Councillor accuses mayor of bullying; wants answers to his dismissal of Beachmont Arts Center

  The City Council voted unanimously to support Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna’s motion that Mayor Brian Arrigo come before the council to discuss the status of the public arts center at the renovated Beachmont Fire Station. Arrigo approved and signed on to the project in June 2021. For months, neighbors, residents and stakeholders have been working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), which provided a grant to move the project forward, on plans for the fire station. But late last month, Arrigo wrote to the MAPC and informed the agency that work on the arts center must stop completely.

  McKenna and other councillors are looking for an explanation. But they are also looking for Arrigo’s response to a second part of this story which involves a City Hall moment that seems like a scene from a New York mob movie.

  During a Ways and Means Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 27, McKenna read a statement on why she couldn’t vote for schematic design for a new high school at the Wonderland site. According to McKenna, “After my statement, and before our regular council meeting, Mayor Arrigo approached me, the only woman on the council, and said that ‘The Beachmont community arts center that you want, is done.’ Then he walked away from me.”

  An emotional McKenna explained her decision to come forward with her story. “This retaliation not only takes away from our community, but it clearly reflects the behavior of an individual who did not get his way,” said McKenna.

  “I understand tensions were high that night, and I would have let the mayor’s verbal threat go because I have remained silent with his bullying tactics that have been occurring throughout my tenure as a councilwoman,” continued McKenna. “But now, with the cancellation of this Community Arts Center, I cannot remain silent anymore – enough is enough.”

  McKenna, in an email sent to The Advocate, cited a March 23, 2023 email from the mayor to Hannah Gathman, Senior Regional Arts and Cultural Planner for MAPC, which stated, “Hannah- Thank you for your support on the Beachmont Fire Station. Unfortunately, we are going to have to cancel these working group meetings for the foreseeable future. The city is unable to commit the resources to see this project move forward….Brian”

  Several councillors immediately voiced their support for McKenna.

  Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro commended McKenna for having the courage to come forward with her story. “If there’s any question about what she said, I witnessed, I heard, I saw exactly what she described happened that day and it’s disheartening to say the least,” said Cogliandro.

  Councillors-at-Large Dan Rizzo and Gerry Visconti also praised McKenna for standing up and speaking out. “This is what people hate about politics,” said Rizzo. “It’s a slap in the face to call MAPC – that wants to give the city money – and tell them we don’t want it,” said Rizzo, who added that Revere works hard for grant money to assist the city.

  “There’s no reason why the residents should have to suffer,” said Rizzo.

  Visconti also said McKenna’s story shows an ugly side of politics. “It’s very disheartening to know this type of behavior is coming from the Mayor’s Office,” said Visconti.

  “This is exactly what the city has had enough of – the division, the vindictiveness, the vendettas – and why? Because a vote didn’t go the way the administration wanted,” added Visconti. “We need to do better.”

  Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto complimented McKenna for her courage and was a little more direct in his criticism. “There’s no place in politics for this kind of retaliatory crap…It’s bullying at its worst,” said Zambuto. “The bottom line is there’s no place in the city for this stuff. I’m disgusted by it and I’m with you, Councillor McKenna.”

  Mayor Arrigo did not attend the meeting; however, he issued the following statement in response to McKenna the following day:

  “Over the last eight years, my administration’s goal has been always to work collaboratively and in good faith with all stakeholders including our city council. As long as I’m in office, I will continue to work with community members and organizations to bring a vibrant arts space to the long-vacant Beachmont Fire Station. It was never my intention to suggest otherwise.”