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August 27, 2026: Vol.14 Issue 35
SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE
Investigation reveals BPS improperly WWW.SOUTHBOSTONTODAY.COM spent more than $857K in public funds
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nvestigators said BPS officials took “little to no action” after an independent watchdog agency alerted the district. As reported on boston. com, A state investigation found Boston Public Schools improperly spent more than $857,000 in public funds, violating Massachusetts law, a report released Wednesday by the Office of
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August 27, 2026
EDITORIAL South Boston’s Enemies Are Coming For Lynch And Collins Vote Wisely On Tuesday
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f you stay up with the news as pretty much all of our readers do, most are pretty savvy when it comes to distinguishing what’s fake, what’s real, what’s accurate and non bias and what’s politically motivated with the intent on the part of the media and their political favorites to show those they oppose in a bad light to the point of near slander. So often, misinformation is put out and efforts to trick voters by operatives keep getting more creative. Is it any wonder why so many liberal news outlets are so distrusted and even being sued as of late? Virtually everyone is aware that next Tuesday, September 1st is primary election day in Massachusetts. Some could not care less. But here again, most of our readers ARE aware and plan to do their civic duty and vote. Some of you have taken advantage of early voting and already cast your ballots. But for
those who have not yet done so this editorial is directed towards you. The South Boston community has long been targeted by special interest groups, radical politicians and of course the news media; all of which hate the fact that our neighborhood has any degree of political clout. They cringe at the fact that Southie has elected officials that aren’t afraid to stand up to powerful outside interest groups and can’t be bullied. Over the years the tactic has been to put up radical candidates to take on our local officials and knock them out of power with the goal of diminishing or even eliminating the people in politics that do their best to protect our town. And not surprisingly it seems to be happening again this election cycle. This time the targets are Congressman Stephen Lynch and State Senator Nick Collins. Both are Democrats but are being targeted by a Democrat
party that has become so far to the left that it has become almost unrecognizable to what’s left of its traditional or moderate base. Stephen Lynch is being portrayed as out of touch and too conservative by radical democrat organizations that cringe at the thought of anyone who even respects the American Flag as Lynch certainly does. And it’s no secret that some of the powers that be at Boston City Hall consider Nick Collins public enemy number one. Both Lynch and Collins are under vicious attack by those who are not only out to get THEM, but also want to weaken the South Bos-
ton Community as a whole which has been a goal by our neighborhood’s enemies for generations. Some of those attacking Collins are also attacking a decorated US Navy veteran running for reelection across town who is also a democrat because he has the nerve to have campaign signs that are Red, White and Blue and mentions his veteran status. These are the types of radicals coming to take down the people that South Bostonians have selected to represent our town. Many of our residents are registered Independent voters. This newspaper cannot and would not ever try to
tell you how to vote. No one has that right. But if you would like to keep the elected officials that have been elected by and have worked hard to serve South Boston for many years and stave off another attack by radical elements that have no love and only disdain for South Boston, it makes the most sense to go with Lynch and Collins. Registered Democrats are already able to vote that way and Independents can take a Democrat ballot when they show up to vote on Election Day. The choice is yours. For the benefit of this neighborhood please choose wisely.
