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Monday, March 29, 2021
FPNA March Neighborhood Meeting: Taking It To The Streets
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Boston City Council Looks At Vaccines, Separation of Powers, Preliminary Election & More
City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from March 24, 2021 Boston City Council meeting:
VOTES
Vaccine Access for Domestic and Essential Workers: The Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution from Councilors Edwards and Breadon in support of all domestic workers and essential workers in need of immediate Covid-19 vaccine access.
Separation of Powers: The Council voted to adopt amendments to the Council rules filed by Councilor Bok to add a Rule #51 to codify the separation of powers in the event of a mayoral vacancy.
NEW FILES
Resignation of Mayor Martin J. Walsh: The Council accepted the letter of resignation from Mayor Martin J. Walsh, effective March 22, 2021 at 9PM, given his confirmation as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. (Placed on file)
Communication from City Council President Kim Janey: The Council accepted the letter from Mayor Kim Janey regarding her transition to her new role as acting Mayor of the City of Boston. (Placed on file)
Preliminary Election: The Mayor introduced an Order to change the date of the preliminary election from September 21, 2021 to September 14, 2021, to enable enough time to certify election results before the general election on November 3, 2021, given a potential expansion of vote by mail. This matter was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/
Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, March 31th at 12PM.
Thursday, March 25 at 10AM: Working session regarding an ordinance to establish guidelines for permitting retail residential kitchens and a text amendment for the Boston Zoning Code to add retail residential kitchens as an accessory home occupation (Committee on Small Business and Workforce Development)
Thursday, March 25 at 1PM: Hearing regarding an $80,000 grant for the FY21 Sustainable Materials Recovery Program/Recycling Dividends (Committee on City and Neighborhood Services)
Thursday, March 25 at 5PM: Hearing regarding appropriations recommended by the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee for community preservation projects (Community Preservation Committee)
Friday, March 26 at 9:30AM: Hearing regarding green and social bonds (Committee on Post Audit and Oversight)
Monday, March 29 at 10AM: Hearing regarding an ordinance requiring equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution and an ordinance extending paid sick leave for COB employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (Committee on Government Operations)
Monday, March 29 at 1PM: Hearing regarding a petition from A Yankee Line for a license to operate motor vehicles for the carriage of passengers for hire (Committee on City and Neighborhood Services)
Tuesday, March 30 at 9AM: Hearing regarding zoning relief for 100% affordable and deeply affordable projects (Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)
Tuesday, March 30 at 1PM: Hearing to discuss ways for the City to prevent and investigate instances of hate crimes and discirmination (Committee on Civil Rights)
Tuesday, March 30 at 4PM: Hearing regarding the state of affordable housing as to Boston's Inclusionary Development Policy (Committee on Housing and Community Development)
For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Street Sweeping & Ticketing Enforcement
STREET SWEEPING, TICKETING ENFORCEMENT FOR EXPIRED INSPECTION STICKERS AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION TO RESUME
- Street cleaning resumes each spring starting in April and continuing through November. Be in the know. Don't get ticketed or towed.
- Street sweeping ticketing enforcement will also resume and vehicles in violation will be subject to towing. In case you missed it, the Boston Transportation Department resumed ticketing ($40) enforcement for expired inspection stickers and vehicle registration. Mayor Walsh had paused enforcement of certain violations at the beginning of the pandemic in an effort to ensure residents could minimize their need to go out to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Failure to move a vehicle during posted street sweeping hours results in a $40 fine which increases to $90 for overnight street sweeping. View a complete list of parking codes and fines in the City of Boston. With the addition of more bike lanes around the City, be aware that it is a $100 fine to park in a bike lane. To learn more about the daytime and nighttime street sweeping program, including when the Public Works Department cleans a particular neighborhood, you can sign up for street sweeping alerts and No-Tow reminder service online.
- As a reminder, residents with resident parking permits will continue to be allowed to park at meters within their neighborhood without having to abide by the time limits or pay the meter.
- The Boston Transportation Department will continue to evaluate additional parking enforcement changes throughout the phased reopening. For more information, visit boston.gov/transportatio
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Boston City Council Looks At Democratic Public Meetings, Digital Infrastructure, Sidewalks, Recovery & More
City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are a few highlights from March 17, 2021 Boston City Council meeting:
VOTES
Medication Assisted Recovery and Care: The Council voted to pass a resolution from Councilor Edwards in support of SD.1709, An Act Relative to Medication Assisted Recovery and Care, which will address the systemic barriers faced by those on medication assisted recovery.
