but blocking out any mention of what the Biden’s might be up to. Hearings are taking place and it’s being run, live on all the liberal news networks. The number of people actually paying attention to this has dropped off dramatically; not that the numbers were that great anyway. Once people that tuned in saw for themselves that it was just another distraction and media witch hunt to get Trump, most of the relatively few that originally tuned in, tuned out. Americans have more important things to do than have their intelligence insulted.

Financial experts and some top economist have now run the numbers and their calculations are not good. It is estimated that the average family will now be paying; that is if they can even afford it, an additional $5,520 per year because of inflated prices on just about everything and it will get much worse if something isn’t done. Yet, instead of attempting to deal with this and bring relief to Americans, the Democrats in congress are still, after 6 long years of this nonsense, spending their time, their efforts and our tax dollars, trying to get Donald Trump.

Ah, but in Massachusetts there is an additional issue on their agenda and its another attempt to disarm law abiding citizens. The crime rate is soaring in major cities, because the left wingers in charge in some cases have hamstrung the police. In many places, they have stripped large amounts of funding from the police budgets and have limited the ability of the cops to do their jobs and enforce the law. In addition, violent criminals have been turned loose to continue their reign of terror on innocent people. In the mean time, the liberals in

power are frantically working to take gun rights away from law obeying citizens, which in a lot of cities leaves them defenseless since law enforcement has either been limited in what they can do anymore to protect. The bill at the Massachusetts State House is called HD4420 and the goal is to further chip away at the Second Amendment rights of citizens. So, reduced police protection and an attempt to deny people the right and the tools (guns) to defend themselves and their families is what’s creeping in slowly in Massachusetts. Think about this if you

will. What to do? Become prisoners in our own homes because the criminals will be the only ones with guns? Or tell the gun grabbing politicians where to go if they even try to disarm the people? The answer is simple for most Americans and it’s ‘don’t even try it’. This isn’t Europe or Canada. It won’t be tolerated here. And in answer to the question being asked by hand wringers as to why does anyone need certain types of firearms, let me answer for myself. The year is 2023, not 1812 and the bad guys are no longer carrying muskets.

John Ciccone

In MA, home-rule petition shapes the local law of the land. It’s a system that leaves cities and towns at the mercy of the Legislature when it comes to enacting everything from the mundane to major policy changes. Local petitions can address a range of complex issues, such as whether a town should implement ranked-choice voting or legally recognize domestic partnerships of three or more people — as Somerville has and Arlington is considering. Boston has sent at least nine home-rule petitions to Beacon Hill this year — including ones proposing rent control, placing a 2 percent tax on some real estate sales and expanding the number of

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.

restaurant and bar liquor licenses, to name a few.

Filed an average of 150 days ago, all except one petition to give Boston a seat on an MBTA board, are still pending. An amendment to the just-passed budget gave the city a long-wanted seat on the transit oversight board, rendering the petition moot. Three Boston petitions have seen hearings, session records reviewed by MASSterList reveal. And high-priority bills that would give Boston the option to cap rents or tax high-dollar property sales to raise money for affordable housing are stuck in limbo until lawmakers decide to act. Any home-rule petitions still stagnant come the end of

the current legislative session next year will die on the vine and must be refiled to find progress in a new session. Like most other legislation, home-rule petitions get snagged in the snail’s pace of lawmaking on Beacon Hill.

A Boston City Council staff analysis found out of roughly 100 home-rule petitions Boston filed with the Legislature from 2011 to 2021, fewer than half became law. Successful petitions puttered around Beacon Hill for about 10 months on average before lawmakers granted final approval. Petitions finding eventual success tend to be administrative — similar to one currently lying in wait that would waive the

Events Held Across The RCC Campus!

This two-day forum gives our community an opportunity to heal, prioritize wellness, and get moving! Featuring panel discussions, town hall forums, athletic events, and more, friends and supporters of all ages are invited to attend.

More details coming soon – including the full schedule for the Day of Play on September 30, from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

39-year-old age cutoff to become a Boston police officer — but for just one specific person. Unlike every current home-rule petition proposing substantive policy change, the petition dealing with police age requirement saw a quick hearing less than two weeks after its April 6 filing. Reported out of committee just over two months later, it is now poised for passage as it waits a third reading by the Legislature — one of few bills (home-rule or otherwise) to see progress at all in a session that’s so far been the least productive in roughly four decades.

