1 & 2 BEDROOM CONDOS OCCUPANCY WINTER 2021 JEFFREY BOWEN, LISTING AGENT [email protected] 781-201-9488 [email protected] | 781-201-9488 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1890 VOLUME 120, No. 44 THURSDAY, JANuary 14, 2021 35 CENTS The Josh NEW SUPERVISORS Technical difficulties Kraft Way Rental Assistance program hits a snag during lottery drawing Street to be By Seth Daniel meaning there were some- how multiple entries of named in After several technical the same numbers in the difficulties occurred and Jan. 6 lottery. honor of multiple numbers were Many of those watch- pulled repeatedly (espe- ing the proceedings were JGBC founder cially #839 for some rea- shocked and very disap- son), the first lottery on pointed. Jan. 6 for the Rental As- “I formally request that By Cary Shuman sistance Program Round 2 the City of Chelsea submit The Chelsea City Coun- was nullified. the process again as it is cil voted unanimously to The City re-booted the notable on the live broad- name a street in honor of process and started over, cast and on the list provid- former Jordan Boys and it said. The second lottery ed of winners that the cal- Girls Club Executive Di- took place on Jan. 7 and culation used was faulty rector Josh Kraft. was more successful. - not providing an equal Councilor-at-Large Leo “We felt the first lottery opportunity and fairness Robinson sponsored the was not fair and transpar- for us citizens in need,” motion that will name an ent due to technical diffi- wrote Villalba Alanis on area between Maverick culties,” said City Man- the during the broadcast. Street and Congress Ave- ager Tom Ambrosino. “So The lottery was re-done nue adjacent to the club, we nullified the results on Jan. 7, and the results “Josh Kraft Way.” and redid the lottery.” then seemed to be much According to a mes- “Josh Kraft came to Congratulations to the CPD’s newest Patrol Sergeants - Star Chung (1st Asian American more consistent and fair. Chelsea and helped affect Female Sgt.), Paul Marchese (son of CPD Officer Ed Marchese – Ret.) and Jay Guido (son of sage to applicants from This is the second Rent- Chelsea youths in a pos- former Revere Police Chief Jim Guido – Ret.). the City, there were tech- al Assistance program itive, uplifting manner,” “The City is extremely lucky to have such great new supervisors,” said Chief Brian Kyes. nical errors and residents round, and those picked said Robinson. “He was couldn’t often hear the in the lottery access funds able to deliver a state-of- broadcast online. to help pay rent due to the-art Boys and Girls Likewise, many com- COVID-19 loss of in- Club facility to Chelsea MIT Wastewater monitoring could be plained that the same come. The first round took that has benefited our numbers were being place last year and went youth in so many ways. public health measure of the future pulled multiple times, off without a hitch. His leadership of the club was exceptional. The By Seth Daniel lot program piggy-backs in hospitals. By detecting naming of this street is a on a program run by the a large surges at Deer Is- Developer makes $12.3 million fitting honor for a some- A pilot program being MWRA where they ana- land in virus content, the one who was outstanding run by MIT, the Metro- lyze wastewater at Deer MWRA is able to help move on industrial property leader in our community politan Area Planning Island for the whole sys- public health officials pre- for many years.” Council (MAPC) and the tem and have learned that pare for a likely surge in By Seth Daniel The current proposal on Kraft served as the City of Chelsea could help they can predict surges in cases. One of the limits of 2nd and Vine replaces and founding executive direc- public health officials get COVID-19 several days the program is that it can A Boston developer older warehouse build- tor of the Chelsea-based an early, pinpointed lead before positive tests start only tell broadly that surg- who already has a trans- ing and is part of a com- club for 15 years, leading on COVID-19 outbreaks showing up. That is be- es are coming, and can- formative, 320-unit apart- plete transformation that the way for the construc- simply by checking what’s cause the virus – like all not give any details about ment building on Second has happened before and tion of the new $11.2 mil- been flushed down the toi- other viruses – travels where those surges might and Vine Streets under during COVID-19 on the lion clubhouse on Willow let. through human waste and be