South Boston Today September 28 2023

Gun Violence Or Bike Lanes

Mayor Michelle Wu must deal with the harsh reality that as Mayor of Boston, a mecca for both a rapidly growing multi-cultural residential population and a destination experience for international tourists, visitors, and businesses that unwavering attention to public safety is a higher priority than the climate change agenda and bike lanes. Nationally, the narrative now circulating universally among the media outlets that are covering the presidential race is that democrat-run cities are under siege from the fallout rooted in policies that create chaos for law enforcement and courts and opportunity for criminals, both low level and hardened.

People, both residents and visitors have personal agendas that supersede any concern over the availability of bike lanes, where an electric vehicle charging station might be located or how much carbon is emitted by

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Illegally Parking In A Designated For The Disabled Spot Is Never OK

If you have lived in South Boston for a while you probably know that parking is tough. Let us clarify that. Very often, finding a parking space in this community is beyond tough – it can be near impossible. If you’re not one of the lucky ones who have a driveway or rent a parking space, which doesn’t come cheap in this town, much like everything else, you can sometimes find yourself walking for many city blocks to get to your home when/if you do find one. After working all day or going shopping or for whatever reason you found the need to move your vehicle, taking that long walk from parking spot to home can be a real pain in the neck.

If you happen to be a disabled person, it can be like a journey and you might actually feel the need to take a Taxi or an UBER to make the trek. So in an effort to assist the disabled, this city; like every other city and town in

America, provides special parking spots to accommodate those who need one, as long as they can prove they have that disability. Yes, we all know that there are some who commit fraud and fake a disability to get that much sought after HP license plate, window placard and even those handicapped signs installed in front of their address. But fraud is relatively rare and most who apply for the mentioned designations are truly in need. Some readers might be asking what message is this editorial is trying to send.

While non disabled people in South Boston overwhelmingly respect and honor the HP designated parking spots and would never park in one, there are some who don’t seem to care. As of late, that offense seems to be happening more frequently as noted by the complaints being called in to not only this newspaper but to the City Hall 311 line. Sometimes, it’s an hon -

est mistake where a driver doesn’t even realize that he or she has put their vehicle in a designated spot. There are times someone could be in a hurry, park in a restricted spot to run into a store for a coffee or lottery tickets and plan to be out quickly. For whatever the reason is, the fine for illegally taking up an HP spot is a hefty $275.00. Whether you occupy the spot for 2 hours or 2 minutes, if a cop or meter reader happens to be in the area, the fine is the same.

With all the massive construction going on in our community, it has even been the case where out of town construction companies have parked their vehicles or heavy equipment pieces in one of the HP spaces. Recently, it was reported, with photos to prove it, that a dumpster was dropped in the Boston Public Library on E. Broadway covering the 2 designated HP spots in that lot, which caused a hardship for disabled residents who had busi -

ness on the block. We think the modern term for that would be “definitely not cool’. The traditional wording would be ‘pretty damn inconsiderate’. The message of this editorial is this. Beyond there being a fine for illegally taking an HP spot, it’s just common courtesy to never even consider doing it. Showing consideration for our fellow residents who, because of a disability, truly need those parking spaces is always the right thing to do.

“It’s insanity that tens of billions are being spent for border security on other countries but none for ours..” - Elon Musk

What’s Happening In Canada, Should Never Be Allowed Here

Along time South Boston family recently returned from a Canadian vacation where they visited and stayed with their Canadian relatives, shared some of their experiences with us. First, let me say they had a good time visiting with their family members and enjoyed catching up in person, rather than just on social media. Their kids got to bond with their cousins and learned they had much in common. They took road trips to the countryside areas around the City of Toronto and said some of the scenery was breathtaking. Some of what they found, however, during their 2-week stay was disappointing. Before their visit they had been watching the news about some of the events taking place in Canada, much of it not so good. What’s happening within the boundaries of our neighbor to the north has a growing number of Canadian citizens stressing out. Over the years, when most Americans thought of Canada, the image that came to mind was of a beautiful country, maybe a bit cold sometimes, and a land filled with happy friendly people, content with the life they lead. Well, it seems a growing number of Canadian citizens, much like a growing number of Americans are getting frustrated, wary, and angry at their government’s leadership.

The visiting Southie family was surprised to see food lines homeless tents in some of the towns when they took road trips. The food kitchens in some locations had lines stretching for city blocks with people just waiting to get enough food for their families. The price of fuel to power their vehicles and heat and air condition their homes was soaring higher than most people can ever remember because

of their government’s ‘Green, anti carbon’ policies. The freedom of Canadian citizens was being restricted, where sometimes using non approved words could actually get you thrown in jail.

