SBOL_10_19_2023

THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Mass/Cass Is Spreading

by Rick Winterson

T

o review briefly, South Boston Online has published several articles about Mass/Cass, the municipal sore that is still growing and festering at the intersection of Southamption and Atkinson Streets. This is only a mile or so away from South Boston’s western neighborhoods that are located around Broadway Station

and Andrew Square. To update ourselves, we hiked over to Mass/ Cass earlier this week and took a number of new photos. If anything, they show that Mass/Cass is still growing and spreading. And we want to emphasize that Mass/Cass has become much more violent than it used to be, even though police are stationed there around the clock.

Two months ago, a murder was allegedly committed at Mass/Cass.

The blue sheet plastic tents at Mass/Cass now block off Atkinson Street completely.

Not even emergency vehicles can get by. And these tents have begun spreading down Southampton Street again. In addition, there’s evidence that the foul encampments typical of Mass/Cass are starting up elsewhere. Certainly, the typical “overnights” spent by hard drug users at Mass/Cass are now expanding in the direction of Andrew Square. Just last summer, key athletic events had to be totally canceled at Continued on Page 2

Thank You Boston Police and Sheriff ’s Department

T

he First Graders at South Boston Catholic Academy learned so much from our special visitors, the Boston Police Officers from the C6 Boston Police Department in the Community Service Program during Boston Faith and Blue Week, along with officers from the Suffolk

County Sheriff’s Department. The students learned a lot about safety, how it is very important to know their address, who they can go to if they need help, calling 911, yelling and running from strangers! They really liked it when they had to identify the police officer who left Continued on Page 10

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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Continued from Page 1 Mass/Cass Roxbury’s Clifford Playground due to the infestation of human trash and countless used needles. Small, tented encampments have sprung up at more than a half-dozen new locations all over the City of Boston.

These include Moakley Park, Carson Beach, and even Babe Ruth Park near the pumping station. To add to the urgency of eliminating Mass/ Cass completely, a two-year-old male youngster was rescued from Mass/ Cass last Friday. After a cold night out of doors, the skimpily dressed toddler was taken by City authorities from his mother and a man who seemed to be under the influence of a substance,.

Winter is coming, as the first cold snap just showed us, so it is time to clear up Mass/Cass (and its “suburbs”) completely. The possible permanent remedies for Mass/Cass, such as a new Long Island Bridge, are many years away. Even though a permit to rebuild the bridge has been granted, it’ll take three or four years to replace it.

Newmarket, where Mass/Cass is now located, is perhaps the single most important business area in the

City of Boston; it is right next door to South Boston. The Newmarket Business Improvement District and the South End Forum have recommended what they call “Recover Boston”. It could mean a swift ending of the open-air drug market at Mass/Cass. Briefly, this involves setting up a temporary Recovery Campus on nearby Widett Circle (now vacant). The Recovery Campus would contain about 250 palletstyle housing units. It would include security, medical, mental health, and

addiction recovery facilities, as well as life skills training – job seeking, home/car ownership, and so on.

With the growing impatience from the public about Mass/Cass, it’s long past time to make a move. This might involve some “tough love”, but that’s better than the outright criminal nature of Mass/Cass right now – the federal felony of hard drug peddling right on up to actual murder are being committed. How is it possible this has been allowed to go on for almost a decade? We are certainly

aware of the one-by-one psychological approaches that have decent levels of success in recovery attempts, but these need many more months or even a year or two to make significant progress. Boston simply does not have that kind of time anymore.

And the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and City of Boston officials are now facing three consecutive years of elections that are important to our City – 2023, 2024, and 2025. It’s well past time for them to solve the years-old Mass/Cass problem.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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Lifting Spirits of Deployed Soldiers, One Care Package at a Time

By Ginger DeShaney

C

oming from a m i lit a r y fa m i ly, Kelly Conroy has a lw ay s b e en pa s sion ate about taking care of soldiers.

“Our troops don’t get what they need and certainly not what they deserve,” said the lifelong South Bostonian. “I feel like it’s something we can do just to lift them up.

Some of them are just so young and they’re so far away from home.

“It’s such a big sacrifice on everyone. I just figured, you know, if I can do a little something, why not?”

Kelly isn’t doing a little something.

She’s doing a BIG something. After years of sending care packages to a handful of soldiers, she has kicked it up several notches by becoming a local organizer for the AdoptaPlatoon organization.

