Boston Mayor Martin Walsh unveiled his $2.7 billion fiscal year 2015 budget to the City Council . In it is Walsh and the city’s five year $1.9 billion capital plan, “Building a Better Boston,” that the Walsh administration has dubbed an investment program for the City’s future and has several earmarks for Charlestown.

The five year capital plan, which will span from FY15 to FY19, has an underlying framework for the strategic use of infrastructure to promote economic development, neighborhood vitality, quality education, health care, and public safety; comprehensive planning to lay the foundation for future growth; and effective government management to deliver necessary municipal services efficiently.

The Charlestown Pool will get $2.7 million for rehabilitation of the pool’s bathhouse, its two pool shells, exterior pool deck, and mechanical systems.

Charlestown Navy Yard Pier 11 will get $375,000 for fender system improvements and new fender piles and walls. Pier 4 will get $2,511,000 design and installation of pier infrastructure improvements. Pier 5 will get $975,000 for pier and drydock repairs.

The Shipyard Park Public will receive $195,000 to replace the fountain pump system and gratings.

The Engine 50 Firehouse will get $2,120,000 for general renovations including the building’s exterior and interior.

The Caldwell Street Playground will get $250,000 for park renovation including pruning, refurbished play structure, new swings, spring toys, safety surfacing, and miscellaneous repairs.

The Harvard Mall Play Area will get $450,000 for a complete renovation of the tot lot and surrounding area including fencing, paving, and lighting.

The John Harvard Mall will get $970,000 to renovate the existing passive park and improve accessibility.

Winthrop Square III will get $629,330 to landscape the area and install new perimeter fencing.

City, state and federal money will be used for the $63 million Alford Street Bridge project that will replace the bridge.

The Cambridge Street Bridge will get $235,000 to inspect the bridge and perform repairs as needed.

“While this budget reflects my own priorities, it also reflects the priorities of the people of Boston,” said Walsh. “Since January, we have listened to voices from all across this great city, and we have learned about people’s needs, ideas, and hopes for the future. This budget is balanced, smart, and invests in the people of this city. It invests in our children; in opportunity, in well being, and in our neighborhoods. I want to thank everyone who has worked on this budget; this is a budget that combines deep experience with innovative ideas to produce an ambitious vision for Boston.”

James Donahue

Charlestown roots run deep. Family roots even deeper. That’s why “Townie Pride” waves supreme in honor to a son and grandson of one of the town’s well known families, the McGonagles of Elm Street.

Ten year old James Donahue of Reading, son of Andy and Marie McGonagle Donahue and grandson of Marie and Charlie McGonagle, took first place in the Junior Olympic Championship Cross Country competition held in San Antonia, Texas, the youngest person in the their 60 year history to win the race.

The fifth grader started running in August and spent the autumn breaking records in meets throughout the district. These outstanding achievements won him a spot as a member of the Sentinel Striders USA Track and Field New England Junior Team.

James clinched his medal in a 3K race for boys ages 9 & 10 in 5:20 minutes, beating out 329 other runners, making him the first Massachusetts athlete to ever win a Cross Country Junior Olympics National Championship and the 2nd youngest athlete in the USA Track and Field New England Association to win a national title.

Watching her son approaching the finish line in Texas, his mother Marie remembers “having chills up my spine.” She added, “He worked really hard for the national competition. I want him to know that it pays off. If you are dedicated and work hard, you will succeed. He proved that to himself.”

After crossing the finish line, watching his parents crying with joy and his brother Charlie and sister Elizabeth cheering hysterically, James said, “I was just surprised I did it!”

A well rounded athlete, James also plays hockey, baseball and lacrosse. Hid dad, Andy, said, “One day he’ll need to narrow his focus, but for now he’s enjoying being active on the trail, ice and fields. Participating is always a great way to spend time and enjoy the moment.”

After a recent session at the State House with James receiving a certificate honoring his big win and even after the receipt of the “Athlete of the Month” award by the USA Track and Field New England Association, in his humble manner, James, when asked what he thought of his running skills, said, “I like to get outside. It’s really fun.”

Claire Lynch gets a kiss on the hand by Jim Fitzgerald after her win.

In the next few weeks, campaigning will be heavy as five candidates vie to be the one called ‘Mayor of Charlestown.’  In this week’s newspaper on page 6, Patty Kelley has written profiles of the candidates.