Striking Nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital: The Council voted to pass a resolution from Councilors Edwards and Flynn in support of the striking nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, who are advocating for safe staffing ratios and additional support staff to protect their patients’ health.
Structure of the Fiscal Management and Control Board: The Council voted to pass a resolution from Councilors Flynn and Bok in support of SD.1313, An Act Relative to the Structure of the Fiscal Management and Control Board. This bill would expand the FMCB to 7 members, including one member to be appointed by the Mayor of Boston
NEW FILES
Divestment of the City Treasury: Councilors Edwards, O’Malley and I filed an ordinance relative to the investments of the City Treasury, which would prohibit local investments in tobacco companies, fossil fuel companies, or companies related to the operation of private prisons. Massachusetts was the first state to divest from South Africa in 1982 and the first to divest all state pension funds from tobacco companies in 1997. This is an opportunity to build on that legacy by refusing to fund dangerous, predatory companies that compromise the wellbeing of the next generation. This matter was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Access to Local Democracy: Councilors Edwards, Breadon and Mejia filed an ordinance expanding access to local democracy in the City of Boston. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, municipalities have enabled remote participation in and access to open meetings, meaningfully increasing Boston residents’ engagement in local democracy. This legislation would establish provisions for a permanent remote participation option for all public body meetings, with technology accessible for people with disabilities and those who speak a language other than English. This matter was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Digital Infrastructure and Electronic City Services: Councilors Edwards and Flynn called for a hearing on digital infrastructure and electronic city services. Residents are increasingly reliant on the City’s digital infrastructure to access information and services, but this infrastructure requires extensive investment and maintenance to ensure it is modern, secure, and accessible. This matter was referred to the Committee on City & Neighborhood Services.
MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD
Supplemental Sidewalk Clearance Program: Councilor Flynn reported back as Chair of the Committee on City and Neighborhood Services on a hearing recently held to discuss a supplemental sidewalk clearance program during snowstorms in Boston, sponsored by Councilor Bok. At the hearing, we heard from Chief of Streets Chris Osgood and Public Works Superintendent Michael Brohel, as well as representatives from WalkBoston, Livable Streets Alliance, and the City of Syracuse, NY, to explore policy options to ensure safe streets for seniors, people with disabilities, and others with mobility challenges. (Remains in Committee)
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, March 24th at 12PM.
Friday, March 19 at 10AM: Hearing regarding commercial vacancies in Boston (Committee on Small Business & Workforce Development)
Monday, March 22 at 4PM: Hearing regarding appointments to the Boston Public Health Commission’s Board of Health (Committee on Public Health)
Tuesday, March 23 at 1PM: Working session regarding police contracts as policy documents (Committee on Ways & Means)
Tuesday, March 23 at 4PM: Hearing regarding the implementation of hte #BPSReady reopening plan (Committee on Education)
For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.
Monday, March 15, 2021
Boston City Council Looks at Daycare, Residential Kitchens, Property Taxes, Conservation Corps & More
City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are a few highlights from March 3 and March 10, 2021 Boston City Council meetings:
VOTES
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day: We voted unanimously to adopt Councilor Breadon’s resolution designating March as Women’s History Month and March 8 as International Women’s Day.
Boston VNA Health Care Professionals: We voted to adopt a resolution from Councilors Flynn, Edwards and Breadon in support of Boston VNA health care professionals in negotiations for their first-ever union contract, and urges the BVNA management to treat these workers with respect and dignity.
NEW FILES
Inclusion of Daycare Facilities Zoning: In partnership with Councilor Breadon, I called for a hearing regarding the Inclusion of Daycare Facilities zoning regulations. Since 1989, Boston’s zoning code has included Inclusion of Daycare Facilities (IDF) regulations that require developers of buildings above a certain size to either set aside space for an on-site early education facility or cause such facilities to be created off-site. However, these regulations are inconsistently enforced, and some developers have made financial contributions to BPDA in lieu of directly building early education facilities, despite a clear process for determining the size of such financial contributions or how these funds should be used. High-quality early education and care is a public good, but these regulations could be strengthened to increase the supply of early education programs, meet the scale of demand for early education, and meet the needs of all of Boston’s working families. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.
