THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Widett Circle May Be Massively Developed by Rick Winterson
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ast month, the news broke that Widett Circle, a 19-acre site on the South Boston side of the Southeast Expressway, was to be purchased for future development of an unspecified kind. One thing for sure: it won’t be used as a major wholesale food complex, with meat and seafood as the key items sold, shipped, and supplied. These are basically the businesses of the current occupants of the Circle – a 20+ member cooperative consortium of food wholesalers, many of them serving large Boston consumers like hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. More than three-quarters of the City of Boston’s food supplies come to us through Newmarket and Widett Circle’s New Boston Food Market.
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Also for certain is that the Circle will never be used for the Olympic Games, as the City of Boston once proposed. Multisports stadia simply won’t work on that spot. Even so, we suppose that Widett Circle might perhaps host an individual, ongoing sport or two. After all, Bob Kraft is still around. Whatever the development turns out to be, it will be large – very large. We understand that another five acre parcel, now used for frozen food storage, is up for grabs also, which would boost the square footage involved to more than a million (that’s 1,000,000 sq. ft. of ground area). And there are other, equally substantial plots of ground in the immediate area close to Widett Circle that might interest private developers as well. William Keravuori leads the investors interested in financing Continued on Page 2
Last week on Thursday afternoon, PubliCo, the Street Bistro & Garden at the corner of Dorchester Street and First, reopened its doors as well as expanding its out-of-doors services along the First Street curbside.
Story and Photos on Page 4
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Continued from Page 1
Massive Development the Widett Circle project. He was involved in the purchase of the Flower Exchange about five years ago. This ended up (not without some controversy beforehand) being rebuilt into a scientific complex, which will be engaged in basic research and product development. The demand for highly sophisticated lab space in and around Boston continues to grow. It is still early days in Widett Circle planning; Keravuori has not yet granted an interview about the nature of the project there. The nearby Ink Block and Dot Block projects perhaps could give an idea of what Widett Circle will become. There are also familiar, well-working developments that are exclusively residential. Could part of the Circle’s development be another “South Boston one-
two-three-four”? That’s belowgrade parking, retail on the ground floor, offices the next few floors up, and then an apartment/ penthouse/condominium tower. But whatever else Widett Circlet becomes, it will be big, very big. Maybe Amazon will occupy some of the development. Ground was broken last year for Amazon’s 2000-job AI/cloud computing center in the Seaport; you are aware that Amazon now owns Whole Foods and its nearby branch store; South Boston Online recently reported (June 11, pg. 1)about Amazon creating a “last mile” distribution center on Dorchester Avenue. Amazon is here already! And whatever happens, the usual questions will have to be answered: transportation issues from traffic to parking, and (perhaps) even putting MBTA commuter train tracks
Just one small corner of the gigantic New Boston Food Market on Widett Circle (“B&B” stands for Boston to Buffalo – seafood out to the west, then beef back east). underground; housing, more housing, and more affordable housing; flooding control along with additional green spaces and parks; as well as deciding where the food-based businesses will move to (one plan from ten years ago had them relocating to the Boston Harbor Waterfront in
Flynn Marine Industrial Park). Most of the media have confined their initial comments about the Circle project to statements like, “Let’s Do It Right!” At this point, South Boston Online will just add, “B o s ton St ron g ! ”
Sen. Collins, Rep. Biele Deliver for Families of Boston Firefighters Collaboration provides health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of firefighters
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ecently, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act concerning health insurance benefits for surviving spouses of firefighters in the City of Boston. The law allows the surviving spouses and dependent children of City of Boston firefighters to retain health insurance benefits, regardless of marital status. Previously, a surviving spouse lost the option to retain
group health insurance if he status, however, would lose health or she remarried. This new law insurance coverage upon remarriage. The legislation was a “Home-Rule” eliminates the “Remarriage Penalty.” petition filed by City Councilor Pursuant to the new law, Michael F. Flaherty that was passed a surviving spouse of a Boston by the Boston City Council and firefighter who died from injuries or approved by Mayor Martin J. Walsh. illness received in the performance Following passage by the of his or her duty now has the City of Boston, the petition ability to retain insurance coverage was carried through the for the spouse and any dependent Massachusetts State Legislature children through the City of Boston’s Employees’ Healthcare Insurance. by State Senator Nick Collins and State Representative David Biele. With this change, pension “Our firefighters prepare everyday and health insurance benefits will to lay it on the line to keep us safe, so now be treated the same under the the least we can do is make sure their law. Prior to enactment of this law, families get taken care it if they do surviving spouses were allowed make the ultimate sacrifice”, said Sen. retain pensions, regardless of martial
High Summer Begins High summer has begun – the Perkins Square sunflowers are beginning to go to seed. Yet they’re still brilliant, as has been our summer so far.
