Bike lane safety; supports new liquor license; holds election
Special to the Gazette
The Community Alliance of Mission Hill held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 21, via Zoom and in-person.
CAMH President Martin Beinborn presided over the session. Also on hand were Corey Jordan from State Rep. Chynah Tyler’s office, Samantha Courage from District 8 City Councillor Sharon Durkan’s office, and Maccon Bonner, who is the Back Bay/Beacon Hill/Fenway/Kenmore/Mission Hill Liaison for Mayor Wu’s Office of Neighborhood Services.
Beinborn discussed a recent meeting held at the home of prominent businessman Jay Cashman regarding bicycle lanes in the city. Beinborn said Cashman is concerned that the bike lanes are being rushed without public input.
Beinborn said that a bike lane is in front of Cashman’s house on Dartmouth St. and that Cashman has observed that the city is moving forward with the construction of bicycle lanes with insufficient information about the impact on safety for cyclists, motor vehicle operators, pedestrians, and other users.
Beinborn said Cashman supports a formal review and feedback process of current and future bike lanes in the city, as well as training for those who operate delivery bikes and e-bikes with violations for those who don’t follow the traffic laws.
Some at the meeting noted that emergency vehicle response time is being impacted by traffic back-ups caused by the addition of the bike lanes.
“The gist of the meeting was that Cashman is seeking support from neighborhood organizations for his group, known as Pedal Safe Boston, from all traffic participants and their perspectives,” said Beinborn with the development of a master plan for the city.
“Jay Cashman is not anti-bike, he just wants to see good bike progress in Boston,” said Beinborn.
According to the Pedal Safe Boston website, “Our Mission is: Advocating for safer, smarter, and more-inclusive streets across Boston; ensuring city infrastructure works for everyone, pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists; started by Jay Cashman, a leader in large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide, after he saw Boston’s bike lanes being built without proper planning, public input, or transparency; pushing for thoughtful, community-driven transportation planning; prioritizing safety, accessibility, and proper site studies over rushed rollouts; and uniting residents to demand transparency, engagement, and a better master plan.”
CAMH board member Adam Sarbaugh noted that bike lanes are part of a world-class city, but there is the need for a master plan and a process with the goal of “getting it right the first time.”
Reginald Ellis, who attended the meeting at Cashman’s house, noted that upon leaving Cashman’s home, he almost was struck by a speeding bicyclist. His complaint echoed similar issues voiced by Jamaica Plain residents regarding bicyclists who ride along the pedestrian pathways around Jamaica Pond where they have menaced, and even injured, pedestrians, making the pedestrian walkways dangerous, especially for senior citizens.
Many in attendance spoke about the lack of enforcement of the traffic laws (bicyclists must obey the traffic regulations), especially as regards the operators of e-bikes and e-scooters who often are traveling on sidewalks or going the wrong way on roadways.
Beinborn said that the CAMH will be inviting Cashman’s group to a future meeting to make a full presentation.
The next item on the agenda was a request for approval of a full liquor license by Merengue Express Restaurant.
Attorney Michael Vigorito, representing the long-established Cilantro Latin Kitchen d/b/a Merengue Express restaurant, 1415 Tremont St., in Roxbury, presented Cilantro’s application for an all-alcohol liquor license pursuant to the new state law that expanded the number of liquor licenses in the city.
Hector Pena, the owner of the restaurant, also was on hand. Pena said he has been in the restaurant business since 1994 with his wife when they opened their first restaurant on Blue Hill Ave. They now own five restaurants, including one in Worcester, which serve alcohol.
Pena spoke of his long-standing commitment to the local community, especially the Boston Arts Academy School.
“The liquor license will help us to do better,” said Pena. “With all of the uncertainty about the economy and tariffs, we really need to increase our business in any way we can.”
Merengue presently closes at 6:00, but will be seeking a 10:00 closing if it gets the liquor restaurant. Pena said the goal of the liquor license is to feature Latino-based cocktails to complement the culinary dishes from the Dominican Republic.
Beinborn said a vote by the CAMH whether to support a licensing request normally is a two-step process, with the presentation occurring at a first meeting and the vote taken at a second meeting. However, Vigorito asked for an immediate vote because it would help Merengue’s application before the Boston Licensing Board, given that there is strong competition for the new licenses.
The members first voted to suspend the usual rules, and then voted to support a favorable recommendation for the liquor license. Merengue Express still must go before the Boston Licensing Commission to obtain the liquor license.
The next matter on the agenda was the election for board members of the board of the CAMH for a two-year term.
Five incumbents, Toni Komst, Adam Sarbaugh, Gary Walling, Candy Walling, and Luanne Witkowski, and two newcomers, Deneige Arroyo and Reginald Ellis, were elected to two-year terms.
There still is one open seat on the board.
The next meeting of the CAMH is set for Wednesday, June 18.