good morning and welcome to urban update. i'm byron barnett. on the show this morning, the growing problem of unresolved homicides in boston and how it affects the families of the victims. also a church in dorchester gives a big reason to celebrate the change in seasons, but first the choices chelsea residentses will have as it has important positions to the to be if i amed. last week we chatted with four of the counsel at large

calvin brown, todd taylor and damali vidot came ton answer our questions, this week we rounded out by having the two two maining candidates in show, the the is incumbent leo robinson satellite welcome to urban update, thanks for for coming in. you're on your 16th term, 30 years there, and you were also the president of the city council are you not. >> well, why are you running again for the 16th time here. >> well, first of all, i'm a family man, we own a house in chelsea, i'm a united states army veteran a cofounder of the louis h. society. it's important to be actively involved in the city, to make sure city cities its course and approve the service.

>> in your opinion what are the three most pressing issues facing chelsea residents in the next few years? >> taxes, education and public safety. and we need taxes in order to be able to provide services, if we don't have taxes, we're not going to be to provide services. the education. >> sounds like you're saying more taxes. >> more taxes. you know, we're all going to be hit with a major increase in taxes because of the proximity to boston, what the property values are escalated to. some people have been able to cash in and get a nice piece of change for their property, but people like myself and other residents who are going to be living there if the rest of our lives, it kind of hurts us in regards to the taxestaxes today paying. >> and the other issue you mentioned was. >> education. education in chelsea is very important. right now the school system

we're up to about the 6,000 children and last january we had an increase of 1,000 students coming into the chelsea school system. so therefore, the city had to come up with some money to be able to provide those students with an education. >> what makes you a good representative for the residents of chelsea? >> i'm a man about town. i participate in all community events. i'm easy access to the community. the majority of the people in the community have my cell phone and they see me walking around chelsea during the week. >> what are you planning to do to make city hall more proactive in providing city services and maintenance? >> well, i think city hall does a pretty good job in providing services, i think the city council's job is to make sure

necessary tools to the four city cities so that they're adequately able to provide those servicservicings such asking our streets, doing road work and make our city presentable overall to the community. >> and can you share any specific initiatives that you yourself plan on spearheading? >> this coming year i'm going to spearhead thenational mast her plan that fits into our community, we haven't done a master plan since 1971. i think it's al time for us to take a look at that, how we can improve our community by having a mix of master plan. >> now following the new developments going on in the city, the silver line's going to be coming through, rents and housing is always an issue,

you plan to roach these issues. >> dealing with the presents and the housing issue, that's actually a statewide issue that we need to engage on, state representatives and our state senators to find a mechanism how we can control some of the development that's taking place, we seem to be look for tax ruff ewe and we're able to take big developments not get a lot of return for the city itself in regards to providing necessary housing for people who want to stay in the community. >> now, the city has such an enormous latino population, should is city do more to diversify its work force? >> when you're talking about diversity, you're talking about you, you're talking automatic me and will other people who don't look like latinos. i think it's important that everybody in our community is represented, and not just one segment of the community.

work collectively together to improve our community. >> any specific ideas how you go about doing that? >> well, actually this coming thursday night, i'm holding a respect and unity gathering at the dock side restaurant and inviting all candidates and supporters to participate and it's open to the public. >> okay. leo robinson, running for your 16th term on the city council. president the current president of the city council. thanks for coming in and good luck in november. >> and thank you. >> all right. well, when we come back, chelsea city councilor deborah

the city has important position to be filled in counsel jurisdiction general election in november. today we are taking a look at the remaining toll city counselors at large choices, last week we featured the other four, up next is deborah washington, welcome to urban update. you're not an uncouple bent now be you have had experience in the past, also on the school committee as well. and you're born and raised in chelsea. >> yes. >> well, okay, well, welcome to urban update. let's begin with

council again because there has been a break down in if communication between city government and the residents of chelsea around the economic developments that are happening in the city. we have a group of people who have been there are for general rations, and they're wondering if the city is going to take their homes away by 'em innocent domain because they feel there's not enough space in the city as it is. then we have these complexes being built in the city, the rent is too high. and then huff landlords creationing their rents because you have these no complexes and peel's faith continues to be not to be able the afarred represent. >> and what are the the three most pressing issues facing the residents of chelsea? >> i would say the three most pressing would be economic development, affordable housing, and high rents.

