Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood”
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Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 29 Issue 43 Thursday, October 25, 2012 50¢ Lehane takes on the Roaring Twenties By Bill Forry big-studio film some day soon, man of letters since old Eddie tell their fans to chill the hell Managing Editor but any sting that Lehane Everett himself has developed out over an ill-advised Globe “South Boston punk becomes might suffer from the blunt a loyal — some might say review?) a Florida crime boss.” That’s summary is soothed by the crazed —international fan Lehane’s fan base will get how one newspaper boiled source: The New York Times base after ten books, three of bigger still with the release of down Dennis Lehane’s latest Book Review noting that his which have become celluloid “Live By Night.” In a United novel. Sure, that’s one way of latest novel has debuted at No. blockbusters at the hands of States enflamed yet again by summarizing “Live by Night,” 8 on the paper’s bestseller list. Scorsese, Eastwood, and Af- bootleggers, Tommy guns, the Roaring Twenties gangster No big surprise there. fleck. (How many other writers and flapper chicks, Lehane page-turner that will also be a Dorchester’s most celebrated have to take to Facebook to (Continued on page 17) Dennis Lehane: History calls No consensus yet on maps for City Council Competing plans will go down to the wire next week By gintautaS duMciuS nEwS Editor City councillors yesterday continued their internal debates as they worked to produce yet another map – their third this year – that would shift the boundaries of several districts for the 2013 municipal election. The council adjourned without making a decision and scheduled another working session for next week. The mayor’s vetoes of two previous maps have set off a scramble and increased tensions among the councillors who have struggled to put together a proposal that would pass mayoral muster. In both vetoes, Menino cited the concentration Gregg Bernstein at work on the side of The Sweet Life restaurant. Photo by Bill Forry of people of color in District 4 as a top concern. Yesterday’s meeting came a day after a stressful working Lower Mills mural to depict bygone village session during which councillors tossed precinct and population Gregg Bernstein drew his in- Dorchester Ave. in September. Bernstein says the new numbers back and forth in an effort to reach consensus as a spiration for a new mural he’s Bernstein is not sure of the mural will take between 4-5 deadline loomed: A map must be in place by Nov. 5, one year painting this week in Lower precise date of the postcard, weeks to complete, weather before the 2013 elections, so that potential candidates can live Mills from an old postcard. but he says it depicts Lower permitting. The building itself in their redrawn districts for a year as required by law. Bernstein, the man behind Mills during the hey-day of the is made of brick, but the north The City Council is required to redraw the nine council districts many of Boston’s largest and Walter Baker Chocolate Fac- facing wall he’s painting is every ten years in order to account for the city’s population most celebrated wall murals, tory in the early 20th century. covered in a stucco finish, shifts as documented in the US Census figures. has been commissioned to “There is a boxy-looking which he says is “really nice On Tuesday, District 7 Councillor Tito Jackson pushed a map paint the scene by the owners streetcar in the image. I’d say and smooth. It has a little tooth that radically redrew Dorchester’s District 3, represented by of The Sweet Life, a restaurant it’s about 100 years ago. The to it and it helps pick up the freshman Councillor Frank Baker. That district would pick up a and café that opened at the buildings all look the same, texture. It’s really great.” Roxbury precinct, the Polish Triangle, and Uphams Corner from corner of Richmond Street and though, which is really cool.” – BILL FORRY surrounding districts, including (Continued on page 5) Medical marijuana stirs fans, foes to debate INSIDE By andy MEtzgEr speaking from the microphone The closing of the StatE HouSE nEwS SErvicE and backed by a phalanx of Dorchester Argus- Opponents of a ballot ini- recovering drug addicts. He tiative to legalize medical described the proposed legisla- Citizen and affiliated marijuana claimed on Monday tion as “vague, ambiguous and newspapers marks that proponents ultimately open to exploitation.” the end of an era in hope to legalize the drug for all Proponents of Question 3 uses, but proponents accused waited until the opponents’ Dorchester. them of using “hysteria and event was over to make their An editorial, Page 8. fear” to keep people from case for legalizing and regulat- necessary medicine. ing