Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
EB Ecumenical Community Council to hold mayoral forum on August 30 (Friday)
This just in from EBECC:
For more information contact Rosa Pineda at 617-567-2750.
EBECC is sponsoring a mayoral candidate dialogue with constituencies supported by the organization and the community of East Boston.
The face-to-face dialogue is aimed at getting the leading candidates for mayor to explain how they would ensure that the city has a healthier, fairer, more affordable, and more sustainable and inclusive economy.
Since its founding in 1978, EBECC has served residents of different racial, ethnic and national backgrounds, reflecting demographic changes in East Boston. Given the neighborhoods large and rapidly growing Latino immigrant population and the numerous challenges this population faces, EBECC, since 2005, has been focusing solely on Latino immigrants of all ages and transforming them into voters or potential voters.
EBECC is a neighborhood-based organization whose mission today is to promote the advancement of Latino constituencies through education, immigration services, advocacy, community organizing and leadership development. A group of parents, students and staff and board members would like to have a conversation with these candidates and this is an opportunity for you to do the same.
Concretely, we are interested in hearing their vision about Boston's future and their position on key issues including:
Confirmed candidates:
When: Friday, August 30, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 pm)
Where: 50 Meridian Street, East Boston (located in the basement of the East Boston Post Office and across from the Police Station).
Source: EBECC, 8/28
For more information contact Rosa Pineda at 617-567-2750.
EBECC is sponsoring a mayoral candidate dialogue with constituencies supported by the organization and the community of East Boston.
The face-to-face dialogue is aimed at getting the leading candidates for mayor to explain how they would ensure that the city has a healthier, fairer, more affordable, and more sustainable and inclusive economy.
Since its founding in 1978, EBECC has served residents of different racial, ethnic and national backgrounds, reflecting demographic changes in East Boston. Given the neighborhoods large and rapidly growing Latino immigrant population and the numerous challenges this population faces, EBECC, since 2005, has been focusing solely on Latino immigrants of all ages and transforming them into voters or potential voters.
EBECC is a neighborhood-based organization whose mission today is to promote the advancement of Latino constituencies through education, immigration services, advocacy, community organizing and leadership development. A group of parents, students and staff and board members would like to have a conversation with these candidates and this is an opportunity for you to do the same.
Concretely, we are interested in hearing their vision about Boston's future and their position on key issues including:
- Education;
- Health & Nutrition for Children;
- Job Creation;
- Safety & Security and Police Diversity;
- Neighborhood Development.
Confirmed candidates:
- Felix Arroyo;
- John Barros;
- Daniel Conley;
- John Connolly.
When: Friday, August 30, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 pm)
Where: 50 Meridian Street, East Boston (located in the basement of the East Boston Post Office and across from the Police Station).
Source: EBECC, 8/28
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Kiwanis to honor Carol Simpson as 2013 Kiwanian of the Year
(EAST BOSTON August 7, 2013) – The Kiwanis Club of East Boston will honor long-time member Carol Simpson as the 2013 “Kiwanian of the Year” with a special celebration on Friday, Sept. 20 at Spinelli’s Function Facility in Day Square, East Boston. Read more at Eastboston.com.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Mayoral candidate Dan Conley offers 5-point East Boston Action Plan
From the Conley campaign prepared for August 15 press conference at LoPresti Park, East Boston:
East Boston is one of our city’s great neighborhoods. It is also, for many Boston residents, one of the least visited and explored. This is a shame because East Boston is a place unlike any other in our city. It is rich in history and culture and physical beauty.
It also holds a special place in my heart because it was in East Boston, at Jeffries Point, that my grandfather, Severo DeNapoli, landed here from Italy. Jeffries Point was Boston’s own Ellis Island and for years welcomed immigrants from around the globe to our city. To this day, East Boston lives out its history and tradition as it remains home to new generations of new Bostonians.