>> talking abouteconomic development, there's not a lot of buildable land in the chelsea, where do you see the problem being? >> well, that's the problem. that's how people are looking at it. but right now, they're taking vacant areas, they're converting it -- we have developments in chelsea, more are coming in, we have another hotel coming in, but i see the problem is space. really don't have the space. >> is it being developed the way you think it should be? >> i think it's being developed -- they have professionals in there doing it, but i feel the city is crumplinged as it is. >> what makes you a good representative for the residents of chelsea in in your view. >> well, in my view, i'm a resident of chelsea, i have served on city council, i have served in a school committee, i have worked with various community organizations in the city of chelsea dealing with

issues in chelsea, so i know chelsea, i know some of the problems. i'm a person who likes to get resolutions and solutions to problems, that's what my whole gear is is getting the people concerns into economic development and rising prices what making city hall more proactive in providing city services and maintenance? what are you planning to do in that area? >> well, i think the city's proactive, can it be more? yes, special services people can call in if there's any complaints about the city, like broken sidewalks, telephone wires. they can call in. we alts have click a fix it you take your camera, take a picture, send it in. i think they do good with the workforce they have. it's very small. i think that more will have to be more people hired to get the quick response that people expect and that will fall on the

purview of the is it the management. so if i were the city council i would go to city management and ask to create proactive issues. >>. >> i plan on spearheading when i get in creating open forums so that the residents can come and exprison their conditions to city government and the city government can listen to them and come up with resolutions with resolutions all this economic development. the city manager is the is the who determined how much afford punishable housing comes, in and there needs to be an open discussion to put people's fears at rest. now, with all the economic development in city p what are what is your take on how those issues should be approach? >> well,, it's got to be a great benefit totterers depends, it's

south station, north station, the airport which will be easy access for people to get on there and travel to the various workplaces. but my thing, the downside of it. i think the beautiful plan's going to be doing beautify characterization renovating, tearing things down, my thing the what are they going to tear down? for them to have this line, space going to have to be made. are they tearing down houses? are they relocated people? time will tell. i go to these meetings, i ask questions, they said once they renovate, beautify, rents will go up, so what percentage? they don't know. >> are you concerned about gentrification and the people who live there not being able to afford them? >> well, yeah, definitely, and that's like the main issue, people wonder if this is going to be another boston where

people are pushed back. is chelsea now going to be a beacon hill is that what the city government is going for you, in the city has a large latino presence. >> i think there should be diversity but not based on any one specific group. chelsea is a multiskull churl melting pot. we were various nationalities. i think it should be diversified buzz it will be good for our children to see someone position that lookslook like them. so hilled sit down with the city manager with that. >> okay, and we'll wrap it up right there. deborah washington, candidate for city council of chelsea, six candidates, three seats, the election is coming right up. bulk. >> thank you. >> well, when we come back, the problem of hundred resolved homicides in boston, and how it

affects the family of the victims right here on urban

according to tower next guest, solving homicides in both remain a major problem, they say many of the city's homicides go unsolved and grieving families and loved ones are left to suffer years, sometimes decades of anxiety and depression. sadly our guests today are here because they are women survivors of homicide. mary franklin is the founder of the women's movement for homicide survivors. she lost her husband melvin franklin who was murdered inned in 196 as he was coming home from work to his young ma'am. teresa martin is with us also, who lost her brother to homicide four years ago, both murders remain unsoeverred. the city of boston recognized

recently attended by mayor marty walsh. mary franklin organized the event. welcome to urban update, ladies, thanks for coming in. i can't say that will i'm happy about the circumstances for which you are heat index but perhaps we can shed a little light on this whole situation, mary let's start with you, you fathered an organization expressly meant for survivors of homicides, tell me why. >> yeah, as why said, uloses my husband melvin in 199 six of. just a sense legislation murder. and i found that after so many years ago, melvin's murder not being solved, it didn't sit well with me. you know, i just couldn't believe it. so i thought of a way to start advocating for melvin's murder, which would also touch other women who have lost people to unsevered murders. >> and just briefly, the circumstances surrounding your

husband's murder? >> pretty much mel was coming home from work that 90, he did something he nevada -- never did. he didn't drive his car to work, he took public transportation home, he was about 20 yards away from our home, and there was a robbery in progress, mel interrupted the robbery, his presence did, and thefirst victim got away and mel became the victim. >> did you have any young children at the time? >> yes, we did, three children. >> that's terrible. theresa, now, you lost a brother to homicide four years correct. >> five years. >> did you ever think it would take this long to find justice for him and your family because it's still unsolved, correct is this. >> correct. i honestly thought that when my brother did, it was something that would get solved. if not a year, then close to it. just because at the time that it

him, and people that claimed they saw what happened and called the police, so and it also happened across a park where there was lots of people. it was summertime, it was around 8 o'clock, i believe. >> what were the circumstances? >> so from what i know is my brother was over at friend's house, he was sitting on the steps along -- i guess there was other people sitting on the steps too, and they came from sideways and approached my brother and started shooting, and somebody else got shot but my brother was the one that didn't survivor the shooting. so and i know that friend did see, so i don't understand why it's not solved. >> you're holding the picture of your brother. >> my brother's name is david martins and david was 30 when he going to murdered, and he had just had his birthday in july, and he got killed august 12.

