South Boston Today September 7 2023

Are Plans In The Works To Begin Transformation To Car Banning?

For the last 100 years, the car has come to dominate the urban landscape. Streets have been widened in many cities to accommodate automobiles, and huge amounts of space are given over to parking them. Private vehicles have revolutionized mobility, but they have also introduced problems from air pollution to traffic accidents. And today a small but growing number of cities are trying to design the car out of the urban landscape altogether.

XBoth Oslo in Norway and the Spanish capital Madrid have made headlines in recent years for their plans to ban cars from their centers – although neither have entirely got rid of them yet.

Their moves toward this, however, represent a broader trend in cities to make driving more difficult. Whether it’s London’s congestion charges, Mexico City’s

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Does Harvard University Hate America?

Boston is a city known for its great hospitals, unique tourist attractions such as museums and famous landmarks and also for its colleges and universities. Harvard University has long been considered if not THE best school in the country or at the very least right up there close to the top. The prestige of possessing a degree from Harvard University has been a given for many years. Having that diploma has long been known to open many doors when it comes to landing high paying jobs and acquiring memberships and entrance to exclusive clubs and organizations. To say that Harvard has been a wellrespected institute of higher learning over the centuries would be an understatement. But like most everything else, things can change.

While Harvard has, over the years, received positive awards and kudos from any number of well-known sources, it recently was given a title or designation that it should not be proud of and is an embarrassment to so

many of its current students and graduates. Just recently, Harvard has been named the worst college in America for suppressing the cherished American right of ‘Freedom of Speech’. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has released its annual ratings for schools that protect, defend and even allow the First Amendment rights and Harvard came in as a big fat ‘ZERO”. That’s right, Harvard has been declared to be at the very bottom of the barrel when it comes to allowing freedom of speech and freedom of expression. In fact, a spokes-

person for the foundation described freedom of speech and expression on Harvard’s campus as ‘Abysmal’ and that the score of Zero is actually a gift.

The large majority of Harvard students surveyed stated bluntly that they just don’t feel comfortable daring to disagree with the political views of their professors and in many cases feel that doing so could have a negative impact on their grades.

America is a unique coun-

try, and the First Amendment to our constitution is precious to most people. It’s something that few other places in the world have. But it seems; according to the findings and rankings of the survey and after speaking to the students themselves, it really doesn’t matter to those who run Harvard. Their ideology and agenda take precedence over America’s Constitution.

How far has Harvard fallen since its heyday of greatness? It would appear the decline

continues as it gets worse each year as far as freedom of speech and freedom to express one’s views is concerned. Its score on this issue gets lower by the year and in 2023, it has finally reached rock bottom. There is even a bestselling book that was published titled ‘Harvard Hates America’, written by John LeBoutillier. With the disregard and lack of respect the school shows for cherished American rights, that title seems fitting.

Doubts About A ‘Climate Emergency’ Continue To Rise

In so many Blue State cities around the country, including Boston, there is a frantic ‘green movement’ with the stated goal of combating “Climate Change”. The big rush to discourage people from owning motor vehicles, especially the fossil fuel powered kind, the push to take away driving lanes and parking spaces to make room for bicycle routes, the plans to make everything electric in order to stop carbon omissions is the ‘cause celeb’ or latest virtue signaling fad and so many other schemes that will of course result in raising everyone’s taxes is in full swing. There is a ‘climate emergency’ we are hysterically being warned, and if we don’t act now, with more sacrifices and taxes, the Human Race is doomed.

Well, everyone has their own opinion on this topic, and for awhile, the belief in a ‘climate emergency’ was nearly universal. The promotional budget –money being spent, to push that point of view seems to be limitless. But studies now say that more people doubt that there really is a climate emergency. And it’s no longer just people believed to be conspiracy theorists.

Now, even a growing number of scientists are coming out and disputing it. This brings me to the recent statement and declaration, reportedly signed by more than one thousand scientists that have stated that there is NO climate emergency. The said declaration was released by the ‘Global Climate Intelligence Group’. No one denies that the climate is changing. What is being disputed is that it’s a relatively recent phenomenon and that it’s being caused by human activity. What they say IS happening, is the natural cause of events. The declaration, after much research, is that the climate has always been changing and has been since as long as the Earth has existed. Riding bi-

cycles and giving up eating meat etc. does nothing nor will anything else humans can do.

As I said, everyone has their own thoughts on Climate Change and people have every right to believe what they want to believe. Personally, I’m certainly no expert on the matter, but what gives me reason to question it is that those pushing warnings to start giving up our conveniences or the planet will be destroyed, are not giving up anything themselves. For example, why, if Global Warming is causing the oceans to rise and will result in coastal cities being under water, are these same people who are pushing this belief, buying ocean front mansions? If carbon emissions from our vehicles, our gas and wood stoves, furnaces and air conditioners (and of course cow flatulence), causing Climate Change, why do Al Gore, John Kerry (Biden’s climate czar) and every politician and Hollywood actor so active in stopping fossil fuels still fly around in their private jets and sail their massive yachts? Even the insufferable Greta Thunberg, the child being used by leftist adults to lecture and scold the world about the coming demise of the earth, flies to climate conferences on fossil fueled jets.

It’s for the above reasons that so many people, many former believers, are becoming skeptical and why concern about ‘climate change’ is nowhere near the top of the lists of issues people care about. They are being preached to by so called experts who say to the world – do what we say, not what we do.

Moving on, the mayor of Braintree was recently given the courtesy of a phone call by Massachusetts governor Healy informing him that she would be moving large numbers of illegal migrants into vacant hotels in that town. The Braintree mayor was never consulted prior to this move. The same is

happening to other communities in the Bay State. But the places we can be sure that will NOT be on the list in the state are Wellesley, Beverly, Nantucket and of course Martha’s Vineyard. We all remember when the Florida governor flew 50 illegal migrants to the oh so welcoming and tolerant Vineyard. 150 National Guard soldiers were activated, deployed and removed the new arrivals from the Vineyard within 48 hours. Still no word what plans Massachusetts has to provide housing to our homeless veterans or how many illegals the governor herself will invite to stay in her home.

Americans are preparing for the new

push for lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccinations, as the next presidential election draws closer. What those pushing for it don’t seem to get is the massive noncompliance by the people that the new Covid scare will be met with. The scare pushers will insist everyone stay at home, wear masks, churches, small businesses, and schools close, large gatherings be banned and so on. We know the drill by now. But as we’ve seen the last time around, it’s important to remember that those demanding we give up so much, will themselves, be giving up nothing. Just like those pushing the Climate Change issue.

