SouthBoston
Statewide Questions To Be On November’s Ballot
Millions of Massachusetts voters will hit the polls in November to cast a presidential ballot. They also could rewrite state laws in ways unseen in decades. Unions, advocates, and out-of-state groups are pushing to put five ballot questions before voters this fall, creating what would be the largest single slate in 24 years. The breadth of the lineup appears likely to spur one of the most expensive ballot question campaigns in Massachusetts history, with groups collectively having spent millions of dollars before the ballot has even been finalized.
For voters, that not only could mean enduring an onslaught of political advertising, but also wrestling with weighty policy decisions. Should the state scrap MCAS exams as a graduation requirement, reversing years of
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Help Find The Coward(s)
On the days leading up to the Independence Day holiday, one or more cowards took it upon themselves to sneak around Boston with their cans of spray paint and deface monuments. They selected what most cowards seem to hate the most. They targeted war memorials and plaques and statues dedicated in memory of veterans – true American heroes. Not content to spray their anti- veteran and anti- American hatred, they added anti- Semitic slogans to the area as well. The odds are that these cowards are also the type that show up at college campus rallies and protest about intolerance and racism. They shout slogans like ‘stop the hate’ and ‘end racism’ and or ‘Stop the Genocide’. And yet, calling for the elimination of Israel and in fact all Jewish People is their cause.
The City of Boston Parks and Recreation division and ‘Graffiti Busters went right to work when the vandalism was discovered and erased the offensive hate speech. And that’s exactly
what it was – hate speech. This is America, and as American citizens people have the right to say whatever they want. It’s called ‘free speech’ and it comes with our First Amendment Rights - that includes hateful language as well. What people do NOT have the right to do is splatter or paint their sick hate filled words and slogans or any words on our monuments; espe -
“The
cially those monuments that belong to all of us, paid for with our tax dollars but including on the private property of others.
South Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, when what happened was brought to his attention was rightfully outraged as were all residents. That cowards would actually deface monuments dedicated to American heroes; especially the vile message it was meant to send on
Independence Day in addition to those ant-Semitic attacks, was something all people should oppose. Flynn has called for an investigation into who was behind it and police are working on it now; hoping to find the culprits – the cowardly culprits and haters responsible. Well done to Ed Flynn for his efforts as well as to the Boston Police for theirs.
Acts of vandalism such as these should be offensive to
all. They should anger people enough to want to get involved in doing their part to helping police find out who was behind it and help bring them to justice. If anyone has any information as to the identities of the coward(s) or can provide any help at all with this matter, you are asked to contact Boston Police Headquarters as soon as you can. Not acting on incidents like this only encourages more of them.
summer night is like a perfection of thought”- Wallace Stevens
WInformation Center The
e didn’t publish last week. We always take the week after Independence Day off for vacation. So excuse the week delay in commenting on the recent Presidential Debate. What we witnessed was more than just the ineptness and failings of Joe Biden. Many of us already knew what it would be like. Stammering, hesitation, fabrications, confused and losing his train of thought were to be expected. But for that rapidly dwindling number of Americans who still believed that what they hear from the news media and from White House spokespeople, the hateful hacks on the Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel late night ‘comedy’ shows and the cackling hens on The View; all of which are often referred to as ‘Hate TV, I assume that many now realize the con job they’ve been feeding the public. They lie. And not just the occasional white lies or fibs. They have been spouting some major whoppers. Case in point: For the last 30 plus months, these mouth pieces for the Democrat National Committee have been insisting that Joe Biden is brilliant. To hear these mouth pieces sling it, Biden is at the top of his game. In other words, when we see live video of the falling ‘up’ flights of stairs, walking past the podium where he’s expected to speak, having to be lead of the stage so he wouldn’t get lost or walk out the back door and making all kinds of outrageous claims, well, we just can’t believe our lying eyes. He was raised in a black church, his uncle Bossey was eaten by cannibals, he fought in wars, he was once a trucker, he graduated at the head of his classes in college and so many more crazy claims that there is little doubt that he actually believes it.
