November 3, 2025 • 37 mins
The Last Gasp for Boston’s Combat Zone? Part 1
One of Boston’s two remaining strip clubs, Centerfolds Boston, wants to move from its current location, an out of the way side street to a main street in the heart of Chinatown. Some local businesses and residents are not so happy about that...for some this brings up memories of Boston's Combat Zone of the 60s/70s... How would you feel if a strip club or adult entertainment club were on a main road in your town or neighborhood? Is it that big of a deal? Do you think it would impact local business? For better or worse?
One of Boston’s two remaining strip clubs, Centerfolds Boston, wants to move from its current location, an out of the way side street to a main street in the heart of Chinatown. Some local businesses and residents are not so happy about that...for some this brings up memories of Boston's Combat Zone of the 60s/70s... How would you feel if a strip club or adult entertainment club were on a main road in your town or neighborhood? Is it that big of a deal? Do you think it would impact local business? For better or worse?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w b Z,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back to everyone. As we move into
our second hour.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
There's a story that we spotted in the Boston Globe
in which Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is very much
involved in.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And this is an effort two well, I don't know
if it's the last gasp of the Boston's infamous combat
zone or if it's an effort to revitalize what what's
what once was a real sore spot in the in
(00:43):
the downtown area, in the Washington Stuart Street area. Uh,
but there are only now two. And again the phrase
that people will use, you know, I guess one is
called the gentleman's club, or some would say, you know,
teased places. I've referred to them jokingly, and I'm not
(01:04):
going to refer to them jokingly tonight as emporium of
interpretive dance. Uh. There's no joking matter to the to
the residents who live nearby and who are raising their
families in some proximity to the combats and with us
is Ed Flynn? Ed? What's going on? What? What has
(01:25):
got this controversy going? I guess one of these places
wants to move. I guess it's a club called Centerfolds.
I think everybody can understand what the purpose of Centerfolds is.
They want to move from La Grain Street, which is
kind of a little side street in what was the
combat zone, and they want to take over with the
(01:48):
restaurant Jacob Worth was on Stuart Street, which is a
very prominent location.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, good evening, Dan, that's correct. They want to move
from Lagrange Street to Stuart Street. The building right next
to Jacob Wirth, which was the German restaurant, was a
wonderful place. But basically the the establishment is able to
do that under the zoning as of right, which means
(02:20):
they need limited or actually no approval really from the
city other than licensing in entertainment. But they don't need
any support really from the zoning Board of bp DA
because it's as of right, which means they can have
(02:41):
almost no community process in terms of moving from Lagrange
Street to Stuart Street out the game.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So let me make sure I understand that in the so,
if I owned, let's say, a sporting goods store on
the street, or or I owned a restaurant on the
Grain Street and I had an opportunity to move to
a better location on Stuart Street. The fact that I'm
(03:11):
already there, I just want to transfer, you know what,
I want to sell one property and buy another. Uh,
is I would have that right. And you're saying that
Centerfolds does, but because they serve alcohol, they do the
Is there any food or is it just alcohol?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
I don't know, I know it's it's it's definitely alcohol.
I don't know if they serve food there.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, that's that's probably what basically keeps the Center Folds open.
I'm sure that's their coin of the realm is that
because they need to transfer the liquor license. Is that
where the hang up is or is it a different
sort of hang up?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
No, there's really no hang up, Dan. The The issue
is it's that Stuart Street area is already zoned for
basically for adult entertainment. In because it's because it's already
zoned for adult entertainment, there's limited permitting and community process
(04:10):
engagement that you need from the city. However, you do
need support from the city in terms of alcohol and entertainment.
Those types of licenses, which are much easier to get
than say a zoning variance.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Okay, so there's no variance required here. Now there was.
This was this was designated not by the city council
or the mayor of today. This was designated, i think
in the nineteen seventies as sort of an adult entertainment
district where they were trying to keep all of these
(04:51):
places in one area. That's my memory of it. Is
that accurate?
Speaker 4 (04:56):
That is accurate in And what what I'm proposing would
be a text amendment to the City of Boston zoning
rules which would say that if you want to open
up an establishment, you need to go through a community process, engagement,
(05:18):
engaging with the community, which also means that it would
not be as of right and you would have to
go through a thorough community process.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
So what what about? What about if Centerfolds argued and said, well, look,
we're not opening up a business, we have been operating
this business in this location and we're simply looking to move.
It would would your amendment, you know, cause them to
jump through a couple of extra hoops?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
I think Dan that the only hoop that Centerfolds has
to go through now is the licensing in alcohol licenses permitting,
which is a far easier process for them. To go
through than the typical zoning Board of Appeals and or
(06:11):
Boston Planning Permitting as well.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Okay, so it sounds to me like what you're trying
to do is it doesn't sound like you feel there's
a great deal of hope that this centerfolds can be
contained to a grain street. But looks to me like
your focus is that you don't want all of a
sudden centifolds to open and another one and another one
(06:39):
and another one and kind of go back. You mentioned
today that when your dad became mayor, there were twenty
twenty two strip joints in the combat zone area, and
when he left to become the ambassador to the Vatican,
that number have been reduced to four. And here it
is today too. So are you trying to base saying, oh, look,
(07:01):
we might not be able to stop centifolds from relocated,
but we sure can stop this type of establishment from
propagating more and more and spreading more and more.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Is that where you are, Dan, That's a big part
of my argument. But I also owe it to my
constituents to fight for them and make sure that their
voices are heard and respected. As it relates to the
proposal for centifolds as well. I'm going to do everything
(07:36):
I can to make sure my constituents are heard, but
even more importantly, are respected. I don't think they have
been heard or respected so far in this process, and
I just don't want this to be a rubber stamp.
I do want it to be a community process and
to listen and respect the residents. I think many people
(08:01):
don't know the history of the combat Zone. It's important
that we learn about it and we discuss it in
the negative impact it had on Chinatown and communities of
color in Boston.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, yeah, I can remember as a very young television
reporter now it's almost fifty years ago, when a young
Harvard football player on the night after the Harvard Yale game,
went with some of his friends into the combat Zone
and he ended up with his group ended up in
(08:36):
some sort of a fight, and he was stabbed. It
at a young man named Andy Popolo, who today would
probably be in his seventies if he had had not
been killed that night. And although there were other people
along the way who were beaten up, killed, stabbed, or whatever,
the fact that there was a young guy who had
played football that day for Harvard against Yale it kind
(08:59):
of home the point to a lot of people that
the combat zone, which might have from the outside looked
like a place of entertainment, but it wasn't an entertainment
which was going to result in someone's death. And at
least that's you were very young at the time. I
know that you probably don't have specific recall, but it
(09:22):
shook the city councilor dramatically.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I don't remember that, but I do remember learning about that.
But Dan, for your listeners, I went to high school
for four years basically in the combat zone, which was
Don Bosco High School. Yeah, it was a great school
from nineteen eighty three to nineteen eighty seven when I graduated.
