City Council Buries Flynn’s Mass and Cass Emergency Resolution
Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, an ally and former employee of the mayor, blocked a resolution offered by Wu administration critic Ed Flynn that sought to issue an emergency declaration for the open-air drug market at Mass and Cass. Later on in the day, after Wednesday’s Council meeting and Durkan’s objection, Mayor Michelle Wu’s office issued a statement saying that the city was opposed to an emergency declaration for Mass and Cass and its surrounding neighborhoods.
“The city is using all levers of public health, pub -
Solving Boston’s Rodent Problem Must Be A Priority
This is not even close to being a topic we like to bring up for an editorial. But the subject of rodents over running most of the city needs to be addressed in as many ways and as often as possible until the problem is solved. For health, the quality of life and safety reasons this is a problem that needs immediate attention and not just a few statements here and there. Follow through is a must.
Residents don’t need a South Boston Today Newspaper editorial to inform them of how bad the problem is getting. People can see it just about every day. Rodents are in back yards, in the parks, in basements; including public buildings and private homes and now reported on our beaches. And by rodents, we don’t just mean little mice or cuddly baby raccoons. There are rats almost the size of cats in some cases.
Residents are being told that it’s such a big problem because of all the construction taking place in every neighborhood of the city.
And of course, we can all agree that all this new development and construction is certainly a large if not most of the problem. We can all figure that out for ourselves. But just identifying the problem isn’t enough. The question is, what is the city going to do about it? Now we’re not saying that there is no attempt to combat this rodent invasion. But what’s being done is apparently not enough because it doesn’t seem to be working.
To his credit, District 2 Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has been pushing for action and solutions. And also to his credit, he didn’t call one press conference or two and let it drop. He’s staying focused on the situation and he wants action and results. Unfortunately, there are some other members on the city council who are more concerned about their progressive politics and pushing DEI programs than the public safety of Boston residents. And that is unacceptable.
We’re not sure what the solution is. We wish we had the answer. And there
needs to be an answer soon because residents are getting angrier by the day. We’ve received calls by locals asking if it’s actually ok to start shooting rats in their yards. Well no, it’s not. The discharging of firearms within the city limits is highly illegal unless in the act of self defense. Others are asking
if it’s ok or legal to shoot them with pellet or BB guns. The answer to that is unclear but police advise against it. When questions like that are being asked, it’s a definite indication that if the city can’t or won’t take whatever steps are necessary, some locals are ready to take matters into their own hands.
It’s getting that bad. There are cities around the country like New York, Chicago, Detroit and others that are said to actually have more rats thaN people. Could that be where Boston is heading? To deal with the problem now/immediately must be a priority. Boston’s tax payers deserve no less.
TInformation Center The Sydney Sweeney Has Driven Them Over The Edge
here’s been a lot going on in the country and the world in recent weeks. There’s the good – the economy is getting stronger, the border problem has been solved; sealed almost as tight as a drum, the majority of Americans are now optimistic about the future of America being on the right course. The tariffs that were a cause of concern and even fear are kicking in and bringing a multitude of billions into the country, businesses are returning and even our nation’s military which was showing decline is seeing recruitment hitting near record highs and so much more positive news after a dismal previous 4 years. And yes, there’s the bad – The war in Ukraine is still ongoing; hopefully for not much longer. There have been natural disasters including earth quakes and the terrible flooding in Texas and though the crime rate across the country is dropping, there have been a few pretty bad incidents of violence making the news and more.
Yes, there’s the good, the bad and now the crazy.
The crazy; which crosses the line of being ridiculous, is also in a way comical and even hilarious. One of the biggest stories in the news over the last week can be summed up with one name. Sydney Sweeney. Of course, it’s not Miss Sweeney who’s crazy, it’s the reaction to her American Eagle Company denim jeans ad. Are you kidding me? Lol, the backlash by leftist liberals is over the top nuts.
Almost every other day, the crazies on left side of the political spectrum find something new to be outraged over. It seems to be what they live for – they feed off it. They are furious that ICE is deporting illegal alien gang members, rapists, child
traffickers, drug cartel members and every other sort of hideous and vile criminal. They went ballistic when President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE shut down USAid when it was discovered that hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars for years has been be wasted on nonsense or outright disappeared without a trace. The big Pharmacy companies are finally being held accountable for the price gouging they have been getting away with for years and the likes of Massachusetts senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and others are beside themselves. There is an endless number of other things causing the lefties to melt down 24/7. But the Sydney Sweeney ad has to be among the most ridiculous things to set them off in a very long time. They are unhinged by an ad about jeans. Have they nothing better to do? Apparently not.
