Grew Park Neighbors Meeting Notes: January 6, 2025

[elainemcoveney]

Attendees
Joan Quagenti-Bahadir, Bob and Elaine Dynes, Kathy Sferrazza, Cecily Graham (Office of Neighborhood Services), Gabe Cruz (Councilor Pepén's office), Representative Consalvo, Sean Henry (Senator Rush's office), Officer Broderick, Sergeant Ivins, Officer Conley, Officer Miller

Police Report: 12/6/24–1/5/25
Assaults: 12/7 Deforest Street [resident dragged]; 12/19 Maynard Street [domestic issue]
Robberies, Breaking & Entering, Larceny, Auto Thefts, Vandalism: 0

1/1–12/31/24: E-18 crime down 11% from the same period in 2023. The largest decrease was in auto theft (46% decrease) and burglary (33% decrease).

• Officer Broderick alerted meeting attendees about an overdue parking ticket text message scam. The city does not send notifications about overdue parking tickets via text. Another indication that the message is a scam is that the domain is .com, not .gov. For more information on the scam and how to pay an overdue parking ticket, see https://police.boston.gov/2025/01/04/bpd-community-alert-be-aware-of-overdue-parking-ticket-text-message-scam/.
  
• In response to a question, Officer Broderick said that anyone finding a lost key fob can drop it at the police station.

River Street Bridge
The bridge is now open. The city is in the process of modifying signs as needed and will be installing new crosswalks. There will also be a full upgrade of the traffic lights at the bridge.

Rep. Consalvo (rob.co...@mahouse.gov; Emily Carrara (emily....@mahouse.gov) reported that a timeline for next steps has not yet been set, and that the 50% design meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Squares+Streets
January 7, 6:30pm. Boston Planning Department presents on the Squares+Streets Ideas Reception. Muni Building, 1179 River Street.

January 11, 10am–12:30pm. Hyde Park Neighborhood Planning Workshop. The Pryde Community Center, 59 Harvard Street entrance (entrance near Webster Street).

Gabe Cruz, Councilor Pepén's office
Gabe: gabrie...@boston.gov; Councilor Pepén: enriqu...@boston.gov

• Councilor Pepén's office is in the process of setting up virtual office hours for 2025. Gabe will confirm dates/times when available.
  
• Hearings that were originally scheduled for 2024 but did not take place will be rescheduled for 2025.

Cecily Graham, Office of Neighborhood Services
cecily....@boston.gov

• Boston Family Days, the public-private partnership that provides free entry to 9 of Boston's cultural institutions to school-aged children, has been expanded to include all elementary and secondary school students who live in Boston. For more information see https://www.boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/boston-family-days.
  
• The City of Boston has executed a lease agreement for White Stadium with Boston Unity Soccer Partners. For more information see https://www.boston.gov/news/white-stadium-lease-agreement-boston-unity-soccer-partners-announced.
  
• The City of Boston is developing an anti-displacement action plan. For more information see https://www.boston.gov/departments/planning-advisory-council/anti-displacement-action-plan.
  
• Cecily will be resuming ONS office hours at Las Delicias Colombianas, 1231 River Street. Contact Cecily for more information.
  

Next meeting is scheduled for February 3, 6pm, on Zoom.