Collins. “This bill is about providing for the families of fallen firefighters, and I was proud to work with my colleagues to get it signed into law.” “Firefighters in the City of Boston risk their lives each and every day. This law recognizes the sacrifices made by firefighters who died while protecting the City of Boston and its citizens by providing benefits and health care coverage for their surviving spouses and children,” said Rep. Biele. “I was proud to work with my colleagues in city and state government on this important legislation.” The text of the law can be viewed at:: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/ SessionLaws/Acts/2020/Chapter94.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
By Rick Winterson
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“I Was Torn Down on A Street …”
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lea se forgive t he terrible pun. It was intended! Benny Droha n OK’ d it. Mul’s Diner at A and West Broadway was demolished. It took just over a day. Seeing it disappear so fast left a strong feeling that, somehow, everything was out of focus, out of joint, not quite right. Many of us went to work that morning, and by nightfall, we returned to find out that a major Southie landmark had vanished – as if a magician in a top hat and wearing a cape simply waved his all-powerful wa nd a nd yelled “Poof ”! The space this demolition left behind was once Mul’s, with its unmistakably dented-butalways-shiny exterior. And Mul’s (short for Mulrey, of course) was really located at the center of one of South Boston’s busiest major
Mul’s is “GONE!” travel hubs, on the corner of A and West Broadway, one block and a stoplight from Dot Ave. and either the Kelly Bridge/Expressway or Fourth Street/the South End/ Copley Square. The #9, #11, and #47 buses dropped a whole city’s worth of breakfast or lunch eaters at Broadway, who connected with the (way long) north-south Red
Line. It’s an understatement to say that Mul’s was convenient to drivers, pedestrians, residents, commuters, civil ser va nts, construction workers, a nd the huge hordes of all those diners who just happened to be hungry. That’s all, just hungry. Can anyone even begin to add up the tens of thousands of breakfasts Mul’s served to
Flynn Advocate for Persons with Disabilities with City Hall Plaza Renovation
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s the renovations for City Hall Plaza begin, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn expressed his continual strong support for persons with disabilities, and ensuring that buildings and open spaces are accessible and welcoming to everyone. Boston City Hall Plaza is one of Boston’s largest public spaces, and the city is planning to renovate the space to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, as well as making the plaza easier to utilize for the public. The construction will include connecting the plaza to Cambridge and Congress Streets with an accessible sloped promenade that will make the space accessible to residents of all abilities. The promenade will have shady seating and gathering areas, a water feature, public arts space, and a play space. The renovation will also
include the planting of 100 new trees, 3,000 new seating spaces for residents, and the re-opening of the North Entrance, which will make it easier for visitors to access the 2nd floor of City Hall. “Advocating for our persons with disabilities has always been a top priority for me, and I’m happy to know that the renovation of City Hall Plaza will make this important space more accessible to everyone,” said Councilor Flynn. “City Hall Plaza is one of the most iconic civic spaces that we have in the city, and it is critical that people of all ages and abilities are able to access and enjoy the plaza. I want to thank Mayor Walsh, Commissioner McCosh, and the Boston Disabilities Commission for their work, and I look forward to working with them to support our disabilit y communit y.” For more information, ple a se c ont ac t C ou nci lor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 a nd e d .f ly n n @b o s ton .g ov.
thousands upon thousands of South Bostonians? What do ten million eggs look like? Either cooked or piled up and still in their shells. Mul’s was South Boston’s Breakfast City, without a doubt! A nd the question remains – what is going to happen at A mrheins across the intersection? And when?