By contrast, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s much-watched rent con-

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Thousands of local students have benefitted since 1991

Massport’s Community Summer Jobs Program Celebrates 2023 Season REP. BIELE HELPS PASS

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is celebrating another year of its Community Summer Jobs Program, which has supported thousands of local students through partnerships with community organizations. This year, 30 organizations received $650,000 in grant funding to support nearly 280 seasonal jobs.

The annual program is designed to help civic and social service agencies by providing funds to hire youth workers in Massport’s neighboring communities including Bedford, Charlestown, Chelsea, Concord, East Boston, Lincoln, Revere, South Boston, Winthrop, and Worcester. Without the assistance of Massport’s Community Summer

Jobs Program, many local organizations would not be able to offer affordable summer programs to local residents. Since 1991, over 9,000 local students have gained valuable work experience in various jobs, such as camp counselor, office assistant, maintenance worker and lifeguard, paid for by the grant.

“Massport is proud to partner with and support the great work of local non-profit groups and community organizations,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland.

“These summer jobs mean much more than a paycheck – they provide a great opportunity for young people to learn important life skills and gain professional, hands-on experience while giving back to their communities.”

The 2023 program supported the following local organizations:

Charlestown Boys & Girls Club

Charlestown Community Center

Chelsea Boys & Girls Club

Chelsea Department of Public Works

Community Action for Safe Alternatives (CASA)

Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC)

Condon Community Center

East Boston Community Development Corporation

East Boston Social Centers

East Boston YMCA

John F. Kennedy Family Service Center

La Colaborativa

Martin Pino Community Center

Maverick Landing Community Services

McDonough Sailing Center

Minute Man National Historical Park

Paris Street Community Center

Piers Park Sailing Center

Revere Recreation Department

Salesian Boys & Girls Club

South Boston Boys & Girls Club

South Boston Neighborhood House

Swift Waters After School Program

Town of Bedford

Town of Concord

Town of Lincoln

Tynan Community Center

Winthrop Parks & Recreation Department

Worcester County Horticultural Society

Worcester Neighborhood Summer Park Steward Program

MILLION BILL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs.

Under the legislation, the City of Boston is scheduled to receive over $14.9 million for local roadway, bridges, and infrastructure improvements.

This legislation also authorizes $175 million in programs that will support various transportationrelated projects. This includes $25 million for each of the following:

• the municipal small bridge program;

• the complete streets program;

• a bus transit infrastructure program;

• grants to increase access to mass transit and commuter rail stations;

• grants for municipalities and regional transit authorities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them;

• funding for pavement and surface improvements on state and municipal roadways; and

• new funding dedicated to additional transportation support based on road mileage.

Students participating in Massport’s Community Summer Jobs Program at South Boston Neighborhood House in South Boston

Recently, State Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that includes $375 million in bond authorizations for transportation needs across the state, including $200 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for

“I am proud to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to provide resources for improvements to roadways and brides in the City of Boston and across the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Biele. “This comprehensive piece of legislation highlights a commitment to improving our transportation system in the allocation of historic funding levels for municipal projects, providing local governments the tools they need to take on both maintenance tasks and invest in local infrastructure.”

The bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey.

I Was Just Thinking…

In Los Angeles, former supporters of liberal DA George Gascon have had enough and want him out because his progressive policies have created a Zombieland for those who reside there. It seems the latest “smash and grab” incident last Saturday at Nordstroms Topanga Mall when approximately fifty mobsters, yes mobsters, ransacked the store and walked away with 60-100k worth of merchandise, along with recent neighborhood B & E’s, were game changers.

by Kevin Devlin

Faced with the grim reality of violence and lawlessness, those who turned their back on the police and embraced soft-oncrime policies which have allowed criminals to do as they please without consequences, are beginning to change course. Now, they want prosecutors to truly prosecute and the police to protect them.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, so far this year, there have been 8,567 burglary cases and 19,724 personal and theft incidents.

LA citizens fear for their lives.

They want the police to protect them.

They want security guards working at malls armed so they can protect people from the thugs who are stealing and doing whatever they choose.

In Oakland, home to the dystopian Fentanyl Island, which could aptly be the setting for a movie entitled Escape from Oakland, the local NAACP chapter cited “Failed

leadership, including the movement to defund the police, our District Attorney’s unwillingness to charge and prosecute people who murder and commit life-threatening serious crimes, and the proliferation of antipolice rhetoric have created a heyday for Oakland criminals” which has resulted in “People are moving out of Oakland in droves…” because “They are afraid to venture out of their homes to go to work, shop, or dine.”

