Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 38 Issue 8 Thursday, February 25, 2021 50¢ Vaccine sites open in Mattapan, Codman Sq. BY DANIEL SHEEHAN ical Center. REPORTER STAFF ‘Amazing’ sight – AG Healey “It’s amazing that this On Tuesday morning, rollout begins to pick up of Mattapan Community church in a span of ten local and state officials steam in Boston’s neigh- Health Center. days has been turned and healthcare leaders borhoods. Since last Thursday, into a vaccination site,” marked the opening of Attorney General Mau- the Blue Hill Avenue said Healey, noting the two Covid-19 vaccination ra Healey was on hand at church has been a “state- “perfect synergy” be- centers in Mattapan and both events to highlight wide access” site admin- tween the clergy and Dorchester, at Morning the expansion, stopping istering vaccines to eligi- physicians that resulted Star Baptist Church first at Morning Star ble residents through a in the site popping up Mattapan Community Health Center nurse Janet partnership with Matta- in Mattapan, a majority Adusei administered the Covid-19 vaccine to Turahn and Russell Auditorium where she was joined Dorsey, a Dorchester resident, on Tuesday morning respectively, as the Com- by Bishop John Borders pan Community Health Black and brown neigh- at Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan. monwealth’s vaccine and Guale Valdez, CEO Center and Boston Med- (Continued on page 13) Daniel Sheehan photo MOVING TO GREEN AT UMASS BOSTON Walsh awaits vote by the full Senate Special election petition on move in Legislature BY STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE In preparation for Mayor Walsh’s imminent departure from City Hall, the state House of Rep- resentatives on Monday passed a petition to cancel a special mayoral election that would be required under city rules if Walsh resigns before March 5 to become US Secretary of Labor. The US Senate Committee on Health, Educa- tion, Labor and Pensions voted, 18-4, on Feb. 11 to “report favorable” on Walsh’s nomination. But, as of Tuesday, a vote of the full Senate on the Walsh appointment had not yet been scheduled, according to a spokesperson for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Senate’s Majority Whip. (Continued on page 5) Santiago Demolition crews are making quick work this week knocking down and removing the old Science Center and substructure, above, on the UMass Boston campus as part of a $137-million project that will include additional open space, a complex of walking paths, and the creation of completely “green quad” including says he’s in a slope that will run up to a flat plaza. The renovation will also establish a new parking lot to replace campus parking from the Bayside Lot, which will enable the development there of the waterfront site for mayor now dubbed Dorchester Bay City. Story, more images, Page 10. Image courtesy UMass Boston BY MADDIE KILGANNON REPORTER CORRESPONDENT State Rep. Jon Santi- Jon Santiago wants to $3.5m from CPA eyed for Dot, Mattapan ago, a 38-year-old phy- bring neighbors together sician who was born in BY KATIE TROJANO voices of the residents in Puerto Rico, formally said Santiago, who rep- REPORTER STAFF our neighborhoods. Be- resents the 9th Suffolk In the latest round cause they are developed launched his candidacy for mayor of Boston on District, which includes of the city’s Commu- and created by Bosto- the South End, Fenway, nity Preservation Act nians, each project di- Tuesday morning, join- ing a field of candidates Back Bay and Roxbury, (CPA) funding, Mayor rectly serves each of our in a statement. Martin Walsh and the communities,” Walsh that includes three wom- The sign atop the Walter Baker administration en who sit on the Boston His campaign released Community Preservation building in Lower Mills would be refurbished and said in a statement. a two-minute video to Committee have itemized More than $3 million in City Council. illuminated for the first time in decades using $56,000 “Today, we set out to rally potential support- more than $25.5 million in CPA funding. Daniel Sheehan photo CPA funding would sup- bring neighbors together ers around his campaign in grants, including near- port nine historic pres- theme of elevating “Our ly $3.5 million set aside for projects in Dorchester ervation and six open space projects in Dorchester. to write the next chapter (Continued on page 4) and Mattapan. The historic grouping would account for $1,921,669 of our Boston story,” Walsh’s recommendations were approved by the to deal with the following: committee this month and will next be reviewed • $488,000 for rehabilitation and restoration re- All contents by the city council, which is expected to vote on the pairs to The Great Hall at Codman Square’s historic overall allocation in the coming weeks. 