Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: And welcome to Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch for our weekly City hall update. Welcome to October, Mayor.
[00:00:06] Speaker B: Yes, indeed. Good morning, Joe. Where did September go?
[00:00:09] Speaker A: I was just saying to someone, isn't it just, wasn't it just Labor Day yesterday?
[00:00:14] Speaker B: Feels that way. It is unbelievable.
[00:00:17] Speaker A: Time does fly and as you and I both know, it doesn't slow down as you get older.
[00:00:22] Speaker B: That's for sure. That's for sure.
[00:00:25] Speaker A: But weather really has cooperated just beautifully for all the weekend events, the Quincy 400 events, the open Heritage Day last Saturday was fantastic.
[00:00:37] Speaker B: Yes, indeed. I mean I heard from a lot of people last Saturday, a lot of texts from people that, you know, they were embarrassed. They've never been to some of the gems we have here, the historical gems. And they took advantage of it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Learned a lot.
You know, Bob Damon, our heritage director did a phenomenal job putting together all of the sites, working with the Park Service, Historical Society, our own tourism groups. I'll be interrupt at the Quarry Museum and so many others. I mean the site of Quincy was open, the Dorothy Quincy was open along with the National Park Service assets and all of the other locations which we got a lot of spots, as you know, Joe, in the city outside of Boston. I don't know that anyone compares to us in Massachusetts with the historic sites that we do have. So sometimes because of the vast amount of them, they don't get the attention really that they deserve. I mean, sometimes we love to have one or two what we have for historical assets. But nonetheless, the weather cooperated.
Hundreds of people went through the sites. It was a great, great day for Quincy.
[00:01:43] Speaker A: Yeah, a lot of folks saw the USS Salem for the first time, which is hard to believe.
[00:01:48] Speaker B: That's right.
Yeah, I know Margala Forest said they had like 600 visitors, so pretty impressive.
[00:01:56] Speaker A: I was thinking too, it was a good thing it was last Saturday before the government shut down. Mayor that might have impacted the Park Service.
[00:02:03] Speaker B: It definitely would have impacted the Park Service.
Yeah. That's the sad part of this. The, you know, that I don't know the extent of what the financial impact will be. For example, the Quincy I certainly know the Park Service can be affected by it.
Any interaction with the federal government. You know, our planning department interacts with the CDBG program, Housing Authority with hud. So, you know, I'm sure there's impact. I don't know the extent of them. And I hope that wisdom prevails and they get to a settlement fairly soon.
[00:02:34] Speaker A: Yeah, I know a lot of the social service agencies are concerned they function on federal grants. Qcap, the Bay State Community Services, Interfaith Social services. No, they don't, but some of the bigger ones do. And, and they're worried.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, sure. I mean they, you know, they don't have daily interaction, but you know, they get grants over the course of the year, so hopefully none of those services will be affected.
We just hope, you know, that both sides could get together and get it resolved for the American people.
[00:03:06] Speaker A: I did want to talk about something that will be happening here in Quincy on Thursday. The MBTA conducting a water transportation study, locations all around the coast. Actually, Quincy's is this Thursday from 4 to 7 out at Marina Bay. And what are they studying there?
[00:03:24] Speaker B: Well, as you know, I'm on The board, the MBTA and the MassDOT board, Joe, and early on we've been advocating with others to push a more extensive, more comprehensive water transportation program in Boston Harbor. There's a lot of cities and towns that touch the harbor.
You know, you get water related cities around the world that do a more robust job. So general manager Philip Bang was listening and he assigned David Perry, first time in the T's history to have a department and a person in charge of water transportation. And Dave's doing a nice job. As you know, we received a $4.7 million grant from the feds.
When I say we the tea in the city to rebuild the dock that's out at the Marina Bay location. So I think that's being put out to bid very soon.
There's a lot of momentum. I have heard from a lot of folks who have been enjoying the ferry, not necessarily to get to work. Some have, but some were just using it to get to the airport or get to the north end for dinner.
I mean its proximity to the city is pretty remarkable. And you save a lot of time on the expressway by jumping on the ferry. So they're looking at the extent of, with the surveys, the extent of interest by the public.