Zoning Amendment for Residential Kitchens: Councilor Mejia called for a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to update certain aspects of the Accessory Home Occupations definition to include retail residential kitchens. The Committee on Government Operations recently held a working session to discuss necessary changes to Boston’s zoning code to enable residential kitchens to sell cottage goods. During the working session, we heard from representatives of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department, the Boston Planning and Development Agency, and the Office of Small Business Development, and advocates to determine when a residential business would require a permit, the inspectional staffing needs, and necessary wraparound services for business owners to adhere to safety standards. In response to this discussion, Councilor Mejia proposed this text amendment to the zoning code, which was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations.
Off-Leash Dog Recreation Spaces: Councilor Arroyo called for a hearing to discuss off-leash dog recreation spaces in the City of Boston. The current distribution and planned expansion of the City’s dog recreation spaces leaves many residents without access to off-leash recreation spaces, especially in the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Roslindale, Mattapan and West Roxbury. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment, Resiliency and Parks.
Language and Communications Access: Councilor Mejia proposed an ordinance amending Boston’s language and communications access ordinance. There are over 140 languages spoken in the City of Boston, and Boston residents who speak languages other than English often struggle to access City resources and information. There is a need for information to be translated and interpreted, but also to be conveyed in a culturally competent way that reflects its audience. In 2016, I introduced and the Council passed an ordinance establishing a language and communications access plan for the City of Boston’s departments which made accommodations for individuals who speak languages other than English. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations.
Gender Parity in the Naming of Public Art and Places: Councilor Essaibi George called for a hearing regarding gender parity in the naming of public art and places. She noted that only 10 of BPS’ 125 schools, 2 of the almost 400 properties managed by Parks and Recreation, and none of the Boston Public Library branches are named after women. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Arts, Culture and Special Events.
MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD
Property Taxes and Assistance Programs: Councilor Bok reported back on a recent hearing to discuss property taxes and assistance programs for seniors and long-term residents facing difficulties during COVID-19. Property taxes may increase the burden for seniors and other vulnerable Boston residents and affect their ability to maintain their homes. During the hearing, representatives from Administration and Finance, Assessing Department, Age Strong Commission, and others presented about the impact of property taxes and opportunities to provide relief. (Remains in Committee)
Conservation Corps: I reported back as Vice Chair of the Committee on Environment, Resiliency and Parks regarding a working session recently held to discuss a city-level conservation corps for Boston, sponsored by Councilor Bok and me. During the hearing, we heard from representatives from Boston’s Parks and Recreation Department, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, the Office of Workforce Development, and Philadelphia’s PowerCorpsPHL program, as well as from Boston advocates about opportunities to create an urban conservation corps program that helps the City meet our climate goals while providing workforce development opportunities and sustainable career pathways, particularly for Black, Brown and other underserved Boston residents. (Remains in Committee)
GRANTS
$245,900 FY21 Local Culture Council Program grant, awarded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, to be administered by the Office of Arts & Culture to fund the Boston Cultural Council sub-grants. (Passed)
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/
Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, March 17th at 12PM.
Tuesday, March 16th at 10AM: Hearing regarding a supplemental sidewalk clearance program during snowstorms in Boston (Committee on City and Neighborhood Services)
For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.
Our South Boston Newsletter: St Paddy's Day, Outdoor Dining, Dog Licenses
News From Our South Boston Liaison: Haley Dillon
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Monday, March 08, 2021
Fort Point Landmarks March 2021 Meeting
The FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on:
Thursday, March 11, 2021
6:00 PM
This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person.
You can participate in this hearing by going to our Zoom meeting link
or by calling 929-205-6099 and entering meeting id 822 6815 9176#
You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.gov
or via Twitter @bostonlandmarks.
I. DESIGN REVIEW HEARING
APP # 21.0481 FPC 22 Boston Wharf Road
Applicant: Duck Creek Technologies
Proposed work: At the roof, construct a stair head house and roof deck with metal picket railings and acoustic metal panel wall.
APP # 21.0581 FPC 5 CHANNEL CENTER STREET
Applicant: BP3-BOS3 5 Channel Center Street LLC
Proposed work: At the roof level, install new visible mechanical systems and equipment. At the Medallion Avenue elevation, replace a garage door with louvers in the existing masonry opening.
