Back in May, Marty Walz of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau (BMRC), the city’s finance watchdog group called upon Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to consider budget cuts and other alternatives to her controversial proposal to hike commercial tax rates. Despite the prudent fiscal recommendation, political considerations underscoring Mayor Michelle Wu’s agenda stiffened her resolve to resist despite the impact on business, especially small business. Wu had proposed hiking rates in response to the collapse of the office market, which has led to a plunge
There Should Not
Even Be TALK Of Residential Tax Hikes
From the talk at the grocery stores, the barber shops and hair salons, the restaurants and the bars, at Castle Island and even before and after church last Sunday, residents, including life long, long time and even new, people are stunned, maybe even a bit shocked at the talk of possible property tax hikes. That hiking taxes, especially on residential homes, with the economy so bad and the prices of nearly every necessity sky high already, is actually considered to be on the table is making the average homeowner in the city and yes renters too, shudder. Because, as everyone knows, when property taxes go up, rents follow right after as
landlords, in order to be able to pay their property tax increase, in many cases must raise the rent of their tenants. The questions being asked now by the public, in near disbelief, are ‘How high this time? When is enough, enough? When will this ever end? Will it?
Let us speak bluntly here. The cost of living in this city has become much too high, causing hundreds to leave Boston each year. We’re not talking about the college students crammed 6, sometimes 8, into an apartment, with rich families helping to pay their expenses. And no, this editorial isn’t a swipe at those students who don’t have to worry about money. They are the lucky ones – good luck to them. We’re speaking about the families with children, the senior citizens and the people who have called this community and this city in general home sometimes for generations being forced out because they just can’t afford to pay what everything costs to live here if they want to be able to buy food, heat their homes and own a vehicle.
We always hear that in order to properly run this city,
more money must be found, otherwise city services will be cut. But that’s just a kinder, gentler way of saying give us more money or we’ll make you regret it.
In every major city and even in smaller towns ways can be found, that is if officials in government want it to be found. There is always a percentage of tax dollars that could be saved by eliminating wasteful and overspending of things and programs that are, to be frank, not really necessary, or at the very least, could still be operational with a little less money in their budgets. No, not the police or fire departments or other First Responders – public safety comes first – always. A little less money spent on office space renovation and furniture or replacing the motor vehicle fleets a bit less frequently could go a long way towards saving money and giving city residents a break from tax increases. There are many ways to tighten the belts of government spending if officials are truly serious about giving residents a break from tax hikes. It’s about time that sincere efforts are made to attain that worthy goal.
WInformation Center
The Could Our Elections Be More Secure?
ith the big election quickly bearing down on the nation, both major political parties are jockeying for an advantage. Billions of dollars have been raised to pay for advertising to try to convince the public as to why their candidates should be elected. Television, radio, the remaining print newspapers and of course, digital and online outlets are bombarding us nonstop. The old style of campaigning still seems to have a place in 2024 as legions of sign holders take to the bridges, over passes, street corners and rallies. And yes, our mailboxes are being stuffed with political brochures – a practice that is supposedly illegal, but no campaign ever seems to get called out on it. So as far as elections and voting goes, it’s pretty much business as usual – how it’s been for generations. But not TOTALLY the same.
In recent years, particularly for the years of 2020 and 2022, something new has been added and it’s causing quite of bit of controversy and even some tension and a whole lot of suspicion right up to this year - the 2024 election. As in the last 2 big election years, accusations of voter fraud, ballot tampering and outright cheating to steal elections are flying around rapid fire. Some dismiss the accusations and demand for more secure elections as nothing more than a conspiracy theory. Most are familiar with that term by now. And the fact that so many of them have been proven to be true, especially for the last 4 years when the ‘Covid Pandemic’ mysteriously materialized, more and more people are taking these accusations seriously – including when the question of rigged elections is raised. Is there a reason to be leery about election fraud? Actually yes, there is. For example, it was reported 2 weeks ago that in the state of Michigan, the number of voting age citizens among
the population stands at approximately 8.1 million. And yet, the number of people listed on the voting rolls is 8.4 million. Imagine that. Magically, some of the people still on those rolls, are listed as deceased, but somehow are still casting votes. In Arizona, thousands of non-citizens, many of them illegal immigrants, had to be purged from the voter rolls. It’s happening in Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Florida, and a couple of dozen other states. In California – forget it. Their rolls are crammed with ineligible voters and of course it came as no surprise to anyone when their Democrat governor, Gavin Newsome, who by the way is Nancy Pelosi’s nephew, recently signed a bill into law that makes it illegal even to ask someone to show an ID when voting in that state no matter how suspicious a particular voter seems.
If you follow the news, you might have heard that the Biden/Harris administration is filing lawsuits against some of these states that are clearing the ineligible voters from their lists. Now why would the Administration ever want to do that? For that matter, why is the administration and most Democrats in Congress so adamant in their goal of preventing a national Voter ID law, even though more than 80% of Americans favor the ID laws, including a majority of Democrat voters and people in every racial and ethnic group? Hmmmm! What could be the motive behind this? Still think it’s just a conspiracy theory. Here is a partial list of what constitutes the crime, and it sure is a crime, of illegal voting - Ballot Petitioning Fraud, Buying votes, Duplicate voting, False registration, Altering the vote count, Illegal assistance at the polls, Impersonating someone else at the polls, Fraudulent use of absentee ballots, Non US Citizen Voting. There are more but
you get the picture and it’s happening in almost every state in the country to different degrees. And STILL, The Biden/Harris Administration is using lawsuits and threats against those states that are ‘cleaning up’ their voting lists of ineligible and dead voters. Surveys are showing that the number of Americans who no longer have confidence that this country’s elections are safe and secure is increasing rapidly. No matter how many denials from the White House and the news media are issued and how many times the public is told that anyone claiming there is election tampering taking place
is just helping spread crazy conspiracy theories, fewer people are buying it. Americans no longer know who to trust in government or what to believe from the media. So, to be safe, more Americans are questioning everything and who can blame them? And that’s why, come November 5th, a big change needs to come to our country, because Americas should never again have to relive what the last nearly 4 years have brought us. If you haven’t yet voted, ask yourself the following question before you fill out that ballot ‘Is America better off now than it was four years ago?’ And then vote accordingly.