marijuana for medicinal The two sides met in front use. They pointed out the of the State House steps on a proposed legislation would sunny afternoon, where doc- create a felony for anyone who tors and lawmakers on each tries to fraudulently use it, and side made their case, backed State Rep. Marty Walsh speaking out against a marijuana said the state Department of by those who said they suffered ballot question on Monday. Mike Deehan/SHNS photo Public Health would regulate through the lack of proper pain of drug addiction, on the other. juana treatment centers, where treatment centers relief, on one side, and those can 2locate and how long a All contents copyright “There is no restriction where they ought to go,” said © 2012 Boston who had experienced the perils whatsoever on these mari- Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), (Continued on page 9) Neighborhood News, Inc. Your bank is headed in a new direction. Maybe it’s time you headed for the exits. If you’re looking to simplify part of your life, say goodbye to banks with complicated fee structures and impersonal service, and hello to Meetinghouse Bank. We’re the only community bank in the area, and we plan to keep banking simple and stress free. Call or stop by today. Member FDIC 2250 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 Member SIF 617-298-2250 · www.meetinghousebank.com MB Exit Ad 10x2 4c.indd 1 12/2/11 10:03 AM Page 2 THE REPoRTER October 25, 2012 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Taking the temperature Scarecrows stand watch in Brown’s Southie base in Cedar Grove By gintautaS duMciuS In the parts of South Boston and nEwS Editor Dorchester that Linehan represents, Over the weekend, the campaigns Brown won by 1,285 votes in 2010. of Scott Brown and Elizabeth Ward 6 makes up a large chunk of Warren brought in star power in a bid Southie, and Brown picked up 3,804 to roust their respective supporters votes to Coakley’s 3,021 two years ahead of Election Day. ago. For his part, US Sen. Brown’s rally on Main Linehan, whose current district Street in Melrose featured Arizona also includes Chinatown and the Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Re- South End, won reelection last year publican nominee for president, and by 87 votes, fending off a challenge Warren’s campaign featured Min- from newcomer Suzanne Lee. nesota Sen. Al Franken, the former As for Congressman Stephen Saturday Night Live comedian, on Lynch, he has stayed largely Main Street in Southbridge. quiet about whom he’s backing in But all politics being local, that’s the Senate campaign, as he focuses where things get interesting. on getting to know the new parts Brown’s campaign headquarters is added to his district by State House located at 337 Summer St. in South lawmakers last year, such as Quincy Boston, a blue-collar neighborhood and Hingham. he won handily in 2010. Attorney Lynch, who has served in Congress General Martha Coakley, the since 2001 after holding positions Democratic nominee in the special in the state Senate and House, did election to replace the late US Sen. note earlier this year that he would Edward Kennedy, won Boston with endorse Warren eventually. And in a 69 percent of the vote, but Brown June appearance on WBZ, Lynch told triumphed in Southie, which is known Jon Keller, “I already have.” But so for its conservative Democrats. far, he has not appeared on her public Perhaps that’s why some of the schedule, unlike his Congressional longtime elected officials in the area colleague Michael Capuano, who appear to be walking a tightrope as has greeted Warren supporters in East the Wrentham Republican battles Taunton, Bridgewater, and Boston for a full six-year term. Warren, a University. Cambridge Democrat and a Harvard Lynch and Capuano both represent professor, is the Democratic nominee parts of Dorchester. this time around, and polls show her Jack Hart, who worked with Brown ahead. in the state Senate, is similarly quiet. The South Boston Democrats who Now the Senate assistant majority have left office – former Mayor Ray leader, Hart took Lynch’s seat when Flynn and former state Rep. Brian Lynch ran for Congress. The annual Cedar Grove Gardens Harvest Festival takes place this Sunday (oct. 28) from 1-3 p.m. at the namesake store at 911 Adams Street. The event Wallace – are backing Brown. The For Brown, South Boston is not features hayrides at the cemetery across the street— always a popular draw two of them joined Brown at Castle completely impenetrable: state Rep. for scores of kids in costume. The festival also features a scarecrow contest— Island on a sunny day in April to show Nick Collins, who succeeded Wallace visitors can vote on their favorite among several spooky creations — like the their support and add their names to at the State House, is backing Warren.