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From YouTube: Port Norfolk Park Ribbon Cutting
Description
Mayor Walsh joins Governor Baker and other elected officials to celebrate the long awaited opening of Port Norfolk Park in Dorchester.
A
I'm,
so
glad
to
welcome
you
to
the
Neponset
River,
Reservation
I
hope
you
have
already
started
enjoying
this
beautiful
Park
on
the
banks
of
the
pond
said
my
name
is
Leo
Roy
I'm
your
commissioner,
the
Department
of
Conservation
and
Recreation
and
I'm
absolutely
delighted
to
be
here
with
you.
Isn't
it
wonderful
that
the
rain
stopped
and
is
going
to
stay
stopped
during
our
program
this
afternoon?
But
we
need
that
rain
to
help
water,
these
beautiful
lawns
and
the
flowers
in
the
wildflower
garden.
That's
going
to
be
here.
A
The
Department
of
Conservation
and
Recreation
manages
nearly
a
half
a
million
acres
of
protected,
open
space
on
your
behalf,
the
people
of
Massachusetts
and
we're
so
proud
and
honored
to
recognize
this
facility.
Today
in
honor
of
State
Senator
Joseph
Finnegan
before
we
get
started,
I'd
like
to
invite
Laura,
Finnegan
Pratt
senator
Finnegan's
granddaughter
to
come
forward
and
join
us
in
the
singing
of
our
national
anthem
and
coming
up
with
her
is
cousin,
Catherine
Finnegan
and
if
you
all
just
turn
to
the
flag
behind
us.
Oh.
A
This
park
represents
a
commitment
on
behalf
of
the
Baker
Polito
administration,
to
something
that's
very
important
to
all
of
you
and
that's
connectivity.
This
multi-use
trail
along
which
the
park
is
located.
The
Neponset
River
Greenway
connects
it
when
it's
when
the
last
pieces
are
finally
put
together,
you'll
be
able
to
travel
from
Castle
Island,
all
the
way
to
the
Blue
Hills,
and
what
we're
doing
with
these
multi-use
trails
is
connecting
communities
a
very
important
goal.
A
Today,
we're
really
celebrating,
on
behalf
of
state
Senator,
Joseph
Finnegan,
really
a
legacy
of
public
service
that
you'll
hear
about
from
other
speakers
who
really
brought
us
to
this
place
and
I
think
that
that
legacy
of
public
service
is
certainly
represented
by
Governor
Baker
by
mayor
Marty
Walsh,
who
has
you
know,
worked
on
this
project
as
a
state.
Rep
and
many
others
worked
very
hard
to
bring
us
to
this
day.
With
that
I'd
like
to
introduce
my
boss
and
my
friend
Matthew
Beaton,
your
secretary
of
the
executive
office
of
Energy
and
Environmental
Affairs,.
C
Thank
you
very
much,
commissioner.
Thank
you
all
very
much
for
being
here
and
taking
time
out
of
your
Saturday
to
be
here
with
us
to
celebrate
something
that
I
know
talking
to
a
lot
of
the
folks
a
little
bit
ago,
John
and
some
others
a
very,
very
long
time
coming.
This
is
truly
exciting
time
for
us
to
be
here
to
celebrate
the
opening
of
this
part,
not
only
for
the
Finnegan
family,
but
for
everyone
for
everyone
in
the
Commonwealth
for
everyone
in
the
neighborhood
for
everybody
in
Boston.
C
C
That
is,
is
really
truly
reflective
of
Governor
Baker
and
Lieutenant
Governor
Pulido's
commitment
to
our
urban
parks
and
our
opportunities.
No
matter
the
zip
code,
they
have
beautiful
spaces
to
get
outside,
get
away.
Turn
that
TV
off
and
really
just
enjoy
our
beautiful
resources
here
in
the
Commonwealth.
So
I
am
truly
honored
to
be
here
on
behalf
of
DCR
and
all
the
EEA
agencies
that
work
so
closely
with
so
many
to
make
this
day
possible.
C
I
want
to
tip
my
hat
and
just
say
a
very
big
sincere
thank
you
to
everyone
who
worked
so
hard
over
the
years.
Your
persistence,
the
great
leadership
that
we
have
in
the
city
of
Boston.
With
my
former
colleagues
and
friends
in
the
legislature,
you
have
some
phenomenal,
a
history
of
phenomenal
representation
and
certainly
my
good
friend
the
mayor,
who
is
always
a
pleasure
to
work
with
and
in
his
agencies
and
his
cut
my
counterpart
that
served
for
him
so
on
on
behalf
of
everyone
at
EEA.
