Documents pertaining to the concilliation agreement to the parcel of land that the Harriet Tubman House community Center stood on.
| Submitted | Dec. 30, 2020 |
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Communications
From: CHRISTOPHER STRUNK
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
Sometime between 2001 and 2005, Housing and Urban Development put together a lawsuit for Edna Smallwood, the Tenant's Development Corporation, and possibly other organizations filed a lawsuit against the Boston Planning and Development Agency (which was then known as the Boston Redevelopment Authority) in regards to the conciliation agreement for that parcel of land, that changes were being made to. I would like any documents that pertain to this lawsuit, particularly ones that related to the reasons for HUD filing the lawsuit. The lawsuit named Mark Meloni of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and also Mayor Menino, if that is any help finding these documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
CHRISTOPHER STRUNK
From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
I am out of the office and will be returning January 4. Please
contact Joyce Armstrong at Joyce.Armstrong@Boston.gov if you need
immediate help or I will respond to your message when I return.
--
[image: BPDA_Identity_RGB_Hor_Pri_DB.png]
Teresa Polhemus
Executive Director/Secretary
617-918-4475 (o)
Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA)
One City Hall Square | Boston, MA 02201
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 30, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Redevelopment Authority
The Boston Planning & Development Authority (BPDA), received your request
for public records. This email shall act as the response to your request
for public records.
It is expected that all records responsive to this request will be provided
within twenty-five business days from the date we received your written
request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(i) (reasonable time
frame shall not exceed 25 business days), so long as an explanation is
provided. The BPDA is currently searching for responsive documents, but
will require the extended time frame due to the number of documents that
must be searched through and the length of time since the documents were
created, as well as the time required to review documents while working
remotely. We are in the process of reviewing documents from the archives.
Please note this response will apply only to records that exist and are in
the custody of the BPDA. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records
Law, p. 32, n.115.
[image: BPDA_Identity_RGB_Hor_Pri_DB.png]
Teresa Polhemus
Executive Director/Secretary
617-918-4475 (o)
Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA)
One City Hall Square | Boston, MA 02201
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 30, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Redevelopment Authority
We are still searching for responsive documents. We have used the terms
you shared and are struggling to find any responsive documents. We may be
in touch to clarify exactly what you are looking for.
Thanks.
Teresa
[image: BPDA_Identity_RGB_Hor_Pri_DB.png]
Teresa Polhemus
Executive Director/Secretary
617-918-4475 (o)
Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA)
One City Hall Square | Boston, MA 02201
From: Boston Redevelopment Authority
Good morning Christopher,
The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), has received your request
for public records. This letter shall act as the BPDA's response to your
request for public records. This response applies only to records that
exist and are in the custody of the BPDA. See A Guide to the Massachusetts
Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.
Specifically, you requested:
*Sometime between 2001 and 2005, Housing and Urban Development put together
a lawsuit for Edna Smallwood, the Tenant's Development Corporation, and
possibly other organizations filed a lawsuit against the Boston Planning
and Development Agency (which was then known as the Boston Redevelopment
Authority) in regards to the conciliation agreement for that parcel of
land, that changes were being made to. I would like any documents that
pertain to this lawsuit, particularly ones that related to the reasons for
HUD filing the lawsuit. The lawsuit named Mark Meloni of the Boston
Redevelopment Authority and also Mayor Menino, if that is any help finding
these documents*.
In responding to your public records request, please find the responsive
records in our possession provided through the link below:
https://bpda.box.com/s/brhtxzsyp8zt5rly6abzi4dgucvo58ey
Please send all future public records requests to bpdarecords@boston.gov. Under
Massachusetts law you may appeal this response to the Supervisor of Records
in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 66, § 10A;
950 CMR 32.08.
Sincerely,
Joyce Armstrong
--
[image: BPDA_Identity_RGB_Hor_Pri_DB.png]
Joyce Armstrong
Public Records Assistant
617.918.4366 (o)
Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA)
One City Hall Square | Boston, MA 02201
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