Crime has skyrocketed in our nation’s capital, with carjacking at the top of the list. Trayon White Sr., a Democratic D.C. city councilman, who originally voted to lower the criminal penalties which ironically included carjacking and armed carjacking, has called for the National Guard to intervene and restore order.

It’s so bad in San Francisco, a concerned street guide hoping to awaken city leaders to act instead of enabling said he’d conduct a “Doom Loop Walking Tour…” to show tourists the “blighted and crimeriddled areas…” of the city.

In Queens, New York, business owners, expanding on a pilot program, are now allowed to secure restraining orders against thieves, many of whom are repeat offenders. Law enforcement leaders hope the additional charge of trespass will deter shoplifters from terrorizing these businesses.

So, why is crime so rampant?

Who has helped feed this epidemic? You guessed it. Misguided leaders. Soft on crime policies. Defund the police initiatives.

The result?

Out of control crime. People fleeing the cities. Violence. Fear. A sense of hopelessness. Despair. Death.

Yes, folks, even liberals like the Reverend Al Sharpton, feel it is time to view the crime epidemic in a serious light.

Those they sought to protect were hurt the most.

Now they want law and order. Not chaos and disorder.

Finally, the light shines over marble head.

And it’s long overdue.

Office to Housing continued from front page

pandemic, the prospect of converting empty offices into full apartments has enticed many cities. Boston is among the first to put local tax incentives in place to encourage such projects. But several other cities are considering similar moves.

Promoting a better mix of uses in the office districts has been one of the city’s goals since before the pandemic began, Devin Quirk, deputy chief of the Boston Planning and Development Agency administering the city’s new incentive program, stated in a report by Governing-The Future of States and Localities. The city is in talks with a handful of developers about possibly moving ahead with projects, though officials wouldn’t say which developers. Quirk says he’s hoping the tax abatement, available for the next year, is enticing enough to push through deals that might otherwise languish.

“We are seeing a lot of cities wanting to study it,” says Kate Wittels, a partner at HR&A Advisors Inc., a New York-based consultancy group that Boston hired to study the cost and logistics of office-to-residential

conversions in the downtown area.

For Boston, HR&A built a “scenario analysis” tool to help officials understand how developers might view these projects, Wittels says.

The key consideration for owners is whether they can expect enough of a financial return from an occupied apartment building that it makes sense to spend the money converting the building from office space. While it can be cheaper to convert an existing building than to build a new one, it’s still quite costly in many cases. Developers often need investors to finance their projects, and investors want to see certain expected returns before they shell out money.

Wittels says the group zeroed in on building typologies to understand how conversion projects could work on a case-by-case basis, grouping its analysis to their shape, scale, and site characteristics. Boston’s downtown has some advantages in terms of the feasibility of conversion, with a lot of older office buildings, which tend to be more attractive for retrofitting.

“The incentive is time limited. What we’re trying to incentivize

is the conversion of these properties now. With interest rates being what they are, offering this incentive now makes it more likely that conversions will occur,” Quirk said. He acknowledges conversions are likely to remain a niche product. The program will be successful if it helps push three to five projects through in the next year, he says.

In the scheme of overall development, these conversions are rare.

According to an analysis by the commercial real estate firm CBRE, only 486 office buildings have been converted to housing nationwide since the year 2000, creating around 47,000 new residential units. That’s only about 1 percent of the overall housing production in that time. While the pandemic has helped make conversions marginally more attractive in some ways, it hasn’t changed the underlying economics of those deals. Conversions haven’t substantially increased during the pandemic, CBRE found, despite the “perfect cocktail” of low demand for office space and high demand for multifamily housing. “In a nutshell, conversion is not going to be the

savior for the housing shortage. Neither will it be the savior for record downtown office vacancy rates,” says Christina Tong, an economist at CBRE.

High interest rates are also making it harder to finance development projects. For some office buildings, retrofitting building layouts so they’re suitable for housing requires expensive engineering infrastructure. Builders may find it particularly challenging to finance those projects right now, says Clint Randall, research director at JLL in Philadelphia. “I think there’s absolutely an appetite for conversions, but in the very present moment we’re in it’s just, from an underwriting standpoint, close to impossible,” he says.

