Text of East Boston resident David Arinella’s remarks at Mayor’s press conference 4/13/17

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Text of long-time East Boston resident David Arinella’s remarks at capital plan press conference 

GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DAVE ARINELLA AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE EAST BOSTON ATHLETIC BOARD AND THE EAST BOSTON FOUNDATION. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THE SWIM COACH AT EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME. A GROUP OF MY FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED THAT I WOULD BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. I HOPE I DON’T PROVE THEM WRONG.

LET ME THANK THE MAYOR OF BOSTON AND HIS STAFF FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AS WE USHER IN A NEW AGE IN EASTIE WITH THE LATEST ROUND OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE RENOVATION OF CENTRAL SQUARE , THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PARIS ST GYM AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE THE PARIS ST POOL; WHICH WILL MAKE A LOT OF US VERY HAPPY. WE ALSO HAVE THE CUNEO PARK RENOVATION AND WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY PROCESS FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF NOYES PARK. THE COMMUNITY PROCESS IS ALSO UNDERWAY FOR THE MODERNIZATION AND RELOCATION OF OUR POLICE STATION. THEN THERE IS THE ENERGY FRIENDLY WINDOWS BEING INSTALLED AT EAST BOSTON HS. SPEAKING OF EAST BOSTON HS. WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN AS MUCH AS OUR HEADMASTER, PHIL BRANGIFORTE WHO IS PRESENT HERE TODAY IS THE HARDEST WORKING HEADMASTER IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HAS BROUGHT OUR HIGH SCHOOL INTO THE FOREFRONT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN BOSTON

NONE OF US HAS TO BE TOLD ABOUT THE FACT THAT BOSTON CANNOT FLOURISH WITHOUT A DEDICATED COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IN OUR PARKS AND SQUARES IS NECESSARY AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MAYOR WALSH FOR NOT FORGETTING US ON THIS SIDE OF THE WATER AND MAKING EAST BOSTON MORE THAN JUST VIABLE, IT IS NOW HD, WHICH IS NOT HIGH DEFINITION, BUT RATHER WHAT WE CALL ‘HIGHLY DESIRABLE.’

THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR LANDSCAPE WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS AN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN EASTIE. I AM CONFIDENT ALONG WITH MANY, MANY OTHERS THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE BALANCE WE NEED BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY. THIS IS A GOAL OF MAYOR WALSH’S ADMINISTRATION AND THESE UNDERTAKINGS ARE JUST ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF THAT GOAL.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE STATE SENATOR JOE BONCORE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MADARO AND CITY COUNCILLOR SAL LAMATTINA AS WELL AS CITY COUNCILLOR MATT O’MALLEY AND POLICE CAPTAIN KELLY MCCORMACK.
AS I CLOSE, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK MAYOR WALSH FOR LETTING ME HAVE THESE FEW WORDS ABOUT WHAT I FEEL IS THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN EAST BOSTON. AN ERA THAT WILL HAVE A BRIGHT AND PROMISING FUTURE AND A SENSE THAT WE CAN BE SAFE AND SECURE WITH EACH OTHER AS WE MOVE FORWARD! Delivered, Thursday, April 13, 2017 in Central Square