According to those in the media, all the lunatic woke organizations that still remain and even some Democrat politicians, Sydney Sweeney and the American Eagle Company are Nazis because they have created an advertizing for TV and social media showing a beautiful girl who is white, blonde and has blue eyes. But not only are they being called Nazis, they’re insisting everyone who likes the ad is also a Nazi. Demonstrators are picketing American Eagle stores and some of them are even going out and buying American Eagle jeans and filming themselves burning them. Can it get any dumber than that? It sure can. They are posting videos of themselves hurling F-Bombs at Miss Sweeney and of course taking part in their trade mark activity of screaming into the sky. Howling at a full moon by these people is a given.
Now as we’ve all come to expect,
talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
the news media is doing its best to stir the pot by cranking up the hate by injecting racism into the fray. And yet, all that’s being accomplished is that the overwhelming number of Americans of nall backgrounds watching the lunacy are either stunned at the intensity of the hate; which increases by the day for so many leftists, shaking their heads in disbelief or just simply laughing and enjoying the show. The crazies continue to confirm that yes, they sure are. But what has also happened is that the American Eagle Company has
refused to apologize for the ad, and has even doubled down on it and the company’s sales are going through the roof; bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars more in sales than they would ordinarily get. Bottom line is the leftists/ libs/progressives – whatever they are calling themselves at any given time are done being able to cancel what they don’t like. Their power is gone, no one fears them any longer and WOKE is dead in the water. Most Americans have had enough of them and everyone knows that they’re insane.
Note:
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY
John Ciccone
Auditor DiZoglio Wades into Beacon Hill Battles
Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who carved out a reputation for being unavoidable for comment on Beacon Hill, has kept her head down lately, focusing on the bean-counting part of her job more than the bomb-tossing.
A report on the state’s Mass Save energy program, and audits of the Cannabis Control Commission and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, are expected out soon.
But DiZoglio returned to form on Wednesday, appearing on GBH News’s “Boston Public Radio” hours after the Boston Globe reported she was hiring an outside law firm, funded by GOP donor Michael Minogue, to represent her office in court as she seeks to fully audit the state Legislature. House and Senate leaders have argued such an audit is a violation of the state constitution’s separation of powers.
DiZoglio laid blame for the hiring of the law firm on Attorney General Andrea Campbell, whose sign-off she needs to sue the Legislature. “She’s not going to represent us. I think we’ve just got to move forward,” DiZoglio told GBH News.
Earlier in the day, after the Globe published its story, her office heard from Campbell’s office for the first
Window Into The State House
Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.
time in months, reiterating they had outstanding questions and haven’t made a decision on whether DiZoglio can sue. “This is dragging this out way too long,” DiZoglio said.
A Campbell spokesperson told MASSterList any “unauthorized litigation” from DiZoglio “will be dismissed immediately.”
DiZoglio has a back-up plan: She’s throwing her support to a 2026 ballot question proposal that would place the Legislature, and the governor’s office, under the state’s public records laws.
The proposal is pushed by a coalition that includes Danielle Allen, a Harvard professor and former 2022 gubernatorial candidate. Allen is also pressing for a ballot question that would eliminate partisan primaries in Massachusetts politics, instead placing the top primary two finishers into a final election regardless of party.
DiZoglio said she is “very likely” to support that ballot question, too. “I just need to review the language fully and make sure I’m properly vetting it,” she told MASSterList in an interview.
As for her own 2026 plans, that’s a bomb still waiting to be lit. She said Wednesday she is focused on getting through her office’s audits. “I have no intentions of running for
governor,” she said. “People have said, ‘Well, you haven’t said you’re not running for governor.’ I’m not running for governor.”
Her supporters have encouraged her to pursue “different candidacies,” and “I have reiterated to them that I’m 100% focused on doing my job right now, and this is not an election year,” she said. “But as the election year approaches, we’ll have these discussions.”
BALLOT QUESTION BONANZA
Nineteen groups came up with 47 initiative petitions and on Wednesday filed them with the attorney general’s office for a review of their constitutionality. They include 42 proposed laws for the 2026 ballot, and five proposed constitutional amendments for 2028.
