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Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 35 Issue 52 Thursday, December 27, 2018 50¢ Running to pRoMote Dot Vietnamese uncertain, fearful the huMan spiRit of move to deport ‘criminal aliens’ us cites convictions; refugees cite perils By Jennifer Smith deporting many long- reporter Staff term immigrants from Vietnamese-Amer- Southeast Asian coun- icans say a Trump tries like Vietnam and administration move Cambodia last year, toward deporting some asserting that “criminal Vietnamese political aliens” are subject to refugees who came to the standard immigration country in the aftermath law and not protected of the Vietnam War has under the agreement. left a pall of uncertainty The plan reared its and fear in Dorchester’s head again in recent Southeast Asian com- months, and the De- munity. partment of Homeland Novia Nguyen and Diep Tung spoke at a Dec. 15 Security (DHS) said that event held at the Vietnamese Community Center Under a 2008 agree- in Dorchester. Harold Than photo ment between Washing- 7,000 convicted criminals ton and Hanoi, the US is who are non-US citizens immigration judge,” Corner resident, artist, barred from deporting should be deported back said Katie Waldman, a and community orga- Vietnamese people who to Vietnam. spokeswoman for DHS, nizer, has been tracking arrived in the United “These are non-citizens in a statement. “It’s the administration’s States before July 12, who during previous a priority of this ad- about-face since US 1995, when the countries administrations were ministration to remove ambassador to Vietnam, resumed diplomatic ties. arrested, convicted, criminal aliens to their Ted Osius, resigned in The administration and ultimately ordered home country.” protest last fall. raised the prospect of removed by a federal Ngoc-Tran Vu, a Fields (Continued on page 16) McCarthy running again in busy District 5; it’s likely to be ‘my last, my last role,’ he says By Jennifer Smith told my kids when I was could serve to inspire newS editor coaching: ‘Make sure the care for the PCC cars in dugout looks better than Mattapan, he added. Michael Besson of Dorchester, who is training to Five years in and run in the BAA Boston Marathon next year, runs facing the potential of it was when we got here.’” District 5 is an amalgam along the reservoir in Chestnut Hill with his coach, multiple challengers in To hear him talk, of three demographically Rick Muhr. Besson, 57, was born blind in his native the upcoming municipal traffic, transit, and the different neighborhoods Haiti. Photo courtesy Nalida Besson election, District 5 City basic functionality of the - Mattapan, Hyde Park, Councillor Timothy Mc- street are at the forefront and Roslindale. Of Irish Carthy says he still of the councillor’s mind. descent, McCarthy he’s prepping for brings a public works If a neighborhood does points to his team, which sensibility to his job. not have a good flow, he comprises a seasoned “I think you look at notes, people just move public works employee, Marathon run, with what I care about the through it without stop- an attentive Boston Pub- most, which is infra- ping for a bite, a coffee, or Timothy McCarthy lic Schools parent, and a twist to his dream structure, and what you some holiday shopping. a Haitian staffer fluent By dan Sheehan see outside your front A visit to Vancouver the mixed-use housing in Creole, as critical to reporter Staff door, I would say that blew his mind, McCarthy there where residents representing the district. One of the easiest ways to grasp the extent of District 5 looks and feels said, with the Cana- living above a store “My district is the Michael Besson’s passion and intensity is to watch better than it did when I dian city’s approach to have priority for its jobs. most diverse district, him play the guitar. His fingers a blur, he strums got there,” he said during encouraging its popula- Vancouver’s older tram and I tell people all and picks the guitar strings at such speeds that an interview with the tion to walk, bike, or cars with their antique the time, “If you want they twang plaintively and seem likely to snap Reporter at his council ride public transit to replica exteriors over to see what Hyde Park from the force. office. “Which is what I work. He emphasized new and modern bones (Continued on page 4) The muscles on his forearm bulge and the tendons in his neck strain as concentration contorts his face into a joyful grimace. He plays so fast that family West Roxbury education Complex members have dubbed him “Lightning Fingers.” Last Thursday evening, Besson was seated in to close in June his living room in Dorchester, performing amid Christmas decorations