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THURSDAY, JANuary 14, 2021 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY SERVING BACK BAY - SOUTH END - FENWAY - KENMORE In final State of the City THREE KINGS SPREAD CHEER AT VILLA VICTORIA address, Walsh speaks of Boston’s resiliency By Lauren Bennett he teared up speaking of his life in Boston and his seven years as Mayor Martin Walsh deliv- the city’s mayor. ered what was probably his In his 2020 address, the final State of the City address mayor made promises to the virtually on January 12 from city regarding affordable hous- the new Roxbury branch of the ing, education, transportation Boston Public Library. and more, but the COVID-19 Last week, President-elect pandemic came out of left field Joe Biden nominated Walsh last March and shifted the way for Labor Secretary, and on the Walsh administration had Tuesday night, Walsh told Bos- to think about the city. Traditions are part of what makes the South End community strong, even during challenging times. Every tonians that he has accepted “COVID has affected all year, the Three Kings visit Villa Victoria in the South End the first week of January and bring so much joy to the position. The position still of us, but there’s no doubt, it residents. This year, even the pandemic couldn’t stop the celebration. Following safety protocols last week, the needs confirmation from the hit some harder than others. Three Kings were able to go door-to-door to deliver gifts to all of the children of Villa Victoria, lift the spirits United States Senate, but if that In Black, Latino, and immi- of all who caught a glimpse of them, and remind everyone of the holidays that will be celebrated together in happens, Walsh will step down grant communities, inequities the future. and City Council President in health, housing, and work Kim Janey will become acting opportunities caused more ill- mayor. Walsh assumed office ness and job loss,” Walsh said. Biden taps Mayor Walsh to become U.S. in 2014, and was reelected in “Older Bostonians and those 2017. with disabilities face the high- Labor Secretary in Washington, D.C. “2020 was a tough year. est risk and the most isolation. 2021 is a year for healing,” Most students have been out of Walsh’s job performance already Mayor has accepted the position, Walsh said in his speech, which, classrooms since March, and at times, became emotional as garnering praise from Bostonians awaits U.S. Senate Confirmation (STATE OF THE CITY, Pg. 4) By Dan Murphy By Seth Daniel After delivering what was likely his final State President-elect Joe Biden has called on Mayor of the City address on Tuesday night, Mayor Martin Walsh to join his Cabinet and lead his Martin J. Walsh is stepping down after seven incoming Labor Department – and Walsh has years as the city’s political leader, and his perfor- answered the call for his long-time ally and mance on the job is already receiving a largely friend. laudatory response. Rumors had been swirling all last week, partic- “I think he will be remembered overall pos- ularly in the State House, about Walsh’s impend- itively,” Rep. Jay Livingstone said of Mayor ing departure – which most thought would be (PRAISE, Pg. 9) (WALSH TAPPED, Pg. 7) Alexandria to purchase Landmark Center By Lauren Bennett includes 401 Park Drive and acquire 401 Park Drive, 201 201 Brookline Ave., from Sam- Brookline Avenue, and one Alexandria Real Estate Equi- uels & Associates for $1.52 future development oppor- ties, a real investment trust billion, according to the US tunity, located in the heart of company that focuses on life Securities and Exchange Com- our Greater Boston life science science and technology office PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF BOSTON/JEREMIAH ROBINSON mission (SEC). cluster market, for a purchase Boston Mayor Martin Walsh delivers what is likely his final State of the space, is poised to purchase “In January 2021, we entered City address. the Landmark Center, which into a definitive agreement to (LANDMARK CENTER, Pg. 3) PAGE 2 THE BOSTON SUN JANUARY 14, 2021 editorial WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. As we were watching on TV the dramatic events unfold in Washington last week when the Trump Mob stormed the Capitol, threatening the lives of the Vice President, members of Congress, and the police who tried to hold them back (and actually murder- ing one of the members of the Capitol Police), the image of a gath- ering 58 years earlier in August, 1963, illuminated our mind’s eye. We are referring to the March on Washington, when more than 250,000 Americans from all across the country gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on a steamy summer day to demand “jobs and freedom,” an event that was climaxed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s immortal “I Have a Dream” speech. The March on Washington was famous not only for Dr. King’s iconic words, but also because the unprecedented mass gathering of Americans was completely peaceful. Pundits and others had predicted rioting, but there were no arrests, no incidents, no vio- lence -- a stark contrast to the events of last Wednesday perpetrat- ed by Trump’s Mob. The March on Washington and Dr. King’s subsequent peace- ful protests galvanized support for the goals of “jobs and free- dom,” eventually resulting in laws such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act that ended segregation in the South and discrimination in the North. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We would note that even the best efforts of a revered figure such as Dr. King could not stem the tide of violent rioting that marked ing down the place? tually all Boston’s residents are the 1960s, most notably Watts in 1965, Detroit in 1967, and Chi- WHAT IS USES BRAGGING ABOUT? The messages along the automatically enrolled in the cago in 1968. fence are what a friend of mine Dear Editor, program. Yet Dr. King’s legacy of peaceful protest is what endures today. calls balloon talk. Don’t forget The Harriet Tubman House But the exciting part of the For those of us old enough to remember the 1960s, it’s hard to the mandatory ‘Black Lives has now been completely CCE program is the “opt up” believe that it has been almost 53 years since Dr. King was assas- Matter.’ demolished. In the process, option to the Green 100 plan sinated while he was standing on a balcony in a motel room in Alison Barnet which provides electricity to Memphis. Dr. King was in Memphis to show his solidarity with while wrecking crews did their dirty work, United South End South End residents that is 100% from striking city trash collection workers. renewable sources for only a Every school child for the past generation knows well the story Settlements hung banners along the fence telling of the wonders few cents more per kWh! of Dr. Martin Luther King. But an elementary school textbook of its many programs and core MAKING A I compared our electricity cannot truly convey the extent to which he brought about real values. Is the demolition of its bill for 2020 to what it would change in our country. To anyone under the age of 50, Dr. King is DIFFERENCE IN have been if we were on the building one of those wonders? CLIMATE CHANGE just another historical figure. We read ‘Join us in the fight new Green 100 plan. Our bill Dear Editor, But for those of us who can recall the 1960s, a time when for racial equity. Harness your would have increased by less The City of Boston has racial segregation was lawful throughout half of our country and power to disrupt the cycle of $10.00 per month, or roughly a stealthy racism prevailed throughout the other half, Martin poverty.’ And just how do you announced a new program that $0.32 per day. To me that is a Luther King stands out as one of the great leaders in American do that? By tearing down your will reduce Boston’s contribu- small price to pay for electricity history, a man whose stirring words and perseverance to his cause building and putting up luxury tion to climate change. The from 100% renewable sources. changed forever the historical trajectory of race relations in Amer- condos? Community Choice Electricity The CCE program begins ica, a subject that some historians refer to as the Original Sin of Many tout programs that (CCE) program delivers elec- February 1 and the majority of the American experience. used to operate inside the Tub- tricity from sources with 28% Boston residents are automati- However, as much as things have changed for the better in the man House, although with less renewable energy content vs cally enrolled in the plan which past 53 years in terms of racial equality in our society, the events affected-sounded names like: today’s 18% renewable ener- delivers electricity from 28% of last Wednesday also made it clear that we still have a long way whole family approach, family gy for slightly less than today’s renewable energy. For those who to go before it can be said, as Dr. King put it in his speech at the mobility.