If you remember, during the Canadian trucker’s protests against forced vaccinations, protestors would actually have their bank accounts frozen because they dared to oppose what the government was mandating. People are also getting upset with what seems to be an undeterred flow of illegal immigrants into their country, a rising crime rate in their cities and a growing drug problem among Canadian youth with police in many areas hindered from clamping down on it. These restrictions and many more, are all being pushed by Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau and his liberal party, and the people are growing noticeably more apprehensive and angrier. If this sounds familiar to what Biden and the Democrats are attempting to do in our country, you would be correct.

Justin Trudeau has turned into a genuine dictator, something Canadians never thought would happen to their country. Canada, like America, has always been a free country since it was free of British rule. But the people should have seen this coming. While Trudeau has been criticized for his recent honoring of a Nazi SS soldier, he has openly and proudly stated that he is an admirer of the Communist Chinese dictatorship. And there seems to be an ever-increasing influence and interference in Canadian politics and industry by the Communist Chinese government and even its military; much like what is said to be creeping into our country.

Don’t get the wrong idea. The family from South Boston actually

enjoyed their Canadian vacation. They enjoyed their tour of the areas they visited and spending time with family. Yet they were glad to return to the United States. They brought with them great memories, a huge number of photos but also a concern about what they saw happening up there. They came home with the hope that our country would put the brakes on the chipping away at personal freedoms and liberties that Americans have always taken for granted and that generations here have fought and died to protect and preserve. The lessons we should all learn

by watching what is taking place in Canada and in Western Europe, where out of control politicians and billionaires with far too much power and influence and the intent to impose their will on the rest of us by changing our way of life must be blocked by a collective response. We are Americans, not Canadians or Europeans. We have the spirit and the need to live free like our Founding Fathers intended. And before this drift into a dictatorship goes any further, we need to draw that line in the sand and put a stop to it now, not later.

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

Promoting Energy Permitting

An unusual mix of influential Bay Staters representing everything from electric utilities and agricultural interests to environmental justice advocates and labor organizations will all be sworn in today with the same goal — overhauling the process through which clean energy infrastructure projects are permitted, which advocates and industry professionals alike say are in need of major re-drafting.

Gov. Maura Healey first promised to create the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting in April, as an essential step to help the state reach its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and Healey’s own pledge to achieve 100 percent clean electricity supply by 2030. Despite lofty goals, so far, there have been growing pains in the energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Major offshore wind projects have terminated thousandmegawatt contracts that would have brought electricity to the state, and energy developers and state regulators have come under fire for locating an electrical substation — a critical piece of energy infrastructure — in the environmental justice community of East Boston. Though utility companies,

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.

developers and environmental and social advocates have clashed over the right way to build Massachusetts’ clean energy sector, everyone seems to agree the permitting and siting process needs improvement.

“No one thinks the current system of permitting is great,” said David Melly, legislative director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts. “There are improvements to be made. What we have not yet come to a consensus on is where to make those improvements or where we can find common ground to move forward. So I think this provides a forum to have those really tricky conversations, and hopefully it’s going to be really productive in the long term.”

It is an arduous and lengthy process to upgrade electric grid infrastructure, and projects are often met with community pushback and sometimes with litigation. The state will need to site a significant amount of new energy infrastructure to meet its legally mandated climate targets — and not just power generation through wind and solar. Massachusetts will also need infrastructure to store, transport and distribute renewable power if it plans to make it a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

According to Healey’s office, the new members to be sworn in this morning include representa-

tives from municipalities, climate and land use organizations such as Mass Audubon and Conservation Law Foundation, utility companies, including Eversource and National Grid, and others.

By splitting the baby, so to speak, House and Senate arrive at tax cut deal. (Apologies to all babies)

It was genius. The House wanted to drop the short-term capital gains tax rate to 5%. The Senate wanted to keep it at 12%. So they split it down the middle, and thus the biggest hangup in arriving at what added up to a $1 billion tax cut deal was settled. A vote is coming this week, and relief is in store for seniors, renters, caregivers and low-income families, along with a relaxed estate tax trigger.

Can we compete? Apparently we can. Cambridge named hub of three ARPA Health sites

A new federal agency called ARPA Health, which borrows its name from the storied Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, chose Cambridge as one of its three locations. Massachusetts lawmakers lobbied the federal government on site-selection for more than a year. “This is a huge win for Massachusetts and an opportunity to bring economic development while strengthening our role as a

BCYF To Host October Lifeguard Hiring Event

Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is hosting a free lifeguard hiring event on Saturday, October 14 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.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. BCYF previously

held four lifeguard hiring events in August and September.