“The minimum, the very basic minimum, of a citizen’s duty is to cast a vote on election day.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
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John Ciccone
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Information Center The
Nick Shirley American Hero
John Ciccone
T
he question that so many Americans are asking and demanding answers to is why aren’t leftist politicians upset with all the corrupt thieves ripping off taxpayers of billions of dollars but are furious at the guy exposing all the fraud taking place. I’m speaking once again of Nick Shirley. He’s the absolutely fearless 24 year old that has been travelling the country exposing so many fake day care centers, ‘learing’ centers, Hospice centers and a long - very long list of other types of made up agencies claiming to provide services to the public but in fact do nothing of the kind. By now, every American has seen the videos of all the empty buildings and the vacant office spaces. On paper, these fraudulent organizations say they are serving huge numbers of people; all supposedly dedicated to helping children as well as people of every age. They provide names and addresses of people enrolled and attending. But when investigative journalists like Nick Shirley show up, there is actually no one there. Places that claim as many as 600, even 800 people have no one inside and never have. It’s all one big scam and much of it being committed by people who should not even be in the country. These fraudulent agencies are submitting bills to taxpayers for tremendous amounts of money with most of it unaccounted for. It all just disappears – gone. In a normal world, this would cause outrage to everyone with any morals – anyone who believes in obeying the
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY
laws of our country and wants the money they pay in taxes to go to good use. All this stolen money and yes, it is in fact being stolen right out from under the noses of so many people in power, should be tracked down and the guilty should be prosecuted. However, as was stated above, many who should be working to put an end to the fraud are in fact ignoring it. But some in positions of power are instead; actually working to put an end to the investigations not the fraud itself. And this brings us to the freak show known as the California State Legislature. There is a bill waiting to become law labeled AB2624 voted on and passed by the Democrat controlled assembly designed to put a stop to and make illegal, the investigation of these fake agencies robbing our country blind. The bill has been given the name by its opponents as ‘The Stop Nick Shirley Act’. It is specifically designed to put an end to Shirley’s investigations and deter anyone else who might dare to investigate in the future. It’s almost unimaginable that these so called representatives of the people in the California State Legislature would put all their efforts into stopping those trying to expose the fraud rather than actually stopping the fraud. These politicians, by their actions are willingly enabling the fraud to continue. They even want to provide legal assistance to those found to be participating in the theft. As stated, the bill easily had enough Democrat votes to pass and it now sits on California’s childlike and lunatic governor
Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
Gavin Newsom’s desk waiting for his signature to become law in that state. California now leads the country once again with the number of people as well as businesses leaving. It seems that all the sane people that still remain have had enough and are fleeing to Red states as soon as they can. Nick Shirley should be hailed as a true American hero. He’s been attacked and harassed, had his life threatened and has been smeared constantly with lies. But he isn’t stopping, he just
keeps going and is exposing more fraud pretty much with each passing day. He doesn’t do it for fame or money he does it for love of country which is something those who oppose him do not and have never possessed. He’s doing it mostly at his own expense and his work is helping save our country’s tax payers literally billions of dollars. America needs more people like Nick Shirley no matter how angry that would make the politicians who are now so desperate to stop him.
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August 27, 2026
Window Into The State House
Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.
BLUE PLATES SET A RECORD The last fireworks have long since been set off and the red-white-and-blue bunting cleared off of store shelves to make way for back-to-school supplies. But one emblem of the country’s 250th anniversary has only gotten more ubiquitous since the Fourth of July: the commemorative blue license plates. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced last week that the 250th anniversary plate — omnipresent in each road trip, parking lot and traffic jam — has become the most popular specialty offering in state history, with more than 100,000 issued since its launch in May 2025. More than 48,000 people entered a lottery for low-number Massachusetts 250 plates, and more than 4,500 tuned in for a May broadcast announcing some of the winners. Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie says Bay Staters have shown a “tremendous enthusiasm” for the 250th anniversary, with an “overwhelming response” to the low-number lottery and “continued demand” for the blue plates. Massachusetts offers more than 50 different specialty license plates, many of which support charities, organizations or specific trust funds, like the Jimmy Fund, Zoo New England or the UMass Alumni Association. For the 250th anniversary plate, the cause that benefits is the commonwealth itself. The $40 special plate fee — that’s $4 million for 100,000 plates — goes to the state’s general fund, the main account for collecting revenue and financing government spending. When Beacon Hill lawmakers were deciding this
