Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 30 Issue 9 Thursday, February 28, 2013 50¢ Schools will be focus of his campaign, says Connolly By Gintautas Dumcius news eDitor John Connolly didn’t get much sleep on Mon- day night. A few hours, tops. On Tuesday morning, before driving to Brigh- ton for the announce- ment of his mayoral bid, the 39-year-old city councillor at-large drove City Councillor John his kids to school and Connolly and his wife then headed back to his Meg at his announce- West Roxbury home to ment on Tuesday. practice the speech in Connolly for Boston image front of his wife, Meg. Then, shortly after 10 or not he’ll be seeking a.m., with about 30 Bos- a sixth term, Connolly DOT sTeps up TO AID fIre VICTIMs – Neighbors have rallied to help out 14 people displaced by a ton parents behind him was frequently pressed fast-moving fire that destroyed their home at 49 Mather st. on feb. 10. Above, (l-r) youngsters Mateo, outside of Brighton High throughout the day on Diego, and Nia Benzan Buyu and ella Moye-Gibbons are shown with boxes of clothing and supplies that School, Connolly took his thoughts on the were dropped off to the Moye-Gibbons home. A fund launched through the Dorchester House has gen- the plunge, becoming longtime occupant of erated nearly $4,000 to assist the survivors of the blaze. see letter, page 8. Photo courtesy Jenny Moye the first heavyweight to City Hall’s top job. enter in this year’s race “Listen, he’s abso- for mayor and opening up lutely up to the job, we Panel OKs ‘Home-Based’ assign plan one of the four at-large know that,” Connolly seats on the council. said when asked about By Gintautas Dumcius schools within a mile system, meaning that in mid-March. While Mayor Thomas the mayor’s age and a news eDitor radius of the address, the city will basically The 27-member ad- Menino has not pub- pair of lengthy hospital An advisory panel on top of new citywide operate two parallel visory panel, called the licly declared whether (Continued on page 5) on the city’s school as- schools. transportation systems External Advisory Com- signment system this If approved by the for the next six years. mittee on School Choice, week signed off on a School Committee, which The seven-member voted overwhelmingly Mixed-use building plan providing students is the proposal’s next School Committee was on Monday night for with a minimum of six stop, the plan will go into scheduled to receive the plan dubbed “Home- choices. The plan uses an effect in the 2014-2015 the recommendation at Based/A.” Over a year on Mt. Vernon would algorithm and students’ school year. Students its meeting yesterday, ago, Mayor Thomas home addresses to deter- and their siblings will and after a round of Menino tasked the panel, house rentals, retail mine the set of choices, be grandfathered under community meetings, co-chaired by Boston By mike Deehan mouth of Mount Vernon which will also include the current three-zone approve a final version (Continued on page 9) special to the reporter Street and plan to use Possible changes and the building as an urban development coming to retail hub and entrance In the ring with the Boxing O’Briens Columbia Point won’t to Columbia Point, a stop at the boundary of company representative By Jackie Gentile getting ready for that UMass Boston as plans told a group of local special to the reporter and winning,” she said. for a new apartment and residents. With two Golden Two other notable retail building near the According to the com- Gloves titles under her Grealish gym veterans JFK-UMass MBTA sta- pany’s plans, the new belt, Maureen O’Brien is came up big at the 67th tion begin to take shape. building would be built flying high. The 30-year- annual competition held Developer Corcoran in front the existing old Dorchester native at the Lowell Audito- Jennison Companies Corcoran Jenison office won the Lowell Golden rium. Daniel Higgins have their eye on build- building on Mt. Vernon Gloves on February 15 and Ramon Rodriguez ing a new 184 unit apart- Street and would create in the light welterweight both won their respective ment complex at the division. bouts. (Continued on page 17) “It feels good,” she said. Now a resident of Hull, “It was exciting having O’Brien travels back to INSIDE all the hard work pay her hometown daily to off.” the Grealish Boxing Club Maureen O’Brien and her father, John O’Brien. City wrestlers, who O’Brien beat Deanna and Fitness center to Photo by Bill Forry make up a team from Supernor of Worcester, train with owner Martin the Holyoke Golden year, O’Brien was “a work with her trainer, and