How far should they go? What kind of scheduling is the public really looking for? Are they looking for year round? I mean, you know, a thorough survey so that they can make good decisions going forward that will, in my view, have a great impact on how we look at transportation in general.
[00:05:00] Speaker A: Yeah, it's, I mean, I think the convenience is that it's, it's so affordable. You can park for free at Squantum Point Park.
I think it's a $6 $6.50 trip. So that's, that's, I mean, try and park in Boston for that.
So the Convenience factor can't be. It can't be outweighed. Just the weather factor, I think, is the biggest obstacle.
[00:05:23] Speaker B: No, absolutely. And you take that anxiety out of being behind the wheel, trying to either find a parking spot or just getting through the traffic. You can sit and enjoy the beautiful harbor.
So a lot of advantages. And I think people are catching on.
[00:05:37] Speaker A: Yeah. There is a website set up I wanted to give out for folks if they'd like to participate in the study. MBTA.com water transportationstudy and they say right here they want to hear from you.
[00:05:49] Speaker B: And final point on that, you know, the governor and lieutenant governor, both huge supporters.
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, former mayor of Salem, she had a robust ferry service out of Salem.
So they get it. And that's important to have that leadership.
And certainly between that Phil Lang and the team and I think the legislature, as you know, when needed, will come along.
Good.
[00:06:15] Speaker A: Any kind of timeline, do you think, for, I mean, after the study is completed, what takes place next?
[00:06:22] Speaker B: Oh, gosh, I don't know.
You know, I mean, this to me, this is a great sign that we're going in this direction. So timeline, I don't know until there'll be more to follow.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: Sure.
Mayor, a favorite event of yours I know every year is the food Truck Festival coming up on Saturday.
[00:06:42] Speaker B: It is one of my faves. It's a great day, very relaxing.
It's usually great music and a lot of various types of food people can access. And as you know, I like, I like that whoopee patch rocky chair. I try to get to that before they run out. Not that I need it, but that's a fun day.
You know, one of the charges I gave the founder committee this year was, you know, think about things.
You know, I'll handle the budget side.
And we, as you know, we've used hotel tax money for the vast majority of the events. The visitors were paying for most of these things. But, you know, in the times that we're living right now, it's divisive. And just to come together as a community, just to have fun, enjoy each other's company and enjoy some music, a drink and some food. It's pretty basic, but it's good. It's good stuff. And so I'm grateful to the whole team. I know John McDonald works out on this one along with the team. Karen o' Toole has been doing an amazing job along with the rest of the gang, really, on all the 400 stuff. I know we got Dennis Lehane coming up as well. That's sold out.
I shouldn't say sold out, but we weren't selling tickets, but reservations were out in like eight minutes.
400 people just like that. So good stuff. You know, we've had a great year and we got a few more things to go and let's continue to enjoy it.
[00:08:08] Speaker A: Yeah, this, this festival is this coming Saturday, noon to 6, all along Coddington street from Quincy High School to the library. There's food trucks galore by 20 that I counted. There's live music bands and it's all free.
[00:08:24] Speaker B: And the street has been completely repaved. The sidewalks are done. So there's no interruption on Coddington. And by the way, you'll see in the next few months the Wyes coming down because they'll be going underground and that is going to be a beautiful stretch along there. Very good.
[00:08:40] Speaker A: And then later on this month, the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy out at the new park out at Squantum.
[00:08:47] Speaker B: Yes. Christine Cugini putting together a program along with others, including former Commander Alicia Ping from the Navy who now works at the park service. They're going to get a nice event. I mean, the city's contribution to the Navy and its ships and vessels is huge. So that's important. We do remember in honor.
[00:09:06] Speaker A: Yeah. That'll be October 10th. Let folks know.
Always good to talk to you, Mayor. Appreciate your time and thanks, Joe.
[00:09:13] Speaker B: Enjoy the day.
[00:09:13] Speaker A: You too.
Lindsay Mayer, Thomas Coker, weekly City hall update here on am. Quincy.