D
Well,
thank
you
very
much
secretary
Beaton
and
kudos
to
Commissioner
Roy
and
the
rest
of
the
team
at
Environmental
Affairs
in
the
Department
of
Conservation
and
Recreation,
which
I
spell
fu
n
as
in
fund
for
all
that
they've
done
not
just
here
but
across
the
park
system
here
in
the
Commonwealth.
This
one
in
particular
for
me
anyway,
was
important.
That
I'd
be
here
today,
certainly
for
the
reasons
that
were
outlined
by
the
secretary
and
Commissioner,
but
also
because
this
is
the
Joseph
Finnegan
Park
Joe
Finnegan
came
here
from
County
Mayo.
D
He
was
one
of
ten
kids.
It's
a
wonderful
immigrant
story.
He
came
here
and
he
went
from
hauling
coal
to
becoming
a
state
representative
and
becoming
a
state
senator
during
the
Depression.
He
had
nine
kids,
including
among
them
John
Finnegan,
who
grew
up
to
be
the
auditor
of
the
Commonwealth
Patricia
Patricia
cannon
who's,
a
Collins
whose
husband,
Michael
was
an
astronaut.
She
wrote,
poignant,
ly
and
beautifully
about
that,
but
one
of
the
other
kids
was
Joe.
D
Finnegan
and
Joe
Finnegan
served
the
Commonwealth
amass
through
the
department
of
mental
health
for
many
years
and
when
I
was
a
young
whippersnapper
at
the
age
of
about
thirty
to
joining
the
Weldon
salucci
administration,
as
undersecretary
at
Health
and
Human
Services
Joe
Finnegan,
who
I
just
talked
to
literally
as
I,
was
walking
up
the
path
here
he's
in
Florida
and
sends
his
best.
Everybody
was
incredibly
helpful
to
me
and
making
sure
that
I
didn't
do
all
the
stupid
things
that
new
people
do
when
I
still
probably
do
plenty
of
stupid
things.
D
Oh
my
god,
there
are
millions
of
them
good
for
you
to
be
able
to
say
to
all
of
you
how
much
we
appreciate
the
work
the
Finnegan
family
has
done,
for
so
many
people
in
the
city
of
Boston
become
wealth
amass
over
so
many
generations
and
I
wanted
it
thrilled.
We
are
to
be
able
to
call
this
the
Joseph
Finnegan
Park
as
part
of
this
big
necklace
here
along
the
Neponset
River.
Thank
you
very
much.
E
F
E
E
Mayor
how's
that
guys
go.
Thank
you
very
much
guys
preciate.
It
I
want
to
thank
the
governor
in
this
administration
and
certainly
mattbeaton
in
Commissioner
Roy,
who
do
an
incredible
job.
I
served
with
Matt
in
the
House
of
Representatives.
He
was
a
great
state
representative
and
I
was
excited
when,
when
Governor
Baker
appointed
him
as
a
secretary,
because
I
knew
that
would
have
somebody
in
that
office
that
truly
cared
about
our
open
spaces
here
in
Dorchester
and
in
Boston.
So
thank
you
for
that.
I
want
to
graduate
John
Lyons
and
the
port
Norfolk
Civic
Association.
E
E
People
would
break
through
the
fence
and
dump
stuff
in
here
all
the
time
they'd
light
things
on
fire
would
get
calls
whether
it
was
John
Carla,
mayor,
McCarthy
or
John
Lyons,
a
different
Civic
Association
people.
Here,
there's
always
there
was
always
a
problem
here.
You
know
we'll
worry
about
hazardous
waste
and-
and
you
know
the
people,
the
governor
gets
credit
map,
eaten,
gets
cat
credit,
Leroy
gets
credit,
I
get
credit,
you
know,
Jim,
Brad,
Paul,
white
and
I'll
be
like
the
physical
credit.
E
E
Then
it
came
to
me
and
I:
couldn't
do
it
so
Danny
hun
had
to
get
it
done.
It
took
the
any
huntin
Frank
Baker
and
that
grew
to
get
it
done,
but
over
the
years
and
I
don't
mean
to
if
I
leave
anyone
out
I
apologize,
I,
don't
mean
to
Barbara
and
bent
ankle
Barbara's.
Looking
down
on
us
today
and
she's
smiling
and
she's,
probably
yelling
at
me
saying,
took
you
long
enough:
Walsh,
Jim
and
Mary
Maloney.
E
They
were,
they
would
the
first
two
people
I
met
when
I
started,
knocking
doors
down
the
point
John
crawling
off
John's
here
today,
but
thank
you.
