Free Covid-19 Testing in Central Square as City Introduces Mobile Option

Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing site, in partnership with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, will now be offering COVID-19 testing in East Boston's Central Square. This COVID-19 testing initiative will be available starting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1 to Saturday, September 12 on Border Street at Liberty Plaza Shopping Center in East Boston. Testing will be available at no cost for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. No appointment is needed but registration is required. To pre-register, please call 617-568-4500.

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been dedicated to monitoring and making decisions based on the latest COVID-19 data. With the increase in cases in East Boston, we are expanding testing access there to ensure that all residents can get tested," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for your continued partnership in helping Bostonians stay safe and healthy."

The dates and hours of operation at Central Square Park in East Boston are: 

Tuesday, September 1st: 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 2nd: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 3rd - Friday, September 4th: 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

Saturday, September 5th: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 8th: 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 9th: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 10th - Friday, September 11th: 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

Saturday, September 12th: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

This mobile site testing initiative was announced by Mayor Walsh back in May as a way to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. The site has previously been located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston and Mattapan. In Mattapan, there were 927 COVID-19 tests ordered. Of 798 results received, less than 2.2% tested positive for COVID-19.

"East Boston has seen an alarming rise in COVID-19 rates and its critical that we take
immediate actions to stop the spread of the virus," said East Boston Neighborhood Health Center president and CEO Manny Lopes. "Testing is one of the most important infectious disease control tools in our arsenal and we are glad to be partnering with the City of Boston to provide pop-up testing sites throughout the city."

As of August 24th, 2020, East Boston is experiencing a 10.8% average positive test rate for the current week compared to the citywide average positive test rate at 2.3%. Bringing the mobile testing team is one step the City of Boston is taking to address the increase in the positivity rate in the neighborhood. The City is in communication with the State about finding temporary isolation housing so people can quarantine away from their families if they test positive for COVID-19. 

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has been mobilizing teams to provide care kits, information, and education to residents and businesses using the languages spoken in the neighborhood, including Spanish. They are distributing information at MBTA stations and key intersections, as well as neighborhood parks where people gather to play sports. Cross-departmental teams in the City of Boston, elected officials who represent the neighborhood, medical and social service providers in the community, union leaders who represent working people in the neighborhood, and Church officials and clergy have helped to get the message out.

In addition to the City's mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here. 

The City of Boston has been partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. As of Monday, August 24, 2020, there were 167,859 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents. Out of 167,859 total tests, 9.4% have tested positive, which is down from 10.1% reported through Monday, August 17. For all Boston residents, the positivity for tests decreased slightly from 2.7% for the prior week (August 11-17) to 2.3% for the current week (August 18-24). The latest numbers of cases from the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) by neighborhoods are available here.

Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,720,000 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home.

Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening.

For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

Republican write-in candidate Rachel Miselman for the 7th Congressional District

Rachel Nicole Miselman is a Republican write-in candidate for the Seventh Congressional District seat, of which East Boston is a part.

“My grandmother’s parents met and began a lifetime together in East Boston in the early twentieth century. So, I am very fond of East Boston and committed to the residents. Despite being terribly pricier, East Boston remains a place where immigrants come, work, and sometimes fall in love!”

“As for the job of congresswoman, I see this office as being the means through which all voices in the district are heard. Moreover, one of the primary responsibilities is securing federal dollars for things like infrastructure, health centers (like the East Boston Community Health Center), and senior programs.”

“Our current congresswoman is not doing any of this. She is not doing the job. I will do the job.”

Rachel Nicole Miselman is from West Roxbury and Dorchester. She attended Boston Latin School and Harvard University. At these two schools, she learned about the importance of civic engagement and academic excellence. She used this instruction to train as a barrister at the same institution as Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher and then to advocate for human rights. It equally enabled her to become a teacher at private language schools for over twelve years.

This is her first run for public office. “I am not a member of the political class, “ she says. “I am a citizen of the district, all of which I love and cherish.”

Rep. Adrian Madaro on COVID in EB: "Many working-class Eastie residents don't have the privilege of working from home."