If there was an emergent theme among a large number of them, there is wide interest among activists and others in flipping off state lawmakers. Should the 2026 ballot campaigns jump over all the hurdles, voters will be able to make changes to legislative stipends, inject competition into elections through all-party primaries, or overrule the Legislature’s inactions on a raft of policy matters. –
POLITICAL INTEL
Top pollster Steve Koczela landed in Kenya this week. The president of
the MassINC Polling Group (MPG), which was founded in 2010 and operates as a for-profit subsidiary of nonprofit MassINC, is spending a year in Nairobi with his family. According to MassINC, he’ll be working a reduced schedule, while Richard Parr handles the polling outfit’s day-to-day operations. Parr, who joined MPG in 2013, was also promoted to vice president. A Wakefield native, Parr previously worked as policy director for the nonprofit A Better City and produced content for the PBS show Frontline…. ….Paige Scott Reed has returned to law firm Prince Lobel as a partner after leaving Gov. Maura Healey’s administration in May. Scott Reed, who was one of Healey’s first appointments in Dec. 2022, was replaced as chief legal counsel by Jesse Boodoo. Prince Lobel credited her with handling the aftermath of Steward Health Care’s collapse and moving Healey’s judicial nominees into judgeships (more than 60 overall, including two Supreme Judicial Court justices). She’ll now be part of a practice “focused on solving difficult transactional and litigation challenges for public officials, corporate executives, boards of directors, and technology innovators,” the law firm said in a release. She previ-
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Senator Collins’ Bill to Reform Involuntary Commitment Law Moves on Beacon Hill
Senator Nick Collins announced that his legislation, An Act Relative to Life-Saving Treatment (S.1042), is advancing through the legislative process. Recently, the bill received a unanimous vote of approval from the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The bill aims to reform the state’s civil commitment laws, increasing access to treatment and improving oversight of medical discharges from care.
“This bill is about acting at the critical moment when someone survives an overdose and is most in need of intervention and treatment. The system we have now isn’t working, and people are falling through the cracks,” said Senator Nick Collins, the bill’s sponsor.
S.1042 would reform the state’s civil commitment process for individuals with substance use dis -
orders, addressing key gaps that currently delay or disrupt care. Under current law, family members, physicians, police officers, court officials, and social workers may petition a judge to civilly commit someone who poses a danger to themselves or others due to their substance abuse. According to Trial Court statistics, there has been a 50% drop in civil commitment petitions in Boston over the last five years, with the 544 petitions filed in FY25 representing the lowest amount per year in over a decade. This trend coincides with approximately 15,000 patients being brought to the hospital after surviving an overdose over the last five years.
With over 90% of the petitions made by family members, according to Trial Court statistics, this
legislation would create a clearer path to treatment for patients before they are discharged after surviving an overdose.
Right now, people are being discharged without treatment and sent right back to the streets. This legislation seeks to change that by ensuring that patients are discharged into a safe environment.
S.1042 introduces a comprehensive package of reforms. It allows for virtual Section 35 court hearings, enabling patients who are hospitalized after an overdose to participate in proceedings without delay. The bill also mandates an evaluation by a social worker before a patient is discharged from the hospital after surviving an overdose.
Additionally, the bill adds judicial approval for early discharges from civil commitment facilities to
ensure that individuals are not released prematurely. This provision aims to prevent patients from being released without the proper level of treatment or a safe place and plan for discharge.
The need for these reforms has only become more urgent. Recent reports have highlighted the public health and safety crisis that has spread beyond Mass & Cass and into surrounding neighborhoods of Boston.
The current system often misses the opportunity to intervene effectively.
Councilor Flynn Files Resolution to Declare Mass & Cass a Public Safety & Public Health Emergency, and a Humanitarian Crisis
This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a resolution at the Boston City Council to declare Mass & Cass and impacted neighborhoods a public safety and public health emergency, and a humanitarian crisis. After years of frustration and concern from residents and small businesses in the area, it’s wholly appropriate to finally acknowledge
that the City of Boston’s current plan at Mass & Cass has been an abject failure by any standard. Any reasonable person who visits the area will say unequivocally that what has taken place there on a daily basis for over a decade nowan open air drug market and dealing, public drug use, the trafficking of women, acts of serious violence, public defecation and urination, shoplifting, among others - is completely unacceptable.
Neighbors and small businesses continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, with discarded needles, trash removal issues, and human feces scattering neighborhoods. Neighbors from Nubian Square, Worcester Square, Andrew Square, Blackstone and Franklin Squares all the way to Downtown Boston and the Boston Common continue to share their frustration and fear for public safety. More recently in the South End,
neighbors have experienced residential and business break-ins, assaults, and drug dealing on residents’ stoops. The situation continues to harm our small businesses, nonprofit partners, and the local economy.