Like every neighborhood, East Boston has its challenges. I’m proud of my work and partnerships in this neighborhood that I’ve built over the years, and in the last few months I’ve undertaken a lot of new conversations with residents and business owners about what they love about this neighborhood and how they envision their future.
What we are announcing today is not a complete or comprehensive list of all that we would hope to accomplish here. We are all concerned about issues ranging from public health to education to trash and other basic city services. But a number of ideas emerged that made such good common sense for improving the quality of life in East Boston. So today, we are announcing what we call a 5-point action plan to address quality-of-life issues in East Boston.
First, let’s move the toll plazas onto Logan Airport land. The tolls were originally meant to capture airport traffic, but today, any one from anywhere leaving East Boston through the tunnels pays the toll. Boston residents shouldn’t have to pay a toll to visit one of their own neighborhoods, and East Boston residents who don’t own an EZ Pass certainly shouldn’t have to pay a toll to leave their own neighborhood. It’s also unfair to East Boston’s restaurant and business owners who have difficulty attracting visitors from the rest of the city because of the exit toll. If I’m elected Mayor, I’m going to fight put the tolls back where they belong, on airport land, to capture revenue from airport users, as intended, and stop penalizing East Boston residents businesses and visitors this great neighborhood.
Second, the East Boston waterfront is an unrealized gem. It holds what I think is the single best view of the Boston skyline and holds unlimited potential. From this very spot you can see how amazing- and how underutilized - the waterfront is. Too much of the East Boston waterfront is simply inaccessible to residents, large swaths of broken concrete, chain link fences complete with No Trespassing signs, and vacant, boarded up buildings. It’s time to bring the East Boston community back to its own waterfront create places for parents to take their kids fishing, put a canoe or a kayak in the water. As Mayor, I’m going to use every tool in my chest to force landlords to make use of these properties in a manner that makes sense and benefits the neighborhood, or get out of the way for those who will. We’re going to bring a mix of residential, commercial, retail and recreational uses to this waterfront - not to mention jobs and economic opportunity! And we’re going to do it the right way, with the full participation of the East Boston community.
Third, I will prioritize the creation of a thoroughfare linking Maverick Square with Orient Heights. Great communities tend to have main arteries joining their important commercial and social hubs. East Boston has these locations, but they need a Main Street to link them all together and encourage growth in between them. I will push for this Main Street as Mayor and will advocate at the state and federal levels for whatever additional resources we might need to get it done.
Fourth, I intend to bring back the "Little City Hall" to East Boston. This idea is fondly remembered by a lot of longtime Boston residents, but few neighborhoods seem to love and miss this more than East Boston. I think that partly because of East Boston’s geography, it is physically a virtual island, the Little City Hall allowed residents to resolve issues without having to go downtown. But it’s also because of the unique pride that defines East Boston. They felt that much more connected to their city government and exerted greater influence over the services and decisions that affected this neighborhood. Finally, if elected, I'll fight to bring the Little City Hall back to East Boston.
Finally, I want to improve taxi service for East Boston. Right now, there are a number of issues with cab service here: a minority of drivers take advantage of the confusion surrounding tolls to charge inflated fares; some other drivers are reluctant to serve East Boston for fear of not finding a fare back to the rest of the city; and still other drivers use residential streets as cut-throughs to avoid tolls. Although these may sound like minor inconveniences, they actually make East Boston a harder place to visit, which harms residents and businesses. As mayor, I will crack down on price fixing and these other practices.
Some of the agenda items we’ve laid out today are big, and some of these ideas are more particular to this neighborhood. But the job of the Mayor is to make big decisions and to make fixing the smaller issues your purpose and priority because those are the things that often have the greatest impact on the quality of life in a neighborhood. It's to have an ongoing conversation with residents, to understand the unique needs of a neighborhood, and find ways to fix them.
I am so proud and so appreciative of the way this package of ideas was created: through conversation and discussion with people all over East Boston. Those are conversations I will continue with residents here and in every neighborhood each and every day as Mayor. Because when we make a great neighborhood like East Boston strong, we make our entire city even stronger.