Does Boston have the experienced team in place to marshal, coordinate and fast-track the city’s resources and processes such as streamlining permitting processes for conversions, and assigning specific city employees to work with developers on those projects? When structuring incentives, cities need to take into continued on page 8

Reminder South Boston Community!

WW ll Vet Yolanda Cerullo To Celebrate Her 100th Birthday Saturday, August 19th, 1:00pm at Compass On The Bay. All are Invited!

On Saturday, August 19th, at 1:00 pm, a very special person will celebrate her 100th birthday. Yolanda Cerullo, a beloved resident at Compass On The Bay which is located at 1380 Columbia Road in South Boston. She has not only had a full and amazing life up to this point but is still going strong.

Yolanda is a veteran of the United Sates Coast Guard and served her country in World War ll. On the August 19th date she will be celebrated by her fellow veterans of all ages; including the Members of the Thomas Fitzgerald Post and the post commander Thomas McCarthy as well as nonveterans alike for her outstanding military service for which she received an honorable discharge.

The community is invited to gather on the green in front of Compass On The Bay at 1:00pm, where Yolanda will be honored and presented with congratulatory citations. Birthday cake and other refreshments will be served and everyone in attendance will be invited to celebrate with her. In addition to the gathering on the green, there will be an old-fashioned Southie style motorcade in her honor. Anyone who would like to participate in the motorcade is asked to gather at the Boston Teacher’s Union Hall parking lot at 1:00 pm. The motorcade will leave from there at 1:20pm and head off to Yolanda’s

party on the green at ‘Compass’ and parade by; with horns beeping as they pass as a tribute to Yolanda.

Everyone who has had the pleasure to know and to meet Yolanda Cerullo, is taken by her kindness and friendly smile. She loves to be around people; make new friends and enjoys good conversation. Yolanda and her late brother Ottavio Cerullo; raised in East Boston, became residents of Compass by the Bay together. Ottavio, also veteran of World War ll, was celebrated in the same manner 2 years ago when he turned 100 years old. It was a great turn out for Ottavio, and it’s hoped that there will be the same for Yolanda on August 19th.

As was previously stated, Yolanda Cerullo has led an active life. After her military service she became a greeter for MGM Studios. A college graduate, where she took night courses to get her degree, she has worked in the offices of several law firms and at the Massachusetts State House. As a girl and young woman, she was an excellent and accomplished athlete, participating in many sports activities and she particularly loves to swim. She likes to garden, is an animal lover and has a particular affinity for dogs. She also has great skill at sewing and has often made her own clothes.

Yolanda Cerullo is truly a remarkable woman. As was stated, she plans to continue enjoying life to the fullest. She would really love to see

her South Boston neighbors; veterans and nonveterans alike, come by on Saturday, August 19th at 1:00 pm to help her celebrate her 100th birthday. It would do her loving heart good and would be sure to bring smiles to the face of this beautiful lady as well as to all who come to wish her Happy Birthday.

Southie motorcade will meet at BTU at 1:00pm. Flags, horns, birthday wishes, balloons, let’s do this Southie style!

Guy The Wine

It’s Time

It’s the middle of August and in France, especially the south, it’s what they call “le temps facile’, the easy time. While you may not be planning on being in or around Nice, especially Ste. Paul a Vance or my favorite, Eze, the following can get you a bit closer; just close your eyes and sip…

Château La Gordonne, Le Cirque des Grives, 2021, ($24.99). A sumptuous wine with a compelling oily texture, satisfying layers of melon fruit drizzled in acacia honey, shavings of white chocolate and musty sprinklings of white pepper that will really wake up your palate. The finish is lingering and savory, bringing an elegance to this graceful, complex wine.Have it by

Office to Housing from page 6

consideration other public policy objectives. Boston has inclusionary affordability requirements that can lower the return for new housing and green building standards that can raise costs. Both are important, HR&A’s Wittels says, but may need to be offset with tax breaks or other incentives if officials want to make conversion projects happen quickly. “Understanding how rational developers make decisions is important, and thinking through, ‘OK, where is the range where I can get a reasonable, positive net present value?”, she says.

Office-to-residential conversions may not solve housing affordability challenges or rescue downtowns from runaway vacancy. But every project that does get finished can help make downtowns a bit more vibrant. “We know single-use districts don’t work for anyone,” Wittels says. “Mixed-use districts work better for everyone.”

itself or the way the locals do, with seafood, a Salade Nicoise or some local cheese on a fresh baguette.

