Thursday, June 25, 2015

Imagine Boston The Way You Want It

Last month, Mayor Walsh announced the launch of Boston’s first citywide planning process in 50 years, Imagine Boston 2030. This is a two-year public engagement process that will create a roadmap for success leading up to Boston’s 400th birthday.



Today Boston is a thriving, healthy, and innovative city. Now is the chance to set the course for the next generation. Mayor Walsh is inviting you to join in imagining the Boston of 2030. From economic development to open space, from education to equality, make your voice count.

Imagine Boston 2030 is an opportunity to take a more dynamic approach to community engagement than those of past planning efforts. As a first step to inform the process, community members are asked to share their preferences for how they want to participate. 

Have you attended city sponsored meetings and left frustrated or confused? Tell the City why! Have ideas on how we can reach a wider variety of residents? Share your ideas! Always wished Boston would host a certain kind of community event? Let the City know! Imagine Boston's success depends on everyone's participation. 

Take a moment to fill out a short survey. Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #ImagineBos, or reach out to the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services to share your thoughts and ideas on how to better engage all of Boston in this process. Share your vision. Shape Boston.

Artists For Humanity Expansion Community Meeting

Update: Public comment period extended to July 31, 2015. Comments may be sent to Christopher Tracy, Project Manager, BRA.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is hosting a public meeting regarding the proposed Artists For Humanity EpiCenter expansion on: 

Tuesday, June 23, 2015
7 pm - 9 pm
Artists For Humanity
100 West Second St


Artists For Humanity proposes to expand its existing 24,000 sq ft EpiCenter by adding approximately 57,000 sq ft of new studios, studio partners and retail space. For details, read the expanded project notification


FPNA June 2015 Meeting For The Neighborhood

Fort Point Meeting for the Neighborhood

Tuesday June 30, 2015
6 pm
315 on A
20th Floor Sky Lounge*

6:00 pm Guest Speakers
featuring
Christopher Cook
Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, City of Boston
Newest City of Boston Park: A Street Park

with
Special Guest
Josh Kraft
 President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation

7:00 pm General Meeting 
Neighborhood Updates & Discussion

including
Cross Roads Initiative Update
Jonathan Greeley, Boston Redevelopment Authority
 
Tasty Treats by Foodie's Markets
 
*Special thanks to Equity Residential for hosting us.



originally posted 6.18.15

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Boston Main Streets 20th Anniversary

The Boston Main Streets 20th Anniversary and Annual Awards Ceremony is Thursday, June 25, 2015,

Join Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Main Streets to celebrate this year's Businesses and Volunteers of the Year along with emcee, WCVB News Anchor Shayna Seymour.  Enjoy great food from Mei Mei Restaurant & Food Truck, entertainment from Berklee College students, and a special guest performance by Brittany Butler, a 2014 contestant on The Voice.

This event is open to the public and free of charge, come celebrate with us and invite your family and friends!  RSVP Today

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #BMS20 and on Facebook.

Boston City Council Boston 2024 Hearing Friday

The Boston City Council's Special Committee on the 2024 Olympics will be holding a public hearing:

Friday, June 26, 2015
9:30 am
Boston City Hall
Iannella Chamber, 5th floor

The topic to be discussed is the financing of operations and venue development of the Boston 2024 Olympics. Watch Boston City Council hearings live at CityofBoston.gov
originally published 6.22.15

45 West Third Street PDA Community Meeting

The Boston Redevelopment Authority will host a community meeting to discuss the proposed PDA (planned development area) for 45 West Third Street development on:


Wednesday, June 24, 2015
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Artists For Humanity
100 W 2nd Street
Boston, MA 02127

Read PDA 102

originally posted 6.11.15

Monday, June 15, 2015

Have Coffee With The Mayor

The Mayor's South Boston Coffee Hour will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 from 9:30 am - 10:30 am at Sweeney Playground,180 West Fifth Street.

The Neighborhood Coffee Hours give residents a unique opportunity to speak directly with Mayor Walsh about open space and other needs in their neighborhoods.  Through these discussions and a suggestion box at each site, Mayor Walsh looks forward to hearing how the City of Boston can improve upon local parks, public areas, and city services.

