JUNE 28, 2018 TTHEHE BBEEACONACON HHILLILL TTIMESIMES THERE ARE NO TIMES LIKE THESE TIMES Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner BHCA approves security cameras, but not without several caveats By Lauren Bennett On the side, the applicant is propos- ing to have a solid mahogany door with The number and placement of exte- a new metal frame, weatherstripping, rior security cameras at 34 Beacon and brass hardware, as well as a camera Street became a topic for debate at the fastened into the stone in the corner of Beacon Hill Architectural Commission’s the door. It was suggested by Rosales monthly meeting on June 21. that the door frame be wooden as well, In a continuation from a hearing and the commission recommended that in February, Applicant Mona Bonnott the solid wood door have panels. is proposing a total of four exterior Commissioner Rosales did not like cameras at the front, side, and rear, one the idea of the granite being perforated, intercom with camera, and the replace- and recommended that the camera be ment of a door at the side entrance. placed on the face of the wooden door The applicant is no longer propos- frame. ing to change the front door, as was In the alley, the applicant is propos- proposed in February. The intercom ing to install a smaller white camera with camera would match the existing in the ceiling, and in the back, a black hardware, and the second camera in camera at the garage mounted on wood the front is now smaller than previously trim. Cyan proposed. “You have too many cameras,” Commissioner Miguel Rosales said Commissioner Rosales said. Magenta that it “seems excessive” to have more But Chair Kenneth Taylor had a than one camera in the front. different opinion, saying that “these are The applicant responded by saying relatively unobtrusive cameras,” and that the intercom camera only works that “the homeowner should have the Yellow when the button is pressed, while the (SECURITY CAMERAS Pg. 10) other one is on all the time. Black Event held at Otis House last week. Vilna Shul is awarded $500,000 from Summer Evening at Otis House from Massachusetts. Over 50 friends and neighbors attended For more information about Historic Community Preservation Committee the 3rd Annual Summer Evening at Otis New England, please visit historicnewen- House on Thursday. The evening is a col- gland.org. laboration between Historic New England Last week, the Boston City Council preservation and open space to the and the Beacon Hill Civic Association, unanimously approved the recom- next level,” Walsh said. “I am proud bringing together historic preservation dis- The Beacon Hill Civic Association has mendation by Boston’s Community to recommend these important projects cussion and community development in various committees that focus on a targeted Preservation Committee and Boston for funding approval, which represent this elegant setting. range of issues and initiatives aligning with Mayor Martin Walsh to fund a grant a wide range of needs, and will build Guests were treated to appetizers from the BHCA mission. Committee chairs vol- for the Vilna Shul for $500,000. strong neighborhoods throughout our Tip Tap Room and tours of the famous This prestigious grant will help to city.” defray costs associated with universal The $500,000 award to the Vilna house built in 1795 by Harrison Gray (BHCA Pg. 11) Otis, third Mayor of Boston and Senator accessibility and HVAC upgrades in the is the largest of the spring pilot-pro- historic landmark building and is made gram grant amounts and comes on possible by the inaugural Spring Pilot the heels of a $200,000 grant from program from funds raised through the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Charles St. merchant acquires Revolutionary War ribbons the city’s new Community Preservation Cultural Facilities Fund, which was By Times staff According to Kenneth J. Olson, pres- Act. awarded last month. ident of Period Americana and a Mt. This round of 35 grants from the City Councilor Josh Zakim noted, Period Americana – a merchant of histor- Vernon Street resident, the ribbons date Community Preservation Committee’s “The restoration of the Vilna is import- ical artifacts, images and documents locat- back to the 1820s, and most likely 1825 funding recommendation totals just ant to the history of Boston and the his- ed at 139A Charles St. – recently acquired over $8 million and funds ready-to- tory of immigration to Boston. It tells three Revolutionary War ribbons, two of (WAR RIBBONS Pg. 16) go affordable housing, historic pres- a story through its walls, artifacts, and which appear to be previously unknown. ervation, and parks and open space location. We are lucky to have such an projects. The pilot has two goals: important building still standing, and to show Boston residents the differ- I commend the mayor and my fellow THE BEACON HILL TIMES WISHES YOU ence Community Preservation funds Councilors on recognizing the import- can make in neighborhoods, and