Virtual Meeting
PLAN: South Boston Dot Ave Transportation Study Virtual Kick-Off Meeting Wednesday, July 29 6:00PM - 7:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Link bit.ly/dotave29jul Or
Thursday, July 30 12:00PM - 1:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Link bit.ly/dotave30jul
Event Description Hosted by BPDA and BTD, the meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A and comments. The same content will be presented at each meeting so you will only have to attend once. All meeting content will be posted on the BPDA website at bit.ly/plandotave. Interpretation and translation services as well as disability accommodations are available to you. If you need them, please contact us at plandotave@boston.gov or 617.918.4327, by July 22, 2020. Contact: Naoise McDonnell Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4458 | naoise.mcdonnell@boston.gov bostonplans.org
@bostonplans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
PubliCo Reopens by Rick Winterson
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ast week on Thursday afternoon, July 9, at 4 p.m., PubliCo, the Street Bistro & Garden at the corner of Dorchester Street and First, reopened its doors as well as expanding its out-ofdoors services along the First Street curbside. Needless to say, PubliCo’s reopening of their Socially Distanced dining areas was part of COVID-19 Phase Two, which was then under way in South Boston. PubliCo (an abbreviation of the phrase “Public & Company”) is known for its immediate, eyecatching appeal as you enter. Words such as “distinctive”, “unique”, and even “with it”, can be used to describe PubliCo. Their interior design is second to none locally. If you are there for the first time, we challenge you to keep from look ing around, peering into ever y corner, and walking around the PubliCo atrium a few times after you reach your table (with your face covering in place, of course). The atrium features a retractable ceiling that gives it an outdoorsy feel, especially if you’re seated on the greeneryshrouded central banquettes A f ter Jo e , P u bl iC o’s
A cozy nest for dining adorns the center of PubliCo’s atrium. M a n a ger, a nd h i s s t a f f courteously greet you and seat you either indoors or outdoors, have a drink. The house Chardonnay is worth considering (ask about it – it varies); Publico even offers a couple of rose wines for summertime. And there are cocktails with whizzy names – like PubliCo’s “Quaran-tini”. Then, during the drinks, you can contemplate some of the offerings from Executive Chef Joel Howard – he had also recently served as the Exec Chef at Backyard Bett y’s on West Broadway. T h is repor ter’s f riend chose the Chef ’s Seared Cod
PubliCo, a street bistro and garden, is now al fresco at Dorchester Street and First.
Panzanella. She has a thing for white-f leshed fish that’s caught fresh from New England waters. Chef Joel prepared this panseared dish with a Latin touch of farmer’s cheese and tarragon that she really enjoyed. I was torn between the Steak Frites and two unusual starters – beet salad and grilled “lamb lollipops”. I chose the latter, and was pleasantly rewarded for my experiment. A generous serving of four grilled lamb chops (the “lollipops”) with EVOO tzatziki and the tartly colorful beets were more than enough, as well as being highly nourishing.
For those of you who would enjoy something familiar when you visit PubliCo, think about the steak frites, which is French for sirloin and French fried potatoes. Oddly enough, French fries were not invented in France but just across the border in Belgium. The only thing French about PubliCo is that it’s a bistro – in France, that refers to a small, intimate, neighborhood restaurant. PubliCo offers pizzas as well, for which you can select various add-ons yourself. And remember, the servings at PubliCo are quite generous, e.g. their steak frites offering features a full ten-ounce sirloin.