But for those Townies who seem to never forget a good political race, we reprint the 1988 race that went down to the wire.

Claire Lynch and the Race of ‘88

By: Alexandra Gandolfo 

Few of the past mayoral races have been quite such nail biters as that of the 1988 race between Claire Lynch and Jim Carroll. With a margin of just 67 votes, Claire Lynch bested Jim Carroll with a grand total of 12,290 votes, causing the Knights of Columbus Hall to explode with excitement. At $1.00 a pop, both Claire and Jimmy ran a tight ship, enlisting their friends and family to help them by forming campaign committees that worked tirelessly to spread the word and sell as many tickets as they could get out there.

An aggressive campaign, Claire’s committee made themselves known in Kelly green sweatshirts with “Claire for Mayor” printed in white across the front and trolled the town, local store fronts, and nearby malls to ensnare patrons. Jimmy’s approach tended toward the male crowd, his committee aiming to those grouped together in the local pubs and earning a vote with every clink of the pilsner. In the end though, it was Claire’s mainly female committee that helped pull her just ever so slightly ahead to win the title of Mayor of Charlestown.

Reading through old articles of The Patriot, Townie fever was at an all time high. The race was not only a community undertaking, but a seriously organized and well-executed race. All candidates, not just Claire and Jimmy, brought the competition to an all time high by permeating the town with voter pleas while simultaneously coordinating fundraisers and events. The mayoral race of ’88 is one for the books and this year, hopefully, the mayoral race of ’14 will take a page from their book and bring it back to all it’s enthralling glory.

Two riders from the Massachusetts National Lancers playing Paul Revere (Sgt. Christopher Tobin) and William Dawes (Major James DiCarlo) leave the North End on Sunday evening getting ready to head to Charlestown for the re-enactment of Paul Revere’s ride. The annual Paul Revere’s ride re-enactment takes place at the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown and coincides with the Old North Church’s Lantern Hanging Ceremony. It was the 239th year for the coordinated re-enactment, which included a ride on Monday from the area to Lexington. The Paul Revere rider leaves from Charlestown after coming over from the North End, and the William Dawes rider leaves from Roxbury. The honorary lantern hanger at the Old North Church this year was Roseann Sdoia, a North End resident who lost her leg in the Boston Marathon bombing one year ago.

Anne Tiernan

IRS Retiree, Old Charlestown School Girls Association Member and Active Swimmer

Anne T. Tiernan, a lifelong resident of Charlestown, passed away peacefully on April 28. She was 86 years old.

Anne was born on June 26, 1927 to William J. Tiernan and Sarah Winifred Walsh Tiernan who emigrated from Galway, Ireland. Her father was a World War I Army veteran who died in 1929 after serving honorably in Mexico and Europe, leaving his wife Sarah to raise five children alone through the dark years of the depression.

Anne graduated from St. Mary’s Grammer School and Charlestown High School, Class of 1945. She was a member of the Old Charlestown School Girls Association where her niece Sally Klessens serves as President. She was also an active swimmer for years with memberships to the Armed Service YMCA in Charlestown and the Holiday Inn Pool Club in Somerville.

Anne worked since middle school for over 40 years as a bookkeeper at Eddie Henry’s Variety Store on Main Street in Charlestown. She then worked at the JFK Building for the Internal Revenue Service, retiring in January of 1996 after many years of service.

She was the devoted sister of Margaret Klessens of Somerville and the late Mary Sanborn, William Tiernan and Frances Coyne; the loving aunt of Sally W. Klessens of Somerville, William F. Klessens of New Hampshire, Cornelius J. Klessens and his wife, Donna of Beverly, Thomas F. Klessens and his wife, Jean of Tyngsboro, William Sanborn and his wife, Lorraine of Saugus and Maureen O’Malley and her husband, Robert of Holliston. She is also survived by several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Anne was tremendously loved and will be deeply missed and remembered fondly by family members and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Anne’s Funeral on Friday, May 2 at 9 a.m. from The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown followed by her Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Visiting hours will be today, Thursday, May 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. To send a message of condolence, please visit www.CarrFuneral.com

Eileen Lally, RN

Of Florida, formerly of Charlestown

Eileen M. (Kelly) Lally RN, a resident of Seminole, Florida for more than 25 years and formerly of Charlestown, entered into eternal life unexpectedly on Saturday, April 26 in Seminole, Florida. She was 58 years old.

