Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 31 Issue 50 Thursday, December 11, 2014 50¢ WAHLBERG BEGS OUR PARDON Globe property Appeal relies on would be first good he Boston project does in Dot for the buyers By Bill Forry Editor By laurEN dEzENSki in November, company Mark Wahlberg’s peti- rEPortEr StaFF CEO Mike Sheehan tion seeking a pardon for Winstanley Enter- c a l l e d W i n s t a n l e y his 1988 conviction for prises, the Concord- a “family-owned firm a violent robbery and based company that experienced in mixed- assault on Dorchester entered into a purchase- use development [that] Avenue has triggered and-sales agreement would make a terrific a sharp backlash since last month to buy the steward of this place it was first reported by Boston Globe property we’ve called home since New England Cable on Morrissey Boule- 1958.” News last Thursday. vard, is a little-known Owned by principals The 43-year-old actor quantity in the city of Adam, David, and and producer, who has Mark Wahlberg is shown during a 2010 visit to the Marr Clubhouse of the Boston. But a Reporter Carter Winstanley, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester. Wahlberg has been active as a donor and review of Winstanley’s developer has primarily become one of Holly- board member at the club since 2000. Photo courtesy BGCD wood’s most sought-after development history invested in Connecticut. talents since his rise to climb to begin with in Vietnamese immigrants he became famous. reveals a company with a As of this week, Win- fame in the early 1990s, a state where guber- in the 1980s. At the Boys and Girls respected track record in stanley is still in the has been castigated in natorial pardons are But opinion has been Clubs of Dorchester, suburban communities due diligence period of the press and online for, rare – has also brought far more measured –and, longtime executive direc- that has been taking on the purchase process. among other things, in- Wahlberg’s long-ago in some cases, decidedly tor Bob Scannell once increasingly larger-scale No one is authorized to voking “white privilege” neighborhood misdeeds supportive –among many had to ban the juvenile projects in recent years. speak publicly about and using his celebrity into stark relief, exposing of his former Dorchester Wahlberg from the facil- In an email sent to the firm’s plans until it status to seek special troubling details about neighbors, including ity because he was a Globe staff members (Continued on page 5) treatment. racially charged attacks some who had negative trouble-maker well on The legal petition— on neighbors, including encounters with the his way to becoming which faces an uphill black schoolchildren and teenage Wahlberg before (Continued on page 18) ‘Anti-displacement’ Pardons a tall forum draws crowd order for ex-cons to Codman Square By Eliza dEwEy up by a consortium of in Massachusetts SPEcial to thE rEPortEr groups including City On Sunday night, com- Life/ Vida Urbana, the By Bill Forry munity members from Fairmount/Indigo Line Editor CDC Collaborative, The road to securing a pardon is a steep climb around Boston gathered Right to the City, The for ex-convicts in Massachusetts. In the first seven at Dorchester’s Global Union of Minority Neigh- years of Governor Deval Patrick’s tenure, only five Ministries Church on borhoods and Dorchester pardons— out of a total of 326 requests— made it Washington Street for Bay EDC. Codman past the the Advisory Board of Pardons, an arm an “anti-displacement Square Neighborhood of the Parole Board that reviews each application. event” to discuss trends Development Corpora- However, the governor did not actually pardon in rent levels, real estate tion (NDC), which is an anyone and the board later reversed its favorable prices, and affordable active member of the recommendations in several instances. No pardons housing availability that Fairmount/Indigo Line were passed onto Patrick after 2009. organizers said were Mark Wahlberg in Dorchester District Court in CDC Collaborative, took Earlier this year, with Patrick now in his final squeezing out low- April 1993 after criminal charges for assaulting a and moderate-income a leadership role in get- (Continued on page 19) Dorchester man were dismissed. AP Photo residents with long-time ting the groups together. roots in the area. The event was inspired Pardon for Mark?