With each gaff and fall and way out in space claim he makes, his highly paid protectors on his staff and in the press trip over themselves to rush out and tell us what we just saw and heard didn’t really happen or if it did happen, we all misinterpreted and misunderstood it. He was making a joke, he was given the wrong information, he was just a bit confused and a long list of other excuses. Or in desperation, they tried to convince us that all these videos and live shots were somehow altered or photo shopped by the Trump campaign and ‘MAGA’ groups to distort what really happed to make Biden look bad. They even went so far as saying – BUT, you should see him behind closed doors – the man is in total control and as sharp as a tack. What a crock... Now the majority of Americans could see right through it all. The year is 2024 and the public thankfully has become wise to media tricks and Democrat Party claims. But up until that debate last month, there was still a decent sized number of people in the country who kept falling for it for at least 2 reasons. One reason was, to be blunt; they were gullible/hopelessly naïve. But the other major reason was they just didn’t want to believe that the guy holding the office of President of the United States was in such serious Cognitive Decline. But now, as tens of millions watched the debate live and even more saw the replays on social media in the following days, the undisputable truth was laid bare for all to see. The man is not fit to hold that office. And as long as this hoax is allowed to continue, the more our country’s national security is in danger.
Personally, I don’t like Joe Biden and never did. In my opinion, he is the worst president America has ever had; even worse than Jimmy Carter,
Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
Clinton and Obama. He, and all those actually calling the shots and pulling his puppet strings are out to ruin our country and are dragging it down to levels never before seen. But I don’t take pleasure in watching what’s happening to the man physically and mentally. I wouldn’t wish his condition on anyone. But the guy; even if his intentions were to make America great; which I personally doubt they ever were, can’t do the job, isn’t doing the job and all this pretending he is, needs to stop now. The world is in serious trouble – mainly because America is now considered weak and
we need to get back on track as fast as possible. January 20th, 2025 can’t come fast enough.
The headline to this week’s column asked the question ‘Can we ever trust the media and Washington again?’. Sadly, unless there is a major shakeup and house cleaning for both, the answer; at least as it stands now is NO. The only way; at least the way I see it, is to elect people and appoint people who love our nation and want to save it and who aren’t afraid to say it and do whatever it takes to Make America Great Again.
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY
John Ciccone
NE Soccer Stadium Boomerang
It’s the Senate’s turn! To push a soccer stadium construction measure, that is — the same stadium idea that has been boomeranging between legislative chambers since 2022 without ever securing final approval. The proposal would enable the development of a soccer stadium in Everett along the Mystic River by removing the specific parcel from a designated port area. That action can only be done legislatively and is being heralded by advocates as a way to clean up the land, which is currently home to a decommissioned power plant. Backers include the Kraft Group, which owns the stadium’s potential home team, the New England Revolution — a team that right now shares Gillette Stadium with another Kraft team, the New England Patriots.
The House and Senate have historically been unable to get on the same page about the idea. In 2022, the House included stadium development language in a spending bill, but the Senate never took it up. In 2023, the Senate did the same, but that time around, representatives didn’t get on board. Now, the measure is again tucked into the Senate’s economic development bond bill, while the House left it out of its own version.
The Senate maneuver is the latest attempt at getting the proposal passed by July 31. For two months, a separate bill
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.
(S 2692) that would advance support for the stadium has been sitting in Senate Ways and Means. That bill’s sponsor and a proponent of the measure in both forms, Everett Sen. Sal DiDomenico, told MASSterList that he’s hopeful this is the moment the measure gets “across the finish line.”
DiDomenico said it would serve as an economic catalyst, an environmental win, and a way to create hundreds of union jobs and some open space, in a city that has been “bearing the burden of heavy industry for decades.” On the contrary, opponents to the project suggest that removing port designation could complicate clean energy goals.
But despite a major push — and one backed by a powerful family, at that — the jury’s still out on the fate of the stadium. Top House Democrats have refrained from making any statement committing to a stance for or against the measure this time around, even though the chamber voted in favor last term. Spokespeople for House Speaker Ron Mariano and House Ways and Means would only say that the chamber looks forward to reviewing the Senate’s final eco dev legislation once it’s passed. Considering we’ve seen both chambers take a stance on the measure in recent years, the flip-flopping of positions reveals that reps and senators do not seem to be on the same page, or very
communicative about the measure at all — at least publicly. That lack of open communication especially spurs questions about what factors are at play behind closed doors and what’s been the catalyst of such change.
Wu’s tax shift ‘likely’ getting hearing next week
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu met with Boston legislators Monday to discuss her proposed property tax shift, and on Boston Public Radio Tuesday, she said that there will “most likely” be a hearing next week on the matter. The proposal would shift the balance of commercial and residential property taxes in response to predicted decreasing commercial property values, which has faced controversy — but Wu added that there’s been “misinformation” surfacing about her plan, which she said wouldn’t massively increase commercial property taxes, but actually lower most commercial property owners tax bills in the next year. The News Service’s Sam Drysdale reports that Wu likely wants the bill to be passed in formal sessions so it doesn’t get stuck, blocked by any one vote, in the informal sessions on tap starting after July 31.
