THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2022 Page 3 Matewsky continues push for public safety complex By Christopher Roberson ard 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky spoke once again about his ongoing effort to construct a public safety complex to service Lower Broadway and Encore Boston Harbor. W He said that during the past year, more than 1,500 emergency calls originated from that part of the city. “That’s a lot of calls,” Matewsky said during the February 14 City Council meeting, adding that there is currently no synchronization between the response times from the Fire Department and Cataldo Ambulance Service. “Cataldo’s service is not what it used to be. From my own experiences and observations, the Fire Department arrives almost 10 minutes before the ambulance.” Matewsky also said the proposed East of Broadway development underscores the need for a public safety building. He said the facility would need to house police and fire services as well as an ambulance. “This is a $25 million item we’re talking about, maybe more,” he said. Matewsky also mentioned a possible site for the building. “As we all know, Exxon is moving out; that’s almost 100 acres,” he said. Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins said a public safety building is long overdue. “The population is growing, development is growing – this should’ve been there since the casino was built,” she said. Lieutenant Craig Hardy, president of Everett Firefighters Union Local 143, said the department desperately needs a new fire station. “We’ve needed it for a long time,” he said. Although the union supports adding an ambulance to the Fire Department, it will not be the ultimate solution. “Just understand it’s not a cure-all,” said Hardy. However, Hardy said manpower is what the Fire Department is really lacking. “We have a grant sitting on the shelf right now from the federal government for eight members,” he said. “We need to use that grant.” The City Council voted unanimously to refer the matter to Mayor Carlo DeMaria and his administration. Glendale Towers mural In other news, the councillors pledged their support for Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky continued his push for a public safety complex on Lower Broadway during the City Council’s February 14 meeting. (Advocate photo by Christopher Roberson) Chief Financial Officer Eric Demas spoke about the $46 million that the City of Everett has received in ARPA funding. artist Kevin Angulo to create a mural at Glendale Towers on Ferry Street. “This project isn’t just about me,” he said, adding that the project could take up to five weeks to complete. “This is for the arts and the growth of the MATEWSKY | SEE PAGE 4 (Advocate photo by Christopher Roberson)
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