Mayor Walsh releases new map with testing site for East Boston:

BOSTON - Monday, April 20, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today launched a new mapping tool to help Boston residents find locations offering COVID-19 testing. The City of Boston is partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. "Every community deserves full access to COVID-19 testing. We will continue to work to expand access to testing for all residents across Boston, particularly our hardest hit communities," said Mayor Walsh. "Access to neighborhood-based testing will help us quickly identify cases, and get people the care and support needed to recover and prevent the further spread of COVID-19" According to the latest data from the Boston Public Health Commission, Hyde Park had 413 reported cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298, Dorchester had 1,274, East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, Roslindale had 302, and the South End had 372. The map is available on boston.gov/coronavirus and bphc.org/coronavirus. Residents are asked to call ahead for pre-screening and to schedule an appointment. Residents can click on the interactive map to find the testing center with hours, address and contact information. It will be updated as new sites become available for testing. TESTING FACILITY ADDRESS CONTACT  Codman Square Health Center 637 Washington Street Dorchester, MA 02124 (617) 822-8271 The Dimock Center 55 Dimock Street Roxbury, MA 02119 (617) 442-8800 DotHouse Health 1353 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA 02122 (617) 740-2292 Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center 632 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02121 (617) 825-3400 Mattapan Community Health Center 1575 Blue Hill Avenue Mattapan, MA 02126 (617) 296-0061 Whittier Street Health Center 1290 Tremont Street Roxbury, MA 02120 (617) 427-1000 East Boston Neighborhood Health Center 10 Gove Street  East Boston, MA 02128 (617) 569-5800 Upham's Corner Health Center 415 Columbia Road Dorchester, MA 02125 (617) 388-5007 Bowdoin Street Health Center 230 Bowdoin Street Dorchester, MA 02122 (617) 754-0100 Brigham and Women's Faulkner Community Physicians at Hyde Park 1337 Hyde Park Avenue Hyde Park, MA 02136 (617) 364-9880 Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston main campus) 75 Francis Street Boston, MA 02115 (617) 732-5500 Carney Hospital 2100 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA 02124 (617) 296-4000 Massachusetts General Hospital  55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114 (617) 726-2000 St. Elizabeth Medical Center 736 Cambridge Street Brighton, MA 02135 (617) 789-3000 Tufts Medical Center 800 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 (617) 636-7216 Testing is free regardless of insurance or immigration status. Residents are encouraged to call the Mayor's Health Line at (617) 534-5050 to help with health insurance applications, navigating Boston's health care system, and with COVID-19 questions. Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced additional funds for organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The East Boston Community Health Center received funding in the first round of fund distribution and will be expanding their testing to East Boston clients, in addition to first responders. Six community health centers in neighborhoods seeing higher incidences of COVID-19 to expand their testing capabilities for residents, including: Bowdoin Street Community Health Center Codman Square Community Health Center DotHouse Health Mattapan Community Health Center Uphams Corner Community Health Center Whittier Street Community Health Center 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 and families; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  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.

City to deploy sound trucks in East Boston with stay-at-home message, Covid-19 information to Boston Neighborhoods

BOSTON - Saturday, April 18, 2020 - Tomorrow at noon, the City will deploy seven Boston Public Works trucks with sound equipment to broadcast a message about COVID-19: stay home as much as you can, wash your hands often, cover your face when out, and keep your distance from others. The message will be broadcasted in seven languages, depending on the community, including: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Arabic, Somali, and Cabo Verdean Creole. 

"This weekend we are launching new tactics to get the message out in the places that we know are hardest hit," said Mayor Walsh. "We need everyone to know that we are in a public health emergency and we need everyone to do their part. We also continue to work on expanding access to testing for our residents, because every community deserves full access to the level of testing and communication that meets the needs they have."

