THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, June 21, 2019 Page 3 ~ LETTER TO THE EDITOR ~ Dear Editor: When a politician spends the last four years making a cottage industry out of exposing alleged violations of open meeting laws, rooting out “corruption” in city government, and calling for “transparency” in municipal affairs, one would expect this person to hold themselves to the same high standard, especially in the case of dealing with out-of-town developers seeking to profit at Malden’s expense. Sadly, Ward 4 Councilor Ryan O’Malley speaks and acts with a forked tongue. There is afloat a proposal by a developer from Weston to drastically alter Converse Square by demolishing the building which houses the teen center and the adjacent historic building at 15 Ferry St., both of which are owned by this developer. What’s the plan? You guessed it – more market-rate rental apartments with commercial space on the first floor and a parking garage underneath. Never mind that 68 percent of Maldonians voted against continued development of this type by way of the moratorium. Never mind the empty commercial space one sees everyday in the buildings that have gone up in the square. Opposing this should have been an easy call for O’Malley and the proposal should have been dead on arrival. Not so. Rather than opposing this development outright or holding a meeting of neighbors and abutters to disclose the plans and discuss them, O’Malley, by his own admission, has been Sen. Lewis present at opening of Tri-Community Greenway engaged in backroom dealings with the developer and his attorney and the Malden Redevelopment Authority to move the project forward. But backroom negotiations with big-pocket developers are no stranger to O’Malley. Witness his lack of opposition to new rental apartments on Florence Street in return for a “donation” to a Ward 4 improvement account. It all smells. At a meeting of the Malden Historical Commission in May, O’Malley disclosed he had been in conversation with MRA director Debbie Burke on a plan to move the 15 Ferry St. building to city-owned land at the corner of Main and Charles Streets. At a further hearing on June 5, the developer’s attorney confirmed that there were discussions to move the building to an unspecified location and donate it to the city. Even if moving and preserving such a structure were possible (and I don’t believe it is) how does O’Malley think the city could budget for such a structure, maintain it, and make it accessible? He’s had four years to secure funding to re-open and make accessible the Oak Grove Community Building and yet the building remains shuttered. On what basis does he believe the city could afford to fund and maintain another similar building? And why should the Malden taxpayer bear this burden for the developer? Converse Square is one of the few attractive, historic spaces in downtown Malden. Filled with remarkable architecture its scale and look “feels” right. The Converse Memorial Building LETTER | SEE PAGE 13 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD Last Saturday, State Senator Jason Lewis gathered with community members for the ribbon-cutting of the Tri-Community Greenway, a multiuse pedestrian path and linear park in Stoneham, Winchester and Woburn. (Courtesy Photo) Good Credit or Bad Credit 153 Ferry St., Everett 617-294-4064 We Finance Everyone! 30 Day Warranty on all Cars! * Buying at Eastern will help establish your credit * Two locations with over 60 cars to choose from * 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 AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! AC SPECIAL Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 IL. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles) Only $59.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! '09 FORD F-150 XLT 4X4 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA 30 Day Complete Warranty, 140K Miles Crew Cab, Most Power Options, Runs & Drives Great, Just Serviced, Clean Title, Runs & Drives Great, Just Serviced, Clean Title, 30 Day Complete Warranty, 140K Miles 2015 FORD EXPLORER XLT Price: $26,800 * 68,000 Miles MPG: 12 City/17 Highway 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS C 300 Price: $25,500 * 42,000 Miles MPG: 25 City/34 Highway ~ 30 Day Warranty on all Cars ~ www.easternsaleseverett.com POWER & STYLE! Most Power Options, Runs & Drives Great, Clean Title, 30 Day Complete Warranty, 117K Miles READY TO ROLL! 781-321-8841 $8,995 Easy Financing Available! 1236 Eastern Ave • Malden EddiesAutotech.com $5,995 We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle!
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