Fenway Civic Association

• Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish
• Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol
• Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French
• Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole
• Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese
• Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali
• Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese
• Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic
• Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese
• Text BOSRus to 888-777 for Russian

• He declared racism to be a public health crisis in the City of Boston, and is backing this declaration with an initial investment of $3 million transferred from the police overtime budget to the Boston Public Health Commission. The BPHC will work with the City departments on strategies to directly address the impact racism has on the lives and health of Boston residents.

• The City will be taking a number of steps in law enforcement accountability.
  • We will establish a process to strengthen the existing Community Oversight Panel.
  • BPD has completed its review of the use-of-force policies outlined by the 8 Can’t Wait movement. The BPD is clarifying its rules to meet the standards, and has immediately implemented several reforms. These are use-of-force policies proven to reduce the likelihood of violence.
  • BPD is also adopting the training program known as Ethical Policing is Courageous, or EPIC. This means officers will not only be required to intervene when they witness unnecessary use of force; they will be trained with strategies for preventing abuses and intervening if they occur.
  • Moving forward, BPD will no longer use the “hair test” for evidence of drug use in officers or recruits.

• The Mayor also announced steps the City is taking in the FY2021 Budget to further ground public safety in community health and wellbeing.
  • He is proposing to reallocate 20%, or $12 million, from the Boston Police Department’s overtime budget. That money will be invested instead in community programs for our youth, for the homeless, and people struggling with the effects of inequality.
  • That includes the initial $3 million to implement our Public Health declaration;
    • $1 million to support trauma response and counseling at the Boston Public Health Commission.
    • $2 million for community investments through other City departments, including violence prevention, language access, food security, immigrant advancement, elder support, and the Human Rights Commission.
    • $2 million for programs supporting minority and women-owned businesses.
    • $2 million for housing security and ending youth homelessness.
    • And $2 million for emergency clinicians and mental health supports provided through the Boston Police Department when they respond to residents in crisis.

• The Mayor has signed the Mayor’s Pledge issued by the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. My Brother’s Keeper was launched in 2014 to empower young men and women of color. Boston was at the founding and we have made sure Boston is a leader in this alliance.
  •  What the new pledge says is this:
    • 1, We will review our Police use-of-force policies;
    • 2, We will engage communities by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories;
    • 3, We will report the findings of our review to the community and seek feedback;
    • And 4: We will reform our use-of-force policies based on that conversation.

• To make sure our commitments translate into action, the Mayor is creating a new Task Force.
  • It will be led by Bostonians from civil rights organizations, the legal community, and the faith community.  It will be chaired by Wayne Budd, the former US Attorney for the district of Massachusetts— and a respected, longtime leader in Boston’s legal and civil rights communities.
  • The Task Force will conduct an immediate review of force policies and other equity issues at the Boston Police Department. And it will provide guidance on how we strengthen the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel, the Co-op Board, to ensure that their work is effective. The Mayor will be accepting any changes that they recommend.
  • The Task Force will begin immediately and produce recommendations within 60 days. The community will then have time to review the recommendations and provide feedback. And we will announce reforms.

• The Boston Police Dept. has been deeply committed to community policing and positive reform since the beginning of the Mayor’s administration. They continue to build a strong foundation of trust—in relationships with young people and members of the community in our neighborhoods. Their work starts with positive interactions in our communities and classrooms — and in programs like Coffee with a Cop, Flashlight Walks, Peace Walks, and Shop with a Cop. They provide prevention and diversion supports for at-risk youth and families. And they offer pathways away from violence for those who are ready to make a change [e.g., partners in Operation Exit].
• The results of this work are evident:
  • From 2013 to 2019: complaints of improper behavior fell by 40%; and complaints of excessive force dropped by over 50%.
  • Over that time period, the crime rate is down by nearly 30%; arrests are down 33%; and officers have taken 5,000 guns off the streets.
  • We’ve made this progress, over the last 6 years, by lifting people up, not locking people up. That’s what we’re going to keep doing here in Boston.
  • The men and women of the Boston Police Dept. are increasingly reflective of the community they serve.