The trucks will be deployed to the neighborhoods that have COVID-19 rates higher than the rest of Boston, including Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury and Roslindale. According to the latest data from the Boston Public Health Commission, Hyde Park had 413 reported cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298, Dorchester had 1,274, East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, and Roslindale had 302. 

The City is phone banking essential small businesses and will be providing posters in multiple languages that ask customers to cover their faces and practice distancing. The City is also putting up on street signs and other infrastructure. 

During the weekend of March 21, a thousand City of Boston employees and volunteers delivered printed information on COVID-19 to all homes in Boston. The pamphlet outlined details about the virus, a list of preventative measures to mitigate the spread, and a compilation of city resources, including food access sites, in: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cabo Verdean Creole and Russian. The City has been delivering literature in multiple languages to essential businesses.

Residents who have questions are encouraged to call 311 to be connected with a telephonic interpreter, or through the Mayor's Health Line at (617) 534-5050. Updates in 10 languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide. Residents and organizations interested in volunteering their language skills for COVID-19 communications can sign up here. 

EBNHC: "We want to see you...at home!"

It was not so strangely quiet in the always vibrant neighborhood of East Boston today, Good Friday

A Random Walk Through East Boston on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. A Good Friday Like No Other.

A Slideshow

Local real estate agent donates 300 Bolocco's burritos to EB Health Center

United Brokers Real Estate Sales Agent Juan Lopera (green jacket) donated 300 burritos to staff at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Also included in the photo is John Pepper (black jacket), co-founder of Boloco, along with two employees.

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Announcement on Baby Vaccinations

Mayor Walsh announces small business relief fund

New resources created to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19 receive immediate capital relief and navigate the evolving financial assistance landscape BOSTON - Thursday, April 2, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the creation of the Small Business Relief Fund, established to assist Boston's small businesses most directly impacted by closures, policies, or general loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This newly created fund, administered and managed by the Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED), is designed to quickly and strategically disburse grants to local businesses through a streamlined process that does not require businesses to assume additional debt. The Fund will begin accepting applications on Monday, April 6, 2020.  "We are committed to helping Boston's small businesses during this unprecedented time by providing strategic, accessible, and critical financial resources to help them stay afloat and pay employees," said Mayor Walsh. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the lifeblood of our neighborhoods. As the response to COVID-19 continues to evolve, we want to make this resource as straightforward as possible for business owners and work one-on-one to ensure they have the most up-to-date information on financial assistance available." The Small Business Relief Fund will be administered through OED's Small Business Financing program, and is funded by a combination of funds from the City of Boston, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and private institutions. Eligible small businesses - a for-profit entity with fewer than 35 employees, and less than $1,500,000 in annual revenue, which is registered and operating in Boston - will apply through a single application and be considered for one of three grants based on the size of the business. Grants can be used to address rent, fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses. The Fund will kick-off with an initial $2 million in resources available to small businesses, which includes city operating funding and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that the City of Boston receives annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding will also include an additional $50,000 contribution from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.  "The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of everyone in Massachusetts and our small businesses have been hit especially hard," said Attorney General Maura Healey. "I thank Mayor Walsh for his leadership and the opportunity to contribute to this fund to assist these businesses during this difficult time. I'll continue to collaborate with my partners in government to help all those affected by this crisis - we will get through this together." As business owners, employers, and employees navigate an evolving COVID-19-related assistance landscape, OED has created a Financial Relief Handbook and FAQ document, both of which are continuously updated. Small Business conference calls will continue every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. to communicate policy updates, answer questions, feature relevant City of Boston departments, and troubleshoot the ecosystem of funding available from the state, federal, and private industry. For any business interested in joining these weekly calls, please email smallbiz@boston.gov.  OED has created a number of useful guides and resources for businesses impacted by COVID-19 and the Commonwealth's  Non-Essential Services and Stay At Home Order. Open Businesses in Boston: a tool for essential businesses to publicly share that they're open, share gift-card information, and which (if any) delivery/take-out services they use. This guide is available for residents to utilize, and explore what local businesses are open in their neighborhoods.  Support Boston Restaurants: a web page for restaurants to publicly share that they're open, share gift-card information, and which (if any) delivery/take-out services they use. This guide is available for residents to utilize, and explore what local businesses are open in their neighborhoods.  Takeout and Delivery Guidebook: a guide on how to establish food takeout and delivery services now that the City of Boston has lifted licensing regulations.  Small Business Survey: the third of four surveys for small businesses to pinpoint the help and services they need during this time.  The above resources and more industry-specific guidance are accessible on boston.gov/small-business or under the Local Resources "Economic Development Response" on  boston.gov/coronavirus.