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY

John Ciccone

TAX CREDIT IN LIMBO

Over three-quarters of Bay Staters support the crown jewel centerpiece of state officials’ long-promised, and long-delayed, tax relief plan — though there’s no word on when it might be delivered to them, as lawmakers enter their sixth week of a long summer break.

A new poll by MassINC and sponsored by the Economic Security Project found that 77 percent of 1,013 residents surveyed this August support the revised child and family tax credit that is lumped into a larger tax package that has been tied up in legislative negotiations since June. Support rises to 86 percent among respon -

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.

dents with children.

When Gov. Maura Healey first rolled out her $859 million tax relief package — which over the course of budget negotiations has shrunk to $581 — she proposed creating a $600 refundable credit for each qualifying dependent, including children younger than 13 years old, adults who are disabled, and seniors. The measure combines the existing Household Dependent Care Tax Credit while removing a cap on dependents and increasing the total benefit. Altogether, the administration estimates the new child and family tax credit would apply to 700,000 taxpayers who care for

more than 1 million dependents.

The House also included the $600 credit in its version of the package, although lawmakers planned to roll it out over three years. The Senate offered up a more limited proposal, only increasing the tax credit from $180 to $310 per child. Although there seems to be some consensus on wanting to simplify the clunky child and dependent tax credit process and increase relief for families, the devil is in the details, which Democrats have now been negotiating for over two months.

“This tax credit can help me provide my kids with a warm meal after school,” said a father

of six, in a press release from the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition about the poll. “I can take them to the mall and have them pick out a piece of clothing they want… it will allow my kids to play sports in school because I will finally be able to afford the gear they need to stay safe”

But even with widespread support, it remains to be seen long residents will wait for Beacon Hill to act with the urgency they purport to feel. Then again, it’s only been 557 days and two gubernatorial administrations since the former governor originally pitched relief for struggling families.

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Council President Flynn Schedules Hearing to Bring all City of Boston Meetings Back In-Person with Hybrid Accessibility for Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Attorney General Certifies 34 Ballot Petitions

Boston City Council President Flynn has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m. to discuss bringing all City of Boston Meetings, abutters meetings, City Council committee hearings and related business back in person, with a hybrid option for accessibility and persons with disabilities. The hearing will also discuss bringing back meetings including the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Licensing Board, Cannabis Board, and Boston Planning and Development Agency Board (BPDA).

This hearing order was filed in June in part to reevaluate the practice of remote-only City of Boston meetings in an effort to return to a sense of normalcy, with the federal government having announced the end of national and public health emergencies earlier this year. It comes in response to reports of high office

Hearts, Hugs & Hope: A Virtual Alzheimer’s Support Group Offered by Compass on the Bay

September 21, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. This group will be held in conjunction

vacancies and a slower economic recovery of the Financial District and Downtown Crossing. In addition, business leaders have also expressed serious concerns about the future of the city’s office space, and asked for assistance from local, state, and federal officials to play a key role in helping to bring more workers and foot traffic back Downtown.

While foot traffic in Downtown is rebounding, it is rebounding unevenly in different parts of Downtown. Foot traffic in the two zip codes that make up the Financial District is still at 47.8% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, and office vacancies overall are at 20.4%. Reports indicated that the first quarter of the year saw 3.4 million square feet of negative net absorption in office spaces in Boston, marking the fourth consecutive quarter in which companies are putting space back on the market. Conversations with commercial real estate executives, restaurants, coffee shops, and other small businesses owners in Downtown have also highlighted serious concerns about the future of Downtown.

Resuming City of Boston Board Meetings in person, with a hybrid option for public accessibility and persons with disabilities, would allow for all members of the various

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.

city boards, attorneys representing clients, proponents of a particular project, interested members of the public, and City Hall staff to return on site and provide the potential to support our local economy by visiting restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses. All City Council committee hearings returning in person could possibly have a similar economic effect as well.

“Downtown Boston plays a key role in driving our economy. It wasn’t all that long ago that we all made it a central focus to support our small businesses when we saw the pandemic disrupt our local restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Once again, local businesses are asking the government to do all that we can to support them, and I think it’s critical that the city continue to examine any and all ways to bring foot traffic back Downtown,” said Council President Flynn. “I want to thank Mayor Wu and her team for their continued efforts on this important issue. I am hoping for a productive conversation as we work to continue to bring foot traffic, business, and vibrancy back onto our streets.”

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

WARD 7 COMMITTEE MEETING

Friday, September 8, 2023 at 6:00PM The Ward 7 Democratic Committee will meet to discuss the addition of new members, the election of officers and consider endorsements for the upcoming election.

The meeting will be held at Ironworkers Local 7, 195 Old Colony Avenue, South Boston, MA 02127

Thirty-four initiative petitions have cleared a key hurdle on their journey to voters after Attorney General Andrea Campbell certified the measures as in line with the state constitution.

Campbell began reviewing the 38 ballot measures and four constitutional amendments submitted by citizens and groups about a month ago. Seven of the proposals did not meet the letter of the law, and one constitutional amendment was withdrawn by its petitioner.

The remaining measures include notable efforts, like the repeal of MCAS testing as a requirement to graduate from high school, legalizing naturally occurring psychedelics, changing the gas tax, providing the full minimum wage for tipped workers and a new bid by companies like Uber and GrubHub to reclassify their employees in Massachusetts as freelancers.

Campbell’s certification will vault some petitions to the next stage of the initiative process: gathering signatures.

Backers of proposed laws must gather just under 75,000 voter signatures before Dec. 6 in order to send their initiatives to the state Legislature for consideration. If lawmakers don’t act before May, backers have to gather another 12,500 signatures by July 3 to get on the November ballot.

The three proposed constitutional amendments face a different process. Two consecutive joint sessions of the state Legislature must approve any amendment by a margin of 25 percent or higher. If any of the proposed amendments get those two approvals, the earliest any constitutional amendment could appear on the ballot is November 2026.