Her Adopt a Platoon Southie Style chapter, started about a year and half ago, is an offshoot of the Adopt a 10th Mountain (Mt.) Platoon Program.

She now has two platoons and a total of 50 soldiers who get care packages every month. Kelly has a part-time job, but her role with AdoptaPlatoon is practically a full-time job!

With the increased numbers, Kelly has enlisted family and friends to help fill and ship those care packages.

Even strangers are helping. “People have been so generous,” Kelly said.

According to its website, “AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort® founded in 1998 is a nonprofit

501(c)(3) dedicated to serving deployed United States Service Men and Women ensuring that they are not forgotten by a grateful Nation; providing ongoing care packages to improve quality of life and raising morale for those serving overseas in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard, and Special Forces.”

Every box includes travel-size toiletries for the month, sunblock, snacks, powder mixes, socks, packs of gum, a note from Kelly, photos of South Boston, and more. She’ll ask the soldiers if they want anything special, such as games or sports equipment. But they won’t usually ask for anything.

She either has to beg them for answers or her son, who is in one of her platoons, will mention something.

When she found out one of her platoons had no bed sheets, she put that out on Facebook and the next thing she knew, she had 30 sets of sheets to send. She’s secured a karaoke machine and a chess table and is in the process of getting a dart board.

Every soldier gets a birthday card from Kelly. And she reaches out to teachers and senior centers to have school kids, veterans, and seniors create special cards and notes for the soldiers on Veterans Day and other occasions. Kelly provides the materials.

These care packages are so appreciated. Kelly hears from soldiers and their spouses about how much the care packages cheer them up. One of her platoons sent her a gift – a signed group photo, which means the world to her.

John, Caroline, and Kelly Conroy work tirelessly, spreading warmth and gratitude as they assemble care packages for soldiers.

Kelly is getting the word out about the program in various ways: on Facebook and Instagram; with collection boxes at various Southie hotspots, like the Seapoint Restaurant, Roza Lyons, and L Street Bathhouse; with flyers; and word of mouth.

“It’s just whatever I put out and ask, people just come through,” Kelly said. “It’s amazing; people are so good.”

Many of Kelly’s family members play a big part in the program, including her husband, John, daughter Caroline, and son Nolan.

“It’s just trying to make somebody feel a little better for a short period of time while they’re away from home.

And help to make people realize they’re appreciated and not forgotten.”

It warms Kelly’s heart that she

can cheer somebody up and make somebody smile and forget that they’re in the middle of the desert.

Kelly continues to need generous people to donate items to fill the boxes and pay for shipping. Each box costs $17 to ship, multiplied by 50. Every month, Kelly runs a raffle to help defray the cost of shipping. So far, she’s sent about 600 boxes through AdoptaPlatoon.

If you would like to donate items or money: Email Kelly at adoptaplatoonss@gmail.com Venmo Kelly @kconroy405 Request to join her Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/groups/795202431457010 Check out @ adoptaplatoonsouthiestyle on Instagram

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Sports by the Numbers

by Rick Winterson

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e are occasionally reminded that there’s a lot more than just numbers involved in Boston’s pro sports. That’s true, of course. Player personalities, their teamwork, and their individual attitudes all count for a lot, and these cannot be measured simply by numbers. Even so, sports numbers matter. Numbers signify the winners (and losers, and ties) in every single pro game, as well as measuring each individual athlete’s seasonal stats – Earned Run Average, Batting Average, and so on, just to mention a couple of important baseball numbers as the MLB playoffs progress (without the Boston Red Sox, of course, in this kind of unimpressive Boston sports year of 2023).

Since they open next Wednesday against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, let’s take a look at some Celtics sports numbers. First, a question: Who was the highest Celtic scorer of all time, and what was his total career point number.

Some hints: It wasn’t Bill Russell or Larry Bird; it wasn’t Paul Pierce, who scored a mere 24,021 points during his career with the Celts.

The answer is John Joseph Havlicek. He scored an astonishing 26,395 total points for the Celts between 1962 and 1977, on teams

mostly coached by Arnold “Red” Auerbach, who was well know for his “spread the scoring” style of coaching. Havlicek also played in more games and for more minutes during his career than any other Celtic – more than 40,000 minutes in 1,270 games. And to add to the impact of Havlicek’s numbers, he scored every one of his points before (!) the NBA initiated the threepoint shot. His total of 26,395 resulted entirely from two-point goals and the foul shots he sank.