East Boston is one of our city’s great neighborhoods. It is also, for many Boston residents, one of the least visited and explored. This is a shame because East Boston is a place unlike any other in our city. It is rich in history and culture and physical beauty.
It also holds a special place in my heart because it was in East Boston, at Jeffries Point, that my grandfather, Severo DeNapoli, landed here from Italy. Jeffries Point was Boston’s own Ellis Island and for years welcomed immigrants from around the globe to our city. To this day, East Boston lives out its history and tradition as it remains home to new generations of new Bostonians.
Like every neighborhood, East Boston has its challenges. I’m proud of my work and partnerships in this neighborhood that I’ve built over the years, and in the last few months I’ve undertaken a lot of new conversations with residents and business owners about what they love about this neighborhood and how they envision their future.
What we are announcing today is not a complete or comprehensive list of all that we would hope to accomplish here. We are all concerned about issues ranging from public health to education to trash and other basic city services. But a number of ideas emerged that made such good common sense for improving the quality of life in East Boston. So today, we are announcing what we call a 5-point action plan to address quality-of-life issues in East Boston.
First, let’s move the toll plazas onto Logan Airport land. The tolls were originally meant to capture airport traffic, but today, any one from anywhere leaving East Boston through the tunnels pays the toll. Boston residents shouldn’t have to pay a toll to visit one of their own neighborhoods, and East Boston residents who don’t own an EZ Pass certainly shouldn’t have to pay a toll to leave their own neighborhood. It’s also unfair to East Boston’s restaurant and business owners who have difficulty attracting visitors from the rest of the city because of the exit toll. If I’m elected Mayor, I’m going to fight put the tolls back where they belong, on airport land, to capture revenue from airport users, as intended, and stop penalizing East Boston residents businesses and visitors this great neighborhood.
Second, the East Boston waterfront is an unrealized gem. It holds what I think is the single best view of the Boston skyline and holds unlimited potential. From this very spot you can see how amazing- and how underutilized - the waterfront is. Too much of the East Boston waterfront is simply inaccessible to residents, large swaths of broken concrete, chain link fences complete with No Trespassing signs, and vacant, boarded up buildings. It’s time to bring the East Boston community back to its own waterfront create places for parents to take their kids fishing, put a canoe or a kayak in the water. As Mayor, I’m going to use every tool in my chest to force landlords to make use of these properties in a manner that makes sense and benefits the neighborhood, or get out of the way for those who will. We’re going to bring a mix of residential, commercial, retail and recreational uses to this waterfront - not to mention jobs and economic opportunity! And we’re going to do it the right way, with the full participation of the East Boston community.
Third, I will prioritize the creation of a thoroughfare linking Maverick Square with Orient Heights. Great communities tend to have main arteries joining their important commercial and social hubs. East Boston has these locations, but they need a Main Street to link them all together and encourage growth in between them. I will push for this Main Street as Mayor and will advocate at the state and federal levels for whatever additional resources we might need to get it done.
Fourth, I intend to bring back the "Little City Hall" to East Boston. This idea is fondly remembered by a lot of longtime Boston residents, but few neighborhoods seem to love and miss this more than East Boston. I think that partly because of East Boston’s geography, it is physically a virtual island, the Little City Hall allowed residents to resolve issues without having to go downtown. But it’s also because of the unique pride that defines East Boston. They felt that much more connected to their city government and exerted greater influence over the services and decisions that affected this neighborhood. Finally, if elected, I'll fight to bring the Little City Hall back to East Boston.
Finally, I want to improve taxi service for East Boston. Right now, there are a number of issues with cab service here: a minority of drivers take advantage of the confusion surrounding tolls to charge inflated fares; some other drivers are reluctant to serve East Boston for fear of not finding a fare back to the rest of the city; and still other drivers use residential streets as cut-throughs to avoid tolls. Although these may sound like minor inconveniences, they actually make East Boston a harder place to visit, which harms residents and businesses. As mayor, I will crack down on price fixing and these other practices.