MBTA new tap-to-pay system rollout starts Aug. 1
The T’s new payment system is hitting subway stations, buses, the Green Line and the Mattapan
Trolley starting Aug. 1, enabling riders to tap their smartphones or credit cards to pay instead of using traditional CharlieCards. The new contactless fare collection system, which has been more than six years in the making, will eventually include commuter rail lines and ferries and has cost almost $1B. This initial rollout of the system’s first phase is an important step after the project was delayed a few years due to technological glitches, among other problems, and the next phase this upcoming spring will include new CharlieCards and new vending machines for people who want to partake in the existing card system.
Incomplete? Some skeptical T will ever fully build out SouthCoast Rail
While the Fall River-New Bedford area gears up to see commuter rail service to and from Boston return next year via SouthCoast Rail, Dan Medeiros of the Herald News reports the original longterm plans for the service include a less-discussed second phase that is meant to streamline service and open additional stations. Transportation advocates say that the T’s sheer volume of capital projects and the herculean efforts it took to get SouthCoast Rail to the testing phase make it unlikely the project will ever be built to the originally envisioned design.
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Hearts, Hugs & Hope Alzheimer’s Support Group at Compass on the Bay
July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm at Compass on the Bay Assisted Living and Memory Support Community, 1380 Columbia Road, South Boston. 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 is held both in person and virtually. Call 617-268-5450 or email Program Director Erin Bollinger at ebollinger@compassonthebay.com for more information and to register by July 22.
BCouncilors Flynn Files Hearing to Discuss Early Childhood Education and Access for Boston Families
oston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a hearing order this week to discuss resources for Early Childhood Education and ways to ensure access for Boston families. Councilor Flynn recently attended an Early Childhood Graduation for pre-kindergarten children and continues to note the tremendous benefits this has on a child’s development and their families’ well being.
Early Childhood Education is critical to a child’s development. According to UMass Global, millions
of neural connections are constantly forming in a child’s brain during their first five years of development. These neural pathways allow a child to move, think, communicate, understand, and interact with the world around them. Research has shown that children who receive a high-quality education before the age of five benefit in the medium to long-term, and are more likely to be prepared for later grades, graduate high school, and be higher income earners in the workforce.
In Boston, a child is eligible for
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) if they are 3 or 4 years old by September 1st of the school year they are applying to. The UPK is funded by the city at no cost to families, through the Boston Public Schools (BPS), community-based providers, and family child care providers. Typically, the program is a 6.5 hour school day for 180 days per year.
“We know early childhood education works, and we know the UPK is a very valuable program in Boston. We now need to ensure our families have access to high
quality and free preschool opportunities, and expand the number of seats to include more families, including families of color,” said Councilor Flynn. “We also need to ensure that there are enough qualified community-based providers for UPK, as well as enough culturally sensitive providers that can cater to our diverse families and needs.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@ Boston.gov.
Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid Parishes with St. Augustine Chapel News
Father Casey and Monsignor Liam met with Pope Francis in Rome
On a recent trip to Italy this summer, Father Robert Casey, our Pastor, and Monsignor
Liam Bergin, Priest Assistant in Residence, met Pope Francis at his weekly audience. Msgr. Liam is in Rome
teaching a summer course to Boston College students. Fr. Casey was able to celebrate his 37th Anniversary to
Priesthood on June 20th at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome - at the Clementine Chapel, the Chapel of St. Peter, in the Vatican grottoes (built in 1600 and commissioned by Pope Clement VIII). At that Mass, Fr. Casey and Msgr. Liam remembered all our Parishioners, Family and Friends back in Boston.
Ballot continued from front page educational standards? Should it legalize psychedelic mushrooms? Should ride-share drivers be allowed to unionize?
The number and diversity of the proposals underscore how advocacy and special interest groups are willing to not only turn to the ballot box — and bypass the Legislature — to realize their policy ambitions, but also plunk down major dollars to do so. And often, whichever side spends the most, wins.
“It’s the express line to legislating,” Secretary of State William F. Galvin said. “The idea that this is a purely citizen [driven] process simply is not true. It’s largely being guided by the money. You have groups that believe it’s a more efficient use of their money” than trying to sway lawmakers. Galvin on Wednesday announced he has certified four questions for the ballot, including one proposal that would give Auditor Diana DiZoglio the authority to audit the Legislature. A fifth question seeking to allow tipped restaurant servers to make the same $15 minimum wage as other workers also submitted enough signatures. But supporters cleared the threshold by a mere 136 signatures, and a leader of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association — which has fought against the proposal — challenged the submission, saying some signatures were “fraudulently obtained” or are from people who aren’t registered voters.