The lifeguard hiring event 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,

nationwide leader in life sciences,” said Gov. Healey.

Group wants minimum wage hike for tip workers

Advocates with a campaign called One Fair Wage want the state to eliminate the lower minimum wage for workers who receive tips. Under current law, workers who receive tips only need to be paid $6.75 an hour while other workers receive a minimum wage of $15 per hour. The measure may go before voters.

Bay State among states suing Amazon, claiming it’s a monopoly Massachusetts and 17 other states have joined forces with the Federal Trade Commission to file an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, claiming the e-commerce giant’s market dominance harmed other online sellers and consumers alike.

State funds Mass. hotline to reduce risk of fatal overdoses

The Mass. Department of Public Health has been funding a statewide overdose-prevention helpline since August, becoming the first state to directly fund such an effort. Martha Bebinger of WBUR reports Gov. Maura Healey announced the $350,000 contract to run the hotline as part of a larger push to address troublingly high overdose numbers.

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 refer-

Flynn Files Hearing Order On Impact of Shutdown on Veterans

rent military service members will be halted, and agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Labor, which support veterans and military families with housing vouchers, and services such as transition assistance and career counseling, are likely to be affected. In the past, the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans Services has worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to support veterans and military families, and provide them with information on the services and benefits they have earned.

This week, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn filed a hearing order to discuss the impact of a government shutdown on Boston’s Veterans and their families. The hearing order will be formally introduced at the Council Meeting this Wednesday, September 27th, in preparation for the possibility that the federal government shuts down on October 1st. While veteran benefits, including health care and pensions, are unlikely to be impacted by a government shutdown, pay for cur-

BCYF continued from page 4

ences, 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 for the hiring event at this link: bit.ly/BCYFLifeguardHiringEvent.

However, walk-ins 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.

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

“Veterans and military families have proudly served our country and earned their benefits from our city, state, and federal governments,” said Council President Flynn. “I have heard from a number of our veterans, as well as those active in service, expressing concerns about benefits and pay from the government shutdown, including services for women veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans with disabilities. It is critical that they are guaranteed services on time, and that they have clarity and information on the impact of a government shutdown.”

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

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. The City has reopened the BCYF Paris Street Pool in East Boston and the BCYF Marshall Pool in Dorchester will reopen soon. Both pools received large Capital investments. 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.

MAYOR WU SEEK PARTNERS FOR

RESEARCH ON HISTORY OF SLAVERY I Was Just Thinking…

the City fully document the City of Boston’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I urge researchers to apply to this RFP and join Boston in our commitment to deliver justice for Black residents and bring equitable solutions to our City.”

Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston Reparations Task Force today announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking researchers to study the history and legacy of slavery in Boston. Through the RFP, the City will select partners to produce a report on the City’s role in and historical ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the history and legacy of slavery, including original historical research and a comprehensive review of the secondary literature. The RFP and more information on how to apply can be found here.

“To help our communities heal from the legacies of slavery and the systems of exclusion and injustice that persist today, it is essential that

“The Reparations Task Force is pleased to be able to address its responsibility by issuing the Request for Proposals,” said Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair of the Reparations Task Force. “I have full confidence that the RFP enables us to choose the best research partners who will clearly and honestly document our City’s history. I thank the Reparations Task Force members who were involved in the process of building the RFP, City officials, and the community for assisting us in this effort and look forward to the work ahead.”

“There’s an opportunity with this Request for Proposals not only to identify historically what has been collected and documented in the archive, in plain view, about our history, and prior attempts to erase it,” said L’Merchie Frazier, a member of the Reparations Task Force, “but also to excavate a continuum of identity and a continuum of property relations–one that continues to be complex in nature as we grapple with four centuries of

continued on page 12

by Kevin Devlin

Lately, I try not to listen to or read the news as much. It’s quite stressful to read or see what is happening throughout the land. Yet I understand I must know what is occurring. I simply just can’t look the other way. I need to be aware. Need to know what is going on. It’s my duty as a citizen to do so.

It’s terrible and disheartening enough to bear witness to the misdeeds and folly of our so-called leaders, but the senseless acts of violence committed by ordinary people upon others are utterly beyond comprehension.

And try my weary soul.

On the morning of August 14 in Arizona, two teens who were involved in a hit-and-run, which they were video-taping, intentionally crashed into and killed cyclist Andreas “Andy” Probst, 64, a retired former police chief from the Los Angeles-area city of Bell.

It was a big joke for them and sadly should be renamed a hitand-run for fun as far as they were concerned.

The teens, 16 and 18, could be heard on their video recording laughing as they committed this inhumane crime.

No regret.

