City Councilor Ed Flynn says he's had enough with South Boston residents ignoring state and city regulations that ban large parties - next week, he will ask the City Council to call in BPD and ISD to figure out how to enforce the Covid-19 regulations that too many people are flouting, even if that means increasing the current $300 fine for violators.
In the meantime, Flynn is telling constituents concerned about large parties as they're happening to bypass 311, which has built up a large collection of Southie party complaints and call 911, so police can respond immediately. Also:
If you believe that a property is a repeated offender for violations, please contact the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), so that ISD can investigate the property and potentially put it on the city's problem properties list. If a property is on this list, the city's Problem Properties Task Force sends notice to the proper owner about the designation, and the owner would need to address the violations.
Flynn says he and other South Boston elected officials have met frequently with C-6 police and ISD about the situation and that both departments have tried to enforce the regulations, but that it's time to step up the city's game in the middle of the pandemic and end the potential super spreaders.
At the council's meeting next week, Flynn will formally ask for a hearing at which BPD and ISD will be asked how to ensure nobody has indoor parties of more than 25 people - and possibly less, depending on the size of the party space - as well doing something about the way many people are refusing to wear masks or physically distance themselves from other party goers.
As we continue to hear these reports of house parties, we need to talk about stricter enforcement of the governor's order and further mechanisms to disincentivize people from having large parties, including increasing the fines on repeat offenders.
Flynn says that even aside from the Covid-19 risks, the people throwing these parties are often slobs, leaving nearby streets littered with vermin-attracting trash.