­­­­ Let’s talk about it The meeting was set (Continued on page 6) By Nam Pham And since Friday, many media outlets Charlie, Titus, left, SPEcial to thE rEPortEr have called me to ask about Mr. Mark coaching legend at One of my favorite songs is “Georgia Wahlberg’s request for a pardon for a UMass Boston, is leav- on My Mind.” crime he committed in 1988. ing the bench. Page 20 Commentary Over the last Newspaper articles and social few months, network forums have been abuzz with and especially over the past few days, I this question: Should he be marked could hear myself humming … “Fields for his mistake for the rest of his life? Corner is on my mind.” Or does he deserve the opportunity to Last month, VietAID celebrated wipe the stain – a bloody one – from its 20th anniversary, an event his record so he can have an even more coincident with Fields Corner being prosperous and happy life. recognized as one of the “Best Ten” I keep thinking about his past as a racist young punk and about his neighborhoods in America in 2014 by All contents copyright VietAID executive direc- the American Planning Association, a apparent redemption on his way to © 2014 Boston tor Nam Pham highly esteemed national organization. (Continued on page 19) Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER December 11, 2014 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Police, Dec. 11 – 18, 2014 Courts A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. & Fire Thursday (11th) – Port Norfolk Civic Association The Boston Police meeting regarding plans to site a public park at the Department reports ar- former Shaffer Paper property starts at 7 p.m. at resting two of the seven the Port Norfolk Yacht Club, 179 Walnut St. or eight teens they say tried to rob a man at Saturday (13th) – Leahy/Holloran Community knifepoint outside the Center’s annual Holiday Fair will be held from KFC at 481 Washington 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Craft and Vendor fee is $50 St. around 10:20 p.m. on (including a table), which must be sent in with The Dorchester Eagles pose in front of their bus before traveling to Orlando, Friday. the registration form. The center is located at 1 Florida for the Pop Warner Football Championships. According to police, the Worrell St. man was walking past Dot Eagles get boost from the restaurant when the Sunday (14th) – Boston Baroque performs high- teens, both males and lights from Handel’s “Messiah” in a free community females, demanded his concert, 2 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia mayor in Disney game bid phone and wallet as one Rd., Dorchester. For your free, general-admission of their number pointed tickets, visit bostonbaroque.org, call 617-987-8600, Just as the Dorches- like Pop Warner is a key team lost their first game ter Eagles Pop Warner piece to creating a foun- on Saturday, but stayed a knife at him. Ext 413, or go to the Uphams Corner Branch of Instead, police report, the Boston Public Library at 500 Columbia Rd, team boarded a bus and dation for success,” said on to play in further headed to Florida last Mayor Walsh. “They’re tournament action and the man swung a plastic Dorchester. bag containing three • Dorchester Historical Society’s Holiday Open Friday, Mayor Mar- learning the value of hard to enjoy the amenities tin Walsh announced work and discipline, and at Disney. cans of beer at the group, House will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., at the William which apparently made Clapp House, 195 Boston St. Pianist Bill Mooney- $16,000 in fundraising their accomplishments “Our parents and kids for the team thanks to should be recognized and are so thankful to the them rethink their plans McCoy will play holiday music. Enjoy food, good and they left. company, and shopping. local businesses and civic encouraged. I’m proud Mayor and our generous leaders. of these young athletes, supporters for mak- Police say officers ar- W a l s h r e c e i v e d and I encourage the en- ing this trip possible,” rived on scene just in Monday (15th) – Get ready for the holiday season time to see the teens and enjoy a sweet treat at Adams Street Library. $16,000 in pledges and tire Boston community to Carter said. “Everyone in commitments to help pledge their support too.” Dorchester [is] so proud walking away: They’ll be decorating cut-out sugar cookies and “As officers ap - gingerbread cookies. 4 p.m. Bring your creativity and fund the costs of travel, Representing New of these kids it would’ve lodging, and more, for England, the Eagles been such a shame to proached the group, your appetite. This program is suitable for children several attempted to flee of all ages. 690 Adams St., Dorchester. the team from Celticare competed in the national keep them home.” Health Plan, General Pop Warner Football Those interested can on foot, but were quickly detained at Claybourne Thursday (18th) – MassDOT hosts public Dynamics C4 Systems, Championship in Or- donate to the team Northwind Strategies, lando.