year how, exactly, to allocate the state’s dollars in a $63.4 billion budget, they opted to keep that setup in place. The Senate rejected a budget amendment from Minority Leader Bruce Tarr that would have instead steered half the blue plate fees to a new Commonwealth Heritage Fund. “Since the purpose of these license plates is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation and the role Massachusetts has played from our country’s earliest days, the revenue generated by them should itself be dedicated to that purpose rather than being deposited into the General Fund,” Tarr said this week in a statement to MASSterList. The Gloucester Republican said groups throughout the state often struggle for resources to research, reenact, document and depict historical events and figures. But Tarr’s pitch in May didn’t win over Senate Democrats, and the idea hasn’t resurfaced again so far at the State House. The RMV says it will keep offering the blue plates beyond the end of the year, which means the state will still get to collect the green that comes in. Do you have a specialty plate or an idea for one? Or maybe you swore the whole thing off after “Sox Plate Gate.” Does your blue plate spark envy when you street park? Register your thoughts: klannan@massterlist.com FROM BEACON HILL HIGH TEST: Industry groups and business owners told the Cannabis Control Commission it’s time for Massachusetts to update its testing rules for cannabis products to provide clear standards and keep up with advances. | State House News Service (gift link) PAST THE POST: The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission is looking to put a clock on how long police departments have to discipline an officer
once an investigation wraps up. Thirteen local police departments, including Boston, have cases that have gone more than 60 days without disciplinary actions. | Boston 25 IN THE BAG: A new law that Gov. Healey celebrated with supporters yesterday will phase out a cancer-linked chemical from use in IV bags in tubing. State officials call it a patient-safety measure.| WWLP NEWS NEXT DOOR IMMUNE SYSTEM: Frank Perullo, the cannabis executive that Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Topkins is accused of pressuring for stock and later demanding his money back from, is a key witness for the prosecution in Tompkins’ extortion trial and has an immunity deal with the government. | WBUR News ROUGH TRADE: Canadian goods make up about a quarter of imports to Massachusetts, meaning local consumers will feel the pinch of a tariff dispute as they buy hockey gear, lumber and more. | NBC10 Boston WORKPLACE CLIMATE: Newton Mayor Marc Laredo let go of Ann Berwick, who’d spent 10 years as co-director of climate and sustainability, as part of a shakeup that’s creating questions around whether the city is retreating from its ambitious climate approach or just restructuring. | CommonWealth Beacon NOT WRITING IT OFF: Former Gardner City Councilor Nate Boudreau is shifting his state rep campaign to a write-in effort after he says “technical hurdles” with his nomination papers kept him off the Republican ballot. Democrat Michael Nicholson and independent John Reilly are also in the mix for the seat held now by outgoing Rep. Jon Zlotnik.| Gardner News
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Know Your Ballot: Why Every Election Matters to South Boston
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By Community Contributor
n South Boston, residents care deeply about their neighborhood, from housing and development to public safety, transportation, schools, parks, local businesses, streets, and sidewalks. But decisions affecting our daily lives are made at several levels of government: Boston City Hall, the Massachusetts State House, Suffolk County, and Washington, D.C. That is why every election matters. Understanding the offices on the ballot helps voters make informed decisions and hold government accountable. Congressman Stephen Lynch: A Voice in Washington At the federal level, Congressman Stephen Lynch represents South Boston in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress is responsible for federal laws and the federal budget. Decisions made in Washington can affect veterans, seniors, transporta-
tion, housing, infrastructure, health programs, Social Security, taxes, immigration, and the economy. Federal government may seem far removed from South Boston, but federal policies and funding can have very local consequences. Voting for Congress gives residents an opportunity to choose who will represent the community’s interests in Washington. State Senator Nick Collins: Representing South Boston on Beacon Hill State Senator Nick Collins represents South Boston in the Massachusetts Senate. The State Senate works with the House of Representatives to create state laws and approve the Commonwealth’s budget. State government plays an important role in transportation, education, housing, health care, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development. For South Boston, state government can also be an important partner when local concerns require state funding,
legislation, or coordination. The office of state senator gives the neighborhood a direct voice on Beacon Hill. State Representative David Biele: A Local Voice in the State House State Representative David Biele represents South Boston in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The House plays a central role in writing state laws and approving the Commonwealth’s budget. A state representative can also help residents navigate state agencies and bring local concerns to Beacon Hill. Issues such as housing, transportation, education, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development can all involve state decisions. For South Boston voters, the state representative is an important link between the neighborhood and state government. The District Attorney’s Office: Public Safety and Justice The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office plays a central role in
the criminal justice system. The office prosecutes criminal cases and establishes policies concerning prosecution, victims and witnesses, diversion programs, and responses to crime. Public safety is an important part of quality of life in every neighborhood. Voters should understand continued on page 6
In times like these, we need a guy like him.