A novel dish, Lamb “Lollipops”, created by PubliCo’s Exec Chef Joel Howard.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
Tuscan Kitchen Goes Al Fresco South Boston Online has been headlining the major move by local dining spots to the out-of-doors, which we have labelled with the Italian catch-phrase “Al Fresco”. This has been happening in South Boston’s Seaport District as well – Tuscan Garden at 64 Seaport Boulevard has opened a 15,000 square foot al fresco dining area they call “Il Giardino” (Italian for The Garden). Not only is this a massive area, it even features four tents for use during wet weather. Italian dishes, starting with pasta and pizza, are America’s favorite ethnic foods. Tuscany (“Toscana”) is on Italy’s west coast, north of Rome and centered on the historic, cultured city of Florence. Tuscan cuisine is a regional work of dining art that begins with fresh, home-baked bread.
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
NDEC’s Virtual Graduation Ceremony by Rick Winterson The Notre Dame Education Center (the NDEC) is a local education facility. NDEC states its mission as follows: “To provide quality education and support services in a diverse, caring community that empowers adult learners to realize their full potential.” The NDEC held its 2020 Graduation on Monday evening, June 29. According to NDEC’s Executive Director, Christine Durante, Esq., “It was a Commencement Ceremony like no previous one, on June 29, 2020, when NDEC held its first ‘Virtual Graduation’ due to COVID-19 concerns.” Actual, real diplomas along with authentic caps-and-gowns had already been delivered in advance, to each home of the graduating candidates for these diplomas before the Commencement Ceremony began. The Ceremony itself was conducted via ZOOM and attended remotely by the NDEC faculty, its Board members, and the families and friends of the graduates. During all of the preparations and the Ceremony itself, Social Distancing and complete Coronavirus protection procedures were carefully followed. It was not only a unique graduation; it was also uniquely exciting for everyone who viewed it. After Dr. Durante’s opening remarks, she asked Sister Geraldine Burns, SND, for an Invocation. This was followed by a Welcome Address from Charles Shediac, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors NDEC. Manny Reynoso, the NDEC’s Program Director, then presented an Outstanding Service Award to instructor Elaine Fallon for her tutoring of students throughout the school year, especially during the transition to online classes. He said, “Elaine has been enormously essential to our Adult HiSET class.” Anna Vincenza Abban from the Class of 2020 gave the “Candidate Address”. In it, she stressed the unique challenges students encountered due to the mandated COVID-19 guidelines; she praised the 2020 Class for their perseverance. Adam Berndt, Case Manager/Instructor, conducted the “Presentation of Candidates” – the highlight of the Commencement Ceremony. The 2020 diplomas were awarded to the following (listed alphabetically):
Anna Vincenza Abban Valencia Bernard Darrin Black Angelina Castillo Natima Briana Charles Miranda Doris Jalon Fortes Meesha Frances Jean-Louis Cassie Newton Kassandra Nicole Rodriguez Flores Armani Torres After this, NDEC Program Manager Leslie C. Feeney led the students in the “Turning of Tassels”, a long-practiced graduation custom that perhaps goes all the way back to Medieval times, when students’ mortarboard headgear changed from round to square-shaped. In a heartwarming sidelight, Feeney had personally delivered cap-and-gown sets to each neighborhood home of the graduates, in her car she had decorated with congratulatory designs and lettering. In many neighborhoods, local residents joined her in her deliveries, creating informal parades honoring the graduates-to-be. A truly nice touch! When asked about what makes the NDEC programs so effective, Executive Director Durante and the NDEC Staff listed the small class sizes, along with one-on-one academic support and case management, when needed. Academic rigor prepares the students for post-secondary college studies and careers. They seamlessly become virtual environment-digital “natives”. They are a diverse group, hailing from South Boston and Dorchester, who achieved a 100% graduation rate this year. All of them plan to go on to colleges and/or advanced training programs. At the end of her remarks, Executive Director Durante expressed both her pride in, and her excitement about the future of the 2020 NDEC graduates. She also ventured a prediction that NDEC will move back into its permanent home, now being rebuilt at 200 Old Colony Avenue, early in 2021.