Ciccone
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY
John Ciccone
The Ballot Questions
The final week of ballot question campaign sparring is here. So far, we’ve seen dueling Question 2 events, a major opposition contribution and some still-held tongues.
Yesterday, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler again outlined — this time during a Board of Education meeting — his adamant opposition to Question 2, the measure that would eliminate the MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. A couple of hours later, the “Yes on 2” campaign held a virtual press conference pointing to the “failed policy” of standardized exams as a test requirement, hosting the likes of Massachusetts Teachers Association leadership and National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers officials.
The final days of dueling come on the heels of some other notable campaign moments
— former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg recently gave a $2.5 million donation to the “No on 2” campaign, marking its largest single contribution to
TWindow 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.
date (supporters have still signi ficantly outraised opponents, all from the MTA that’s leading the campaign).
Loads of state officials have taken sides on Question 2 — a divisive issue among Democrats — though there are still pockets of neutrality. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu maintained Sunday that she is not taking a stance on Question 2, nor any other ballot question this election cycle.
Wu’s decision lines up with a number of mayors, like Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and New Bedford
Mayor Jon Mitchell, who are choosing to remain silent on the MCAS. But it’s a departure from other mayors across the state on the rest of the questions — recently, West Springfield, Holyoke and Easthampton mayors endorsed Question 4, and among a long list of others, Quincy, New Bedford, Worcester and Northampton mayors have come out opposed to Question 5.
Looking further back, Wu’s move is a bit of a departure from the actions of her
predecessor, Marty Walsh, who went so far as to write an opinion piece in 2016 urging Bay Staters to vote “no” on a charter school cap measure, and came out two years later in support of creating a strict statewide nurse-to-patient ratio.
Top senator says health care system ‘incredibly fragile,’ ‘pushing to get something done’ on hospital oversight
Sen. Cindy Friedman, the Senate’s point person on many health care topics, discussed ongoing struggles hospitals, community health centers and insurers in Massachusetts are facing, the Beacon’s Jennifer Smith reports. Friedman said Senate Democrats have “reached out” to counterparts in the House and are “pushing to get something done” on stalled health care bills still in negotiation but wouldn’t elaborate on the reported sticking points between the chambers. She mentioned addressing pharmaceutical companies and their costs and protecting health care organizations from private equity
MCCA Board Votes to Approve Marcel Vernon, Sr. As Executive Director
he Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Board of Directors voted unanimously yesterday to offer Marcel Vernon, Sr. the position of Executive Director.
“Marcel Vernon is a highly qualified leader who has experience running large casinos and an extensive background in hospitality, finance, business, social services and state government,”
said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “He is an excellent choice to run the convention center authority. I’m grateful for the hard work of the MCCA Board and the search committee throughout this process and look forward to our continued partnership to support the convention industry in Massachusetts and grow our economy.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am excited for the selection of Marcel Vernon as
as priorities. Friedman also said that a good legislative process involves lawmakers speaking in private — not in the public eye — because she said her words can be taken out of context in public when it comes to hot topics.
New fire and EMS plan calls for tri-town emergency services in Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Richmond
In response to decreasing volunteer firefighter and paramedic ranks and increasing emergency response times, the Fire and EMS Committee overseeing Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Richmond has a plan to build a new, $5.3M station with sleeping quarters, 24/7 services and a tri-town reach. Eight fulltime fire and EMS professionals would be hired under the plan, their salaries and benefits split by Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. Where Richmond lands in the plan is still up for discussion, though the cost report says the town would benefit from stronger mutual aid support in
continued on page 6
the MCCA’s next Executive Director,” said MCCA Board Chair Emme Handy. “We are confident that Marcel is the right choice to lead this important economic development engine, and we look forward to working with him to ensure the success of the MCCA as we begin this next chapter. As we welcome Marcel to the MCCA, we extend our deep gratitude to Interim Executive Director, Gloria Cordes Larson, for her incredible leadership and tireless work over the past eleven months.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority into the future,” said Marcel Vernon. “Our goal is to be a catalyst for economic
continued on page 8
The Restaurant Industry’s Stand Against Question 5
Why a “NO” Vote Matters
As Massachusetts heads to the polls, the restaurant industry is urging voters to reject Question 5, a ballot initiative that could have significant implications for workers, owners, and consumers alike. At a recent press conference held Tuesday at Roza Lyons, Senator Nick Collins joined industry leaders to express their concerns and rally support for a “NO” vote.
Senator Collins, along with Steve Clark, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Joe Rull of Shawmut Strategies, and Rob Fitzharris, owner of Roza Lyons, articulated the potential fallout from passing Question 5. Clark emphasized that the initiative would create a ripple effect across the industry: “If this ballot question passes, it’s going to impact three tiers. It will impact the servers who will make less money, the owners who will have higher costs upwards of $18,000, and the consumers because of the higher costs.”
The sentiment echoed by
Rull—“if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”—reflects a widespread belief that the current system supports both workers and business owners effectively. Fitzharris reinforced this view, noting the resilience of the restaurant industry in the wake of the pandemic: “To do this to the bar and restaurant industry will have a negative effect on the survival of the industry.” He and his team are firmly voting NO.