Just laughter.

Simple fun.

Amusing themselves on a slow day to pass away their time.

Las Vegas Police said that

evidence shows the teens were together and responsible for at least three hit-and-run incidents that morning, including the crash that killed Probst. The driver was quickly apprehended followed by the arrest of his pal videotaping the killing.

Then in September, in Huntington Beach, California, a teenage driver was arrested after authorities said he intentionally struck three bicyclists in three separate incidents. He killed one man, a 70-year-old man named Steven Gonzales, who was a resident of the city.

Why do people behave like this?

What did they do with their moral compasses?

Discard them without a second thought for the welfare of others?

Do they ever think about the consequences?

Or have we simply given them the green light because they realize they won’t suffer any consequences for this misbehavior?

But it’s time to put an end to this madness.

Long overdue.

People like this are a menace to civil society and law and order, and need to be locked away for many years so they can reflect on what they did.

And perhaps discover Regret. And ask for forgiveness from others-and maybe even God-realizing their despicable behavior. We must send a message to all who would commit such criminal deeds against innocent citizens.

Prosecutors as well as judges need to do their job and sentence those who commit these acts, accordingly, sending an unequivocal message that these heinous deeds will not be tolerated.

Otherwise, law, order, and decency will continue to be hijacked by this mindset and these asocial, immoral, and criminal acts will continue to plague this nation and threaten the lives and welfare of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Boston City Council Candidate At-Large Bridget Nee-Walsh Working Hard

Last Thursday Congressman Stephen Lynch invited residents to an event at Amrheins in support of Bridget Nee-Walsh,

candidate for Boston City Councilor-At Large. The event was successful as people were able to meet and speak with Bridget on issues that

span across the City of Boston. The crowd was eclectic ranging from political representatives (past and present), Union members (Bridget’s

brothers and sisters), Business people, Seniors and local residents. Remember to vote November 7, 2023 – www.bridgetneewalsh.com

Guy The Wine

Santa Rita Hills

Before you think about putting your clubs in the car and finding out just where this course is, don’t bother; it’s not a golf course and even if it were, it’s a long ride to the Central Coast in California. That’s where this AVA is located and it’s full of some of the most outstanding wines, especially Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah wines, several of which are described here....

Sandhi Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, 2021, ($39.99) is a classic example of everything that makes this area so outstanding. Sandhi’s ‘village’ Pinot Noir is created with the same level of detail as the single vineyard wines. The wine is a blend

of six different vineyards from the southwestern part of the Santa Rita Hills, including Bentrock, Rita’s Crown, Rinconada, and Mt. Carmel. This wine showcases the freshness, finesse, and exuberance of the appellation, with cherry, blackcurrant and caramel notes on the nose, a rich mouthfeel and a long finish; overall, I think it’s right in the middle of the spectrum starting in Burgundy and ending with New Zealand. It’s a great complement to any style of Salmon and really delicious with Duck, Quail and Guinea Hen. Long a presence in the Napa area with their consistently delicious Chardonnays, Fess Parker wines is taking full advantage of the Santa Rita Hills terroir. Their Fess Parker 2021 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, ($35.99) has notes of black cherry, red plum, vanilla, milk chocolate, baking spices, sandalwood and forest floor. The Wine Enthusiast gives it 91 points, saying: “Always a solid representation of the Sta. Rita Hills for a fair price, this bottling begins with fresh pomegranate, dark sage and wet slate on the refreshing nose. There’s a taut structure to the palate, framing red plum, rose potpourri

the 15year-old vehicle with a damaged muffler getting them to work or to a doctor’s appointment (and not hit a bicycle rider who thinks he or she has the right of way) or by the jet-fueled plane that brought them here to see the sights and help boost the local economy.

When staying at a downtown Boston hotel and planning a night out to be entertained, visitors don’t want to encounter rowdy, roving gangs of teenagers and young persons out for thrills that could include robbery or mugging. Residents in the comfort of their homes, do not want to feel unsafe because of a posse of motorbike riders roaming, or drug-addled persons panhandling, or gang wars waging in their neighborhood and law enforcement is handcuffed by internal police advisories directing the officers to ‘stand down’. All of this as residents are clamoring for action.

These are the realities of life in most big cities. It stands to reason that priorities have to be realigned or voters will demand that a ‘green agenda’, which some think is important, has to give way to a ‘safety agenda’, which all know is important.

The day after five people, including two children, were shot at a housing development in Dorchester, residents denounced the violence that turned a late-summer Sunday

and cranberry flavors.”.

