Franklin Park Defenders preparing next steps in lawsuit against the city, mayor

About a month after a judge denied their injunction attempt, advocates plan to announce the “next steps” in their lawsuit against the city of Boston for what they call an “unconstitutional plan for privatization” in the city’s White Stadium renovation proposal.

At a press conference today on stadium grounds, those advocates — 20 citizen plaintiffs and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, who together form a group dubbed the Franklin Park Defenders — are narrowing in on their argument that the existing proposal to renovate Franklin Park‘s White Stadium privatizes a publicly used space. Dr. Jean McGuire, the first Black woman with a seat on the Boston School Committee and a known park advocate, will also be speaking to the impact of the stadium proposal on Franklin Park.

“Plaintiffs are available and want the media to understand where they’re coming from, the history, the laws, the processes that need to take place in order for this to happen,” a spokesperson for the Defenders told MASSterList.

The plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in February seeking to stop the proposal, essentially questioning whether the city has the legal authority to even consider the project, which would serve as a home stadium for a National Women’s Soccer League franchise headed to Boston.

Defenders say the proposal — as it is drafted right now — will displace Boston Public Schools student-athletes and community members, fails to address “realistic” transportation for the more than 10,000 potential match attendees, and is missing “adequate” community participation in the decision-making process. 

While the lawsuit is still ongoing, Superior Court Judge Sarah Ellis said in her March decision not to pause the project with an injunction that Boston Unity Soccer Partners was the only entity that responded to the city’s request for proposals, and that the plaintiffs failed to show how the renovation would cause “irreparable harm.”

Fast forward a couple of weeks: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sat down on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, explaining that the two BPS teams who use White Stadium only use it for five games a season — and that while Boston is in the process of helping renovate other facilities to use, under the proposal, the finished stadium would have the functionality for many “end of season” games. 

“The litigants have not expressed a specific concern about the types of issues that are related to the design or parking, transportation,” Wu added, arguing that the court decision also raised questions about the lawsuit’s future viability. 

A spokesperson for the Franklin Park Defenders said the plaintiffs “want the BPS students to have a renovated stadium” solely for their benefit, and to ensure community input is taken seriously. — Ella Adams

KELLER AT LARGE

Political analyst Jon Keller comments on New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu‘s reaction to talk of Massachusetts border tolls. — MASSterList

MONDAY in the House and Senate

The House adopted extension orders for two committees and advanced bills dealing with items including condo fees, property assessments, farm land and liquor license regulations, among other topics, reports the News Service’s Alison Kuznitz. Reps also addressed local bills. 

The Senate teed up redrafted versions of three consumer protection proposals for a formal session later in the week, which handle auto sales, home heating oil leaks, and competitive electric suppliers, reports Sam Doran for the News Service. — SHNS House Coverage | SHNS Senate Coverage

Wolohojian sworn in to SJC

Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian joined the Supreme Judicial Court Monday morning, after taking her oath of office from Gov. Healey. Wolohojian spent the last couple of months finishing up Appeals Court work and will officially start her business with the SJC today. — State House News Service

Spilka announces climate bill to come, session expectations out of the Senate

Senate President Karen Spilka announced a Senate plan to introduce a major climate bill before formal sessions end in July on Monday at a Greater Boston Business Chamber event. Spilka didn’t speak to bill details, but said Sen. Michael Barrett and Majority Leader Sen. Cynthia Creem are leading the move. Spilka also spoke to education initiatives expected in the chamber’s budget — like free community college — Health Policy Commission changes in the wake of the Steward Health crisis, and consdieration of a housing bond bill. 

