VOL. 125 - NO. 6 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 $.35 A COPY Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s Monday, February 1st Press Briefi ng Thanking Commissioner And as a leader, he never shied our streets; creating the fi rst- William Gross away from taking on the most ever Bureau of Community The Mayor began his remarks diffi cult challenges. That is how Engagement at BPD; and serv- by recognizing and thanking he navigated the Boston Police ing as a role model. Commissioner William Gross Department through monumen- He said it’s always been clear for his leadership, and for his tal changes, as our City battled how much he loves his job and 37 years of service to the people COVID-19 and worked together his community, and that he of Boston. He said one of his to produce the most ambitious wishes him the best in his next proudest moments as Mayor set of police reforms in the chapter. was appointing him police com- department’s history. Introduction and missioner in 2018. Mayor Walsh said that Swearing in of He said that Commissioner Commissioner Gross leaves Commissioner Dennis White: Gross led the department with behind an inspiring legacy, The Mayor said he was passion and purpose, and which includes making history excited to name Dennis White embodied a strong spirit of com- as Boston’s first black com- as the 43rd Commissioner of the munity policing. He made our missioner; appointing the most Boston Police Department. neighborhoods safer and took diverse command staff in the He said that he’s a seasoned Boston’s national leadership to department’s history; reduc- and well-respected veteran of a new level. ing crime and getting guns off the police force, having served the community for 32 years. He’s had extensive experi- ence, in both investigative The Mayor then asked Acting COVID numbers. That is why and patrol positions, and has Commissioner White, accom- we are moving into Phase 3 Step played many roles in serving panied by his wife Jackie, 1 today. You can go to: Boston. News Briefs our neighborhoods. to recite the Oath. To read gov/Reopening to fi nd the list of by Sal Giarratani The Mayor gave an overview Commissioner White’s remarks, businesses allowed to reopen. of his career: go to: www.boston.gov. The Mayor also mentioned • Dennis White began his COVID-19 Cases: that, last week, the State moved Sen. Rand Paul’s career in District 6, South The Commonwealth of Boston from “high risk” to Boston as a Police Offi cer. Massachusetts today reported “moderate risk” on their map, Procedural Vote Shot Down 55-45 • He went on to become a 2,270 new confirmed cases, which is encouraging news. Last week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-KY, had his Sergeant Patrol Supervisor bringing the total to 500,415 But, he said, we must stay procedural vote declaring a Senate trial of a public in District 2 and a Sergeant cases. The state reported 30 vigilant. The numbers could citizen as unconstitutional. His motion lost 55-45 with Detective in District 4, South new deaths, for a total of 14,317 change any time. Every single all Democrats in lockstep and 5 Republican senators End and Internal Affairs. people who have passed away person has a role to play in voting with them. • Before he joined the due to COVID-19. keeping these numbers down. Sen. Paul noted this vote count ensures that the Command Staff in 2014, he The City of Boston today Everyone can take actions on Senate trial of the former president arrives in the Senate was a Lieutenant and Duty reported 204 new cases, for a a daily basis to protect them- chamber dead on arrival. Supervisor in District 2, total of 53,602 cases. The City selves and their loved ones. Two New Candidates Roxbury; District 3, Mattapan; reported 3 new deaths, bringing He reminded everyone to wear Running to Replace DeLeo and District 13, Jamaica Plain. the total to 1,161. a mask; social distance; wash There are now two new candidates running for the • He served as Deputy The Latest Complete Test your hands with soap and warm state representative seat held by Speaker Robert DeLeo Superintendent in the Office Data for the Week Ending water; disinfect surfaces; and for 30 years over in the 19th Suffolk District. They are of the Superintendent-in-Chief January 24th avoid gatherings. unenrolled candidate Richard Fucillo and Republican and in the Bureau of Field An average of 4,969 people With Super Bowl Sunday Paul Caruccio, both from Winthrop. Services Night Command. were tested each day. That is coming up next weekend, he Mayor of Chicago • He was then promoted to down compared to the week asked everyone to refrain from Chief of Staff to Commissioner before and does not include gathering with people outside Takes on Teachers Union Gross and to the rank of college testing. your household. nd On Monday, February 2 , the Mayor of Chicago Lori Superintendent. The average number of posi- He also reminded everyone Lightfoot put her foot down on the Chicago Teachers • He is also a member of our tive tests each day was about to make testing a part of your Union, which seemingly doesn’t want to have its mem- City’s Police Reform Task 375, also down from the week routine. We have over 30 testing bers returning to the classroom any time soon. Mayor Force, and helped shape the before. sites including mobile sites that Lightfoot, one of the most leftist big city mayors in community-led recommenda- Our current community posi- are free and open to all, regard- America, says it is time to go back to the classroom, tions for police reform this tivity rate was 6.8%. That is less of symptoms. Visit: Boston. but union leaders are resistant. The mayor says the summer. lower than the week before, and gov or call 3-1-1 for more details. science and CDC are on her side, but union leaders The Mayor said he is confi - down 1.6 percentage points over He said if everyone does their don’t seem to be going along with the program. dent that he will continue the the last two weeks. part, we’ll be able to keep mov- She has ordered the teachers back to the classrooms BPD’s reputation as a national The Mayor said we continue ing forward with reopening, in the Chicago Public School system and was threaten- leader in community policing; to see improvement in our faster. We’ll be able to safely ing to shut out those teachers who want to continue advance the department’s com- neighborhood numbers. bring back more of the activities virtual classrooms online with students by shutting mitment to accountability and Staying Vigilant: we love and miss, and help our down their Google sites preventing them from any transparency; and help lead the The Mayor said that, through- businesses recover. online teaching. BPD into a new era. He said he’s out the pandemic, Boston has Vaccine Update: Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS Director Dr. Janice also proud that he will serve taken a cautious approach to The Mayor said we continue Jackson said in a statement Monday. “We have secured as our nation’s next great local reopening, and we only move to collaborate with the State on agreement on one other open issue and made substan- leader in public safety — con- forward with reopening if public the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, tial progress on a framework that we hope will address tinuing to represent the great health experts say it’s safe. working with them to expand the remaining issues. We are calling for a 48-hour diversity of our police depart- In recent weeks, we’ve seen cooling off period that will hopefully lead to a fi nal ment and our City. some improvement in our (Continued on Page 10) resolution on all open issues. It is the LEFT versus the LEFTER in Chicago. Veteran Food Give Away THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFIC February 11th in Quincy On Thursday, February 11th, Quincy Veterans 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON Services and the Veteran’s Voice radio show on WATD Tuesdays 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and Thursdays 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, (Continued on Page 8) Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello Simple TIMES . Nostra by Girard A. Plante A weekly column highlighting some of the more interesting aspects of our ancestry...our lineage...our roots. Catholic Schools Weeks Rosscommon, Ireland, and the Sales. He also began another began Sunday with the final French of Quebec, Canada. Their order to help girls — Daughters day of January. The day unwavering faith through harsh of Our Lady, Help of Christians. VESTA also celebrated the Feast of living conditions and travel to John Bosco stepped in to help St. John Bosco. Symbols of a rich America were fraught with dan- humanity — the most fragile of Catholic faith that serves us well gers aplenty in the 1870s. Yet people — because he saw the when we allow it to work for us they successfully settled in New enormous need. are now in view. Bedford, Massachusetts, and Ordinary people do extraor- As we begin the shortest month Clinton, New York. dinary things. St. John Bosco of the year, we also gain sunlight During crises both personal never knew monetary wealth. His with each passing day.