General Membership Meeting – May 5, 2025

President: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
IT Manager: Taufiq Dhanani
Treasurer: Des Rohan
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth Doyle
Recording Secretary/minutes: Doreen Miller
Special Guest: Mayor Wu
Number in Attendance: ~25 (In person); ~30 (Zoom)

Updates

  • Thanks to the support of Boston’s Department of Transportation in their support with the Morrissey Boulevard redesign
  • The CSHCA letter of non-confidence went out to the Morrissey Commission today.
  • The Field’s Corner Library groundbreaking ceremony happened earlier today.

Mayor Wu Forum (This segment was recorded.)

  • Commentary by the mayor
    • The mayor’s goal is to make Boston a safe and affordable home for everyone.
    • She expressed her thanks to her team members, especially to our community liaison Madison Foley.
  • In the past 3.5 years, the city has taken on many challenges.
    • Federal Recovery Funds have been used to create housing affordability.
    • New programs for housing ownership have been established.
    • Additional affordable housing has been added to city lots and buildings.
    • The city instituted a co-purchasing pilot for two and three-family homes to help cover the down payments.
      • Banks were identified for this purpose.
      • Up to 5 % of the purchase price was paid by the city.
    • Wu acknowledged the work of the new Boston Public School superintendent.
      • New programs have been initiated.
      • Graduation rates are up.
      • Absenteeism is down.
      • There has been the largest expansion of Pre-K and early education programs.
    • Overall safety in our neighborhoods is a priority.
      • Boston is the safest city in the nation
        • Homicide rates are down.
        • We have the second lowest homicide rate on record.
      • Wu expressed her thanks to Boston Police Department and their efforts.
      • Her goal is to be proactive in preventing issues.
      • Last year Boston offered over 10,000 paid summer jobs to the youth.
    • Boston invested in
      • Park and open programming in public spaces
      • Libraries and other public buildings and areas
    • Tourism is down from last year.
    • Wu acknowledged and thanked our strong civic leaders in neighborhoods across Boston.
    •  
  • Q&A
    • (Don Walsh) In the current BPDA, developers seem to drive the project approval process. There is no comprehensive planning, and projects are approved parcel by parcel.  Currently 10,000 new units and over 7 million square feet of commercial space is in the pipeline for our area, again with no comprehensive planning.
      • Q: Do you support comprehensive planning?
      • Q: Will you provide resources for comprehensive planning in our area?
        • Housing prices are out of control.
        • Family housing is needed.
        • Many developers overpay for properties and then demand relief via zoning code variances.
        • A new BPDA will be a full city department. Chief of Planning Kairos Shen has identified where we have a certain number of units per neighborhood citywide. He is also determining where density makes sense.
        • We need comprehensive community-driven development.
        • Challenges include:
          • Rebuilding the current system and transitioning to a new one are not an easy task.
          • The city is revamping regulations with an eye towards community engagement in the process.
          • The current structure is regional with people serving many years.
          • 97% of existing buildings in the city are in violation of the zoning code.
          • The city is still building up resources and trying to coordinate various departments to streamline the process and make it more efficient.
    • (Kristine Hoag) Residential property taxes have risen far in excess of inflation. Property speculation has led to greatly increased prices and property value assessments. The ZBA has approved 91% of relief for variances. There is essentially no zoning if everything gets approved. Many Dorchester properties are being bought up by LLCs. As an example, a triple decker on Hallam Street just sold for $1.9 million. Savin Hill residents have seen property value assessments increase by 13.25% over last year. Property taxes are up considerably, and in turn this raises rents.
      • Q: How do you plan on dealing with speculation?
      • Q: How do you propose to deal with excessive ZBA approvals?
      • Q: Do you support raising the owner-occupied residential tax exemption and/or grandfathering in rates for the elderly homeowners?
        • It is now harder for developers than it was in the past due to interest rates.
        • The city gets asked to bail out developers by either
          • Giving them the zoning variances they seek, or
          • Giving them tax breaks.
        • The city’s focus is on using public money for affordability, not for risky decisions by developers.
        • There is a tax incentive program whereby commercial building that are being underused can be converted to residential. More than 700 units, mostly in the downtown area, have already been converted.
        • The city is trying to address the problem of excessive ZBA approvals via innovative programs like Squares and Streets.
        • The city is opening a planning academy to instruct and teach residents on how to participate in the planning process.
        • Rules need to be set so that there is more predictability for developers.
        • Land use regulation needs to be firm.
        • State tax laws determine how the city sets its property tax rates.
        • The city is still trying to pass its home rule bill in the state legislature that would temporarily ease the burden of residential owners over a three-year period.
        • This bill includes an increase for senior exemptions and small businesses.
    • (Eileen Boyle) The civic association has already approved the addition of 10,000 new units with more coming. The problem is overly large and dense projects on residential streets, converting the typical one- to three-family homes into large buildings with many multiple units, leading to increased density and a lack of green space. Proposals for Romsey Street and Mayfield Street were cited. We would like to keep any added density on the main streets and protect the character of the residential side streets. One member added that the two 18-story towers proposed for Morrissey Boulevard is a concern with over 1,400 units untimately proposed for that area.
      • Q: What will you do to protect our residential streets from overdevelopment?
        • The city needs to establish clear expectations and predictability for developers.
        • Madison Foley stated that an appeal for both the Romsey and Mayfield street proposals has yet to be filed.
    • (Dianne Lescinskas) Dianne has two daughters, one with special needs, that went through the Boston Public School system. The enrollment in the BPS has dropped 8,800 while the cost per student has increased by 46%. $170 million is spent on bus transportation alone. Many school buildings are decrepit.
      • Q: How will you improve the Boston Public School system?
      • Q: What kind of school committee do you support: appointed, elected, or none at all?
        • Wu is aware of all the issues with the BPS interconnected with the budget.
        • We have the oldest public schools in the nation and deserve to have the best school system.
        • Her priorities in improving the schools include:
          • Facilities
          • Student assignment process
          • Enrollment
          • High Schools
          • Quality of Instruction
          • Excellency
          • Elementary School Access
          • Pre-K
          • Oversight and accountability
        • She is working on inclusion in services.
          • How do we deliver services over a 5-year stretch across all schools.
          • Students currently follow services.
          • The school bus budget is connected with:
            • IEPS (individual education plans)
            • Special needs
            • Serving charter and parochial schools
          • Of the 22,000 students who utilize the buses, 17,000 are BPS student, and the rest serve other schools with different schedules and routes.
        • She is focused on accountability with a student-by-student approach.
          • There is now an app for bus routes and riders to facilitate efficiency. The use of the app can help adjust routes by determining who is using the bus.
          • The data base on facilities is now complete, so the city has a better idea of conditions and resources at the various schools that will help determine how decisions are made.
        • There are too few high-quality seats for students with special needs.
        • Wu would like to maintain an appointed school committee while the transitioning is taking place to guarantee stability.
    • (Des Rohan) Our neighborhood deals with summer disturbances on beaches and in public parks, etc. It is a quality-of-life issue for residents.
      • Q: How do you intend to deal with summer crime problems?
        • The city has made a major shift in how it deals with crime. The police look at every season and every week of the year.
        • The city intends to be pro-active with Commissioner Cox. The meet weekly with all departments concerning safety issues.
        • The crime rate for homicides and violence in Boston is down.
        • Data has been collected on trends and is being shared with the public.
        • Community feedback is encouraged.
        • Community interaction teams have been formed from the new graduates of the academy.
          • One half is assigned to parts of the district.
          • One half is put into teams of six to “walk the beat.”
        • The city has instituted late night hours at BCYF centers.
        • Job programs for youth have expanded.
        • The community is encouraged to keep the city informed of problems so that it can address the issues.
        • More tools and staffing have been made available.
        • There are more neighborhood restaurants and activities to engage the people.
    • The mayor hopes to return at a later date to continue the conversation. In the meantime, she will respond in writing to any remaining questions.

