Mayor Menino kicks off redevelopment at Franklin Hills

The Boston Housing Authority and its developer, Trinity Financial, are starting demolition of the Franklin Hill public housing development, which will then be redeveloped into 266 affordable rental units and 50 affordable homeownership units.  Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the BHA and several city departments have prioritized the project as a key initiative that will revitalize the community at Franklin Hill and will improve the quality of life for current residents.

“It’s great to be here as we clear the way for a new, revitalized Franklin Hill community,” Menino said. “I’m proud that we are building high-quality housing that people will be proud to call home, promoting economic development and revitalizing the entire community.”

The Franklin Hill redevelopment will take place in multiple phases. Phase one will consist of the construction of 114 affordable rental units. Ninety affordable rental units will be located in two mid-rise buildings. The remaining 24 affordable rental units will be townhouse style units.

Construction, which is expected to begin in March 2007, will take approximately 16 months with units available for occupancy in Spring 2008.

All residents of Franklin Hill have the right to return to the redeveloped property.  Residents also have a number of options regarding relocation that include taking a Section 8 voucher and/or moving to a BHA development of their choice. Residents received assistance with all aspects of the relocation process, including help with housing searches and school transfers, referrals to community and support services for residents who moved to a new neighborhood, education focused on how to reduce a household’s utility consumption and expenses and workshops on housekeeping and budgeting.

In addition to funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Franklin Hill redevelopment has received generous support from the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MassHousing and private investors.

The projected cost for the rental unit portion of the redevelopment is about $98 million.  Of this, the BHA is contributing $16.5 million in federal funds, the City of Boston is contributing about $5.75 million, with an additional $6 million worth of infrastructure, and the state is contributing about $9.5 million. The remainder of the project will be funded through private investment and tax credit equity.

Boston Police and city officials view state-of-the-art gunshot detection system

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Police Commissioner Ed Davis and Councillor Rob Consalvo gathered with gunshot detection technicians last week to examine a demonstration of a new high-tech system designed to combat firearm violence.

“We are working hard to identify every available tool and resource we can deploy in our fight against gun violence,” Menino said. “Commissioner Davis and I believe that this system has the potential to greatly enhance crime-fighting in Boston by providing critical intelligence about specific crimes, as well as crime patterns.”

The sophisticated acoustic sensor system was developed to detect gunshots by recognizing the precise time and location of the gunfire. Sensors are installed in designated spots on city streets, which alert 911 operations with exact discharge positioning information within seconds of gunfire. The technology allows for a more rapid police response and increases accuracy of forensics work.

“Any resource that gives us the opportunity to more effectively zero in on criminal activity is a major benefit,” Davis said. “It has become increasingly clear that we must be more creative and innovative in our efforts to combat gun violence. Exploring the implementation of advanced technology is critical to our ongoing reduction and prevention strategy.”

Sen. Kerry measure targets tax breaks and subsidies to oil companies

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, and Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., last week re-introduced the Energy Fairness for America Act, a measure that would repeal at least $25 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies.

Kerry and Hinchey said the bill would save taxpayer funds and is part of a broader effort by Democrats to undo giveaways to oil giants.

“With oil companies raking in huge, record-breaking profits, there is no way the U.S. government should be giving away these massive tax breaks at the expense of American families,” Kerry said. “This legislation would go a long way to restoring the public confidence in our government and would help us recoup money that would otherwise go out the window.”

The Kerry-Hinchey bill repeals provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, passed by the Republican-controlled Congress last year, which provides $2.6 billion over 10 years in tax breaks for oil and gas companies. These giveaways are on top of the billions in tax breaks and subsidies already available to the oil industry through 2009 — breaks that have existed for decades, but would be abolished under the Energy Fairness for America Act. Additionally, the bill would end the practice of allowing companies to get a break from paying fees owed to the federal government for oil and gas extracted from public lands.

“The first 100 hours energy bill in the House provided us with a great first step toward repealing the outrageous subsidies and other giveaways that this administration has green-lighted for the oil and gas industry,” said Hinchey. “Senator Kerry and I are now taking the next step toward ensuring that the government works even harder on behalf of the American people, not massive energy companies. Congress should be in the business of fighting for the American people instead of fighting to make energy companies ever more profitable at the expense of the American people. This bill shows the wide array of tax cuts and subsidies for Big Oil that should be on the chopping block.”