Some of the agenda items we’ve laid out today are big, and some of these ideas are more particular to this neighborhood. But the job of the Mayor is to make big decisions and to make fixing the smaller issues your purpose and priority because those are the things that often have the greatest impact on the quality of life in a neighborhood. It's to have an ongoing conversation with residents, to understand the unique needs of a neighborhood, and find ways to fix them.
I am so proud and so appreciative of the way this package of ideas was created: through conversation and discussion with people all over East Boston. Those are conversations I will continue with residents here and in every neighborhood each and every day as Mayor. Because when we make a great neighborhood like East Boston strong, we make our entire city even stronger.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
At East Boston presser, mayoral candidate Dan Conley calls for the re-location of tunnel toll booths to airport property
At a press conference at LoPresti Park this morning, Conley pitched a his 5-point action plan for East Boston which included a bold idea to relocate tunnel toll booths onto airport property. According to prepared remarks, Conley told reporters about the plan.
"Right now, visitors to East Boston must pay a $3.50 toll to enter and leave the neighborhood, which makes it harder for restaurants and businesses to attract customers and share in the public life of our city. Worse, East Boston residents who don't have an EZ-PASS system must pay the toll just to get to and from their homes. These tolls were targeted at traffic to Logan Airport, not residents of and visitors to East Boston. Let’s put the toll burden back where it belongs, on airport users, and return the plaza lands to East Boston for better use."
Eastboston.com asked Conley how the newly available land might be developed.
"Right now, visitors to East Boston must pay a $3.50 toll to enter and leave the neighborhood, which makes it harder for restaurants and businesses to attract customers and share in the public life of our city. Worse, East Boston residents who don't have an EZ-PASS system must pay the toll just to get to and from their homes. These tolls were targeted at traffic to Logan Airport, not residents of and visitors to East Boston. Let’s put the toll burden back where it belongs, on airport users, and return the plaza lands to East Boston for better use."
Eastboston.com asked Conley how the newly available land might be developed.
Friday, August 2, 2013
City to plan Fitness Parks for East Boston; Meeting set for August 7
The Trust for Public Land, Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Boston Public Health Commission, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services invites East Boston to learn about the opportunity and provide comment on a potential Fitness Zone® installation at East Boston Memorial Park.
Fitness Zones are custom-designed, easy-to-use, outdoor gym equipment made specifically for community parks.
The Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 at 6:30pm at the East Boston Memorial Park.
If the event of rain, the meeting will be held at the Paris Street Community Center located at 112 Paris Street. Families welcome!
To learn more about Fitness Zones® go to www.tpl.org or Contact Darci Schofield, Darci.Schofield@tpl.org, 617-371-0514
Fitness Zones are custom-designed, easy-to-use, outdoor gym equipment made specifically for community parks.
The Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 at 6:30pm at the East Boston Memorial Park.
If the event of rain, the meeting will be held at the Paris Street Community Center located at 112 Paris Street. Families welcome!
To learn more about Fitness Zones® go to www.tpl.org or Contact Darci Schofield, Darci.Schofield@tpl.org, 617-371-0514
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| Fitness Zone(R) sample. |
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Take part in "Thanks for the Memories Event" at the BPL
Meridian Street Branch Library and Orient Heights Branch Library invite you to take pictures of yourself, family and friends in front of either the Meridan Street or Orient Heights branches.
Then bring the pictures to the library in an envelope marked "Thanks for the Memories" with a letter describing what your branch has meant to you. Do this by August 28, 2013!
The photographs and letters will be displayed at our branches until the closing of the building in October. They will be kept for patrons to see for years to come at the new Bremen Street Branch Library in the History Room.
This is an opportunity to share with your community what your library has meant for you for posterity.
The East Boston Branch Library was the first in the nation. This is a wonderful first-time opportunity again.
A spectacular new library to make new memories and share a few old ones.
Thank you friends of the East Boston Branch!
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