Upcoming Mayoral Forum

  • Monday, June 9, 7- 9 PM, Cristo Rey, in person with candidate Josh Kraft.

Updates from Madison Foley

  • The Carney report on plans for the area has been released and is available for viewing at boston.gov/carney
  • There will be no further striping in the neighborhood until the 9th due to poor weather.
  • Eversource will be working on repairing the streets and sidewalks throughout the area. Repairs should run from late June to late October.

Administrative Business

  • The April minutes were approved.
  • Treasurers Report: As of 3/31 there was a balance of $17,514 in the account.
  • A motion for $500 for the Plant and Bake Sale, Sat. May 17, was approved by membership.

Police Report

  • Police are aware of problems at the beach, on Playstead Road, at McConnell Park, at Savin Hill Yacht Club, and along Grampian Way by the park.
  • Community Interaction teams have been established.
  • The police have spoken with residents there on reasonable expectations.
  • The number one priority with the BPD is violent crime, followed by quality-of-life issues. Calls will be prioritized accordingly.
  • The police have to deal with other neighborhoods in a large area.
  • The police need input from the neighbors in the McConnell Park area.
  • They are coordinating with the State Police on beach issues.
  • They hope to address problems before they spiral out of control.
  • In dealing with smoking pot in public areas, usually police presence and a verbal warning are all that is necessary to deter the behavior.
  • Latest year-to-date crime rate statistics:
    • Larceny: 45 (2024) >> 31 (2025)
    • Domestic Violence: 47 (2024) >> 47 (2025)
    • Commercial Burglary: 22 (2024) >> 18 (2025)
    • Residential Burglary: 29 (2024) >> 30 (2025)
    • Motor Vehicle Theft (including items stolen from cars): 94 (2024) >> 48 (2025)
  • Local Crimes
    • April 11, 26 Savin Hill Avenue. Responded to weapons sold in Abington connected to this address. C-11 undercover cops and the swat team raided the address and found firearms and 28 grams of crack. No weapons were found at the address, but there were empty cases. The man was arrested. This case is under investigation.
    • April 18, Salem, MA. A shooting led to a man who was apprehended on Doris Street. He had fled the scene in an Uber. He was arrested with 400 rounds of ammo but no weapons found. The police will look into this address as a possible problem property.
    • April 2 “Person with a Gun” on Elton Street report was looked into. The contractor with the weapon had a license to carry.
  • Questions from Members
    • Why are home robberies up?
      • AC units are easily pushed in to gain access in the warmer months.
      • There is no discernable pattern or trend.
      • Sometimes with multiple roommates, items go missing, which could account for the increase in theft reports.
    • What is the law on smoking pot in public?
      • Generally, it is treated as a civil violation.
      • They can be given either a $100 citation or a warning.
      • Smokers need to be in possession of more than a certain amount to be arrested.
    • What are my rights when confronting someone who breaks into my house?
      • You have the right to defend yourself.
    • A request was made for police to patrol the intersection of Savin Hill Avenue and Sydney Street as double parking and parking the crosswalks are a big problem, especially on weekends. People are encouraged to send the police pictures of the offending vehicles.
    • Marta Carney announced that there will be a meeting of the Safety Committee coming up – details to follow.

