Groundbreakings galore

Also: Where the people at Mass. and Cass went; South Coast Rail skepticism [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  November 2, 2023 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 47. Good Morning Boston, It's a big day for groundbreakings across Massachusetts, but let's start with news of what's coming down: - The Mass. and Cass tent encampment is, again, no more: WBUR's Deborah Becker [reports]( that Boston outreach workers and police finished clearing out the remaining tents from the intersection yesterday. This comes after [days of work to help find new homes]( for those living at what's been described as the epicenter of New England's opioid, mental health and homelessness crises. It's [hardly]( the [first]( [time]( officials have cleared people out of the area — though it is the first time they've done it under [a new ordinance]( empowering police to remove tents if they return. So, what's next for the people who were living around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard? Here's what we know as of now: - 85: That's roughly the number of people who were living in tents at Mass. and Cass as of last week, according to city officials. - 80: The number of people who the city helped move into shelters and other transitional housing facilities by the end of the day. Becker reports most had already made the move prior to Wednesday, after outreach workers began alerting people about the deadline. But another two dozen accepted relocation offers and packed up on Wednesday. - 9: The number of people who decided to move back in with friends and family members, according to the city. - Go deeper: The numbers above only provide a snapshot of what's next for those who were living in the area. As Becker [has reported]( some don't like living in shelters or feel unsafe at home. One person told Becker on Wednesday that they expect to keep sleeping on the streets at times, maybe even at Mass. and Cass. However, some local leaders are calling for a "zero tolerance policy" on any new tent encampments due to safety concerns. For a more complete picture, [read Becker's full story here](. - Construction on Harvard's big expansion into Allston has officially begun. Local leaders held a [ceremonial groundbreaking]( celebration yesterday for the first phase of Harvard's so-called [Enterprise Research Campus]( (yes, even though they actually broke ground in [June](. Located south of Harvard's Business School in Lower Allston, the new 14-acre development is slated to include 345 housing units, labs, restaurants, green space and a hotel. - Boston officials [negotiated an agreement with Harvard]( requiring that 25% of the housing units be designated as affordable. The project is expected to open by late 2025 or early 2026. - More paths: Pedestrians and cyclists will soon have a new riverside shortcut to get around Medford. Crews are breaking ground today on the "Clippership Connector Path," a half-mile, off-road path that will run between Medford Square and Riverbend Park along the Mystic River. Importantly, it will also provide a link between about 10 miles of near-contiguous greenways, from Somerville's Assembly Square to the Mystic Lakes paths and Alewife Greenway. See [the map here](. - What's next: The exact opening date is still TBD. In an interview with WBUR's Stevee Chapman, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn estimated the project will take just over a year. - Meanwhile in Fitchburg: City officials are set to break ground on a project to redevelop three historic buildings into housing for artists. WBUR's Andrea Shea says it's part of a larger effort to reposition the old mill town as a regional arts hub. - Zoom in: In addition to one, two and three-bedroom apartments, the housing project will include studio, gallery, rehearsal and performance spaces. Check out the design renderings and what the buildings look like right now in Shea's [full story](. - One week later: In the week since the devastating shooting in Lewiston, Maine that killed 18 people and injured 13, local journalists have uncovered a lot of information about the gunman, Robert Card, and his possible motives. [Listen here]( as WBUR's Rupa Shenoy talks with Portland Press Herald reporter Rachel Ohm about what has come to light in the aftermath. - Here's [a timeline]( of Card's concerning behavior and interactions with police in the months leading up to the shooting. - Heads up: President Joe Biden is [expected to visit Lewiston tomorrow]( to pay his respects to the victims and their families. P.S.— The Boston Public Library's spice bank is [back](. Donate your garlic powder, paprika, thyme and any other unopened spices or dried herbs to any of the BPL's branches. They'll be distributed to local families in need for the holidays and beyond. (And how's this for a dash of good news? All donations to the main library in Copley Square will be matched.) Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Judge rejects effort to halt waitlist for families seeking emergency shelter]( A Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied advocates' request to temporarily stop the state from implementing a waitlist in its family shelter program. [Read more.]