(09:47):
But even at that time, it was, in my opinion,
it was a dangerous area to walk up for a
month street or to walk up Washington Street, and it
wasn't It wasn't safe. In residents to this day talk
to me about how improved Chinatown is without the drug dealing,
(10:10):
the prostitution, the violence. So because of that, Dan, I
want to do everything I possibly can to support my constituents.
I think they deserve that and they earn that.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Okay, I'm going to open up phone lines here. I'd
like to hear from anyone who wants to offer an
opinion here. I guess the fundamental question is do we
as a society want to have this type of entertainment available,
even when it is done without some of the criminal
(10:47):
activity that has traditionally surrounded it. Are there places where
this can be done? Obviously Las Vegas As has a
lot of adult entertainment themes. Not everyone can go to
Las Vegas US. My guest is Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn.
He represents a large portion of Boston, but specifically we're
(11:10):
talking tonight about what is colloquially known as Chinatown. There
are restaurants, but there's also about five thousand people and
families who live in that community. So feel free give
us a call six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. Obviously,
lawyers will get involved, despite what maybe Council of Flynn
(11:35):
is hoping to try to do, and maybe he recognizes
that at the end of the day, this move from
La Green Street to Stuart Street might not be able
to be stopped. I mean, one of the arguments was
that we need these sort of clubs to UH to
bring conventioneers to Boston, which to me sounds nuts, totally nuts.
(11:58):
But maybe I'm a little more naive that I that
I realize six one seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty. This may
only immediately impact a portion of the city where you
are not living, but you are more than welcome to
weigh in on it. And the question would be, would
you welcome if you think this sort of establishment should
(12:19):
be allowed and licensed and operational uh in the the
old combat zone that is also referred to as part
of it as Chinatown. Would you want it in your neighborhood?
Feel free to join the conversation one way or the other.
Back on nights Side with Boston City Council Ed Flynn, It's.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
All right, City Councilor Ed Flynn, Let's get to the
phones and see what what folks have to say on
this one. I'm going to start it off with Ron
in Roxbury. Ron and Roxbury, you are first up this
hour on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Go right ahead, Hi, Dan, this is Ron. I met
both of you at one time. I'm going old enough
to remember the original Scully Square and that was the
combat zone way back when, and that's.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Down where City Hall is today, correct historically.
Speaker 6 (13:21):
Yeah, correctly.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
And then I guess the attract when it moved to
Washington Street and so forth, that was the attraction was
mostly the dancing girls and the heavy drinking. And I
don't know if dancing girls is part of the licensing
system that is causing this place to move from one
place to the other or no, they just want to.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I think that it is better with this than I am.
I think it's a better location. It's more it's more
centrally located. I assume it's location, location, location, ed.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Well, that's that's part of it, Dan, But the big
part of it is the owner of the building wants
to do something else with it and not have not
have the entertainment in there, whether or not they want
to put a new business or development. That is the
reason that that basically the a lease will be up
(14:17):
very soon, I believe.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Oh, okay, so the new so the owner of the
building wants to have a business in there where people
keep their clothes on.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Okay, fair enough, Yep, that's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Okay, go ahead.
Speaker 6 (14:28):
RD Yeah, I'm just curious the memory of Scully Square
and so forth in the convert zone. I don't think
one business would probably make the area that much worse
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Well, the only problem is that for those who live
there ed observation which is probably accurate.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Maybe we don't want that in pebody who knows, Yeah,
well they do have it.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
The only thing I would add is will open a
new location almost encourages in my opinion, for others to
open up, and it signals that Boston wants these types
of establishments in the city. But there has to be
a role for residents. And residents have fought and put
(15:19):
up with the combat zone for years, especially the Chinese community,
and they're asking for respect. They know how bad it
was when the combat zone was fully operational. They couldn't
leave their homes or visit their family of friends. I
was talking to an elderly woman last night, in fact,
(15:41):
Ruth Moy, a leader in the Chinatown community, and she
was telling me about what the combat zone meant to
the Chinese community, and they were very frightened about it.
They didn't feel safe walking up from Unt Street or
Washington Street, or visiting people or going to the park,
going to the Boston Common or up towards downtown crossing.
(16:04):
So I want to make sure that Chinatown residents are
respect it and the process. And again, as I said
at the beginning, I don't feel like they have been,
and that's my job to fight for them.
Speaker 6 (16:17):
So it sounds like this establishment might have a fight
on their hands, depending on if the residents prevail. Well, okay,
I just wanted to say hey and give my two cents.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, Ron, thank you very much for calling. I appreciate
it very much. Great to renew our acquaintances. Thank you
so much. Ron.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Okay, a good night.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Thanks listening tonight you too, run Okay, take care. Thanks Ron.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
We're going to take a quick break for some news
at the bottom of the hour. If you would like
the one line at six one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. Also we have lines at six one seven
ninety ed more phone call was await us on the
other side. We got about a three or four minute
break here for news at the bottom of the hour,
and we will be right back. I do have a
(17:01):
lot of questions myself, and I know that you know
this situation much better than I do. One of the
questions We're going to have to ask, is how quickly
do you think this either will get resolved or not
be resolved. We can talk about that. Is there some
sort of a time constraint that obviously if the building,
if the lease is running out, there is a time constraint.
(17:22):
And does that work in the advantage of the community
in Chinatown or against the community in Chinatown, because I
could see it working both ways, maybe even simultaneously. But
you have the answer. I only have the question. Back
on Night's Side right after.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
This, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
All right, let us go across the river to Steve
and Cambridge. Hey, Steve, welcome back. You're all with Ed Flynn.
How are you, Steve.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
I'm well, Dan. I hope you and Count switz Flynn
are both well.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
We're doing great and it's better hearing your voice. Haven't
heard you in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Go right ahead, Count foot Flynn. And I'm really opposed
to your thinking. I think that Centerfolds has been there
many many years. Uh, it has customers that like it,
it has employees, they've paid taxes. I think to give
(18:19):
them a hard time just because they want to move
a couple of blocks to stay afloat, to stay in business.
I think to prevent that would be a real shame.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, thank you, thank you Dan for your your call.
I respect you.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
This is Steve. This is Steve from Cabridge. I do
not associate myself with those, oh Steve, but Steve's a
good guy.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Thank you Dan, Thank you Dan.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah, thank you, Steve. I respect your opinion. I disagree.
I have an obligation as the district's city councilor to
fight for my constituents, and that's exactly but what I'm doing.
I believe they have the right to have their voices
heard at city Hall. That's what this is really about.