LTE

Dear Editor:

We are writing regarding a letter written by the South Boston elected officials, signed by Ed Flynn, City Council President, Michael Flaherty, City Councilor At Large, Nick Collins, State Senator, David Biele, State Representative and Stephen Lynch, United States Congressman to Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets for the City of Boston. This letter expressed frustration and despair at Mayor Wu’s determination to proceed with the Summer Street bus lane “pilot project”.

A link to the proposed pilot may be viewed here: https://www.boston.gov/ sites/default/files/file/2023/08/Summer%20St%20Pilot%20Plans_2.pdf

More about the proposed pilot can be seen here: https://www.boston. gov/departments/transportation/ summer-street-multimodal-corridorimprovements#corridor-improvement

Despite the concerns of our Elected Officials, Mayor Wu plans to proceed with her pilot program. Currently signs are up all along the east side of L and Summer Street for the lane striping work to commence.

Flynn, Flaherty, Collins, Biele and Lynch expressed outrage that appropriate community feedback has not been afforded to this proposed project. Taking parking spaces away from residents and businesses without reasonable commu-

nity input is a strange way to proceed.

It is harder to be a small business owner today than in any time in recent history. Increased inflation, sky-rocketing interest rates, increased insurance costs - all of them are forcing unprecedented hardship on business owners. Now without the parking making business accessible for their customers? It seems an undue burden to bear.

Why is City Hall working actively against the business community? Boston derives 75% of its income from commercial tax dollars. The commercial tax rate is approximately 2 1/2 times that of the residential tax rate. The “public process” in retrospect, is not seemingly transparent. The notices were not publicized properly for public input and weigh-in of all stakeholders. Interestingly as well, they were held in March during St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day events in March. Have the neighborhood and civic groups weighed in? Has anyone informed South Boston Catholic Academy about this?

There is also the alleged use of outdated data, not considering any of the new development along the Summer Street corridor. The Edison Plant is being redeveloped, a marijuana facility is slated to soon open doors across from Ethel & Andy’s on First Street and a lab building is being proposed for the corner of Summer and East First Streets. How can Mayor Wu not take into account millions of square feet of new development? That is not to mention the impacts on the Conley Terminal, the Boston

Convention Center and the surrounding hotels, let alone the access to the Seaport. How can this be undertaken without impact review substantiated by current data and the appropriate traffic studies? This is no small matter.

Can our first responders, police officers and firefighters adequately navigate this intersection to assure public safety and do their jobs? How can we be assured of that without the appropriate data? We all know that “pilot programs” very rarely go away, so once implemented, this is likely to stay in place. Also, when seeking contact information for Mayor Wu’s Transportation Department, you are invited to fill out a form to submit and email. No telephone number is readily available for these officials. When property values, our businesses that feed our families and the quality of our daily lives are affected, we’re invited to fill out a form? Is this an adequatre response to what the people of South Boston have on the line?

We’d also note that over 500 signatures were collected in opposition after the public meeting April 19, 2023. These should be as a public document filed with our South Boston public officials.

As business owners, residents and voters in South Boston we are signing on to this letter, in support of our Elected Officials, to voice our disapproval of the way this process is being handled. All stakeholders should be given the adequate time and notice to provide input. We strongly urge Mayor Wu to

Another Bike Lane Battle:

Downtown Boston could wind up gridlocked during big conventions and other events as city officials forge ahead with plans for a dramatic reconfiguration of one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, elected officials are warning.

The Wu administration’s carve out of dedicated bus and bike lanes along Summer Street will force traffic to squeeze through a constricted roadway, even as millions square feet of new development takes shape along the corridor, warns a letter by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, City Council President Ed Flynn, City Councilor Michael Flaherty, state Sen. Nick Collins, and state Rep. David Biele.

The Sept. 1 letter to city transportation officials comes as the Wu administration prepares to implement the controversial pilot program in the wake of the sleepy Labor Day weekend. “We could face all out gridlock for conventions, potential tunnel closures and other infrastructure issues, and any other type of demonstration,” the neighborhood’s elected leaders warn.

reconsider implementing this proposal and revisit the process with the respect due to the voters, residents and stakeholders in South Boston.

Yours Respectfully,

Rich Evans, Associated Quirks, Mari Quirk, Blue Ground, Zack Hughes, Cedar Hill, Scott Johnson, Cobb Design Group, Richard Cobb, Commune Hair Salon, Sandy Porier, Grayscale Design, Misty Gray, HR Ventures, Hyde Properties, Theodore Drescher, Lash L’Amour, Cynthia Tang, LM Floral, Larry Mirley, MDLA Architecture, Michael D’Angelo, Gay Street Invest LLC, Allison Drescher, Mechanic Advisor, Parker Swift, Medicine Wheel, Michael Dowling, Michelle Joyce Photography, Michelle Joyce, Minkin Studio, Jill Minkin, Norton Lilly, Paul Walsh, Oceanworks, Patrick Todd, OM Financial Group, Rick Kreis Studio, Sarra Studios, Lauren Gentossio, TEAK Media, Jackie Herskowitz Russell, Thayer Design Studio, Vibrant Event Productions, Karen Stanley, White Truck, Phil Peterson Kevin Tedeschi, John Fiasconaro, Mike Arcieri, Doug Kruse, Ryan McColgan, Dave Moore, John Young, Brian Miley, Craig Bodnar, Mike Aldred, Brandon Ross, Ognor Bodnar, Francis Johnson, Bill Tracy, Joe Hally Sr., Ron Smith, Paul McDougall, Darlene Evans, Patrick Evans, Conor Evans, Vin Puccio, Linda Puccio, Vin Puccio, Jr., Anthony Puccio, Barry Milan, Sean McColgan, Jerry Arroyo, Joe Travis, Rachel Jamison

-Contrarian Boston-

South Boston pols blast city’s impending plans for “multimodal corridor” on Summer Street

42nd Anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial to be Celebrated Sunday, September 10, at Medal of Honor Park

Marine Corps Lt. General Christopher Mahoney will be the keynote speaker and two recently planted oak trees from Belleau Wood in France will be dedicated to WW I Veterans.

South Boston Vietnam Veterans will celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, located in Medal of Honor Park on East Broadway, on Sunday, Sept. 10.

Marine Corps Lt. General Christopher Mahoney, Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources will be the keynote speaker and two recently planted oak trees from Belleau Wood in France will be dedicated – one in honor of the 35 South Boston men, and all the men from Boston, killed in World War I. The other tree will be dedicated to all Marines past, present and future. Belleau Wood was the scene of a major battle in June 1918 involving U.S. Army troops and U.S. Marines,

South Boston Residents In Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk

Nine residents from South Boston will participate in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, October 1.