1904 building, originally a branch library and now © 2021 Projects supported with CPA funding com with the part of the Codman Square Health Center. Boston obligation to create or preserve affordable housing, • $378,969 to the 1941 Pleasant Hill Baptist historic sites, or open space and recreation. Church building on Humboldt Avenue for capital Neighborhood These projects “are a reflection of the needs and (Continued on page 16) News, Inc. UPCOMING SPRING INVENTORY New To Market: 3 Families – Pierce Avenue and Faulkner Street – 3 BR Condo 4000 sq ft living space 92 Lawrence Ave. 2BR Condo – Upland Avenue – Melville Park location. New To Market This Weekend: 3 BR Condo – 92 Lawrence Avenue Page 2 THE REPORTER February 25, 2021 dotnews.com Police, Courts & Fire Man convicted for 2014 Dot murder gets new trial Y LLY ARMANNING Keith Williams, because midst of an argument, B A J Dawnn Jaffier WBUR REPORTER Colas pointed a weapon the defendant pointed a The state’s high- at the rival with the in- firearm at an opponent of innocent bystanders, est court ruled Mon- tent to kill and therefore is not enough to carry and it’s heartbreaking, day that one of two men participated in the gun the Commonwealth’s but convicting someone convicted of first-degree battle. Williams was also burden.” who is innocent of the murder in the killing of sentenced to life in prison Colas’s appellate at- charges doesn’t make an innocent bystander for first-degree murder. torney, Esther Horwich, it any better,” Horwich Sketch by The Architectural Team during a confrontation But the Supreme Ju- said there wasn’t enough said. “In fact, I think it in Dorchester should dicial Court ruled that evidence that Colas even makes it worse.” get a new trial. Wesson there is not enough had a gun that day. She The court ruled that New housing proposed Colas was convicted in evidence that Colas in- said those who testified Colas could be tried on the killing of 26-year-old tended to kill Williams. against Colas had con- second-degree murder. for Uphams Corner lot youth worker Dawnn There is no evidence flicting descriptions of The Suffolk County Dis- Jaffier, and the non-fatal that the gun Colas had the purported gun. She trict Attorney’s office, A Hingham developer existing units until that shooting of another wom- was even loaded, Justice said it was more likely which tried the case, hopes to put up a new res- building is finished, at an, near the J’ouvert Pa- Frank Gaziano wrote, or witnesses saw Colas’s did not immediately re- idential building behind which point they would rade, a street festival on that he took any steps to black and silver cell- spond to questions about Fox Hall on Columbia be offered studios there, Columbia Road, in 2014. fire it beyond pointing it phone in his hand. whether they intend to Road at Arion Street according to the letter Though Colas didn’t in Williams’ direction. The justices declined re-try him. that would include an from JLCD’s lawyer. fire a shot, prosecutors Gaziano called it a to weigh in on the evi- The shooter, Williams, upgrade for occupants The company would said he was equally re- “close call,” writing, dence. “This was an ab- is also appealing his of 15 single-room-occu- then renovate Fox Hall’s sponsible as the gunman, “the fact that, in the solutely tragic shooting conviction. pancy (SRO) units in the upper floors, while let- current building — their ting existing ground- own studio apartments. floor commercial tenants In a letter of intent stay in place. T’s commuter rail filed with the Boston All of the units in Planning and Develop- the new complex would plans target peak ment Agency (BPDA), be marketed to people Mike Rooney’s JLCD making between 30 and Development said the 100 percent of the Boston service schedules project would include area median income. The MBTA will re- times, which officials de- construction of a four- The new complex would shape its commuter rail scribed as a step toward to-six story building on have 24 parking spaces. schedule this spring, a “regional rail” model what is now a parking lot The letter signals that sanding down the morn- that many riders and behind Fox Hall, which JLCD expects to file more ing and evening peaks advocates have sought. dates to the late 1800s. detailed plans soon. and reallocating trains Most lines will run a Current SRO residents –REPORTER STAFF to run on more even in- train inbound or out- would get to stay in their tervals over the course bound roughly once per of the day, officials said hour over the course of on Monday.