(19:09):
Do the residents of Chinatown have the right to express
themselves at city Hall about development that's taking place in
their district. If you were to open up a bakery
or a sandwich shop, you would have to go through
a community process, But in this case, you don't. I
think that's unfair and I need to do everything I
(19:31):
possibly can to advocate for my constituents. And that's what
I'm doing. And I respect your position, and I do
know many people disagree with me, but I'm not taking
and choosing which issues to work on. I have to
work on the issues that are in front of me
that impact my constituents, and my constituents want me to
(19:52):
fight for them, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
I would like to make one other point is I
for many years, well for many years, worked in Park Square,
and Park Square was a little bit it wasn't like
it is now. There was a little bit more funky,
if you will. And I used to go into the
(20:17):
combat zone with some frequency. I felt safer in the
combat zone at night than I did in the back
bay because in the combat zone there were people on
the street, there were policemen. You could walk down Marlborough
Street or Commonwealth Avenue after ten o'clock and it would
be deserted.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
You could be.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Attacked and no one would even know it. So I
don't think the combat I felt safe in the combat zone.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Let me ask you this, Steve, what about for the
perspective from people who live in Chinatown and there are
families there who have been there a long time, kids
in school, what sort of empathy do you have for
this set a certain ccumstances where they're living, you know,
through really they are choosing to live there, but they're
(21:08):
choosing to live there because it isn't an area where
they can be comfortable from a familial point of view,
a generational point of view. What do you say to them, though,
Why do they have to deal with this? In other
communities it is not allowed. You know, certainly you wouldn't
have something like this in Cambridge, as open minded as
Cambridge is.
Speaker 7 (21:27):
Well, I mean, this kind of hyper restrictive zoning I'm
not terribly in favor of. But Dan, one thing you've
got to remember also is when those bars and restaurants
closed in the combat zone, the restaurants in Chinatown were
jumping until four o'clock in the morning. They were.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It's a commercial area, but just as an overlay of
you know, you know, the tie of activity. It's not
what you call a family friendly sort of activity. That's
all I would be. You know that someone alluded to
a couple of places up on Route one that's in
(22:12):
a pure commercial area. I don't think there's much of
an impact. There can be places where where these are allowed.
But I tend to decide with Council of Flynn on
this one, and he has to really be protective of
his constituents. And I'm sure you understand that.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
Oh no, of course, and I have great respect for
the Flynn family, including him and his father.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
But you know, my assistant has worked for me for
eight years. Her name is Melissa, and she's a graduate
of the public school system in Boston, lived in Bonn
and raised and still lives on Beech Street with her
family still there on Knapp Street. Really, and she would
be telling me, and her family would be telling me
(22:57):
stories of how even a young young women were propositioned
coming home from school or going to school. And you know,
the young Chinese women were harassed by people late at night.
The women of Chinatown didn't feel safe the Leather District
or downtown Bosh and those are neighborhoods and they're just
(23:20):
asking for a little bit of respect from city hall,
and oftentimes city hall doesn't stand with them. But I
think in this case we need to ensure that residents'
voices are heard and respected. And I don't think we
can just necessarily ignore them because it's politically incorrect.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
No, but we also have to listen to a business
that's been there for many years. Thank you both, Thank
you both.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Steve. Thank you, Thank you, Steve.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
Good night counselor good night Steve.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
So, as I mentioned earlier, with the time constraints of
this least running out and the one the owner wanted
to bring in a different type of thing into the
current location on Gray Street, what's sort of a time
frame where you're looking out here with this This has
to be solved within Is it a matter of weeks
or a matter of months or even or even sooner.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
No, I think it's I think it's imminent. I think
it's within months. I believe the establishment is going to
go to the community soon, and that means that in
terms of advocating for their position to have entertainment or
alcohol license, those community meetings will probably begin in the
(24:33):
next thirty sixty days, and I would expect that they
will be at the licensing board probably in the next
couple of months or so.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
All right, let me get one more in here before
the break, and I go to Joe and Belmont. Joe,
you're next on nights Side with fosteron City Council or
Ed Flynn. Go ahead, Joe, I have.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
A question and a solution out of the seven or
fifteen movie the eighties on Washington Stewart in Threemont Many
Can you name Ed and Dan?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I didn't realize there were fifteen there, Kevin.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Maybe I'm the fifties.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
In the fifties, I'm not interested to doing a trivia
because my solution.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
My solution is, you know, like the Squire Club in
the Golden Banana, why don't they put the uh the
combat zone in the woods in an area or in
Cape cart and see how they like it.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Well, I guess that's always a possibility. There's there's there's
a variety of places. There's also you know, places out
in the one twenty eight area. You fly over out
of Logan Airport and you realize how much land is available.
I don't know. I mean Ed is interested in his constituents, Joe.
(25:48):
I'm sure that if there was something like this to
open up in Belmont, you would want an advocate as
strong as Ed Flynn in in your local government.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Could I say something to compliment about Ed's father? Twenty second?
Twenty seconds, I'm almost old enough to see your father.
Ed played basketball down at Trump Field in Somer Bowl
in fifty six.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Yeah, he played a lot of basketball in Cambridge and
Somerville and Allington and Belmonty. He would he would play
sports down there with a lot of the guys there,
And you're exactly right in the fifties and sixties, whether
it was baseball, basketball, or football, and a lot of
great athletes there.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
You knows Tommy Kelly and Paul Howard from somerveall he
played on their team down in Somerville. And I would
like you to become an ambassador to the Vatican in
Mayor of Boston.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Well, we'll have to see what it was, have to
see what what Ed's future holds it Sore. I think
he'd be capable at both of those jobs. Thank you, Joe,
appreciate your calling.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
It was a.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Pleasure, Dan, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Got to take a very quick break. We got the
lines lit up up here. I got Sander in Boston,
I got Nick and Winchester, Richie in Boston, and christ
and Boston. We're going to get all of those four
in and we'll be back on nightside right after this break.
The only line is six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
You're on night side with Dan Ray on waz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Okay, we have full lines. We may carry this into
the next hour if you want so, stay right there, everybody,
let us get going here, Gonna go next to Richie
and Boston. Richie, you are next on nightside with Boston
City Council Ed Flynn, go ahead, rich.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
Hey, Dan Ed good to be with you.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Dan.
Speaker 8 (27:34):
This is versus hiclea Downtown Boston Near but Association. We
were on together almost a year ago at this court
talking about safety.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Thank you for very identifying you. So go right ahead.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
Absolutely so listen.
Speaker 9 (27:45):
Council Fun and I.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
Have worked together on many, many, many things, and my
neighbors in Chinatown and I we were recording a lot
of things quality life issues, transportation, planning, zoning, development, safety,
and what I want to say tonight is this isn't
about perception or about safety, or about the kind of
business we're talking about. This is just about pure common sense.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
Right.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
We just rezoned the entirety of downtown Boston and Chinatown's
going through this, and you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
As a city.