Ma Mie Provence Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France, ($12.99). Ma Mie Provence Rosé is a delightful and elegant drop that captures the essence of the Provence region in France. Crafted with meticulous care and attention to detail, this rosé wine offers a remarkable drinking experience. It refreshes with its enchanting pale pink color, reminiscent of delicate rose petals. The hue is soft and inviting, reflecting the wine’s grace and sophistication. Its visual appeal sets the stage for a memorable tasting journey. Vibrant notes of fresh strawberries, juicy watermelon, and ripe raspberries fill

the air, creating an enticing olfactory experience. Subtle floral undertones and a hint of citrus zest add layers of complexity, enhancing the wine’s overall aromatic profile.

2022 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé, Provence, France, ($33.99). Bandol is a key appellation of the Provence wine region in far southeastern France. Created in 1941, the title covers red, white and rosé wines from roughly 1550 hectares (3830 acres) of vineyards around the Mediterranean coastal town of Bandol. Bandol rosé wines, which account for about a third of total output, are known for their spicy, earthy character and rank among the more distinguished rosés that France has to offer. Like the reds, they are made from a blend that is dominated by Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsaut. Alexandre Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo famously enjoyed a glass of Bandol rose “bien frais”. You might want to try it with some oysters on the half shell or perhaps some fresh Calamari.

Not all great Rose wines come from Provence; further south of that region lies the Iberian Peninsula, better known as Spain. The 2022 Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa, Spain, ($16.99) is from

Window continued from page 4 trol petition — filed on the same April day, as the police petition — is still hanging in no man’s land awaiting a hearing before the Joint Committee on Housing. Chairwoman Sen. Lydia Edwards of East Boston has loosely targeted October to open discussion on rent stabilization, a version of which the House shot down in 2020. Housing advocates have pivoted amid lawmakers’ tepid reception of rent control, shifting focus to a petition for permission to tax high-dollar real estate sales to raise money for affordable housing. Boston and about a dozen other towns are behind it.

Anyone but him: New PAC opposing Boston Councilor Ricardo Arroyo to fund opposition campaigns.

Opponents are organizing to unseat Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, an official from one of the city’s most prominent political families, reports Chris Van Buskirk for The Boston Herald. A group linked to many top Democrats in the state on Monday launched an independent spending committee to fund opposition campaigns ahead of a preliminary election next month where Arroyo will fight to keep his seat. The “Enough is Enough” independent expenditure political action committee was filed with the state’s campaign finance office by the Chick Montana Group.

the Rioja Alta region, which is one of three sub-regions of Spain’s celebrated Rioja wine region. It occupies the westernmost portion of the region, with the majority of its vineyards lying south of the Ebro River. This one is more complex, which is due in part to the grapes used in making it. The main grape is Tempranillo, which imparts a spicy character and Garnacha, providing a fullness which you won’t find in too many Rose wines. Delicious, nevertheless.

Domaine des Carteresses ,Tavel Rose, ($15.99) comes from another famous-and old, even by French standards-region that’s been producing outstanding Rose wine for centuries. Wine Spectator has given this wine 92 points, saying, “This wine is one of the best values in French rosé, especially from Tavel, the Domaine Carteresse is a bone dry rosé made from Grenache, Mourvedre, Clairette, Picopul and Syrah. This perfect summer sipper matches well with tapenade, grilled fish and Bouillabaisse.”. Well, all this having been said, I would say your next move should be to hunt these out and have a little “Temps facile” for yourself.

Eyesore no more: Town turns strip mall into new housing that could point to potential solution for statewide shortage.

Breathing new life into what had become defunct strip malls in Woburn, the town netted 325 new apartments of which 25% were affordable. It’s a potential solution to address a growing housing shortage that’s sent rents soaring statewide. GBH’s Liz NeisLoss reports more than 3,000 strip malls across Greater Boston are “underutilized, underperforming or obsolete,” according to a Metropolitan Area Planning Council study, which found they’d be ideal for helping solve the region’s housing crisis. If only 10% of those old malls were rebuilt to add

Suicide on the rise in Massachusetts after years of decline.

A slight increase in suicides in Massachusetts last year is the first bump in suicides in the state in four years, reports Lynn Jolicouer for WBUR, who notes it comes as suicides nationally reach an all-time high. State officials overseeing suicide prevention are concerned the uptick could signal the post-pandemic problem has hit home in the Bay State. Preliminary CDC data show 626 people died by suicide in Massachusetts. That’s up 3.6% from 2021.