APP # 21.0704 FPC 22 BOSTON WHARF ROAD
Applicant: Artists for Humanity
Proposed work: Install a public art sculpture at the Stillings Street façade
(modify APP # 21.0238 FPC Certificate of Design Approval)
II. ADVISORY REVIEW
51 SLEEPER STREET
Proposed work: Modify the ground level façade and topography and install signage.
III. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW/APPROVAL
In order to expedite the review process, the commission has
delegated the approval of certain work items, such as those involving ordinary maintenance and repair,
restoration or replacement, or which otherwise have a minimal impact on a building’s appearance, to
commission staff pending ratification at its monthly public hearing. Having been identified as meeting
these eligibility criteria and all applicable guidelines, the following applications will be approved at this
hearing.
APP # 21.0628 FPC 250-253 Summer Street: At the sea wall, repair existing concrete foundation, repoint deteriorated granite joints, replace galvanic anodes on steel columns in
kind, and fill voids using grout bags. At the Harborwalk, replace deteriorated timber deck boards in kind.
IV. RATIFICATION OF 2/11/2021 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
V. STAFF UPDATES
VI. PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 8:00 PM
FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION
David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karoff, Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy
Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy
Wednesday, March 03, 2021
Nautilus Pier 4 Restaurant Abutters Meeting March 8
The Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh invites you to a virtual abutters meeting for Nautilus Pier 4 restaurant on :
Monday, March 8th 2021
5:30 p.m.
140 Northern Ave
Proposal: Nautilus Pier 4 has been approved by the city for non-live entertainment indoors. We would like to add outdoors non-live entertainment (music through outdoor speakers) for the hours of 9am to 11pm, with a carve out that the hours of 8pm to 11pm be limited to “ambient background music.” This mimics the terms of our lease.
Nautilus Pier 4 would also like to apply for an outdoor live entertainment license.
Primarily we would like the ability for a DJ to be able to connect directly to our sound system and play their music through it, both indoors and out. Secondarily we would like to consider being able to hire musicians to also play through our sound system or their own setup. This would be limited to singer/songwriter (guitar) types or other small groups in the same vein. We are requesting hours of 11am to 8pm for these types of entertainment.
Webex Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/2NAd2qq
Or you can call into the meeting by dialing +1-408-418-9388
Meeting number (access code): 129 387 3235
Meeting password: 140n
For more information please contact:
Haley Dillon
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services
Haley.Dillon@boston.gov
617-635-2680
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
FPAC & FPTC Honor Women & Family In "Metaphors Are Not Enough" and "Crossing Cultures"
The Fort Point Theatre Channel presents excerpts from Metaphors Are Not Enough, Poetry and Prose by The Streetfeet Women on:
Sunday, March 7, 2021
3:30-5:00 pm
Christina Liu: Spinster; Beyond China; Untitled
Mary Elizabeth Birnbaum: France Eagle; The Ritual of the Visit; Mise-en-place, Carbon Steel
Mary Millner McCullough: DNA and Mayonnaise
Andrea L. Humphrey: Heroic Birth
Elena Harap: Minutes excerpt; Birth Control; Magnificat
Lymyn O'Sing: Smoke in the Paper; Trees Sing to Me in Winter
The work spans themes of freedom and justice, identity, culture, love, and friendship. Throughout, the women offer wisdom, humor, and the unique perspective of a diverse company of writers and performers.
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The Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) invites you to the art opening of “CROSSING CULTURES: Family, Memory & Displacement” art opening on:
March 11, 2021
6:30 PM
“CROSSING CULTURES” addresses the theme of “family” from the point of view of four women artists who came to this country as young adults, leaving their traditions, families, and cultures behind. Unifying their work is its relationship to memory, displacement and identity. The exhibit will revolve around art that they have created to reflect upon what they have left behind while shifting countries and at the same time honoring and remembering family traditions and vanishing ways of life. A commonality of their work is the use of vintage family photographs that they have collected from their many visits back to their homelands. This project embodies and celebrates their shared immigrant story and citizenry in a nation composed of diverse backgrounds, families, politics, faiths, identities, and ideas.
The Artists
Astrid Reischwitz is a lens-based artist who explores storytelling from a personal perspective. Her projects include intimate views of private spaces, and reflections on her own history and values. Using keepsakes from family life, old photographs, and storytelling strategies, she builds a visual world of memory, identity, place, and home.