Speaking of Chardonnay, BrewerClifton 2021 Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay, ($29.99) consistently scores in the mid 90-point range from multiple sources; their own winemaker says,” this wine shows aromas of lemon, kiwi, orange blossom, and sweet basil. Flavors of jasmine, lime, ginger, and mineral notes. On the palate, orange zest and fresh sea salt.”. Jeb Dunnuck, who’s very stingy with 95+ point reviews, says this: “Ripe orchard fruits, butted lemon, crushed stone, and salty, marineinfluence notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay, a concentrated, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with a liquid rock-like sense of minerality, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish. You should never underestimate these appellation releases from Greg Brewer. This is an insane value in top Chardonnay from California.”.

Lafond Winery and Vineyards, 2019 Santa Rita Hills Syrah ($29.99) uses a special blend of grapes created by winemaker Bruce McGuire that always includes at least 50% fruit from old vines planted in 1972. The Syrah from the

cookout into a crime scene. Mayor Michelle Wu condemned the violence. But, many in the community think that’s great but “not enough”. “Kids can’t even be outside having fun,” Antwon Fields, who lives at the Franklin Field complex, where the shootings happened shortly after 8:30 p.m, told the Boston Globe. “This has got to stop. It’s pointless.” A 15-year-old girl was seriously injured in the shootings, according to authorities. Fields said the victim often plays with his children.

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said officers who responded to a ShotSpotter alert found five people— three adults and two juveniles — with gunshot wounds. Authorities did not release their names. According to police transmissions recorded by Broadcastify, the second child is an 11-year-old boy. Police found 15 spent shell casings at the scene near 50 Ames St., according to officials and Broadcastify recordings of the shooting. Police said the teenage girl was suffering from life threatening injuries, and the other victims had non-life-threatening injuries.

In a letter to school leaders, Mary Skipper, superintendent of the city’s public schools, stating that violence has been a reality for too many of our young people across the city, many students were impacted by the shootings, and educators should be ready to support them.

Lafond Vineyard’s old vine block produces fruit with complex spice and floral notes. This Syrah is an honest and delicious reflection of the past and present. It showcases the ancient marine soils and the cool coastal climate representing the best of Sta. Rita Hills.

2020 Éclos Santa Rita Hills

Syrah, ($29.99) The delicate tannins in this wine are coupled with elevated acidity, leaving a smooth and immense finish. The Syrah is sourced from Kessler-Haak Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills. Planted in 2005, these vines are farmed 100% organically on sandy silica soils. The Vineyard is close to the cold pacific and exposed to cool maritime winds and early morning fog.

The shootings were discussed Monday at a city council hearing, where members also noted the illegal flow of guns in Boston. Last year, police recovered more than 900 guns. Citing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, councilors have said that only 10 percent of the traced firearms recovered at crime scenes were purchased in Massachusetts, while the rest were brought here from 18 other states.

This shooting at the time was the second shooting in Boston involving multiple victims since Aug. 26, when eight people were shot and wounded during the J’Ouvert celebration in Dorchester. While overall, the number of shootings has declined each year since 2020, according to police data, this year, there were 117 shootings through Sept. 4, police said.

Mayor Wu has to be fully engaged with her police commissioner and be on the front lines or her other agendas will lie fallow. Reimagining, bold visions, net zero carbon and all of the nomenclature of the progressive agenda will always find themselves low on anyone’s agenda, well below the economy, public safety, schools and public health concerns. Mayor Wu needs to put on her Red Wing work boots. The Mayor can put her Allbirds dress shoes back on, after the hard agenda has been fully engaged.

Virtual Public Meeting

118 B Street Residential Project

OCTOBER

3

6:00 PM - 7: 30 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3Lf2AQj

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 952 2298

Project Description: East Way Development LLC

Project/Planning Initiative Description:

The BPDA is hosting a virtual Public Meeting for the proposed 118 B Street Residential Project located in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Proponent’s responses to the comments received at our last public meeting reviewing the Small Project Review Application (SPRA) and potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public.

mail to: Scott Greenhalgh

Boston Planning & Development Agency

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

phone: 617.918.4271

email: scott.greenhalgh@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

Virtual Public Meeting

6 Elkins Street

Zoom Link: bit.ly/6Elkins1010

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 855 0431

Close of Public Comment Period: 10/10/2023

Website: bit.ly/118-B-Street

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Project Description:

The BPDA is hosting a Public Meeting for the proposed 6 Elkins Street project located in South Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Project Notification Form. The meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A and comments from the Public. The Proposed Project will include the construction of a new approximately 97,000 gross square foot research laboratory development, including office, laboratory, research and development uses, along with approximately 4,400 square feet of publicly accessible retail/restaurant space and approximately 8,250 square feet of incubator lab space. The proposal also includes approximately 48 parking spaces in a one-level below-grade garage. Please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link: bit.ly/6Elkins1010 Meeting ID: 160 855 0431 Toll-Free Call-in Number: 833.568.8864

mail to: Ebony DaRosa

Boston Planning & Development Agency

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

phone: 617.918.4419 email: ebony.darosa@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Virtual Public Meeting

