The City of Boston has released its 2015 tax rates and is down from $12.58 per one thousand dollars in assessed value to $12.11. However, the lower tax rates shows that the average single family property tax bill increased slightly, from $3,417 last year to $3,525, an increase of $108 due to rising real...
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More Substance Counselors Are Needed in Our Region
Opioid and prescription drug abuse is on the rise in Massachusetts and has been for awhile. In the month of January, there were several overdoses in this area. Fortunately first responders arrived to assist many of these individuals by administering Narcan. We urge Governor Charlie Baker not to debate the word “cuts” and let...
More Snow
We’ve seen record-setting snowfall in the past two weeks in Boston, creating difficult challenges for Department of Public Works crews who have been working around the clock to remove the snow from the streets and roadways. These storms have been unusual in the total snowfall accumulation and there has been really no melting of...
Congratulations New England Patriots
In what is being called the best Super Bowl in history – at least from a New England Patriots fan’s viewpoint – the hometown team captured its fourth Vince Lombardi Championship Trophy with a thrilling 28-24 victory over Seattle. We’ve been fortunate over the last 15 years to watch the greatest quarterback (Tom Brady),...
Guest Opinion
Boston faces some of the highest electricity prices in the nation, and in January, rates increased by 29 percent. This puts many Boston residents in a very tough spot, in particular, those residents who heat with electricity. While the City does not have control over these prices, we are using every lever we can...
Large Crowd Expected to Attend Wynn Meeting here on Feb. 11
Residents and elected officials are gearing up for the first of what is hoped to be several face-to-face, unified meetings between all Charlestown residents and Wynn Everett officials. Though the City is not taking a lead in the meetings and discussions due to ongoing litigation over the casino license with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission...
LaMattina Assigned to Key Committee Posts
Charlestown City Councilor Sal LaMattina will continue to chair the committee on Economic Development, Planning and Labor and will serve as vice chair of Neighborhood Services & Veterans Affairs as well as Environment and Parks. “I honored to be able to continue my work on development not only here in East Boston but across...
Wynn to File Environmental Report Soon
A deadline for a final environmental report addressing traffic solutions has come and gone for Wynn Everett, but the casino developer has said it is working diligently with state agencies, that there will be no delays in the project and they will file very soon. One of the next rungs on the ladder for...
HarborWalk Tour Scheduled for February 14
The Friends of the Boston HarborWalk are delighted that Lois Spiegelman of the Friends of Charlestown Navy Yard will lead us on a guided tour of the Navy Yard section of HarborWalk on Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM All are welcome, but please only RSVP if you plan to...
Short-Term Rental Bill Should be Passed
Representative Aaron Michlewitz, who represents the North End and parts of Beacon Hill, has co-sponsored legislation that would put in place state regulations for short-term residential rentals that would empower cities and towns to inspect these units for safety code violations and mandate that short-term renters pay an excise tax, similar to the state’s...
More Water and Sewer Savings for Seniors and Disabled People
Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s announcement that Boston Water and Sewer Commission will increase water service discounts for all senior citizens and disabled homeowners to 30 percent has been praised by many. It was an important decision that results in savings for low-income elderly and persons with disabilities who certainly can use the money...
Residents to Hold Public Meeting with Wynn Officials on February 11 at BHCC
A newly formed group looking to explore the idea of working collaboratively with Wynn Everett on mitigation and community involvement will hold its first meeting on Feb. 11 at Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown. Engaged Charlestown Residents, the new official name, will host the meeting from 6-9 p.m. The meeting – spearheaded by...
Bunker Hill Housing Development Could be in Line for Private Rehab
The City of Boston has sent out Requests for Proposals regarding the redevelopment of the Bunker Hill Housing Development. The city and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) are trying to get some ideas of what a developer can do to transform the aging public housing development into a better place to live and raise...
Head of Inspectional Services to be CNC Meeting on Tuesday
On Tuesday February 3, 2014 William Christopher, Director of the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department will attend the Charlestown Neighborhood Council monthly meeting. The Inspectional Services Department is comprised of five regulatory divisions whose aim is to protect and improve the quality of life for all Boston residents by effectively administering and enforcing...
Charlestown Residents Send Fruit Baskets to Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn asked for a fruit basket. Charlestown gave him five. In a side note to Wynn’s appearance in Boston two weeks ago – a whirlwind visit that marked his first time here since winning the casino license – Wynn comically gagged to the audience at the South Boston Convention Center that, for all...
Townie Tidbits
Sometimes you just walk into a good thing A good story is often hard to find, especially when you operate on a weekly deadline. There’s always plenty of bad stuff out there to comment on but good stuff not so much. I still laugh when I remember the name of a monthly newspaper...
Walsh Delivers Upbeat State of City Address
In his first State of the City address delivered before 2,500 people at Symphony Hall Tuesday night, Mayor Martin J. Walsh covered all aspects of his stewardship of city government from fixing potholes to his vision for Boston in 2030 and pointed out the partnership at Charlestown High School with SAP and Bunker Hill...
Local Concerns are Walsh’s in Dealing with Wynn Casino
One week after Boston filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) regarding the Wynn Everett casino license, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in an interview that his administration is simply trying to protect the residents of Charlestown and that two continuing sticking points are mitigation and transportation. However, Wynn Everett officials indicated...
BCC Approves New Owners of Shipyard Quarters
Boston Conservation Commission’s (BCC) Charlotte Moffat said the BCC has approved the new owner of Charlestown’s piers at the Shipyard Quarters Marina’s request for administrative approval for his plans to redevelop the piers. Charles Lagasse, Jr., a well-respected and experienced Newburyport developer who owns and operates the Boston Yacht Haven on Commercial Wharf, bought...
Martin Luther King
When one considers that it has been almost 47 years since Martin Luther King was assassinated, it is easy to understand why so many of our fellow Americans today have so little understanding of who he was and what he accomplished. Every school child for the past generation knows well the story of Martin Luther King. But...
An Olympics in Boston?
The prospect of hosting a Summer Olympics in Boston has been bandied about for many years, but it now appears as though things might get serious in light of Boston’s selection as the top choice of American cities to contend for the designation world-wide in 2024. As far as we know, in terms of dollars and cents,...
Townie Tidbits
BOSTON SUES GAMING COMMISSION OVER EVERETT CASINO SITE Plans by Wynn Resorts’ plan to build a resort casino at the Everett -Charlestown line now is facing a new hurdle thrown by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in the form of a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for denying folks in neighboring Charlestown and all...
Ryan Takes Oath of Office
Charlestown resident Dan Ryan (far right) took his oath of office as state representative at a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at the State House in Boston. Ryan was elected to a two-year term in November after winning a special election for the seat in March. Ryan, who represents Charlestown and Chelsea, is pictured at the...
Walsh Refuses $1M from Wynn for Charlestown: Monies Part of Mitigation Distribution Earmarked for Local Non-Profits
A check from Wynn Everett for $1 million to aid Charlestown non-profits and to begin planning for a traffic solution in Sullivan Square is being held in an escrow account by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) this week after the City of Boston refused to accept the check on Wednesday. The $1 million required...