Claudia Ruiz Gustafson is a Peruvian-born, Massachusetts-based visual artist, educator and curator. Her work is mainly autobiographical and self-reflective; often portraying themes of femininity, family, memory, dreams and personal mythology.
Nilou Moochhala’s visual practice (art & design) has been channeled into examining issues of cross-cultural change and transformation through collaging and assemblage techniques. Originally from Mumbai, she has been inspired to juxtapose found objects, memorabilia, and use of language to create social and political narratives, be it in public street spaces or private art galleries.
Vivian Poey is a photographer and educator in Cambridge, MA. Her work examines a number of issues ranging from migration and cultural assimilation to the passing of time. She is American, born in Mexico of Cuban parents and lived in Guatemala and Colombia before moving to the U.S. This complicated trajectory informs all of her art, which serves as a method of investigation, and includes photography, installation and performance.
Monday, March 01, 2021
Boston City Council Looks At Street Trees, Community Voice, Land Use & More
City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are a few highlights from February 24, 2021 Boston City Council meeting. Please note that the Council did not meet on February 17.
VOTES
Special Commission on Ending Family Homelessness: The Council voted to pass an ordinance to create a Special Commission on Ending Family Homelessness, which will develop an actionable and measurable plan to end family homelessness in the City of Boston.
NEW FILES
Street Tree Removal: Councilors Flynn and
Breadon called for a hearing to discuss the process for street tree removals in
the City of Boston. The current process includes a public hearing to gather
feedback before a removal, but there is no requirement to notify abutters, and
when trees are removed prior to a development project entering into the
permitting process, residents do not have the opportunity to provide input
beforehand. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment,
Resiliency and Parks.
Community Voice in Impact Advisory Groups: Councilor
Mejia called for a hearing on community voice in Impact Advisory Groups (IAGs),
which are groups of up to 15 individuals tasked with providing advice and
feedback on large-scale projects proposed by the Boston Planning and
Development Agency to ensure that these developments meet the needs of the
community and do not contribute to displacement, gentrification and a loss of
community character. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning,
Development, and Transportation.
Community Notification Process: Councilor
Essaibi George called for a hearing to review the procedures to alert a
neighborhood to development-related meetings. The BPDA must publish documents
related to a proposed document within 5 days and share with the local neighborhood
council or to a similar community or civic organization, but there is no
mention throughout the Zoning Code of a required period of time that the BPDA
should notify residents of any upcoming public meetings. This matter was
assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.
Developer Profiles: Councilor Essaibi George
called for a hearing regarding the creation of publicly available developer
profiles, which may include information like accurate contact information,
information regarding anh partnered firms, average Boston Residents Jobs Policy
(BRJP) score, number of market-rate units and affordable units, and the BPDA
Project Manager, the total number of commercial and residential units, any past
or present DND or BHA contracts, list of publicly knowable civil rights
litigation, and basic developer history. This matter was assigned to the
Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.
Planning and Land-Use Tools for Public Good: Councilor
Bok called for a hearing regarding using planning and land-use tools for public
good; for example, by building on past tradition and using BPDA tools to help
secure more land for the community purposes and long-term affordability that
community land trusts can ensure; writing ground leases to ensure the long-term
value of public land is captured by the public; and structuring city deed
restrictions and ground leases to provide preferential options for conversion
to cooperative or community land trust structures whenever possible. This matter
was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/
Next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, March 3rd at 12PM.
For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.
FPNA Neighborhood Gathering Features The Outdoors, Development & Parks and Mayoral Candidate Michelle Wu
You are invited to a virtual
Fort Point Seaport
Neighborhood Gathering
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
6 pm to 8 pm
featuring
Our C-6 Community Service Officers
Cisco Brewers & Il Giardino
Seaport Spring Updates
WS Development
ICA Reopening, Dancing & Live Music
requesting support of outdoor live entertainment license amendment.
Update: The ICA withdrew their amended application. If they decide to pursue it at a future date, they will present again
100 Acres Ups & Downs
Building Heights and Park Sizes
from the Channel to the Haul Rd/South Boston Bypass Rd.*
&
Mayoral Candidate Spotlight
Boston City Councillor-At-Large Michelle Wu
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