Boston Foundation announces first 15 grants from COVID-19 Response Fund: East Boston group among grantees

Fund has raised more than $2.2 million; TBF donors have granted over $3 million to support COVID-19 efforts from donor advised funds

(BOSTON, March 31, 2020) – The Boston Foundation today announced the first round of grantees from the COVID-19 Response Fund at the Boston Foundation, the community foundation’s effort to raise millions of dollars in support for Greater Boston nonprofits at the front lines of support for thousands of residents feeling the greatest impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foundation today announces 15 grantees, each of whom will receive a $25,000 general operating support grant. The Foundation is working to award new grants on a rolling weekly basis during the coronavirus crisis, even as large and small donations continue to come in.

“The COVID-19 Fund is designed to be a rapid response solution to the ongoing challenge facing nonprofits who find themselves taxed to provide high levels of service and have been forced to cancel or suspend fundraising events that provide needed operating support,” said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “The selected organizations are deeply embedded in the fabric of their communities. They inspire us – and we know they are just a sampling of the work we can and must support moving forward.”

The first grantees from the COVID-19 Response Fund include: Agencia ALPHA, Asian Community Development Corporation, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Centro Presente, Inc., Community Servings, Inc., Friends of the Children – Boston, Heading Home, La Alianza Hispana, Inc., Lawyers for Civil Rights, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Maverick Landing Community Services, The Record Co., Union Capital Boston, and Violence in Boston. 

“This first group of grantees provide a diversity of leadership, strategy and experience that represents the heart and soul of Greater Boston’s nonprofit community,” said Orlando Watkins, Vice President for Programs at the Boston Foundation. “They are not only doing remarkable work in the region, they reflect the best of the region in all its many faces, as we strive to both address the many needs made evident by the pandemic and foster greater racial equity in Boston.

Eleven of the 15 organizations are headed by women; ten of the 15 leaders identify as people of color. They each work in support of communities of color, immigrants, seniors, children and the homeless, among others. More details of each grantee’s work can be found at the end of this media release.

Fundraising for the Fund has reached well over $2 million, in addition to a seed grant from the Boston Foundation of $250,000. Boston Foundation program staff and a review team led by senior managers and Boston Foundation  Directors have established the grant application and review process and are conducting the ongoing review of applications and selections.

To date, the Fund has received about 400 requests for funding to date; as the fund is considering applications on a rolling basis, eligible nonprofits need only apply once.

Major donors to the COVID-19 Response Fund have included the Nike Foundation, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation, Wells Fargo, Comcast, Plymouth Rock Foundation, and the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. In addition, Boston Foundation donor advised funds have donated well over $3 million to COVID-19 related efforts at nonprofits and foundations, including a $1 million grantmaking effort by the Waldron Charitable Fund.

Grantees List:

Each grantee receives a $25,000, one-time general operating support grant from the COVID-19 Response Fund.