Speaker 8 (28:12):
You want to attract families and you want to create
quality of life opportunities for everybody who lives here. You
got to respect the community and you got to respect
the people who want to live here, and the times
have changed. This isn't a combat zones, This isn't thirty
forty years ago anymore. This is current day, twenty twenty five,
and so we have to be more thoughtful as a
city about how we think about zoning. The zoning system
(28:33):
in Boston, from my perspective, is entirely broken, right, and
so if a business wants to do business as of right,
that's one thing twenty thirty years ago. But today we
need to respect the community. And I just wanted to
call in on behalf of my friends here in Chinatown
to say that we have to do better when it
comes to vetting businesses. Right, what's your security plan, what
are your hours, what are your operational plans? What do
(28:56):
you intend to do there? What are you doing differently
than before? These are common sense things that any business
should be able to answer. And it's not supposed to
be a gotcha. It's not supposed to be a let's
suppress business or capitalism. It's the opposite, right, It's let's
make sure the will of the community is respected and
that we have a logical path forward. And I think
that's a lush thing for us to all want to
(29:16):
see happened here in Boston. So yeah, I just wanted
to call in to say I am fully supportive of
our friends and shout it down to making sure that
they have the support that they need to vet a
business that wants to expand itself or relocate itself in
the heart of the city. And obviously you know Lagrange
Street is very, very different than Neiland or Stewart. Anybody
(29:37):
who's from Boston knows that. And for you know the
reasons you discussed earlier. I think Steve mentioned it your
last caller. You wouldn't have this discussion in Wellesley or Newton,
or Cambridge or Rosindale.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I got back lines. Thank you for your kind words.
I'm sure Counsel of Flynn wants to thank you for
your support.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
Yeah, thank you, she thank you for your leadership.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
You got thanks, guys, talk to you soon to go
to Sandra in Boston. Sandra, you were next.
Speaker 10 (30:09):
Time nights, go right ahead, Hi, Dan, Hi consor Flint.
I think this area of our town has evolved quite
a bit. It is what I call the theater district.
And I actually knew Princess Cheyenne, which was the big
act when I was first came to Boston. She used
(30:30):
to come and take dance classes at a school where
I was teaching. And I think since that time, a
lot of the script joints and whatnot have left, and
a lot of the theaters that were crumbling and are
in total were in total disarray have been renovated. Things
(30:54):
like the Modern Theater and a number of other theaters.
Well even the Opera House where you go to see
a ballet. Now, I mean that was a mess, and
I think it's really an evolving place. But it is
the theater district, and there's always going to be a
lot of stuff going on there. And I think the
(31:15):
Chinese restaurants actually benefited quite a bit from the some
of the late night activities. As Stephen points out, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
People and order cold tea.
Speaker 10 (31:29):
But I think you're right to listen very closely to
all the different voices in the neighborhood and and I
think all our neighborhoods are changing pretty dramatically, a whole
different environment.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I mean, I.
Speaker 10 (31:41):
Wish, you know, Boylston Street and Newberry Street haven't hadn't
become the pot alley, the you know, weed shop alley
that they've become so I credit you for listening to
your constituency. I wish people listened a little bit more well.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Thank you for your kind words and also a little
perspective on how the area has changed. Is no longer
the combat zone is the Theater District. That's a really
good point, you mate. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Yeah, thank you, Sandra. And what I tried to do
as a city councilor too, what happens in the Theater
District or Bay Village or Downtown Boston or the Leather
District has an impact on every neighborhood in and around
that area, in Chinatown in other areas. But Reschi was
on what I worked on too for the last eight years,
(32:33):
is building a better relationship between the residents of Downtown Chinatown,
Leather District, Bay Village. They're working well together, they're supporting
each other, there's no rivalry. They're doing the best for
each other, especially during difficult times. And that's what I
love about the district is everybody pitches in when things
(32:54):
are things are down, and people are supporting the residents
of Chinatown, and that was not always the case. And
I'm really proud to see people rallying around the residents
of Chinatown. That really makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Sounds great, Sandra, thank you for your call very much.
I appreciate it. Got two three more going to try
to get in. Thanks and have a great night.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
All right, let me go next to Nick and Winchester. Nick,
we're getting a little tight on time. Got room for
you and maybe one or two more.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
Go ahead and Nick, Hey, guys, I met you a
couple of times that same way. I work at some
Way Park, and I have to make a long story short.
I agree with you guys, totally, wholeheartedly, and bring it
to your constituents and let them have a say in it.
The area has evolved, it's changed, and just let it
(33:44):
be instead of letting people do what they want to do.
I agree with you guys, and bring it to the
constituents and let them figure out if it's good for
the area. They can move.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Sounds great.
Speaker 9 (33:58):
Great places they can go up. They can go up
to Root One. I mean they don't have to stay
in Boston. It's only a half hour away.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, and you could get you know, there'll be patrons
who would find it easier from you know, northern Massachusetts,
from you know that they may have another, you know,
group of patrons who they would add to their to
their clientele. Nick, exactly, thank you so much. Thank you guys.
Thanks Nick. Let me get Christian in Boston and I'm
(34:26):
going to try to get Chris and one more. But
if not, I got you. Chris, you are on the air.
Speaker 11 (34:30):
Go right ahead, Yeah, Dan, thank you for having me on.
I'm involved in the Leatheristic Neighborhood Association of Downtown Boston
and I just wanted to add a little perspective as
a long time Downtown residence. First of all, thank you
to Counselor Flynn for being such a great advocate for
Downtown residents and in this particular case, for being an
advocate for residents of Chinatown who for too long have
(34:53):
had things like this foisted upon them. And really this
presents an opportunity to maybe correct some historical wrongs that
have existed in the Chinatown neighborhood. And you know, I've
heard some people talk about this is being the combat zone,
and to be honest with you, when I referenced the
(35:13):
combat zone to people in the neighborhood who haven't been
here that long, they don't even know what you're talking about.
That's how much this area has changed. So for those
listening who think, well, you know, it's just the combat
zone and that's the way it is, doesn't exist anymore
the combat zone. And really the two remaining clubs such
as they are, have been out of the way on
(35:35):
their own on the side, and it was only because
the one, the Centerfold sold its building, as I understand
it from the Globe article, that they're in this predicament.
In other words, if they hadn't cashed in by selling
their real estate, they wouldn't need to move their location.
And so I think it's really super important, as Counselor
Flynn advocates, to have a neighborhood process right because the
(35:59):
neighborhood is changed. So we really need to look at
this new location in conjunction with the brand new Desiah
Quincy Upper School that was just built in the neighborhood,
and you know, how do these things fit together? And
do they fit together? And really, as counsel Flynn so
correctly points out, the notion that if you opened a
(36:20):
restaurant or a bakery, you'd have to go through a
neighborhood process. But if you're if you're moving this business,
which is which has you know, some possible negative fide effects.
You don't doesn't make any sense in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
All right, if you have to hear on that point, Chris,
I got to end because I'm up against my newscast.
I thank you for calling, and I will tell the
other folks who are on the line. I'd like to
carry this into the next hour. I'm going to let
Council of Flynn go because he's got an election day tomorrow.
Hope you get out and vote. Everybody gets out and votes,
but we're going to get first of all, Chris, thank
(36:55):
you for your call. Very impressive call.
Speaker 11 (36:57):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Chris.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
So it's an excellent call. And you've been an excellent
leader in the Leather district. But Chris, you've been really
a great friend to the Chinatown people as well as
Wechi has. But just want to say thank you to
the Leather District residents.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Thanks Chris Mane. Counsel Flynn best to walk tomorrow. I
don't think you'll necessarily need it, but congrat you know,
let's hope that tomorrow night you're you're successful. You've been
a great representative of your constituents. As you were tonight.
I thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
ED.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
We're talking to you in the next couple of days
for sure. And for those on the line, thank you.
Stay more than welcome. Thanks ED. For those on the line,
stay there, and we will continue this conversation. If you
want to jump on the line six one, seven, two,
five four ten thirty six one seven nine three one
ten thirty. We can do some more on this in
the next hour, right after the ten o'clock news
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w b Z,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back to everyone. As we move into
our second hour.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
There's a story that we spotted in the Boston Globe
in which Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is very much
involved in.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And this is an effort two well, I don't know
if it's the last gasp of the Boston's infamous combat
zone or if it's an effort to revitalize what what's
what once was a real sore spot in the in
(00:43):
the downtown area, in the Washington Stuart Street area. Uh,
but there are only now two. And again the phrase
that people will use, you know, I guess one is
called the gentleman's club, or some would say, you know,
teased places. I've referred to them jokingly, and I'm not
(01:04):
going to refer to them jokingly tonight as emporium of
interpretive dance. Uh. There's no joking matter to the to
the residents who live nearby and who are raising their
families in some proximity to the combats and with us
is Ed Flynn? Ed? What's going on? What? What has
(01:25):
got this controversy going? I guess one of these places
wants to move. I guess it's a club called Centerfolds.
I think everybody can understand what the purpose of Centerfolds is.
They want to move from La Grain Street, which is
kind of a little side street in what was the
combat zone, and they want to take over with the
(01:48):
restaurant Jacob Worth was on Stuart Street, which is a
very prominent location.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, good evening, Dan, that's correct. They want to move
from Lagrange Street to Stuart Street. The building right next
to Jacob Wirth, which was the German restaurant, was a
wonderful place. But basically the the establishment is able to
do that under the zoning as of right, which means
(02:20):
they need limited or actually no approval really from the
city other than licensing in entertainment. But they don't need
any support really from the zoning Board of bp DA
because it's as of right, which means they can have
(02:41):
almost no community process in terms of moving from Lagrange
Street to Stuart Street out the game.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So let me make sure I understand that in the so,
if I owned, let's say, a sporting goods store on
the street, or or I owned a restaurant on the
Grain Street and I had an opportunity to move to
a better location on Stuart Street. The fact that I'm
(03:11):
already there, I just want to transfer, you know what,
I want to sell one property and buy another. Uh,
is I would have that right. And you're saying that
Centerfolds does, but because they serve alcohol, they do the
Is there any food or is it just alcohol?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
I don't know, I know it's it's it's definitely alcohol.
I don't know if they serve food there.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, that's that's probably what basically keeps the Center Folds open.
I'm sure that's their coin of the realm is that
because they need to transfer the liquor license. Is that
where the hang up is or is it a different
sort of hang up?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
No, there's really no hang up, Dan. The The issue
is it's that Stuart Street area is already zoned for
basically for adult entertainment. In because it's because it's already
zoned for adult entertainment, there's limited permitting and community process
(04:10):
engagement that you need from the city. However, you do
need support from the city in terms of alcohol and entertainment.
Those types of licenses, which are much easier to get
than say a zoning variance.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Okay, so there's no variance required here. Now there was.
This was this was designated not by the city council
or the mayor of today. This was designated, i think
in the nineteen seventies as sort of an adult entertainment
district where they were trying to keep all of these
(04:51):
places in one area. That's my memory of it. Is
that accurate?
Speaker 4 (04:56):
That is accurate in And what what I'm proposing would
be a text amendment to the City of Boston zoning
rules which would say that if you want to open
up an establishment, you need to go through a community process, engagement,
(05:18):
engaging with the community, which also means that it would
not be as of right and you would have to
go through a thorough community process.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
So what what about? What about if Centerfolds argued and said, well, look,
we're not opening up a business, we have been operating
this business in this location and we're simply looking to move.
It would would your amendment, you know, cause them to
jump through a couple of extra hoops?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
I think Dan that the only hoop that Centerfolds has
to go through now is the licensing in alcohol licenses permitting,
which is a far easier process for them. To go
through than the typical zoning Board of Appeals and or
(06:11):
Boston Planning Permitting as well.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Okay, so it sounds to me like what you're trying
to do is it doesn't sound like you feel there's
a great deal of hope that this centerfolds can be
contained to a grain street. But looks to me like
your focus is that you don't want all of a
sudden centifolds to open and another one and another one
(06:39):
and another one and kind of go back. You mentioned
today that when your dad became mayor, there were twenty
twenty two strip joints in the combat zone area, and
when he left to become the ambassador to the Vatican,
that number have been reduced to four. And here it
is today too. So are you trying to base saying, oh, look,
(07:01):
we might not be able to stop centifolds from relocated,
but we sure can stop this type of establishment from
propagating more and more and spreading more and more.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Is that where you are, Dan, That's a big part
of my argument. But I also owe it to my
constituents to fight for them and make sure that their
voices are heard and respected. As it relates to the
proposal for centifolds as well. I'm going to do everything
(07:36):
I can to make sure my constituents are heard, but
even more importantly, are respected. I don't think they have
been heard or respected so far in this process, and
I just don't want this to be a rubber stamp.
I do want it to be a community process and
to listen and respect the residents. I think many people
(08:01):
don't know the history of the combat Zone. It's important
that we learn about it and we discuss it in
the negative impact it had on Chinatown and communities of
color in Boston.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, yeah, I can remember as a very young television
reporter now it's almost fifty years ago, when a young
Harvard football player on the night after the Harvard Yale game,
went with some of his friends into the combat Zone
and he ended up with his group ended up in
(08:36):
some sort of a fight, and he was stabbed. It
at a young man named Andy Popolo, who today would
probably be in his seventies if he had had not
been killed that night. And although there were other people
along the way who were beaten up, killed, stabbed, or whatever,
the fact that there was a young guy who had
played football that day for Harvard against Yale it kind
(08:59):
of home the point to a lot of people that
the combat zone, which might have from the outside looked
like a place of entertainment, but it wasn't an entertainment
which was going to result in someone's death. And at
least that's you were very young at the time. I
know that you probably don't have specific recall, but it
(09:22):
shook the city councilor dramatically.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I don't remember that, but I do remember learning about that.
But Dan, for your listeners, I went to high school
for four years basically in the combat zone, which was
Don Bosco High School. Yeah, it was a great school
from nineteen eighty three to nineteen eighty seven when I graduated.
(09:47):
But even at that time, it was, in my opinion,
it was a dangerous area to walk up for a
month street or to walk up Washington Street, and it
wasn't It wasn't safe. In residents to this day talk
to me about how improved Chinatown is without the drug dealing,
(10:10):
the prostitution, the violence. So because of that, Dan, I
want to do everything I possibly can to support my constituents.