“This series provides me with a great opportunity to get out and meet with residents one-on-one,” said Mayor Walsh.  “If you have an issue that we can help with, would like to know more about city services, or just want to come out and have some coffee and refreshments in your local park with your neighbors, we welcome you to our Neighborhood Coffee Hours.”

All participants will enjoy coffee and breakfast treats provided by Dunkin’ Donuts and fresh fruit from Whole Foods Market.  In addition, each family in attendance will receive a flowering plant grown in the city’s greenhouses as a gift from Mayor Walsh.  Residents at the event will also be eligible to win a raffle prizes from Dunkin’ Donuts.  Information will be available on City programs from the Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools, Boston Police Department, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families. 

City Hall To Go is also scheduled to be there. City Hall To Go makes it easy to pay a parking ticket, renew or apply for residential parking permit, file for a copy of your marriage license, get a recycling sticker and more....


originally posted 6.10.15

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Fort Point Special Edition June Meeting

A Fort Point Special Edition Community Meeting

Tuesday, June 16, 2015
6:00 PM - 7:00
TRO|Jung Brannen
22 Boston Wharf Road
7th Floor

Berkeley Investments will be presenting a proposed addition of two new office floors atop the Stillings Street garage, also known as 22 Boston Wharf Rd. The site is located within the Fort Point Landmark District. The project will also include the addition of windows on the northern wall of the existing building abutting the Q Park and the introduction of street level retail on Boston Wharf Road.

According to June 11, 2015 Boston Business Journal website, Berkeley Investments is selling a majority of their Fort Point portfolio, which includes 343 Congress St., 12 Farnsworth St., 381 Congress St., and the Farnsworth Street and Stillings Street parking garages. The article also states that Berkeley formally submitted plans to the Boston Redevelopment Authority today to add 50,000 square feet of office space atop its Stillings Street parking garage at 22 Boston Wharf Road.

Please save the date: Tuesday, June 30th for the FPNA Neighborhood Meeting featuring Christopher Cook, City Of Boston Commissioner of Parks & Recreation and Josh Kraft, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and President of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The meeting will take place at 315 on A's Sky Lounge at 6pm.


updated 6.11.15 originally posted 6.3.15

Monday, June 08, 2015

Friends of Fort Point Channel Launch Fort Point Banners

The Friends of Fort Point Channel announced that on Thursday, June 11, twenty new custom banners promoting all aspects of Fort Point will be installed along Summer Street, Melcher Street, Congress Street & A Street. The banners are the parts of the Fort Point Community Driven Branding Process to preserve and celebrate the sense of place that is Fort Point neighborhood. 

Please note that:

  • Ladders and buckets may be on the streets and under the walls during day of the banners’ installation, starting at 7pm on Wednesday, June 10th.
  • A police detail will direct traffic and reduce the impact of the installation to the neighborhood
These banners were conceived and designed with input from the community and contain a font that is native to Fort Point and icons that represent the different aspects of what makes Fort Point special, including the arts, technology, the restaurants and the history of the Fort Point Channel itself. The banners were designed by Fort Point's Stoltze Design

Fort Point contains approximately 1,300 area businesses, 33,000 area workforce and 1,900 area residents that will directly benefit from the increased visibility and community pride that will occur due to the branding process. In addition, approximately 3.4 million people visit the South Boston Waterfront area for tourism, making the branding essential for luring more people into the area to explore all the great restaurants, museums and other destinations of Fort Point.

Friday, June 05, 2015

Art Happenings You Won't Want To Miss

If you missed Sowa Artists Guild's First Fridays June 5th at 450 Harrison Street in the South End and last weekend's South Boston Open Studios at the Distillery and at 555 Gallery, you won't want to miss:.  

Tuesday, June 9th from 5pm -7pm is the opening reception of "Mentor", a juried exhibition featuring works by eight Fort Point artist/educators and their students, at the Atlantic Wharf Gallery. RSVPShow runs through June 19th.

