CELEBRATING SIX - PAT’S PARADE SSeeee Pages Pages 10 10 & 1111
Vol. 29, No. 6
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Council discusses rooming house ban, political signage and graďŹƒti removal
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n the three years that have passed since he became mayor, Brian Arrigo is pleased with the progress that the city has made and is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. “Tonight, I am pleased to report that the State of our City is strong,�he said during this year’s State of the City address on Feb. 7. “It is cool to see our city grow and to lead an administration committed to our city’s prosperity. It is cool, on nights like tonight, when I get to deliver good news.� Arrigo said the most exciting news came in December 2018 when officials from the Massachusetts School Building Authority announced that the city was initially approved for a new high school. “This happens when people work together, synchronized toward the common goal of fulfilling Revere’s tremendous potential,� he said. “This will continue to happen as we work toward a Revere known for professionalized city services, a modern economy and strong, lively neighborhoods that we are all proud to call ‘home.’� Arrigo also spoke about that audit that was conducted after he took office, designed to “dig deep� into Revere’s bank accounts.
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Executive Director of the F o u n d a t i o n T r u s t D r. Joseph Spinazzola made a presentation before the City Council on Jan. 28 relative to his grant program, supporting non-profit organizations within the social services sector. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Marra)
cil has the the legal authority to place the moratorium. “I see the merit in this,� Zambuto said. Political sign removal timeline not enforced Councillors expressed their frustration for the lack of enforcement for property owners to remove political signs from the State General Election in November 2018. “It makes the city look bad and it makes a statement to people coming through the city that perhaps the city doesn’t care and we do care,� Powers said, whose signs he said were removed within two days. “There were five to six signs at Mahoney also known as Bell Circle.� Novoselsky said some of the signs were ripped or hanging and that the candidates want residents’ votes, but they likely don’t have respect for them. “We want to keep our city
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‘Still not done’ says mayor in State of the City address By Christopher Roberson
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By Tara Vocino he City Council will be holding a public hearing later this to decide whether to place a nine-month moratorium on granting special permits for lodging and rooming houses. During the Jan. 28 meeting, Ward 2 City Councillor Ira Novoselsky said the purpose of the Feb. 25 hearing is to monitor how many multiunit buildings are being used for room rentals. “There are a lot of issues and a nine-month moratorium would give us time to put something together to determine how much the city can tax them; ensure they’re public safety-secured and to control parking,� he said. Ward 5 City Councillor John Powers spoke about the financial aspect of rooming houses. “To me, that’s a hotel,� he said. “The city should be generating revenue from this.� City Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto said he is in favor of the concept, but he wants to make sure the coun-
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Mayor Brian Arrigo delivered his State of The City address on Feb. 7 at the Susan B. Anthony Middle School.
“The audit revealed nearly $2.2 million dollars lying around in 86 different inactive accounts, some going back years,� he said. However, Arrigo said city officials have learned to no longer settle for the status quo. “No longer does Revere simply plod along with the way things always were; we have sought out and implemented new and better ways to do business,� he said. As an example, he called attention to Revere’s Parking Department, saying parking enforcement was erratic at best, particularly along Broadway and Shirley Avenue. “In 2018, we overhauled the Parking Department,� said Arrigo. “We invested in new equipment, we implemented efficient collection procedures.�
As a result of those efforts, he said the city currently brings in an average of $3,000 per week from the new parking meters. He also spoke about how Revere will benefit from the state’s 2016 Municipal Modernization Act. “We will be able to create a Parking Benefit District, where parking revenue will be reinvested directly back to the district for improvements such as pedestrian safety measures, trees, benches and lighting,� said Arrigo. In addition, Arrigo recognized the work the city’s federal delegation, saying that Revere was one of four communities in the country to receive a COPS Safety Grant from the US Department of Justice. “Every dime awarded to the City of Revere helps improve our city and makes living here even better,� he said. “We thank our federal and state delegations for your partnership and your efforts on Revere’s behalf.� Yet, Arrigo’s overall message remained clear. “We are still not done – because progress is never done,� said Arrigo. “We must continue to think anew, and accept challenges as opportunities. We will continue to seek new endeavors that will build upon the sturdy foundation set during the past three years.�
Prospect Ave. residents speak in favor of resident parking sticker plan By Tara Vocino
enue will now have to obtain a resident parking sticker, which n an effort to alleviate park- will be enforceable from miding issues, residents on the night to 5 a.m. southerly side of Prospect AvDepartment of Public Works Superintendent Paul Argen:H DFFHSW 0DVWHU&DUG zio, who is also the chairman of the Traffic Commission, said 9LVD 'LVFRYHU on Tuesday that anyone living on Prospect Avenue will need a resident parking sticker. However, there is no parking on the north side of the street. “We have to double-park our cars just to save each other a 3ULFH 6XEMHFW WR space,� Robert Lospennato, of &KDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH 58 Prospect Ave., said during
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Thursday night’s Traffic Commission meeting. “I’m sick of it.� Lospennato attributed the lack of parking to alleged illegal homes. He went on to say that neighbors fight with each other over parking spaces. Calling the parking situation outrageous, Lospennato said he’s never seen anything like it, and that many people leave their cars there overnight and on weekends. There were approximately 10 spaces there before, he said.
PROSPECT | SEE PAGE 2