Sarah Fay, Kaleigh MacDonald, Kelley Coates, Joseph McCarthy, Jack Staley, Emma Klein, Kacey Corjulo, Amanda Byrnes, and Linda DaCorta, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event that will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $167 million for Dana-Farber Cancer in its 34-year history, raising a record-breaking more

than $8.8 million in 2022.

“Throughout the past 34 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported lifesaving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. The 2023 Walk will be held during the Jimmy Fund’s 75th anniversary year and will aim to raise $9 million in the effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Jimmy Fund Walk. “This year also marks the 35th annual Jimmy Fund Walk. We are eager to get out on the course and see all our outstanding walkers and teams come together to support this great cause.”

The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the famed Boston Marathon® course, and participants have the flexibility to choose

and where their German adversaries labeled the Marines Devil Dogs, a moniker the Marine Corps embraces to this day.

A Memorial Mass will be held in St. Brigid Church, 841 East Broadway, South Boston, at 10:30 a.m., followed by an 11:30 a.m. rededication ceremony at the memorial.

Invited Guests: Governor Maura Healy, Mayor Michelle Wu, Congressman Stephen Lynch, City Council President Ed Flynn, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford (Ret), and other elected officials and dignitaries are scheduled to attend. Always attending the rededication ceremony will be the families of the 25 men from South Boston who were killed in action during the Vietnam War, along with many South Boston Vietnam Veterans.

The South Boston Vietnam Memorial was among America’s first formal memorials for Vietnam Veterans – predating the dedication of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. by 13 months. It honors 25 men from South Boston who gave their lives

during the war. South Boston suffered one of the highest losses of men killed in action in the country for a community of its size.

The South Boston Vietnam Memorial was dedicated on Sept. 13, 1981, and a rededication ceremony is held every September.

The 25 men honored on the South Boston Vietnam Memorial are: Joseph J. Agri, LCpl USMC; Charles A. Bazzinotti, 1stLt USA; Richard J. Borovick, SP4 USA; John C. Calhoun, LCpl USMC; John H. Cole, PFC USMC; Paul M. Daley, SP6 USA; Ronald L. Delverde, PFC USMC; Joseph F. Desmond, PFC USMC; Joseph W. Dunn, PFC USMC; Devon M. Enman, Sgt USA; Gene D. Grover, SSgt USMC; Frank C. Hubicsak, PFC USA; Douglas J. Itri, SP5 USA; John P. Jacobs, Cpl USMC; John G. Joyce, Cpl USA; Edward W. Milan, Sgt USAF; James O’Toole, PFC USA; Burton Peterson, LCpl USMC; Paul H. Sheehan, 1stSgt USMC; James J. Stewart, PFC USMC; Edward Stone, PFC USMC; Edward M. Sullivan, PFC USMC; Joseph Thomas, E. PFC USMC; Donald J. Turner, LCpl USMC; James K. Wheeler, SP6 USA.

from four distance options: 5K walk (from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Longwood Medical Campus), 10K walk (from Newton), Half Marathon walk (from Wellesley), and Marathon walk (from Hopkinton).

Whatever route walkers choose, participants will be treated to 10 refueling stations as well as poster-sized photographs of patients – Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes – displayed at each mile and half-mile marker as inspiration. All four routes of the Jimmy Fund Walk will culminate at the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric. Due to construction in Copley Square, the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line location has been moved to the Fenway neighborhood for 2023. Walkers should know that distances may be slightly shorter as we finish the walk in front of Fenway Park. The finish line will include a celebration com -

plete with food, music, and a speaking program.

If walkers wish to participate a bit closer to home, the Jimmy Fund Walk has flexible opportunities. Participants can also join the event virtually by “walking their way” from wherever they are most comfortable—in their neighborhood, on a favorite continued on page 10

Guy The Wine

Tuscan Evenings

The tourists, for the most part, have left. The Centro cittas, or Town centers are back in local hands and one of the things you’d see, if you were there, would be small groups of family and friends having a glass of Vino Rosso Autunno or Red wines for Autumn. Mostly blended, these wines are hearty enough to ward off the chill of an autumn evening and versatile enough to be enjoyed by themselves or with the meal of the evening. Here are a few to take the chill off your autumn evenings…

Villa Antinori Toscano Rosso, ($19.99) is one of the many beautiful wines made by Marchese Anitinori and his three daughters. This one is deep ruby red in color with a nose that’s intense and complex, defined by notes of wild berries, blueberries, and black currants, as well as toasted hazelnuts, spices and vanilla. A full-bodied palate is well rounded, with supple velvety tannins and a long savory finish. This family has been making wines since 1385 and today, it’s the largest woman-owned business in the region, as Piero, the head of the family, has ceded control to his daughters, all graduates of the world’s finest wine schools.

Brancaia Tre, 2021, Toscana, Italy, ($22.99). TRE stands for its

three grape varieties Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as for its three Tuscan vineyards (Maremma, Castellina and Radda in Chianti). The assemblage is dominated by Sangiovese (70 percent); Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon also bring their charm with 15% each. This well-structured, medium-bodied wine is aged for twelve months before it is bottled. Two thirds of the expansion take place in French tonneaux and one in cement. This elegant, well-structured cuvée offers plenty of drinking pleasure now or later, with its soft mouthfeel. “There is no better entry-level wine than this,” says Monica Larner (for Robert Parker) with reference to the TRE 2021; James Suckling states: “Really delicious, really juicy, with wonderful aromas of red fruits”. This one is also extremely versatile with food: pasta and rice dishes, light roasted or sautéed meat, poultry, fried or grilled fish,as well as our favorite, Vitello Tonnato with fresh capers. Syrah is another variety that in-

credibly expresses itself in Tuscan terroir. This wine has a complex personality that makes it a perfect match for truffle-based meals, be it homemade pasta, hearty beef stew, or cheese. Badia di Morrona, Tarento, ($27.99) is a great example of a Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese blend, where Syrah is the dominant grape. The wine has intense color and delicate aromas of cinnamon, chocolate, and black pepper, suave and supple on the palate with a velvety texture, the finish and aftertaste of the wine are pleasurably long and full.

