NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO LIST YOUR HOME/CONDO OR MULTI-FAMILY FOR SALE WITH US CALL/TEXT OR EMAIL US TO START THE PROCESS! Yo Hablo Español SANDRA CASTILLO JEFF BOWEN 617-780-6988 Boston Harbor Real Estate | 188 Sumner Street | East Boston 781-201-9488 CHELSEAREALESTATE.COM | [email protected] Chelsea record YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1890 VOLUME 118, No. 46 THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 35 CENTS INDEPENDENT Rebranded Newspaper Group New City storefront improvement www.chelsearecord.com program debuts with ‘Rodeo’ By Seth Daniel Delny Geldamez, of Ro- deo. “We see they’re really The old standard Broad- trying to change the image way Chelsea awning above in Chelsea. Since we did Cuscatlán Restaurant was a it, we have more Ameri- beacon of mixed message can customers and a bigger Community for decades in the Broad- mix of people coming in. way business district. It’s brought a lot of excite- Center would There was nothing wrong ment.” with the look, or the restau- Added Daniel Magana of require major rant, but it didn’t scream out Rodeo, “Everybody looks to be new, exciting and fun. at it and says it’s nice. It’s financial Rebranded as ‘Rodeo’ different. That’s import- and now with a brand- ant.” commitment new storefront, the Chel- “I want to call out to all sea Square restaurant has the businesses to participate turned over a new leaf and and change their sign too so By Adam Swift has found great momentum that the entire street looks State Housing Secretary Mike Kennealy walks down Broadway with TILL President Dafna that they hope carries over different,” added Gelda- Rather than spending top Krouk-Gordan on Friday afternoon during an economic development tour of the down- into the rest of the district. mez. dollar to open a new com- town district as part of the Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) program. The TDI “We are excited to part- Cuscatlán had the same munity center in Chelsea, program is sparking a unique branding and coordination for the downtown district, and ner in the program,” said City Manager Thomas Am- TILL unveiled a new coffee and pastry pop-up shop in its lobby on Broadway. See RODEO Page 3 brosino said the City should look to use existing avenues to bring more programs to residents of all ages. State, City leaders note changes in Earlier this month, Dis- trict 6 Councillor Giovanni downtown business district during tour Recupero asked Ambrosino The visit was part of a better Chelsea and a better to explore the possibility of By Seth Daniel check-up on the Transfor- downtown district. That’s the City building a commu- If ever there was mo- mative District Initiative what we’re all working to- nity center and a homeless mentum for change in the (TDI) program that Chelsea wards.” shelter to better serve Chel- downtown business district, has been a part of for the Matos told the crowd sea residents. then Friday afternoon was past 18 months, with Fellow they are working hard to “With respect to the the showcase for that prog- Carlos Matos leading the create the backdrop for a re- Community Center, I know ress. effort in partnership with vitalized downtown, in con- this has been an aspiration State Housing Secretary numerous business leaders junction with the Chamber, for the City Council for Mike Kennealy (who suc- and Business Incubator di- the businesses and the City. quite some time,” stated Delny Geldamez (center) and Daniel Magana (right) of ceeded former Chelsea City rector Deise Paraguay. He cited the public safety Ambrosino. “The constraint Rodeo Restaurant in Chelsea Square (formerly Cuscatlán) Manager Jay Ash in that “I will start by quoting police walking patrols, the truly is funding. If the City premiered their new storefront about three weeks ago position) and MassDevel- Einstein in that he said, public art initiatives led by wishes to create a Commu- as the City’s first storefront improvement client in the opment President Lauren ‘Improvement is more im- Chelsea Prospers, the Night nity Center, it will need to Broadway business district. There are five other business- Liss joined a host of City, portant than knowledge,’” Market and Pupusa Fiesta make two significant finan- es on Broadway ready to take the same leap this spring, state and business leaders at led off Matos in his presen- events and the simple col- cial commitments.” and there are high hopes the City Council will make the the Chamber of Commerce tation. “That just struck a or-coding of the old gazebo Those commitments are program permanent so others can also take advantage. Friday afternoon for