Also, let’s take a quick look at some current Celtics numbers from their pre-season games. As of this writing, they’ve won three out of four of those games. In their only loss (to the N.Y. Knicks), we don’t believe they played anyone from their starting team. Even so, their second team lost against the Knicks by only seven (7) points.

Shades of Bill Walton and the original Celtics “Green Team”.

Here are a couple more Celtics numbers: the new center, Kristaps Porzingis, is seven (7) feet, three (3) inches tall. Payton Pritchard has come alive – he was the leading scorer in two of the four pre-season games; he is averaging 21.3 point per pre-season game.

Yes, it’s much too early to make a realistic prediction. However, the Celtics’ pre-season numbers look really promising for their upcoming NBA 2023-2024, 82-game season, which begins next week.

Save Sister Mary Veronica Park The Archdiocese of Boston has announced plans to sell the iconic Sister Mary Veronica Park located in South Boston on West 8th St. (190198 West Eighth St), a move which has aroused deep concerns among local residents. The park, a cherished neighborhood hub for over half a century, represents more than just green space; it stands as a beacon of community spirit, heritage, and the abiding impact of one of South Boston’s own, Sister Mary Veronica.

Why this matters: A Rich Tapestry of History and Community: First dedicated on November 23, 1968, the park stands as a tribute to Sister Mary Veronica, a South Boston native who dedicated her life to the service of God and her community.

A Testament to Community Care: Maintaining the park has always been a collective endeavor. From taking out trash to shoveling snow, residents have upheld the spirit of the park, showcasing the closely-knit essence of the South Boston community.

A Haven for Young and Old: For 55 years, the park has served as a place to play for children and a sanctuary for adults. Be it the echoing laughter of children, the crack of a baseball bat, or an elder reminiscing on a park bench.

An Ecological Oasis: Nestled within the park are five mature trees, invaluable not just for shade but also improving air quality. As South Boston is a neighborhood that has one of the lowest canopy covers in Greater Boston (and, more recently, the Boston Tree Equity Map), the park is an irreplaceable asset. In response to the sale and potential development of the park, neighbors of the park have swiftly mobilized, forming “The Committee to Save Sister Mary Veronica Park”. This proactive group has initiated a petition on change. org, urging the community and beyondmto show their support to keep the space as a park. Moreover, a stand-out event is scheduled for October 28th at 1pm at the park. All are invited to join, proudly support, and echo the sentiment of saving this invaluable community asset.

The sale of Sister Mary Veronica Park isn’t merely a sale of property, it represents a potential severance of community ties, loss of history, loss of open space, and a negative ecological impact. We urge media outlets, community leaders, and every concerned individual to come together.

Let’s shield our green heritage, history, and the undying legacy of Sister Mary Veronica.

For more information, to support the cause, or to attend the event, please sign our petition or contact us at SaveSMVPark@ gmail.com.

About Sister Mary Veronica Park: Centrally located in South Boston on West 8th St., between Grimes St. and F St., Sister Mary Veronica Park has been a radiant symbol of community spirit since 1968. Named to honor Sister Mary Veronica of the Sisters of Notre Dame Order, the park came about through the relentless efforts of several South Boston Neighborhood groups, residents, and land donated by the Archdiocese. For 50+ years, the community has been maintaining, cleaning, shoveling and generally caring for the park sometimes with help from the city but mostly on their own.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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Over Thirty and Under Three

By Carol Masshardt (The series features those who are long-term SB residents and alternates with those new to the area) Twenty-five-year-old Julia Sprofera grew up in Medfield, went to college at Wake Forest in North Carolina, worked in Charlotte, but it seems as if she was destined to call South Boston home.

“I knew I had to come “home” to Massachusetts after working for a year in Charlotte and so looked at a lot of neighborhoods. South Boston appealed to me because it was more of a community,” she said. Moving from apartment to apartment over three years, she is busy without seeming pressured. Working at Arbella Insurance, and pursuing an MBA at Boston College, Julia listens, observes, and engages. She has developed an appreciation of South Boston, and a recognition that it is not always easy for those who have been in the community for generations.

“I like living in a place with all ages and diverse backgrounds. I know some new people moving in don’t respect that it has been home to people for a long time, but I do.” she said. In fact, she has several stories of people living in her building who are decades older, and those with children, and what they all can offer each other.

