Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was the keynote speaker at this month’s meeting of the North End Chamber of Commerce. “Breakfast with Marty” was held on Tuesday, April 1st at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel. In addition to Chamber members, local elected officials and community leaders were invited.
The crowd gave a round of applause to the Mayor when said he would fulfill his campaign promise of powerwashing Hanover Street starting this month. In addition, the North End will see some of the 20 new hokeys (manual cleaners) on the streets. Referring to the Boston neighborhoods as “filthy,” Walsh made cleaning up the city a key part of his message.
As part of the Mayor’s clean streets push, he is encouraging businesses and residents to sweep in front of their own properties. This initiative was picked up by the Boston Herald out of this presentation. When asked about same day pickup for residential trash, the Mayor said he has not yet taken a position.
Early in his first term, Walsh has taken up the charge to make Boston into an international, world-class city with more high profile events. He has also tasked John Barros, head of economic development, to attract new global business firms to Boston through meeting with consulates and traveling to non-US cities.
The Mayor has established a Late Night Task Force and has already extended MBTA hours to 2:30 am. The task force will look at later liquor license hours in certain neighborhoods, starting with the Seaport. Walsh is also seeking to expand the late night initiative to other forms of business, such as gyms and fitness clubs.
Streamlining the City Hall permitting and licensing process is another key initiative of the Walsh administration. In a small step, dog owners can now register and pay online, a service that went into effect last week. Other types of renewals and permits are also expected to be automated shortly.
Walsh asked chamber business owners to hire summer interns to offer mentoring opportunities to Boston’s youth.
In the question period, the issue of maintaining the North End’s historic sites and cultural heritage was discussed. Specifically, the Mayor was asked about improving the infrastructure along the Freedom Trail and adding public restrooms. The Mayor also shared the concern of some business owners regarding national chains entering the neighborhood business district.
A summary timeline video index of specific topics covered is shown below:
- 00:00 Introduction by NECC VP Toni Gilardi
- 00:30 Introductory Comments by Mayor Walsh
- 03:40 Parking opportunities as development progress
- 04:10 Powerwashing on Hanover Street
- 04:40 Assessing sidewalks and tree pits
- 05:10 Separating water and sewer systems
- 06:00 Public Safety – comment on recent sexual assault cases
- 07:00 Making Boston into an international city
- 09:00 Late night task force, extending T service
- 11:20 Permitting with same day callback, streamlining permit process
- 13:00 Boston Redevelopment Authority – Reform process
- 15:00 Summer jobs
- 16:00 Boston Shines – Encouraging residents and businesses to sweep in front
Questions and Answer Session
- 17:00 – Visitor center with public restrooms in North End
- 19:50 – City role in maintaining historic sites
- 20:10 – Cultural initiatives to deal with retail chains and install “Little Italy” signage
- 23:00 – Same day trash pickup
Photos from the event are shown below. Click any image to enlarge into a slideshow.
Photos by Matt Conti.
“The Mayor has established a Late Night Task Force and has already extended MBTA hours to 2:30 am. The task force will look at later liquor license hours in certain neighborhoods, starting with the Seaport”.
This is a joke i can’t believe the Mayor is even looking into doing this in a Residential neighborhood like the North End… PLus why is he asking the business owners… most of them don’t even live in the North End..
Someone once referred to the NYC subway system as a skid row that moves under ground. Perhaps he aims to move the problems under ground rather than solve them.
Just off the top off my head, I’m thinking campaign contributions? Unless there has been or there is an upcoming dinner gala at the Nazzaro for residents that I am not aware of.
the business owners of the NE will buy Mayor Walsh with campaign contributions…in the next few years the business will own the NE, residents will just be fillers…and the Mayor is asking for residents to clean in front of their property…yea right i thought my taxes pay for that…!!!
Coming on the heels of Walsh’s response to the two woman being attacked in the NE which was that “woman should walk in pairs” this comes as no suprise. The city of Boston has used & abused the NE which is the goose that lays the golden eggs for years and the motive is to bring more money/revenue into the city.