• The $3.61 billion recommended budget represents an increase of $119 million, or 3.4 percent over the FY20 budget, and the resubmission follows over 30 City Council hearings that helped identify opportunities for further targeted investments and cost-savings.
• In this budget resubmission, the City has accounted for a projected $65 million in revenue loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, $30 million of which was initially accounted for in the Mayor’s original budget proposal in April. Despite this lost revenue, and as a result of six consecutive years of proactive fiscal management that has positioned the City of Boston to continue investing in core city services and resident needs at a time of global economic uncertainty, the budget resubmission affirms Mayor Walsh’s historic commitment made in his State of the City address in education and housing.
• Through those commitments, the City will allocate $80 million in new funding for the Boston Public Schools to both meet the challenges of COVID-19 and work towards closing achievement and opportunity gaps. This budget marks the first year of the Mayor’s $100 million commitment to new revenue for direct classroom funding, over and above cost increases. This funding will reach every school in the Boston Public Schools district, and will begin with intense support for underperforming schools.
• The budget also protects Mayor Walsh’s unprecedented commitment of $500 million over five years to create thousands of homes all across our city that will be affordable to residents at a range of income levels.
• The FY21 budget fulfills the first year of the Mayor’s commitment of City resources with an $18 million investment in new operating and capital fundings. In the first year of this new housing investment, the City is dedicating new funds to create affordable homeownership opportunities, preserve and generate affordable rental opportunities including Boston’s first City-funded rental voucher program.
• For more information about the budget, visit Boston’s budget website at budget.boston.gov.

• Today the Mayor announced a new mortgage and down payment program, ONE+Boston, which gives income-qualified first-time Boston homebuyers greater ability to purchase a home in Boston by combining a discount on a low-interest rate mortgage product with down payment assistance.
• The ONE+Boston program was designed to supplement one of the state’s existing affordable mortgage programs (the ONE Mortgage) by providing qualified buyers, based on area median income, additional discounts on interest rates. With the new ONE+Boston program, qualified Boston residents who earn between 80% and 100% area median income will receive a half percent (0.5%) discount rate off the already low-interest rate offered through the ONE Mortgage product (currently about 3%). In addition, Boston residents who earn below 80% of area median income will receive up to one percent (1%) off of the current ONE Mortgage rate. Qualified buyers will also be eligible for downpayment and closing cost assistance through the Boston Home Center.
• For example, a family of four making 100% of area median income of $119,000, could afford a $410,000 single-family house in Boston with a conventional loan. With the ONE+Boston program, the same family could afford a $539,000 single-family house in Boston.

• The City is providing a way for residents to find local restaurants that are offering  take-out and delivery service, and outdoor seating during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Find the restaurant listings here.

• Vist the City’s website for  information on how to apply for a temporary outdoor extension as well as  information and guidance for businesses and job seekers.

• Beginning June 22nd, patrons will be able to pick up physical items such as books, DVDs, and CDs from select Boston Public Library locations as a part of their new program, called “BPL to Go.”  Patrons can “order” items from the library by placing a hold on them, then safely pick them up from select branches.
• The pilot program will launch first at five locations: the Central Library in Copley Square, the Codman Square Branch, the East Boston Branch, the Jamaica Plain Branch, and the Mattapan Branch. The program will be expanded throughout the system in the coming weeks.
• You can place items on hold by visiting bpl.org; on the BPL mobile app; or by calling the library’s main number at 617-536-5400. When they are ready, you will be notified and asked to schedule a time to come to their pickup location.
• Pick-up times: Central Library, Monday – Thursday, 11am – 6pm, and Friday & Saturday, 11am – 4pm. At the branches, Monday – Thursday, 2 – 6pm; and Friday 2 – 4pm.
• For more information, please visit bpl.org/takeout, or download the iPhone app in the Apple App Store. Patrons can also call the main number of the Library at (617) 536-5400 or email ask@bpl.org to have their questions answered.