As has always been the case with most who discover South Boston, Julia loves Castle Island, walking her dog (and the many she has fostered) around the neighborhood, and seeing friends and going to local restaurants, but it is more. Naturally friendly, she brings a welcome to those she meets and seems quick to understand what others need.

She doesn’t get overly stressed by parking demands and sees the challenges far less than the pleasures.

With a degree in math analytics, her future will undoubtedly offer many choices, as she starts to think about her career and eventual hope of a large family. For now, she has made this place home, and hopes to give back even more concretely once she finishes school and can

Julia Sprofera find the right place to volunteer.

“My twin sister lives in the Seaport, my dad really loves it here, and my mom, maybe not quite as much, but she comes,” she said. “I love city life, the people, and dogs. Just last week we were walking and stumbled upon the street festival. That’s the kind of thing I like. If I can convince my boyfriend I would love to stay here.”

Julia Sprofera is fun and serious, respectful, and open, and she is bound to enhance any community she

ultimately joins. In the meantime, she honors the history of South Boston while engaging with responsible joy. All of this in just three years!

( Please contact cmasshardt@ comcast.net If you or you know of someone who would be interested in talking about their experience of life in SB over thirty or under three years.)

PUBLIC NOTICE: OPEN DISCUSSION ON MCCA CYPHER STREET REMEDIATION PROJECT On Thursday, November 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will host a community discussion at CRISPR Therapeutics regarding an upcoming soil remediation project on Cypher Street.

MCCA officials will be presenting and available to answer questions.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid News Coffee and Refreshments

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

National Parks of Boston Hosts Public Meeting on Restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument

Sunday, October 22nd after the 10:30 a.m. Mass In the Downstairs Hall at Gate of Heaven Church

Join us for a UMass Boston

community meeting where we will share campus and community updates.

Refreshments and Parking will be provided

Monday, November 13 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Intergrated Science Complex University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Boulevard Register Online:

The National Parks of Boston and the South Boston Citizens’ Association will host a Dorchester Heights Monument Open House on October 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School, 650 E. Fourth Street, Boston. The meeting is free and open to the public. The program features an overview of the National Parks of Boston’s plans for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution by Superintendent Michael Creasey, a talk about the Monument’s restoration from Historical Architect Lance Kasparian, and details about the landscape treatment plan by James Mealey, Landscape Architect at the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation. The meeting concludes with a Q&A with park staff. Neighbors and community members will learn more about the project, including the scope and timeline.

The National Parks of Boston began the more than $30 million restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument on September 15. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), rehabilitation work will be complete by March 17, 2026, Evacuation Day, during the nation’s 250th birthday year. The Monument and its surrounding area remain closed to the public during the restoration. The GAOA funds will be used to restore the iconic 1902 Dorchester Heights Monument tower and surrounding area known as Thomas Park. The rehabilitation work will include structural upgrades, masonry restoration, and improvement of the monument’s foundation, superstructure, exterior enclosure, roof, interior stairs, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. The grounds, lighting, and signage updates will vastly improve the site experience for visitors and members of the community.

More information on the Dorchester Heights Monument restoration and photos are available online: www.nps.gov 24.087sw

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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South Boston Affordable Units South Boston project at 118 B Street to create new housing in neighborhood This project will create a five-story building with 33 homeownership units, including six-income restricted units. There will be an indoor storage room with space for 34 bikes. This project will be a transit-oriented development, as it is in close proximity to the MBTA Broadway Station, serving the Red Line and several bus routes.

New, wider sidewalks will be constructed around the project, to accommodate new and existing foot traffic. At least six new street trees will be planted. The project will contribute $33,000 to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for the upkeep of nearby Flaherty Park. In addition, this project will support the city’s transportation goals with a $9,075 contribution to the Boston Transportation Department to support the cit y’s bikesha re progra m.

27 Farragut Road project will build new housing in South Boston The 27 Farragut Road project will bring 21 housing units to South Boston in a four-story building.

Four of the units will be incomerestricted. This is a transit-oriented development as it sits along several MBTA bus routes. Pedestrian-safety improvements will be made to the intersection of Farragut Road and East Second Street. This, along with new curb extensions, will allow greater access to public open space, recreational amenities, and the waterfront across the street. At least two street trees will be planned and an existing tree will be protected.

