Letters to the Editor

On MBTA 3A Plan

Dear Editor,

As I watch the MBTA 3A plan unfold, I can’t help but think about the generations before us — the families who sacrificed, struggled, and clawed their way out of cramped city tenements in search of something better. They chased the American Dream: a single-family home, a modest yard, a safe place to raise children and build a future.

That dream wasn’t just about owning property — it was about space, dignity, and the hope of something more. A place to breathe. To grow. To thrive.

And now, it feels like we’re watching that dream be undone — not by market forces alone, but by our own government. Instead of empowering the next generation to reach for that same dream, they’re mandating policies that recreate the very conditions our grandparents and great-grandparents fought to escape. Crowded, high-density housing developments being pushed into towns that were built by people who yearned for the opposite.

This isn’t progress. It’s erasure — erasure of a dream, a lifestyle, and a deeply rooted value system. Yes, housing is a challenge. But the answer isn’t to force communities to become what they left behind. We should be lifting people up, not cramming them in.

We can do better. We must do better.

Thank you,

Brian J. Perrin Sr. Esq.

Help EASTIE celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Chelsea Creek

Dear Editor,

The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution is being celebrated throughout the country this year. The East Boston Museum and Historical Society needs your help in observing this historical milestone by celebrating East Boston’s unique place in history.

The “Battle of Chelsea Creek and Noddle’s Island” occurred on May 27, 1775. It was the first naval battle of the American Revolution and yet few people know about it. Unlike the “shot heard round the world” at Lexington and Concord, which is celebrated every Patriots Day in April, and the brave stand of Patriot forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill, commemorated every June, the Battle of Chelsea Creek (also known as the Battle of Noddle’s Island) has mostly been lost to history.

We hope to change that narrative by celebrating this historic and significant win for those Patriots who bravely fought the British in this battle. The first naval battle of the Revolution was a coordinated effort by Patriot militia from across New England. The battle took place in what is now East Boston. As the first naval battle of the American Revolution, we believe that our community and those interested in American history deserve to know about this significant battle that took place in East Boston.

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, the East Boston Museum and Historical Society will host a celebration commemorating the Battle of Chelsea Creek and Noddle’s Island at the Urban Wild Park located on Condor Street, and across the street at the American Legion Field. The celebration will be free for all and will include Revolutionary re-enactors, narrated boat rides on the creek highlighting historical landmarks, narrated history walks of Eagle Hill, revolutionary craft displays, and much more. This will be a wonderful event for everyone and most importantly, people will learn about East Boston’s pivotal role in the history of the American Revolution.

We are writing to ask for your help. We have received a generous grant from the East Boston Foundation to provide the initial funding of East Boston’s Revolution 250 programming and events, but additional funding is needed. We also need volunteers to make this event a success.

Please consider making a donation to the East Boston Museum and Historical Society, c/o Ed Coletta (our treasurer) at 82 White Street, East Boston 02128.

If you are interested in volunteering (please, please, please) call Steven Gingras at 857-230-9884 or email at Gingras.Steven@gmail.com.

With your support, we will properly recognize East Boston’s important place in the American Revolution.

Thank You and Best Wishes,

Debra Cave

EBMHS President