“The status quo of crime and violence spreading from Mass & Cass cannot continue. We need zero tolerance when it comes to making arrests for public drug dealing and drug use, human trafficking, crime and assaults. On public health, it is appropriate to
shift to a treatment-first approach, with detox and drug treatment programs, to address the underlying mental and behavioral health issues,” said Councilor Flynn. “It is long past time to make a recovery campus a top priority for the City of Boston, and that services be decentralized and spread out to other locations across the Commonwealth.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
page as Mass and Cass. Since tents were cleared on Atkinson Street in November 2023, residents and some elected officials have stated that the open-air drug use, dealing, and related violence has migrated and, therefore, worsened in surrounding neighborhoods. Flynn’s emergency declaration proposal comes at a time when the spillover from Mass and Cass has become particularly prevalent in the South End, according to residents there, who have been calling for more policing, and even the deployment of the National Guard.
lic safety, and public works resources, in partnership with the community, providers, and the state, to end congregate substance use and the criminal activity that supports it,” Wu spokesperson Emma Pettit said. “Declaring a local public health emergency does not unlock any additional authority or resources. “What is needed is continued coordinated, compassionate response to eliminate public drug use and address barriers to treatment, shelter and housing. This work is urgent and we are focused on concrete solutions,” Pettit added.
Durkan, when objecting to Councilor Flynn’s resolution earlier in the day, made similar statements. “This is a complex challenge, and addressing issues like addiction and homelessness requires sustained coordination and substantial investment to support those who are struggling, along with careful attention to the impact on the surrounding communities,” Durkan said. “While the city has taken steps to respond, it’s clear that continued and expanded efforts are needed. “However,” she said, “I don’t believe this resolution represents the right steps forward. For starters, what funding would an emergency declaration provide? None. All it would do is waive public process.” The city’s Board of Health opted not to act on a prior Mass and Cass emergency declaration from Councilors Flynn and Erin Murphy, and then-Councilors Frank Baker and Michael Flaherty in September 2023.
But the board, per a Public Health Commission spokesperson, expressed support for an ordinance Wu was pushing at the time to clear the long-standing tent encampment at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, which has come to be known
Window continued from page 4
ously worked in its employment law and litigation practice groups….
…The super PAC supporting Josh Kraft in the Boston mayoral election has pulled in another $115,000, with most of it coming from Michael Gordon, the Fen -
The mayor has dismissed calls for a military response to tackle the issue, but has said the city is deploying more public safety resources in the area. “It is long overdue for the Boston City Council to have this conversation,” Flynn said at the day’s meeting. “The conditions at not only Mass and Cass but the surrounding neighborhoods in Roxbury, South Boston, Dorchester (and) the South End have significantly deteriorated.”
Flynn said his resolution, if passed by the Council despite being legally non-binding, would necessitate action from the city “to move forward with establishing a comprehensive plan to address the serious quality of life, public safety” and “public health concerns” residents taxed by the spillover are facing. He mentioned two widely-reported incidents of late, involving a 4-year-old boy who is undergoing HIV-prevention treatment after stepping on a needle while playing outside in South Boston in June and a homeless woman who squatted in a South End family’s home for days while they were away for the weekend.
“Any reasonable person who visits the area today will agree the city’s plan has failed,” Flynn said. “What has taken place there over a decade is completely unacceptable: open-air drug market, dealing to dozens and
way Sports Group president. The super PAC, Your City Your Future, also continues to spend heavily on social media and streaming ads, using the same advertising firm, Technicolor Political, as the Kraft campaign. The super PAC’s ads are also apparently drawing from Kraft campaign materials. If you
dozens of people, public drug use, human trafficking, acts of serious violence, public defecation, urination. “If this is not a public safety and public health emergency and a humanitarian crisis, I don’t know what is,” Flynn, who represents South Boston and part of the South End, added. As Durkan’s objection blocked further discussion on the matter, per Council rules, it’s unclear where many other councilors stood on Flynn’s call for an emergency declaration.
Murphy, who joined the call for an emergency declaration two years ago, told the Herald she still supports such action.“I am supportive because the administration has not shown in good faith that anything’s going to change with the current policy,” Murphy said, adding that such action may help “get real change for these residents who are suffering.” “I’ve said from the beginning, and I still agree that those who are struggling and those who truly have addiction problems and mental health con-
scroll down to the very bottom of the Kraft campaign’s official “Clips” page, you’ll find an odd six-minute YouTube video. Most of it doesn’t have any sound, just rolling images of Kraft talking to people. But several scenes from that video appear in the super PAC’s Facebook and Instagram
cerns, we are doing a good job with supporting and providing services for those people,” she said. Murphy said, however, that the city’s solution should not be a “this or that” one, in that residents who are affected by others’ problems also “have a right to a safe neighborhood.”