John
crawl
for
all
those
years
of
leadership
in
the
Civic
Association
Mary
McCarthy
as
well
led
led
the
Civic
Association
Johanna
Joanne.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
advocacy,
putting
pressure
on
us,
Eddie,
Roach,
Maria,
Lyons
and
I
could
go
on
and
on
and
on
of
all
the
great
people
I
want
to.
Thank
you.
Nancy
Cummings
Thank,
You
Nancy.
You
know
this.
This
is
four
point.
E
We
had
send
a
white
before
that
and
Bill
Bulger
on
on
the
other
side
and
Savin
Hill
area,
our
state
representatives
in
this
area,
a
guy
who
deserves
a
lot
of
praise
for
this
park,
is
Tommy
canary
his
wife
atomic
Finneran.
We
wouldn't
have
had
Pope
John
Paul
Park
over
here.
We
wouldn't
have
the
extension.
E
This
is
really
what
Tommy
Finneran
started
in
a
lot
of
ways
as
ways
that
means
chair
and
then,
as
as
a
Speaker
of
the
House
of
Representatives,
you
know
Jim
Braddock
Oakland,
we
choked
with
Jim
right
all
the
time,
but
you
know
Jim
did
so
many
other
thing
in
his
own
right
is
a
state
representative.
We've
been
blessed
with
a
great
city
council
leadership
as
well.
We
know
that
city
councilor,
Frank
Baker's
with
us
today,
City
Council,
niece
or
sabe
George's,
was
today
City.
E
Council
Anna
presses
with
us
today,
all
too
attested
by
the
way,
all
three
of
them
so
I
want
to
welcome
them.
But
I
say
this
often
one
of
the
best
job
I've
ever
had
was
being
represented
from
George's
to
the
13
Suffolk
District.
It
was
I
loved
that
job
I
love
the
people,
I
represented
I
love
the
neighborhoods
I
represented,
including
the
port
here
and
and
when
I
decided
to
run
for
mayor
of
the
city
of
Boston
and
I
was
fortunate
to
win.
E
We
have
a
great
person
who
came
into
the
House
of
Representatives,
and
somebody
said
right.
After
all,
you
have
big
shoes
to
fill
and
I
heard
that
same
thing
when
I
followed
you
in
Bryan,
there's
no
big
shoes
to
fill
when
you,
when
you
take
these
jobs,
you
make
your
own
ways.
You
fill
your
own
shoes
and
you
blaze.
E
Your
own
path
and
Danny
Danny
hunt
has
done
an
incredible
job,
not
only
just
continuing
to
fight
to
make
sure
this
money's
here
in
for
this
Park
in
Dorchester,
but
he's
done
an
incredible
job
representing
all
of
us
in
the
city
of
Boston
and
into
us
sharing
one
precinct
in
Quincy
and
I
like
to
turn
over
to
you.
Your
state
representative,
Danny
hunt.
H
Just
like
I
wrote
it
so
that
line
from
Jim
Brett
Jim
says
that
this
seat
and
Dorchester
in
general
has
a
great
tradition
of
our
elected
leaders,
and
he
tells
me
that
one
day
I'll
get.
There
obviously
want
to
thank
the
governor
for
really
making
this
happen.
You
know
we
we
work
on
a
bond
bill,
but
it's
up
to
him
and
the
secretary
and
the
Commissioner
to
get
it
done.
H
H
To
think
that
this
was
not
available
to
the
general
public,
this
area
for
so
long,
it's
truly
a
beautiful
piece
of
property
at
the
mouth
of
the
Neponset,
the
scenic
Neponset
River.
This
is
another
step
in
the
pocket
parks
that
are
going
to
connect
the
rest
of
the
river
and
I
know
that
the
Commissioner
and
the
secretary
and
the
governor
are
working
hard
on
the
remainder
of
the
Greenway,
but
we
want
to
say
thank
you
to
them.
Thank
you
to
all
of
you.
H
Thank
you
to
people
like
Jim,
Brett,
Paul,
white,
Tom
Finneran,
who
passed
the
only
capital
supplemental
budget
that
I
ever
heard
of
for
Saint
Pope
John
Paul
park.
So
he
definitely
did
a
lot
of
work
on
that.
So
thank
you
all
for
being
here.
Thank
you
for
God,
for
providing
us
with
little
Sun
and
I'm
here
to
introduce
my
good
friend,
the
Dean
of
the
Dorchester
delegation,
my
good
friend
small,
in
stature,
big
in
heart.
He
lives
in
Savin
Hill
though
he
loves
us
just
the
same.
My
friend
Frank
Baker
I.
I
Don't
know
why
he
calls
me
the
Dean,
but
whatever
I
guess
so
I'm
the
man
had
spoke
about
it
already.
