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VOL. 124 - NO. 46 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 $.35 A COPY MBTA Releases Proposed Service Changes to Match New Ridership Patterns No Fare Changes are Included in Proposals and Service Adjustments are Not Permanent Public Outreach Underway through December 4 th — FMCB Will Vote on Proposals December 7 th The MBTA released a series of a series of virtual public meet- “COVID-19 has had a sig- transit-critical populations and currently using the T. The T’s proposed changes to its transit ings, a public hearing, a team nifi cant impact on ridership and communities.” base service includes approxi- service that are intended to of Community Liaisons who the MBTA is releasing these pro- The MBTA is proposing a mately eighty essential bus match service to new ridership are already gathering feedback posed changes to adjust to the series of service changes in addi- routes, The Ride, the whole of patterns resulting from the directly from riders, and an realities created by COVID-19, tion to preserving its base-level the rapid transit system includ- COVID-19 pandemic. The pro- online comment form for cus- while protecting service for those service, or its minimum level ing subway, and the Fairmont posed changes are part of the tomers to voice and share their who depend on it most,” said of service as determined by the Commuter Rail line. T’s Forging Ahead effort to defi ne thoughts with the T. Specifi c General Manager Steve Poftak. Fiscal and Management Control “The vast majority of MBTA and protect its core essential details of these proposals and “I want to reassure our riders Board. The MBTA will continue service will continue, and transit services. the public engagement pro- that these service changes are to provide suffi cient service for these service adjustments are A letter from MBTA General cesses are available at: mbta. not permanent, do not include the current, reduced ridership being proposed to preserve and Manager Steve Poftak to riders com/ForgingAhead. any fare changes, and will not on all modes except the ferry protect service for those who regarding the Forging Ahead As a result of the decline in rid- take effect immediately. We are system, which is being proposed depend most critically on the process and the proposed ser- ership that is similarly impact- carrying out a comprehensive to be temporarily closed. The MBTA by reducing primarily vice changes can be found online ing transit agencies across the outreach process and encour- proposed base service levels are non-essential services,” said on the MBTA website. The public country, the MBTA is now only age all members of the public designed to ensure adequate Transportation Secretary and is also encouraged to view these transporting 330,000 trips on to provide comments and feed- capacity for all essential services CEO Stephanie Pollack. “Using proposals and participate in an average weekday — but is back, as we want to hear from as well as a reduced level of limited resources to operate the public engagement process, continuing to run the same high riders to help us identify and non-essential service that is still which is now underway and run levels of service as it ran to serve protect the services that support viable for most of those who are (Continued on Page 10) through December 4th. 1.26 million daily trips prior to This comprehensive public the pandemic, an unsustainable engagement process includes level of service delivery. New Boutique Hotel Project Proposed in North End on Greenway by Matt Conti, NorthEndWaterfront.com News Briefs is enthusiastic about bringing by Sal Giarratani new activity to the park and working with the Friends of Cutillo Park group. Is Fining Unmasked Riders Profi ling? Preliminary plans call for a Shocked I was not as I scanned page 2 of Monday’s 125-140 room boutique hotel Boston Herald. A news story on the MBTA’s mask man- with a 50-60 seat hotel restau- date. Headline read: “Profi ling a Worry for T Fines.” rant and a second full-service According to advocates, they are quite concerned restaurant of a similar size. The over “profi ling” risks of an enforced mask mandate total building footprint will be and possible stiff fi nes for policy violators. Of course, approximately 13,363 square the T is profi ling, they’re looking for commuters not feet according to the LOI as wearing masks. fi led by Fort Point Associates However, it is not what Louise Boxter from the MBTA to the Boston Planning and Riders Union is quoted as saying when talking about Development Agency. profi ling. She was concerned about minorities, service Caulder said, “We have been workers and, as she said, farm workers, too who would reaching out to neighbors and be victimized by this horrible health protocol, I guess. Cross Street Ventures LLC with Cutillo Park in the rear. look forward to continuing The T has had an unenforced mask mandate for has fi led a Letter of Intent with A key feature of the project that as we move forward in months, which is pretty much saying there’s no city officials to build a six- would be to have an open-air the process.” The team is work- mandate to worry about. It is about time for some story hotel between Salem and passageway in the center of ing on renderings, including enforcement. Endicott Streets along Cross the development connecting possible roof gardens, hotel While Boxter is upset over the idea of heavy fi nes for Street in Boston’s North End. the Greenway side to Morton amenities, and Italian-style poor people, she thinks it is the MBTA’s responsibil- We spoke with the principal of Street and Cutillo Park. Caulder themes. ity to pass out free masks. How about stopping the 6M Development, Bill Caulder, victimization of folks and empowering them to get a who is also a longtime resi- mask or two. It won’t break anyone’s piggy bank. Free dent and parent in the neigh- Masks? You gotta be kidding, but she isn’t. borhood. Caulder previously It certainly would make most masked riders feel worked on the Victor in the safer while using the T during the pandemic. If you Bulfi nch Triangle and has rede- wanna ride to work or whatever, wear a mask. If not veloped multifamily units in the take a maskless walk somewhere else. The choice is North End. simple: let’s not make this a fake constitutional issue.. Locals will know the location where the former J. Pace & GOP Victory May Flip? Son and Maria’s Pastry retail As I read the NY Post earlier this week, I noticed a shops were formerly operating, news story concerning how incumbent U.S. Rep. Max adjacent to the current Chase Rose, D-NY, lost his Staten Island-Brooklyn congres- Bank, where there are now two sional seat to Republican Nicole Malliotakis and that single-story buildings and a parking lot. (Continued on Page 11) The site faces the Rose Kennedy Greenway on the front side and Morton Street (Images courtesy of Cross Street Ventures LLC) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 North End Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello Nostra Establishes Dedicated Ventilator Program A weekly column highlighting some North End Rehabilitation and North End’s ventilator pro- of the more interesting aspects of our Healthcare Center announced gram operates under the direc- ancestry...our lineage...our roots. the opening of a dedicated tion of Dr. Maher Tabba, a lead- ventilator program led by a ing Boston-area pulmonologist board-certifi ed pulmonologist affiliated with Tufts Medical HORSES THAT EAT PEOPLE and staffed around the clock Center and Melrose Wakefi eld by a multi-disciplinary team Hospital, and Dr. Jin Chae, of nurses, respiratory thera- “Our new ventilator unit an internal medicine physi- pists, and other health care works in tandem with our cian affi liated with Spaulding professionals. advanced pulmonary rehab Hospital for Continuing Medical The state-licensed, 10-bed program to develop and imple- Care in Cambridge. unit at the skilled nursing ment treatment programs that North End Rehabilitation and center was designed to provide are personalized to each indi- Healthcare Center provides high-quality care and moni- vidual resident’s health care the North End neighborhood of toring for patients in need of needs,” said Sami Almadi, Boston and surrounding com- long-term ventilator support, as Senior Administrator of North munities with the highest levels well as physical rehabilitation End Rehabilitation and Health- of subacute short-term and com- and occupational and speech care Center. “Our staff is prehensive long-term care in a therapy for individuals who focused on increasing mobility compassionate and caring envi- Lord Frederic Leighton, Hercules Wrestling with Death for the are weaning themselves from and independence whenever ronment. For more information, Body of Alcestis, 1869-71, Oil on canvas, 132.4 x 265.4 cm, ventilator support. possible.” visit www.northendrehab.com. Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT, USA Stories will always be told While becoming familiar with about the various circum- the king’s palace, Hercules stances under which men have was told that it was actually NEMPAC Begins to Transform eaten horsemeat.