Council President Ruthzee Louijeune referred the resolution to the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness and Recovery. While blocked resolutions sometimes die in committee, Councilor John FitzGerald, the public health chair who represents Dorchester and the South End, told the Herald, “I absolutely will hold a hearing on it.” When asked for his position on Flynn’s emergency declaration proposal, FitzGerald, who has been pushing the city to re-evaluate its current plan for Mass and Cass, said he supports it. He added, “I invite any of my colleagues to come tour the area with me and decide for themselves.
Courtesy of the Boston Herald
ads taking aim at Michelle Wu. A super PAC spokesperson said they are in compliance with campaign finance law that prohibits coordination with Kraft, and noted that state statute allows “the use of photographs or video from sources in the public domain such as websites or social media.”
Mass & Cass continued from front
Councilor Flynn Re-Files Ordinance to Establish Office of Pest Control, Rat-Resistant Trash Containers
This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn re-filed an ordinance to establish a standalone Office of Pest Control in the City of Boston. Additionally, Councilor Flynn co-sponsored an ordinance with Councilor Erin Murphy amending the City of Boston Code by adding a new provision to require rat-resistant
trash containers in neighborhoods with high rodent activity. Thus far, the City has not implemented the recommendation of both Councilor Flynn and renowned rodent urbanologist Dr. Bobby Corrigan, in the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), to visit the idea of a dedicated position (or “Rat Czar”) solely focused on this issue. Since the outset of the pandemic, there has been a dramatic rise in rodent and pest activities in Boston, and cases reported to 311. Recently, a Tufts University study on the Boston Urban Rat population also found that rats in Boston are carrying and spreading leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that impacts both humans and other animals. Currently, pest control is a cross-departmental effort in the City of Boston, with Inspectional Services, Public Works, Boston Water and Sewer
Most catch basins in Boston connect to storm drains that discharge the runoff to the nearest brook, river, or Boston Harbor. Substances carelessly spilled, onto our streets or directly into a catch basin can pollute Boston Harbor, the Charles, Neponset and Mystic Rivers.
Commission being the main points of contact on this issue. Having a dedicated City department on pest control would allow us to better streamline and coordinate services on the issue.
Councilor Flynn continues to conduct pest control walkthroughs with the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) throughout District 2, with increased calls from residents relaying that the problem is getting worse. These walks have illustrated residents and businesses not disposing of trash properly, while neighbors also continue to ask for bait boxes, proper containerization and compost bins to separate food and not allow rats to have a food source.
“Although the administration did not include the recommendation of Dr. Corrigan and I for a dedicated ‘Rat Czar’ last year, nor did the Council approve my ordi-
nance previously - I hope that my colleagues will objectively look at worsening conditions this year and support my efforts to establish an Office of Pest Control in Boston,” said Councilor Ed Flynn. “While public trash containers in commercial areas are helpful, we need to launch a massive public awareness and outreach campaign on proper trash removal and containerization for individual residents and businesses. It is critical to supply bait boxes, compost containers to separate the food source, provide strict enforcement for violations, and language access is key for all communities to also understand their role in addressing a crisis that has left rodents carrying leptospirosis in Boston.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
ID: 160 992 5696
DESCRIPTION: The Boston Planning Department is hosting a Public Meeting for the 43 Preble Street project located in South Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the updated proposal. The meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A and comments from the general public.
Guy The Wine
Planning Ahead!
While it may be warm at the moment, the following wines are for when it gets cooler. Try one or more of the following to mix things up a bit….
Catena Alta, Malbec, 2022, ($49.99). This big red wine makes a real statement about the varietal, with distinctive notes of raspberries and
smokiness on the nose. On the palate, it’s deep and chewy, with a long, palpable finish. Great with any red meat or distinctive cheese. This one will definitely warm you up.
Diamondback Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021,Napa, California,($85.99). This wine is all about what Napa does best- structure, high ABV, extremely long finish. Notes of blueberries, caramel and cherries, along with leather aromas on both the nose and finish. This is definitely a “sipper”, especially good with a Sunday roast.
Seghesio 2022 Old Vines Zinfandel, ($24.95). Elements of cherries, cinnamon and pepper on the nose and a long finish give way to a toasted, chocolate, raspberry profile. Try it with a meaty Bolognese or Filet puffs with a Bernaise sauce.