The project will contribute $5,775 to the Boston Transportation Department to support the city’s bikeshare program. Additionally, $20,500 will be contributed to the City’s Fund for Parks which will be used to maintain the green space and facilities at Christopher F. Lee Playground nearby.

On the Dot Master Plan PDA approved for 475-511 Dorchester Avenue Located just outside of Andrew Square, the Master Plan Planned Development Area for 475-511 Dorchester Avenue, also known as the On the Dot development, would create 11 new buildings including office, life science, residential, retail, restaurant, commercial, and community uses.

Given the size of this development, it will be initiated in phases. There are planned to be approximately 1,450 residential units within five residential buildings, 17 percent of which will be income restricted. Within that retail space, the project will allocate 20 percent of ground floor retail/commercial

space to be affordable for local, diverse, independent small businesses. As part of the community benefits for this project, it will support affordable housing with a $30.7 million linkage payment, and jobs training with a $5.6 million linkage payment, as well as $18.9 million in transportation mitigation. In addition, this project is estimated to contribute $1.2 million to the bikeshare program.

Along with this development would be the creation of an extensive new street system to accommodate the increase in pedestrian, bicycle, and car traffic.

This new street system will also allow for the connectivity and community of mixed-uses called for in both PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue and the PLAN: South Boston Dorchester

Avenue Transportation Plan. In support of sustainability goals, the project will be designed to minimize or eliminate the use of fossil fuels on site. In addition, first floor elevations for the buildings will be set at or above the required sea level rise design flood elevation, and with elevated grades to protect against future flooding.

Each building will also include bicycle storage for residents, employees, and visitors that comply with the City’s bike parking guidelines. The project will also include public bicycle racks and up to 15 bike sharing stations. More than three acres of the site will be designated for public realm improvements or public open space, including 200 trees to reduce urban heat island effect.

VOTE EARLY

BOSTON Vote early at any of Boston’s early voting locations from Saturday, October 28 to November 3, 2023.

If you miss the early voting period, you can still vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7.

Find the time and location that works for you!

Scan the QR code, visit boston.gov/early-voting or call 3-1-1

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

Trick or Treat on Broadway Set for Oct. 31

South Boston Chamber of Commerce businesses and the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation invite neighborhood children in costumes to “Trick or Treat along East and West Broadway” on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. Participating establishments will be clearly marked with orange and black posters inviting the children to stop by for a treat.

For the safety and enjoyment of all participants, we are asking that Trick-or-Treaters walk in the same direction. If you are starting on West Broadway going toward East Broadway, walk on the odd-numbered (southern) side of the street. If you are starting on East Broadway heading to West Broadway, walk on the even-numbered (northern) side of the street. Broadway businesses that would like to participate but haven’t received a poster via email yet should contact Karen at 617-9907062 or Karen@vibrant-events.com.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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Holiday Season Approaches There’s no need to mention that Halloween is coming. It will be here in just twelve days. Already, plans by the Friends of NoB are afoot for Saturday afternoon, October 21st – a Halloween Trick or Treat costume parade at 3 p.m. in the Harborwalk Park at I and East First Streets. All are welcome. And the good folks along K Street (and Beckler Avenue, too, of course) have decorated their front doors very artistically once again this year. Thank you.

Halloween itself – All Hallow’s Eve on Tuesday, October 31 – will be celebrated all along Broadway.

Halloween begins a South Boston Holiday Season that stretches over two months.

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day occur on November 1 and 2.

Ten days later, on Veterans Day, November 11, American citizens pay our respects to the heroic veterans who are still with us. Formal marches lead up to church ceremonies and brunches; veteran memorials everywhere are nicely decorated.

You could question whether any of these are really “Holidays”, but please consider that All Saints and All Souls are certainly Holy Days; Veterans Day observances are really celebrations of living veterans’ courage. And if that’s not enough, remember that we return to EST (Eastern Standard

Time), gaining ourselves an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning, November 5. This is followed almost immediately by Election Day on Tuesday, November 7. If you’re voting this year, give yourself a nice Holiday treat after you go to the polls.

November climaxes with Thanksgiving, of course, which will be observed on Thursday, November 23. Not only is giving thanks for our blessings a solemn obligation, but also Thanksgiving dinner is truly a feast with families and friends all across America. In addition, Thanksgiving in 2023 is earlier than usual. That means Black Friday will be on November 24, one full month before Christmas Eve. You’ll have almost an extra week for your Holiday shopping this year. So celebrate!