I don’t see what is so sinister about the Chamber inviting the Mayor of our City to speak at a breakfast. He was also at the Nazzaro Center in the North End this past weekend with former Celtic Chris Herrin to speak about drug addiction and recovery. No conspiracy theories with that event?
I listened to the entire Video and when the Mayor said something about He doesn’t want to do
anything that is going to Hurt the Restaurant People, it made me SICK. We the Residents,
have been subjected to Late Night Drunks Regurgitating, Defecating, Urinating and Fornicating
on our Streets & in our Doorways, and I don’t think any of the Restaurants were affected
like the Residents have been. If the Mayor should come to the Nazzaro Center again let us
hope it is for a NEWRA Meeting or a Safety Meeting. The Restaurants down here are making
a Fortune, and good luck to them, but no Resident should ever have to be at the affect of
their fortune. There is absolutely no reason why any Restaurant/Bar should be opened in the
No. End, West End, Faneuil Hall, etc. that is going to affect our Quality of Life than it already
has. Money the Root of all Evil, you are seeing it first hand, right here. Most Restaurant
Owners DO NOT LIVE IN THE NO. END & THOSE THAT DO, LOOK WHERE THEY LIVE.
Maybe a couple of owners are subjected to the noise that we are subjected to, but most of
them are NOT. Mayor Menino paved the way and Martin Walsh is continuing the Drive for
Restaurants and the hell with the Residents, and if you don’t like it, leave. I hope everyone
is taking a good look at what is going on here, the fundraisers for our Politicians are calling
the shots. The North End is part of the United States of America, and if a chain should come
in the area, so what. What do we have going on down here a MONOPOLY? Remember
these words, THOSE THAT ARE NOT FOR US, ARE AGAINST US and remember that
the next time you VOTE, because it is not the Restaurant Owners who voted these people in,
it was the Residents. We all have to come together with other City of Boston Neighborhoods
who DO NOT WANT to extend Liquor Licenses beyond 2 a.m. The Seaport is the perfect
area for this, because they are basically a Commercial Area, not so much a Residential area
like us.
i like the thumbs down…
it must be the restaurant owners or the “implants/country bumpkins”
great article…your totally right.
Although “Mahdy” isn’t the brightest bulb on the tree and has only been mayor for a few months he has been around politics in Boston long enough to know how to play the game and how things work in this city.
The MBTA is being extended until 2:30AM, yet the North End does not have appropriate public transportation for the workday. When bus number 6 was cancelled, the North End was left without efficient public transportation. Will that decision ever be revisited?
MCT – 1. the #4 essentially replaced the #6. it goes along commercial street every morning and afternoon during the workweek. at least in the morning, it will take you past north station, through the financial district, and into the seaport. 2. the north end is within 5 walking minutes of really five mbta stations: haymarket, north station, aquarium, state street, and government center (spare me how it is closed for two years). 3. the north end has two hubway stations. these bikes will get to about anywhere within boston proper in less than 30 minutes. it’s a steal at only $80 a year. 4. there are 3 zipcar locations in the north end. 5. if all else fails, you can walk to financial district in 10 minutes, as well as the seaport and back bay in 25 minutes. to say the north end does not have adequate public and private transportation is like saying the north end does not have enough italian restaurants. in other words, it has plenty of both.
Truth- thanks for response. I love the North End and agree that it is very accessible. However, I should have bern more specific to say that the early morning public, efficient transportation is lacking from North End/waterfront area to South Station/Seaport area. While bus 4 was modified to somewhat accommodate bus 6 riders, it certainly is not a replacement. Bus 6 had an early morning 6:15AM route and was quite efficient in getting from North End waterfront area to South Station. Bus 4 takes more than double the time to get there and doesn’t offer anything before 6:40AMish. As for early morning alternatives, there are none.
mct – you make a valid point. i also work in the seaport district, and the commute time most days on the bus is ridiculous, especially if you do it after 8:00am. i thought i heard the city/state may launch a ferry service from lovejoy wharf to the seaport district. if so, it would be about the best option. safe travels!