>> mary h you're also looking to hold remembrance every; is that correct. >> yes, yes, we just held one last thursday, october 15, and we are looking to every year raising a flag of of ware necessary. what we did this year, we had families come who are suffering and grieving from unsolved homicides. the mayor was there, the police commissioner. clergy, just others and we came together to bring aware nestle around this issue that will it seems like no one is addressing. i mean these unsolved murders haven't just appeared. these murders have been here for years. i mean, i have statistics from 40 years of murders that haven't been solved. so we have to -- >> and how many? what is your count. >> it's over 900. >> other 900. >> and this is roxbury, dorchester, and these victims are black people and other

and will it just does not make sense. >> theresa talk to me about the i mosts that people experience as they at wait nor justice, the emotions that you went through and are going through. >> it's an emotion that you will go through for the rest of your life. like my whole family dynamic has changed. my whole family's been affected by this greatly t. you know, i suffer from depression, anxiety, so does my sister, ever since this happened. my mother, my dad. everybody's been impacted emotionally, physically, and it's just ongoing because until i find out who's done this to my brother, i don't think i'm going to have any type of closure at all. >> mary, you founded an organization for these purse but also felt the need to run for public office, can you tell me what office and why you felt that need to run. >> right i'm looking to run for

the mayor of the city of both and my platform is simple,s the jobs. i believe that if you can't make a community safe, then you can make the community happy, and if the community's happy and safe, you can have a better city. so we have toll look at our boston million dollar, we have police department, fix our school is in shambles and we have to look at it and fix it and we have to find jobs for people who are unemployed that want to work. >> theresa i'll let you have the last word here, where can people get help the they're grieved over a lost loved one? >> until i found one women survivors of homicide, there really was nowhere for me to go, i just basically suffered in silence, so did rest of my family and i can honestly say

that this movement helps me connect with other women that are going through the same support each other. >> teresa martins and mary franklin, thanks for coming in and my condolences, and my hopes that someday, the murders of good luck. >> thank you. all right. after the break, celebrating a change of seasons with church in dorchester, giving the city a big reason to come together. details right here on urban

the recent weather reminds us that it's autumn until new england, school is back in session, and the hall day season is approaching, as a change of season kicks in a church in dorchester and giving the city a big reason to come together. the grace church of all nation until dorchester is inviting the city to its annual harvest first day festival for youth and families in boston. it's a day where youth will enjoy pie eating and apple bobbing and free barbecue will be available. the free event will be held in the parking lot at grace church of all nation at its parking lot at 451 washington street. radar vest fest will be held on october 31 from 11:00 o'clock in

afternoon. our guests today is executive pastor michella etienne. well, sounds like it's going to be a fun event. now, this isthis is a religious event. >> well, it's not, but we are hoping that as a result of us coming together and bringing the community together, that we can show our neighbors, neighborly love. we hear a lot of stories in dorchester about people not knowing one another, but we want to focus on the positives and about loving each other and sharing and getting to know our neighbors, so this is a great opportunity for people to be satisfied and happy about coming together and giving them a positive reason to come out and see what's going on. >> what's the formatt? >> well, like you mentioned, there's going to be contests, apple picking, we also have a

have tables, the health centers we'll have tables there. and we're going to have a great time, bouncing around. >> now, this is the dorchester centered event but you're really inviting everybody. >> yes, we want to focus on our local community and the people who liver around us, but we also think it's important for all other neighborhoods to come together and just to know that good things happen in dorchester, see for yourself that it's a good place to be. >> talk to me about what the check and families are getting out of this and the whole aspect of the community building and the purpose of that here. >> what we're hoping to give to children and family is an opportunity for them again to have a positive environment where they can come out, play, and not be afraid that anything's going to take place,

be around people that they can soon call friends, hopefully family, because boston is a neighborhoods of families, and we want people to know that we can act like family and come out and share with one another. so kids who are under served have an opportunity to come and eat and play and just be kids. which is something that a lot of kids don't have the opportunity to do any longer but this is an opportunity for them. >> you make a possibilities of making sure everyone knows this is a free events. i guess, why is that important in your view? >> it's important not only for our church but also for our sponsors, citizens bank, open table, the health care center, to let the people know that we love them and it's good the give back. it's not about taking all the time. or people perceiving that other organizations are taking but it's good the give back to your community because as you give you receive. >> now, i know this is your

second harvest fest, how did that go? >> last year's harvest fest was amazing, we had nearly 2,000 people. knock are we expecting to have that and more, but we've invited our community leaders to come out of the police departments to come out. different stores and individuals from other neighborhoods neighborhoods come and share with us and have an awesome time in dorchester. >> now, the the health center is going to be a participate in this in the. >> they are are they doing anything special. >> i think they're just going to have a table where they'll be sharing materials and other things that pertain to the community. who are you trying to serve really with this whole event? >> our goal is to serve everyone in boston, however we're focusing on our neighbors in dorchester, we serve our local neighbors, but it's not just people of dorchester, i think love goes i don't understand just one location, we can serve

and finally rea a mind talk about details of the event. >> the event is takes place at grace church of all nation, which is located at 451 washington street it will corner of washington and park. and it's going to be take place behind our church building and it's from that's october 31, which is halloween and so we're inviting all the kids to come, those who are having a bible contest, a bible costume contest, so we're inviting people to come out and a good time. it's from 11:00 o'clock to 4:00 p.m. >> okay, it sounds like it's going to be a fabulous day, executive pass torr, thanks for coming in and have a great time on october 31. >> thank you, will do. well that's it for this edition of urban update. from everyone here i'm byron barnett, have a great sunday,