Lewis Wharf Hotel is Focus at State Senate Candidates Forum

By Matt Conti

Waterfront development, specifically the proposed Lewis Wharf hotel project, was the focus of questions at the first State Senate Candidates Forum. Over 100 residents packed the Pilot House on the North End waterfront to attend the forum, held Thursday night, March 3.

Candidates are vying to fill the First Suffolk and Middlesex district seat left open by the recent resignation of Anthony Pettruccelli. The district includes Boston’s North End / Waterfront, Beacon Hill, East Boston as well as Revere, Winthrop and parts of Cambridge. All candidates are running as Democrats with the Special State Primary Election set for April 12th.

Attending candidates at the forum included Joseph Boncore, Diana Hwang, Jay Livingstone, Dan Rizzo and Paul Rodgers. Lydia Edwards and Steve Morabito did not attend.

In addition to addressing waterfront issues, including the climate change and harborwalk compliance, all candidates reinforced their opposition at the forum to the proposed hotel project at Lewis Wharf by JW Capital Partners and John Moriarty & Associates.

The Candidates Forum was hosted by Save Our North End Waterfront and the North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association. NEWRA President, Ford Cavallari, moderated the forum that included introductory statements and prepared questions by audience members.