VOL. 121 - NO. 15 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 14, 2017 $.35 A COPY Sal LaMattina Will Not Seek Re-election as District 1 City Councilor by Matt Conti District 1 City Councilor Sal Seaport to help alleviate traffi c LaMattina announced Tuesday congestion. In his latest term, that he will not seek reelection he secured funding to study for another term in the Boston a new North End community City Council this September. center and continues to work on The decision comes after 29 proposed regulations for short- years of public service to the term rentals, such as AirBnb, to City of Boston, including 11 protect neighborhood housing. years on the City Council. “I feel LaMattina was fi rst elected the time is right to move on to in 2006 in a special election to something new,” said 57 year- fi ll the seat of former District 1 old LaMattina to friends and City Councilor Paul Scapicchio. supporters at a Tuesday night He won in a very tight race event in the North End. with Daniel Ryan who is now The East Boston resident State Rep. for the 2nd Suffolk started his city career as a District. LaMattina’s decision Pamela Donnaruma neighborhood liaison for the the property swap with the North marks a changing of the guard Publisher and Editor North End, rising to become Bennet Street School that al- on the City Council in several a major political force in the lowed the historic trade school Boston neighborhoods. Dis- and the Staff of the District 1 neighborhoods of the to grow in the North End. The trict 2 Councilor Bill Linehan North End, Charlestown, and councilor worked closely with is also vacating his seat on the Post-Gazette East Boston. Boston Police on reducing crime City Council this year. District Refl ecting on his decision he and other public safety issues. 2 includes much of Downtown Wish a Happy Easter added, “I am proud of my ac- In particular, he led the Problem (including the waterfront south complishments in the district, Property Taskforce to help city of Christopher Columbus Park), to All Our Advertisers and Readers especially in helping its resi- agencies deal with absentee South Boston, Chinatown, and dents and small businesses. I landlord issues such as exces- the South End. In Roxbury, have no specifi c plans, but I am sive trash and loud parties. Councilor Tito Jackson is run- anxious for new challenges after LaMattina was an important ning for Mayor which will leave leaving offi ce and I will probably force in pushing to save the a third district seat open. News Briefs look for other ways to help the North End Nursing Home for LaMattina’s home neighbor- by Sal Giarratani community in the years ahead.” local seniors. On the City Coun- hood of East Boston has the LaMattina played a key role in cil, he was appointed a voting most voters in District 1 and defending urban quality of life as member of the Civil Rights his announcement breaks open development and gentrifi cation Committee and recently trav- the fi eld for the seat. LaMattina MSNBC Must Be Off its Meds brought major changes to the eled to Europe with City Council was popular as Councilor and Recently, I caught Rachel Maddow talking with Larry North End and downtown Bos- President Michelle Wu to meet had little competition in secur- O’Donnell during a break between both of their shows. ton. The expansion of the Eliot climate change leaders. ing his most recent terms. After The two of these talking heads seem to think that K-8 Innovation School will be a Representing three waterfront his announcement not to seek perhaps the whole Air Strike on Syria thing might have lasting legacy for the councilor. neighborhoods, LaMattina has reelection, there could be mul- been a ploy by Putin, Trump, and Assad to distract the Working with neighborhood been an advocate for water tiple candidates announcing American people from the real story, which is how Putin families, he also helped the city transportation and a new ferry their intentions in the weeks stole the 2016 election for his BFF Donald Trump. secure the 585 Commercial system to connect East Bos- and months ahead before the Are these people serious? Street location and negotiated ton, the North End, and the September election. You know if Clinton were president right now and did what Trump just did, the entire Lame-stream Media would be canonizing her as America’s greatest president ever. Capuano Blasts Trump Over Syria Strike Patriots’ Day Rep. Michael Capuano blasted President Trump by David Trumbull over his unilateral decision to launch a missile attack on Syria. The congressman stated, “We are Monday, April 17, 2017, is Patriots’ Patriot’s Day, and like