• Agencia ALPHA: to provide support to 50 undocumented families by providing $500/family, of which many will or have already lost their jobs due to COVID-19
• Asian Community Development Corporation: to provide financial, nutritional and medical support for elders, as well as support for community members facing racism and xenophobia
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters: to provide support for their work with homeless youth including distributing food and COVID-19 information via the Mobile Medical Van, in addition to providing overnight shelter, meals, day programming and hygiene products at their shelter
• Centro Presente: to support for their COVID-19 work with the immigrant community, including undocumented immigrants, by providing information, links to resources and connections to those who can help them navigate issues including immigration assistance, food assistance,  and child care assistance.
• Community Servings, Inc.: to provide support to distribute medically tailored food to sick and hungry community members.
• Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath): to provide support for housing and basic needs expenses of their client families in shelters and transitional housing
• Friends of the Children – Boston: to provide support for wrap-around services for Achievers and their families, including but not limited to: assisting caretakers access medical services, connecting Achievers and families to meal providers and  providing emotional and educational support to Achievers
• Heading Home: to provide support for emergency responsiveness care for 270 Boston families in their housing (inclusive of 525 children in shelters), and the 200+ chronically homeless Cambridge residents who are supported, many of whom suffer from disabilities and chronic health conditions.
• La Alianza Hispana, Inc.: to provide 125 low-income elderly Latino immigrants with critical health, educational, and social supports
• Lawyers for Civil Rights: to support their policy and advocacy work focused on immigration, education, housing, and the Census.
• Massachusetts Jobs with Justice: to provide financial assistance to undocumented individuals and families who have lost their homes, wages, and/or employment due to COVID-19
• Maverick Landing Community Services, Inc.: to provide support for COVID-19 response efforts in the East Boston community, including conducting basic needs assessments, distributing hygiene products, sanitizers and food, and producing face masks and shields for healthcare workers
• The Record Co.: to provide support to the Boston Music Maker Relief Fund to make $200 rapid-response grants to Boston music makers experiencing lost income as the result of  COVID-19
• Union Capital Boston Inc.: to provide support to distribute $150 gift cards to people in financial need in the Greater Boston area
• Violence in Boston: to provide support to feed BPS students both lunch and dinner, as well as the collection and distribution of toiletry items and cleaning products for low-income communities in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan.

Building trades unions issue statement supporting Mayor Walsh on construction shutdown

From a press release by 617mediagroup.com

-Brian Doherty, General Agent, Building Trades Unions

“We support Mayor Walsh’s decision to take every step necessary to keep our communities safe. This is a worldwide pandemic and our public health community has made clear that social distancing is the only way to combat this virus. We support Mayor Walsh’s decision to take action and to put the health of the public first. We will be working with our unions and with our contractor partners to make sure every worker is safe and secure, and we are confident that by working together as a community, we will get through this difficult time.”

The Building & Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District represents 35,000 working families in the Metropolitan Boston region. The building trades unions advance social and economic justice by providing family-supporting wages, healthcare benefits and dignified retirement benefits to workers and their families in the construction industry.

The Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella group of 20 local construction unions, in partnership with more than 3,300 union contractors, provides the highest standards for workers in the construction industry. It is through collective bargaining and the Labor-Management partnership that workers achieve the highest levels of training, safety and economic security throughout their careers. The Council strives to create a more fair and just environment for all workers in the construction industry.

Source: 617Mediagroup.com

March 2020 Events at the East Boston Branch Library

Free U.S. Interview Classes
Thursdays, March 19th to June 4th, 5-8 p.m.

Participants will learn the answers to the 100 civic question and learn how to prepare for the reading and writing tests.  The class is in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program.  Technical and legal help with N-400 application is provided by Project Citizenship.
For more information contact St. Mark Community Education Program, 617-288-8515 or stmarkesol@gmail.com
Register online at: http://bit.ly/StMarksRegistration 

Matt Heaton in Concert
Tuesday, March 24th at 10:30 a.m.

Join us for a performance by Matt Heaton.  Matt’s music mixes surf, American roots and Irish traditional.  For ages 1-5, accompanied by and adult.

Leprechaun Traps
Tuesday, March 17th at 3:30 p.m.