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• Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish
• Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol
• Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French
• Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole
• Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese
• Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali
• Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese
• Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic
• Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese
• Text BOSRus to 888-777 for Russian

• Phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan began last Monday, May 18, with some construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and houses of worship resuming activities. Some office spaces will resume in-person activities this week in Massachusetts, and next week in Boston.
• Remember, there is about a 2-week time lag between infections and positive test results, as people develop symptoms and get tested. Therefore, the numbers we’re seeing now are based on what we were doing 2 weeks ago and earlier. If we want the numbers to keep going in the right direction, everyone must continue doing their part to minimize the risk of another surge, by maintaining 6 feet of distance between individuals; continuing to wash hands and clean surfaces frequently; and wearing a face covering when in public.
• Residents should continue to work from home if possible, and older adults and medically vulnerable people should follow the Safer at Home advisory and stay home as much as possible.

• Areas that are now OPEN:
  • Passive space for walking, running, cycling, riding non-motorized scooters and skateboards, while practicing physical distancing. Keep six feet of space between yourself and others.
  • Tennis courts, pickleball courts, and athletic fields are open for families and individuals from the same household. Do not congregate in groups. No permits will be issued until further notice.
• The following features are STILL CLOSED in all parks:
  • Playground structures and equipment (slides, swings, climbing structures)
  • Fitness equipment
  • Courts: basketball, street hockey, and handball
  • Organized, group sports activities on fields: baseball, softball, football, rugby, cricket, and soccer
• Only use parks when you have the ability to remain six feet away from others. If you find a park to be crowded, choose a less busy time or find another park.

• This is a grant program to help small businesses put safety measures in place, including buying personal protective equipment (PPE); installing safety partitions for customers and employees; and managing outdoor space that’s approved for business use. The grants will be distributed to brick-and-mortar businesses, with fewer than 15 employees, where people work close to each other or to customers. That includes salons and barber shops, retail stores and restaurants, gyms and event spaces, and more.
• The funds will be released in three rounds, corresponding to the phases of the state’s reopening plan. Phase 1 applications will open this Thursday, May 28th, at 5 p.m. Information is available in multiple languages at boston.gov/reopen-fund.
  • The second round will target retail stores, restaurants, including outdoor dining materials, and remaining personal services including nail salons, day spas, waxing, and laser services.
  • The final round will include bars, arts and entertainment venues, and fitness businesses.
• This new fund builds on previously existing supports for small businesses, including the Small Business Relief Fund, which has already distributed $4 million to more than 1,100 small businesses, and a new online resource to help small businesses procure PPE, which has already seen 4,500 visitors.
• When business owners are allowed to open under the State’s plan, that doesn’t mean they have to open. If they decide not to open, they will continue to have access to all the resources and support that the City provides.

• Workers in any size organization have options if they feel they are being pressured into an unsafe situation. Attorney General Maura Healey has created resources for workers to report safety concerns during reopening. They include an online form at the Attorney General’s website and a dedicated Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465. People can also find those resources by calling 311.

• The City of Boston is also holding a series technical assistance workshops for small businesses to address challenges around reopening. The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the Boston Licensing Board, the Public Works Department, Boston Transportation Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, and the Boston Main Streets program, will discuss reopening guidelines, PPE and cleaning supply needs, as well as updated City policies to support businesses reopen safely.

• As the number of new coronavirus cases have continued to decline, and capacity at local hospitals has returned to near-normal levels, the Boston Hope Medical Center at the BCEC stopped taking new patients on May 26th.
• The facility will continue operating until the last patient has been discharged to a safe place, and it will stay in place as a ready resource should it be needed again.
• In total, Boston Hope has treated more than 700 patients since it opened in early April.

• Over the weekend, the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) distributed 10,000 care kits to various community outreach partners, meal sites, and testing sites in Boston, building on the Mayor’s commitment of making critical resources available to residents.
• Each kit contains a mask, hand sanitizer, gloves, anti-bacterial wipes, soap, and a booklet with information from the City on COVID-19 facts and resources.
• Providing residents with the tools they need to stay safe during this time was one of the recommendations of the Mayor’s Health Inequities Task Force, which has been working to provide guidance to the City of Boston on addressing current inequities in data analysis, testing sites, and health care services for blacks, Latinos, Asians and immigrants, and advocating for an equitable reopening and recovery for all of Boston’s communities.
• The care kits were assembled by a team of 130 volunteers from 25 City departments, who supported the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) in preparing for the distribution. The care kits are being made available in part through community partners, who play an integral role in providing residents with the resources needed to keep people safe during this public health crisis.
• ONS is assembling another 10,000 care kits for a second round of distribution this week.