Boston Centers for Youth & Families To Host Two Lifeguard Hiring Events

Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is hosting two free lifeguard hiring events on Wednesday, August 23 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, August 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the BCYF Mason Pool in Roxbury. Any Boston residents with valid lifeguard certification who are interested in working as a lifeguard at a BCYF pool are invited to attend one of the events.

The lifeguard hiring events will combine all the necessary steps to become a lifeguard for a City of Boston pool in one location. These include a swim evaluation, skill evaluation, interview, and paperwork processing. Full-time and parttime positions are available as well as Head Lifeguard positions.

BCYF lifeguard positions start at $22/hour and all lifeguards, even those who work part-time hours, are eligible for all the benefits available to City of Boston employees, including generous health, dental and retirement benefits as well as paid vacation. With pools located in almost every neighborhood of Boston, working at a BCYF pool is a great way to serve your community.

Interested candidates must be at least 18 years old and should bring the following: at least two references, contact information we can follow up on, a state ID or license, and American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification. Proof of Boston residency will be required later in the application process. We recommend signing up at this link: bit.ly/BCYFLifeguardHiringEvent. However walkins are welcome. If you are interested and can’t stop by, more information about lifeguarding at BCYF as well as the link to apply can be found at Boston/ gov/BCYF-Aquatics.

Virtual Public Meeting

232 A Street

September 11, 2023

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Project Proponent:

Tischman Speyer

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/232A-0911

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 882 6000

The proposed project will construct a single-building 455,050 gsf lab/office/R&D development located at 232 A Street on G8 parcel of 100 Acres Planned Development Area plus waterfront park on adjacent G7 parcel along Fort Point Channel.

mail to: Nick Carter

B oston Planning & Development Agency

O ne City Hall Square, 9th Floor

B oston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.5303

email: nick.carter@boston.gov

Close of Public Comment Period: 9/20/2023

website: bit.ly/232-a-street

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

BCYF Mason Pool is located at 159 Norfolk Ave in Roxbury. Parking is available next to the pool or on nearby streets or it’s a short walk up Proctor Street from any of the buses that serve Massachusetts Avenue.

The City of Boston is working across departments to renovate several city-owned pools following years of disinvestment. Over the last 3 months, the City has reopened the BCYF Paris Street Pool in East Boston and the BCYF

Hennigan Pool in Jamaica Plain. The BCYF Paris Street Pool reopening was the result of a $10.2 million investment. More pools will be reopened in the coming months and this hiring event is seeking lifeguards to help staff them and other BCYF pools.

Lifeguard recruitment and pool renovations are part of Mayor Wu’s Swim Safe initiative, a commitment to support Boston residents’ safety around water.

Virtual Public Meeting

617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St

September 12, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Proponent: Mark Little

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/617DotAve

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 861 2374

The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and s takeholder. 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 9/12/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date. Meeting of the general public to review the proposed 617 Dorchester Ave project in South Boston. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A.

This meeting will focus on 617 Dorchester Ave, Sout h Boston by the BPDA.

mail to: Tyler Ross

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.4214

email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

website: bit.ly/617DorchesterAve

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Why would anyone in New England react negatively towards the Patriots signing Ezekiel Elliott?

This is one of those moves where I feel I live on an entirely different planet than some people around here. Like, OK, the Patriots are giving Elliott a one-year deal that could be worth up to $6 million. And you’re unhappy about that, why?

Sure, Elliott had the worst season of his career in 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys. But imagine having the worst season of your career and still being top five in the NFL in rushing touchdowns? For all of the talk about Elliott’s downfall, his 12 rushing touchdowns last season ranked fourth for all running backs in the league, just five shy of the leader, Detroit’s Jamaal Williams, who had 17 rushing touchdowns, and just one behind Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who had 13.

And oh yea, Elliott’s 12 rushing touchdowns last season more than doubled what the Patriots’ projected No. 1 running back Rhamondre Stevenson finished with last season. Stevenson had just five rushing touchdowns last year. In his two NFL seasons, he has a total of 10

rushing touchdowns. That’s two less than Elliott had in what everyone is calling the worst season of his career.

I’ll take it.

There’s literally nothing bad about the Patriots signing Ezekiel Elliott. At 28 years old — just three years older than Stevenson — if Elliott continues to “decline” then the Patriots can just cut him and end that experiment just as quickly as they brought him in.

