Charlestown Officials Speak Out on Surrounding Communities Agreement

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted by RA/SS Advocacy Group of Charlestown. 

His Honor Martin Walsh
Mayor, City of Boston
City Hall
Boston, MA 02201

Dear Mr. Mayor:

Residents of Charlestown were informed on Thursday, June 19 Patriot/Bridge publication that your administration is negotiating a Surrounding Communities Agreement with Wynn Massachusetts. Many of us had suspected as much based on presentations to the community by Robert DeSalvio.  

We recognize and thank you for your host community effort. We are, however, frustrated by the fact that your administration has not come to the community to share and ask for feedback on design modifications to our streets in order to accommodate the Wynn Resort Casino traffic impact. We cannot accept a process that cuts the wider Charlestown community out of such critical discussions affecting our safety, access and quality of life.

Since the middle 90s, residents here have worked hard to improve our regional roadways, culminating in Mayor Menino’s approval of a extraordinary Redesign in March last year. That Redesign had huge community support, although as Congressman Capuano pointed out nothing is ever 100%.

Now, your administration is reconsidering that Redesign without any opportunity for community review and feedback. We urge you to come to Charlestown and present the design options being negotiated. Charlestown is looking for a fair chance to participate in planning for its future.

The SJC decision is good news, but now Wynn and Mohegan Sun will pour money into defeating the petition in November. We must keep protecting Charlestown and our safety, access and quality of life.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Addante, Gardens for Charlestown
Nicholas Kraman, Charlestown Preservation Society
William Lamb, CPS Design Review
Jennifer Rossi, Charlestown Mothers Association
Annette Tecce, Friends of City Square Park
Ivey St. John, Charlestown Waterfront Coalition

CC: Sal LaMattina, Eugene O'Flaherty, Anthony Gallagher, Vineet Gupta, Thomas Mackay