270 Dorchester Ave NPC

OCTOBER 17

Project Proponent: Dinosaur Capital

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/270NPC

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 407 9381

The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and stakeholder. Interpreting services are available to communicate the content of these documents at no additional cost to you. If you require translation services, please contact the following: Tyler.C.Ross@boston.gov. The meeting is scheduled for 10/17/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date.

Meeting of the general public to review the proposed 270 Dorchester Ave Notice of project change.

This meeting will be focused on the proposed 270 Dorchester Ave NPC. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 45-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A.

mail to: Tyler Ross

Boston Planning & Development Agency

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

phone: 617.918.4214

email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

Close of Public Comment Period:

10/20/2023

website: bit.ly/270-Dorchester-Ave

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Welcome to K2C!

Happy Fall Everyone! “Our K2C Teacher, Mr. B (Mr. Bourque) and K2C Aide,

Mrs. Picard are so happy to be back in action together in K2C. They are very excited to learn and

grow with their students. Back to school isn’t the end of summer fun, it’s the beginning of another FUN year of growth. Mr. B and Mrs. Picard are both looking forward to challenging the students across the curriculum which includes: Religion, Reading, Math,

STEM and Music, as well as, fun crafts, going on exciting field trips, and enjoying all that K2 has to offer”. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@sbcatholicadacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

St. Peter Academy News

Back to School BBQ!

It was a beautiful day for St. Peter Academy’s Annual Back to School BBQ. We met new friends and reconnected with the old ones. Parents and teachers mingled while the students played on the school’s playground. Mr. Dilba announced we were off to a great

school year and invited everyone to Curriculum Night on October 11th at 6:00 pm.

The burgers and hot dogs generously donated by Sullivans at Castle Island were delicious! The cheese pizza from Land of Pizza is always a big hit too! Thank you to both of our

donors. We appreciate you! We are looking forward to our Apple Picking Field Trip on Friday, check back next week for pictures and the recap. St. Peter Academy is accepting applications for the current school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at

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

of Heaven & St. Brigid Parishes & St. Augustine Chapel

The Annual Blessing of the Animals Gate

All are welcome to The Blessing of the Animals, in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals, that

will take place after the 9AM Mass, at Gate of Heaven Church, this Sunday, October 1st, 2023. It will be held downstairs in the I Street Courtyard,

near the Celtic Cross, outside Gate of Heaven Church. Please have your lovable family pet on a leash or in a pet carrier.

suffering and resistance. This RFP will help us bring in the thinking of people who will rigorously present that historical fact, with the lens of restoration.”

The City seeks to award six contracts through this RFP. One contract will be awarded for each of the six (6) “units of study” covered by the report, as follows: Boston and Bostonians’ economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and transAtlantic slave economies during (1) 1620-1690, (2) 1690-1750, and (3) 1750-1800; Boston and Bostonians’ economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies and their legacies during (4) 1800-1860; and the economic, social, and political legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies during (5) 1860-1940 and (6) 1940-Present.

Candidates may apply to as many units of study as desired, but must submit separate proposals for each unit of study they intend to cover. The City hopes to not only thoroughly review and document historical findings on the City’s role in the history and legacy of slavery, but also to tell this story in a way that has never been told before. Research partners will be expected to produce both an original historical narrative and a comprehensive literature review of major themes and events for each unit of study for which they are awarded a contract. Partners will weave together work across units of study to create a thorough accounting of the City of Boston’s role in the history and legacy of slavery spanning from 1620 to the present.

The City also recognizes the importance of partnering with the community to properly build a shared understanding of the City’s history. In addition to their writing and research work, selected research partners will be expected to present an update about their findings prior to the publication of the report during a meeting of the Reparations Task Force, with the opportunity for community members to engage with that ongoing work.

Candidates will be evaluated

based on the quality of their research proposal; the capacity of their plan to complete their research and understanding of the topic area of historical inquiry and relevant source material; their research background, expertise, and experience relevant to the specific time period they have applied to cover, the major themes over the course of the whole history being accounted for, and the specific connections between the history and the legacy of slavery as it relates to their chosen time period(s); past projects relevant to the objectives of the RFP and Task Force; their experience with community-engaged historical methods; their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the composition of their team; and the quality of the candidate’s interview/presentation.