Re-elect
Governor Maura Healey
VOTE TUESDAY September 1
Vote for Nick Collins on or before September 1st
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio
ENDORSED BY
Former State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry
State Senator Sal DiDomenico
State Rep. David Biele
State Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid
State Rep. Dan Hunt
State Rep. John Moran
State Rep. Chris Worrell
Councilor Miniard Culpepper
Councilor John FitzGerald
Councilor Ed Flynn
Councilor Erin Murphy
Councilor Brian Worrell
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Ballot continued from page 5
the responsibilities of the District Attorney’s Office and consider the experience, priorities, and approach of the candidates seeking the position. The Attorney General’s Office: Protecting Residents The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is the Commonwealth’s chief legal office. Its responsibilities include consumer protection, civil rights, workers’ rights, environmental enforcement, fraud, and enforcement of state laws. These responsibilities can affect residents, workers, businesses, tenants, and communities across Massachusetts. Understanding the authority of this office allows voters to evaluate what priorities they want their Attorney General to pursue. The Office of the Governor: Setting State Priorities The Office of the Governor leads the executive branch of Massachusetts state government. The governor proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes legisla-
tion, appoints officials, oversees state agencies, and establishes policy priorities. Those decisions can affect transportation, housing, education, health care, public safety, infrastructure, environmental policy, and economic development. For South Boston, state policies can have a direct impact on neighborhood life. Voting for governor is therefore a vote about the direction of the Commonwealth. The Office of the State Auditor: Government Accountability The Office of the State Auditor provides an important check on state government. The office conducts audits and investigations of state programs and agencies to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible use of public resources. Taxpayers deserve to know that public money is being managed effectively. The Auditor’s Office helps identify problems, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve government operations. Although the auditor’s work may
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 4TH SUFFOLK DISTRICT I Respectfully Ask For Your
VOTE PLEASE REMEMBER TO CAST YOUR
BALLOT AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
2026 (paid for by the Committee to Elect David Biele)
receive less attention than other offices, it is an important part of government oversight. Boston: Government Closest to Home Municipal government is often the level residents experience most directly. The Mayor of Boston and Boston City Council make decisions involving city services, streets, sidewalks, parks, zoning, development, public safety, housing, sanitation, and the city budget. For South Boston, those decisions can influence neighborhood development, traffic, public spaces, services, and quality of life. Municipal elections deserve attention because their results can be seen and felt right outside our doors. One Neighborhood, Many Levels of Government City, state, county, and federal governments do not operate in isolation. A transportation project may involve Boston, Massachusetts, and federal funding. Housing issues can involve city zoning, state programs, and federal resources. Pub-
August 27, 2026
lic safety can involve local police, the District Attorney’s Office, state agencies, and federal authorities. That is why voters should pay attention to the entire ballot. A Final Word to South Boston South Boston has a long tradition of civic involvement and community pride. Voting is one of the most direct ways residents can help shape the neighborhood, the city, the Commonwealth, and the country. Whether the ballot includes Congressman Stephen Lynch, State Senator Nick Collins, State Representative David Biele, the District Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Auditor, or municipal offices, each represents a different part of our government. Don’t skip the races you don’t recognize. Learn what each office does. Learn about the candidates. Ask questions. Talk with your neighbors. And vote. Democracy does not begin somewhere far away. It begins right here in South Boston.
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
CITY OF BOSTON CELEBRATES MSBA DECISION ADVANCING MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL INTO FEASIBILITY STUDY PHASE
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ayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Mary Skipper today announced that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted favorably to advance the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School project into the feasibility study phase. This major milestone will help the City, BPS, and the Madison Park community identify the best long-term
capital solutions for the school’s redesign, including options to create modern, high-quality learning spaces for Boston students. Madison Park was invited into the MSBA’s school building program in December 2025 and began its Eligibility Period in July 2026. The City and BPS completed the required eligibility period actions in approximately 60 days, well ahead of the typical 270-day timeline. “This milestone brings Boston a big step closer to renovating Madison Park Technical Vocational High School into the world-class learning spaces that will match our students’ talent and dreams, and to supercharge workforce development in Boston,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We thank the MSBA board for recognizing the transformative potential of investing in Madison Park and the entire school and alumni community for their persistence and dedication,