Salcheto 2019, “Obvious”, Rosso Sangiovese, ($21.99), is made with organically grown Sangiovese and without added sulfites, this certified sustainable wine has intriguing aromas of truffle, leather, cold cuts and ripe black plum. Racy and tangy, the savory palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, baking spice and wild herbs framed in lithe tannins and vigorous acidity. It closes on a salty note and is drinking at its best now through early 2025.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin Chick Exhibit At New England Aquarium

Two-month-old chick to receive a name in the coming weeks.

Asouthern rockhopper penguin chick is now on exhibit for the public to view at the New England Aquarium after growing behind the scenes for the past two months.

The female chick hatched to parents Pebble II and Fuego on June 23. Aquarium staff have been raising it off exhibit as the bird learned to hand feed and socialize with other resident rockhopper penguins. Penguins typically receive their waterproof feathers between 75 and 100 days-old, which enables them to learn to swim safely. The rockhopper chick received a full medical examination last week and was given a clean bill of health, allowing her to join the rest of the colony of 13 rockhopper penguins on exhibit.

“While more than 185 successful penguin chicks have been hatched and raised at the New England Aquarium, this is only our tenth southern rockhopper penguin chick. So, we are ecstatic to have her join our colony and share her

with our visitors,” said Assistant Curator of Penguins Eric Fox. “I could not be prouder of our team who put their hearts and souls into hand-raising this chick from day one.”

The chick required medical intervention when it began to hatch back in June and struggled to break through its shell. The Aquarium’s Animal Care team gave it a chance to fully hatch on her own but decided to intervene to ensure the best chance of survival. Staff then provided round-the-clock care and monitored the bird for several days.

Southern rockhopper penguins are considered a vulnerable or threatened species. Over the past three to four decades, their numbers have dropped by about 35%, with climate change and the associated warming of the ocean surrounding their habitats cited as a major factor. Wild colonies also face threats including depletion and overfishing of their food source and pollution from incidents such as oil spills.

The Aquarium is planning to reveal the new chick’s name in the coming weeks. By giving penguins names linked to natural history and conservation, the Aquarium is able to connect with and educate guests about the birds who are ambassadors for their species.

The New England Aquarium participates in the Southern Rockhopper Species Survival Plan through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which supports field conservation efforts and a thoughtful breeding program to promote a sustainable future for this threatened species. Collaborating with other zoos and aquariums helps ensure a genetically diverse and sustainable rockhopper penguin population both in their natural habitat and human care. These efforts also contribute to educating guests visiting these conservation organizations.

The rockhopper chick is the second penguin chick to hatch at the New England Aquarium this year. “Bray,” an African penguin, hatched on March 23. African penguins are an endangered species.

“This is another amazing example of

the New England Aquarium’s dedicated Animal Care staff prioritizing the wellbeing of our animals and conservation of marine life. We are fortunate to have an incredible team of animal professionals that not only advocate for the penguins in our care, but also focus on protecting the blue planet,” said Kristen Van Oss, Curator of Pinnipeds and Penguins.

CREDIT: Vanessa Kahn New England Aquarium

Summer Street Multimodal Corridor Pilot

Dear Chief Franklin-Hodge,

We are writing today once again in regards to our opposition to the City of Boston’s Summer Street Multimodal Corridor Pilot. As you know, we have expressed serious concerns on a number of occasions - ranging from a lack of a thorough community process and feedback, concerns on planning using outdated data that does not factor in millions of square feet of development on L St, Summer St, and the South Boston Waterfront, and now a haphazard rollout that will potentially cause gridlock for neighbors, our workforce, and negatively impact our economy. In terms of outreach, this pilot warranted appropriate community feedback where residents had ample opportunity to comment on its feasibility. Unfortunately, it was of great concern to us, our civic groups and constituents when meeting notices were not publicized properly and did not allow for sufficient public input. Moreover, they took place during Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day events in March, with attendance that was wholly unrepresentative of the public interest. In our experience, it was unprecedented that our initial requests for genuine engagement, a transparent process, and a community meeting at the Tynan School in South Boston were flat out denied. At that time, the city subsequently proposed an Open House that would not allow for community feedback, before reluctantly agreeing to finally hold one meeting at the Tynan School- where the South Boston Elected Officials and majority of the community voiced their disapproval.

We previously made our concerns clear to the city on several occasions that the use of old data to support any reconfiguration to Summer Street has the potential negatively impact Conley Terminal, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and the surrounding hotels which are significant drivers of our city, state, and regional economy, as well as many local businesses and industries in the South Boston Waterfront and those that the city hopes to attract. We have highlighted time and again that our city, state, and region is in a world-

wide economic competition. Launching this pilot without accounting for millions of square feet of growth and development has the potential to impose gridlock that would decrease productivity, disincentivize future investment, and further limit foot traffic - which may cause businesses to relocate elsewhere, cut into the city’s commercial tax base, and create public safety concerns.

We find it unconscionable that the City of Boston Transportation Department would roll this pilot out without any legitimate public process, awareness campaign, or accounting for feedback from the business community and other key stakeholders in the area, while relying on old data. We are at a loss that the City of Boston would implement such a proposal without providing adequate engineering for meaningful review, as the accepted practice is to provide proof of concept before implementation. Data should drive policy decisions and, to date, meaningful data and adequate engineering have been wholly lacking regarding this proposal despite our repeated requests. We have also recently witnessed a variety of factors that have created similar conditions of one lane on Summer Street earlier this year; construction with cones for several blocks to narrow traffic during the rideshare protest, combined with a convention and the temporary closure of the Sumner Tunnel. It is easy to make the connection about how, aside from the congestion this may cause for morning and evening commutes on weekdays, we could face all out gridlock for conventions, potential tunnel closures and infrastructure issues, and any other type of demonstration.

In closing, we had previously emphasized that we supported bus lanes at appropriate locations to relieve areas of high congestion and move our workforce, like the one-block stretch that was implemented further along Summer St approaching South Station; however, now extending this lane down Summer Street in areas that did not have pre-pandemic bottlenecks, and with reduced traffic flow on account of remote and hybrid work policies, is seemingly a solution in search of a problem.

Sincerely, Ed Flynn

Boston Council President , District 2

Michael Flaherty

Boston City Councilor, At-Large

David Biele State Representative

Stephen Lynch United States Congressman

Nick Collins State Senator

QUESTIONS?