Collins has positioned himself as a strong advocate for the restaurant workforce, highlighting the voices of those directly affected by the potential changes. He stated, “In speaking with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, small businesses, and constituents who work as servers and bartenders, the people who actually do the work, are asking for a NO vote.” He cautioned against outside influences trying to push their agenda in the Commonwealth, stressing the importance of local input.
As the election approaches, it’s crucial for voters to consider the broader implications of Question 5. Passing this initiative could destabilize an industry that has already faced tremendous challenges, threatening the livelihoods of workers and the viability of small businesses.
In conclusion, Senator Nick Collins stands firm in his advocacy for the restaurant community. His commitment to listening to the voices of local workers and business owners underscores the importance of making informed decisions at the ballot box. A “NO” vote on Question 5 is not just a stand against unnecessary change; it’s a testament
to supporting an industry that forms the backbone of our local economy.
As Collins urges constituents to engage in this critical conversation, it’s clear that the future of Massachusetts’ restaurant industry depends on the collective action of its voters. Your voice matters! Vote NO on 5.
UMass Boston Announces Free Tuition for Eligible Students
UMass Boston announced a new free tuition pledge for students with the greatest needs, combining university, state, and federal aid to provide unprecedented certainty to students and families as their college application process begins.
Drawing on the significant support the Healey-Driscoll Administration has provided through MASSGrant Plus Expansion, UMass Boston’s
Beacon Pledge will provide a comprehensive aid package to enable eligible students next fall to attend college with all tuition and mandatory fees covered.
“I want to thank the HealeyDriscoll Administration for their unwavering support of public higher education. Considering over 80% of our graduates remain in Massachusetts, the state’s continued investment in public higher education is an investment in our future workforce,” said UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. “Being the son of schoolteachers and an immigrant myself, I know education’s vital role in opening doors for young people. Our Beacon Pledge program will make a four-
year degree at Boston’s premier public research university not just a dream but an attainable reality.”
The Beacon Pledge Program offers high-need students the ability to earn a bachelor’s degree for free. It will use federal, state, and institutional aid to cover total tuition and mandatory fees. In-state students from families with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less qualify for the program.
University leaders hope the program can support as many as 3,000 students in its first year, more than one-third of whom are expected to come from Suffolk County and a vast majority of whom are expected to be students of color.
“Massachusetts is home to
incredible state colleges and universities, including Boston’s only public research university, UMass Boston,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We have made important progress over the past couple of years to make higher education more affordable and accessible for all students and are glad to see UMass Boston lifting up the historic financial aid available to students at state universities through their Beacon Pledge. I’m grateful for the leadership of Chancellor Suárez-Orozco and look forward to continuing to support the amazing work happening at UMass Boston and campuses across the state.”
“We believe the Beacon Pledge,
in the value of office buildings and towers and a potential shortfall in tax revenue. The mayor’s proposal would essentially squeeze additional dollars out of struggling downtown office properties in a bid to head off a potential double-digit tax increase on city homeowners and apartment building owners.
But the business-backed BMRC argued that Wu’s plan could make an already bad situation for downtown Boston office building owners and businesses even worse. Over the course of the next two years, Wu’s plan would force office building and tower owners and businesses to cough up more than $1.4 billion taxes - a burden that would otherwise been shouldered by city homeowners.
Instead, the BMRC urged Wu to look at ways to rein in city spending, which has jumped by nearly 55 percent over the past decade - well above inflation - with the city adding nearly 1,300 new employees. Most of the new hires were by Boston Public Schools, even as the district has seen a major drop in enrollment. The group’s report came on the heels of the warning last month by Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
President Jim Rooney.
The city’s commercial real estate market already pays 70 percent of the taxes. Wu’s tax plan, by hiking rates on the struggling sector, would kill the “golden goose,” Rooney had warned. So, what happened to fiscal sanity?
Last week, those very same players, Walz and Rooney, struck a deal with the Mayor to compromise on her plan to shift more of the city’s property tax burden onto businesses. The deal, intended to avoid both dramatic tax hikes on homeowners or painful budget cuts, would allow the city to temporarily raise its commercial property tax rate beyond state limits — though it’s less than Wu’s original proposal and includes a few new protections for small businesses, although small business, especially small property owners were not part of the deal making according to sources. These are the important aspects of the dealmaking.
State law limits how much higher the tax can be for businesses. It is up to 175% of what the rate would be if residents and businesses had the same rate. Because of that limit, Wu said a projected decline in office
building on existing state and federal support, is a model for other public colleges and universities to ensure a four-year degree is more attainable for all learners, regardless of their background or income,” Suárez-Orozco said.
“UMass Boston’s Beacon Pledge program highlights how truly affordable a UMass degree is, and I applaud Chancellor Suárez-Orozco and the other UMass chancellors for their efforts to ensure students and families are aware of that fact,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “Since 2015, the University of Massachusetts system has made record investments in university-funded aid, boosting it by 73 percent to $409 million annually.
“Congratulations to UMass Boston and Chancellor Suárez-Orozco on this bold step to open even more doors to a world-class education,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “As Boston’s premier public research university that educates and trains more BPS students than any other higher education institution, the Beacon Pledge will make a four-year degree attainable, equitable and accessible for Boston residents.”
“UMass Boston’s commitment to providing a high-quality education to every deserving student, regardless of financial background,
values could force the city to raise property tax rates on residents to make up for lost tax revenue — or resort to service cuts and layoffs. Wu’s original plan would have increased that limit to 200%, before bringing it back to 175% over five years. After negotiations with the House, she agreed to 190% with a three-year ramp down. Now, the new deal with business leaders lets the city go up to 181.5%. It also sets aside $45 million to offset tax hikes on small businesses and raises the personal property tax exemption threshold for small businesses from $10,000 to $30,000.