Revere, take to the not a monarchy. Basically anything President Trump (plural possessive) Day (observed) in road — a renowned twenty-six point two does, I’m supposed to keep my mouth quiet so I don’t Massachusetts and Patriot’s (singular miles of road from Hopkinton to Boston. undercut him? The president’s done something wrong, possessive) Day in Maine. State and lo- At the original Marathon — 26.2 miles and the American people deserve to hear about it.” cal government offi ces in Massachusetts from Athens, Greece — free, Democratic, How many times during the Obama Administration and Maine will be closed, as will some Western civilization faced and defeated did Capuano speak out when Obama was making businesses. the forces of absolutism. It is a battle unilateral decisions in the Middle East? Did good old that has been fought many times over. It Somerville Mike forget about places like Libya? Just “Listen, my children and you shall hear will be fought many more times. We must thinking out loud. I guess it depends whether the of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, always be prepared to fi ght to be free. president happens to be a Democrat or Republican, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-fi ve.” On September 11, 2001, after the un- huh? provoked terrorist attacks on thousands What Do You Call Minimum Wage of $15? New England’s original “On the Road” of innocent, unsuspecting civilians, man looms large in these parts — life- President George W. Bush spoke of why Don’t know about you, but I call it the Robot sized, in bronze, in Boston’s North End. There, as we were attacked, and why we shall prevail: Employment Act. well, you’ll fi nd his house preserved, just as his “America was targeted for attack because we’re (Continued on Page 14) ride is preserved in the Longfellow poem: the brightest beacon for freedom and opportu- nity in the world. And no one will keep that light “You know the rest. In the books you have read, from shining.” How the British Regulars fi red and fl ed —” Our patriot forefathers (and every American is a Son of Liberty, regardless of when your people THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE And that morning of April 19th in 1775 offi cially came here) knew that freedom is worth fi ghting marks the beginning of the American War of In- for. This Patriots’ Day let’s refl ect on the cause of 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQ., EAST BOSTON dependence. In Massachusetts and Maine (part freedom, and thank the brave American men and Tues. 10:00 AM-3:00 PM Thurs. 11:00 AM-2:00 PM of Massachusetts until 1820, when Maine — a women who, in every war from the Revolution to free State — was admitted to the Union paired our current engagements in the Near and Middle Call 617-227-8929 for more information with Missouri—a slave State — under the “Mis- East, have made it possible for us to enjoy this souri Compromise”), we celebrate it as Patriots’/ April 17th as a free people. PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, APRIL 14, 2017 In Memory of Ralph Lamattina July 10, 1922 - April 10, 2017 Ralph Lamatti na, age 94, passed away peacefully at home on April 10, 2017. TIBERIUS THE PLUNDERER He was born across the street During the reign of Tiberius from where he died. For all of as emperor there were no pub- his life, he stayed almost exclu- lic works projects even worthy sively on Hanover Street and in of mention. He gave no public the North End. He was proud of shows and seldom attended his Sicilian heritage and devoted to shows that were given by family. Ralph was predeceased by others. He exhibited generosity his mother, Rose, father, Anthony, to the general public on only two sister, Jennie, and brother, Joseph. occasions; the fi rst was when he Surviving members of his family offered to lend a large sum of include his sister, Louise Taglieri, money without interest, during his son, Randy Lamatti na and family, his daughter, Catherine Kyle a period of recession, and the and family, many nieces and nephews, and his devoted friends, second was when he gave fi nan- Barbara Spagnuolo and Rolando Vasquez. cial grants to homeowners after The red roses on his casket represent his love for his mother, a major fi re on the Caelian Hill. Rose, his love for his family, and his love of the ponies! He seldom permitted veteran In the ti me when Ralph and his siblings grew up, there was litt le soldiers to retire, but instead or no opportunity for youth on the streets of Boston. Thus, in lieu of kept them in service until their additi onal fl owers, please donate to The Nazzaro Center for Youth, death to avoid payment of 30 N.