Window continued from page 4

Labor by the numbers — and by the violations

Labor is making gains, most recently with a new UPS contract, and it flexed its muscle with celebrations yesterday. The Department of Labor’s annual release of union data doesn’t necessary back up the labor growth narrative, and includes the following takeaways:

• The percentage of U.S. workers who belong to unions is about 10.1 percent – half the figure when the data first was collected in 1983. The rate is the lowest the agency has reported.

• One reason for the falling unionization rate is that the sectors of the economy that are growing fastest also are those with the smallest union presences.

• Men are more likely than women to belong to women.

• Black workers are more likely to belong to unions than those in any other demographic grouping.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Andrea Campbell used the occasion to release her office’s annual report on labor law infractions and noted that several Dunkin’ franchisees were fined for violating state rules meant to provide child labor abuses.

National Guard activated for Mass & Cass, other troubled shelter sites

Up to 250 Massachusetts National Guard members may be

deployed to help with logistical problems attending an influx of undocumented immigrants into the commonwealth under an order issued Friday by Gov. Maura Healey. The National Guard members will “provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels that do not currently have a contracted service provider,” a news release from Healey’s office states. Healey’s office also announced the creation of what it is calling regional “rapid response teams” to deal with especially troubling situations around the state.

Wu, firefighters reach contract deal with firefighters Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spent Labor Day revealing that she had struck a deal on a new contract with the city’s largest firefighters union – a deal that Gintautas Dumcius of the Dorchester Reporter notes was finalized late Sunday night in backroom at the Brendan Behan Pub in Jamaica Plain.

Report: Employers still struggle to find workers

The state’s unemployment rate may have ticked up recently, but 40 percent of the state’s small business owners say they still struggle to fill vacancies for both skilled and unskilled workers. Christian Wade of the Salem News has the details on the latest National Federation of Indepen -

dent Businesses survey of Bay State companies.

Healey nominates hospital outreach executive for parole board

Gov. Maura Healey named Mass General Brigham Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships Sarah B. Coughlin to a position on the state parole board. A news release from the governor’s office described Coughlin as “a community organizer, social worker, therapist, trainer and consultant, and expert witness for state and federal courts.”

Retired Patriots defensive star scores with nonprofit

Former New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty is scheduled to be recognized in November for several years ago helping draw then-Gov. Charlie Baker’s attention to the case of a convicted murderer whose life sentence the governor later commuted. The honor is one of several the RFK Community Alliance is set

Jimmy Fund continued from page 7 hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Materials to support Virtual Walkers are available.

To register to walk or volunteer (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www. JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.

About the Jimmy Fund

The Jimmy Fund, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the PanMass Challenge, and the Variety Children’s Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES GENDER EQUITY UPDATES TO MARRIAGE LICENSES

Building on Mayor Wu’s vision of an inclusive City that serves all residents, the City of Boston today announced that it has updated its marriage licenses by no longer requiring sex or gender identification on the licenses. This change is the first the City has made based on new genderaware guidelines for City resources and the collection of gender-identity data throughout government processes. These guidelines will support City staff who design and operate services, programs, and policies in the City of Boston and are intended to provide more dignified experiences for all residents, including those whose gender and sexual identities have historically not been recognized or supported by government agencies. This effort was led by the Department of Innovation and Technology. Boston residents who wish to have an updated marriage license issued without sex or gender identification can contact the City Registry for a new copy.

“Our fundamental charge in public service is ensuring that our services and opportunities reach everyone, and that starts with affirming and supporting constituents of all identities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston must continue to work to dismantle the historic inequities and injustices that persist. This update to Boston marriage licenses is a huge step in building a City that is truly inclusive, and I’m excited to see how these critical changes for accessibility at City Hall serve Bostonians.”

Data can be a powerful tool to understand disparities and to drive equitable outcomes. However, embedding the collection of data into government programs can often have negative consequences for the people those services and programs were intended to help in the first place. The consequences can be magnified when data collection is mandatory or tied to other personally identifying information. As these are complex issues that involve trade-offs, the City expects these stan-

dards and guidelines to evolve.

Collecting the right amount of data in the right way will ensure that the City delivers services equitably and effectively to people of all gender identities while protecting privacy and safety to the best of its ability. Building on the Gender Inclusion ordinance filed by then-Councilor Wu and Councilor Liz Breadon and the amendment to the ordinance filed by Councilor Gabriela Coletta and feedback received regarding various constituent experiences, the City has created this new set of standards and guidelines that will support City workers in determining when and how they should collect gender identity information. To achieve this purpose, these guidelines and standards have four goals:

1. Define key terms City staff should understand related to gender identity

2. Help City departments determine when it is necessary and appropriate to ask constituents about their gender identity

3. Provide standard language that City departments should use when they have determined they need to ask constituents about their gender identity

4. Align the standards in the guidelines with state, federal, or other data systems that have limitations in how they record this data

“We’re committed to ensuring that all City employees and departments get the proper support to embed gender inclusive language and practices into the way they engage with residents and ask for personal information,” said Julia Gutierrez, Chief Digital Officer. “Just as the language for talking about gender is dynamic and changes over time, we expect to regularly review and continuously improve these standards and guidelines in response to the feedback we receive.”

The LGBTQ+ community across the country continues to face marginalization, discrimination, and violence - particularly Black and Brown trans and gender non-conforming community members.

A person’s gender and sexual identity can be tremendously important to their overall identity. These guidelines and standards seek to balance the right to be affirmed against risks and constraints. Government agencies create harm by not allowing people to affirm their identities, especially if information is collected that misrepresents who they are. At the same time, collecting information increases risks for vulnerable groups and creates barriers to participation.

“Good government is responsive to an evolving world where everyone has access to city services in a way that feels equitable, safe and inclusive” said Mari-

angely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “Massachusetts was the first state to legally recognize marriage equality, but we know that the work of creating a more just world is ongoing. I am proud to be part of the City of Boston’s trajectory as a continued leader in equity, inclusion, and justice.”

“The City is proud to implement these new important standards,” said Paul Chong, City Registrar. “We believe that all constituents should have equitable access to City services.”

This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s work to ensure that Boston is an inclusive and equitable city for residents of all gender identities. In 2020, the Boston City Council unanimously passed an ordinance authored by then-City Councilor Wu and Councilor Liz Breadon to ensure gender inclusivity on all City-issued forms, documents, and certificates. In March 2022, Mayor Wu announced the creation of the Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement.