Ruffino Chianti Classico, 2016, ($29.99). As always, an outstanding presentation of 100% Italian Sangiovese. Beautiful notes of tabac, chocolate and cherries on the nose. Long
finish on the palate, this one is simply just big, but not to the point of being overwhelming. Very reminiscent of a high-end Barolo.
E&J Founders Pinot Noir, California ($17.99)
Vibrant aromas of red and dark cherry, raspberry and plum with subtle touches of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, silky tannins and excellent acid balance are joined by delicate flavors of red cherry and raspberry, culminating with notes of earthiness on a long and lingering finish. These Pinot Noir grapes were primarily grown in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County, which sits on a gravelly alluvial plain beneath the Santa Lucia Mountains. Cool winds from Monterey Bay ensure gradual ripening and development of vibrant flavors. The rocky soils allow excellent drainage, enhancing intensity and promoting balanced ripeness and acidity.
Acacia Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, 2022 , ($38.99). On the nose, this wine exemplifies the classic “Wil-
Boston Government Center Complex Voted Massachusetts’ Ugliest Public Building.
• Poll of 3,012 to establish the ugliest public buildings in America.
• Massachusetts’ Boston Government Center Complex (Boston) voted #11 nationally.
San Francisco’s City Hall. Denver’s Union Station. The Santa Fe County Courthouse. America has its fair share of stunning civic buildings - spaces that don’t just serve the public but inspire it. But not every government structure is so lucky. Across the country, some public buildings have become famous not for their beauty, but for their… let’s call it utilitarian charm. Often built with function top
of mind and budgets stretched thin, these structures do the job - but sometimes at the expense of aesthetic appeal.
To find out which buildings left the strongest impressions (for better or worse), New Jersey Real Estate Network surveyed 3,012 people, asking them to weigh in on everything from state capitols to post offices, court buildings, and city halls. The results highlight a surprising variety of concrete-heavy,
lamette Valley style” with aromas of red fruits including cherry, raspberry and cranberry accented by notes of florals and baking spice that create an elegant bouquet. On the palette, this wine is round and full-bodied with a silky mouthfeel and flavors of dark fruit, earth, game and minerality. Exceptionally balanced with seamlessly integrated tannins, balancing acidity and a lingering finish.
Trimbach Riesling 2021, Riesling from Alsace, France, ($26.99). Its delicate bouquet, beautiful balance, dry character, distinguished fruitiness and natural liveliness contribute to its exceptional richness. As required by the house style, it is vinified dry, straight, and precise, every year.
G. Beck Brut, NV, South Africa, ($23.95). Graham Beck Brut is a South African sparkling wine known for its elegance and fine bubbles. It offers crisp apple and citrus notes and is perfect for celebrations or as an aperitif. This is one you can have at the beginning, the end or both!
framed in concrete and defined by its grid-like facade. It makes an impression - though not necessarily a friendly one. While undeniably functional, its style leans more institutional than inviting, leaving little room for architectural charm.
#4. Jackson County Courts Building, Pascagoula, Mississippi
boxy, and occasionally brutalist designs that haven’t aged as gracefully as their architects may have hoped.
The top 10 were as follows:
#1. City of Flint Municipal Center, Flint, Michigan
This municipal hub is all about business, with a straightforward layout and an exterior that leans heavily into concrete and brick. It gets high marks for durability, but stylistically, it’s stuck in an era where civic buildings weren’t expected to be welcoming - just solid.
#2. Fresno County Superior Court, Fresno, California
Function rules the day at Fresno’s Superior Court. The structure favors symmetry and concrete over detail or warmth, with a design that feels more focused on managing foot traffic than leaving an impression. Practical? Definitely. Visually engaging? Not so much.
#3. Buffalo City Court, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo City Court rises with purpose,
This courthouse keeps a low profile, with a boxy form and minimal exterior detail that reflect its focus on efficiency. It does its job without fuss, though the design leans more procedural than civic pride. It’s a building that blends into the background - quietly, and perhaps a little too well.
#5. Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With its large scale and stark lines, this building makes a bold statement - though not always a flattering one. Often described as monolithic, it commands attention more through size than design charm. It’s built to handle the city’s business, not to win hearts.
#6. Akron Municipal Court, Akron, Ohio
This courthouse keeps things neat and utilitarian, with a facade that emphasizes structure over statement. It blends cleanly into its surroundings but offers little to distinguish it archi-
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Reflections on the ADA: Decades of change and looking ahead
By Jim Brett
As we reflect on the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, it’s appropriate to consider advancements. We also need to acknowledge there is more work to be done in many areas, such as health care.