• Stay home. If you must go outside, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.
• Wear a face covering if you absolutely must go outside. Face covers help reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they are asymptomatic. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.
• Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. The City of Boston’s EMTs and hospitals have the capacity and ability to treat everyone.
• Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor’s Health Line 617-534-5050. Buoy Health has created a free online diagnostic tool which screens for COVID19 at buoy.com/mass.
• Donate supplies to first responders here.
• Donate to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund here.
• Volunteer with the City of Boston here.
• Fresh Truck Open Air Markets schedule.
• City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm. Learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here.
• Fill out the 2020 Census. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted.
• Tell the Parks Department where you would like to see more open space in our neighborhood here.

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• Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish
• Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol
• Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French
• Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole
• Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese
• Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali
• Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese
• Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic
• Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese
• Text BOSRus to 888-777 for Russian

• Outdoor seating for when restaurants reopen is something the City’s been working on. We want to help restaurants recover and create safe distancing options for everyone.
• The Licensing Board for the City of Boston has taken steps to lift restrictions and streamline existing processes to help small businesses and restaurants as part of the COVID-19 reopening process.
• At its hearing on Thursday, May 21, 2020 the Board took the following actions:
  • Voted to pass an emergency amendment to its General Rules codifying its existing administrative review of temporary extensions of licensed premise onto outdoor space using its existing One Day Amendment to Existing License Application;
  • Voted to administratively lift citywide the preexisting condition of “alcohol with food only” on outdoor space or any other similar condition that prohibits the sale and service of alcohol on outdoor space without the service of a food item;
  • The Board, Boston Transportation Department, Inspectional Services Department, Public Improvement Commission, and Public Works Department  will waive fees for the approved use of outdoor space for this program, on both public and private property, on a temporary, non-precedent setting basis.
• On Monday, the Licensing Board issued a questionnaire for businesses that will be used as the starting point for both identifying opportunities for temporary extensions onto outdoor space both on public and private property.
• Extensions into the public way, whether sidewalks or streets, require evaluation by multiple departments to confirm doing so can be done while ensuring the safety of patrons and employees. The goal is to be able to process and approve these temporary extensions administratively without requiring hearings, fees, or multiple applications going to multiple departments.
  • To date, 147 businesses have filled out the questionnaire across the city ranging from small restaurants and coffee shops in neighborhoods to restaurants downtown. The questionnaire is for businesses who have licenses from the Licensing Board.
• The data from the questionnaire, in addition to serving as the starting point for the review process, also informs City departments which neighborhoods may not be aware of the temporary extension process so that outreach can be targeted to ensure businesses across the city have access to this opportunity.

• The City has been working to make sure frontline employees have PPE, and help as many essential organizations as possible, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, especially those with limited resources.
• With Phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan beginning, more workers will need these items. For small businesses, it’s an issue of both public health and economic equity. The Mayor stated that he wants to make sure that every worker has access to the equipment they need to stay safe, and that no small businesses get shut out of reopening because they don’t have supply chain connections.
• The City is launching a resource to help at boston.gov/business-ppe. It has guidance on what type of PPE businesses and organizations need, how to procure it and avoid scams, and lists of trusted vendors.
• The Mayor stressed that it is the responsibility of the employer to provide protective gear for all of their workers, but he hopes that this City resource will help them meet this responsibility and keep their workers and customers safe.