East Boston has the highest COVID infection rate in Boston. Last week it was 7.9%. This was over 4 times the state average. It was almost 50% higher than the second-highest neighborhood. Many cities around us are seeing the same or higher. Let's talk about why. And what we can do.

Some people might imply that residents are to blame for not following guidelines closely enough. This is wrong. Our community isn't worse at wearing masks/social distancing, or taking fewer public health precautions than any other.

That's not why our rates are higher than the suburbs.

Our COVID infection rates are higher because our communities are systemically more vulnerable to the spread of this disease. This was true at the beginning of the shutdown, and it has become truer as MA has progressed through the phases of Reopening.

Many working-class Eastie residents don't have the privilege of working from home. Their jobs require them to go out to work, and in most cases they're interacting with coworkers or members of the public through jobs in the service industry - construction, cleaning, restaurants, etc. While the shutdown meant some (but not all) of these service workers were staying home, our state's reopening means that even more are back to work out in the public now. This means Eastie residents & surrounding communities have an increased risk of COVID exposure and infection.

And housing is expensive and hard to find. Most Eastie workers live in apartments that are full of family or roommates, and short on space. People share rooms. When everyone's living together in a small space, there aren't many opportunities to social distance. This means that when a worker gets sick, they have nowhere to quarantine. This puts the rest of their household at higher risk of contracting COVID. Reports indicate that this kind of "family spread" is one of the top ways that COVID is spreading in East Boston.

Residents in high-risk communities like Eastie are more prone to COVID due to health issues that are the result of longstanding environmental burdens. We are Environmental Justice communities with a long history of air pollution. Eastie residents have long suffered from elevated rates of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma & COPD, a legacy of living next to an international airport and a major highway. COVID is a respiratory illness. It's no surprise our residents are at an increased risk.

Earlier this year,

Attorney General Maura Healey

released a report on the role of environmental pollution in higher rates of COVID infection in low-income communities of color. It's no coincidence that these communities remain the hardest-hit now.

https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2020/05/12/massachusetts-coronavirus-environment

So what do we need to do? First, we need increased resources and assistance from the state. Gov. Baker has recently set the stage for this by designating high-risk communities, and pledging additional aid.

https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/08/11/high-risk-communities-mass-coronavirus

It is also critical that the state expand access to isolation sites in at-risk communities for workers who cannot quarantine at home without putting their families at risk.Isolation sites will help reduce family spread - a major component of COVID infection rates in East Boston.

Finally, we need Emergency Paid Sick Leave. Our sick leave system was not designed for a global pandemic. Workers should not have to choose between their health and economic security. Many are forced to continue working even if exposed to COVID because they need to pay the bills.

We have an obligation to help our most vulnerable residents who have been systemically more exposed to COVID infection.

Massachusetts is only as safe as our most at-risk communities. If we want to stop the spread, we need to ensure equity in the fight against COVID-19.

This aid should include:

• Increased testing and tracing capacity
• Priority for federal funding aid
• More PPE and disinfectant resources
• Increased and improved public health messaging and communications
• Improved enforcement measures.

See more at: https://www.facebook.com/adrian.madaro.02128/posts/4766887530112

Mayor Walsh announces contract with Sterlingwear to produce gowns for first responders