A Landmark law
When thinking about the ADA, accessibility is often top of mind. The law requires that public spaces including buildings, transportation, schools, sidewalks and streets, parks and recreational areas, be made accessible for people with disabilities. Today, in many places in the country, it’s difficult to imagine a time when the community routinely faced obstacles to board a train, go to work, cross the street, or sit by the shore. The ADA prohibits discrimination in the workplace and, in fact, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.
Life and work are not limited to
brick-and-mortar settings. The ADA also requires access to digital information, such as websites.
Looking ahead
As we look to improve our national programs, it’s clear it is time to move forward.
Now more than ever it’s important to ensure that as we advance, no one is left behind. After all, we are all part of the same community!
There is still work to do. Despite our national leadership in health care, studies have documented the reality of health care inequity.
There are some 44 million people, or 13.6% of the U.S. population, living with a disability (2023, Center for Research on Disability, Census Data, American Community Survey). Yet many do not receive regular preventative health care or adequate attention to chronic medical issues.
Numerous studies identify a lack of training for physicians in serving people with disabilities as a factor in health disparities.
Providers and stakeholders are working to improve access.
A new perspective
In May, Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Joseph Morelle (D-NY) introduced the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population (HEADs UP) Act of 2025. The Act would designate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population (MUP), opening up many government programs aimed at improving access to care and reducing health disparities.
The bill sponsors noted in their announcement, compared to people without disabilities, people with I/DD receive fewer preventative screenings and fewer dental services. “They have higher rates of undiagnosed hearing and vision impairments, diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.”
A shortage of medical and dental providers able or willing to treat them is cited as a factor.
With a MUP designation, people with I/DD may have access to expanded care and support. The designation focuses on education for providers to serve people with I/DD. Education for providers
Every year, some 53,000 health care providers graduate in the United States and the majority receive virtually no training in the skills necessary to care for and treat people with disabilities. (Source: Rick Rader, MD, President, American Association on Health and Disability, Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center, Orange Grove Center, Tennessee and Editor in chief of HELEN, The Journal of Human Exceptionality). A Surgeon General’s Task Force concluded that in four years of medical school the students receive less than 11 minutes of training about intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Source: “Closing the Gap: A National Blueprint to Improve the Health of Persons with Mental Retardation,” Surgeon General Report, 2002).
The lack of formal training across the system makes it imperative that we require all 200 medical schools, 500 nurse practitioner programs and 300 physician assistant programs to ensure these future clinicians have the skills, confidence and experience to competently care for and treat the growing population of people with disabilities. It is noteworthy that these skills are not solely directed to patients with special needs but are appropriate and applicable to all patient populations.
Conclusion
We need to move forward together. Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the ADA had solid bipartisan support. The ADA is an example of the power of public policy to improve lives. It also represents the limitless possibilities of what Americans can accomplish by working together for a common goal that is larger than themselves.
(Jim Brett is President and CEO of The New England Council, a regional business organization. He is the chair of both the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission for People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission. Jim’s late brother Jack was the inspiration for Jim’s work as an advocate for people with disabilities, and people who have no voice.)
Ugly complex continued from
tecturally. It’s efficient, orderly - and unlikely to show up on a postcard.
#7. Atlantic City Municipal Court, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Set in a city known for bold visuals, the Atlantic City Municipal Court stands in contrast - subdued and serious, with a compact design that doesn’t compete for attention. It’s focused and unflashy, a necessary presence that knows its role.
#8. Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility, Bentonville, Arkansas
To be fair, public works buildings aren’t known for turning heads - and this one keeps that tradition alive. Its industrial shell and purely practical layout say “utility first.” That’s fine, of course, but there’s nothing here that says “welcome,” just a clear message: authorized personnel only.
#9. Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
This public works facility embraces a fully functional approach, with a simple rectangular shape and neutral tones. It fits neatly into the civic landscape and stays focused on its purpose - even if its exterior doesn’t aim to stand out.
#10. El Paso County Court Administration Building, El Paso, Texas
This courthouse keeps a serious tone, with a muted exterior and solid, squared-off structure that leaves little room for embellishment. It’s orderly and purposeful - a space that’s clearly designed for process, not pageantry. While it functions well, its architecture stays firmly on the quiet side.
One Massachusetts public building was voted among the ugliest in the country: #11. Boston Government Center Complex, Boston
Bold and unmistakable, the Boston Government Center complex is a landmark of Brutalist architecture - and a divisive one at that. With its heavy concrete forms and sharp angles, it makes a strong impression, though not always a warm one. While some admire its ambition, others see a civic center that feels more fortress than forum.