Use recycled materials to build a leprechaun trap.  See if you can catch your very own leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day. Recommended for ages 5 and up.


East Boston by Map
Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m.

At this event you will explore East Boston history through historical maps, photos & atlases from the BPL archives and beyond! In this class you will also try out a new tool from the Leventhal Map & Education Center called Atlascope for researching historic properties: https://atlascope.leventhalmap.org/

Annual Boston Bruins Pajama Drive at the East Boston Branch Library
February 1st-March 15th

We are teaming up with the Boston Bruins, Cradles to Crayons, and The Wonderfund, a partner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, to collect pajamas for children in need! You can get involved by bringing new pajamas to the library and donating them to the drive.

Mars Exploration & Settlement 
Saturday, March 28th at 1 p.m.

Did you enjoy the book and film "The Martian", by Andy Weir, about an astronaut alone on Mars? Have you wondered how people might live on Mars? That future is not so far away! This talk will cover the natural resources available on Mars, the chemistry to make use of them, and related topics. Questions and discussion are encouraged. This event is organized by the National Space Society's Space Ambassadors program, which provides educational presentations about the human endeavor to create a future with people working and living in space. More information is at space.nss.org

Remembering the Women of East Boston
Monday, March 30th at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for this slide show on important women of East Boston presented by Maria D’Itria of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.  Since 1989, the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail (BWHT) has worked to restore women to their rightful place in the history of Boston and in the school curriculum by uncovering, chronicling, and disseminating information about the women who have made lasting contributions to the City of Boston.The efforts of students and teachers resulted in trails throughout many of our city’s neighborhoods. A group of fifth graders from the Harvard-Kent School and their teachers, Mary Rudder and Maria D’Itria, created an East Boston Trail and named it Remembering the Women of East Boston. Some of the women remembered are Annie Frasier Norton, Harriet and Margaret Curtis, Caroline “Orrie” Orr, and Albenia Martha Boole. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the East Boston Branch Library

Latinx Mother and 15-year-old daughter attacked in Maverick Square

Victims Demand Hate Crime Investigation Against White Assailants

(February 24, Boston, MA) — In an unprovoked attack captured on video, a Latinx mother and her 15-year-old daughter were brutally assaulted by two white assailants because they were speaking Spanish, rather than English, near the Maverick Square public transit station in East Boston on the evening of Saturday, February 15, 2020. 

The mother, Ms. Vasquez, will call for justice at a press conference this morning at 10 AM. The press conference will be hosted by Centro Presente (12 Bennington Street, Second Floor in East Boston), the community organization that referred the hate crime survivors to Lawyers for Civil Rights, which is providing free legal support to the family. 

To date, the Vasquez family has not been notified of any arrests. They still don’t know whether the matter is being investigated as a hate crime. The day of the incident, the Boston Police Department (BPD) arrived at the scene and prepared a report of the attack. The mother and daughter required medical attention. 

However, BPD did not follow-up or formally interview the Vasquez family until legal counsel intervened. Even then, the BPD process has been daunting.

“We were attacked, punched, kicked, and bitten. I’m having nightmares. I’m afraid to take the train to work, and my family is afraid to speak Spanish in public. My daughter is still wearing a neck brace and she’s having trouble sleeping. We are all very shaken,” said Ms. Vasquez whose physical injuries are still visible.

“This family’s experience was not an isolated event; acts of racism and xenophobia are alarmingly common in East Boston,” said Janelle Dempsey, an attorney with Lawyers for Civil Rights, which regularly receives reports from community groups and residents who have experienced hate crimes. “Most of the time, victims and witnesses are reluctant to speak out of fear and trauma. But the Vasquez family wants the police to hold the assailants accountable,” added Attorney Dempsey.

“We are providing vital support to the Vasquez family and to many others in East Boston. People of color and immigrants cannot feel safe when police officers fail to act. We are not second-class citizens. We deserve protection and respect. In a neighborhood such as East Boston, which has seen a spike in hate incidents, immediate and meaningful investigations of hate crimes are critical to deter further threats and violence,” said Patricia Montes, the Executive Director of Centro Presente.  

