Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 7, 2022 Advertise in The Advocate 617-387-2200 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available T INSIDE INFORMATION: First meeting of year held for Center for Arts & Culture Steering Committee City plans to acquire former Malden Courthouse; Spadafora elected School Committee Vice-Chair By Steve Freker here is a wellspring of support and excitement around http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only the city from residents who are anticipating the creation and arrival of a new Malden Arts & Culture Center (MACC). That was the most apparent takeaway from the results culled from a live survey of Malden citizens who are providing input on what they would like to see offered at such a community-based arts and culture center. A presentation of a snapshot of the early results was made at the meeting of the Malden Center for Arts & Culture Steering Committee held on Wednesday night, virtually, and overseen by Senior Planner and Policy Manager Evan Spetrini of the city’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan, who are co-chairs of the Steering Committee. The meeting was attended by members of the Steering Committee as well as members of the public. Other members of the Steering Committee, who were appointed by Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, are Terlonzo Amos, Naomi Brave, Jenelle DeVits, Yinh Kiefer, Bob Logan, Yu Sin Mok, Erga Pierette, Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez, Dawn Simmons, Hailey Tran and Amora Velic. The planned Malden Arts & Culture Center would be sited at the former Malden District Courthouse, 89 Summer St., which has been closed for several years. A plan was announced by Mayor Christenson in February where the City of Malden The City of Malden intends to purchase the former Malden Courthouse building at 89 Summer St., which was first constructed in 1922, and transform it into an Arts & Culture Center. (Courtesy Photo) overseeing for the MACC Steering Committee. Boast is an Arts and Culture Planner and Public Humanities Specialist for MAPC. Boast made a slide presentation of various pie charts which she said were positive in the sense of support of the project, but described as “somewhat skewed” in the cultural makeup of the respondents, as 69% of those responding identified as English-speaking, and 15% percent as Chinese-speaking. However, the racial identifiJennifer Spadafora School Committee Vice-Chair would acquire the courthouse building and the parking lot across the street, for approximately $480,000, with the intention of transforming it. That acquisition process, which would require state approval, is now underway. The Steering Committee’s task it is develop a business model for the operation of the building. The model will propose a program of uses for the space based on community engagement, according to the Mayor. “This next process is going to represent the biggest challenge in making this goal a reality,” Mayor Christenson said in October. “In talking to other cities, the challenge is always in coming up with a model that is economically viable. The team will continue to work toward that goal, while we move forward on the path with the legislative process.” On Wednesday night, a consultant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Emma Boast, presented an overview of the results of a citywide survey she and the MAPC are cation of the respondents was fairly close to the 2020 Census results of this city, with 56% of those responding identifying as White, 19% as Asian and 12% as African American, the latter two categories almost exact percentages of Malden residents counted in the Census for those cultural categories. Still, Boast and Spetrini explained that the survey is still “live” until January 16 and asked those MACC Steering Committee members attending Wednesday’s meeting, who represent various cultural organizations primarily based in Malden, to help “get the word out” about the survey. Spetrini said postcards were being printed and are available this Monday, January 10. He asked if members could pick them up at City Hall and distribute them among their networks, adding that the postcards, like the survey, would be translated into a number of different languages representing Malden’s diversity. As for potential uses and offerings for the future arts and culture center, the top two responses in the survey referred to hands-on classes and workDONATO| SEE PAGE 5
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