Eileen was born in Boston on August 27, 1955, a daughter of the late Patrick J. Kelly and Gertrude “Frances” (Whitney) Kelly. She grew up in Charlestown where she was educated at St. Catherine’s Parochial School in Charlestown and graduated from North Cambridge Catholic High School in Cambridge in 1973. She furthered her education and received her Nursing Degree from Somerville Hospital School of Nursing. Eileen worked as a Registered Nurse in the emergency department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for several years before moving to Seminole, Florida and working as a Registered Nurse with home health care providers in the area for many years.

Eileen is the loving wife of Peter Lally. She is the devoted mother of Katie Lally, Brendan Lally and Kelsey Lally, all of Florida; the beloved sister of Kathleen Browne of Charlestown, John Kelly of Charlestown, Maryellen Hamilton of Dorchester, Patricia Brooks of Wakefield and Bill Kelly of Wakefield and the loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Eileen’s Memorial Funeral Mass on Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown. To send a message of condolence, please visitwww.CarrFuneral.com

Placement evaluations to select teams for Charlestown Soccer’s Fall, 2014 soccer season will take place on Friday, May 16 (U14 Boys and U14 Girls; U10 Girls and U12 Girls) and Saturday, May 17 (U10 Boys and U12 Boys) at Charlestown High School. Placements are field evaluations of all our potential players conducted by independent contractors. The schedule and details on what’s involved are below. A few key points to note are:

All players will be required to register in order to participate in the placements. Registration is now open.:

Players move up to the next age division based upon their birth date NOT their grade or the fact that there are other players on their team moving up in age.  July 31st  is the date used to determine whether or not a player moves. Please carefully review the times below and the age groups to make sure that you are entering your player into the correct placement session.

Friday May 16, 2014

U14 Boys (born on or after August 1, 2000 but on or before July 31, 2002)

4.30 pm: Check In/ Uniform Measuring and Ordering
5:00 pm: Warm Up
5:10 pm: Rotate around stations

U14 Girls (born on or after August 1, 2000 but on or before July 31, 2002)
4.30 pm:  Check In / Uniform Measuring and Ordering
5:00 pm: Warm Up
5:10 pm: Rotate around stations

U10 Girls (born on or after August 1, 2004 but on or before July 31, 2006)
5.45pm: Check In/ Uniform Measuring and Ordering
6:20pm: Warm Up
6:30pm: Rotate around stations

U12 Girls (born on or after August 1, 2002 but on or before July 31, 2004)
6.45pm: Check In/ Uniform Measuring and Ordering
7:20pm: Warm Up
7:30pm: Rotate around stations

Saturday May 17, 2014

U10 Boys (born on or after August 1, 2004 but on or before July 31, 2006)
5.30 pm:  Check In / Uniform Measuring and Ordering
6:00 pm: Warm Up
6:10 pm: Rotate around stations

U12 Boys (born on or after August 1, 2002 but on or before July 31, 2004)
6.30 pm: Check In/ Uniform Measuring and Ordering
7:00 pm: Warm Up
7:10 pm: Rotate around station

Placements will take place rain or shine. The outcome of the placement session is not the only component used in evaluating players. The more information evaluators have, the better your chances of accurate placement. However, it is understood that problems can arise, and if you find yourself in that position you MUST contact Charlestown Soccer at info@charlestownsoccer.com.  While the player will be eligible for consideration, team placement will be made based upon whatever information is available. Please go to our website at www.charlestownsoccer.com for more details on how we select players for travel teams and for answers.

Larceny in a Building

04/29/14 – A victim on Eighth Street reported that someone stole a laptop from the school. Police were provided with information as to whom may have taken the computer, and detectives are investigating.

Shoplifting

04/30/14 – Officers responded to Austin Street for a report of a shoplifter who had stolen items from a local store. The suspect was located and taken into custody.

Drugs

04/30/14 – As a result of a drug investigation in the area of Medford Street, an individual was issued a civil citation for possession of marijuana.

Warrant

05/02/14 – Officers in the area of West School Street took an individual into custody on a Charlestown Court warrant of apprehension. The suspect was taken to court without incident.

