Guest Speakers Dominate NEWRA Monthly Meeting

Last week’s North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) monthly meeting did not have any voting requests on the agenda. Instead the agenda had three guest speakers.

North Bennet Street School President Miguel Gomez-Ibanez discuss the school’s interest in the Department of Transportation Building at 128 North Street.

MassDOT has announced that they will be conducting a public hearing and will be expecting Requests For Proposals relating to this parcel.

Like he did at the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) Miguel asked for NEWRA’s support for the school to obtain the property to expand the school.

Enforcement capabilities and strategies concerning dog waste disposal and the City’s leash law were explained by the Boston Department of Animal Control.

Beside dog owners not picking up after their pets, residents claimed dog owners were letting their canines run unleashed at public parks.

Reportedly, the City doesn’t have enough manpower to cover not only the North End/Waterfront community but all of the neighborhoods.

A committed North End group, Responsible Urbanites For Fido (RUFF) has been attempting to advise dog owners of their responsibilities as residents.

The all volunteer group has also held community meetings, events and other activities to promote awareness of the problem.

They have participated in many neighborhood events with the message of helping to keep the community clean and they practice what they preach holding numerous cleanups at North End parks and on neighborhood streets.

The pros and cons of the expanded Bottle Bill referendum, on the November 14 election ballot was addressed.

A member of the YES 2 Committee spoke in favor of the change and a member of Comprehensive Recycling Works group spoke against.