I think they deserve that and they earn that.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Okay, I'm going to open up phone lines here. I'd
like to hear from anyone who wants to offer an
opinion here. I guess the fundamental question is do we
as a society want to have this type of entertainment available,
even when it is done without some of the criminal
(10:47):
activity that has traditionally surrounded it. Are there places where
this can be done? Obviously Las Vegas As has a
lot of adult entertainment themes. Not everyone can go to
Las Vegas US. My guest is Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn.
He represents a large portion of Boston, but specifically we're
(11:10):
talking tonight about what is colloquially known as Chinatown. There
are restaurants, but there's also about five thousand people and
families who live in that community. So feel free give
us a call six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. Obviously,
lawyers will get involved, despite what maybe Council of Flynn
(11:35):
is hoping to try to do, and maybe he recognizes
that at the end of the day, this move from
La Green Street to Stuart Street might not be able
to be stopped. I mean, one of the arguments was
that we need these sort of clubs to UH to
bring conventioneers to Boston, which to me sounds nuts, totally nuts.
(11:58):
But maybe I'm a little more naive that I that
I realize six one seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty. This may
only immediately impact a portion of the city where you
are not living, but you are more than welcome to
weigh in on it. And the question would be, would
you welcome if you think this sort of establishment should
(12:19):
be allowed and licensed and operational uh in the the
old combat zone that is also referred to as part
of it as Chinatown. Would you want it in your neighborhood?
Feel free to join the conversation one way or the other.
Back on nights Side with Boston City Council Ed Flynn, It's.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
All right, City Councilor Ed Flynn, Let's get to the
phones and see what what folks have to say on
this one. I'm going to start it off with Ron
in Roxbury. Ron and Roxbury, you are first up this
hour on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Go right ahead, Hi, Dan, this is Ron. I met
both of you at one time. I'm going old enough
to remember the original Scully Square and that was the
combat zone way back when, and that's.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Down where City Hall is today, correct historically.
Speaker 6 (13:21):
Yeah, correctly.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
And then I guess the attract when it moved to
Washington Street and so forth, that was the attraction was
mostly the dancing girls and the heavy drinking. And I
don't know if dancing girls is part of the licensing
system that is causing this place to move from one
place to the other or no, they just want to.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I think that it is better with this than I am.
I think it's a better location. It's more it's more
centrally located. I assume it's location, location, location, ed.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Well, that's that's part of it, Dan, But the big
part of it is the owner of the building wants
to do something else with it and not have not
have the entertainment in there, whether or not they want
to put a new business or development. That is the
reason that that basically the a lease will be up
(14:17):
very soon, I believe.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Oh, okay, so the new so the owner of the
building wants to have a business in there where people
keep their clothes on.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Okay, fair enough, Yep, that's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Okay, go ahead.
Speaker 6 (14:28):
RD Yeah, I'm just curious the memory of Scully Square
and so forth in the convert zone. I don't think
one business would probably make the area that much worse
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Well, the only problem is that for those who live
there ed observation which is probably accurate.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Maybe we don't want that in pebody who knows, Yeah,
well they do have it.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
The only thing I would add is will open a
new location almost encourages in my opinion, for others to
open up, and it signals that Boston wants these types
of establishments in the city. But there has to be
a role for residents. And residents have fought and put
(15:19):
up with the combat zone for years, especially the Chinese community,
and they're asking for respect. They know how bad it
was when the combat zone was fully operational. They couldn't
leave their homes or visit their family of friends. I
was talking to an elderly woman last night, in fact,
(15:41):
Ruth Moy, a leader in the Chinatown community, and she
was telling me about what the combat zone meant to
the Chinese community, and they were very frightened about it.
They didn't feel safe walking up from Unt Street or
Washington Street, or visiting people or going to the park,
going to the Boston Common or up towards downtown crossing.
(16:04):
So I want to make sure that Chinatown residents are
respect it and the process. And again, as I said
at the beginning, I don't feel like they have been,
and that's my job to fight for them.
Speaker 6 (16:17):
So it sounds like this establishment might have a fight
on their hands, depending on if the residents prevail. Well, okay,
I just wanted to say hey and give my two cents.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, Ron, thank you very much for calling. I appreciate
it very much. Great to renew our acquaintances. Thank you
so much. Ron.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Okay, a good night.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Thanks listening tonight you too, run Okay, take care. Thanks Ron.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
We're going to take a quick break for some news
at the bottom of the hour. If you would like
the one line at six one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. Also we have lines at six one seven
ninety ed more phone call was await us on the
other side. We got about a three or four minute
break here for news at the bottom of the hour,
and we will be right back. I do have a
(17:01):
lot of questions myself, and I know that you know
this situation much better than I do. One of the
questions We're going to have to ask, is how quickly
do you think this either will get resolved or not
be resolved. We can talk about that. Is there some
sort of a time constraint that obviously if the building,
if the lease is running out, there is a time constraint.
(17:22):
And does that work in the advantage of the community
in Chinatown or against the community in Chinatown, because I
could see it working both ways, maybe even simultaneously. But
you have the answer. I only have the question. Back
on Night's Side right after.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
This, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
All right, let us go across the river to Steve
and Cambridge. Hey, Steve, welcome back. You're all with Ed Flynn.
How are you, Steve.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
I'm well, Dan. I hope you and Count switz Flynn
are both well.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
We're doing great and it's better hearing your voice. Haven't
heard you in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Go right ahead, Count foot Flynn. And I'm really opposed
to your thinking. I think that Centerfolds has been there
many many years. Uh, it has customers that like it,
it has employees, they've paid taxes. I think to give
(18:19):
them a hard time just because they want to move
a couple of blocks to stay afloat, to stay in business.
I think to prevent that would be a real shame.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, thank you, thank you Dan for your your call.
I respect you.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
This is Steve. This is Steve from Cabridge. I do
not associate myself with those, oh Steve, but Steve's a
good guy.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Thank you Dan, Thank you Dan.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah, thank you, Steve. I respect your opinion. I disagree.
I have an obligation as the district's city councilor to
fight for my constituents, and that's exactly but what I'm doing.
I believe they have the right to have their voices
heard at city Hall. That's what this is really about.
(19:09):
Do the residents of Chinatown have the right to express
themselves at city Hall about development that's taking place in
their district. If you were to open up a bakery
or a sandwich shop, you would have to go through
a community process, But in this case, you don't. I
think that's unfair and I need to do everything I
(19:31):
possibly can to advocate for my constituents. And that's what
I'm doing. And I respect your position, and I do
know many people disagree with me, but I'm not taking
and choosing which issues to work on. I have to
work on the issues that are in front of me
that impact my constituents, and my constituents want me to
(19:52):
fight for them, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
I would like to make one other point is I
for many years, well for many years, worked in Park Square,
and Park Square was a little bit it wasn't like
it is now. There was a little bit more funky,
if you will. And I used to go into the
(20:17):
combat zone with some frequency. I felt safer in the
combat zone at night than I did in the back
bay because in the combat zone there were people on
the street, there were policemen. You could walk down Marlborough
Street or Commonwealth Avenue after ten o'clock and it would
be deserted.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
You could be.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Attacked and no one would even know it. So I
don't think the combat I felt safe in the combat zone.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Let me ask you this, Steve, what about for the
perspective from people who live in Chinatown and there are
families there who have been there a long time, kids
in school, what sort of empathy do you have for
this set a certain ccumstances where they're living, you know,
through really they are choosing to live there, but they're
(21:08):
choosing to live there because it isn't an area where
they can be comfortable from a familial point of view,
a generational point of view. What do you say to them, though,
Why do they have to deal with this? In other
communities it is not allowed. You know, certainly you wouldn't
have something like this in Cambridge, as open minded as
Cambridge is.