Violation of the Auto Laws

05/04/14 – As a result of a traffic stop on Rutherford Avenue, an individual was placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license.

Larceny – Bicycle

05/04/14 – A victim reported at about 8 a.m., she secured her black-and-pink hybrid bicycle to a bike rack on Maffa Way, but when she returned at 6 p.m., it was gone.

Spring is here and it’s once again time for Boston Shines! The annual city-wide clean-up is coming to Charlestown on Saturday, May 10th. To make this event a success and make our neighborhood truly shine, volunteers are needed!

Boston Shines in Charlestown is looking for volunteers to help with several locations. Volunteers will meet at the at the John Harvard Mall on Saturday, May from 10 am – noon.  Please join the Friends of the John Harvard Mall to help with the annual Spring cleaning of the park.

The City is providing rakes and brooms.  Please bring gardening tools to assist with weeding around the trees.  Hope to see you on Saturday.
Boston Shines events will be taking place all over Charlestown this weekend.  Visit http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/BostonShines/ for more details.

Trapped Under The Sea with author Neil Swidey. Presented by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library. Thursday, May 15, 7:30 pm. Free and open to all, with a book signing and reception following. Wheelchair accessible. Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library, 179 Main Street, Charlestown 02129. For more information: 617-242-1248, www.bpl.org/branches/charlestown.htm.

Just twenty-five years ago, Boston Harbor was considered a national embarrassment — the filthiest harbor in America. Today, Boston has the cleanest urban harbor in the nation, an undisputed environmental success story and the engine of the city’s stunning revitalization. Yet it came at an enormous cost. In Trapped Under the Sea: One Engineering Marvel, Five Men, and a Disaster Ten Miles Into the Darkness, author Neil Swidey recounts the tragic and avoidable human toll of the fraught last step of the decade-long harbor cleanup.

On a clear summer day in 1999, five commercial divers entered a nearly 10-mile-long horizontal tunnel — the longest of its kind in the world — that was bored into the bedrock hundreds of feet beneath the ocean floor. Their job was to solve the final logistical challenge that had plagued the harbor project for years, testing the patience and resources of all the parties involved. In this oxygen-starved, silent, pitch-black and claustrophobic environment, the divers’ mission turned into a harrowing race to get out alive.

For five years, Swidey immersed himself in every aspect of the Boston Harbor project, from the hard-driving lives of commercial divers and the otherworldly subculture of the “sandhogs” who dig tunnels, to the complicated quarters of civil engineering and corporate litigation. His book explores how designers and engineers — emboldened by new technology and pressured by governments and corporations to address a growing population’s rapacious needs — are pushing the limits of the possible. Yet no matter how impressive an engineer’s solution may look on a computer screen, it always falls to a bunch of workers in hard hats to carry it out.

Further background information:
Neil Swidey is the author of The Assist, a Boston Globe bestseller that was named one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post, and coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. A staff writer for The Boston Globe Magazine, Swidey has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award and has twice won the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. His work has been featured in The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, and The Best American Political Writing. He teaches at Tufts University and lives outside Boston. www.neilswidey.com

The Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library was formed in 1953, becoming the second Friends group to organize within the Boston Public Library system. The Friends schedule four to six evening programs a year, support the Reading is FUNdamental programs for children, and maintain the library’s landscaping. The mission of the Friends remains today what it was in 1953: to serve as an advocacy and support group for the needs of the Charlestown Branch Library, its staff and users.  www.bpl.org/branches/charlestown.htm

Tom Coots

Tom Coots, an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for The Cooperative Bank in Charlestown has been named a 2014 Community Bank Hero by Banker and Tradesman magazine, a weekly bank newspaper published by The Warren Group.

Each year, the magazine honors Community Bankers who go above and beyond providing community and philanthropic service.

“It’s a great honor,” said Coots “I’m thrilled to be named, but giving back to our communities is what community banks are all about.”   Coots is a graduate of Salem State College and New England School of Banking. He has been involved in many community groups in Charlestown, including Bunker Hill Monument Association, Charlestown Historical Society, Charlestown Militia Company, Bunker Hill Parade Committee, Boy and Girls Clubs.