To close the deal, Wu has to file a new home rule petition that was just approved by Boston City Council, and then sent to Beacon Hill where both chambers of the State House and Gov. Maura Healey must approve it. The deal has apparently been approved by Senate President Karen Spilka, whose chamber blocked Wu’s first proposal.
Under the new deal, Wu’s administration says the average Boston homeowner, with a $838,000 home, would see last year’s $5,500 property tax bill rise by $491, spread across the coming January and April property tax bills as compared with
is a game-changer for our communities and our Commonwealth”, stated Senator Nick Collins. “ By eliminating financial barriers for in-state students with family incomes under $75,000, UMass Boston is ensuring that opportunity and access to higher education are within reach for all. This initiative not only strengthens our workforce but also empowers the next generation of leaders right here in Massachusetts.”
“As a first-generation college student, I have learned that education is the great equalizer. I’m grateful to the leadership of the University of Massachusetts Boston in our students and their families by increasing opportunities to receive a world-class education through this residential program”, stated Representative David Biele.
About UMass Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston is deeply rooted in the city’s history yet poised to address future challenges. Recognized for innovative research, this metropolitan Boston public university offers its diverse student population an intimate learning environment and the rich experience of a great American city. UMass Boston’s colleges and graduate schools serve more than 15,000 students while engaging local and global constituents through academic programs, research centers, and public service. To learn more, visit www.umb.edu.
the current average would be $768 with the current 175% tax limit. With overall commercial property values expected to fall 7%, her office says that a $5 million commercial property would see their nominal tax bill drop — from $126,350 last year to $122,304 this year.
Business leaders think this could have just been the first chapter of a debate over generating tax revenue in an era of hybrid work and slumping office building values. Greg Vasil, the CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, told WBUR’s Amy Sokolow that he thinks “we’re in uncharted territory.” Jim Rooney, the president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, supports the new plan. But he told WBUR’s John Bender the city should still slow its spending. “Otherwise, we’re back at this same conversation,” he said.
Others say that reigning in spending will never be on the mayor’s agenda, especially since she has control of Boston’s City Council and her $4.6B budget feeds her political agenda and ambitions. Securing political capital wins. Adopting fiscal restraint loses. In the end, time will tell who actually wins and who loses.
Window continued from page 4 the new plan and provide coverage based on its own needs. The proposals will go to town Select Boards for discussion, though voters will be the ultimate decision.
Dunkin’ brings distribution close to home
A 93,500-squarefoot Dunkin’ manufacturing facility is under construction in Haverhill that will serve all of the doughnut and coffee franchise’s locations in the Merrimack Valley once open, the Eagle Tribune’s Jonah Frangiosa reports. There are nearly 100 Dunkin’ stores in the Merrimack Valley, with eight in Haverhill alone. Construction on the 30 Creek Brook Drive property, which is joint owned by Marwick Associates and Equity Industrial Partners, is projected to be completed by the end of 2025. Marwick Associates Asset Manager John Sisk said this made “all the sense in the world” to build this for Haverhill, adding that it should have a positive impact on the local economy.
Councilors Flynn & Murphy Hearing Order to Address Condon Pool Repairs Councilors Flynn, Anderson and Santana Discussed Major Issues At Mass & Cass
For this week’s Council meeting, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor Erin Murphy filed a hearing order to discuss the need to reopen the pool at the Condon Community Center and School. The hearing will look to address the need for the City to find the necessary funding to complete the renovation of the pool.
The final repair that is needed to complete the pool is the replacement of the chlorine pump, which will cost around $40,000. Despite the major renovations that have already been completed, including the installation of a new liner, the pool remained closed all summer and forced parents to travel farther than usual for their children to go swimming. The Boston Public Schools
Facilities Department has stated that they have exhausted their budget, ultimately preventing the pool from reopening. The closure of the pool has exposed safety and equity concerns for families living in South Boston, particularly those that live in the Boston Housing Authority developments surrounding the Community Center.
“My neighbors in South Boston have expressed their frustration regarding the prolonged closure of the pool at the Condon Community Center. Of the eighteen Boston Centers
for Youth and Families (BCYF) pools in the city, six were closed for renovations over the summer,” said Councilor Flynn.
“This is not only a quality-oflife issue, but primarily a safety issue for our kids who are being left without critical swimming lessons throughout the year. The city must find the funding to complete pool repairs so that we’re able to provide lessons for our children and neighbors in public housing.”
“It has come to my attention, from concerned families and staff, that the final repairs needed to reopen the pool are minor, so I do not accept that they have exhausted all funds to get the chlorine pump working and kids swimming in the pool as soon as possible,” said Councilor Murphy.
“The situation is unacceptable because the Condon Community Center plays a crucial role in providing swimming lessons during the fall and winter months and ensuring that children can swim safely during the summer months. The pool has been closed on and off for years now and this is a safety and equity issue for me, particularly for the residents of the surrounding housing development who rely on this facility for recreation and swim safety.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@ Boston.gov.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, Councilor Tania Fernandes-Anderson, and At-Large Councilor Henry Santana held a hearing to discuss ways to provide public safety support and address quality of life issues at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard (Mass & Cass) last week. At the hearing, the Boston Public Health Commission and Coordinated Response Team spoke about their outreach efforts and the current strategies to provide support and resources for those who are seeking detox and other programs. They also discussed the City’s needle pick up program, as well as working in partnership with the Boston Police Department in the areas that the drug activities have migrated to and causing public health concerns, such as areas in the South End, Roxbury, South End and Dorchester.