The state Ballot Law Commis -
sion will hold a hearing either on or after July 17 “to consider the objection,” according to Galvin’s office. One Fair Wage, a national group spearheading the tipped worker question, dismissed the challenge as “nothing more than a blatant attempt to stop the democratic process from happening.
The last time the state had more than four questions on the ballot was in 2000, when voters decided eight, according to records kept by Galvin’s office.
Lawmakers have criticized DiZoglio’s bid to audit them, arguing that it would not only violate the constitutional separation of powers, but that DiZoglio, a former lawmaker who campaigned on investigating the Legislature, has a “clear prejudice,” according to a report a legislative committee reviewing the ballot question filed. DiZoglio, a Methuen Democrat, has cast the Legislature — which is exempt from open meeting and public records laws — as a closed-door operation.
The push to scrap the MCAS exam, meanwhile, is being driven by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which often has no shortage of allies in the Democrat-led chambers. But legislative leaders and Governor Maura Healey have come out against the measure. Healey, for one, has said it’s important that state officials “maintain the ability to assess our young people.”
Groups both pushing, and op -
posing, ballot questions have regularly poured in millions to sway voters, seemingly setting new records with each cycle. Four years ago, a battle over expanding the state’s “Right to Repair” law was the most expensive ballot initiative in Massachusetts history, with automakers and auto parts dealers funneling money into committees that ultimately spent nearly $52 million. The question passed, requiring automakers to provide car owners and independent mechanics with access to wireless mechanical data, though the law has been jammed up for years in litigation.
In 2022, committees advocating for or against four separate questions reported dropping a combined $67 million, according to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
Of the 17 statewide ballot questions put to voters over the last decade, the side that spent the most prevailed in 11 of them, a Globe analysis found. For example, successful initiatives to implement a new surtax on annual earnings over $1 million, adopted in 2022, and to legalize recreational marijuana, passed in 2016, were both backed by committees that outspent their opponents.
Voters, however, aren’t always swayed by those with the biggest wallets. In 2020, voters rejected a question that would have implemented ranked-choice voting despite supporters spending about
$1,200 for every $1 opponents spent. Four years earlier, supporters of a ballot question to lift the state cap on charter schools outspent opponents only to see it fail by a wide margin.
This cycle is already a pricey one. Three ballot question committees collectively spent more than $11.4 million before 2024 even started, with most of the money going to paid signature collectors or consultants, according to state data. Ballot question committees don’t have to file their next report until early September, covering their spending and donations for all of 2024 to that point. “There’s almost a nine-month gap where you’re unsure about the influence” behind these questions, said Geoff Foster, executive director of the good government group, Common Cause Massachusetts. The committees are then required to file at least three more reports before the Nov. 5 election.
That reporting schedule stands in stark contrast to that of state lawmakers and statewide elected officials, who have to report who gave them money and how they spent it each month. “It should invite the same level of scrutiny,” Foster said of ballot question spending. “Voters should have the same level of expectations for transparency for elected officials who are making these decisions, as we would for interests who are trying to put a question directly before voters.”
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy honored South Boston resident John McGahan on his retirement as President of the Gavin House at the Boston City Council this week. The Councilors also hosted a breakfast reception where friends and colleagues were able to celebrate John’s remarkable career and life-saving work in the recovery community.
Sen. Collins and Rep.
Recently Catholic Charities Boston received the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grant to support their Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) training programs. The grant total is $1 million.
This program provides the free training annually to unemployed and underemployed program graduates to secure sustainable NA and HHA positions. Along with the free of charge training, the funding will allow the program to provide stipends for expenses to support many of the students experiencing hardship. The funding will also support workforce development
Biele Announce
Catholic Charities Nursing Program $1 Million Grant
in our communities. With the funds, Catholic Charities is able to hire additional staff, who will be conducting outreach and enrollment in the community, job search, and placement support with the employer partners including Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Signature Healthcare. This additional outreach will address help address the national shortage of healthcare workers by increasing the number of qualified CBAs and HHAs.
“This funding is not only helping our community by giving our residents access to free high-quality healthcare training, but also help-
ing the Commonwealth’s workforce development. By recruiting members from within our community and connecting them with our local hospitals we are addressing the healthcare’s dire need for healthcare workers. I am proud to have supported this grant funding on the state budget because it will improve the quality of life for our residents, both those who are in the training program and those who will be benefitting from the quality workforce it is producing.” said Senator Nick Collins.