as his wife Nalida looked on. The Boston School Committee voted students and activists who argued After concluding the first song with a flourish of his last week to close the West Roxbury that closing the complex was unfair wrist, he looked up with a bashful smile. Educational Complex (WREC), and and showed a bias against students “I’m not warmed up yet,” he said apologetically. the two high schools inside it, at the of color. Story, Page 3 All contents A Haitian native, the 57-year-old Besson has end of this school year, citing building ••• copyright © 2018 played the guitar since learning at the age of five deterioration so widespread that it Boston could pose a threat to student safety. Editorial: Tough call by BPS of- in his native country of Haiti. Born blind, he spent ficials— but the right one— Page 8 Neighborhood (Continued on page 12) The vote was criticized by some News, Inc. In s! e D l o a r S c Your Neighborhood h & e s s l t e a t r n f o e r Real Estate Partner R www.galvingroupre.com / 617-436-2000 / 375 Neponset Ave. Dorchester 02122 Page 2 THE REPoRTER December 27, 2018 dotnews.com DOT BY the DaY home, sweet, home police Dec. 27, 2018 - Jan. 15, 2019 is his Christmas gift Courts A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. By Lynn JoLicoeur & Fire wBur Staff Thursday (27th) – The JFK Library welcomes Christmas presents National Marionette Theater for a 10:30 a.m. come in all shapes and Man shot to death performance of “Peter and the Wolf.” Played out sizes. For one Boston on Blue Hill Avenue on a handcrafted stage alongside the original score man, the best holiday gift A man was shot to of the famed composer, Prokofiev, these carefully this year is a big one. It’s death early last Friday manipulated puppets will introduce the audience a home. morning (Dec. 21) near to the Russian tale of young boy. Free, but reserve When we met 53-year- 198 Blue Hill Ave. The seats at jfklibrary.org. old Brian DeSilva over victim, who has not been named yet by authori- – Boston Baroque performs the summer, he was one Sunday (30th) ties, was rushed to a its sixth annual Free Community Concert at the of nearly 500 people on local hospital, where he Strand Theatre at 2 p.m. Order your complimentary the city’s official list of later died. Boston Police tickets online at bostonbaroque.org or in person at adults who are chroni- Brian DeSilva stands in his studio apartment with are asking for tips to be the Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public cally homeless. Boston is Monica Daniel, the property manager. called into detectives at Library, 500 Columbia Rd., Dorchester (Mon.-Sat.), working to find housing Jesse Costa/WBUR photo 617-343-4470. and all other BPL branches located in Dorchester. for all of them. Tickets are also available from the Strand Theatre And now, he is off get rejections for the people that are most Box Office on the day of the concert. the list. He has gotten smallest things - he still needy are getting public Two arrested after an apartment through pursued on to say, ‘No, housing,” said Sheila Talbot Avenue Tuesday (1st) – New Year’s Day. the city initiative. The there’s going to be a light Dillon, Boston’s chief of search warrant Wednesday (2nd) – Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. move-in was a long at the end of the tunnel.’ “ housing and director of Two men were arrested Gov. Karyn Polito will attend an interfaith ceremony time coming, but he has The light came into neighborhood develop- last Wednesday morning at 5 p.m. today at the Morningstar Baptist Church moved into the studio in a view recently when ment. She added that (Dec. 19) after a search in Mattapan. Baker and Polito will be sworn in at Boston Housing Author- DeSilva was approved she wishes every city and warrant was executed noon on Thursday, Jan. 3 in the House chamber, ity (BHA) building in the for Social Security dis- town in Massachusetts at a property in the 500 with an inaugural celebration set for 7:30 p.m. that South End this week. ability benefits (he is on would replicate that kind block of Talbot Avenue. night at the Museum of Science. DeSilva, who lived for the autism spectrum and of partnership with its Boston Police say that two years in a Dorchester has suffered from depres- housing authority. the search yielded crack – The Boston School Commit- Monday (7th) shelter run by Pine sion). At that point, Boston set a goal in cocaine, a bulletproof tee Citizens Nominating Panel is now accepting ap- Street Inn, went to see Wilson signed him up to 2015 of eliminating vest and a loaded Glock plications to fill an open seat on the Boston School his new apartment for attend a housing surge, chronic homelessness 22 gun.