Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022 City Council Honors RHS Track Team The Revere City Council recently awarded Certifi cates of Commendation to Revere High School track athletes JV Cunha, Kenny Guerrero, Ricardo Goncalves and Mark Marchese for qualifying for and competing in the Nike Outdoor Nationals at the University of Oregon. Additionally, coaches Samnang Ros, Raquel MacDonald, Brian Scata and Sean Conboy were recognized for their guidance and leadership throughout the process. The motion was presented by Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro. (Advocate photo by Adam Swift) New Research Reveals Disparities in Extreme Heat and Air Quality Throughout Mystic River Watershed Negatively Impact Health and Vitality of Residents in Low-Income Communities Key Data Builds on National Research to Inform Community Responses to Rising Summer Temperatures BOSTON, MA (July 20, 2022) – This week, the Museum of Science, Boston, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), and the Town of Arlington announced the results of “Wicked Hot Mystic,” a research project that developed detailed heat maps that bring to light how extreme heat impacts neighborhoods differently. In partnership with Resilient Mystic Collaborative communities, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), GreenRoots, and over 80 volunteers, the results of Wicked Hot Mystic will inform future climate resiliency planning and improve equitable outcomes in climate-vulnerable populations along the Mystic River. The analysis of the data collected during a summer 2021 heat wave by volunteer scientists found direct correlations between air temperature and land use, race, and income within the Mystic River Watershed, the most highly urbanized watershed in New England. Areas with more tree cover, green space, and nearby water were up to ten degrees cooler than those with more pavement and concrete. The resultEverett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti Years! “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” www.everettaluminum.com ing heat maps will be available on the MAPC website and mos. orghttps://www.mos.org/explore/public-events/wickedhot-mystic. The hottest neighborhoods were in Chelsea, Somerville, East Boston, Everett, Revere, and Charlestown, and were up to 10 degrees F hotter than the coolest areas in the watershed. Further, the data revealed that the highest modeled air temperature value within the watershed was along Mystic Avenue in Somerville at 97.4 F, with a heat index of 100.7 F. Neighborhood temperatures correlated strongly with historic redlining maps, a racist federal housing policy that excluded predominantly Black, immigrant, and religious minority communities from securing mortgages, reinforcing residential segregation. Nearly a century later, the legacy of this divestment is still clearly visible in Greater Boston. The Wicked Hot Mystic research team found that primarily white neighborhoods have up to 43% tree cover versus just 3% tree cover in B IPOC neighborhoods, which experienced temperatures nearly four degrees hotter at the same time. Extreme heat events and the resulting urban heat island effect are increasingly critical occurrences burdening society to which public health workers respond. Studies show that 911 call volume increases during heat waves. The hotter temperatures can adversely aff ect people living with respiratory and cardiac illnesses, and people unable to escape the heat. “As summer temperatures get hotter each year, the implementation of resiliency solutions becomes ever more imHEAT | SEE Page 9 Summer is Here!
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