“The impacts of colonization and the dehumanization of people are still experienced by our Black residents in every industry throughout the world,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “In Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Wu, we are taking a step towards a more just world by confronting our history. We encourage leaders in other industries to do the same.”

“Together, the Task Force and

Mayor Wu have taken another deliberate step forward in both acknowledging and addressing Boston’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “As the City played a leading role in advancing the trading of human beings from the African continent and the oppression of their offspring, the launch of this significant request for proposals is an effort to become a model for cities across the nation on how to appropriately move the conversation on reparations forward.”

“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that speaks to the recognition of hate, of harms, of trauma, of oppression, and of economic injustices rooted in slavery,” said Lori Nelson, Senior Advisor for Racial Justice. “It reflects this administrations’ commitment to fully acknowledge these harms and to take bold action that demonstrates truth and reconciliation. The Task Force and Black residents have begun to write a new chapter in Boston’s history pages.

The City of Boston established the Reparations Task Force in accordance with a 2022 City Ordinance to study the impact of slavery in Boston. Members of

the task force were announced in February 2023.

The Task Force’s process in developing recommendations to the Mayor will take place in three phases: 1) Research and document the City’s role in and historical ties to the Transatlantic slave trade and legacies of chattel slavery through the publication of a report 2) Assess the impact of the City’s actions to date to address the legacy of slavery 3) Make final recommendations for the City for Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations addressing the City’s involvement with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The research partner or partners for the RFP will support the Task Force during Phase 1 through their comprehensive historical report.

An optional bidder’s conference, a public meeting designed such that anyone interested can ask questions about the RFP, will take place on October 12th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. The deadline to submit questions regarding the RFP is October 20, 2023.

The deadline to submit proposals for the request is November 6, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Please email reaprations@boston. gov<mailto:reaprations@boston. gov> with any questions or communications concerning the RFP.

Wu continued from page 6

By the time you see this, Damian Lillard might already be traded. Perhaps, even, Lillard might already be trade to the Boston Celtics.

I wouldn’t put my money on Lillard landing here in Boston, but according to the latest rumors, the Celtics are certainly interested. And so, that expression of interest needs to be acknowledged.

I also wouldn’t put my money on Lillard landing in Toronto to play for the Raptors, which is where the latest report claims he might end up. Two high-ranking NBA team executives told ESPN that “the Toronto Raptors entered this week as the front-runners to trade for Lillard,” who has three years remaining on his contract at an average of $50.1 million per season.

The 33-year-old point guard requested a trade over the summer. His preferred destination, according to reports, is the Miami Heat.

ESPN’s latest report says that the expectation is for Lillard to be traded before the Portland Trail Blazers’ media day, which is next Monday, Oct. 2. Along with the Celtics expressing interest, so have the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls.

I find it hard to believe that Portland wouldn’t demand Jaylen Brown be part of a potential trade. So, I’m not sure it’s realistic that the Celtics would end up making this move.

But me? I would add Brown in a package for Lillard in a second. I don’t even have to think twice about it. Obviously, if you could acquire Lillard without having to part ways with Brown, then that would be ideal. But that’s probably not realistic.

If I had to place a bet on it, I would bet that Lillard ends up being traded to his preferred destination, which sounds like it’s Miami. But I’m surprised this hasn’t been a bigger story, especially with rumors of the Celtics’ interest.

—The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce relationship (is that what we’re calling it?) is already the most annoying topic gracing my television and iPhone.

Admittedly, I’m not a “Swiftie.” Now, that doesn’t mean I dislike her. I’m just not into her music. So please don’t try to spin this a certain way.

As for Kelce, he’s somebody that I find to be annoying. And so, giving him all of this extra Taylor Swift attention is giving me a headache. Especially if you consider what re-

ally might be going on here.

Swift was in attendance for the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead on Sunday. She was in a suite and stood next to Kelce’s mother the entire game. After the game, Kelce and Swift were seen leaving the building together walking side by side.

But there was no public hand holding, which I thought was odd. You would think, if Swift was already sitting in a suite with his Mom, that Kelce wouldn’t be walking around with her like they were brother and sister. But that’s exactly what it looked like.

Prior to all of this, there was a good amount of public chatter about a potential Kelce and Swift relationship. But it’s also been well documented that Kelce is no stranger to selling his soul for a good advertising dollar. Look no further than his recent “double vaccine” Pfizer commercial, in which he promotes getting a Flu Shot and a Covid Booster at the same time.

Then I see that, after Sunday’s game with Swift in attendance, Kelce’s jersey sales had spiked more than 400 percent, and the NFL’s ratings that day showed a significant increase in female viewership. And

of course, it’s a fantastic form of publicity for Swift.