It's
the
people
on
this
side
of
the
microphone,
the
generations
that
that
that
worked
on
this
for
at
least
a
generation
or
more
that
now,
because
of
the
work
that
happened
on
this
side.
This
side
over
here
will
will
be
able
to
give
this
to
our
children
for
the
generations
to
come.
So
what
a
great
great
thing,
that
is,
everybody
for
me:
I'm,
a
city
official,
so
this
is
more
just
a
victory
lap.
I
For
me,
this
is
all
this
is
all
state
and
it
goes
back
to
Paul
White
and
Jim
Brett
and
Molly,
with
great
representation
we've
had
over
over
the
over
these
past
years.
We're
fortunate,
where
we
live
and
in
this
park,
is
maybe
somewhat
of
a
symbol
of
what's
going
on
in
Dorchester.
They
were
dumping
on
us
for
years,
we've
been
the
dumping
zone
for
the
city
for
years,
and
now
we
get
new
things,
we're
getting
a
whole
new,
a
fresh
outlook
on
life,
so
I'm
rose
to
be
the
representative
down
here.
I
What
a
great
honor
it
is
to
have
people
like
the
people
in
the
port
that
know
how
to
fight
know
what
they
want
their
neighborhoods
and
because
you
guys
know
what
you
want
your
neighborhood.
This
is
why
we
ended
up
with
this.
So
thank
you
and
thank
you,
of
course,
to
the
governor
for
coming
for
coming
here
and
making
this
happen
for
us.
F
One
afternoon
and
thank
you
don't
be
concerned
because
I've
got
a
piece
of
paper
to
regional
I,
just
want
to
make
sure
I,
don't
forget,
and
most
of
what
I
was
going
to
say
is
already
but
said
when
I
was
a
kid
growing
up
in
the
planted,
the
named
Finnegan
white
and
hunt
were
names
of
well-respected.
They
were
people
who
were
active
in
the
community
and
active
in
the
parish
and
ultimately
active
in
government,
and
they
sent
very
high
standards,
and
it
was
back
in
that
day
that
the
this
park
was
first
conceived.
G
F
F
You
know
here
we
are
today
it
actually
happened,
but
it
all
started
back
in
the
day
when
John
Finnegan
proposed
this
park,
and
he
proposed
the
name
of
the
park
in
honor
of
his
father,
who
I'm
sure
it
had
set
the
tone
of
service
for
his
own
life
and
I'm,
proud
to
be
standing
here
today,
dedicating
this
back
in
that
name
in
memory
of
those
people
who
started
it
all
there
are.
There
are
two
things
I
I
take
out
of
this.
F
The
first
is
that
we
never
thought
we
would
see
anything
this
nice
and
it
doesn't
just
belong
to
Port
Norfolk
or
to
the
pancit.
It's
part
of
that
system
that
runs
ultimately
all
the
way
from
castle
islands
to
the
Blue
Hose.
It's
nearly
complete
now
all
the
way
to
Mattapan
square,
and
it
never
would
have
been
accomplished
without
a
number
of
people
working
together.
First
of
all,
the
citizens
of
Port
and
all
thought
the
residents
who
stuck
together
all
these
years,
I'm
honored,
to
be
a
resident
of
this
neighborhood
I,
congratulate
you
and
I
hope.
F
But
there
were
so
many
other
people
involved.
We
never
would
have
done
it
alone
and
that's
the
important
thing
that
I
take
from
it.
If
you
don't
organize,
if
you
don't
reach
out
to
other
communities
and
get
to
meet
other
people
to
support
your
vision,
the
odds
of
it
happening
are
not
that
great.
The
Commonwealth
is
a
big
place,
as
we
all
know,
it's
a
small
state,
but
still
a
big
place.
It
stretches
all
the
way
from
Provence
down
to
the
Berkshires
from
Salsbury
Beach
to
New,
Bedford
and
Fall
River.
F
There
are
a
lot
of
very
worthy
projects
being
proposed.
A
lot
of
communities
at
all
want
government
spending,
so
it's
a
great
privilege
that
we
all
have
that
that
money
was
allocated
here.
My
argument
is
that
just
as
I
saw
the
challenge,
River
Reservation
is
such
a
great
place,
and
we
all
know
about
the
blue.
Leo's
reservation
is
one
of
the
greatest
public
facilities
in
the
country.
F
Now
that
the
Neponset
River
is
becoming
that
and
it's
going
to
benefit
everyone
in
the
region,
and
anyone
in
the
state
can
come
here
and
enjoy
this
this
river
in
its
natural
state.
In
this
particular
piece
of
land
that
you're
standing
on
is
the
only
place
on
Boston
Harbor.
