Letters to the Editor

SEEKING NOMINATIONS

Dear Editor:

The Board of Directors of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual Prosperity Awards Gala!  The event will be on Thursday November 9 at the Hilton Airport Hotel in East Boston.  Sponsorships are available. The Prosperity Awards were established to honor and recognize East Boston’s most influential and impactful business and community leaders. They are the distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the economic and cultural prosperity of our city. We are asking our members, to nominate local businesses and community leaders to be honored at the Gala. The criteria is a key leader, business, nonprofit or community member who has made an outstanding contribution to East Boston. We are looking for individuals and businesses who have been working to make our community a better place to live, work and play for children, families and seniors. When choosing a local business owner to nominate, please keep in mind characteristics such as: contribution to the East Boston community; excellence in customer service; exceptional ethical business practices and standards; and outstanding storefront and curb appeal. In addition to business owners, nominations include residents and other key leaders and contributors to the community, who have gone above and beyond to make East Boston a better place to live. Along with your nomination we ask for a brief explanation as to why you think your nominee should be honored. The deadline to submit your nominations is August 18. Nominations can be submitted through http://eastbostonchamber.com/nominations/  or emailed to the Chamber office. For more info please contact the Chamber office at 617-569-5000 or at [email protected]

The Board of Directors East Boston Chamber of Commerce

 

 

CAUTIOUS EXCITEMENT

Dear Editor:

The news of HYM Investment Group’s purchase of the 160 acres at Suffolk Downs brings me cautious excitement.   A mixed use development that employs smart urban and regional planning is absolutely much better for East Boston than the failed casino plan.

With a project of this size it will be of great importance for community and civic leaders in East Boston to come together, to become a part of the planning process for this project, and to ensure that the final result is one that lifts the children and families in our neighborhoods up, that it makes our community stronger, and that it brightens the gateway to East Boston.

For a parcel like this, it is easy to draw comparisons to Assembly Row in Somerville.  The developers of that project, F.R.I.T., have been directed to commit some $240 million to community benefit projects, including infrastructure improvements for the MBTA, affordable housing, and improved services for city residents through various agencies.

A unified group of East Bostonians can highlight the importance of utilizing the Suffolk Downs and Beachmont T stops, the need for housing that working people can afford, and the necessity that children who live in East Boston today will have enriching programs available to them for years to come, so that they may become our leaders of tomorrow.

HYM has made commendable efforts to begin connecting to the residents of East Boston, now it is time for us to connect back, and build vision together for a project that our neighborhood can be proud of.  I look forward to working with my neighbors, community leaders, fellow civic organizations, and HYM Investments to implement a strategy that supports East Boston today and in the future.

Alex DeFronzo,

East Boston Resident & Executive Director of Piers Park Sailing Center

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