THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 FREE charlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE Inbox Appeal Mayoral candidates use e-mail inundation this time for fundraising and exposure By Seth Daniel common on the federal and state level for some time, this is the There’s one way this summer to first open-seat mayoral race with know that the end of the month is numerous candidates since 2013, coming – and that is by the inun- and so it’s also the first time that dation of fundraising e-mails that new technology like e-mail digital storm inboxes from all five major fundraising operations have trick- mayoral candidates appealing for led down to a major municipal financial help with personal sto- election in Boston. Experts say it’s ries, outrages of the day or simply likely a trend that will only expand pushing the narrative that time and go further down the political is running out to meet important office chain. goals. It can be a little creepy, and One e-mail address from this they are prolific, but according to newspaper that has the attention political science experts – they are of all five major mayoral candi- efficient and successful. dates got approximately 35 e-mails “There has been a huge expan- in two days from the candidates’ sion of digital fundraising, espe- digital fundraising operations at cially since the mid- to late- 2000s the end of last month – each using when it was utilized so success- the addressee’s first name and fully by the Obama campaign,” seemingly knowing some details said Northeastern Professor about the owner of that address. (E-MAIL Pg. 9) While such operations have been Supplemental budget includes early voting extensions The First Annual Townie Cup premiered in Eden Street Park on Saturday and Sunday, with high-level Staff Report on their permanency,” he said. “I competition and the East Boston team beating out a veteran Charlestown team led by Brendan Collier on thank Speaker Mariano for his Sunday. Some 17 teams showed up to play, and it was non-stop all weekend. Here, Councilor and may- commitment to expanded voting oral candidate Annissa Essaibi George drops the puck (top photo) during a Sunday game. Meanwhile, The Massachusetts Legislature access. I congratulate Chairman Charlestown’s Brendan Collier gets the flex out of his stick (above right) as he blasted a shot from cen- passed a $261.6 million supple- ter-court on Saturday. Also (above left) on Saturday, John Lockhead of the Lockhead beats Goalie Jessie mental budget for Fiscal Year Michlewitz and the Ways and O’Neill of The People’s Team. See Pages 6 and 7 for more photos. 2021 (FY21) late last month that Means Committee on a thoughtful addresses time-sensitive deficien- supplemental budget.” cies, extends expanded voting The voting legislation passed East Boston team edges Charlestown’s options, provides supports for has been awaited by many cit- the implementation of the 2020 ies and towns, and allows for landmark police reform law and the popular practice of voting Collier team for first Townie Cup makes investments to support early by mail to continue through the Commonwealth’s continued December 15, 2021. It gives eli- found all of the old talent and the table this year, too, when on By Seth Daniel recovery from the impacts of the gible voters the ability to exercise magic of the previous tournaments Saturday they made an improba- COVID-19 pandemic. their right to cast a ballot while An epic comeback the likes of – even if the hometown favorites bly comeback against the Redler It was signed into law by Gov. protecting their health and safety, which hadn’t been seen for a few didn’t keep the Cup in the Town. team when they were on the brink Charlie Baker on July 29. he said. The bill further allows years wasn’t quite meant to be, as But the Collier team gave it of defeat. Within that bill was a great deal cities and towns the ability to offer Brendan Collier’s veteran roller their very best in the effort. Going down 3-0 early and of work by Rep. Dan Ryan, who early in-person voting for such hockey team stormed back from An upstart Charlestown team seemingly out of sorts, sudden- chairs the House Election Laws elections. The extension of these the brink of defeat in the loser’s of young players led by Matt ly Collier, Pat Fidler and Scottie Committee, and conducted many additional voting options come bracket at the 1st annual Townie Lakus upended the veteran Collier Simpson fell back on their experi- hours of hearings to get a proposal as the Commonwealth continues Cup only to be bested in the team early in the tournament on ence and marched back. Simpson that extended voting options for to grapple with COVID-19 and finals on Sunday 4-3 by Dave Saturday, sending them sudden- scored the tying goal with one this year’s municipal elections. its related variants and on the Chiaradonna’s East Boston team. ly to the loser’s bracket. They minute left, making it 5-5 at the “The voting provisions put for- heels of elections in 2020 that saw The first annual Townie Cup had been there before about three end of regulation. In overtime, ward in the supplemental budget record participation using these – and extension of a previous years ago when they stormed Simpson again scored for the win. will allow cities and towns to offer same methods. Charlestown roller hockey tour- back to win the former tourna- “You can’t say enough about safe, accessible election options In addition to the voting legis- nament – returned after a one- ment from the loser’s bracket. It this fall while we continue to work year hiatus due to COVID-19 and appeared that same mojo was on (TOWNIE CUP Pg 9) (BUDGET Pg. 3) PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE AUGUST 12, 2021 Supt. Cassellius addresses expired licensure, will take test Aug. 14 By Seth Daniel Cassellius said the pandemic done our own due diligence during •SUMMER PROGRAM NOT directly to school communities for response is still her focus, as well the evaluation process? Clearly we AS ROBUST AS EXPECTED them to determine the best uses Supt. Brenda Cassellius apol- as getting school re-opened in didn’t do that and that’s a very key The Summer Stuff program within the guidelines. This is the ogized to the School Committee September. She said she has been piece of information. I understand meant to accelerate learning and second of three distributions of at the Aug. 4 meeting for letting in contact with the state Education the superintendent’s response, but fun this summer for thousands of monies from the federal govern- her superintendent’s license expire Commissioner about the situation, for us as a Committee, that’s pret- Boston Public Schools (BPS) stu- ment, with the larger ESSER 3 on July 31, and pledged to take and is finding out if there will have ty fundamental and we did miss dents did not necessarily achieve funding coming in the fall and to the licensing exam on Aug. 14 to to be an interim superintendent that.” its lofty goals, school officials and be used in 2022. bring her into the proper certifi- put in place until she takes the test Chair Jeri Robinson said she Committee members said at the For ESSER 2, the three priori- cation. on Aug. 14, and then finds out the was also disappointed, and called Aug. 4 meeting. ties identified included social/emo- The news was first reported results later. for a checklist of basic items to be The schools used an influx of tional supports, academic accel- by the Boston Globe last week, “I have in fact scheduled the presented by the Administration funding and partnerships to cre- eration and recovery, and facility noting that Cassellius’ temporary test for Saturday, Aug. 14,” she when doing evaluations. ate what they hoped would be a improvements. and emergency superintendent’s said. “I take this very seriously and “The licensure of all staff is groundbreaking summer session “We have also got a lot of license had expired on July 31. I am resolved to complete this task the responsibility of the Human of learning, fun and activity for feedback about facility improve- When informed, Cassellius said immediately so it’s not a distrac- Resources Department and it was students this summer – hoping to ments,” she said. she wasn’t aware of it, and there tion…We have a school opening in our assumption that was being have as many as 80 percent of the The facility improvements iden- had been a misunderstanding of a few weeks and we cannot afford taken care of by them,” she said. district’s 52,000 students partici- tified included installing air con- the emergency licensure rules. any delays in ensuring the health “They have usually alerted us that pating in some program. ditioner units in every classroom “There is news about my license and safety of our children, making there was an issue, and since there In the end, there were robust that does not currently have a/c, and I’d like to personally apol- sure our teachers and school lead- was none, the assumption was programs for many students, but tracking air quality, investing in ogize to the School Committee ers have what they need. I apolo- that everything was in place… only 13,000 participated and par- libraries, and upgrading access to chair and vice chair and mem- gize for this distraction.” Since we have just learned this, we ents complained that the hours of drinking water.