On May 29th, Coots and other winners will be honored with an awards reception at the Hyatt Regency Boston

Jaida Hinton, of the Cubs team, gets ready to hit the ball during Saturday’s Little League Opening Day Ceremonies and games. More than 200 children and League officials paraded through the streets of the neighborhood and ended the day with several games and a celebration at Ryan Field. With the wild weather, League officials said a lot of baseball has to be played in the next few weeks as it will be a short season this year.

Shown from left are David Hennessey, VP CHS; Dan Ryan, Charlestown House Rep; Tom Coots, Pres. CHS; Joe Bagley, City Archaeologist; Diane Valle, Pres. Friends of Training Field; Nicholas Kraman, Pres. CPS.

The Archaeology Walking Tour led by Joe Bagley, City of Boston Archaeologist, was held on May 3. The group of 40 participants began at the Bunker Hill Monument. Bagley’s tour included the true shape of fortifications on Breeds Hill, the leading business women of the 18th century, Slave sites, Pottery sites, and Native sites drowned by rising seas. Presented by Charlestown Preservation Society, Charlestown Historical Society, Friends of the Training Field, and Friends of City Square Park.

The Townies National Swim Team headed to Tampa/St. Pete, Florida on April 10th for the Nationals Competition that takes place each year. This year, they swam on the 11th, 12th and 13th of April.  Having been picked for the 2014 Nationals Team, all 10 athletes had worked extremely hard to get on that flight to Florida.

Each swimmer brings something unique to the team. Charlestown Townies, swimming for the Boys & Girls Club, Charlestown, become part of “Team New England”. When the regular season ends in February, Nationals swimmers continue to practice in the pool and dry lands, both in their own club, and with Team New England.  The following athletes swam for Charlestown/Team New England: Sam King, Lucy King, Maggie Gray, Eliza Nilson, Ryan Messer, Aiden Fittz, Maeve Fittz, Claire Lakus, Jolie Doherty, Afton McKinney Claire Lakus, Jolie Doherty and Ryan Messer made it to the finals (that means that they were in the Top 16 in their races). Ryan Messer really showed the country what a boy from Charlestown can do! He was in every final in the races that he competed in earlier in the day(s). Maggie Gray won one of her heats. Sam King, Lucy King, Eliza Nilson, Aiden Fittz and Maeve Fittz, swam very well and shaved time off of their races as well. Shaving time, when competing with the Nations best, is a huge accomplishment.   Every child should be thrilled with their accomplishment.

There cannot be enough said about Stephanie Ward and Jessie MacDonald, the two Assistant Coaches who accompanied the children to Florida. Stephanie and Jesse are true professionals and sincerely made the swimmers more confident, ready to swim, and happy to be there.  Head Coach Cassandra Hartwell had to stay back and cheer from afar as Baby Hartwell was close to arrival.

The Charlestown Townies have each other’s backs!  Cheering, hugging, shouting, “go, go go” was on the lips of each swimmer. When a swimmer was in the water, the rest of the team was at the end of the lane supporting their mate(s). True sportsmanship was displayed throughout the competition.

Parents got to accompany their children on the trip, and each family was well represented. Friendships were made, fun was had by all, and a great experience overall for each family. I don’t think there is anything quite like seeing your child compete at the National Level.  I know it is something I will never forget.

Congratulations to all of the amazing children and adults who made the trip successful, positive and fun. Another BIG THANK YOU to Stephanie Ward and Jesse MacDonald for giving your best to Charlestown’s children who swim.

The CNC Basic Services committee will hold a meeting of May 22 at 7:00 pm at the Mishawum Community room, 95 Dunstable Street. Representatives from Fresh Truck will be on hand to discuss their proposal to bring their mobile healthy food market to the Charlestown community.

The presentation will include information regarding the proposed location for the Fresh Truck mobile market and may result in a vote of the Basic Services Committee as a recommendation to the full Council for either support of the project or deferment of support until additional information and/or further revisions to the concept are provided.

Courageous Sailing today announced the launch of a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of its youth programs, which teach vital skills and have played a critical role in enhancing the lives of tens of thousands of Boston children during the past two-plus decades.

The campaign includes an innovative mix of TV, print, radio and web advertising, developed pro bono by ad agency Hill Holliday and Courageous board member Joe Berkeley. With beautiful photography and video, the campaign captures the essence of the Courageous Sailing mission and its impact on Boston kids.