which helped us move through the eligibility process months ahead of the schedule. This progress reflects our shared urgency to transform Madison Park into a state-of-the-art school that will continue to prepare students for rewarding careers while building the workforce Boston will rely on for years to come.” “Today’s vote to move Madison Park Technical Vocational High School into the Feasibility Study phase is an exciting moment for Boston Public Schools and the Madison community,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “We are incredibly grateful to the MSBA for its partnership and to the City of Boston for its commitment to creating a transformational learning environment that connects our students to the careers of the future. In this next phase, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Madison stu-
dents, staff, alumni, and families to shape a vision for a new school with world-class vocational and technical facilities. This investment will help prepare our young people for stable, well-paying, and fulfilling careers while strengthening Boston’s workforce and economy.” “Madison Park has always been a place where students develop their talents, build valuable skills, and prepare for meaningful careers that allow them to make their mark on the world,” said Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Principal Paul Neal. “This next step gives us the opportunity to envision a school that continues to reflect the excellence of our programs and the extraordinary potential of the young people we serve. Our students, educators, families, alumni, and community partners bring tremendous expertise, creativity, and pride
continued on page 10
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
The
Wine Guy
A Bit More Summer
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n general, the following varieties will provide a great complement to your end of summer activities… Pinot Noir and Beaujolais will bring a tangy acidity that will complement many grilled items, while white varietals, such as Chardonnay and Riesling, will bring flavorful notes of pears, pomegranate and caramel to all the other flavors at the table. Adding something bubbly, whether at the beginning or end of the meal, never hurts, either. Think Champagne or Prosecco. So, with all this being said, let’s get down to specifics…. Oregon’s Willamette Valley offers some of the finest Pinot Noir wines this side of Burgundy. Domaine
Drouhain, owned by Burgundy’s Jos. Drouhain et Fils offers one of the best. Jos. Drouhain Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, ($40.99), is a structured, elegant red, with notes of cherries, strawberries and tabac on the nose, as well as a full, rich mouthfeel on the palette and despite its relative lightness, an unusually long and rich finish. Owned by California’s 90+ Wines, the Lot 218 Beaujolais Villages, France, 2024, ($16.99), is produced by carbonic maceration, which enhances its fruity notes on the palette. The mouthfeel is light and structured with a pleasing finish, which really complements grilled vegetables and meats. California’s Russian River has no end of excellent Chardonnays. One of my favorites are the Butler Vineyards chards. The 2024 vintage, priced at $18.99, is creamy and buttery, with notes of pears, blueberries and forest floor. I think you’ll find that it will enhance everything on your table, especially any white meat main dishes, like grilled chicken. J Vineyards California Chardonnay, ($17.99), is a blended wine with flavors of coconut and peach, as well as notes of Persimmon and Pomegranate around the edges. As well as being delicious with the
main course, this one is particularly good with apple and blueberry pie. Sparkling wines offer a wide array of styles and flavor profiles; one of the best for both its consistency and quality is Moet et Chandon,NV, Ypres,France, ($52.99). This wine, like other sparkling wines, gets its effervescence from double fermentation. This one has an elegant, yet understated flavor profile; notes of tangerines and citrus zest on the nose are followed by the same, along with flavors of strawberries and peaches on the palette. As you might guess, the finish is notably long and full. One other wine that’s a great fit for this type of weather is Cotes du Rhone Blancs and the family that’s synonymous with some of the best in the world are the Guigals. They’ve been making wine in the Avignon region for over six hundred years, and few do it better. Their E. Guigal et fils Cotes du Rhone Blancs, ($24.99), is hearty in its overall stature, with deep notes of cherries and forest floor. Have it alone, with pungent cheeses or perhaps some Chicken Marsala. Another red that’s not only great this time of year, but one that’s even better chilled is Beaujolais Villages. J Remoissient et Fils, 2024 Beaujolais Villages Sec, Ariant, France,
August 27, 2026
($22.99), stands up surprisingly well to grilled meats, with notes of blackberries and a light tabac aura. On the palette, you’ll find distinctive notes of raspberries, peppercorns and a light caramel aftertaste; the finish is pleasantly moderate but pronounced; this one is also great with many desserts. Speaking of deserts, the weather we’re having right now brings to mind a great accompanimentEiswein, especially those from our own Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. One of the best is Elgin Lakes Eiswein, ($22.99), from the Horrent Docks area. Serve it as cold as you can with homemade Blueberry pie and vanilla ice cream- now that’s the way to end any great meal! So, there you have it, a sound selection of still and sparkling wines that will please all of your guests. By the way, if you have any questions for the wine guy, send them along! wineguy@southbostontoday.com. Don’t Forget To Get Out and Vote!
The Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry—located at St. Margaret Church in Dorchester and named after Jim’s mother—distributed over 500 backpacks and bags of nutritious groceries to families. A special shout out to the extraordinary volunteers who come every week to serve their neighbors.