That
is
going
to
be
more
like
one
of
the
Harbor
Islands
than
anything
else
on
the
mainland,
it's
being
preserved
as
a
natural
place,
the
other
side
of
this
fence
we
have
restored
marshland.
F
H
F
And
enjoy
the
outdoors
and
appreciate
the
natural
environment
at
the
risk
of
missing
people
and
offending
people,
I'd
like
to
recognize
a
few
people,
starting
with
the
the
parts
of
Greenway
Council,
which
was
at
one
point,
headed
by
Valerie
Barnes
and
Erin
great
assistant,
Candace
cook.
When
I
was
here
today,.
F
Jakarta
was
our
state
senator
I'll,
always
himself
II
married,
a
girl
from
the
pancit
and
Jack
was
helpful.
We
always
remember
that
senator
Linda
4e
took
up
the
cause
as
soon
as
she
was
elected
and
that's
when
the
thing
really
got
traction
and
and
began
to
happen.
Representative
walls,
representative
Dan
hunt,
jeff
murray,
the
former
commissioner
Ian
cook,
Kathy
Garnett
from
NBC
DC,
our
Mike
miss
one
Rob
Lowe.
F
F
I'm
getting
close
to
the
conclusion
before
the
legislation,
though
the
reason
this
land
was
available
in
the
first
place
was
many
years
ago
more
than
30
years
ago
for
Norfolk
had
its
own
version
of
the
pink
hat.
Much
the
women
of
port
North
went
by
barber
tangle
Lodge
down
these
streets
to
this
gate
right
over
here
they
linked
arms
and
they
prevented
trucks
that
were
coming
in
here.
Something
hazardous
waste
was
going
to
be
processed
and
then
transported
and
they
held
out
and
then
Mayor
Gray
slim
backed
us
up
to
is
the
activity
they
evicted.
F
The
the
company
was
ugly,
was
operating,
the
illegal
transfer
operation
and
the
land
was
then
vacant,
and
it
was
representative
sent
again
who
authorized
the
legislation
to
take
this
land,
so
the
land
was
then
secured,
but
without
the
stock
it
was
engaged
in
by
again
the
women
of
this
neighborhood.
It
never
would
have
happened,
and
in
intervening
years,
at
the
risk
of
sounding
like
I'm,
engaging
in
favoritism,
which
I'm
willing
to
do
my
wife,
Maria
Lyons.
We
have
lavender
Lane.
F
Who
is
a
biologist
teacher
mother,
the
person
with
the
actual
technical
knowledge
to
make
the
arguments
and
with
the
history
of
political
engagement
of
her
own
parents,
the
wagons
from
meeting
house
Hill?
She
was
willing
to
fight
the
fight
and
like
a
good
dot,
just
a
woman.
She
did
never
back
down.
So
congratulations
really.
F
J
Wow
mighty
launch
over
Libya,
the
Sun
came
up
for
all
of
us
today
good
afternoon,
everyone.
It
is
so
great
to
be
here
with
all
of
you
and
thank
you
John.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
and
the
incredible
known
point,
and
what
Norfolk
community
right
here
for
making
this
amazing
day
happen
would
not
happen
if
it
wasn't
for
you
working
hard
and
holding
us
accountable
to
say
we
need
to
get
this
cleaned
up.
I
want
to
thank
our
governor
governor
Baker
for
being
here
and
for
your
support.
J
Mayor,
Walsh
I
know,
mayor
Marty
Walsh
spoke
already,
but
you
know
he
was
the
state
rep
right
for
here
when
this
was
all
taking
place.
So
we
want
to
thank
you
so
many
people
to
think
I
know
they've
been
recognized,
so
I
came
here.
Running
driving
with
safe,
followed
the
rules
of
the
road
I'm,
just
letting
you
know
but
had
to
take
my
daughters
and
move
them
through
events,
but
I
also
want
to
recognize
Senator,
John
Finnegan
and
the
Finnegan
family
who
has
joined
us
on
this
special
day.
J
You
know
senator
Finnegan
represented
Dorchester
during
the
Great
Depression
and
embodied
the
Dorchester
tradition
of
public
service.
It's
senator
finnegans
legacy
of
service
passed
on
to
his
children,
particularly
David
and
John,
who
both
served
this
city
and
Commonwealth
with
pride
and
distinction.
In
fact,
it
was
his
son
John
who
played
a
critical
role
in
securing
this
very
land
and
others
in
Dorchester
for
future
public
use
the
vision
right,
the
leadership
in
the
vision
and
how
do
we
keep
space
open
for
our
families
that
are
coming
up
after
us?
