May 27, 2010

By Rick Winterson

Wednesday’s Community Meeting was quite successful.  A cross section of elected officials, beach area supervisors, and enforcement personnel presented their plans for South Boston’s beaches this summer.  The program for beach and Day Boulevard upkeep, as well as resolution of the May 1-2 opening weekend issues – dogs, public drinking – were key topics.

  Wednesday evening, May 19, at 6 p.m. in the Curley Community Center, state Sen. Jack Hart convened a Community Meeting to discuss and receive public input on South Boston’s beaches.  In part, the meeting was occasioned by occurrences over the weekend the beaches opened up (Saturday, May 1; Sunday, May 2).  These included obvious public drinking – illegal at any time or place in Boston – and dogs on the beach – banned between May 1 and September 30.

  The Community Meeting’s nine-member panel was comprehensive:  Harbor Ranger Captain Bob Cashman, Regional DCR Supervisor Karl Pastore, Gavin Foundation President John McGahan, Mayor’s Neighborhood Liaison Casey Hines, City Councilor Bill Linehan, Station C-6 Captain Richard Evans, State Police Lieutenant Maloney, Community Services Sergeant Joe Watts, and Sen. Hart himself.

  The agenda was also comprehensive.  It included maintenance and upgrading issues along both the beach and Day Boulevard, public drinking and dogs on the sand (both illegal), teen behavior, and issues with drug usage and vandalism to cars – presumably from visitors to the beach, who then decided to cause some mischief around City Point.

  The meeting in the Curley Community Center was a full house, with perhaps a hundred residents taking part.  It was obvious from the tone of the audience that everyone was concerned about beach behavior and wanted some answers from the panel.

  Sen. Hart made the opening remarks.  He pointed out that South Boston’s beaches have become a major attraction because of the harbor clean-up.  He then expressed his own concerns about welcoming those who wanted to use the local beaches, while making sure those users obey the law and are considerate of others.

  DCR Area Supervisor Karl Pastore explained his beach upkeep and maintenance program.  He is attempting to have Porta-Potties in place by mid-June.  Engineering studies of the erosion across from the end of K Street are underway, but the presence of old pilings complicates the project.  The audience then questioned Pastore about improved lighting along Day Boulevard and in the park areas.  Copies of letters promising such lighting that go back two decades were given to him.  Sen. Hart intervened and stated, “We’ll figure out how to do this.”

  The next issue brought up was dogs on the beach.  City Councilor Bill Linehan explained that the Animal Control function is way understaffed.  There are seven officers in Animal Control in the City of Boston, and perhaps a couple of more with the State Police and the Park Rangers.  Now, pit bulls have to be muzzled at all times, and even some of the designated dog runs are encountering problems with non-compliance.  The general consensus about dogs was summed up by one attendee’s comment:  “It’s either the dogs or humans” (he was applauded).

  Public drinking then came up.  The comments focused on how prevalent it was.  State Police Lt. Maloney stated that he’ll assign a state trooper to the beaches in South Boston during normal beaching hours.  His details will enforce “zero tolerance, no exceptions”, using $200 citations as the enforcement tool.  This was welcomed by everyone in the audience.  Problems resulting from drinking at other places near the beach came up, including car window-smashing and noisy yard parties.  Some of the audience inquired about public drinking that seemed relatively harmless, such as a family night fishing party on the Sugar Bowl.  Lt. Maloney repeated his position:  “Zero tolerance.”  Station C-6 Capt. Evans promised his support in eliminating public drinking everywhere, as did Community Services Sgt. Joe Watts.

  Sen. Hart asked for comments from John McGahan, who is the President of the Gavin Foundation.  McGahan pointed out that all of the 800 drug users he has dealt with started with alcohol, at an average age of 11.  They often get their first alcoholic beverages from their parents or on the street from “runners”, and then progress to heroin within about six years.  Public drinking simply isn’t “harmless fun” any more (if it ever was).

  Another issue included placing a dumpster at Sullivan’s, and seeing that it is emptied regularly.  Also, a regular schedule of beach events like road races needs to be publicly disseminated.  These events are welcome, but people heading for the beaches should know they are going on before driving down to Day Boulevard.

  As the meeting progressed, two other budget-related issues were brought up – the closures of the Washington Village Library and the Walsh Gym.  In brief, an arrangement has been worked out to include a branch library in the BHA’s plans for the redeveloped Old Colony Housing Development.  There is still a problem concerning how to keep up the Washington Village library services during the two years it will take to renovate Old Colony. 

  Regarding the possible Walsh Gym closure, City Councilor Linehan stated his dissatisfaction with that item in the City’s budget.  Sen. Hart then promised the audience, who had been hearing all kinds of rumors, that the Walsh would not close.

  Many issues were resolved at this meeting, which has to be rated as very productive.  This was due to the panel’s broad cross section of decision makers.  The most difficult remaining problem appears to be with dogs, or more accurately, the dogs’ owners.  The panel members all requested more help from the public, so key numbers are listed below:

• For Boston Police, always call 9-1-1 first (617-343-4911 on a cell phone).
• For beach violations, call 617-740-7710.
• For Park Rangers, call 617-722-1180
• For nuisances, call Station C-6 Community Services (Sgt. Watts) at 617-343-4747.

  State Trooper Brian Dunn is the Community Policing Officer at the Day Boulevard barracks, as well as a duty patrol officer.  He is quite familiar with the South Boston beach areas, and had originally been reporting on such issues to the Residents Group.  He has offered to attend civic meetings, but is unsure who to contact.  Any of South Boston’s six active civic groups are welcome to contact Trooper Dunn at 617-740-7710.  Possibly, representatives from all six groups could meet with him jointly.

  Since last Wednesday’s meeting, enforcement actions by the State Police have been vigorous.  Despite numerous postings forbidding alcoholic beverages on the beaches, well over 50 summons had to be issued.  One group of evening drinkers had scaled the fence into the Curley Community Center’s beach area in order to conceal themselves, but they made so much noise that the police easily located them.  Many of those who had brought alcohol onto the beaches of South Boston came from nearby towns, where drinking is banned in their parks, so they thought they would give it a try here.  Others were local youths, many of whom had been caught drinking on the beaches last year.