August 27, 2026
S
outh Boston residents, veterans, historians and community members gathered Wednesday evening, August 26, at the Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Post #561 to share ideas for new historical markers honoring the neighborhood’s rich history. The community meeting was part of a project made possible by a $7,500 Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund Grant awarded to the VFW post. The grant will support research and the identification of potential locations for historical markers throughout Boston, with South Boston serving as the project’s primary focus. Held at the post at 715 E. 4th St., the meeting gave residents an opportunity to learn more about the grant and the marker project while offering their own suggestions for places and stories they believed deserved recognition. More than 50 ideas were put forward during the evening. Suggestions highlighted a wide range of South Boston history, including notable people, buildings, streets, events and locations that have played an important role in shaping the community. The strong response demonstrated the depth of interest in preserving South Boston’s history. Community members expressed excitement about having the opportunity to participate directly in the process and help determine which stories and locations should be considered for future markers. The VFW post will continue gathering information and researching the proposed sites as the project moves forward. Residents who were unable to attend the meeting, as well as those who have additional information about potential locations, can submit suggestions to sbhistoricalmarkers@ gmail.com. The historical marker project represents a community effort to preserve and highlight the people, places and events that have made South Boston unique, ensuring that those stories remain part of the neighborhood for generations to come.
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
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South Boston Residents Share Ideas for New Historical Markers
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BPS continued from front page
the Inspector General shows. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro called on BPS officials to pause payments to vendors for “non-essential goods and services” for 10 business days and conduct an internal review after the investigation into the district’s contracting and procurement practices from 2019 through 2024, per the report. “Every school district in this Commonwealth must abide by the same rules when purchasing goods and services. Those rules help ensure fairness and transparency in the expenditure of the public’s money,” Shapiro said in a statement. “The fact that a district with the staffing and budget of Boston could not perform basic procurement functions is astonishing.” The investigation was launched after Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said it received multiple complaints about the BPS Division of Operations’ contracting and procurement practices. One set of complaints involved invoice payments that were funneled through “existing but unrelated contracts to compensate unpaid vendors,” the OIG said. Another involved “excessive shipping charges” on a single contract for books. “Given that the OIG’s investigation was confined to the handful of BPS contracts identified through complaints, it is apparent that this conduct is more widespread and represents a serious risk to BPS funds,” Shapiro said. The investigation found that staff members at BPS bypassed the city’s residency requirement for a former BPS engineer by utilizing false subcontracting relationships, the OIG said. The OIG also said BPS officials took “little to no action” after the Boston Finance Commission, an independent watchdog agency for the city, alerted the district to some of the alleged misconduct. The report said BPS’s process for approving vendor invoices created extended payment delays and, in some cases, resulted in vendors not being paid. Those delays, the OIG said, contributed to staff cutting corners in the procurement process. BPS incurred nearly $78,000 in
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extra costs due to the markups, the report states. The OIG found that BPS violated the Uniform Procurement Act, Chapter 30B of the Massachusetts General Laws. The violations included failing to solicit price quotes or issue invitations for bids for certain supplies and services valued at $10,000 or more, as well as failing to enter into written contracts when required. In another instance, the OIG said the district subverted the competitive procurement process by steering a water-quality testing contract to a vendor so the district could pay the vendor’s outstanding invoices. Advertisement: “All public officials and employees have a duty to protect the public’s resources from fraud, waste, and abuse,” Shapiro said. “The people of Boston and the Boston Public School community deserve nothing less.” In a statement shared with Boston. com, a BPS spokesperson noted that the report examined activity from 2019 through 2024. In the two years since the OIG first raised concerns, BPS and its operations leadership have “implemented a number of business reforms to streamline payment and contracting systems,” the spokesperson said. BPS said it has also removed employees and hired new leaders into procurement roles, while also reducing its use of sole-source contracts. “The City and the District will carefully review the report’s findings and develop a plan to fully implement the recommendations,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is continuous operational improvements, and we are fully committed to strengthen[ing] our ability to deliver a high-quality education for every student across Boston.”