Cambridge College Chancellor Brown to receive Urban Empowerment Award

Cambridge College Chancellor Eileen Moran Brown will be presented with the Urban Empowerment Award as part of the Year Up annual graduation ceremonies on Jan. 30 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized by Year Up for my impact in empowering youth to reach their potential,” said Brown. “When I founded Cambridge College more than 35 years ago, it was my dream to provide empowerment through higher education to those for whom that opportunity may have been limited or denied. The future of America will depend on our willingness to create opportunities which include all of our citizens, and on our commitment to draw on the talents of all members of our society.”

The Year Up Urban Empowerment Award is presented to those leaders who share the values and vision of the Year Up organization and who are making a strong and measurable impact on urban young adults. Year Up’s mission is to help young adults prepare for successful careers and higher education.

Founded in October 2000 by Gerald Chertavian in an attempt to address to challenges that accompany the transition from high school to achievement in successful careers and higher education, Year Up is a one-year intensive education and apprenticeship program for urban young adults aged 18-24. Year Up’s program recognizes that both job skills and higher education are necessary to provide a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.

“As a role model in the Boston community, as well as for her fellow social reform leaders, Chancellor Brown has been an inspirational example of how dedication and perseverance can and will triumph over what seem to be insurmountable odds.” says Year Up founder Gerald Chertavian, who is also a member of the Cambridge College Board of Trustees. “Her enormous commitment to providing opportunities for others and empowering them to succeed in higher education and professional careers is unparalleled.”

Brown, a former teacher and Harvard graduate, founded Cambridge College in 1971.  As the College’s founder and first president, Brown began the College as a program to meet the certification needs of 100 local teachers. Today, Cambridge College serves over 8,000 students in seven locations and offers degrees in education, human services, management and psychology.

Interfaith coalition presents documentary by CBS4’s Liz Walker on genocide in Sudan

Award-winning journalist Liz Walker joins a Brookline interfaith coalition of Christians, Jews and Buddhists on Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. to raise awareness of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The event, organized by Christ Church Unity, a Brookline church, features Liz Walker Journey Productions’ new documentary film entitled, “A Glory from the God.”

The documentary profiles Boston preacher and pediatrician Rev. Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, whose commitment to support families in Sudan has lifted her to the frontlines of the battle to end the 21st century’s worst humanitarian crisis.

“In a month that celebrates the great civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., each of us as clergy has an opportunity to reflect on his great example of the important role religious and spiritual institutions can play as catalysts for social change,” said Christ Church Unity minister Rev. Evrol Officer. 

The genocide in Darfur is responsible for 400,000 deaths, 2.5 million displaced people and 4 million men, women and children completely dependent on international humanitarian aid. Following the showing Walker will lead a discussion about the film and stopping the genocide in Sudan, Africa’s largest country.

This event is open to the public and organizers are encouraging financial donations. Proceeds from the event will help support production and distribution of the film.

Cahill and Cabral named recipients of prestigious Eisenhower awards

State Treasurer Tim Cahill and Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral have been selected by Eisenhower Fellowships for their 2007 New England International Leadership Initiative. As participants in this new program, Cabral will travel to Australia and Cahill will travel to India and Ireland to examine how they manage the challenges of increasing urbanization. Cahill will focus on economic development, while Cabral will focus on public safety, security and corrections issues.

Cabral and Cahill were chosen after a competitive interview and selection process. The Eisenhower Fellowships Selection Committee, which is composed of leaders and innovators in the Boston area, chose them based on their demonstrated leadership and vision, work in issues that are critical to this region’s urban challenges and their roles in the community.

Stephen P. Crosby, the founding Dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, nominated both for the fellowship.

“All too often, public officials barely even study issues in neighboring states, let alone other countries, to help develop policy options for Massachusetts,” said Crosby. “I knew Tim Cahill and Andrea Cabral had the leadership skills and intellectual curiosity to both appreciate and win this prestigious opportunity.”

Cahill and Cabral were among eight people selected nationwide for this fellowship and join a network of some twenty New England fellows including Robin Blatt, Principal, Applied Biogenuity, and former Maine state Sen. Susan Longley, as well as an international network of over 1700 fellows.

Eisenhower Fellowships is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan organization seeking to foster international understanding and leadership through the exchange of information, ideas and perspectives among emerging leaders throughout the world. Established in 1953 as a birthday tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the organization has sponsored fellows from more than 100 countries. The chairman of Eisenhower Fellowships is retired Gen. Colin L. Powell. Former President George H.W. Bush is honorary chairman.

Correction

In its Jan. 18 edition, the Bay State Banner gave the wrong credit to a photograph of Myrlie Evers-Williams taken by Craig Bailey during Northeastern University’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We regret the error.