a familiar face: her four schools, are win- Gloves champ of the better caliber fighter she was ready for victory. father, John. ning titles and confi- this year.” After a lot of “It’s a little more in- Western New England Boxing runs through dence. story, photos, All contents copyright team. Though she was running, sparring, being tense because you’ve the 30-year-old’s veins. © 2013 Boston more nervous than last in the gym and doing pad got your sights set on (Continued on page 11) page 3. Neighborhood News, Inc. page 2 THe repOrTer February 28, 2013 Collins and Forry tout On The Record neighborhood alliances, Ralph Browne recalled public safety efforts in at State House tribute appeals to Dot voters By mike Deehan for local office who introduced them- special to the reporter selves at the meeting included At-Large Two of the candidates hoping to City Councillors Ayanna Pressley replace former State Senator Jack and Felix Arroyo, district Councillor Hart on Beacon Hill made their pitches Charles Yancey and At-Large candidate to Dorchester voters in Savin Hill on Michelle Wu. Monday, appearing before a joint caucus Backers of Forry and Collins were in of the Ward 13 and Ward 17 Democratic attendance to support their candidate. committees to introduce themselves “Linda has been a good friend, men- as their campaigns for the April 30 tor and a leader in this community,” primary election move into gear. said Stephanie Everett, a former City South Boston Rep. Nick Collins Council candidate who has held down began his remarks by saying that various jobs in state government. “We he doesn’t view the race as South couldn’t ask for a better senator and Boston vs. Dorchester but as a race to an additional minority woman in the determine who can best represent the senate,” Everett said. four neighborhoods that make up the Savin Hill’s Donna Shaw said she has First Suffolk District, which comprises known Collins since he was born and Dorchester, South Boston, Mattapan, vouched for his hard-working family, and a portion of Hyde Park. which includes former state Rep. Jim Forry, who represents Dorchester Collins, who represented Charlestown. and parts of Mattapan, Milton, and “He believes strongly in community. He Hyde Park, described the race as an was raised that way,” Shaw said, adding opportunity to bring about a new that she supports Collins “because he partnership to tackle issues important is the candidate you can trust to have to the neighborhoods, including educa- labor’s back.” tion and small business. Another Savin Hill resident, Jeff Collins told the committee members Klein, said he wasn’t swayed one way that he has friends in each of the or the other by the candidates. The neighborhoods, and he cited the legisla- retired machinist said his “default was tive and community achievements he’s for Linda” but he is willing to hear more The life and legacy of the late ralph Browne, Jr., was honored last Wednesday accomplished since taking office in from Collins. “I want to hear about the during a special African-American History month tribute to the Common- 2011, such as saving the Roger Clapp labor stuff,” Klein said. “It’s one issue, wealth’s African-American veterans at the state House. Mrs. ralph Browne, School from closure and working to not the only issue for me.” Jr., center, holds a photo of her late husband, a Korean War Veteran. she is keep it open as an innovation school. Two Savin Hill voters who won’t be surrounded by her children along with state representative Gloria fox and Collins also touted his work in the publicly supporting either candidate u.s. Navy Veteran setti Warren, Mayor of Newton. rep. fox presented the Legislature to provide funds for his are state Rep. Marty Walsh and District Browne family with a citation from the Massachusetts Legislature signed by district through the budget process 3 Councillor Frank Baker. Both say House speaker DeLeo honoring ralph Browne’s life and legacy. A Dorchester they are sitting the race out and count native who served as the commander of the William e. Carter American Le- and said constituents want a senator gion post #16 in Mattapan, Browne represented African-Americans veterans who can do that. “I have a track record Forry and Collins as friends. on the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Boston NAACp. He served as Chief of delivering in the budget,” he said. “Both are great candidates, both Marshal of the Dorchester Day parade in 2012. Photo by Jody Morris Forry, who is married to Bill Forry, will represent Dorchester well,” the publisher and editor of the Reporter, Walsh said.