Centro Presente and other community groups are rallying against hate crimes in East Boston:

“This situation is very concerning: even to ask for police help in Spanish, you have to wait even though this is a neighborhood where many people primarily speak Spanish. There are no appropriate resources for us to know that we will be safe and for us to safeguard our lives,” said Noemy Rodriguez, an active community member, volunteer and organizer in East Boston.

“In the current climate, the streets are dangerous. Far too many people are living in fear. Our well-being and safety are at risk. We need more support from law enforcement officials,” said Luz Zambrano, Co‑Director of the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing, and General Coordinator of the Center for Cooperative Development and Solidarity in East Boston. “Many immigrant residents feel the hostile atmosphere. That is why so many people and organizations are working together to help preserve the diversity and protect the fabric of our neighborhood,” added Ms. Zambrano.

The Vasquez family demands that BPD dedicate all available resources to investigate this urgent matter as a hate crime and to bring all relevant charges—to the fullest extent of the law—against the perpetrators. BPD must also conduct a comprehensive assessment of its procedures for identifying and responding to hate crimes, especially in instances where victims and witnesses are not represented by legal counsel. Increasing the number of police officers who are fluent in Spanish and other languages relevant to the East Boston community would also help support victims and witnesses.

Lawyers for Civil Rights, Centro Presente, and the Vasquez family stand ready to assist law enforcement to stop this wave of hate. We have also turned over to law enforcement a video of this violent hate crime.

A video of the brutality is available here.

Source: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Esq. Lawyers for Civil Rights
2/24/2020

On March 3 local voters will choose between two competing slates for Democratic Ward Committee

Read more at Eastboston.com

A great success: 2020 Taste of Eastie

Atlantic Works' Christine Palamidessi to show work in South End's Galatea Gallery: February 5 - March 1

Icons & Talismans

Art inspired by the Byzantine frescos of Puglia, Italy

Christine Palamidessi, Artist

February 5- March 1, 2020

Gallery hours 12-5PM Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday 

Galatea Fine Art

450 Harrison Avenue,Boston 02118

www.galateafineart.com

617-542-1500

Additional information available at 

http://www.palamidessi.com/press/press-packet

Christine Palamidessi

Mass MoCA Artist-in-Residence, 2017

Visiting Artist, American Academy in Rome, 2017

christine@palamidessi.com

617.460.0550

In State of the City Address, Mayor Walsh announces East Boston Transportation Action Committee

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 7, 2020 - Building on his commitment to ensuring Boston's streets are safe, equitable and reliable for all, Mayor Martin J. Walsh during his State of the City address tonight announced the creation of an East Boston Transportation Action Committee.

"This year, we will build on our community planning in East Boston, launching a Transportation Action Committee to address the traffic challenges there," said Mayor Walsh. "Transportation is crucial to ensuring our residents can get to their homes, their jobs and their schools, and my Administration will continue working hard to create the best transportation options for residents in Boston. I look forward to working with the East Boston community to make transportation better for all."

Important projects under consideration include improving bus reliability on Meridian Street, designing Bennington Street to be safer and more bike friendly, and re-imagining Day Square with additional public space.

In his speech, Mayor Walsh announced new efforts to reduce congestion and improve in Boston, including launching a Transportation Action Committee in East Boston to address the unique circumstances in the neighborhood. The committee will include local residents, advocates and stakeholders.

Since launching Boston's safety plan, Vision Zero, the City has cut fatalities on Boston roads by half. Mayor Walsh again called for Boston to have a seat on the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board, noting Boston is the largest payer into the MBTA--but doesn't have a voice at the table. In addition to this advocacy, Mayor Walsh urged Boston's partners at the Massachusetts Legislature to take up transportation financing, and enable Boston to use Regional Ballot Initiatives (RBI) to fund its transportation initiatives.