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

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Welcome All to our Early Childhood Center!

On August 31, 2023, many families came to our Open House and had a chance to tour the Early Childhood Center and visit their child’s

classroom, meet our new Early Childhood Center Director, Mrs. Kara Murphy, as well as, our current and new teachers and aides at the Early Childhood Center. We

all want to say a BIG Welcome to Mrs. Kara Murphy and wish her, all our students, families, teachers, and staff a wonderful school year here at the Early Childhood Center and at South Boston Catholic Academy!

Kara Murphy started her teaching career as a pre-kindergarten teacher at St. Bridget’s during the 2004-2005 school year. She then got her masters in early child-

hood education while raising her three children. After working as a special education preschool teacher for the Melrose Public Schools for 12 years, she is excited for the next chapter with SBCA.

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

Transformation of Car Banning continued from front page

‘pico y placa’ initiative (where your right to drive on different days depends on whether your license plate ends in an odd or even number) or several smaller towns such as Spain’s Pontevedra which have outright bans.

Oslo has closed off certain streets in the center to cars entirely. They have also removed almost all parking spots and replaced them with cycling lanes, benches and miniature parks. There is an environmental aspect. Oslo is built in a geological bowl, which during winter in particular, causes the city to suffer from serious air pollution problems. Data from the local government shows a marked decline in air pollution over the past decade. There has also been a drop in trips made by car – from 35% of journeys in 2009 to 27% in 2018 – with a parallel rise in people either walking or using bicycles or public transport.

JH Crawford is perhaps the world’s leading voice on car free cities and an author of two books on the topic. “Besides the welldocumented problems of air pol-

lution and the millions of deaths caused by traffic every year, the largest effect cars have on society is the tremendous damage they do to social spaces,” he says.

A city without cars sounds like a nice idea but is it possible – or even desirable? What about emergency services? Or people who have mobility problems? And what about sprawling suburbs; is the notion of going car free only relevant to young professionals who wish to live in compact city centers?

“The quickest way to make a city center die is to stop people getting in there,” says Hugh Bladen of the Association for British Drivers. Britain’s declining high streets won’t be helped by restrictions on driving, he argues, “otherwise town centers just get full of druggies and drunks”. He acknowledges that “some towns and cities get clogged up but that’s just because of poor planning; they should have better parking options”.

Ransford Acheampong, an urban planning researcher at the University of Manchester, says that removing cars would be helpful to reduce pollution and could improve

public health “but if you take cars away from people, you need to be able to provide an alternative”. Even in Europe, which has relatively good public transport, many people’s commutes and lifestyles just wouldn’t be possible without a private car. This is the concept of the last mile, which is the connection between public transport and the final part of a person’s journey. Until public transport can make this gap smaller, people will still want to drive cars.

In the Great City Chengdu Master Plan, everything is walkable. There are no cul-de-sacs and there is a high number of intersections which make it very easy to get around on foot or bicycle. There is also vertical connectivity, with bridges between high rises. The Great City suburb, which was designed to house 100,000 people, is only one square kilometer across and it would never take more than 10 minutes to walk from one point to another. Unfortunately, it never got built.

There are a couple of other examples of new cities which have more or less designed cars out. But what about retrofitting existing cities, where most people live

today? Hanna Marcussen explains the approach that Oslo took: “We began with pilots to let people see what it would be like, and we began making changes little by little. For example, one of the nicest squares in Oslo is outside the town hall but until recently it was full of cars. When we closed it off about a year ago, people thought it was strange – but now they think it was weird that we ever allowed cars to drive through there at all.”

It is true that there is a growing demand for new convenient mobility options; services such as Uber and Lyft are drawing people away from public transport, as may autonomous vehicles. “In the end, they’re still cars,” he adds. He also notes that in much of the developing world car ownership is on the rise and governments are mainly prioritizing car ownership over other forms of transport.

How far the trend for car free cities goes is yet to be seen. But when I left the car-free islands of Venice on my student hitchhiking holiday, the only way to journey onwards was to stand by the highway – and wait for a car.

Excerpted from author Len Williams – BBC.com/future

Banning Cars In The Inner Cities Has Consequences

Way back when, so to speak, Boston was developed based on its topography, creating randomly laid out streets and urban planning decisions. The Boston Harbor as developed further impacts the layout equation. Roads leading into Boston like L Street and Summer Streets have been exacerbated by the highway congestion that has commuters diverting their entry to the city by passing through an ever-growing South Boston neighborhood. Attempting to force-feed behavior change on an eclectic mix of generations that house this community, as well as commuting patterns that are entrenched in suburbanites is another progressive agenda item that essentially says – citizens be damned, we know what’s best for you.

Disadvantages of Banning Cars from Inner Cities

1.Banning cars from inner cities would make life less efficient

2.Many taxi drivers would lose their jobs

3.People would have to walk more

4.Banning cars may lead to time trouble

5.Commuting will become much harder

6.Crowded public transport

7.Spread of diseases will become more likely

8.Higher demand for properties in inner cities

9.Rents may increase significantly

10.Social isolation of people in rural regions

11.Issues with delivery

12.Other streets outside the inner city would be more crowded What do you think?

It’s early, but my focus is already on who’s going to be playing in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.

That’s the date and location for Super Bowl 58. And right here, right now, I’m making my picks for that game, while also giving you the winner of each division. But before I do any of that, I wanted to share with you a list I made of the top five storylines for this NFL season, beginning with, you guessed it, Aaron Rodgers.

1.) Aaron Rodgers in New York

The Jets enter the season with the sixth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl, at +1800. And it’s not a crazy bet to make, thanks to Rodgers’ presence under center. All eyes will be on the Jets this season because of Rodgers, and rightfully so. This is without a doubt the No. 1 storyline in the NFL this season. There’s not even a close second. Here come the Jets.

2.) Is Jalen Hurts a one-hit wonder?

It was quite the season for Hurts in 2022. He finished second in MVP voting, and led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, it’s up to Hurts to prove that his overwhelming success last season wasn’t a fluke. Philly has the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl, at +800, but their division-rival Dallas Cowboys are right behind them, as Dak Prescott looks to bounce back from a 2022 season filled with injuries. The

spotlight on Hurts couldn’t be brighter, entering 2023. And we’re going to find out if he can keep up with the very high expectations he’s now set for himself.