“While sailing provides all the fun and excitement that keeps kids coming back to Courageous summer after summer, our youth programs also teach a host of vital life skills,” said Dave DiLorenzo, executive director of Courageous Sailing.  “We’re pleased to announce the launch of this new campaign, which will enable us to grow and expand our youth programs so that more Boston children can access this once-in-a-lifetime experience on the water.”

Through sailing, Courageous kids learn how to swim, develop confidence and tenacity, build healthy relationships with peers and mentors, and learn to work as a team and be a leader.  The team have found the perfect blend of images and words to convey the Courageous experience and the difference it’s making.

Courageous’ youth sailing programs:

Are among the best of their kind and making a huge difference in the lives of 1,000 children each year, most of whom are from low-income families and Boston’s high-poverty neighborhoods.

Rely on donations and the support of the community.  Each year Courageous must turn away hundreds of children and families due to limited space and funds.  Through this awareness campaign, Courageous hopes to raise additional funds both to support its high-quality programs and to increase its capacity to serve more children and reduce the wait list.

Courageous is an excellent sailing program for adults as well.  Offering a wide range of high-quality classes and affordable memberships, Courageous specializes in making sailing on Boston Harbor easy to fall in love with and hard to stop.  All lessons and memberships help to support the youth program and provide additional scholarships for Courageous kids.

The launch event, which took place earlier this month at Nixon Peabody, was co-hosted  by Courageous board members Rick Pedone, of Nixon Peabody, Clay Deutsch, of Boston Private Bank, and Chip Terry, of dunnhumby.

During the event, Courageous also announced a new fundraising initiative, the Courageous Keel Campaign.  The Keel Campaign is designed to ensure that Courageous has the financial reserves necessary to continue to serve Boston kids for many years to come.  The Courageous board of directors is contributing over $200,000, which they hope to match with another $200,000 in commitments by the end of this year.

Finally, Courageous Sailing’s Executive Director, DiLorenzo, presented a new perpetual award, the Ladd M. Thorne Award for Philanthropic Leadership.  The award recognizes the outstanding efforts of Courageous board member Ladd Thorne, Jr. and his father, Ladd M. Thorne, and was presented to them as the first recipients.  Through the efforts of Ladd and Ladd, Jr., Courageous was awarded a two-year grant in the amount of $200,000 from the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation.  The grant focuses exclusively on increasing outreach to disadvantaged communities, and enables Courageous to provide more opportunities for kids who truly need it the most.

Through this grant, Courageous launched a new Swim Sail Science program in 2013, which blends sailing, swimming instruction, and environmental and marine science.  Swim Sail Science will be doubling in size this summer.

About Courageous Sailing

Courageous Sailing was established in 1987 as a 501(c)3 by the late South Boston sailing enthusiast Harry McDonough. It was Harry’s dream to use sailing to build character and camaraderie among Boston children from all economic and ethnic backgrounds.  Over the following 27 years, Courageous has grown to serve 1,000 children each year, with a mission of transforming lives through sailing programs that inspire learning, personal growth and leadership.  In Harry’s words, “Every child’s perspective is improved 50-yards off-shore.”

Last Thursday the Massachusetts Gaming Commission rejected the City of Boston’s petition to be considered a ‘Host Community’, which would have allowed Charlestown to vote on a casino referendum and possibly a more lucrative community agreement.

While the city argued that both the Wynn proposal in Everett and the Mohegan Sun proposal in Revere adjacent to the Suffolk Downs Racetrack in East Boston would benefit from Boston roads and other amenities, the Gaming Commission ruled otherwise and designated Boston a surrounding community.

“I’m disappointed in today’s decision by the Gaming Commission,” said Mayor Martin Walsh. “The Commission’s announcement seemed predetermined because after three hours of testimony, they only took ten minutes to arrive at a decision. I have said — and I truly believe — that Boston is a host community to both sites, and I intend to continue to do everything in my power to protect our best interests. The people of East Boston and Charlestown deserve the opportunity to vote. I will meet with my legal team to evaluate all of the options available to us right now. We have not made a decision about our next step, but we will share developments as they are available.”