Many concerned civic leaders and panelists testified at the hearing, including those from Andrew Square, the South End, non-profit organizations such as the Gavin Foundation, St. Francis House, Pine Street Inn, Greater Boston Food Bank. Moreover, business stakeholders such as the Newmarket BID and senior management at the South Bay Mall offered public testimony as well. In their remarks, residents expressed a decrease in quality of life and overall sense of public safety due to the presence of needles in parks and streets, the rise in property crimes, and an increase
in aggressive behavior. The Greater Boston Food Bank and management at the South Bay Mall also spoke of having to spend upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade security and facilities to protect their operations.
Many residents expressed the need for mandatory drug rehabilitation for those with substance abuse disorders, and belief that the city’s policy is no longer a tenable strategy. Since the closure of the city’s Long Island recovery campus in the Fall of 2014, the opioid crisis has continued to drive those battling substance use disorder to Mass & Cass, where they can seek nearby methadone treatment, or a bed at city-run shelters. While the encampments are removed, crowds continue to gather daily in the area, and violence and illegal activities, such as open-air drug dealing and drug use, have persisted. These activities have also spread to Roxbury, South End, Dorchester, South Boston and Downtown, which has negatively impacted residents and businesses.
“Mass & Cass continues to pose public safety and quality of life challenges for our neighbors, residents and businesses on a daily basis,” said Councilor Flynn. “We need to continue to provide treatment and recovery services for people with substance use issues; however, we must arrest individuals who are breaking the law, including those who continue to deal drugs and prey on vulnerable people, as well as others committing acts of violence.”
Guy The Wine
This Week’s Wines
With temps all over the place this coming week, I thought it would be appropriate to pick out some reds and whites that fit the weather. While it’s warm when the sun’s out, consider the whites for a chilled, refreshing break, while any of the following reds will be a nice offset against the evening chill. Happy sipping! Raymond Reserve Selection Chardonnay, 2021, ($23.99). Aromas of white peach and lemon citrus with subtle scents of Asian Pear spring from the glass. This Chardonnay has a nice weight on the palate, with flavors of Gravenstein apple,
stone fruit, and nuances of vanilla and Meyer lemon. Juicy with bright acidity, this wine is balanced with a lingering finish. Really enjoyable with or without food, you can enjoy this one with roasted chicken or some pulled pork from the grille.
Jordan Chardonnay 2021, Russian River, Sonoma, California, ($44.99). I believe this is one of the most balanced Jordan Chardonnays to date. Flavors of juicy citrus, Asian pear and lemon peel balance seamlessly with the subtle French oak notes. The cooler-climate vineyard sourcing this year brings even more lively acidity and purity of fruit on the palate—making this vintage especially food-friendly and cellar-worthy.
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay,
growth, community development, and positive change. I am committed to working with our dedicated team and valued partners to achieve this vision.”
Marcel Vernon brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across hospitality, government, corporate finance, non-profits, and higher education to the role of Executive Director. He has both domestic and international experience, a proven ability to manage complex operations in dynamic environments, and a deep background in fiscal management and planning. Vernon is currently Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance at Bay Cove Human Services, an 1800-person organization that serves more than 25,000 people annually, where he manages a $182 million budget across 174 Massachusetts facilities. He is responsible for budgeting, financial planning and analysis, revenue management, procurement, and facilities management.
Vernon has led teams at casinos and hotels, spending over 10 years in the hospitality sector, starting his career with Marriott in a sales and marketing role before moving into senior
Margaret River, Western Australia, 2023, ($27.99). Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay is a bright pale straw color. It opens with pretty fruit fragrances of peach blossom, mandarin pith and lemon sorbet notes. Underpinned by hints of apple pie crust, lemongrass and lightly spicy sandalwood. With time, these notes will develop more beautiful savory complexities. An incredibly fresh entry with a juicy and soft palate fills the mouth, then morphs into a light, dry flowing finish. Beautifully balanced floral, green apple and firm nectarine notes mingle with traces of lemon sorbet and granita biscuits.
Château Barde Haut, 2019, St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France, ($39.99). One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeauxinspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which
leadership positions with Harrah’s Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, and Tropicana Entertainment. In addition to career stops in Louisiana, Nevada, Florida and Connecticut, Marcel has also worked internationally in the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Poland and Ukraine. Due to his leadership at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino, he received the key to the city in Baton Rouge.
“It’s been an honor to chair this important process,” said Sheena Collier, Chair of the MCCA Board Search Committee. “I am grateful to Koya Partners for guiding us in a thorough search that incorporated the voices of our board, MCCA staff, and regional leadership. It was rewarding to see such a robust response that resulted in a highly impressive slate of candidates. Throughout this process, Marcel has shown himself not just to have the competencies but also the lived experience and people-centric leadership that the MCCA needs at this moment. His 16 years of global experience in hospitality and casinos, proven ability to profitably manage multi-million dollar budgets, and public sector leadership and familiarity with the Commonwealth have prepared him for this role. I look forward to continuing to serve the Authority and work in partnership with Marcel.”
tend to be fruit-dominant. This wine embodies the best in Bordeaux blends; you’ll find yourself going back to this one again and again.
Domaine Georges Vernay Syrah, Sainte-Agathe, 2020, ($44.99). The 2020 Syrah Sainte-Agathe comes from older vines on the upper plateau near Condrieu, and it’s mostly de-stemmed and brought up in demi-muids and barrels. It smells and tastes like a terrific Saint Joseph and is mediumbodied, elegant, and nicely balanced, with peppery darker fruits and some meaty, smoky, spicy nuances.
2021 Domaine Courtois ‘La Source’ Rouge Cotes du Rhone, ($15.99). My friend and fellow wine writer, Natalie MacLean, says, “From the Côtes Du Rhône, Rhône wine region, Courtois La Source 2021 is a dry, medium-bodied and mouth filling red wine blend of mostly Grenache with some Syrah and is great value at $16. Produced from sustainably grown grapes, this vintage is fragrant with pink florals and exotic spices with ripe dark berry, strawberry, cherry, cola and black pepper flavors, zesty with vibrant acidity on the palate. Enjoy with juicy pork chops from the grill.”. She recommends it with roast pork, turkey, duck, tourtiere, roast leg of lamb.