BOSTON - Monday, August 17, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston has signed a contract with Sterlingwear of Boston, a locally-owned, third generation East Boston garment manufacturer, to produce up to 150,000 medical gowns for Boston's first responders and frontline workers. The partnership has helped re-employ highly skilled garment workers while providing needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  "During these challenging times, I am pleased that the City of Boston has been able to support a long-time, locally owned business, while producing needed, high quality PPE to support Boston's first responders," said Mayor Walsh. "We will continue to support our local and small businesses that employ our residents and fuel our neighborhoods." The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a worldwide shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Mayor Walsh and the Greater Boston Labor Council (GBLC) worked closely together to identify a way to support both a locally-owned business and workers, while increasing the supply of PPE for Boston's first responders and frontline workers. Prior to pivoting operations to produce medical gowns, Sterlingwear of Boston was set to close after the federal government ended a 45 year contract to manufacture the traditional U.S. Navy wool peacoats earlier this year.  Sterlingwear of Boston is the last remaining garment manufacturer in the City of Boston. "Our members at Sterlingwear of Boston are very proud to apply their craft in the service of protecting frontline workers right here in the City of Boston. The work of garment workers can often go unnoticed, but we're thankful to the Greater Boston Labor Council and Mayor Walsh for working with us and Sterlingwear of Boston to highlight the important work that our members do in the needletrades," said Warren Pepicelli, Manager / International Executive Vice President, New England Joint Board UNITE HERE. "This is an important example of why we should value manufacturing work and what is possible when we put our neighbors back to work."  "As a family owned company now in its third generation Sterlingwear of Boston is no stranger to making high quality garments for our nation's heroes," said Frank Fredella, CEO and Owner, Sterlingwear of Boston. "Over the past 55 years we've been proud to make uniforms for almost every branch of the US military from our East Boston factory. We're immensely proud to be putting our years of experience in the garment industry to work by manufacturing critically needed PPE for frontline workers during this pandemic. It is fitting that Bostonians will be wearing PPE made right here in their city. We hope they'll wear them with the same pride we take in making them." In addition to supporting the City's first responders, Sterlingwear of Boston is expected to manufacture medical gowns for small and local businesses, including community health centers, and assisted living and nursing homes.  The City of Boston has created a platform to help businesses source the personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies they will be required to have available in order to ensure the safety of employees and customers as industries reopen.  Along with industry-specific reopening requirements, the page includes a list of self-identified, local suppliers of PPE and cleaning supplies, information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' vendor database, and partner organizations helping to connect businesses with vendors.

Rayla Campbell, hopeful GOP candidate for Congress visits East Boston ward committee

At its meeting on August 11th, the East Boston Republican Committee hosted the Republican candidate for Congress, Rayla Campbell.  

Rayla is running as a write-in candidate for the Republican nomination in the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District.  

Following a successful election campaign up to election day on November 3rd, Ms. Campbell will represent this district at the National level in Washington DC.  She is in stark contrast to the incumbent radical liberal policies of socialist Ayanna Pressley!

Rayla supports the right to bear arms under the 2nd amendment, a strong military support for the Veterans, National Energy Independence, and is a Pro-Life Candidate.   Rayla's web address is:  RaylaforCongress@gmail.com

The meeting was chaired by Joseph Steffano, Chairman of the Boston - Ward 1 Republican Committee

Source: Joyce Kelly

Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins Statement on Bail and the Bail Fund

BOSTON, August 11, 2020 — “Each one of the over 25,000 cases we handle a year is unique and the Office examines many factors in determining how best to proceed in each case. The decision to request bail or move for dangerousness is one of many that requires a careful consideration of what best serves the victim.  And to be clear, the alleged rapist isn’t the victim in the case.  The person raped is.  

“Dangerousness under s. 58A requires an evidentiary hearing. There are important victim-centered reasons for not requesting such a hearing and instead requesting bail. Further, the dangerousness statute only allows defendants to be held without bail for a limited period of time, after which they are eligible for release on bail, and only permits prosecutors to request a dangerousness hearing during an arraignment.

“What I find interesting about the Bail Fund’s recent behavior of posting higher bails for violent serious crimes - like the alleged rape recently committed by a convicted sex offender and rapist - is that any incentive for good behavior by the alleged offender is removed.  When a family member or friend posts bail, there is an added pressure on the defendant.  Any violation, whether a new offense or not showing up in court, could result in that family member or friend losing their money that was posted for bail. That’s how the bail statute works. The Bail Fund isn’t a friend or family member of the accused.  There is no discussion on the ride home of ‘what the hell are you doing?’ or ‘what in the world have you done?’  There is no pressure applied to the accused by the Bail Fund. Rather, their mantra is ‘Free Them All.’ 