Speaker 7 (21:27):
Well, I mean, this kind of hyper restrictive zoning I'm
not terribly in favor of. But Dan, one thing you've
got to remember also is when those bars and restaurants
closed in the combat zone, the restaurants in Chinatown were
jumping until four o'clock in the morning. They were.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It's a commercial area, but just as an overlay of
you know, you know, the tie of activity. It's not
what you call a family friendly sort of activity. That's
all I would be. You know that someone alluded to
a couple of places up on Route one that's in
(22:12):
a pure commercial area. I don't think there's much of
an impact. There can be places where where these are allowed.
But I tend to decide with Council of Flynn on
this one, and he has to really be protective of
his constituents. And I'm sure you understand that.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
Oh no, of course, and I have great respect for
the Flynn family, including him and his father.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
But you know, my assistant has worked for me for
eight years. Her name is Melissa, and she's a graduate
of the public school system in Boston, lived in Bonn
and raised and still lives on Beech Street with her
family still there on Knapp Street. Really, and she would
be telling me, and her family would be telling me
(22:57):
stories of how even a young young women were propositioned
coming home from school or going to school. And you know,
the young Chinese women were harassed by people late at night.
The women of Chinatown didn't feel safe the Leather District
or downtown Bosh and those are neighborhoods and they're just
(23:20):
asking for a little bit of respect from city hall,
and oftentimes city hall doesn't stand with them. But I
think in this case we need to ensure that residents'
voices are heard and respected. And I don't think we
can just necessarily ignore them because it's politically incorrect.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
No, but we also have to listen to a business
that's been there for many years. Thank you both, Thank
you both.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Steve. Thank you, Thank you, Steve.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
Good night counselor good night Steve.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
So, as I mentioned earlier, with the time constraints of
this least running out and the one the owner wanted
to bring in a different type of thing into the
current location on Gray Street, what's sort of a time
frame where you're looking out here with this This has
to be solved within Is it a matter of weeks
or a matter of months or even or even sooner.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
No, I think it's I think it's imminent. I think
it's within months. I believe the establishment is going to
go to the community soon, and that means that in
terms of advocating for their position to have entertainment or
alcohol license, those community meetings will probably begin in the
(24:33):
next thirty sixty days, and I would expect that they
will be at the licensing board probably in the next
couple of months or so.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
All right, let me get one more in here before
the break, and I go to Joe and Belmont. Joe,
you're next on nights Side with fosteron City Council or
Ed Flynn. Go ahead, Joe, I have.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
A question and a solution out of the seven or
fifteen movie the eighties on Washington Stewart in Threemont Many
Can you name Ed and Dan?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I didn't realize there were fifteen there, Kevin.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Maybe I'm the fifties.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
In the fifties, I'm not interested to doing a trivia
because my solution.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
My solution is, you know, like the Squire Club in
the Golden Banana, why don't they put the uh the
combat zone in the woods in an area or in
Cape cart and see how they like it.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Well, I guess that's always a possibility. There's there's there's
a variety of places. There's also you know, places out
in the one twenty eight area. You fly over out
of Logan Airport and you realize how much land is available.
I don't know. I mean Ed is interested in his constituents, Joe.
(25:48):
I'm sure that if there was something like this to
open up in Belmont, you would want an advocate as
strong as Ed Flynn in in your local government.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Could I say something to compliment about Ed's father? Twenty second?
Twenty seconds, I'm almost old enough to see your father.
Ed played basketball down at Trump Field in Somer Bowl
in fifty six.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Yeah, he played a lot of basketball in Cambridge and
Somerville and Allington and Belmonty. He would he would play
sports down there with a lot of the guys there,
And you're exactly right in the fifties and sixties, whether
it was baseball, basketball, or football, and a lot of
great athletes there.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
You knows Tommy Kelly and Paul Howard from somerveall he
played on their team down in Somerville. And I would
like you to become an ambassador to the Vatican in
Mayor of Boston.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Well, we'll have to see what it was, have to
see what what Ed's future holds it Sore. I think
he'd be capable at both of those jobs. Thank you, Joe,
appreciate your calling.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
It was a.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Pleasure, Dan, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Got to take a very quick break. We got the
lines lit up up here. I got Sander in Boston,
I got Nick and Winchester, Richie in Boston, and christ
and Boston. We're going to get all of those four
in and we'll be back on nightside right after this break.
The only line is six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
You're on night side with Dan Ray on waz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Okay, we have full lines. We may carry this into
the next hour if you want so, stay right there, everybody,
let us get going here, Gonna go next to Richie
and Boston. Richie, you are next on nightside with Boston
City Council Ed Flynn, go ahead, rich.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
Hey, Dan Ed good to be with you.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Dan.
Speaker 8 (27:34):
This is versus hiclea Downtown Boston Near but Association. We
were on together almost a year ago at this court
talking about safety.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Thank you for very identifying you. So go right ahead.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
Absolutely so listen.
Speaker 9 (27:45):
Council Fun and I.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
Have worked together on many, many, many things, and my
neighbors in Chinatown and I we were recording a lot
of things quality life issues, transportation, planning, zoning, development, safety,
and what I want to say tonight is this isn't
about perception or about safety, or about the kind of
business we're talking about. This is just about pure common sense.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
Right.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
We just rezoned the entirety of downtown Boston and Chinatown's
going through this, and you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
As a city.
Speaker 8 (28:12):
You want to attract families and you want to create
quality of life opportunities for everybody who lives here. You
got to respect the community and you got to respect
the people who want to live here, and the times
have changed. This isn't a combat zones, This isn't thirty
forty years ago anymore. This is current day, twenty twenty five,
and so we have to be more thoughtful as a
city about how we think about zoning. The zoning system
(28:33):
in Boston, from my perspective, is entirely broken, right, and
so if a business wants to do business as of right,
that's one thing twenty thirty years ago. But today we
need to respect the community. And I just wanted to
call in on behalf of my friends here in Chinatown
to say that we have to do better when it
comes to vetting businesses. Right, what's your security plan, what
are your hours, what are your operational plans? What do
(28:56):
you intend to do there? What are you doing differently
than before? These are common sense things that any business
should be able to answer. And it's not supposed to
be a gotcha. It's not supposed to be a let's
suppress business or capitalism. It's the opposite, right, It's let's
make sure the will of the community is respected and
that we have a logical path forward. And I think
that's a lush thing for us to all want to
(29:16):
see happened here in Boston. So yeah, I just wanted
to call in to say I am fully supportive of
our friends and shout it down to making sure that
they have the support that they need to vet a
business that wants to expand itself or relocate itself in
the heart of the city. And obviously you know Lagrange
Street is very, very different than Neiland or Stewart. Anybody
(29:37):
who's from Boston knows that. And for you know the
reasons you discussed earlier. I think Steve mentioned it your
last caller. You wouldn't have this discussion in Wellesley or Newton,
or Cambridge or Rosindale.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I got back lines. Thank you for your kind words.