“The Labouré Center has a longstanding commitment to serving the community through educational and
social services. This new funding will further enhance its capacity to deliver comprehensive training programs, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to secure stable and rewarding employment in the healthcare field. I’m proud to support state funding that will help the Labouré Center in its mission to provide highquality healthcare training and workforce development opportunities while helping individuals gain the skills necessary to thrive in the healthcare industry, addressing critical workforce shortages and improving community health outcomes.” said Representative David Biele.
bit.ly/3XCUWpR
Free: (833) 568 - 8864
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PROJECT PROPONENT: 215 West Eighth Street LLC
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project consists of a new five-story mixed-use building at 243-245 Dorchester Street in South Boston. The new building will contain twenty dwelling units intended to be condominium units for sale, with six accessory off-street garage parking spaces, in light of the site’s close proximity to Red Line rapid transit, as well as ground floor commercial space. The residential units are planned to be smaller in size, thus providing a more naturally affordable home ownership opportunity for first-time buyers looking for an alternative to renting.
Guy The Wine A Recent Participant
Austria has a 4000-year history of viticulture, but it wasn’t until the mid-’80s before they started making highquality wine for world consumption. Surely the wine producers of today hate to be reminded of the “antifreeze scandal” of 1985 which accused certain winemakers of adding diethylene glycol to their wines to impart sweetness and body.
Once the media and public found out that diethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze, the Austrian wine industry completely tanked. Yet, there was good to come of this scandal. As producers rebuilt the image and quality of Austrian
wines, they created a foundation that has put them at the top of the heap with regard to laws and regulations, innovation, quality, investment, and technology.
The Best White Wines of Austria
What grape comes to mind when thinking of Austria? Perhaps Gruner Veltliner, since it is the most widely planted and most important white grape in Austrian wine production. This typically dry, melon and pear-scented wine shows hints of savory tones like lentil and white pepper. However, this grape is capable of greatness and can range in style from light and lean to rich, intense, and exotic.
It all depends on the region and the style of the producer. Most of the value Gruner Veltliner wines will fall into the category of light, and crisp. Other white varieties of note would include Riesling, which is dry, minerally, and delicious. Grapes like Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Neuberger, Roter Veltliner, Rotgipfler, and Zierfandler are all delicious in their own right, but less known in the US.
The Best Red Wines of Austria
Some of the red wines of Austria include Zweigelt, Blaufrankish, Pinot Noir, and Blauer Portugieser. Many of the Austrian red grapes are hybrids or a crossing of two varieties. Zweigelt (a crossing of Blaufrankish and St. Laurent) is the most widely planted and is capable of making outstanding wines as long as the yields remain relatively low. Blaufrankish has fewer plantings country-wide, but in the region of Mittelburgenland, this grape truly hits its apex. Pinot Noir from the Thermen Region can be exciting and a delicious alternative to the high-priced wines of Burgundy.
The Austrian wine labels may still trouble the average wine buyer but
try to be adventurous and understand that it’s all pretty simple. The actual classifications mirror those of Germany (which is not exactly easy), but the wines are dryer in style. There are, of course, the exotic and deliciously sweet wines from the shores of Lake Neuseidl on the border of Hungary. This shallow body of water provides the perfect climate for the botrytis cinerea spore to grow on the grapes which extract moisture and concentrate the sugar.
Generally speaking, it’s typically easy to find a delicious, crisp, refreshing GrunerVeltliner or Riesling from the Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, Traisental, or Weinviertel regions. The Wachau has its own three-tier classification system: Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd. The style of wine goes from lightest to fullest, with the must weights and alcohol levels being higher going from Steinfeder to Smaragd. Again, all of these wines are dry with a very pronounced granitic mineral tone and ripe tree fruit character. They can be unbelievably delicious and exciting to enjoy with food.
MWRA ANNUAL REPORT CONFIRMS HIGH QUALITY OF REGION’S WATER, RANKED AMONG NATION’S VERY BEST
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which supplies drinking water to fiftythree area municipalities including Boston, is mailing its Annual Water Quality Report to every household within its service area. Sourced from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, local drinking water undergoes hundreds of thousands of tests annually, is constantly being monitored and this year once again meets or surpasses every federal and state safe drinking water standard. MWRA drinking water is considered among the nation’s best. Executive Director Henry Vitale of Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), which partners
with MWRA to provide Boston’s award-winning drinking water, noted that the focus on quality is imperative every step of the way from “the reservoir to the tap.” In that spirit, he said, BWSC is continuing its aggressive campaign to remove all private lead service pipes remaining in Boston. “We want everyone in Boston to enjoy our high-quality drinking water safely,” said Vitale. “If people have a lead pipe supplying water into their residence, suspect they have lead or are unsure, please call Boston Water and Sewer Commission right away.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has directed the Commission to provide both free inspections to determine if pipes are lead or not, and for the lead replacement program itself
to be cost free. Boston property owners who would like to take advantage of the no-cost private lead service pipe removal program are urged to call the BWSC Lead Hotline for assistance on this or any other lead related issues at (617) 989-7888. Customers may also visit the Commission’s Lead Service Map at: https://www.bwsc.org/environment-education/maproom/leadservice-map to look up information the Commission may have on the status of their property.
