Government

State Legislature Passes Regulations, Taxes on Airbnb, Other Short Term Rentals

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The following piece was provided by Andrew Bettinelli, Chief of Staff for State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who represents Watertown:

The House and Senate have reached an agreement to regulate and tax short term rentals, like Airbnb. Perhaps most importantly, the bill preserves local control, giving cities and towns wide latitude to regulate short term rentals. Preserving local control is critical because cities and towns across the Commonwealth have different concerns, and even within Boston, the impacts are different from neighborhood to neighborhood. By requiring registration of short term rental units, municipalities will be able to collect the data needed to better understand the impacts on different neighborhoods. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2018/02/22/town-mulling-over-how-to-handle-airbnb-other-short-term-rentals-in-watertown/

This bill would:

Tax short-term rentals and accommodations rented through hosting platforms like Airbnb at the same uniform tax rate imposed on stays at traditional brick-and-mortar lodging accommodations like hotels/motels/bed & breakfast establishments.

Around Town

August at the Library: Crafts, Small Business Tips, Computer Classes and (of Course) Reading

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August is filled with activities at the Watertown Library, with activities for kids and adults, cooking demonstrations, classes and more. Watertown Free Public Library provided the following information about events at this month:

C.R.A.F.T.: Collage Coasters*

Sunday 8/26 | 3 p.m.
Lucia Mastrangelo Room
CRAFT is a series of free DIY workshops for adults. We will provide supplies and instruction for you to Create Random Amazing Free Things. Bring your friends for an afternoon of inspiration, fun, and creativity. This month we’ll be making collage coasters!

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Prostitution Ring

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The following piece was produced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston:

A Watertown man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with his role in a long-running interstate prostitution ring. 

Jineok Kim, 38, of Watertown, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce individuals to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Co-defendant Susan Bashir, a/k/a “Susan Redmon,” 41 of Stone Mountain, Ga., pleaded guilty on July 25, 2018 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 8, 2018. Co-defendant Kyung Song, 52, of Lexington, Mass. is scheduled to plead guilty on Aug.

Belmont Savings

Belmont Savings Sponsoring Two Upcoming Watertown Summer Concerts

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The following announcement was provided by Belmont Savings Bank:
Belmont Savings Bank announced today it is sponsoring this year’s Watertown Concert Series on Aug. 2 and 16. This is the first year that the bank is sponsoring the program. Each program will take place at Saltonstall Park in Watertown, beginning at 6:30 pm. (The performances should conclude around 8 p.m.).

Around Town

Construction at Filippello Park’s Grove Street Entrance has Begun

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The Watertown Recreation sent out an update about the construction project at Filippello Park:
We are pleased to announce the renovation of the entryway of Filippello Park (Grove Street) has begun. The initial work will include mobilization and light demolition and preparation of the site. Perimeter fencing has already been erected, however access to the fields, tot lot areas and picnic areas has been maintained until Monday, August 6 when the entry way as well as the parking lot will be closed and secured.  This area will remain closed until the end of the project, which will be mid November. There will be no access to the east end of the park during construction. Through the generosity of the Mount Auburn Cemetery and Mount Auburn Hospital, the adjacent parking lot on Grove Street will be available to the users of the facility Monday through Friday evenings and on weekends with pedestrian access to the fields.

Transportation

Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Project Will Impact Pike, Trains, MBTA Service

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The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced that intensive construction operations for its project to replace the westbound side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Boston began successfully on the evening of Thursday, July 26. “On Thursday evening, Commonwealth Avenue as well as the Boston University Bridge were closed to all vehicular traffic, detours were implemented for MBTA bus routes, and a section of the Green Line B branch is now replaced by bus shuttles,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Our crews have started initial work-related activities including roadway milling, staging equipment, and bringing in bridge beams and materials. The public is asked to avoid the local area if possible as significant travel impacts are in place, and make informed decisions on route, timing, and mode of travel.”
Crews will start demolishing the westbound side of the bridge on the morning of Saturday, July 28. The MBTA Commuter Rail Worcester/Framingham line and the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited line will be replaced for some station stops by bus shuttles throughout the weekend, and during the following weekend, in order to ensure adequate room for operations.

Around Town

World War II Veteran Who Served on a Navy Destroyer Shares His Story with Watertown Cable

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Watertown Cable host Bob Kaprielian recently spoke to a 92-year-old Navy veteran from Watertown for the cable show A Veteran’s Story. Watertown Cable Access TV sent out the following announcement:
Watertown Cable Access presents the story of Signal Man 2nd Class, Rick Erikson, a sailor aboard the USS Lewis Destroyer Escort who served in the Pacific during World War II. A resident of Stoneleigh Road in Watertown, Erikson remembers seeing the United States flag flying over Iwo Jima, one among the dwindling numbers who witnessed the flag. He recounts being in the typhoon that ravaged the U.S. Navy’s fleet off the coast of Okinawa and tells the story of the numerous kamikaze attacks that sank the destroyer just behind the USS Lewis in the picket line. Seaman second class Erikson is believed to be one of only four surviving shipmates on the USS Lewis.