What am I trying to say here? Well, I guess I’m telling you that I don’t believe Kelce and Swift are actually dating. It’s a publicity stunt. It was coordinated by the NFL. That’s my take, and I’m sticking to it.

—I’ll wrap this up with some quick thoughts on the Patriots, as they are 1-2 to begin the season.

First thing’s first, the last three offensive possessions against the Jets on Sunday — after the Jets scored a touchdown to cut New England’s lead to 13-10 in the fourth quarter — were unacceptable. And for all the promise that Mac Jones and this Patriots offense has shown so far this season, I still have yet to feel comfortable with Jones as the quarterback with the game on the line.

That said, I do think that Ezekiel Elliott’s role out of the backfield is going to open things up considerably for Jones and the passing game, as the season progresses. And that makes me excited.

Will it turn the Pats into a playoff team this year? I wouldn’t go there just yet. But Elliott’s presence definitely keeps it interesting.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

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

PATRIOTS CONTINUE TO OWN JETS, PICK UP FIRST WIN OF SEASON

It was a must-win game for the New England Patriots on Sunday in New Jersey. Fortunately, for the Patriots, Aaron Rodgers was not the opposing quarterback, and instead, it was Zach Wilson under center for the Jets.

The Pats held Wilson to 157 yards passing and sacked the struggling young quarterback three times on a rainy day at MetLife, beating the Jets 15-10.

New England is now 1-2 on the season. Up next is a trip to Dallas to take on the 2-1 Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.

One of the top storylines in that Week 4 game will be Ezekiel Elliott’s return to Dallas. Elliott was drafted by the Cowboys with the No. 4 overall pick in 2016. He spent seven seasons in Dallas, before being

Tweet of the Week

released this past offseason.

Elliott, 28, signed a one-year deal with the Patriots in August. Through the first three games of this season, Elliott has split carries with Rhamondre Stevenson, and has a total of 122 rush yards on 28 carries, with no touchdowns.

In Sunday’s win over the Jets, Elliott rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries. It was by far his best performance in a Patriots uniform.

“Zeke’s done a good job for us,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick after Sunday’s win over the Jets. “I think we’re getting a little bit of a feel for some of the things with him and vice versa. I thought he had a couple of real good runs today. We’ll look at the film and look a little more carefully, but I thought he did a nice job, he got his pads down. Got some tough yards. His vision was good on a couple of cut-back plays.”

“I think we knew that it was going to be a running game,” said Elliott after the win. “So, we were just ready to come out and run the ball as much as we needed to. Our o-line did a great job of just being physical all game and at the line of scrimmage.”

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones finished the game 15-of-29 for 201 pass yards, with one touchdown and zero interceptions. The lone Patriots touchdown came on a 58-yard pass to a wide open Pharaoh Brown in

the second quarter that gave New England a 10-0 lead.

Brown — the Pats’ third-string tight end — had a game-high 71 receiving yards, on just two catches. Kendrick Bourne had a team-high four receptions, for 46 yards.

On the defensive end, Jabrill Peppers led New England with six solo tackles. Linebacker Matthew Judon had a game-high two sacks, including a safety in the fourth quarter.

Now, the Patriots are on to Dallas, where they’ll be a 6.5-point underdog against a Cowboys team that’s coming off an embarrassing loss to the Cardinals in Arizona.

“Well, we’re done with the game that we played by late Monday afternoon, I’d say, if it’s a Sunday game, late Monday afternoon,” said Belichick during Monday’s press conference, when asked how long it’ll take to turn the page from the Jets to the Cowboys. “We’ve already done some preliminary work on our future opponent, but not in the kind of detail that we’ll dive into, but enough just to kind of get organized and know what we’re dealing with. For the people that are working– for the guys on our staff that are working – on those teams over the weekend to try to get ahead.

“By the end of this afternoon, we’ll be all in on Dallas, and the previous game will be on the books, and we’ll

have done all the corrections, analysis and so forth,” added Belichick.

“There will be a later point in time in the week where we’ll kind of put it together with multiple games and look at it, self-scout and see how the most recent game adds in with the last two, three, four that we’ve played, games we’ve played against common components, things like that. But, that’s kind of a different component of that, the self-scouting. But, this game itself, whatever the results are, they are, and we’ll turn the page by the end of the day, Monday afternoon, and move on.”

For Elliott, he’s excited for his return to Dallas.

“I think it’ll be fun,” Elliott told reporters this week. “It’ll be fun to go back to Dallas where I spent a lot of time, and it’s a stadium I’ve played in a lot. It’ll be fun.”

SBT Staff