But I have a very good feeling about this move. As previously mentioned, Elliott is still in his 20’s. And a change of scenery might be the very thing that he needs to get back to that 1,000-yard rushing season he had as recently as 2021.

Spending seven seasons in Dallas, where it’s heartbreaking season after heartbreaking season, can’t be good for the soul. Now, he’ll be coached by Bill Belichick, who I’m assuming has a plan for Elliott.

Many here in New England are assuming that Belichick’s plan will be to use Elliott strictly as a 3rd-andshort or a goal-line back. But I’m not so sure about that.

Fans and media alike seem to have an unconditional love for Stevenson, similar to how they have an uncon-

ditional love for Mac Jones. But where has that gotten them?

Is it really all that impossible for Elliott to rediscover some of that Pro Bowl magic? I don’t think so. And I don’t think Belichick thinks it’s impossible either.

At the very least, it’s worth kicking the tires on. Which is why nobody in New England should be complaining or second-guessing this move.

—I’m not surprised that David Krejci is retiring. After seeing Patrice Bergeron announce his decision to walk away, I fully expected Krejci to join him.

This one doesn’t hurt as much though, because it’s felt like Krejci’s already been gone for a few years. He left the organization to go play at home two summers ago. Last summer he returned. But I guess I never fully got over him leaving in the first place.

Weird, I know. But that’s just the way I feel. And then to add on a brutal first-round collapse in the playoffs, me, personally, I’m not all that broken up about Krejci leaving for a second time.

The Boston Bruins are obviously better off with Krejci than without him. But if Bergeron is gone, then

it’s time for major changes anyways. Krejci did have some interesting things to say to the media on Tuesday though, one day after announcing his retirement. He said that his retirement was from the NHL and not hockey altogether, hinting that he could play for his home country in the 2024 World Championships.

“I retired from NHL because I know my body can’t take the whole season,” said Krejci. “I have things that I would have to get done, which would involve surgery. And at my age, I’m not ready to do that. I don’t want to do that anymore. But this year, the World Championship is in Prague, in my hometown. I never played there. So, that’s something, it’s just kind of in the back of my head.

“I’m definitely not going to play anywhere the whole year,” added Krejci. “If I decide to keep going, it will be definitely after New Year’s. But we’ll see what happens.”

Imagine if Krejci and Bergeron return to Boston for a second-half playoff run? Sorry, now I’m just being ridiculous.

Or am I?

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny shared his thoughts on some of the top stories in the sports world:

PATRIOTS SIGN ELLIOTT TO ONE-YEAR DEAL

Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.

The deal includes a $3 million base salary and a $1 million signing bonus, which could be worth up to $6 million with incentives, according to multiple reports.

Elliott, 28, spent the first seven years of his NFL career with the Cowboys, where he was a three-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in rushing twice, in 2016 and 2018. Elliott has rushed for over 1,000 yards four times. He has a total of 68 rushing touchdowns in 103 career games.

Last season, Elliott had a career-low 876 rush yards in 15 games. But he did finish with 12 rushing touchdowns.

The Patriots already have a No. 1 running back in Rhamondre Stevenson. Last year, in his second NFL season, Stevenson had just 5 rushing touchdowns while finishing with 1,040 rush yards in 17 games.

Elliott is expected to be with the Patriots in Green Bay as they take on the Packers this Saturday night in Week 2 of the preseason.

Tweet of the Week

KREJCI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Just weeks after Patrice Bergeron officially hung up his skates, fellow Boston Bruins center David Krejci also announced his retirement on Monday.

Krejci, 37, spent part of 16 seasons with Boston, finishing his career with 786 regular-season points in 1,032 games. His 786 career points ranks ninth in Bruins history. Krejci’s 555 career assists ranks fifth in team history.

On Monday, Krejci said goodbye to the game and the Bruins in a retirement letter on the team website:

“After 15 full NHL seasons I have decided to retire from the best league in the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cam Neely and Don Sweeney for allowing me to take my time with my decision and announcement.

I also want to thank the Jacobs family and the entire Bruins organization for believing in me over and

over again and giving me the opportunity to be part of this amazing family for so many years.

When I was drafted in 2004, I had no idea that I would be working with such incredible and driven people who would lead us to 3 Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the ultimate goal in 2011.

I have made so many great friendships throughout the organization. You have always been there for me whenever I needed something and I will always be here for you.