J
It
is
extremely
fitting
that
this
park
will
forever
bear
his
name,
so
I
want
to
thank
the
Finnegan
family
for
your
amazing
record
of
public
service
to
our
community.
So
thank
you
to
the
port.
Norfolk
Association,
the
Neighborhood,
Association
and
residents
of
the
area
played
a
crucial
role
as
you've
heard
right.
Yes,
let's
give
a
clap
come
on
Maria
all
right
played
a
crucial
role
in
the
development
of
the
park,
of
course,
and
Mayor.
J
Of
course,
of
course,
but
as
many
of
you
know
too
well,
the
Shaffer
paper
company
called
this
land
home
for
many
years.
This
site
was
once
a
toxic
wasteland
that
was
a
pox
on
the
community
long
time,
neighborhood
stewards
such
as
venom,
Barbara,
tinkle,
Mary,
McCarthy
and
johnandmaree
Alliance
were
constant
champions
of
this
park
without
their
determination
and
passion.
J
We
may
well
not
be
here
today
to
do
this
groundbreaking
and
it's
the
collective
passion
and
love
for
the
neighborhood
is
why
we're
standing
here
today
and
I
can
tell
you
that
when
I
ran
in
20,
when
I
ran
for
state
Senate
and
I
was
knocking
on
doors
and
I
came
to
Port,
Norfolk
and
I
knocked
on
Maria
in
John's
door
that
everyone's
doing
they
said,
you
know
what
we
have
the
shape
of
a
person.
It's
a
toxic
contaminated
site.
J
I
cannot
forget
but
saying
this
under
the
administration
of
former
governor
Deval
Patrick
and
is
now
seeing
the
finish
line
under
the
leadership
of
our
current
governor
Charlie
Baker
and
his
incredible
administration
that
believes
in
open
space
secretary
beings.
Here
you
know
Commissioner
Roy,
that
believes
in
open
space
that
believes
in
cleanup
that
believes
in
giving
quality
opportunities
in
place
spaces
for
our
community.
So
I
want
to
thank
the
governor
and
his
team
secretary,
be
in
DC
our
Commissioner
Leo
Roy,
for
seeing
this
project
through
fruition
and
our
mayor
as
a
state
rep.
J
When
this
project
first
started
when
we
first
got
the
funding
and
said
this
is
going
to
get
done,
Thank
You
mayor
for
your
hard
work
and
for
working
along
our
incredible
councillor,
Frank
Baker,
for
making
this
a
reality.
But
all
our
city
councillors
who
are
here
today
and
I
know
they
were
recognized.
So
I
will
stop
and
now
bring
up
someone.
Who's
family
bears
the
name
of
this
park
right
to
represent
the
Finnegan
family
for
their
commitment
of
decades.
J
Past
right
before
I
was
I'm
not
going
to
say
beef
I
was
born,
but
you
know
before
I
was
here
and
standing
here
before
you
as
a
state
senator,
and
we
have
incredible
elected
officials
that
came
before
us
and
we
want
to
recognize
them.
I
know
Senator
Paul
white
is
here.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
in
working
hard
on
this.
When
he
came
to
your
plate,
senator
Jack,
Hart
I
believe
was
here
as
well.
J
So
many
folks
who
laid
the
groundwork
for
us
to
get
here
today
but
I,
want
to
thank
the
Finnegan
family
again
for
the
commitment
and
the
love
of
coming
from
this
great
community.
We
called
Worchester
and
so
I'm,
going
to
bring
up
someone
who's
going
to
speak
on
behalf
of
the
Finnegan
family
and
that's
Steve,
Finnegan,
saying.
K
K
I
want
to
echo
what
others
have
said
about
the
support
from
the
community
for
this
project.
The
support
from
the
people
standing
behind
me
here,
I'm
going
to
start
with
Governor
Baker
for
just
a
moment.
We
very
much
appreciate
all
of
the
work
that
he
has
done
for
this
creation
of
this
Park.
At
this
point
in
time,
I
would
just
say
this
about
Governor
Baker.
K
My
brother
Joe,
who
is
not
well
was
in
governor
Baker,
was
aware
of
this
some
five
or
six
months
ago
and
I
called
Joe
one
afternoon
and
I
said
how
are
you
doing
Joe
and
he
said
well,
alright,
he
says:
guess
who
I
heard
from
today
and
I
said
John
Farrell.
They
need
a
relief
pitcher
for
the
Sox
or
something,
and
he
said
no.
He
indicated
after
a
few
other
futile
guesses
on
my
part
that
it
was
a
Charlie
Baker.
K
How
Charlie
has
indicated
how
we
knew
Joe
and
how
grateful
he
was
for
some
of
that
guidance
some
years
ago.
