Dear Members and Friends:
March is Women’s History Month
As we approach “Super Tuesday” it’s interesting to look at women’s voting history in our state. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote and to hold office became law; the next MA election saw two women, M. Sylvia Donaldson and Susan Walker Fitzgerald, elected to serve as State Representatives. Massachusetts women are politically active; ours is the only state in the country with women in both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor offices, as well as our capital city having a woman Mayor. Statusofwomen.org ranks MA as having 3rd best status of women in the US based on metrics including work & family, violence and safety, reproductive rights, health and political participation. But we’ve still got a long way to go as far as pay equity and representation.
Vote in the Presidential Primary Election this Tuesday – March 5th (details below)
Boston Parks Celebrate Women’s History Month
The city is marking Women’s History Month by lifting up the stories behind the names of some of your favorite neighborhood parks. Honor their legacy by visiting these public spaces with renewed understanding of their struggles and achievements. Learn more!
Development issues
Mayor Wu ran on the promise of abolishing the BPDA, and creating a City Planning Department. This transition was proposed to the City Council via an Ordinance, and the Statehouse via a Home Rule Petition. The City Council had a meeting on Feb 29 with the next meeting March 8. More detail below. This change will impact all development in the City, and is worth your attention.
The 2 Charlesgate West development proposal is currently under review, and comments are open through March 22. This large project is considered a Gateway position in the Fenway, at a prominent entry to the Fenway and abutting sensitive parklands. Please take a look and submit your comments during this open period.
Spring is coming… and so is the Boston Marathon. Nehal Munshi is running for Fenway Cares, and hopes to raise $5,000 in pledges this month – you can donate here: bit.ly/FenwayCaresRun (more below)
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, March 5, 7 a.m – 8 p.m. Presidential Primary Election
For in-person voting: Find your polling location here.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For information on voting check the official Massachusetts Elections Division website.
Click here to determine your Voter Registration Status.
Wednesday, March 6, 6-7:30 p.m. Boston Police District D-4 COMPSTAT Meeting, Cathedral High School, 72 Union Park St, parking available behind school.
Join this community meeting to review the crime trends and patterns in D-4, and to plan strategies to address these issues. More details on flyer below.
Thursday, March 7 is Social Security “Slam the Scam” Day – protect yourself and help others avoid Social Security fraud schemes, especially directed towards elders.
Friday, March 8, 10 a.m. start City Council Committee on Government Operations Working Session on Docket #0257, an Ordinance creating the City of Boston Planning Department. City Council meeting link
On January 29th, Mayor Wu submitted “An Ordinance creating the Planning Department in the City of Boston” to the City Council, to transition the BPDA staff to a new City Planning Department. Read the letter and ordinance here. This is part of a larger discussion to bring the BPDA into City Hall; there is also a stathouse Home Rule Petition being considered. A City Council meeting was held February 29th (view the recording here). The next meeting is a working session continuing this discussion. To further understand this large and complex issue, you may wish to refer to Mayor Wu’s proposal from 2019 titled: Fixing Boston’s Broken Development Process Why and How to Abolish the BPDA
ONGOING
MBTA Current Service Alerts: Click here to see CURRENT service alerts.. Green lines will have service disruptions through March 8–visit the website for all lines and alerts.
Coffee Hour with Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services liaison, Maggie Van Scoy: Fridays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Locations rotate and include Fenway, for the most updated information, visit: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/back-bay-beacon-hill-mission-hill-and-fenway-kenmore-liaison-coffee-hours
Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.until supplies last, Fenway Cares – Food Distribution Next date for EAST AND WEST FENWAY: 3/13
Fenway Cares takes place at 2 locations on the same day:
West Fenway – Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston (enter-Jersey)
East Fenway – Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/volunteer/
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, inside Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Current offerings include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19, flu, and a limited number of pneumonia vaccines.
UPCOMING
March 12, Councilor Sharon Durkan Office Hours for the Fenway neighborhood at Phinista Cafe (96 Peterborough St)
You’re invited to Councilor Durkan’s winter/spring session of office hours! If you’ve never met for office hours, consider signing up! To ensure all neighborhoods are represented and have a chance to speak with the Councilor, please sign up for a time in your neighborhood only. As the Fenway has the largest population of the D8 neighborhoods, there are two opportunities — West Fenway 3/12 and Kenmore 3/21 — for Fenway residents to meet with the Councilor. You can sign up here and choose the date, time slot and location. Also, you’ll get to meet the Councilor’s new Constituent Services Director and liaison to the Fenway — Lily Sweeterman.
Thursday, March 14, 1-2PM, Boston Tree Alliance General Meeting
Join the Boston Tree Alliance General Meeting to talk about the development of the program’s tree planting and care grants. Details on how to join this event: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/boston-tree-alliance-general-meeting
March 19 & 21, The Mayor’s Office of Housing Wants to hear from you!
Please save the dates! The Mayor’s Office wants your input on setting the priorities of use for an estimated $143 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds may be invested in housing, homeless assistance and community development programs that serve low to moderate income residents over a 5-year period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029 and cover these HUD programs:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
- Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
Hearing #1 (Virtual – Zoom)
Tuesday, March 19, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Video call link: https://boston-gov.zoom.us/j/5995592565?omn=83698691556
Meeting ID: 599 559 2565 Or dial: 1-646-558-8656
Hearing #2 (In Person)
Thursday, March 21, 6:00 pm to 7:30pm
Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Commonwealth Salon, 700 Boylston Street.
Attend one or both, no registration required. Translation services can be arranged by request at least 7 days in advance of the hearings: email mohcomments@boston.gov or call 617-635-3880.
Wentworth Institute of Technology Institutional Master Plan (IMP)
Comment Period – End Date is March 20 2024
Linked for your review is an electronic copy of the proposed Institutional Master Plan (IMP) for the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) IMP project located in Fenway and Mission Hill, received by the Boston Planning & Development Agency on February 21 2024. March 20th is the last day to comment on the IMP. WIT is a technology university with five schools focused on engineering, computing, design, science, and management. The University consists of 31 acres of land between the Southwest Corridor and the Back Bay Fens.
Saturday, April 6th, save the date for the annual Northeastern off-campus Spring Clean-Up. This event celebrates a successful year of weekly litter clean-ups and seeks to include our off-campus student leaders, student residents, and Boston community members in a day of beautification projects across neighborhoods.
RUN FOR FUNDS – FENWAY CARES IN THE BOSTON MARATHON
Nehal Munshi is running the Boston Marathon on behalf of Fenway Cares, a collective of neighborhood organizations that has distributed more than 20,000 bags of fresh, FREE produce to neighbors in need. Support his run and donate to Fenway Cares at bit.ly/FenwayCaresRun (flyer attached)
ARTS & RECREATION
Boston Symphony Orchestra – free Community Chamber Concert, March 22nd
Follow this link for tickets to this Fenway performance.
Kaji Aso Studio announces arts offerings and special events announced via their emailing list. The 35th International Haiku Contest submissions are due on April 15, 2024 Please check their site for details.
DEVELOPMENT
Currently, there are 5 projects in the Fenway “Under Review” with the BPDA: Fenway Corners (West) ,Boston University – Warren Towers Renovation, 409 Huntington Avenue, 2 Charlesgate West, 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 