To my teammates - I have been very lucky to be on so many good teams and play with so many great players. You always start as coworkers but end as friends, and I’m so proud to have met some of my closest friends over the years. That’s the best part about our sport.

Thank you to all the coaching staffs I was lucky to have in my career - I was coached by some of the best coaches in the world.

Thank you to my agents for all you have done for me since my teenage years.

To my mom and dad - Thank you for letting me chase my dream of playing in the NHL. Being a father, I now realize how hard it had to be to send your kid to another continent with no English. Without your support, my NHL dream would still be a dream and not reality.

To my brother Zdenek - We dreamt the same thing as kids but only one of us was fortunate to experience it. You never complained and you were never jealous of me - you were the exact opposite of that. I don’t think you understand how much influence you have had on my career, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my wife Naomi and my kids Elina and Everett - As I’m writing this and hearing you and the kids playing and being really loud it makes me happy that I get to experience it in real life and not over the phone when we are on trips far away. You understood all the hard work I had to put in and all the hours in the summer to get ready for a new season. You always listened when I was in my lows and gave me strength and the right advice. Now it’s time for me to try to be the best husband and father I can be and support you in our next chapter in life.

I want to thank the media - I really appreciate all of you even if I don’t like speaking too much … I will miss you.

And to Bruins fans and the city of Boston - THANK YOU. You have always treated me with nothing but respect and I will be forever grateful. I will miss playing in front of you, but I am and always will be a Bruin.”

SBT Staff

SBT Staff

In Honor of La Madonna Del Soccorso Di Sciacca

Boston’s Oldest Continuous Italian Festival

AUGUST 17 -20, 2 023

North, Fleet & Lewis Streets in Boston’s North End

Thursday Aug 17th

6:00pm

Opening Ceremonies: La Madonna Del Soccorso will process to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park for the Annual Blessing of the Fishing Waters.

7:30pm

Italian American of the Year Award Presentation to:

Saturday Aug 19th

12:30pm

Join the Children of the Fisherman's Society as they process their statue around the festival.

1:00pm-2:00pm

Classic Italian Games and activities on the Mainstage

2:30pm-5:30pm

Sunday Aug 20th

10:30am

High Mass at St Leonard ’s Church

12:30pm

Nine Hour Grand Procession of La Madonna through the streets of the North End, accompanied by several Marching Bands

1:00pm-2:00pm

8:30pm-10:30pm

Introducing Una Serata Italiana

Featuring Recording Artists: Charlie P, Lisa Mesina John Micalizzi, and Angelo Venuto

Friday Aug 18th

4:30pm Fisherman’s Feast Carnivale Show: Parade through the Feast grounds with a Carnivale style float and dancers.

5:00pm-6:00pm

Beverly Richard’s Dance Studio

7:00pm-8:00pm

Italian American Favorites by Jimmy Geany

8:30pm-10:30pm

An additional performance by Recording Artists : Charlie P, Lisa Mesina John Micalizzi, and Angelo Venuto

More info at FISHERMANSFEAST.COM

The 5th Annual Fisherman ’s Feast Best Meatball Competition: 10-12 Restaurants competing for who has the best meatball, Featuring special guest MC and judges. Take part in choosing who has the best meatballs !

3:30pm-4:30pm & 6:30pm-7:30pm

Music by Enzo Amara

8:00pm-10:30pm

BILLY AND THE JETS: Singing the hits of Elton John and Billy Joel

ALL WEEKEND

Fisherman’s Feast

Cooking Demonstrations : Bono Olive Oil and Lilly’s Pasta Present: MasterChef 10 contestant Kenny Palazzolo, along with various local and celebrity chefs will showcase their talents and share recipes. Stop by and witness each demonstration and learn secrets from the experts

Children's Activities: At the Main Stage

2:30pm-7:30pm

Old Time Favorites by the Reminisants

7:30pm-10:30pm

Doo-Wop Acapella by Street Magic

8:00pm

THE FAMOUS FLIGHT OF THE ANGEL

The statue of the Madonna Del Soccorso returns to North Street for the Grand Finale

She is welcomed back by devotees, and a crowd of enthusiastic spectators, for our ANGEL CEREMONY

Upon the completion of the ceremony spectators are showered with confetti that fall from the rooftops.

This years Flying Angel is April Palazzolo Cedano with side angels

Jillian Fialkosky and Sarah Bramante

National Geographic calls it “A spectacle NOT to be missed!”