to ant nature of this project to the fabric ALL A SAFE & HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY help test application materials and the of Boston.” We will be back on the Hill on July 12th review process before a larger round of The Vilna Shul was abandoned and th funding in fall 2018. structurally condemned in the mid Office Closed on Wednesday, July 4 “The Community Preservation Act 1980s, only to be rescued in 1995. Next publication Thursday, July 12th is a new tool that will help take our work on affordable housing, historic (VILNA SHUL Pg. 11) 2 PAGE 2 THE BEACON HILL TIMES JUNE 28, 2018 RACE FOR CONGRESS THE RACE FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Henning receives Pressley seeks to defund ICE endorsement of Ayanna Pressley announced facilities and the intergeneration- Tim McCarthy her support for defunding the al trauma resulting from current U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement activities as major Candidate for Suffolk County Enforcement agency (ICE), in reasons for defunding the agency. District Attorney Greg Henning light of the agency’s central role in “The reports of sexual vio- today received the endorsement enforcing deeply flawed, destruc- lence in ICE detention facilities of Boston City Councilor Tim tive immigration policies, and follow an all-too-familiar pat- McCarthy, who represents the persistent issues related to sexual tern of those in power taking neighborhoods of Hyde Park, violence and living conditions in advantage of vulnerable popula- Mattapan, and Roslindale. ICE detention facilities. tions and those who are afraid to “Above all else, the peo- “Our immigration system is speak up, and speak to the critical ple of Hyde Park, Mattapan, fundamentally broken and ICE’s lack of Federal oversight for ICE and Roslindale want to feel role in supporting the existing actions. Furthermore, the heart safe in their neighborhoods. system - including separating wrenching policy of separating Greg Henning has dedicated families seeking refuge in the children from their parents at the his career to keeping our streets United States and conducting border, coupled with the deplor- safe and will continue to do so indiscriminate deportation raids able conditions in ICE detention as our next District Attorney,” in our communities - is creating facilities, promise to create sig- McCarthy said of Henning. “He an atmosphere of toxic fear and nificant, long-lasting trauma that is a seasoned prosecutor, who mistrust in immigrant communi- undermines efforts to build trust Rep. Jay Livingstone (left) was introducing Rep. Evandro Carvalho also has the experience of being ties,” Pressley said. “I believe we with immigrant communities,” (right), a candidate seeking the Suffolk Country District Attorney a classroom teacher and mentor need to pursue comprehensive said Pressley. “ICE was created position, to residents of Beacon Hill on Saturday. Shown is Charlie to many young people in our immigration reform, including a less than 20 years ago, and it Dumbaugh (center) from Acorn St. meeting Carvalho. Also pic- community. His vision of Suffolk tured is Carvalho's daughter, Eliana. path to citizenship for all undoc- is clear now that the agency is County is one rooted in safety umented immigrants living in the irrevocably broken. If elected I for all of its residents, compas- United States, but in the short will work with Federal leaders Speaker DeLeo leads growing coalition sion for the victims of crime, and term we must remove the exis- to rehouse the non-immigration of support behind Evandro Carvalho understanding for those who tential threat facing immigrant enforcement functions of ICE - Black deserve a second chance.” communities by defunding ICE including human trafficking and House Speaker Robert A. progressive steps, from this year’s Upon the endorsement, Greg and eliminating its Enforcement money laundering investigations - DeLeo endorsed Democratic criminal justice reform to the land- Henning made the following and Removal Operations (ERO) elsewhere in the U.S. Department State Representative Evandro mark law two years ago to fight statement: functions.” of Homeland Security, while C. Carvalho for Suffolk County the opioid and heroin epidemic, “I am thankful to have Pressley continued, “It is also immediately eliminating funding District Attorney, citing Carvalho’s and I was proud to vote for both. Councilor McCarthy’s support incumbent upon elected leaders for enforcement and removal strong progressive record and One of my first votes in the House in this campaign as we work at the local, state, and federal functions.” prosecutorial experience. was for a wide-ranging anti-gun to keep our neighborhoods level to work collaboratively with Presley’s announcement comes Speaker DeLeo, a lifelong bill that toughened background safe from gun violence, com- advocates and others to determine in advance of a planned visit Democrat and Winthrop resident, checks and gun tracking.