clustered. review in Everett on the Commercial Triangle area Though it sounds like shows up at treatment fa- Now Chelsea is run- City Line has purchased of Everett and across the See KRAFT Page 6 gross business, the pi- cilities before it shows up additional land on the line into Chelsea as well. See MIT Page 3 street to round out the Block told the Re- project. cord the industrial areas According to Bldup. in Everett and Chelsea Father Edgar warns Chelsea Funeral Fund almost depleted com, Block Properties have a lot of energy, and purchased two other de- a pro-development atmo- By Seth Daniel of times,” he said. “One is- to provide $25,000 of City velopment parcels along sphere on either side that sue that concerns me now funds to help replenish the Second and Vine this is missing in other places. With five requests to is since Dec. 30 the num- Funeral Fund. month for $7.3 million. “It’s a very interesting the Chelsea Funeral Fund ber of referrals has been That effort was moved Last fall, they purchased area,” he said. “We had since Dec. 30, includ- increased greatly in a short to a Second Reading at the the property with the obviously seen some of ing one of Monday for a time.” City Council on Monday apartment building pro- the other projects con- COVID-19 death, Father He said there were two night, with much support posal for $5 million. Pres- structed or proposed in the Edgar Duarte of St. Luke’s referrals last week, and from Councilors – includ- ident Jonathan Block said area. That, in conjunction Church warned the City two the previous week. On ing Councilor Damali Vi- the new purchase com- with what seemed to be a Council that it is in dan- Monday, La Colaborativa dot. pletes the land holdings very friendly City envi- ger of being depleted very Director Gladys Vega sent Vidot said after hav- needed for the project. soon if no action is taken. over another referral for a ing spent an hour talking See PROPERTY Page 3 The Funeral Fund was Father Edgar Duarte told 60-year-old man that re- about a $300,000 project established originally in the Chelsea City Council cently died of COVID-19. to beautify the downtown, June to help residents that due to increased need, “At this time, the Fund things like this just seemed provide a burial for unex- the Chelsea Funeral Fund is was started with $22,000 so much more important. in danger of being deplet- pected deaths during the ed. and is left with $8,000,” “There are dire needs COVID-19, and many he told the Council. “With out there like this,” she from community organi- this man referred today, said. zations and City govern- that have been helped at it will be left with a little “We have a responsibil- ment have referred those a cost of $20,000 since over $6,000. We are very ity to help Father Edgar, in need of funeral money COVID-19 hit, but he said concerned that at this pace who is doing the Lord’s to Father Edgar and the there has been a major up- and with the increased work literally,” she said. Fund. Families are able tick in requests since the mortality rates because of “I feel what he has done to access $1,700 for re- end of 2020 and the Fund COVID-19, our Fund will is immeasurable and we A rendering of the 320-unit building on 2nd and Vine ferrals, and Father Edgar is in danger of running out dry up before our regular should support him.” Streets in the Commercial Triangle District of Everett at most of the time donates of money. fundraising efforts can re- Garcia said the Fund is the City Line with Chelsea. The project is brought by Block his services to officiate “The objective of the plenish the Fund.” quickly getting depleted, Properties, of Chestnut Hill. The project is under review at over the burial. fund is to help residents Father Edgar and Coun- and compared to other ex- the Everett Planning Board right now, and the developer Father Edgar said there provide a dignified burial has spent more than $12 million acquiring properties on cilor Judith Garcia put an penditures for COVID-19, Second Street and Vine Streets at the City Line. had been 12 families of their dead in the worst order before the Council it’s a very small amount. THINKING OF The Independent Newspaper Group INDEPENDENT SELLING YOUR TRASH Offices will beclosed on For the latest news in Newspaper Group HOUSE??? NOTICE MONDAY, JANUARY 18 Chelsea Call for an www.chelsearecord.com "Absolutely FREE Due to the in observation of that you need to Market Analysis" Martin Luther MARTIN LUTHER KING, know, check 617-461 4238 holiday,King Jr.