While both MWRA’s and BWSC’s public distribution mains are lead free, thousands of older Boston properties may still have a private lead service line. Replacement of private lead service lines is an important public health issue because excessive amounts of lead in
the body can cause serious adverse health effects, especially for young children and pregnant women. Again, call our Lead Hotline at 617989-7888 for more information.
MWRA Water Quality Report
Boston is home to New England’s oldest and largest water, sewer and storm water systems, which are owned, maintained and operated by Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC). Established in 1977, BWSC provides portable water and sewer services to more than one million people per day. BWSC is also the leading organizer of We Are All Connected, a campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting and preserving Boston’s waterways. For more information please visit: www.bwsc.org.
Secretary of State Certifies Ballot Question that would Give Rideshare Driver’s Freedom to Unionize
Polling shows strong voter support for question giving Uber and Lyft drivers the union option
Secretary of State William Galvin’s office has certified that a question will appear on the 2024 Massachusetts ballot asking voters whether or not rideshare drivers should have the option to unionize. The Secretary of State’s office certified 18,084 signatures, or almost 6,000 more than the 12,429 required.
Although Uber and Lyft have operated in Massachusetts for roughly a decade, drivers here and across the country have never had the legal authority to form or join a union. The question would give drivers the legal right and an effective means to choose unionization, so they can collectively bargain wages, benefits and working conditions with the companies themselves, and have a body to represent their interests in the rapidly changing industry.
In Massachusetts, the groundbreaking ac cord with Uber and Lyft announced by Attorney General Andrea Campbell on June 28 will give drivers a guaranteed base wage and other benefits, but it does not give them a unionization option. The power to grant that option is now in the hands of Massachusetts voters in the fall general election, through a yes vote by voters on a statewide ballot question (the number of that question has yet to be announced).
“We know that voters in Massachusetts favor union rights for all workers, including for rideshare drivers,” said 32BJ SEIU Assistant to the President Roxana Rivera. “We are proud to be part of a coalition that is asking voters to grant drivers the freedom to unionize. We are also proud to have the support also of the Attorney General herself. We are deeply thankful for the groundbreaking agreement the AG’s office reached with Uber and Lyft, and that she has acknowledged that drivers should have the ability to continue improving their difficult and undervalued jobs by joining a union.”
Thousands of Drivers Fight for the Option to Unionize
For two years, 32BJ SEIU has partnered
Window continued from page 4
All quiet at Terminal E: No migrants at Logan on first night of sleeping ban
By early Tuesday night, state and
with the Machinists Union and the Chinese Progressive Association to lead a coalition of community groups and thousands of rideshare drivers fighting for the freedom to unionize.
On Tuesday, July 2, the effort reached a turning point as 200 drivers joined with coalition partners in a celebratory event to hand in the final signatures required for the ballot to the Secretary of State’s office.
“The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has taken great steps in getting drivers additional protection like paid sick time,” said Mike Vartabedian, the Assistant Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists, District 15 at the celebratory rally. “Now we must take the next step and ask the voters to give driver’s the right to unionize.”
“For me -- and for thousands of Massachusetts drivers like me -- what we want more than anything is our own organization to negotiate good terms of work,” said Yolanda Rodriguez, a Lyft driver from Malden, at the July 2 event.
Besides allowing drivers to build up from the base established by the Attorney General’s agreement, a union can give drivers crucial support to defend themselves against unfair actions by the companies, which for years have left drivers and their families stunned and stranded through unreasonable deactivations of their accounts.
As Rodriguez explained, she recently suffered a five-month deactivation while she was pregnant with her third child. “It was a horrible time,” she said, “I’m now $30,000 in debt, paying for this expensive car that I bought so I could earn a decent wage with Lyft. And now my son is also falling behind in his development.”
Most Massachusetts Voters Also Support the Freedom to Unionize
Polling commissioned from EMC Research in late 2023 shows that roughly twothirds of likely general election Massachusetts voters support giving rideshare drivers the freedom to unionize, if they so choose. Those figures were bolstered today by a new
local police appear to have secured the sprawling spaces at Terminal E at Logan Airport, where scores of migrant families had taken temporary shelter until the Healey
poll by Data for Progress, which shows that two-thirds of Americans support better laws and protections for rideshare drivers, including 80 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Republicans.