At last Thursday’s hearing city lawyers said that both Wynn and Mohegan would benefit from the city’s numerous amenities and infrastructure like Rutherford Avenue. While the city argued Boston roads would be the only road to access Wynn’s $1.5 billion proposal Wynn’s lawyers argued that did not qualify Boston as a Host Community. The MGC agreed with the latter.

“Based on the ambiguous and arbitrary process the Gaming Commission has pursued, we believe that we have multiple options available to us at this time,” said Walsh. “We are continuing to work aggressively to determine the appropriate action to continue our fight for the people of Boston. My position has not changed: Boston is a host community to both sites, and the people of Boston — of Charlestown and East Boston — deserve the opportunity to vote and have their voices heard.”

City Councilor Sal LaMattina has repeatedly asked Wynn officials for more information concerning traffic impacts, environmental impacts and more concrete details on mitigation.

“I firmly believe Boston is a host community and the residents of Charlestown should be able to vote,” said LaMattina. “Traffic impacts along Rutherford Ave, Sullivan Square and Route 99 have not been addressed in any meaningful way by Wynn. If traffic plans could not be implemented by a casino in neighboring Everett a casino is probably not a viable option for the area and the residents here should decide that.”

Plans have already been approved by the Boston Transportation Department to reduce traffic on Route 99 by redesigning the Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square corridor. Some Charlestown residents have said future casino traffic, without meaningful mitigation, could jeopardize or destroy years of hard work and thoughtful planning for this corridor and negatively impact the neighborhood.

At the start of last week’s hearing, Gaming Commission Chairman, Stephen Crosby recused himself from voting on the Region A casino license after photos surfaced of the chairman attending a VIP Party at Suffolk Down’s opening day celebration and Kentucky Derby simulcast.

In a statement before last week’s hearing, Crosby said “I have said repeatedly over my 2 years as Chair of the Gaming Commission that the single highest priority for our work is that we protect the integrity of the decision making process. And I have also said repeatedly that the appearance of integrity as well as the reality of integrity is critical. Over the past several months, my behavior and judgment concerning the parties to the Region A decision has been questioned, sometimes in good faith, sometimes in bad faith. Frankly, neither I nor any of the Commissioners have any doubt about my ability to be impartial in the decision making process. But the compounding of these issues has now gotten to the point where my participation in the decision making process has become a distraction and a potential threat to our critical appearance of total impartiality. I want to take this opportunity to note the extraordinary amount of hard work and dedication that has resulted in the considerable progress and accomplishment achieved by the Commission and its staff since we embarked on the implementation of an incredibly complex licensing process and the establishment of a new state agency. I will not allow anything to distract or discredit that comprehensive effort. Therefore, I have decided to recuse myself from any further involvement in any of the issues concerning the licensing decision for Region A. For those discussions, Commissioner Jim McHugh will act as Chair of the Commission and my decision will have no impact on the schedule for Region A.”

Meanwhile, members of Repeal the Casino Deal were at Monday night meeting in Boston to collect signatures from residents to get a casino repeal question on the state ballot in November.

Attorney Matt Cameron and Brian Gannon said they have 73,000 signatures and need 11,000 more. Whether or not a repeal question will appear on the state ballot is now in the hands of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court who will rule on the argument by the summer.

State Senator Sal DiDomenico announced his endorsement of Steve Tompkins for Suffolk County Sheriff this week.

Deanna Sutton, Jessica Scire and Emily Walker were happy to spend their Friday evening at the gala. They were three of many who attended the 5th Annual Fundraiser for the Good Shepherd School at St. Mary’s-St. Catherine of Siena Parish Center. The theme was ‘Hollywood.’

Assault and Battery

05/19/14 – A victim reported while walking down Main Street, she was struck in the head with a beer bottle. The victim told police that she believes the bottle came from a fire-escape platform. She declined medical attention.

Warrant Arrest

05/21/14 – Officers in the area of Warren Street placed an individual under arrest for an outstanding Boston Municipal Court warrant charging trespassing. The suspect also had a Cambridge Court warrant charging resisting arrest.

Investigate Person

05/24/14 – As a result of a drug investigation in the area of Main Street, an individual will be summonsed into Charlestown Court for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Investigation

05/28/14 – Officers responded to Walford Way for a report of shots fired.

Police, who were in close proximity to where the call came from, didn’t hear any shots. Officers canvassed the area, but no ballistic evidence was found.

The caller didn’t want to make herself known to police.