By Phil Orlandella
All the hard work by residents and elected officials finally paid off as the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) has publicly stated that the North End Fulton Street Nursing Home will remain open and Partners has agreed to start filling the open slots for seniors when possible.
The commitments were made at a Boston City Council public hearing called for by Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina at the request of those opposed to the closure.
The endeavor to keep the Nursing Home open encompassed letter writing, secured petitions, distribution of flyers, attending neighborhood meetings, sign holding at community events and the formation of a steering committee to investigate all the possibilities of keeping the facility open.
Besides Lamattina, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Senator Joseph Boncore and State Representative Aaron Michlewitz were opposed to the closure since it was announced and supported the neighborhood endeavor.
Both community agencies, North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association and North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council also opposed the doors being closed at the Nursing Home.
           All three local media outlets also did their part to assist with the community endeavor.