Nevertheless, advocates recognize that the ballot campaign will need to explain in the coming months why tens of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers deserve the same option to unionize that is enjoyed by millions of other workers in the state. In a field and media campaign, the coalition will make clear that the freedom to unionize increases drivers’ flexibility and independence – the hallmarks of the new ride-hailing industry -- by giving drivers a voice in shaping their pay, benefits and working conditions from here on out.
“The agreement from the attorney general helps us now,” concluded Rodriguez. “But things change, and we need to have a voice forever – that’s why we want a union.”
administration said it would ban the practice. Sarah Betancourt of GBH reports barriers have been installed along corridors where families had previously gathered
and that state officials say most of the families have already been moved to or are in the process of moving to a state prison-turned-shelter in Norfolk.
The 2024 MLB All Star Game is in Texas this coming Tuesday. The Boston Red Sox had three players announced as All Stars initially in Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, and Tanner Houck.
“It means a lot,” Duran told the media. “Coming from where I came from and dealing with what I had to deal with, it feels good. It’s hard to put into words. It’s a proud moment. Proud of [myself], proud of the team, proud for my teammates.”
“Lot of days of hard work,” Houck told reporters. “A lot of hours of having great conversations with people. It all boils down to having an incredible coaching staff and teammates that stand by you every day and want you to get better and push you to get better. I’m still in shock about the entire moment and just trying to soak it all in.”
Devers has since backed out. Devers and the Red Sox met earlier this week, and all agreed that it would be best if Devers took the All-Star break to rest a left shoulder injury.
“Obviously he’s been grinding through a few things, especially his left shoulder,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the media. “As a group, we believe that this is a good time for him to get some rest and
then take care of it, so he’s not going to participate.
“It’s a testament to our medical staff,” said Cora. “They do an amazing job with him during the week.
I think Raffy has learned how to be efficient with his work and staying healthy. And obviously talking to him, we all believe there’s more here [for the 2024 Red Sox]. We’re shooting for something bigger than the AllStar Game, and for him to be healthy is the most important thing.
“But as far as the performance, [Devers] understands,” added Cora. “He does an outstanding job in the weight room, in the training room, not hitting outside. Not taking grounders when he doesn’t need them. He’s a very mature player that understands his craft. That’s the reason he’s been able to post.”
Replacing Devers is Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg, who will make his All-Star Game debut.
At the All-Star break, the Red Sox are hovering around 10 games above .500 and are in third place in the AL East, behind the second-place New York Yankees and the first-place Baltimore Orioles.
If the playoffs began Wednesday, July 10, the Red Sox would get into the postseason as the final Wild Card
This week,
Danny shared his thoughts on the 2024 MLB All Star Game and its rosters:
team, with the Yankees and Minnesota Twins grabbing the other two Wild Card spots in the AL.
With that, I was planning on giving a full breakdown of the All-Star Game rosters, but MLB.com did it for us. So here’s a full team-by-team breakdown, from Major League Baseball itself:
^ Player-elected pick
* Choice of MLB
# Chosen as All-Star but will not play
+ Named as a replacement
PHILLIES (7): Alec Bohm (starter), 3B; Bryce Harper (starter), 1B; Jeff Hoffman^, RHP; Matt Strahm^, LHP; Ranger Suárez, LHP; Trea Turner (starter), SS; Zack Wheeler#, RHP
DODGERS (6): Mookie Betts#, SS; Freddie Freeman^, 1B; Teoscar Hernández^, OF; Tyler Glasnow#, RHP; Shohei Ohtani (starter), DH; Will Smith^, C
GUARDIANS (5): Emmanuel Clase^, RHP; David Fry^, DH; Steven Kwan (starter), OF; Josh Naylor^, 1B; José Ramírez (starter), 3B
PADRES (5): Luis Arraez^, 1B; Jackson Merrill^, OF; Jurickson Profar (starter), OF; Robert Suarez^, LHP; Fernando Tatis Jr.# (starter), OF
ROYALS (4): Seth Lugo^, RHP; Salvador Perez^, C; Cole Ragans*, LHP; Bobby Witt Jr.^, SS
ORIOLES (4): Corbin Burnes^, RHP; Gunnar Henderson (starter), SS; Adley Rutschman (starter), C; Jordan Westburg +, INF
ASTROS (3): Jose Altuve (starter), 2B; Yordan Alvarez (starter), DH; Kyle Tucker^, OF
BRAVES (3): Reynaldo López^, RHP; Marcell Ozuna^, DH; Chris Sale^, LHP
RED SOX (3): Rafael Devers#, 3B; Jarren Duran^, OF; Tanner Houck^, RHP
YANKEES (3): Clay Holmes*, RHP; Aaron Judge (starter), OF; Juan Soto (starter), OF
BREWERS (2): William Contreras (starter), C; Christian Yelich (starter), OF