( [Judge rejects effort to halt waitlist for families seeking emergency shelter]( A Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied advocates' request to temporarily stop the state from implementing a waitlist in its family shelter program. [Read more.]( [As New Bedford area awaits South Coast Rail line, skeptics fret over costs, ridership and slow speeds]( Construction on a rail project that will connect Boston to several South Coast communities is nearing completion, but questions remain about the impact and potential success of the commuter rail expansion. [Read more.]( [As New Bedford area awaits South Coast Rail line, skeptics fret over costs, ridership and slow speeds]( Construction on a rail project that will connect Boston to several South Coast communities is nearing completion, but questions remain about the impact and potential success of the commuter rail expansion. [Read more.]( [Lagging COVID, flu and RSV vaccination rates concern Mass. health officials]( Few people are rolling up their sleeves for the new COVID, flu and RSV vaccines, even as peak respiratory virus season is looming, according to state and federal data. [Read more.]( [Lagging COVID, flu and RSV vaccination rates concern Mass. health officials]( Few people are rolling up their sleeves for the new COVID, flu and RSV vaccines, even as peak respiratory virus season is looming, according to state and federal data. [Read more.]( [High school football rivals in Maine come together in emotional game after mass shooting]( A storied high school football rivalry resumed an emotional game in Lewiston, Maine. Known as the Battle of the Bridge, the game has long had significance to the Lewiston and Auburn communities. But the rivalry carried extra weight this year, coming a week after the shootings in Lewiston. [Read more.]( [High school football rivals in Maine come together in emotional game after mass shooting]( A storied high school football rivalry resumed an emotional game in Lewiston, Maine. Known as the Battle of the Bridge, the game has long had significance to the Lewiston and Auburn communities. But the rivalry carried extra weight this year, coming a week after the shootings in Lewiston. [Read more.]( [Majority of panel resign over Boston School plan for English language learners]( Departing members argued that BPS is missing a unique opportunity to develop a more effective model for inclusive, multilingual learning in its schools. “They have given up trying – that’s what’s disappointing,” said Miren Uriarte. [Read more.]( [Majority of panel resign over Boston School plan for English language learners]( Departing members argued that BPS is missing a unique opportunity to develop a more effective model for inclusive, multilingual learning in its schools. “They have given up trying – that’s what’s disappointing,” said Miren Uriarte. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Want to make the most of the extra hour this weekend? Check out [our arts and culture team's list of five things to do]( including "Fashionably Late Thursdays" at the Liberty Hotel, a hip-hop block party and a taste of Quebec's famous winter carnival in the Seaport. - Deborah Sosin [writes in this Cognoscenti commentary]( that Matthew Perry's legacy teaches us three lessons about leading a sober life. - Film critic Sean Burns reviews Sofia Coppola's new Priscilla Presley movie. Compared to last summer's "Elvis" blockbuster, Burns writes the film is "a smaller, more muted movie, stuck at home in an estate that became a prison." Read his full review [here.]( - [Dozens of birds are about to be renamed](. The American Ornithological Society has vowed to change the English names of all species currently named after people, along with any other bird names deemed offensive or exclusionary. NPR reports the bold effort represents a huge change for the birding community.  What We're Reading 📚 - The people who ruined the internet ([The Verge]( - Gaza’s Tunnels Loom Large for Israel’s Ground Forces ([The New York Times]( - Walanthropy ([Civil Eats](  Tell Me Something Good [New Hampshire diner offers a 'fair chance' for workers in addiction recovery]( Local nonprofit SOS Recovery opened Fold’d Community Diner earlier this month, with a goal of providing job opportunities for people in recovery from addiction or who were previously incarcerated. [Read more.]( [New Hampshire diner offers a 'fair chance' for workers in addiction recovery]( Local nonprofit SOS Recovery opened Fold’d Community Diner earlier this month, with a goal of providing job opportunities for people in recovery from addiction or who were previously incarcerated. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common takes [a closer look at the South Coast Rail hype](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Boston's [most intricate Halloween display](. Correction: In Tuesday's newsletter, we incorrectly said when construction on the Twin States transmission line was set to begin. National Grid plans to start by 2026. Sorry for the error. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.