I
just
want
to
let
you
know
governor
that
I
could
tell
from
listening
to
my
brother's
voice
at
a
time
when
he
needed
to
be
cheered
up
and
the
governor
knew
that
that
your
call
to
him
meant
a
tremendous
amount,
and
we
appreciate
that
very
much.
K
K
It
used
to
be
called
the
powerful
Dorchester
delegation
and
correctly
so
because
it
is,
it
is
today
a
powerful
entity
and
we're
very
happy
that
to
have
been
part
of
that
as
a
family,
with
my
father
and
my
brother,
and
also
for
a
representative
walls
and
Jim
Brett
and
the
senator
etc
and,
of
course,
Deanne
hunt
for
all
his
good
work
here.
In
terms
of
putting
some
of
this
together,
the
delegation
is
still
a
very
powerful
delegation
senator
to
escena
4e.
It
was
recently
appointed
as
the
Assistant
Majority
Whip
in
the
state.
K
Senate
a
very
prestigious
position-
and
the
same
is
true
with
the
N
haunt
who
is
serving
on
both
the
Joint
Committee
on
ways
and
means
in
the
House
Committee
on
ways
and
means
unusual
appointments
that
early
in
his
career.
So
it's
it's
started
at
the
beginning.
It
worked
its
way
through
and,
of
course,
with
the
election
of
the
mayor,
it
reached
its
culmination
and
fruition
and
hopefully
mayor
that
will
be
soon
your
reelection.
K
We
appreciate
all
of
that
I'm
here
to
do
one
thing
or
two
things
for
the
family
today,
and
that
is,
first
of
all,
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
about
Joseph
Finnegan
and
why
this
park
is
so
appropriately
mean
for
him,
I
would
say,
and
also
to
mention
my
brother
John
and
some
of
his
contributions
to
these
efforts.
Over
the
years
my
father
was
born
in
County
Mayo
in
1898
he
joined
a
large
family
of
nine
other
siblings.
K
He
arrived
in
America
in
1916,
my
own
Helen,
and
uncle
Pat
proceeded
the
younger
brother
Joe
to
this
country
emigrating
from
Ireland
in
1912,
in
we're
living
with
their
father's
sister
in
Fitchburg
bass.
Patten
Helen
knew
that
my
father
was
due
to
arrive
in
the
country,
but
did
not
know
the
exact
day
or
hour.
My
uncle
Pat,
who
many
of
you
knew
told
me
several
times
of
his
first
sighting
of
my
father.
K
Another
Joe
had
been
an
excellent
student
in
Ireland
and
was
sent
to
America
during
World
War
one
uncle
Pat,
not
Helen
his
brother
and
sister,
who
had
promised
her
mother
that
she
would
take
care
of
her
little
brother
Joe.
A
promise
I
can
assure
you
that
she
admirably
fulfilled
they
soon
moved
to
Holyoke,
with
Pat,
got
a
job
and
was
able
to
support
his
brother
and
sister.
My
father
began
school
at
Holyoke,
High
School,
where
he
continued
his
record
of
academic
excellence
by
completing
his
studies.
In
two
years.
K
His
outstanding
school
record
brought
him
to
the
attention
of
the
Dwight
family,
very
prominent
in
Holyoke,
among
other
things,
they
owned
the
local
newspaper,
the
Dwight's
took
great
interest
in
my
father
and
no
doubt
had
a
hand
in
my
father's
admission
to
prestigious
Bowdoin
College,
a
highly
unusual
event
for
a
recently
arrived
immigrant
just
two
years
of
the
boat.
After
completion
of
studies
he
attended
and
graduated
from
Boston
University
Law
School,
where
he
finished
number
two
in
the
class
of
1923.
K
Despite
working
full-time
while
attending
school,
he
continued
living
with
my
aunt
and
uncle
who
moved
to
Boston
from
Holyoke,
so
that
my
father
could
attend
bu
Law
School
and
they
lived
in
Dorchester
on
King
Street.
My
father
subsequently
opened
and
maintained
a
for
many
years,
a
successful
Austin
law
practice.
He
was
particularly
sought
out
by
other
immigrants,
Irish
immigrants
who
had
come
to
this
country.
K
The
Finnigan
connection
in
Port
Norfolk
would
have
begun,
at
least
in
1926,
when
my
father
was
first
elected
state
representative
for
this
district.
During
his
successful
reelection
campaign,
while
going
door-to-door,
he
met
my
mother
Julia
Kendra
ghen,
who
lived
within
a
stone's
throw
of
this
park
at
7
lorenzo
street.
When
he
returned
home,
he
told
my
uncle
Pat
that
he
had
met
the
most
beautiful
girl
in
Dorchester
in
an
August
of
1929,
they
were
married
in
st.