“As vice chair of this search, I’ve been heavily invested in the sanctity and thoroughness of the process,” said Board Member and Vice Chair of the Search Committee, Aisha Miller. “Koya took the time to identify and screen 200 candidates and conducted a rigorous search that narrowed down to eight and then four semi-finalists. I’m heartened that we have worked together cohesively to ensure that we carefully selected outstanding candidates and concluded the best option for the Authority’s near and long-term success. Throughout his candidacy, Marcel has demonstrated that he will be a leader for all of the Authority’s stakeholders—from the employees who make the events successful to the neighbors, legislators and customers who rely on that success.”
Vernon holds a master’s degree in business administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University. He serves on the Syracuse University Whitman School of Business Advisory Council, The CFO Leadership Council’s Diversity Advisory Council, and the Hope and Comfort Board of Directors.
MCCA continued from page 4
SDr. Michael Acieri, D.M.D. To Expand SB Dental Practice Re-Opening In Several Weeks, Same Location/New Name
outh Boston has been fortunate to have had and still have access to some of the finest and the most professional dental care that can be found anywhere. For 34 years, well known respected dentist and educator Michael F. Arcieri, D.M.D. has served the people of this neighborhood and beyond at his office at 590 East Broadway near the corner of I Street. He was preceded by his late father Dr. Alfred F. Arcieri, D.M.D (who was born and raised in South Boston) for more than 40 years at the same location. For about 75 years now, South Bostonians have had the benefit of the most up to date and innovative dentistry there is. Both fine dentists could have opened their office anywhere they wanted to but decided long ago that South Boston was the community that they wanted to serve. And South Bostonians are happy they did. Over these many years, they have made many friends
with long time patients, getting to know them on a very cordial and personal level as both son and father before him not only provided the best dental care there is but consider those patients like family. At this point in time, Dr. Michael Arcieri has made an announcement for his patients and to the community to say he will NOT be retiring or closing. On the contrary, he has announced that his office will be expanding the practice and making a firm commitment to stay at the same location. You may have noticed that the office is closed and under construction. It is true as the office is undergoing major renovations and updates. The practice itself is expanding and will soon be able to provide more office hours, additional clinical space as well as an additional dentist working alongside Dr. Arcieri in order to provide a greater round of services and convenience. The practice will
bit.ly/3XYOc5f
Free: (833) 568 - 8864
ID: 160 198 2121
PROJECT PROPONENT: HRP 776 Summer Street PropCo, LLC
DESCRIPTION:
The Boston Planning Department is hosting a Virtual Public Meeting for the proposed project located at 776 Summer Street located in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Development Plan for Phase 2 and First Amendment to the Masterplan for Planned Development Area (PDA) No. 128 that was filed and its potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. HRP 776 Summer Street PropCo, LLC, (the “Proponent”) proposes the construction of four (4) new buildings, rehabilitation of an existing turbine building, and development of related parking, infrastructure and structures containing approximately [1,025,500] square feet of Gross Floor Area.
Zoe
Schutte Planning Department
Zoe.schutte@boston.gov Mail
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
617.918.4311
Website: bit.ly/3ZMyg7y
Close of Public Comment Period: 1/15/2025
have a new name as well. It will be called ‘South Boston Dental Care’. Dr. Arcieri’s mom, Vera, will remain at the front desk during the transition and beyond.
Dr. Arcieri is especially pleased to announce that Dr. Namon Rao will be joining the practice as the new Dental Director. He has a very impressive resume. A former student, a good friend and now a colleague of Dr. Arcieri, Dr. Rao is a Boston-based biomimetic dentist with several years of dedicated practice. He earned his M.M. S.c from Harvard University. Dr. Rao completed his B.D.S. in India and obtained his D.M.D (honors) from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and currently serves as a clinical instructor. Dr. Rao has also received a prestigious fellowship from the International College of Dentists.
Dr. Arcieri assures his patients with previously scheduled
appointments impacted by the suspension of clinical operations will be re-booked as soon as possible. He apologizes for any inconvenience. He has also made arrangements for emergency coverage to be provided by his good friends at Shahbazian Family Dental in Quincy by calling 617-481-9448.
Dr. Arcieri and his father before him have served the needs of thousands of South Bostonians and people from surrounding areas of all ages, providing exceptional dental care. He looks forward to continuing that care with the renovated and updated office space, expanded office hours and of course with the arrival of Dr. Rao. He’ll also continue with his teaching at the B.U. School of Dental Medicine while maintaining his previous office schedule. He and Dr. Rao are excited and confident that these clinical and technological updates will be a positive experience for all. South Boston Today is pleased that under the new name of South Boston Dental Care, the practice will remain in South Boston for many years to come.
bit.ly/3BCAvjI
(833) 568 - 8864
161 758 1145
The proponent proposes to revise the approved building to consist of ten (10) stories versus the original eight (8) stories (but of the same building height of 109 feet), to include ten (10) more hotel “keys” in a building of the same size of approximately 87,000 square feet but on a smaller subdivided lot of approximately 16,363 square feet (reduced from the previous lot size of 22,042 square feet) and to maintain the approved hotel use but to slightly shift programming to an extended stay model (again, the “NPC Project”)
The 2024 Children’s Magic Castle at Fort Independence Was a Huge Success!
Last weekend, the Castle Island Association, in conjunction with DCR and many community volunteers and stakeholders, saw the results of their hard work as they transformed Fort Independence into a magical and also a scary Halloween experience for ghosts, witches, dinosaurs,
princesses, super heroes, robots, clowns and ghouls.