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Applications Open for Brand-New, Affordable Senior Apartments in South Boston O’Connor Way Seniors interested in one of the 46 permanently affordable, brand-new apartments at 5 O’Connor Way can now apply to be included in the tenant selection process. O’Connor Way Senior Housing is an elevator building featuring 46 one-bedroom apartments, a shared community room with kitchenette and bathroom, shared laundry facilities, an onsite resident manager, plus a full-time senior advocate to help residents access services and programs. Three apartments are designed for people with mobility impairments, and one apartment is designed for people with hearing and/ or vision impairments. All apartments are one-bedroom and approximately 600 square feet. The building is currently in construction and expected to open to tenants this fall. Applications for South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation’s latest project became available on Monday, June 29, and will be available through July 28. All applications must be submitted by Aug. 4. “We know how hard it can be for seniors to stay in South Boston,” said Donna Brown, Executive Director of South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, the local nonprofit that is building O’Connor Way in partnership with Caritas Communities. “Even if they are somehow able to afford increasing rents on a fixed income, they are often living in homes that were not designed with older people in mind. O’Connor Way apartments are permanently affordable homes specifically designed for seniors.” The rental process for income-restricted apartments is strictly governed by Fair Housing laws and is different from the process with which most people are familiar. Prospective applicants should carefully review the following information, and call South Boston NDC at 617-464-2483 or email o’connorway@sbndc.org with any questions, before submitting an application. All apartments at O’Connor Way are age-restricted, so residents must be at least 62 years old by the move-in date, and there is a preference for Boston residents. These apartments are also income-restricted, which means that prospective tenants cannot earn more than a maximum annual income. Five of the apartments are designated for households earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is $24,900 for a household of one person, or $28,440 for households of two. Seventeen apartments are available to households earning between 30% and 50% of AMI, or up to $41,500 ($47,400 for households of two). The remaining 24 apartments are reserved for households earning between 50 and 60% AMI, or up to $53,760 ($61,440 for two-person households). These apartments will be filled by a lottery process.
The maximum rent at O’Connor Way is $1,333, and tenants with lower incomes will pay less.
TO APPLY
Due to the ongoing pandemic, applications are only available by mail or online. Applications cannot be picked up in person. Please see below for details on how to obtain an application, which is determined by the applicant’s annual household income and size.
For households of 1 person:
Earning no more than $41,500 (up to 50% AMI): Apply through the Boston Housing Authority. Apply online at www.bostonhousing.org/en/ForApplicants/How-Do-I-Apply-for-BHA-Housing.aspx or call 617-988-3400 to request an application by mail. Earning between $41,501 - $53,760 (50-60% AMI): Apply through South Boston NDC. Apply online at https://bit.ly/OConnorWaySeniors. If you are unable to apply online, call 617-464-2483 to request an application by mail. Submit paper applications to 273 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127.
For households of 2 people:
Earning no more than $47,400 (up to 50% AMI): Apply through the Boston Housing Authority. Apply online at www.bostonhousing.org/en/ForApplicants/How-Do-I-Apply-for-BHA-Housing.aspx or call 617-988-3400 to request an application by mail. Earning between $47,401 - $61,440 (60% AMI): Apply through South Boston NDC. Apply online at https://bit.ly/OConnorWaySeniors. If you are unable to apply online, call 617-464-2483 to request an application by mail. Submit paper applications to 273 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127.