• As of Monday, the City of Boston and its partner organizations have distributed over 1 million meals to young people at 65 meal sites across Boston.
  • The Boston Public Schools have distributed more than half of those meals. They have also delivered over 200,000 meals directly to the homes of students with special needs.
  • The City has completed nearly 5,000 door-to-door grocery deliveries for people who have reached out in need. 50% are to seniors referred by the Age Strong Commission, and the City has increased Meals on Wheels deliveries by 40% as well.
  • Information about food resources for all ages is available at boston.gov/covid19foodmap.
• A new report by the Greater Boston Food Bank shows that the number of households they served in April was up 69% compared to a year ago; and the number of children they served is up 81%. The City will continue to focus on food access. So far, the Boston Resilience Fund has distributed more than $9 million in grants to local food providers, and the Fund will continue to focus on food access as a top priority area.

• Families will get $5.70 per student per day for every day school is closed to buy food.
• Families receiving DTA benefits will get their benefits on their existing EBT card.
• Families not currently receiving DTA benefits will be mailed a new P-EBT card.

• Massachusetts residents who are eligible for the federal CARES Act and qualify for having exhausted their regular unemployment compensation may now receive the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).
• The launch of this program marks the third and final benefit available for the Commonwealth through the CARES Act.
• PEUC provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to an individual who has exhausted all rights to any regular unemployment compensation and who meets other eligibility requirements of the CARES Act. PEUC will automatically begin for individuals who have been receiving regular standard unemployment benefits on an active claim and those benefits are exhausted, and those individuals do not have to take any further action.
• If an individual’s standard unemployment claim has expired, they must file a new standard claim. If the individual is monetarily eligible on the new standard claim, regardless of the benefit rate amount, they will receive benefits from that new claim. Otherwise, the individual will be eligible for PEUC on the prior claim and it will be automatically implemented.
• Individuals who exhausted their standard benefits but were receiving benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) must apply to claim weekly benefits. Residents should apply through the standard unemployment benefits portal available here.
• Those receiving PEUC will also receive $600 weekly through the week ending July 25, 2020, provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program established by the CARES Act.
• The CARES Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, established the PEUC, PUA and FPUC public benefit programs that expanded unemployment eligibility, temporarily increases weekly benefits for all claimants and allows additional categories of people to claim unemployment benefits. This is the largest expansion of assistance for the Commonwealth’s workforce since the Great Depression.
• More information about Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can be found at mass.gov/peuc.

• The Mayor announced 19 new grantees, which will receive a total of $880,000. Consistent with the City’s equity focus, 58% of the organizations are led by a person of color and 58% are women-led organizations.
• These grants focus on helping seniors who are homebound, people experiencing homelessness, and building on some of the early food grants that were distributed in the past two months.
• In total, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised a total of $30.8 million from nearly 6,000 donations, and distributed $18.5 million to 200 organizations. To learn more, donate, or request grant funding, go to Boston.gov/BostonResiliencyFund.

• The City of Boston’s Small Business Relief Fund has now given out nearly $4 million in grants to over 1,100 small businesses in every neighborhood across the City of Boston. These are grants, not loans, so they don’t create debt.
• They are from the industries most heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including restaurants, hair salons and barbershops, arts and recreation facilities, retail stores, childcare and home care providers, and more.
• 95% of these businesses have 15 or fewer employees, 52% are owned by people of color, 49% are women-owned, and 46% are immigrant-owned.

• Join virtual Memorial Day events that will be happening on Monday and through the weekend.
• Show your appreciation for service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice by decorating the outside of your homes with flags and patriotic symbols in a neighborhood show of support.
• Reminder: The City’s Office of Veterans Services remains fully operational and that veterans and their families can call 617-241-VETS (8387) or email veterans@boston.gov if they are in need of assistance or counseling.

• Stay home. If you must go outside, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.
• Wear a face covering if you absolutely must go outside. Face covers help reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they are asymptomatic. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.
• Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. The City of Boston’s EMTs and hospitals have the capacity and ability to treat everyone.
• Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor’s Health Line 617-534-5050. Buoy Health has created a free online diagnostic tool which screens for COVID19 at buoy.com/mass.
• Donate supplies to first responders here.
• Donate to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund here.
• Volunteer with the City of Boston here.
• Fresh Truck Open Air Markets schedule.
• City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm. Learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here.
• Join the Renter’s Rights Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 6 pm here.
• Fill out the 2020 Census. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted.
• Tell the Parks Department where you would like to see more open space in our neighborhood here.

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