Updates from the Eversource Project (Dave Cotter, Ian Quin)

  • The project is close to being completed.
  • Street renovation should begin in late June/early July and run until the end of October.
    • There will be curb-to-curb repaving.
    • New wider concrete sidewalks up to code will be installed along Grampian Way.
    • There will be a raised crosswalk to enter the court area.
    • Other crosswalks will be installed along Old Colony Terrace and Savin Hill Avenue with a speed hump near the boulevard.
  • A dog park is not viable as it “can’t be maintained.”
    • Some members asked why we just can’t have a fenced in green space.
    • Isn’t there a pot of money for a dog park?  Yes. He can send up a link to apply.
  • City speed humps will be installed after the Eversource restoration is complete.
  • For more information, contact:
    • Phone: 1-833-836-0302
    • Project Outreach
      • Ian Quin: 551-579-7317; iquin@burnsmcd.com

Upcoming Events

  • The Beautification Plant and Bake Sale, Saturday, May 17, 9 – 11 AM.
    • Elizabeth Doyle passed around a sign-up sheet for baked good donations.
    • If you have any further questions, email Elizabeth.
  • A Fundraiser for the Restoration of Stained Glass at St. Margaret’s Church, May 31, at Florian Hall, tickets are $100 each. A notice with details will be sent out via Constant Contact.
  • Surfrider Beach and Shoreline Clean-Up, Saturday, June 7, 10 AM – 1 PM, rain or shine.
    • Slides were shown with photos and data from last year – 662 pounds of debris and litter were collected and catalogued.
    • Meet at the Malibu Beach parking lot on Morrissey Boulevard.
    • Signs with further information and a sign-up link will be posted around the area soon.
    • It was noted that lots of trash comes from the expressway. We need something to keep the trash from entering our waterways and beaches.

Updates from Councilor Fitzgerald

White Stadium

  • Residents are upset with city plans to fund White Stadium to the tune of $100 million in tax money.
    • Plans for razing White Stadium were not stopped by court action.
    • Residents are in the dark about bus transportation details.
      • Fitzgerald knows Field’s Corner was taken out of the loop, but JFK station remains.
      • Chapter 97 was not discussed in the court.
    • Wu is threatening to block plans for the Everett Stadium, which is 100% privately funded, until she receives a financial statement. Yet, we have no details on the use of city funds or transportation issues with White Stadium.
    • The White Stadium agreement benefits only a small population. The city council needs to get on top of this.
    • Marti Glynn from the Hancock Street Civic Association shared in the chat that 105 bus trips will travel down Columbia Road from K-Circle to Circuit Drive from both the expressway and JFK Station, every Saturday, spring through November.

Election of Executive Board Officers and Members

  • Candidates on both slates were running unopposed. Therefore, a motion was made and approved by membership to accept both slates. The positions were filled as follows:
    • Officers
      • President: Bill Walczak
      • Vice President: Eileen Boyle
      • Treasurer: Michelle Miller
      • Assistant Treasurer: Des Rohan
      • IT Manager: Taufiq Dhanani
      • Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth Doyle
      • Recording Secretary: Doreen Miller
    • At-Large Members
      • Juliana Jackson
      • Michael Keamy
      • Dianne Lescinskas
      • Donna McColgan
      • Mike Panagako

Other Business

  • Community Benefits Committee –  Don Walsh wants to schedule a meeting with the BPDA to determine the usage of the $750,000 donation from Copper Mill – details forthcoming.
  • CSHCA would like to request from Mass DOT some sort of barrier along the expressway to prevent trash from falling into our waterways and onto our beaches.
  • We would like to see the clean-up of the graffiti along the Sydney Street wall prioritized. The broken gate allowing access to the area needs to be repaired and secured.
  • Dorchester Day Parade – Jean Gorman is running for mayor of Dorchester. There will be a Trivia Night at Dot Tavern on May 9, from 7 – 9 PM – details to follow in the Constant Contact membership notice

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