Spilka said Monday that despite the state’s fiscal challenges, “now is not the time to pull back” on “critical investments” that serve as “beacons of hope and opportunity.” Spilka also noted she is not in support of the ballot question that would eliminate the MCAS exam high school graduation requirement. — State House News Service

Ceasefire encampments, demonstrations across East Coast include MIT, Emerson, Tufts

Protesters have set up pro-Palestinian protest encampments at MIT, Tufts and Emerson College, moves that follow a large, six-day demonstration at Columbia University that shut down in-person classes on Monday. Demonstrations across the country, led by students and staff in solidarity with Columbia’s protest, are calling for colleges to divest from companies and institutions supporting Israel in the midst of the Israel-Gaza war, and on their schools to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Colleges are reacting differently — Harvard has closed off its campus to the public with the hope of stifling similar action, and protestors at Yale were arrested when demonstrations grew on the school’s campus. — Boston Herald

Wu fires landmarks chief amid feuds over City Hall, White Stadium 

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has fired Boston Landmarks Commission Executive Director Rosanne Foley amid ongoing disputes over the handling of city assets including City Hall and White Stadium. According to Seth Daniel of the Dorchester Reporter, Foley was dismissed less than two weeks after the commission wrote a scathing letter to Wu complaining about her handling of issues involving the commission. The group said Wu had complicated their job of preserving significant sites by pressing forward with plans to allow private developers to renovate White Stadium in Franklin Park so it can host a professional soccer team. — Dorchester Reporter

Healey distances herself from border tolling idea

Gov. Maura Healey issued a statement Monday speaking against comments Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt made about potentially installing tolls along Massachusetts borders to fund the state’s transportation system. Healey said that the secretary’s comments “do not represent the views of this administration,” following heated responses from those in and out of the state about the idea. —CommonWealth Beacon

Vineyard seasonal homeless shelter sees record use

Harbor Homes winter shelter in Oak Bluffs experienced its busiest year to date. It closed for the season on Saturday, after sheltering a total of 54 guests and hitting its 20-guest max each night — during the previous winter, fewer than 40 guests registered for at least one shelter stay. The shelter manager said these numbers, and the fact that almost two-thirds of the shelter’s guests had seasonal or year-round jobs, proves that the island’s lack of affordable housing is causing massive need. — Vineyard Gazette

Reducing fossil fuel use in New England’s buildings

New England still has to address fossil fuel use in buildings — which are the region’s second-largest emitter — as regional housing stock tends to be older and less efficient. But regional incentives and updated building codes are popping up across a number of states, and WBUR’s Kathleen Masterson looks at projects across New England that are aiming to reduce buildings’ reliance on fossil fuels. — WBUR

Springfield guaranteed basic income pilot passes halfway mark

Ten months after it launched, organizers of a program that pays a guaranteed monthly income to parents of newborn babies say it is working as planned, with most recipients of the $500 monthly payments using the bulk of the money to care for their babies. Jim Kinney of MassLive reports the American Rescue Plan Act is providing funding and that 135 families in greater Springfield are taking part. — MassLive

Teamsters endorse legislation labeling drivers as ’employees’

Members of Teamsters Local 25 unanimously endorsed legislation on Sunday that would label transportation and delivery network drivers as “employees” — entitling them to minimum wage and various protections and benefits, reports Chris Lisinski for the News Service. The union backed the bill in the midst of years-long discussion that has come to the surface recently due to an industry-backed ballot initiative that would make it law that drivers are independent contractors. Tension is rising on either side of the issue, and driver-related campaigns will take action this week in the form of rallies and gatherings. — State House News Service

Bay State leaders will speak at Vatican climate conference 

Gov. Healey, Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and Boston Mayor Wu have accepted invitations to give talks at an international climate conference being hosted by the Vatican next month. Healey is expected to address “governing in the age of climate change,” while Wu will speak about “governance, health and energy” at the conference, which is focused on how the planet can be made more resilient to the inevitable consequences of climate change. — Boston Globe

Grow away: New Bedford council steps on no-mow fine idea 

The New Bedford City Council has rejected a proposed ordinance that would have allowed officials to slap a fine of $300 against property owners who do not keep their lawns moved, Frank Mulligan of the Standard-Times reports. Councilors said the ordinance, versions of which have been floating around for four years, lacked specificity and pointed out that some people have valid reasons for not being able to keep their properties tidy. — Standard-Times

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