K
Anne's
parish,
church,
the
marriage
produced
nine
children,
all
of
whom
served
the
community
as
teaches
lawyers
and
public
servants.
My
father
was
elected
to
the
Senate
in
1930
and
again
in
1932
from
1933
to
thirty-four.
He
was
elected
by
his
peers
as
Senate
Minority
Leader,
yes,
I
said
minority
leader.
The
Democrats
did
not
take
control
of
the
state
Senate
in
Massachusetts
until
1960
believe
it
or
not.
The
close-knit
band
of
Senate
Democrats
in
those
days
number
just
13
out
of
40
members,
which
represented
a
large
number
for
the
beleaguered
Democrat
in
those
days.
K
K
He
was
successful,
though,
and
the
gas
company
moved
the
tanks
to
Everett
where
they
remain.
To
this
day
you
drive
over
the
Mystic,
River
Bridge
look
left
and
if
it's
a
good
day,
you'll
see
all
those
tanks
where
a
budding
the
Mystic
River
and
the
water
over
in
Everett
thank
God.
That
didn't
happen
here.
K
In
an
ironic
twist,
the
gas
company
made
another
effort
to
add
LNG
tanks
in
the
early
1970s
to
the
clam
Point
site.
The
Dorchester
legislative
delegation,
I'll,
say
the
powerful
Dorchester
legislative
delegation,
led
in
those
days
by
my
brother,
John
State
Representative
from
1967
to
1981
chairman
of
ways
and
means
from
1975
through
1981
defeated
this
proposal
at
the
1930s
and
1970
efforts
of
the
Gaston
of
the
Boston
gas
company
prevailed,
did
Beno
Park
on
this
site.
K
Shortly
after
his
election,
my
brother
pledged
that
he
would
work
to
get
himself
in
a
position
to
have
the
Dorchester
waterfront
restored
from
granite--
Avenue
to
Malibu
beach
and
by
extension,
to
Castle
Island
after
his
appointment
as
chairman
of
ways
and
means
committee,
he
more
than
fulfilled
that
promise.
With
the
help
of
many
of
the
people
here
and
today
marks
the
completion
of
the
final
link
in
the
restoration
of
the
Dorchester
waterfront
and
the
restoration
of
Dorchester
--zz
front
yard,
you
would
think
that
the
creation
of
parks
would
be
welcomed
and
supported
by
all.
K
Unfortunately,
50
years
of
delay
did
not
happen
by
accident.
For
example,
the
first
owner
of
the
Boston
Patriots
Billy
Sullivan,
wanted
to
build
a
stadium
on
land
that
now
includes
John
Paul,
the
second
Park
Granite
Avenue
to
the
old
drive-in
site,
and
this
was
a
multi-year
effort
on
his
part.
This
would
have
had
enormous
negative
traffic
consequences
and
parking
and
it
affected
the
quality
of
life
of
the.
J
K
Brendan's
area
and
the
entire
Dorchester
community,
John
Finnegan
and
his
Dorchester
legislative
colleagues
opposed
that
Stadium
project
and
defeated
it
Billy
Sullivan.
My
brother
told
me
recently,
who
was
the
head
of
the
Boston
Patriots,
was
so
furious
at
John's
opposition
that
he
afraid
at
him
at
a
public
function
and
said
he
would
change
the
name
from
the
Boston
Patriots
to
the
New
England
Patriots
John's
retort
was
that's
a
great
trade.
G
K
Ultimately,
the
land
from
Granite
Avenue
to
Victory
Road
was
designated
as
a
park
by
legislative
action
that
required
an
80%
majority
vote,
thereby
protecting
this
land
and
access
to
the
waterfront,
and,
as
you
heard,
this
was
followed
up
by
Tom
finnerman
by
many
of
the
people
behind
me,
but
mighty
Walsh
in
etcetera
in
terms
of
what
they
were
able
to
do
and
in
the
Senate
to
escena
4e
what
they
were
able
to
do
in
the
appropriation
area.
To
make
this
a
reality,
my
father
and
mother,
passed
away
in
1960
and
62
respectively
without
question.
K
Also,
this
last
link
of
the
Dorchester
waterfront
and
park
rest
restoration
is
aptly
named
for
my
father
due
to
the
circumstances
of
the
gas
tank
issue
which
I
mentioned
to
you
and
by
extension,
my
mother,
who
both
had
such
close
ties
to
port
Norfolk.
We
thank
you,
the
people
of
Port
Norfolk.
You
are
the
ones
who
dealt
with
most
of
the
turmoil
and
difficulty
in
really
outrageous
things
environmentally.