“If this office made a decision to request bail and not a dangerousness hearing to spare the victim of a rape any additional trauma, I can absolutely live with that decision.  But bailing out a convicted sex offender and rapist, and then going home, is the act of a coward.  So is not making a statement after you make a decision like that. The Bail Fund bailed out Shawn McClinton and he is now accused of raping someone else, in Boston. I would have so much more respect for the Bail Fund if they had bailed him out and then let him stay in one of their homes. Because that’s what family members and friends usually do when they bail a loved one out. Not bail them out, set them loose on a community they don’t live in, and drive back to the safety of their homes.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

      

Salesian Boys & Girls Club Receives Funding from Grubhub to Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts

The organization is committed to doing Whatever It Takes for youth, families, and communities during this pandemic.

(East Boston – July 23, 2020) – Salesian Boys & Girls Club would like to thank Grubhub for a recent financial gift that will help us continue providing COVID-19 relief services in the East Boston community. In times of tragedy and crisis, Boys & Girls Clubs have stepped up to provide safe places for kids and teens. Today, the organization is committed more than ever, to ensure Club staff, members, families, and communities have the resources and support they need to navigate these uncertain times – while also partnering with state and local officials to do more.

We are extremely grateful for our friends at Grubhub for their generous gift to our COVID-19 Relief fund!

The Club will use Grubhub’s generous gift to defray the cost of installing safety enhancements to the facility and for supplies and equipment for our summer camp program.  We will also use a portion of the funding towards operational expenses and to purchase needed supplies and equipment for afterschool and virtual programs and activities in the fall.

Salesian Boys & Girls Club relies on public and private support to continue our mission, especially in times of crisis. The Club would not be able to continue its mission without the support of companies like Grubhub. The donation was made possible through Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

 

Salesian Boys & Girls Club is committed to providing vital relief services immediately. The East Boston community will need Clubs more than ever as the nation begins to emerge from this time. The donation will also enable Club doors to re-open so that they can continue to provide out-of-school time services to current members and the local community. With unemployment on the rise and the long-term economic impact of COVID-19 unknown, it’s crucial that we equip our young people with the essential skills to successfully enter the workforce. Also, when our Clubs re-open, there is a concern that mental health resources will be needed to help youth as they transition out of this difficult time.

 

To learn more about Salesian Boys & Girls Club visit www.salesianclub.com

About Salesian Boys & Girls Club

For 75 years, Salesian Boys & Girls Club has served the needs of East Boston and the surrounding communities' disadvantaged children regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations. Our Club provides a safe, welcoming environment while providing outlets for self-expression and improving the self-esteem of our members. We have implemented community-based after school and out of school programs serving 250-350 young people ages six to nineteen daily and over 1,200 youth yearly.

The Club provides caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs which promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

 

 

City Councilor Edwards to speak on charter amendment: August 6

Proposal filed by Councilor Edwards would modernize Boston’s budgetary process, expand participatory budgeting

WHAT: The Boston City Council’s Committee on Government Operations will hold a hearing on a proposed amendment to the city charter filed by Councilor Lydia Edwards. Councilor Edwards filed the amendment in response to the calls for systemic change in Boston and nationally. 

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 43B, section 10, subsection (b), a member of the city council may suggest a charter amendment. 

The proposal by Councilor Edwards will give Boston residents a choice in what the city’s budgetary process should be and, if approved by voters, would give taxpayers a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent by allowing for an expanded participatory budgetary process. 

During Thursday’s hearing the council will review the proposal by Councilor Edwards and suggest possible changes to it. Once the ballot question is finalized and approved by the city council it will be reviewed by the Attorney General to determine its constitutionality. If ruled to be constitutional, Boston voters will decide the future of the city’s budget process during the November 2021 municipal election.[1][2][3]

WHERE: Streaming live at http://www.boston.gov/city-council-tv 

WHEN: 10 a.m., Thursday, August 6

OFFICIAL HEARING NOTICE: https://www.boston.gov/public-notices/13660021

For more information: please contact Ricardo Patrón - ricardo.patron@boston.gov

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