Between Covid, structural damage and lack of volunteers, the annual Halloween event was last held 4 years ago in 2019. The event was greatly missed not only by local South Bostonians but also families in and around Greater Boston
and beyond. The CIA heard the community and with their leadership team and members, they came up with a plan to bring the event back. A call for volunteers went out community wide, meetings were held and plans were finalized by Labor Day. The CIA had made the decision and the Fort opened much
to the delight of everyone involved, including and most importantly the children. A huge shout out to all of the volunteers from the CIA, community and beyond. The success was measured over two days of smiles, laughter and screams from over 5,000 visitors. Well done CIA, see you next year!
Councilors Flynn and Murphy to Hold a Hearing on BPS Transportation Challenges
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor AtLarge Erin Murphy will hold a hearing to discuss Boston Public School (BPS) transportation challenges on Thursday, November 7th, at 2:00pm. The hearing will address the critical need to improve the transportation system for BPS families, which has been plagued with delays and no-shows since the beginning of the school year.
BPS Transportation serves approximately 22,000 students and transports them across the city’s nine different districts every day. On the first day of school, two out of every three buses were late to school, the worst reported since 2015. Though there has been improvement on the accuracy of school bus arrivals, BPS transportation still has not reached the 95% on-time arrival rate. Many parents continue to contact the city regarding excessive delays and changes in their child’s bus route, many of which had not been communicated with in advance.
Moreover, the unsteady debut of the Zum app for BPS parents and families has seemingly exacerbated these issues. Many parents have written to city officials and their elected representatives about excessive delays for pick up and drop off, having to consistently drive their children due to buses failing to show up at all, the app becoming unavailable, or children having to provide directions to bus drivers.
“It is wholly unacceptable that, for months, BPS children and families, including students with disabilities,
have had to endure the uncertainty as to whether their bus would arrive a half hour late, an hour late, or if it would arrive at all,” said Councilor Flynn. “We cannot ignore or normalize the disruption this has caused for students, parents, teachers and administrators. We cannot continue to provide tone deaf answers to parents worried about the safety of their children, or blatantly disregard how this affects their quality of life.”
“I have reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Superintendent Skipper, and the Boston School Committee for leadership and collaboration with us on this important issue. Parents, teachers, and students continue to express their frustrations, and we receive numerous calls daily from concerned families. The impact of these delays goes beyond inconvenience; it disrupts the learning environment and disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students,” said Councilor At-Large Murphy. “Given that we invest approximately $170 million in our transportation system for around 22,000 students, including many with special educational needs, it is imperative that we hold ourselves accountable to the standards set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DESE. Our students, and their families, deserve that.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-6353203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
Ambassador John Sullivan, a native of South Boston, recently served as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation under President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. He spoke to the members of the New England Council and discussed his bestselling book, Midnight in Moscow.
In the photo: Former Ambassador John Sullivan and Jim Brett, President and CEO, The New England Council
Perry Elementary celebrated the fall season with their first Annual Pumpkin Palooza
Perry Elementary school students, staff and volunteers celebrated their first Annual Pumpkin Palooza last Friday, October 24th. Together they enjoyed educational and sensory activity stations organized by the school’s Parent Council, including a pumpkin themed ring toss, a mini golf station and delicious pumpkin cookies from Annie’s Bakery.
The highlight was the Perry School Pumpkin Patch. With the generous donation from Quinlan-Wasserman, students all were able to choose a pumpkin or gourd from the mini patch and decorate a pumpkin to take home. Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers for making the Palooza such a memorable event.
Councilor Flynn Attends South Boston Community Health Center’s Harbor of Hope On Wednesday, October 23rd, Councilor Flynn attended South Boston Community Health Center’s Annual Harbor of Hope event. This year, the SBCHC sought to raise money for their 11,000 square foot expansion, as they look to provide care for more patients and meet the demand of the South Boston neighborhood for surrounding areas.
South Boston Catholic Academy News Happy Halloween!
As you can see from the photos the children and their families at South Boston Catholic Academy had a great time at this year’s SBCA Halloween Dance! Thank
you to our Social Committee members: Tammy Gates, Maureen Jorgensen, Christine McKenna, Taryn Powers, Jaclyn Price, Emily Roy, Tracyann Seder, Autumn St. Hilaire Mulcahy and a Big Thank You to Mrs. Hasko, the Art Teacher, for the beautiful decorations
made by students! Thank you to all those who helped in any way to make this fun family event possible. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@ sbcatholicadacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.
As of Wednesday, Drake Maye is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, after getting hit in the head during Sunday’s Week 8 win over the Jets.
Hopefully he’s OK. Because, when he was playing, he looked really good. He’s got a little Josh Allen in him, that’s for sure. Anyways, here’s what Patriots coach Jerod Mayo had to say about Maye’s status, and more, in his Wednesday press conference:
JEROD MAYO: I’m sure there will be a lot of questions about Drake [Maye]. Drake is in the protocol. He’s in the protocol, and he will be a limited participant today in practice. In saying that, yeah, he will throw the ball at times in practice today, but he will be limited. There are people a lot smarter than me as far as clearing people with concussions, and we’ll lean on our medical professionals, and also the NFL league policy, as far as getting him ready to play. I do have confidence that, if the league says he’s ready to play, that he will be able to go out there and operate. In saying that, I feel very comfortable putting Jacoby
[Brissett] in there, as he is a professional and always stays ready, as you could see from the last game. However that plays out, we’ll see. Excited for another opportunity to go out there and continue to get better. I said as we continue to progress, as the season goes on, we want to be better as the season goes on, and be one of those teams that no one wants to play at the end of the year. That’s our goal.
