THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY JANUARY 13, 2022
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Massport Delivers Winter Coats for Children
JOKR Liquor License Draws Mixed Reactions
J
OKR, an instant grocery delivery company at 301 W. Broadway, held a virtual abutters meeting Monday night to discuss its plan to apply for a liquor license and got pushback from some residents and support from others. The company, which launched in South Boston at the end of November, is looking to add alcohol delivery to its repertoire, as it does in New York. The virtual meeting drew almost 40 people. “I do not support the delivery of alcohol from this store,” said City Councilor Ed Flynn, who lives near the store and notes no residents have asked him to support this proposal. “I’m not sure if the demand is there for delivering alcohol and liquor in the neighborhood … I know it’s not there. You are going to have a hard time convincing me that residents really want this.” Donna Brown, representing the South Boston Chamber of Commerce,
REAL ACCESS!
said, “My big concern is the impact on other small businesses … What you charge can have a negative impact on them and their ability to continue to operate in this community. They’ve been here supporting the community for longer, and you are new in town. My concern is that an additional liquor license on Broadway is going to have a negative impact on those businesses that already exist.” Dennis Levene, JOKR’s vice president of expansion, said 90 percent of all deliveries – either on foot or via e-bike – are made in 15 minutes or less. JOKR offers a full range of grocery items, from fresh produce, meat, and fish to snack items and pasta, to household products, and even COVID-19 tests. Customers place their orders on the mobile app for either delivery (vast majority) or in-store pickup. Levene said the workers are all
Continued on Page 2
Pictured L-R: Thomas Butler & Audrey Nagle, Massport; Beatrice “Betsy” Falcon, Family Engagement Coordinator, Perkins Elementary School; Karen Zirkle, Legislative Aide, Representative Biele’s Office
Winter coats and accessories donated by employees
T
he Massachusetts Por t Aut horit y’s (Massport) annual Winter Coat Drive benef itted dozens of children in East
Boston and South Boston. This year, one hundred employees donated their time and money to purchase winter coats and accessories and delivered them to Crossroads Family Center in East Boston, the Perkins Elementary Continued on Page 5
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