Dear Councilor Murphy,

I was on the Budget call today and asked in the chat if the City Councilors respond to emails.  You said yes, and put your email on the chat for everyone on the call.  I did send you an email on February 17th.  This is not a criticism and perhaps I had no specific ask in this email, but I did not get a response.

So I’ll try to be more specific:

I recognize the growing list of all the needs we face as a society in general and the very pressing issues Boston faces in terms of homelessness, food security, addiction, education, child care and many other issues equally as important.  So in the big scheme of things my concern regarding Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard may not be the biggest issue we face.  However, this is a unique and historic pier and if it falls to typical redevelopment, an opportunity to create an iconic open space for the entire Charlestown community will be forever missed.  I am part of the Pier 5 Association, Inc. (www.pier5.org) and we collected over 3,200 petition signatures in favor of creating an open, climate resilient and accessible park for the entire community’s benefit.

Charlestown has among the highest population density in the city, among the lowest amount of open space, a high incidence of asthma and a steadily declining tree canopy.  We are home to the largest affordable housing community in the Northeast at the Bunker Hill Development.

So I would like to ask how our Association can set up a Zoom call with the Councilors At Large to inform them of the opportunity here at Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

I am also attaching an Executive Summary.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Kathy Elliott

Pier 5 Association, Inc.