Last year, the Boston Transportation Department resurfaced over 30 miles of roads, repainted over 1,000 crosswalks, rebuilt sidewalks, installed safety signage all throughout Boston, cut the ribbon on North Square in the North End, and broke ground on new streets and sidewalks in Roxbury. The Boston Transportation Department has also worked to improve active transportation options, improving bike connections from Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, and the South End to downtown. Additional work includes rethinking how our connections operate, designing bridges in Charlestown, South Boston, Hyde Park and Long Island that work for everyone.

In November, Mayor Walsh announced a significant milestone reached on the implementation of the City's Go Boston 2030 transportation plan, with more than half of the 58 projects and policies identified in the plan currently underway. The comprehensive plan was unveiled in 2017 and is designed to provide, by the year 2030, a safe, reliable and equitable transportation system that also supports Boston's climate goals. In just two years, the Boston Transportation Department and its partners have made significant progress on their planning goals, designed to increase safety, accessibility, equity and affordability in transportation for all residents. Twenty-one projects are already in implementation and another 17 are in design.

Source: Mayor's Press Office

Taste of Eastie; The details on the 24th annual showcase of local food

The 24th Taste of Eastie on Thursday, January 23rd, 2020.

East Boston, MA (January 5,2020) – East Boston Main Streets is proud to present the 24th Annual Taste of Eastie on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

Our Charismatic State Rep. Adrian Madaro, is going to be in charge as MC for this special evening, highlighting Eastie’s amazing restaurants.

East Boston Main Streets invites the public to the 24th Annual Taste of Eastie at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport Hotel on Thursday, January 23th 2020 from 6:00-9:00pm.

Food and fun highlight this wonderful evening including raffles and auctions. Over thirty local food merchants will showcase their delicious cuisine, including tastes from South and Central America, the Mediterranean, China, the Middle East, and Italy.

Tickets are $35.00 until 01/22/2020, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite  or in person in our office at 154 Maverick Street, as well as at the Maverick Cafe at 154 Maverick St.

For more details or questions please contact Gladys Oliveros at ebmsgladyso@gmail.com  or at 617-669 2544.

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EBMS is a non-profit corporation. Its mission is to create a more vibrant business district by initiating private and public improvements, promoting commerce, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live, work, and do business in East Boston.

24th Annual Taste of Eastie Set for January 23, 2020

EB Residents Launch Grassroots Campaign for New Ward 1 Democratic Committee

(EAST BOSTON, January 2, 2020) - A grassroots group of civically-engaged residents have started a campaign to elect a new Ward 1 Democratic Committee in East Boston. The group, called “Fresh Slate Eastie,” includes:

Leaders of community organizations such as Airport Impact Relief (AIR) Inc., East Boston Community Soup Kitchen, Eastie Farm, Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, Golden Stairs Imigration Center, Harborkeepers, and What’s Up Eastie?

Representatives from all of East Boston’s neighborhoods including life-long and recently-arrived residents, 5 current Ward Committee members including City Councilor Lydia Edwards, and parents of students attending Boston Public Schools.

The group’s goal is to build a strong, open, and inclusive Democratic Committee. They envision fostering a rich discussion around issues most important to East Boston residents, resulting in greater community voice in city, state, and federal policy. The group’s principles include:

• Transparency: holding widely advertised Democratic Committee meetings at times and places that maximize involvement from all East Boston residents
• Diversity and Inclusion: engaging a diverse range of residents and community organizations
• Community Voice: creating channels for the East Boston community to express its priorities on issues such as housing, transportation, climate change, and education
• Independence: bringing a new perspective to the Ward Committee
• Civic Engagement: increasing voter registration and participation in elections

The Ward Committee gives East Boston residents the opportunity to voice concerns by creating forums for conversation with elected representatives, endorsing candidates, and creating opportunities for civic participation. Voters will elect the next Ward 1 Committee during the next Democratic primary election on March 3, 2020.