IMPORTANT DATES
June 29: First day that applications are available. July 28: Last day that applications are available. By law, no applications can be given out after this date. Aug. 4: Completed applications must be submitted or postmarked by this date. By law, no applications can be accepted after this date. For more information, visit www.sbndc.org/oconnor-way-senior-housing. South Boston NDC is South Boston’s nonprofit affordable housing and community development organization. SBNDC has developed more than 300 units of affordable housing in South Boston since the organization’s founding in 1983. SBNDC also currently owns and manages more than 120 affordable homes, provides housing counseling to neighborhood residents, operates the South Boston Farmers Market and the local Chamber of Commerce, and organizes the South Boston Street Festival, Taste of South Boston, and the Christmas and Spring Strolls. Visit www.sbndc.org to learn more.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
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Phase 3: Walsh Gym on (Re)Opening Day by Rick Winterson
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he Walsh Gym (forma lly na med “The McDonough Gym/James ‘Stretch’ Walsh Community Center”) is by now well into its first week since its reopening last Monday. For the time being, the Gym schedules are going to be developed each week from Monday to Friday, so please check them out often to spot changes. And please respect the rules that are due to the COVID19 pandemic, which is still “out there” and is still very dangerous. We want to mention (once again) that this summer, the Walsh Gym will be scheduling various activities at Marine Park, around the Uhlman Bandstand. This will be a new attraction that will allow more outdoor activities because of the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Also, we are mentioning this again because
Jack, Ryan, Jacqueline, and Michael enjoy lunch at the newly reopened Walsh Gym. the rains early this week caused the first of the Gym’s activities at the Park to be canceled. But be sure to check out the Walsh Gym’s activities schedule at Marine Park on future days. And yes, there are plans to have toilet facilities available there. As a reminder, the basketball
Reopening Day TV is somehow more enjoyable at the Walsh Gym, especially with other members.
James practices hoops at the Walsh – basketball warm ups and workouts are OK. Check the Walsh schedule.
court on the upper f loor of the Gym is to be used only as a practice facility. Rules about the Coronavirus ban “close contact” sports, which includes playing basketball games – even short three-on-three and oneon-one practice matches. And sometimes, the basketball court will be split into two half-courts
for joint activities. If you have any questions, check with the Walsh Gym Staff who are on duty. Please enjoy your summer, especially now that the Walsh Gym is up a nd running. A nd plea se use the Gym c a ref u l ly a nd cou r teou sly. But more t ha n a ny t hing else, have a great time there.
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
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Mayor Walsh Allowing Plastic Bags Extension to September 30 Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston’s executive order to exempt all establishments from the plastic bag ban ordinance will stay in place until September 30. This transition period will allow stores to use up any single-use plastic bags that they have purchased during the emergency. The fivecent per bag fee will also not be in effect. “In March, we suspended the City’s ban on plastic bags and the 5-cent fee for paper bags in order to give both stores and customers more flexibility during this difficult time,” said Mayor Walsh. “While we’re extending that suspension to best serve businesses and residents, I want to be clear that the Boston Public Health Commission and the state Department of Public Health have said that reusable bags are safe and people should feel free to use them.” On October 1, all provisions of the plastic bag ban ordinance will come back into effect. This includes the elimination of most single-use plastic bags and the requirement for the five-cent fee. The ordinance still allows the ISD Commissioner to grant exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Residents in Boston are now able to use reusable bags if they would like to. More information about the City’s plastic bag ban is available on boston.gov. The City’s previous guidance on allowing plastic bags during the COVID-19 health emergency is available on boston.gov.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020
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Mayor Walsh Launches Program to Help Resident Gain Access to Jobs, Housing, Education