Q: I know you said he wants to be cleared, but you said at halftime you saw Drake and said he wanted to play. Have you seen him, and what’s his spirits like, and how does he look to you?
JM: Yeah, his spirits are good. His spirits are good. They were good after the game. He actually threw a couple of dimes even after the hit. He was upbeat.
Q: Logistically, what are some of the challenges with having this type of situation going into the week and searching for a quarterback?
JM: I mean, we treat it as any other injury. I would say having a veteran quarterback like Jacoby kind of puts us at ease.
Q: Can you clarify who flagged
This week,
Danny shared his thoughts on the New England Patriots after a big win over the Jets in Week 8:
the hit for Drake to be checked?
JM: It was from up top. The spotter.
Q: The spotter?
JM: Yeah, it was the spotter.
Q: You said Drake at halftime was like, ‘put me back in.’ So he was feeling okay for the most part?
JM: That’s from my understanding. When I spoke to him, he seemed like he was okay. But again, I’m not an expert in evaluating head injuries. The spotter identified it. We just, at that point, lean on the League and their policy.
Q: You said that he’ll be able to be at practice. Do you know what step he’s in in the protocol?
JM: I’m not sure exactly what step he’s in. I know he will be at practice today.
Q: If he gets cleared prior to this weekend, do you anticipate him being the starter?
JM: Yeah, I don’t want to get into if he gets cleared. I mean, as you guys all know, that stuff can change in a single minute, so it’s difficult to get into that if he gets cleared.
Q: Do you have practice players of the week? Or are we going to hold off on those for
another day?
JM: We do have practice players of the week. Yeah, I’ll give them to you on Thursday.
Q: Where do things stand with the wide receiver group, especially after last Sunday? What’s the confidence level in that room right now?
JM: Again, every week is its own week. We had a great meeting this morning, a great team meeting this morning. Pretty much, you have to clean those things up if you want to be a good football team. They understand that. I would also say that those guys have caught thousands or tens of thousands of balls over their career, and I’m not talking about the NFL. I’m saying even from being a little kid. To me, it’s just about continuing to push forward. Look, if you don’t have the confidence in your hands, what can you do? You’ve got to ask yourself the question, what can I do to help our team win? Whether it’s blocking or whatever. They come in bunches. So I think those guys will be OK. Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.
SPORTS TODAY
PATRIOTS DEFEAT JETS TO SNAP SIX-GAME LOSING SKID
On Sunday at Gillette Stadium, there was good news, and there was bad news.
The good news was that the New England Patriots snapped a six-game losing skid by beating the New York Jets, 25-22. The bad news was, Drake Maye left the game in the second quarter after taking a hit to the head. He’s since been placed in concussion protocol.
Maye had been playing well, completing three of his six passes for 23 yards, while rushing for 46 yards, which included a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter that gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead.
After Maye left the game in the second quarter, Jacoby Brissett came in while trailing the Jets 13-7. After a back-and-forth battle, Brissett and the Patriots put together a 12play, 70-yard drive in the last three minutes of the game that resulted in a game-winning Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
“I would say there comes a point in time where everybody in the stadium knows you got to run the ball,” said Patriots coach Jerod Mayo in his postgame press conference. “On defense or offense, there comes a point in time where they know, everyone knows, the
fans know, it’s a run play. You got to really just defeat the man across from you. Look, fortunately our guys got movement and we scored, so it was great.”
“Winning in the NFL is hard,” said Brissett after the win. “I know y’all don’t think that, but it’s hard. The guys have worked hard throughout the season, going back to training camp. We’ve been in a lull. Things haven’t been going our way. But today the ball bounced our way. To celebrate that, experience that with the guys, it’s a great learning tool for young guys for one, but also for our team it’s like if we stay the course, stick with the process, sometimes you get lucky enough and the ball bounces your way.”
Brissett finished the game 15-of24 for 132 pass yards and was only sacked once, coming off the bench. After Maye went down, Stevenson was the Patriots’ offensive player who stepped up, scoring two rushing touchdowns on the day.
“I think we ran the ball, we ran the ball a lot,” said Stevenson after the win. “We were physical up front, the o-line was moving people. I think we had a nice physical game. I’m glad it ended the way it did.”
The Patriots had six receivers with multiple catches. Tight end Hunter Henry led the team with
five catches, for a total of 45 receiving yards. Kayson Boutte led the team with 46 receiving yards, as he had three catches.
“I mean it’s always good, it’s a great feeling, especially the way the season has gone so far,” said Henry after the win. “Six straight weeks of just tough locker rooms. So to finally break through and have a big win for us, especially at home, it’s just what we needed. The locker room reacted how it should, I mean that’s a big win, divisional win, against a really good football team that has a lot of talent. So it’s huge for us.”
“I thought it was a good team win,” said Mayo. “I thought the guys, even though we were down a few guys, we always talk about the next man up mentality. The safeties definitely stepped up today, especially without having Dugger and Peppers back there. I thought the three of those guys did a good job.
“Going back to the next man up mentality, you lose Drake early in the game,” added Mayo. “I thought Jacoby was ready to go. Was it perfect? No. But at the same time I thought the operation was good. I thought he made some good throws. We just got to continue to build on that. I thought up front the pass pro was pretty good. 95 started
taking the game over a little bit. I thought, again, the guys showed the resilience they’ve developed over the past few weeks. Really proud of the guys. There was a lot of noise and a lot of chatter. I’m very appreciative of just their attitude and professionalism on an everyday basis. I thought it was good. Look, I would say the guys on the special teams, I thought the energy overall was better. It’s good to get a win here at home in Gillette.”
Now, the 2-6 Patriots will have back-to-back road games, in Tennessee against the 1-6 Titans his Sunday, and in Chicago the following Sunday against the Bears, who are currently 4-3.