“Public buildings reflect our shared spaces, values, and history - even when the design choices don’t age well,” says a spokesperson from New Jersey Real Estate Network. “The good news is, even the most unloved buildings spark conversation - and that’s where civic pride begins.”
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Groundbreaking Marks New Era of Care at South Boston Community Health Center
In a major step forward for local healthcare, South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC) broke ground Wednesday, August 6, 2025 on an ambitious expansion project at its main facility at 409 West Broadway. The new addition will add 11,000 square feet and 11 exam rooms, enhancing the center’s ability to serve the evolving needs of the South Boston community.
The ceremonial groundbreaking took place in the rear parking lot on Silver Street and brought together healthcare leaders, community partners, elected officials, and neighborhood residents. The project arrives at a time when access to primary care is becoming increasingly
strained nationwide.
“This expansion reflects our continued investment in the health of South Boston,” said William J. Halpin, Jr., CEO of SBCHC. “As our community grows, so must our capacity to care for it. We’re proud to be meeting that need head-on.”
The expansion will support SBCHC’s core services—primary care, preventive care, pediatrics and behavioral health while improving the overall patient experience. It also reinforces the center’s mission of providing affordable, accessible, high-quality care to all.
SBCHC operates a second location, South Boston Health Seaport Urgent Care at 505 Congress
Street, further broadening its reach into one of Boston’s fastest-growing neighborhoods. Together, these facilities form a healthcare lifeline for thousands of residents, especially as demand for medical services rises alongside population growth.
“As more families, workers, and seniors call South Boston home, we must ensure healthcare keeps pace,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. “This project is a smart, necessary investment in the health and future of our city.”
The groundbreaking was held during National Health Center Week, which honors the six-decade legacy of community health centers nationwide. This year’s theme, “America’s
Health Centers: Celebrating Past, Present and Future,” was echoed throughout the event.
Speakers included Ann Brady, Board President of SBCHC; Andrew Colameta, President of Sterling Construction; the South Boston Delegation of Congressman Stephen Lynch; Senator Nick Collins; State Representative David Biele; and District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn. At-Large Erin Murphy was also in attendance.
“This isn’t just about square footage,” said Ann Brady. “It’s about ensuring every resident of South Boston regardless of income, age, or background has access to the care they deserve.”
South Boston Celebrates Unity and Recognition at National Night Out 2025
The basketball courts at Moakley Park were transformed into a celebration of community and connection Tuesday afternoon, as South Boston hosted its annual National Night Out 2025 — a nationwide campaign that brings together residents, police, and city services to promote safer, stronger neighborhoods.
Boston Police Department District C-6. Community Engagement and Command Staff and residents came together for an event filled with energy, outreach, and recognition. From children laughing with painted faces to neighbors chatting with officers over slices of pizza, the spirit of community was alive and well.
A signature moment of the afternoon was the presentation of the 2025 Community Partner Award, given by Captain John
Conroy, newly assigned to C-6, to Allison Baker, founder of Kick Off For Kids. A lifelong South Boston resident, Baker has created an inclusive and growing youth sports program that started with flag football and now includes basketball — even encouraging moms to take the field in spirited games that strengthen family and community bonds.
Allison accepted the award proudly, surrounded by an impressive group of city and state leaders: Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, District Attorney Kevin Hayden, and South Boston elected officials including Senator Nick Collins, State Representative David Biele, District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn, and At-Large City
Councilors Ruthzee Louijeune, Murphy, and Henry Santana.
“This award isn’t just for me, it’s for the kids, the parents, and everyone who shows up,” said Baker. “We’re building more than just teams. We’re building a stronger South Boston.”
City of Boston departments set up booths to introduce residents to valuable services and resources, while the Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshals were also present to engage with the community. Tables were filled with giveaways, safety materials, and friendly faces all reinforcing the event’s goal of building trust and collaboration.
A special surprise appearance came from Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Gerry Scott, accompanied by the ever-popular Hercules the horse and Molly his dog, bringing smiles
to kids and adults alike. Hercules was gentle to the riders, including Lydia Polaski, Office of Neighborhood Services.
The children’s area was a hit, especially the face painting station, run by the Girls Group of C-6 in partnership with CSO Ayesha Lawton, who helped create a fun, welcoming space for families. And thanks to the C-6 CSO Office, attendees were treated to free pizza, juice boxes, and water, keeping everyone fueled for an afternoon of fun and community.
The day was a reminder that public safety isn’t just about enforcement , it’s about relationships, respect, and showing up for one another.
Great job C-6 and thank you for all you do for our community, was a sentiment echoed by many as the event came to a close!