I'm sure Counsel of Flynn wants to thank you for
your support.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
Yeah, thank you, she thank you for your leadership.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
You got thanks, guys, talk to you soon to go
to Sandra in Boston. Sandra, you were next.
Speaker 10 (30:09):
Time nights, go right ahead, Hi, Dan, Hi consor Flint.
I think this area of our town has evolved quite
a bit. It is what I call the theater district.
And I actually knew Princess Cheyenne, which was the big
act when I was first came to Boston. She used
(30:30):
to come and take dance classes at a school where
I was teaching. And I think since that time, a
lot of the script joints and whatnot have left, and
a lot of the theaters that were crumbling and are
in total were in total disarray have been renovated. Things
(30:54):
like the Modern Theater and a number of other theaters.
Well even the Opera House where you go to see
a ballet. Now, I mean that was a mess, and
I think it's really an evolving place. But it is
the theater district, and there's always going to be a
lot of stuff going on there. And I think the
(31:15):
Chinese restaurants actually benefited quite a bit from the some
of the late night activities. As Stephen points out, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
People and order cold tea.
Speaker 10 (31:29):
But I think you're right to listen very closely to
all the different voices in the neighborhood and and I
think all our neighborhoods are changing pretty dramatically, a whole
different environment.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I mean, I.
Speaker 10 (31:41):
Wish, you know, Boylston Street and Newberry Street haven't hadn't
become the pot alley, the you know, weed shop alley
that they've become so I credit you for listening to
your constituency. I wish people listened a little bit more well.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Thank you for your kind words and also a little
perspective on how the area has changed. Is no longer
the combat zone is the Theater District. That's a really
good point, you mate. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Yeah, thank you, Sandra. And what I tried to do
as a city councilor too, what happens in the Theater
District or Bay Village or Downtown Boston or the Leather
District has an impact on every neighborhood in and around
that area, in Chinatown in other areas. But Reschi was
on what I worked on too for the last eight years,
(32:33):
is building a better relationship between the residents of Downtown Chinatown,
Leather District, Bay Village. They're working well together, they're supporting
each other, there's no rivalry. They're doing the best for
each other, especially during difficult times. And that's what I
love about the district is everybody pitches in when things
(32:54):
are things are down, and people are supporting the residents
of Chinatown, and that was not always the case. And
I'm really proud to see people rallying around the residents
of Chinatown. That really makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Sounds great, Sandra, thank you for your call very much.
I appreciate it. Got two three more going to try
to get in. Thanks and have a great night.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
All right, let me go next to Nick and Winchester. Nick,
we're getting a little tight on time. Got room for
you and maybe one or two more.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
Go ahead and Nick, Hey, guys, I met you a
couple of times that same way. I work at some
Way Park, and I have to make a long story short.
I agree with you guys, totally, wholeheartedly, and bring it
to your constituents and let them have a say in it.
The area has evolved, it's changed, and just let it
(33:44):
be instead of letting people do what they want to do.
I agree with you guys, and bring it to the
constituents and let them figure out if it's good for
the area. They can move.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Sounds great.
Speaker 9 (33:58):
Great places they can go up. They can go up
to Root One. I mean they don't have to stay
in Boston. It's only a half hour away.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, and you could get you know, there'll be patrons
who would find it easier from you know, northern Massachusetts,
from you know that they may have another, you know,
group of patrons who they would add to their to
their clientele. Nick, exactly, thank you so much. Thank you guys.
Thanks Nick. Let me get Christian in Boston and I'm
(34:26):
going to try to get Chris and one more. But
if not, I got you. Chris, you are on the air.
Speaker 11 (34:30):
Go right ahead, Yeah, Dan, thank you for having me on.
I'm involved in the Leatheristic Neighborhood Association of Downtown Boston
and I just wanted to add a little perspective as
a long time Downtown residence. First of all, thank you
to Counselor Flynn for being such a great advocate for
Downtown residents and in this particular case, for being an
advocate for residents of Chinatown who for too long have
(34:53):
had things like this foisted upon them. And really this
presents an opportunity to maybe correct some historical wrongs that
have existed in the Chinatown neighborhood. And you know, I've
heard some people talk about this is being the combat zone,
and to be honest with you, when I referenced the
(35:13):
combat zone to people in the neighborhood who haven't been
here that long, they don't even know what you're talking about.
That's how much this area has changed. So for those
listening who think, well, you know, it's just the combat
zone and that's the way it is, doesn't exist anymore
the combat zone. And really the two remaining clubs such
as they are, have been out of the way on
(35:35):
their own on the side, and it was only because
the one, the Centerfold sold its building, as I understand
it from the Globe article, that they're in this predicament.
In other words, if they hadn't cashed in by selling
their real estate, they wouldn't need to move their location.
And so I think it's really super important, as Counselor
Flynn advocates, to have a neighborhood process right because the
(35:59):
neighborhood is changed. So we really need to look at
this new location in conjunction with the brand new Desiah
Quincy Upper School that was just built in the neighborhood,
and you know, how do these things fit together? And
do they fit together? And really, as counsel Flynn so
correctly points out, the notion that if you opened a
(36:20):
restaurant or a bakery, you'd have to go through a
neighborhood process. But if you're if you're moving this business,
which is which has you know, some possible negative fide effects.
You don't doesn't make any sense in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
All right, if you have to hear on that point, Chris,
I got to end because I'm up against my newscast.
I thank you for calling, and I will tell the
other folks who are on the line. I'd like to
carry this into the next hour. I'm going to let
Council of Flynn go because he's got an election day tomorrow.
Hope you get out and vote. Everybody gets out and votes,
but we're going to get first of all, Chris, thank
(36:55):
you for your call. Very impressive call.
Speaker 11 (36:57):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Chris.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
So it's an excellent call. And you've been an excellent
leader in the Leather district. But Chris, you've been really
a great friend to the Chinatown people as well as
Wechi has. But just want to say thank you to
the Leather District residents.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Thanks Chris Mane. Counsel Flynn best to walk tomorrow. I
don't think you'll necessarily need it, but congrat you know,
let's hope that tomorrow night you're you're successful. You've been
a great representative of your constituents. As you were tonight.
I thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
ED.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
We're talking to you in the next couple of days
for sure. And for those on the line, thank you.
Stay more than welcome. Thanks ED. For those on the line,
stay there, and we will continue this conversation. If you
want to jump on the line six one, seven, two,
five four ten thirty six one seven nine three one
ten thirty. We can do some more on this in
the next hour, right after the ten o'clock news
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