Last Wednesday At-Large City Councilor, mayoral candidate and former East Boston High School teacher Annissa Essaibi George made a campaign stop in Eastie and met with businesses owners who have been struggling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restaurants have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and were forced to recalibrate their entire business model in order to survive. Some, like the famed Jeveli’s Restaurant in Day Square, decided to pack it in for the winter and reopen when the warmer weather returns to New England and the infection rates decline.
As part of her “Get Boston Back to Business Tour”, Essaibi George visited Cunard Tavern, Mexicali Sushi Bar, La Cancun, and Taco Mex last week to discuss with local owners and staff about the resources and support needed to recover, rebuild and thrive post-pandemic.
“We know that seeing and hearing from our small business owners and employees is critical to a successful recovery,” said Essaibi George. “In East Boston, and throughout the city on my Get Boston Back to Business tour, I’ve had conversations directly with them to hear their experiences, concerns, and questions. Those conversations are really important and they’ll help inform how we rebuild our local economy post-pandemic, so it works better for everyone.”
Essaibi George said since launching the tour two weeks ago she’s heard directly from small businesses about the real challenges they’ve faced before and during this crisis.
“Of course we’re talking about recovery, but we’re taking it a step further and really getting at the root issue of redesigning our economy to work for everyone,” said Essaibi George. “I look forward to continuing these important conversations with small businesses and employees in every single neighborhood of Boston.”
As a former Boston Main Streets Director for Fields Corner and a small business owner herself, Essaibi George previously visited small businesses in Dorchester, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Chinatown, South End, Jamaica Plain, Allston and Brighton.
In February, Essaibi George launched her campaign for mayor on the steps of East Boston High School where she was a teacher and softball coach for 14 years before being elected to the city council in 2015.
Essaibi George said she has always considered East Boston her second home and is just as comfortable here as she is in her native Dorchester.
Before entering the political arena, Essaibi George taught Economics, Business Management and Health and Human Services to juniors and seniors at East Boston High and served as the school’s assistant softball coach for 14 years.
In 2015 Essaibi George decided to run for Boston City Council and was part of a wave of change that ushered in a new era on the council. That year Essaibi George and Andrea Campbell ousted two incumbent councilors and doubled the number of women on council with their victories.
In Eastie Essaibi George was a familiar face to many students, former students and families and finished in the top four on the ballot here and was able to nudge out longtime City Councilor Stephen Murphy citywide.