3.) Lamar Jackson’s return

The 26-year-old quarterback has a new contract and a new offensive coordinator, after missing the last five games of the regular season in 2022 with a knee injury. Though, Jackson might’ve also been a little overly-protective of himself, given his wish for a large contract in the offseason, which he ended up getting. Now, Jackson has Odell Beckham Jr. in the mix. Jackson is elite. And now that he no longer has to worry about money, his primary focus will be on a championship. I think people have forgotten about Jackson. And the scary thing about that is, he probably feels that way too.

4.) Sean Payton to save Russell Wilson

The Denver Broncos were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, thanks to brutal coaching and the worst season of Russell Wilson’s career. Well, now Sean Payton is in Denver to save the day. Wilson turns 35 in November, to expectations should be managed here. But if anyone is going to get Wilson back on track, it’s going to be Payton. Wilson is far too talented to be as bad as he was last year. He’ll be better. And because of that, the Broncos could ultimately throw a wrench into

everyone’s AFC West predictions.

5.) Trevor Lawrence: the next big thing?

It’s a quarterback league. And last season, Trevor Lawrence made that big leap from Year 1 to Year 2. So much so, that he led the Jacksonville Jaguars to a division title and a first-round playoff win, only to lose to the eventual Super-Bowl champion Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Lawrence was the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. He 2X’d his number of touchdown passes from Year 1 to Year 2, and now, he third-year trajectory seems awfully similar to that of Philly’s Jalen Hurts. Could this be an MVP-caliber season for Lawrence, in his third year? He has the fifthbest odds to win MVP, at +1600. Wouldn’t be the worst bet you’ve ever made in your life.

AFC DIVISION WINNERS

AFC East: New York Jets

AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals

AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs

AFC Wild Cards: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders

NFC DIVISION WINNERS

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

NFC West: Seattle Seahawks

NFC Wild Cards: Philadelphia Eagles,

San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions

AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

(2) Kansas City Chiefs over

(7) Las Vegas Raiders

(3) New York Jets over

(6) Baltimore Ravens

(4) Jacksonville Jaguars over (5) Buffalo Bills

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

(4) Jacksonville Jaguars over (1) Cincinnati Bengals

(3) New York Jets over

(2) Kansas City Chiefs

AFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

(3) New York Jets over

(4) Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

(7) Detroit Lions over

(2) Minnesota Vikings

(3) Seattle Seahawks over

(6) San Francisco 49ers

(5) Philadelphia Eagles over

(4) New Orleans Saints

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

(1) Dallas Cowboys over

(7) Detroit Lions

(5) Philadelphia Eagles over

(3) Seattle Seahawks

NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

(1) Dallas Cowboys over (5) Philadelphia Eagles

SUPER BOWL LVIII

New York Jets over Dallas Cowboys

SB MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny made his official predictions for the 2023 NFL season:

What To Watch

SPORTS TODAY

PATRIOTS SET TO HOST EAGLES, HONOR TOM BRADY IN WEEK 1

The New England Patriots begin a new season on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. as they host the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. And while all eyes will be on current quarterback Mac Jones as he enters his third NFL season, all of New England will also be reminiscing, as the team honors Tom Brady during halftime.

According to the Patriots’ website, Brady will address the Gillette Stadium crowd at the half, and it can be seen live on Patriots.com, and all of

Tweet of the Week

the team’s social media accounts on X, Facebook, and Youtube.

“It will be great to see Tom,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick in a press conference this week. “Tom has meant so much to this team, this organization and me personally. It was a tremendous experience to be able to coach him and for us to share the things that we shared together, a lot of player-coach relationship. Certainly recognizing him for all of his great achievements here is more than appropriate. I look forward to seeing him and glad that he’s getting a lot of recognition and appreciation for that because he certainly deserves it.”

If that isn’t enough to get you fired up, the Patriots enter Sunday’s Week 1 game against the Eagles as a 3.5-point underdog at home; something they’d never be if Brady was playing, rather

than being honored at halftime.

The Eagles are the defending NFC Champions, and their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, finished second in MVP voting last season. Philadelphia enters the 2023 season with the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl, at +800.

“They’re very good up front,” said Belichick, when asked about the tough test they have in front of them out of the gate. “They have an excellent offensive line. They’re big, they’re physical. The quarterback is very good. [Jalen] Hurts does a great job of running the show, executing the offense but also making offschedule plays. He can run and throw. They have two great receivers, a good tight end, some explosive backs – [Kenneth] Gainwell, [D’Andre] Swift. They’re a well-balanced offense, and it’s well orchestrated by the

CORRAL CLAIMED BY PATS AS JONES’ BACKUP QB

It came as a surprise to many, last week, when the New England Patriots released all of their backup quarterbacks, leaving Mac Jones as the only QB on the 53-man roster. But this week, the Patriots made several moves to ensure that Jones’ wouldn’t be the only quarterback on the team for long.

Just days after releasing and then resigning Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham, New England claimed quarterback Matt Corral off waivers and made him the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart. Zappe and Cunningham were both assigned to the practice squad.

Corral, 24, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of last year’s draft. Interestingly

enough, that pick was traded to Carolina by New England, in exchange for the fourth-round pick that the Patriots then used to draft Zappe.

Now, after being waived by the Panthers last week, Corral ends up with the Patriots, and will be Jones’ backup in Week 1.

“Yeah, Matt was available, we’ll add him to the group and see how

quarterback. Obviously, they’re well coached. They have a good plan of attack, good way to attack different schemes and stress the defense. So, it’ll be a big challenge for us.”

The Patriots’ Super Bowl odds aren’t as good. They rank in the bottom half of the NFL, at +6000. But forget about the Super Bowl. New England needs to first worry about their seemingly stacked division.

With Aaron Rodgers joining the New York Jets, the Patriots are now projected to finish in last place in the AFC East. New England has the worst odds of winning the division, at +800.

The Buffalo Bills are the favorite to win the division, at +120, while the Jets have the second-best odds, at +250. The Miami Dolphins have the third-best odds to win the AFC East, at +290.

it goes,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick after the team claimed him. “Obviously haven’t seen him on the field yet, haven’t worked with him, but based on what we saw in Carolina and going back to the college film at Mississippi, he’s a player we want to work with.”

Corral is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his foot, an injury he suffered — ironically enough — against the Patriots last preseason.

SBT Staff

SBT Staff