February 7, 2022 Meeting Minutes

Egleston Square Neighborhood Association

February 7, 2022 Meeting Minutes

 Agenda

  • Greetings & introductions         
  • Police Report
  • Updates
  • Discussion

Police Report

Sgt. Dougherty and Officer Martinez gave us the Police Report.  Part 1 Crimes continue to decrease overall; however, there are increases in non-domestic aggravated assault, burglaries, and larcenies. 

Dan asked about gun violence.  Gun violence is up nationally; is that true in Boston?  Sgt. Dougherty said it is not true in Boston, that Boston is an exception, and is not experiencing gun violence as high as other cities.

E-13 Police have a large number of sick assists and aggravated assaults every month, that involve people with mental health and addiction issues, often the same people over and over again.  One of the tools police in our district can use is court-ordered commitment for treatment, called Section 35.  Section 35 is run by the courts and involves 2 programs, one for substance abuse, one for mental health.  Police, service providers, and others present evidence about a person to the judge; if the judge agrees, the person is brought to Court.  If both the Court and a doctor agree, the person can be ordered to a 21-90 day commitment to a facility.  Sgt. Dougherty says it is not a perfect system but can sometimes help people get treatment; he estimates about half the people who are under Section 35 benefit from the commitment.  He said follow up after treatment varies, and it depends on the agency responsible. 

Section 35 started as a pilot program out of West Roxbury Court, with the aim to promote treatment rather than jail time for behavior rooted in substance abuse or mental illness.

If you would like to receive E-13’s weekly journal listing police incidents, email Officer Martinez and let him know:  carlos.martinez@pd.boston.gov

Updates from our Politicians

Mike Giordano, who used to work for Councilor O’Malley, is now on the staff of Rep. Liz Malia. We’re glad to have Mike continue to work with us.  He reported Rep. Malia is working on completing legislation before the session ends. 

My’Kel McMillan is now the Jamaica Plain liaison for Councilor Kendra Lara.  Welcome My’Kel!  My’Kel has lived in JP all of his life; before this job, he was the Youth Program Director at Mildred Hailey Apartments. He is making it a point to attend all the various community and school meetings in the District.

Lena Shapiro from Senator Chang Diaz’s office reported that last week was the deadline for reporting bills out of Committee.  Senator Chang Diaz is the Chair of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, as well as Chair of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion; she also serves on a number of other Committees.  She is moving forward bills on childcare and on equity in the cannabis industry.

District lines have been redrawn, and will go into effect early 2023.  ESNA will continue to be in Second Suffolk District for the Senate.  However, ESNA will see big changes for the House.  Currently most of ESNA is in District 11 Suffolk; that district will disappear.  By 2023, most of ESNA will then be in District 15 Suffolk, with some of ESNA in District 5 Suffolk and some in District 7 Suffolk.  

https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting_in_Massachusetts_after_the_2020_census

Housing Committee Update

41 Cornwall – ESNA letter of support re adding space to the third floor as the owner rebuilds after a fire sparked by lightening; no change to footprint of building.

3243 Washington – ESNA letter of support re adding a third unit to existing 2 family, with proviso to provide landscaping, better trash storage, adequate site drainage, and rnotice to abutters about any construction impacts.

Egleston Branch Library – The City’s Library Study Team released a final study outlining 4 possible designs for the new Library; all plans call for doubling of the Library space to add programming, classroom, and meeting space – wonderful!  ESNA submitted a joint letter with the Friends of Egleston Library outlining our preferences for building design:  we prefer a stand-alone library, without added housing, with adequate green space to continue the outdoor classroom and permaculture programming.  We are waiting to see what the Boston Public Library Study Team will recommend.

ESNA Letter is https://esna4all.org/meetings/

The Final Report and other documents can be found at https://www.bpl.org/egleston-square-project/

Free Tax Prep at Urban Edge

If your family earned less than $66,000 last year, you can have your tax returns prepared for free at Urban Edge.  Leneva told us that Urban Edge once again will help people prepare and file their federal and state income tax returns.

For more information call 617 989-9326 or send email to freetaxprep@urbanedge.org

Egleston Square Main Street

Denise provide a couple of updates from Egleston Square Main Street:

– The Covid 19 Vaccine Mobile Clinic continues to offer vaccines at the Egleston Y, 3134 Washington St. on Tuesdays, from 4-7 pm. The Clinic is sponsored by Brookside Community Health Center.  Vaccines are free and available for ages 5 and up.  No appointment, identification, or insurance is needed.

– ESMS will host a workshop on understanding the Article 80 Housing Development process in April; the workshop is to help people understand the process so that people can more actively participate.

Next ESNA Meeting is Monday, 3/7/22 at 6:30 pm.
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