Made in Fort Point hosts their June featured artist of the month, Liliana Folta, at an opening reception on  Wednesday, June 10th from 5 pm - 7 pm. RSVP. Liliana Folta was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has lived and worked in Fort Point at Midway Artist Studios since 2009 and soon will relocate her studio to Berlin, Germany. Liliana studied Fine Arts and ceramics at Tarrant County College NE Texas, where she received an “Outstanding Merit Award” and a “Distinguished Scholarship.”  The Made in Fort Point store sells and exhibits art, craft and design of over 50 Fort Point Arts Community members.
Made in Fort Point Featured June Artist Liliana Folta

The FPAC Gallery presents "Drawing & Sparring”, an exhibit featuring work by Fort Point artists inspired by the art of boxing. The opening reception is Thursday, June 11th from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at 300 Summer St. RSVP.  The exhibit is on view through July 2, 2015.

There will also be a Fort Point Public Art Walking Tour on Thursday starting at 5 pm at A St. and Necco Ct. to view five art installations and hear from the artists. The tour will end at the FPAC Galley at 6:30 pm. RSVP

The art happenings all take place during Seaport - Fort Point Week June 5th - 12th. Rediscover the Boston Waterfront
Seaport-Fort Point Week










updated 6.9.15

Boston City Council Looks At Budget, Hotel Workers, Criminal Sanction Reform & Gun Violence

Councillor-At-Large Michelle Wu provides notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the items below and more at their June 3, 2015 meeting:

Capital Budget Vote #1: Today was the first reading for the capital expenditures portion of the City budget. Any capital appropriation requires 2 votes, at least 2 weeks apart. The individual items passed unanimously, with the exception of three dockets that Councilor Yancey objected to. He said he was conditioning his vote on the administration's cooperation in responding to his 17F information requests, and until he received the information, he would vote no. This resulted in a 12-1 vote (Councilor Yancey in the minority) on two dockets for the BRA and one involving funding for electronic access to information. You can find more detail on the capital budget here.

Hotel Workers Health & Safety Hazards: Councilors Zakim, Pressley & McCarthy called for a hearing on the health and safety of hotel workers at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill, which is close to MGH and hosts many patients before or after surgical procedures and outpatient treatment. The hotel workers have been exposed repeatedly to bodily fluids and medical waste but have not been provided with adequate safety equipment. The OSHA complaint and working conditions were covered by the Boston Globe a few weeks ago (https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/05/20/wyndham-housekeepers-file-osha-complaint-over-mgh-patient-waste/0CzR46Jh5lp2C5Dw82KHUP/story.html). The matter was referred to the Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities for a hearing.

Resolution for Justice Reinvestment Act: Councilor Jackson filed a resolution to support the Justice Reinvestment Act (S.64/H.1429) filed by State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and State Rep. Mary Keefe on Beacon Hill. The act includes four primary reforms in criminal sanctions: 1) repeal of mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes; 2) step down of certain non-violent felonies to misdemeanors; 3) creation of medical parole regulations for inmantes who are permanently incapacitated; 4) elimination of automatic collateral sanctions at the RMV for drug related offenses unrelated to operating a vehicle. Furthermore, the act requires the savings accrued from these sentencing and reentry reforms to be calculated and then reinvested into community education and workforce development programs. The matter was referred to the Special Committee on Black and Latino Men and Boys for a hearing.

Gun Violence: Councilor Jackson called for a hearing to review initiatives to reduce crime related to gun violence. He noted that although the number of murders in Boston is down this year, the number of shootings is up. He pointed to the example of Richmond, CA, which has used big data to target resources to preventing gun violence. Councilor Jackson further noted that Boston has 50 street workers, and we need to make sure they have sufficient resources. The matter was referred to the Public Safety Committee for a hearing.

**Budget Hearing Summaries**

In order to make the FY16 budget process more transparent, Councillor Wu posted all the pre-hearing information we receive from departments and agencies, summarizing their accomplishments from the past year and goals for the current budget request. Check out the table of contents at MichelleForBoston.com.

For prior Boston City Council meetings, visit www.michelleforboston.com/notes or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email at www.michelleforboston.com/sendmenotes.