Obviously, Advent and Christmas are major religious observances. But they are also joyous times, filled with gifts, music, social events, and beautiful decorations. It is a time of year for us humans to be generous to a fault, to take some time off from our troubles, and to think about the challenges of the coming year. We will have many Holidays to observe: Hanukkah on December 7, the Winter Solstice on the 21st, Christmas itself, and Kwanzaa during the last week of 2023.

And then New Year’s Eve

arrives. We will only suggest you take care of yourselves that night while you are having a great time.

And there’ll be Polar Plunges all over the U.S. early on New Year’s Day. Here in South Boston, the sun rises at 7:13 a.m. (EST) on Monday, January 1, and low tide occurs at 8:31 (EST) that morning.

Finally, please remember that we are fortunate to also have Holiday Seasons in 2024, beginning with the Chinese New Year on February 10 and Valentine’s Day on the 14th, followed by South Boston’s unique observances of Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day during March.

Happy Holidays.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

Continued from Page 1

SBCA

the scene and be aware of what is going on around them. They got free coloring books, crayons, badges, stickers, pencils and enjoyed the pizza and ice cream, too. The police officers were impressed by the children’s behavior and answers to their questions. A Special Thank you to all the officers who come to SBCA from the C6 Boston Police Department in the Community Service Program during Boston Faith and Blue Week, and the officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff ’s Department!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

CITATION ON PETITION TO CHANGE NAME

Discounted Bike Pass Membership New program reduces bike share annual membership for Boston residents; City expanding Bluebikes system

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ayor Michelle Wu announced the Boston Bikes Pass, a discounted annual Bluebikes membership for Boston residents that saves residents more than half the cost of the annual rate. As part of the Boston Bikes Pass, the City is also launching an even more discounted annual pass for incomeeligible Boston residents. The City is launching the Boston Bikes Pass as part of a short-term pilot program (running now through June 2024) to explore options for making travel by bike more affordable and to bolster the growing demand for Bluebikes, Metro Boston’s public bike share system. Videos explaining the new program are available on Mayor Wu’s Instagram in English and Spanish.

“Boston residents deserve access to sustainable, affordable transit, and the Boston Bikes Pass will help Bostonians get around the city by removing financial barriers,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I encourage our residents to take advantage of these new rates to commute, connect, and explore in our beautiful city, and I’m thankful to our city team and partners such as Blue Cross Blue Shield who have made the Boston Bikes Pass possible.”

Boston residents who have not had an annual Bluebikes membership in the last three years are eligible for the $60/ year membership, compared to the regular rate of $129 per year.

Boston residents who qualify for MassHealth, SNAP, or meet income guidelines can get an even more reduced rate at $5 per year, compared to regular income-eligible rate of $50 per year. Any Boston resident 16-years or older who meets income guidelines is eligible for

the $5 annual pass, whether or not they have had a Bluebikes annual membership in the past.

“Bluebikes is an important part of our public transit system that provides reliable, affordable biking options for riders of all levels,” said Jascha FranklinHodge, Chief of Streets. “We are especially grateful for the generous support of BlueCross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts whose title sponsorship has paved the way for Bluebikes’ tremendous success.”

Boston continues to work towards a 100-station expansion of the bike share system. These new stations will fill gaps in highdemand areas, making the system more reliable for riders. Currently, nearly 90 percent of Boston households are within a 10 minute walk of a bike share station.

The City’s goal is to establish stations within a three to five minute walk in denser residential neighborhoods and ensure that all major transit stations and stops are served by bike share stations.

A map of existing Bluebikes stations can be found here.

Residents can apply for a Boston Bikes Pass by visiting boston.gov/bikepass and filling out the appropriate form. Those applying for the Income-Eligible Boston Bikes Pass will need to upload documents to verify enrollment in a public benefit program like SNAP, MassHealth, or to demonstrate a qualifying income. Once verified, residents will be sent instructions to sign up.

Safety Surge, announced in May, is working to make our cit y streets sa fer by insta lling speed humps on eligible neighborhood streets, redesigning intersections, and implementing new guidelines for the City’s traffic signals. By the end of construction season this year, BTD plans to have 7.6 miles of new bike lanes completed, as pre v iou s ly a n nou nc e d la st yea r by Mayor Wu.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2023

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