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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Revere rallies around Morocco amid historic World Cup run
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
We don’t like to take sides in this newsletter. But with the U.S. knocked out of the 2022 men’s World Cup, it’s hard to resist a good underdog story — with a local angle, no less.
This afternoon, we’ll find out who will play Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final. If Morocco pulls off the seismic semifinal upset over France, get ready for a big party in Revere. City officials say that around 10% of Revere’s population is Moroccan. And within moments of the history-making African team’s wins over Spain and Portugal, sizable crowds took to the Revere streets in joyous celebration. (Police even had to briefly close a stretch of Route 1A near Revere Beach on Tuesday following the dramatic win over Spain.)
- Play hooky: Revere is hosting a free outdoor watch party at Suffolk Downs for today’s 2 p.m. game, with plenty of room for those who want to jump on the Morocco bandwagon. There’s also an indoor public watch party at a local senior center. (Update: The Suffolk Downs watch party has also now been moved indoors at the nearby Beachmont School auditorium.)
- Catch up: Here are five things to know about Morocco’s historic Cinderella run in this year’s tournament. They arguably weren’t even expected to make it out of the group stage.
- To our French readers: Listen, we love your food, and really appreciate all your help during the Revolution. But you won the last World Cup. Time to give someone else a turn!
Boston is launching a SPACE program — OK fine, not that kind of space program. But it is ready for takeoff. Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration announced a new SPACE Grant Program yesterday, which offers grants of $100,000-$200,000 to help small, diverse businesses fill vacant storefronts. City officials say 10-15 businesses will get grants in the first round, but funding will eventually be offered to up to 50 total.
- The city is focusing particularly on major commercial hubs like Copley, Downtown, Fenway and Seaport to boost the diversity of storefront businesses in those (mostly white) neighborhoods.
- Here’s the list of what kind of businesses will — and will not — be considered for the grants (hint: no pot shops, liquor stores, franchises or lab space.)
Governor-elect Maura Healey announced the first hires of her incoming administration yesterday. But she’s also reportedly checking to see if some members of Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration would like to stick around. According to The Boston Globe, her transition team has been meeting with members of Baker’s cabinet to gauge their willingness to remain in their current roles.
- Who exactly? The Globe does not say — though we know there are some big names who Healey will have to replace, like the heads of the MBTA and MassHealth, who both plan to resign in January.
The Governor’s Council heard six hours of emotional testimony yesterday on Baker’s recommended pardons for Gerald Amirault and Cheryl Amirault LeFave, the brother and sister infamously convicted sexually abusing children at their Malden day care in the 1980s. While the council hadn’t previously blocked any of Baker’s pardon recommendations, WBUR’s Deborah Becker reports that councilors appear to be genuinely divided on this case.
- Baker has cited doubts about the evidence behind the Amiraults’ convictions, after questions arose that the children may have been manipulated by overzealous investigators. But the hearing Tuesday also featured testimony from several accusers and family members who urged the council against pardoning the duo.
- During the hearing, multiple councilors expressed concerns about pardoning the Amiraults. The group also agreed that Baker’s office hadn’t given enough information about why he sought pardons.
- What’s next: Becker reports that the Council is expected to vote on the pardons by next week.
P.S.— Reverse aging. Is it possible? (Would be nice.) In the second part of our CitySpace mini-series on longevity, On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti is talking tonight with Harvard’s Dr. David Sinclair about his reverse aging research and the latest on living a long life. The interactive discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. Get tickets here.