to this community, and their voices continue to help shape this vision. We look forward to continuing that work together, honoring Madison Park’s legacy while creating new possibilities for generations of students to come.” Madison Park offers students the choice of 20 different Chapter 74-certified programs in Career and Technical Education, including building maintenance, carpentry, electricity, HVAC, metal fabrication, and plumbing. Beginning in fall 2026, Madison Park will launch a new Ch. 74 program in Construction Craft Labor. Renovating Madison Park has long been a priority for Mayor Wu. As a Boston City Councilor in 2018, Mayor Wu convened public hearings and community conversations on expanding vocational education at Madison Park, including a visit with City and BPS leaders to Worcester Technical High School to learn from successful models across Massachusetts. In late 2022, Mayor Wu launched a community visioning process that gathered input from Madison Park students, staff, families, and partners on the future of the school. That input helped inform the City’s 2025 Statement of Interest to the MSBA. Today’s decision builds on years of advocacy, planning, and collaboration to deliver long-awaited investment in Madison Park. The City will next begin the procurement process for an Owner’s Project Manager, followed by designer selection. Once selected, the team will lead the feasibility study, including a detailed evaluation of potential capital solutions to support Madison Park’s educational programming. The City and BPS will share regular updates and create opportunities for continued engagement with students, families, educators, alumni, industry partners, and the broader Madison Park community during the feasibility study and once the consultant team is on board. “Madison Park and becoming a member of the union building trades changed my life, and I know firsthand what this school and these career pathways can mean for a young person growing up in Boston,” said Chaton Green, Gen-
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eral Agent of the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions and a Madison Park Technical Vocational High School graduate from Roxbury. “We applaud Mayor Wu and her team for moving this process forward with real urgency and helping bring Madison Park to this important milestone. A modernized Madison Park will build on a long legacy of collaboration and give students the facilities, technology, and hands-on education they deserve.” “IBEW Local 103 applauds Mayor Wu, Boston Public Schools, and the MSBA for taking this important step toward a modernized Madison Park Technical Vocational High School,” said Lou Antonellis, Business Manager of IBEW Local 103. “The Mayor’s leadership in moving the eligibility process ahead quickly is an encouraging sign of the City’s commitment to getting this longawaited investment done. Local 103 and Boston’s building trades have a long and proud relationship with Madison Park, including years of mentoring students, sponsoring programs, and helping young people find pathways into the skilled trades. This investment will build on that legacy of collaboration and give the next generation access to worldclass technical education and good, family-sustaining careers.” The MSBA is a state agency that offers competitive grants to school districts to support capital improvement projects in public schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Funded by one-cent of the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax, the MSBA process involves close collaboration with school communities to design and build fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe, sound, and sustainable learning environments.
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Another First in the State for Compass on the Bay:
Memory Support Community Celebrates Purple Flag Re-accreditation
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n Tuesday, August 18th, Compass on the Bay was joined by Founder and CEO of Purple Flag, Christopher Carter, to celebrate the Memory Support Assisted Living community’s second Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care award. Residents and associates gathered on the community’s back patio in their best purple attire to recognize this honorable milestone made possible by the incredible associates who provide high quality care daily. Purple Flag only recognizes the communities whose exceptional approach to memory care truly sets them apart. Compass on the Bay’s person-centered care approach puts the residents’ personal goals, preferences and needs at the center of their care plan–something that Purple Flag has been impressed with since Compass’s initial accreditation in 2023. With the renewal process happening every three years, Compass on the Bay is the first organization in Massachusetts to earn both Purple Flag accreditation and re-accreditation. “Aspiring to and earning Purple Flag re-accreditation is a statement about purpose, passion, excellence, and successfully achieving excellence,” Carter said in his speech. “This organization is made up of people who find purpose and are passionate about making a genuine difference in someone’s life, and most importantly in their quality of life.” Though residents’ quality of life is always the top priority at Compass on the Bay, the community’s Executive Director, Caity Carlson, shared that without the admirable dedication of each team member, this re-accreditation would not have been possible. “The reason why we’re getting this Purple Flag re-accreditation is because of your endless hard work taking care of our lovely residents, and ensuring each and every one of them feels confident calling Compass on the Bay home.” Carlson said. Compass on the Bay in South Boston is an assisted living community dedicated exclusively to those with memory loss featuring Compass Memory Support, a renowned, research-based treatment program for those with dementia, from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-causing diseases. This senior community offers multi-track therapeutic programming tailored to varying levels of memory loss, a highly trained team with expertise in dementia care, spacious outdoor courtyards and gardens, as well as a unique one-floor environmental design that makes it easy for those with cognitive issues to navigate. The community is managed by Senior Living Residences of Braintree, MA. Learn more at www.CompassontheBay.com.
Caity Carlson, Executive Director of Compass on the Bay (left), Christopher Carter, President of Purple Flag (right)
Ana Dallta, Halle Katz, Yves Casseus, Dean Tricarico, Cheryl Caruth, Tia Leary, Eileen Maxwell, Mehwish Ahmed, Abigail DouglasVidal, Tanesha Barrett-Foster, Shaina Lavaud, Antoinette Bailey
Joanne Wilson, Kate Tedeschi, Paul Tedechi, Susan Sweeney, George Sweeney