“We are excited to launch Fresh Slate Eastie. Our goal is to revitalize the policy conversation in East Boston around issues that matter most to residents while creating a more transparent and inclusive Ward 1 Committee,” said Brian Gannon, one of the members of the group.

The following is the complete list of candidates making up the slate: 

Matt Cameron, 
Gabriela Coletta, 
Ben Downing, 
Victoria Dzindzichashvili (DiLorenzo), 
City Councilor Lydia Edwards, 
Margaret Farmer, 
Jo Ann Fitzgerald, 
Brian Gannon, 
Zachary Hollopeter, 
Lisa Jacobson, 
Giordana Mecagni, 
Gail Miller, 
Dionyssios Mintzopoulos, 
Sandra Nijjar, 
Heather O’Brien, 
Ricardo Patron, 
Jesse Purvis.
James Rosenquist, 
Aneesh Sahni, and 
Kannan Thiruvengadam. 

For more information contact: freshslateeastie@gmail.com.

Mayor Walsh celebrates groundbreaking of new East Boston police station on Eagle Hill

The first new police station in ten years, the $29.9 million construction will be located on East Eagle Street

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Boston police officers and community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new East Boston Police Station on East Eagle Street.

The start of construction on the District A-7 precinct marks a $29.9 million investment in East Boston's community and safety by creating a building to improve the Boston Police Department's operations in the neighborhood, and create a community space. This new police station will be the first complete new station in a decade.

"In Boston, we put our community first, and this new police station is an investment in East Boston, and in public safety," said Mayor Walsh. "This station is our commitment to the next generation. We're dedicated to community policing, and that means interacting with residents, families and youth in a positive way. For our young people, this station is a place where they can learn about a career in law enforcement, join a youth group, or get mentoring. We will continue to invest in our values of trust and community, and create public spaces that help all residents."

As Boston leads in community policing, the city's crime rate is down 25 percent in the last five years. In A-7, major crime is down by 15 percent this year.

"Our officers work hard every day to serve the residents of Boston, creating relationships and ensuring public safety," said Boston Police Commissioner Gross. "I'm proud that my department has won the trust and respect of our residents, and this new building will allow our police officers to do their jobs more effectively, and continue their incredible work and relationships with the East Boston community."

The design and location of the building creates a more efficient 27,000 square foot, three story station, and will be LEED Silver Certified, as part of Mayor Walsh's Climate Action Plan goals.

The new building will include a lobby, front desk and gathering space for the community that holds up to 49 people, a community service office, new fencing, a parking area, pedestrian paths, landscaping, and new site utilities. The station will also contribute to Mayor Walsh's "Percent for Art" program by permanently housing a piece of public art.

The "Percent for Art" program is the City of Boston's five-year commitment to granting $13.4 million to public art pieces over the time-frame. It is a part of the City's cultural plan, Boston Creates, founded in 2016. The allocation of funds for the new police station comes from Mayor Walsh's Capital Plan for fiscal years 2020 to 2024 supported by the Capital Budget.

This is one of several BPD projects that will be funded by the Capital Budget. Public safety and education make up 60 percent of spending in the Capital Plan.

The Boston Police Department and the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department partnered with Leers Weinzapfel Architects and J&J Contractors Inc. to design an efficient and effective, community-oriented police station.

The A-7 police station builds on Mayor Walsh's commitment to investing in community spaces and services for residents in East Boston, and across the city.

In East Boston, Mayor Walsh has dedicated $2.4 million for renovation at Engine 5 for the Boston Fire Department; $8.9 million for the Paris Street swimming pool; $4.8 million for Noyes Park; $1 million for a new senior center at Orient Heights; $3 million for McArdle Bridge; new lights at Memorial Stadium; and resilience upgrades at key points along the waterfront.