Month: January 2022

Meeting minutes

• Welcome and introduction – 15 min
  • Introductions from volunteer transition team: Neel (5 years), Carlos (1 year), Chen (<1 year), Jane (8 years), Lorraine, Fredi (15 years)
  • If anyone who would like to join, please email board@govestreet.org
• Announcement
  • The Trustees Boston Waterfront Initiative – Gabriela Ramirez (10 min)
    • Feb. 16 meeting to be held on Piers Park Phase 3 on updated designs – 5:30 pm English presentation; 7 pm Spanish presentation
      • Link to English registration: https://onewaterfront.thetrustees.org/community-events-list/2022/2/16/piers-park-iii-community-design-review
  • Surge: The Trustees has partnered with Boston Dance Theatre and the Boston Foundation to set up a paid creative residency for a group of BIPOC performing artists residing in East Boston to reflect on the impacts of local climate events, build on existing narratives of resilience to climate change, and to envision a thriving future for the East Boston community through artistic presentation
    • More information: https://onewaterfront.thetrustees.org/surge 
• Presenters
  • Special election for city councilor D1 is planned for late April/early May. Date has not yet confirmed.
  • Tania Del Rio (Candidate for D1) – 10 min
    • Link to campaign: https://www.delrioforboston.com 
  • Gabriela Coletta (Candidate for D1) – 10 min
    • Link to campaign: https://www.gabrielacoletta.com 
• Questions and open forum
  • Questions for candidates
    • What advice do you have for neighborhood associations that voice opposition, but ultimately get ZBA approval
      • Colette: recommend reforming ZBA; current process in Boston is by variance
      • Del Rio: leverage current elective officials to be an active voice for the neighborhood
    • With more development in East Boston, what will you do about congestion?
      • Del Rio: should not let East Boston become another Seaport. encourage transit-oriented development; A lot of traffic into the neighborhood is due to airport – need to work with Massport reduce cars, e.g. to make Logan Express free to use, charge suburban cars
      • Colette: need to plan well and observe this issue not as a singular project, but as an ecosystem. 15-min city – to get people out of their cars and make it more walkable. East Boston becomes a bottleneck for folks from the NE corridor. Plan for water transportation
    • Why doesn’t East Boston attract the amenities (e.g. Trader Joe’s) seen in other areas around the Boston region?
      • Del Rio: There are opportunities. We can look at our existing locations. Gives examples of the police station, Paris St. pool. Can work with Main Street.
      • Colette: It’s in the cards. Gives example of Charlestown.
  • Other questions
    • Has new East Boston liaison been assigned? Will he/she be joining future meetings
      • Nathalia Benitas was recently appointed. GSCA will reach out and request joining future meetings
    • Shooting on Wadsworth/Saratoga St.
      • No new updates – but future meetings can bring in a community officer
    • Open to community feedback on how best to run the meetings?
    • How do we recruit new people to join the neighborhood association?
      • Potentially do a block party
      • Having info/items in multiple languages – increase access
      • Find small grant to support the organization
      • Encourage competition to bring people into the meeting – wins a small award
• Reminder next meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 pm

Meeting recording
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/VwGBkKB3ZOHyRMS8gyUDD-1914z-aGII9qdXn_4kuPw-nUxTI3lfwxaeYaTnXrcW.WlxQWogV-OhGf9so

Access Passcode: Jm2!HPB8