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ayor Martin J. Wa l s h to d ay announced the launch of a new pilot initiative, Project Opportunity, to help residents seal, expunge, and manage their criminal records (CORIs) to gain access to better jobs, housing, and educational opportunities. Project Opportunity draws on the collaborative expertise of various City departments and external partners to connect residents with the necessary legal and support services. “We launched Project Opportunity because in Boston all residents deserve a fair chance to gain quality jobs, housing, and education,” said Mayor Walsh. “No matter their past, we owe it to our residents to provide the legal services and job-training programs to achieve a better future, and I’m proud this program builds on our commitment to improving lives in Boston.” Led by the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development and the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, Project Opportunity will: Connect residents with free legal consultation to determine if their CORIs are eligible for sealing or expungement; Cover the filing costs of sealing or expungement; Convene experts to discuss CORIrelated challenges and potential solutions; Connect residents with employment opportunities, job training, and related services, such as housing, food access, and transportation; Train City of Boston departments that work with residents with CORIs. T he c or ner s tone of Project Opportunity is the sealing and expungement of CORIs, which severely limit employ ment oppor t u n it ie s and disproportionately affect communities of color. Black men with a criminal record, for example, are less likely than white men with a criminal record to receive a callback or job offer. This barrier takes a toll on both
the individual and society: Stable employment has been found to be one of the most significant factors in preventing a person’s relapse into criminal behavior. However, new pathways to sealing and expunging CORIs have opened in recent years due to a series of Massachusetts legislative reforms. As of 2018 most felony cases can be sealed after seven years, and most misdemeanors a f ter t hree. Add itiona lly,
cannabis charges can now be expunged from one’s record. Work ing with various City departments and external resources, Project Opportunity helps residents avail themselves of these routes to a clear record. The nonprofit Lawyers Clearinghouse supplies volunteer lawyers to meet with residents for a thorough review of their CORI options. SOAR Boston, a City of Boston violence prevention program
which stands for Street Outreach, Advocacy, and Response, offers computer access and a private space, if needed, for these remote appointments. The Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens provide outreach to those who could most benefit from these services, while the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development supplies resources on COR I-friendly jobs and job training programs.
South Boston NDC Income-restricted Rental Opportunity O’CONNOR WAY SENIOR HOUSING 5 Major Michael J. O’Connor Way, South Boston, MA 02127 46 Income-Restricted Units for seniors 62+ # of Units
# of bedrooms
Price
Income Limit
5
one-bedroom
30% of Household Income
up to 30% AMI
17
one-bedroom
30% of Household Income
30% - 50% AMI
one-bedroom
$1,111 -$1,333 (based on your household size income)
over 50% and up to 60% AMI
*
** 24
*Three units are built-out for persons with mobility impairments **One unit is built-out for people who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or have vision impairment. The 22 units affordable to households earning up to 30% AMI and between 30% and 50% AMI Filled directly through the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Applications are available by visiting BHA’s website and printing an application to be mailed in, by completing an application through CHAMP online, or by calling 617-988-3400 and requesting BHA mail you a paper application. Applications are available at https://www.bostonhousing.org/en/For-Applicants/How-Do-I-Apply-for-BHA-Housing.aspx. To apply online please visit CHAMP at https://publichousingapplication.ocd.state.ma.us/
Minimum Incomes (set by owner + based on # of bedrooms + AMI) Maximum Incomes (set by DND + based on the household size + AMI) Min-Max Yearly Income 30% AMI
# of bedrooms
Household size
1
1
0 — $24,900
1
2
0 — $28,440
Min-Max Yearly Income 50% AMI $24,901 — $41,500 $28,441 — $47,400
Min-Max Yearly Income 60% AMI $41,501---- $53,760 $47,401 — $61,440
for the 24 units affordable to households earning between 50% and 60% AMI, income minimums do not apply to households with housing assistance such as Section 8, MRVP, or VASH.
Applications are available during the application period for 22 days, from Monday, June 29 – Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 10 AM - 4 PM and on Thursday, July 9 and Thursday, July 23 evenings until 7 PM and Saturday, July 11, 10:00am – 2:00pm 60% AMI units - To request an application online, please visit https://bit.ly/OConnorWaySeniors. After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has decided to cancel the in-person application distribution period. If you cannot complete the application online or from your smartphone, please call us at 617-464-2483 to request that we mail you one and to ask for any guidance you might need to complete the application. When you call, you will be asked for your full name, complete mailing address, and phone number. This is a City and HUD requirement. DEADLINE: Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Mailed to: 273 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127 ● ● ● ●
Selection by Lottery for the units affordable to households earning between 50% and 60% AMI Age Restricted, must be 62 years or older by the move-in date. Asset & Use Restrictions apply. Preferences for Boston Residents.
For more information, language assistance, or reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities please call Michelle Zenga at 617-464-2483 or email o'connorway@sbndc.or
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 THE PRINT EDITION
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