GIANTS (2): Heliot Ramos*, OF; Logan Webb *, RHP
PIRATES (2): Bryan Reynolds^, OF; Paul Skenes*, RHP
RANGERS (2): Marcus Semien^, 2B; Kirby Yates^, RHP
TIGERS (2): Riley Greene^, OF; Tarik Skubal^, LHP
REDS (2): Elly De La Cruz^, SS; Hunter Greene, RHP
ANGELS (1): Tyler Anderson*, LHP
ATHLETICS (1): Mason Miller^, RHP
BLUE JAYS (1): Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (starter), 1B
CARDINALS (1): Ryan Helsley*, RHP
CUBS (1): Shota Imanaga*, LHP
D-BACKS (1): Ketel Marte (starter), 2B
MARINERS (1): Logan Gilbert*, RHP
MARLINS (1): Tanner Scott*, LHP
METS (1): Pete Alonso*, 1B
NATIONALS (1): CJ Abrams*, SS
RAYS (1): Isaac Paredes*, 3B
ROCKIES (1): Ryan McMahon^, 3B
TWINS (1): Carlos Correa*, SS
WHITE SOX (1): Garrett Crochet^, LHP Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.
SPORTS TODAY
CELTICS’ WHITE NAMED TO USA OLYMPIC TEAM
With Kawhi Leonard backing out of the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill selected Boston Celtics guard Derrick White as his replacement this week.
White joins Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday as the three Celtics players representing Team USA at the Olympics, with NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown being an extremely notable snub.
The announcement comes just a week after the Celtics signed White to a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension.
“Derrick is a great player who has immersed himself in the Boston community since joining us in the Spring of 2021,” said President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens in a press release. “Derrick brings a joy and selflessness to our building every single day. He’s committed to improving and has shown that in each year of his career. More importantly, he cares most about the things that matter, including building great relationships and competing with integrity. We are very lucky that Derrick is a Celtic and are thrilled he’ll be here for years to come.”
White was a critical piece to the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Championship team. During this year’s championship run, White became the only player in NBA history to register at least 300 points, 70 assists, and 16-or-fewer turnovers in a single
Tweet of the Week
playoff run. He also had the fifthmost blocks in the 2024 playoffs, with 23, and became the fourth NBA guard since 1971 to record at least 20 blocks in multiple playoffs, joining Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and Dennis Johnson.
Now, he’ll be playing for Gold.
Here’s the entire press release from the USA Basketball website:
USA Basketball announced today that Derrick White (Boston Celtics) has been named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26Aug. 11, 2024. White was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill
As previously confirmed Kawhi Leonard, who was named to the 2024 USA Men’s National Team in April, will not participate at the Olympic Games. USA Basketball and the L.A. Clippers determined it’s in Leonard’s best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming NBA season.
“I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” Hill said. “We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris.
“I want to thank Kawhi for his commitment to the USA Men’s National
Team. He earned the opportunity to represent the United States, but USA Basketball and Clippers leadership felt it’s important to allow Kawhi to prepare for the NBA season.”
In addition to White, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
White, a seven-year NBA veteran, joins the USA Men’s National Team after helping lead the Celtics to a record 18th NBA Championship in June. In 2023-24, the 30-year-old guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the second consecutive season.
White was named to the 2024 USA Men’s National Team player pool in January. He was a finalist for the 2020 USA Men’s National Team and a member of the 2019 USA World Cup Team.
Leonard, a member of the USA
Basketball family since 2012, was a member of two USA Select Teams in 2012 and 2014 and played for USA White in the 2015 USA Basketball Showcase.
The 2024 Men’s Senior National team boasts a combined 11 Olympic appearances and owns 10 Olympic gold medals as well as three FIBA World Cup titles. In total, the U.S. will take 11 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and seven NBA champions to Paris.
The 2024 USA Men’s National Team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.
The 2024 Olympic Games are set for July 26-Aug. 11. The U.S. men open group play in Lille, France, against Serbia on July 28. They will then face South Sudan on July 31 and Puerto Rico on Aug. 3.
The USA Basketball Showcase, an exhibition series to help prepare USA men’s and women’s national teams for international competition, will begin today, July 10, when the United States hosts Canada at TMobile Arena in Las Vegas at 10:30 p.m. ET live on FS1.