a short chord in me because in the in Bellingham Square. the acquisition of a site presentation and a tour of downtown the improve- and the long-term financial the downtown. ments create a vision of a See TOUR Page 5 commitment to staff and equipment. Black History Month “The alternative to cre- CBC President Cromwell announces ating a brand new commu- Bloom On Baseball Chelsea Trailblazer Award recipients See CENTER Page 2 Sox chief baseball officer is a big hit at JGBC Breakfast Series back to his community and Bloom spoke about his “I think the way this was By Cary Shuman By Cary Shuman going to share the story of new position with the Sox handled was true to the Planning Board his life from Kenya to Chel- Boston Red Sox Chief before entertaining ques- family spirit of the organi- Chelsea Black Commu- sea.” Baseball Officer Chaim tions from the audience. zation,” said Bloom. “We nity (CBC) President Joan tables big Congresswoman Ayanna Bloom was the guest “I knew from the outside will get through this and Cromwell has put together Pressley, who has become projects due speaker at the Jordan Boys that this [Boston Red Sox] find the best way to go for- another exciting schedule of and Girls Club Breakfast was a wonderful organiza- ward and come out of this Black History Month events nationally known in her first to lack of Series Monday at the club. tion,” said Bloom. “I basi- stronger - eventually.” for the annual celebration. term as a member of the Bloom’s appearance cally spent the last 15 years Early in the ques- One of the most antici- House of Representatives, quorum…again drew a very large crowd, of my life trying to destroy tion-and-answer session, pated events will be the spe- has been invited to the fes- affirming the popularity the Boston Red Sox with Bloom was asked about cial recognition ceremony tivities. Pressley has a large following in Chelsea and is By Adam Swift of the historic American varying degrees of success Red Sox star Mookie Betts’ on Feb. 20 honoring “Chel- League baseball franchise over that time. I also knew future in the organization, sea Trailblazers.” a dynamic speaker. It was a quiet night for the in the region. the quality of people in the with the questioner men- Cromwell has announced Last year, Pressley at- Planning Board Tuesday, as JGBC Breakfast Chair organization was very high. tioning a possible contract that six individuals will be tended the Community the two biggest projects on Mark Robinson introduced The reason the Red Sox of $421 million (presum- receiving the prestigious Cook-Off Dinner held at La the agenda were continued Bloom, a 36-year-old grad- have been so successful ably for 10 years). awards at the celebration. Luz de Cristo Iglesia, 738 to a future meeting. uate of Yale University over the past two decades “I thought that was go- The recipients are: Susan Broadway. This year’s din- ing to be the first question,” A number of residents who was previously the se- are the great people in the Gallant, Jose Iraheta, Lin- ner is scheduled for Feb. 17 Bloom said with a smile. had filed into the Senior nior vice president of base- organization and the cul- da Alioto-Robinson, Bev- at 5 p.m. “There’s a lot on this top- Other CBC events are the Center to express concerns ball operations for the Tam- ture. It’s really true that it is erly Martin Ross, Celeste ic that I’m not going to be City Hall Art Reception on about a 33-unit residen- pa Bay Rays. Despite being a family.” Williams, and the Simboli able to discuss for a number Feb. 4, the Power of Music tial unit development at a small-market team, the Bloom said it has been a Foundation. of reasons including that in Black History program 932 Broadway, the former Rays were quite successful challenging time with the “They’ll be honored Feb. Genesis nursing home, but recent departure of manag- I think anything, wheth- on Feb. 27 at the Senior under Bloom’s administra- 20 - we have real trailblaz- that proposal was contin- er Alex Cora due to his in- er a contract question or a Center, and the Evening of tion, winning 96 games and ers this year as we do every ued because there were not advancing to the playoffs in volvement in the Houston trade question – it’s not fair Performing Arts on Feb. 28 year,” said Cromwell. “We enough board members 2019. Astros’ sign-stealing issue. to anybody, including our at the Clark Avenue School. present to vote on the major players, to talk about that want everybody to be a part There is complimentary site plan review. A quorum publicly. of this community celebra- admission to all CBC Black of six voting members of “I know how good tion.” History Month events.