Episode Transcript
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Wednesday, July 15 while the new Quincy firefighter gear has arrived, Quincy Interim Fire Chief Gary Smith and Union President Tom Bose say the new PFAS free protective gear has arrived and will be formally unveiled during a press conference next week. Officials will gather at the Central Fire Headquarters on Quincy Avenue next Tuesday at 10:30 to announce that every Quincy firefighter will receive two sets of the new gear. Officials will discuss testing, procurement and and the impact on firefighters and the legislative background and future plans. The Quincy city council approved $2.65 million in March to purchase the new gear after independent testing revealed that the old gear contained PFAS chemicals that may be linked to cancer. The city is suing the company that sold the old gear because it was advertised as being PFAS chemical free.
[00:01:23] The new gear meets the new guidelines established by the National Fire Protection association and underwent third party testing to ensure it is free of PFAS chemicals. Tuesday's event will include remarks from that company that made the new gear.
[00:01:40] A virtual public meeting will be held tonight regarding a plan to close two roads in West Quincy on the weekends this summer to prevent reckless driving. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is planning to close Wapatuck Road and Chickatabut Road in the Blue Hills Reservation to vehicular traffic Friday nights through Sunday nights, July through early September, after residents complained about motorists speeding, drag racing and causing major disturbances. The roads would remain open for walkers, bikers and emergency vehicles. The virtual meeting on Zoom will be held tonight from 6 to 7:30. You can email mass.parksass.gov or call 617-626-4973 to join the meeting.
[00:02:35] The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a proposal to create three apartments in the building that was formerly the Sweeney Funeral Home on Elm Street.
[00:02:45] Officials last night voted unanimously in favor of the proposal for the three two bedroom units in the existing building with a total of six parking spaces and a new garage off of Miller Style Road. Board members said they felt the proposal was a good use of the building. However, Ward 2 Councillor Richard Ash sent a letter expressing concern that there was not enough parking for visitors or deliveries. The same developer is also proposing another 5 story 7 unit apartment building with 16 parking spaces in the funeral homes former parking lot across the street.
[00:03:24] Firefighters battled a fire early this morning at a home in Randolph. Fire started just after 4am at the single family house on Harris Street. Flames could be seen coming from the roof of the home. It is not clear if anyone was injured in that fire.
[00:03:42] The new MBTA Harbor Loop ferry connects four major destinations across the water, including Lovejoy Wharf at North Station, Central Wharf at the Aquarium, the Sea Port at Commonwealth Pier and Logan Airport. Officials celebrated the new service yesterday. Officials say the goal is to give people another reliable option to get around the city. A one way fare costs $2.40, the same as a ride on the T. You can also use a commuter rail pass designed around peak commuter travel. The Harbor Loop operates weekdays but every 30 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours. Morning service runs counterclockwise from 6:10 to 11:30am and evening service runs clockwise from 3:55 to 7:50pm There is no service between 11:30 and 3:55 or after 7:50 at night. The Harbor Loop complements but does not replace the existing Seaport Ferry operated by the Mass. Convention Center. The new route gives riders additional travel options during peak commuter hours while improving connections to the subway at North Station and Aquarium Station and Logan Airport and other MBTA ferry routes serving surrounding neighborhoods, including Hingham Hall, Lynn, Winthrop, Quincy, Charlestown and East Boston.
[00:05:13] House Democrats teed up an animal safety and pet ownership bill yesterday that omits a provision in the Senate embraced to ban certain sales at pet shops, meaning Beacon Hill leaders will likely need to set up another conference committee by the end of the month to reconcile the differences. The House today plans to vote on a bill that removes barriers to public housing for pet owners, outlines a civil process for animal neglect complaints, establishes licensure for veterinary technicians, bans product testing on animals when an alternative method exists, expands oversight of dog kennels, regulates pet insurance and imposes escalating fines on rideshare drivers who fail to accommodate riders with special needs. In a major departure from the Senate, the redrafted bill that the House Ways and Means Committee advanced yesterday does not ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet shops. The Senate unanimously passed its pet equity and animal cruelty bill in March, with Senate President Karen Spilka saying the approach would end the inhumane puppy mill to pet shop pipeline if it became law. The Retailers association of Massachusetts opposed that Senate bill, saying that it would put local pet shops at a competitive disadvantage compared to out of state sellers and unregulated markets. The House Ways and Means bill outlines a process for law enforcement and animal control officers to petition to District court in cases of potential animal neglect, including failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter or veterinary care, keeping an animal in an unsanitary environment or otherwise permitting the animal's unnecessary suffering the court could order the animal to be seized from the owner, allow for humane euthanasia of the animal, or direct, capable pet owners to provide certain care to their animals.
[00:07:17] The FREE Wally Beach Wednesdays concerts continue tonight on Wallaston beach in Quincy. Tonight, the band Pretty Beat up will be playing fan favorites on the beach across from the Clam Box. The concerts start at 6pm and are free and open to all.
[00:07:40] A check of business news this morning. Stocks are higher. The Dow rose 9 points. The Nasdaq's up 233 in the S&P added 28. Asian stocks mostly rose, tracking a rally on Wall street following a report that showed US Inflation was not as bad last month as economists expected. The dollar was down. The euro rose oil at $79 a barrel.
[00:08:05] The forecast from the National Weather Service heat advisory continues today. Expect a lot of haze from the Canadian wildfires at A high of 90 degrees tonight, partly cloudy at a low of 68 tomorrow. Sun and clouds high of 89. Sunny on Friday high of 86 and some scattered showers Saturday, high 84, but the boater waves 2ft. Winds northwest at 10 to 15 with gusts to 20 knots. High tide 12:50pm Sunrise 521 sets at 8:18.
[00:08:41] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Wednesday, July 15th.
