Unjust Legacy
PAUL KOZAK stands at a microphone in East Boston High School’s auditorium on an early February evening. He holds a dead fish in his hand, visible from around the room. One can imagine its lolling eye, a scent of decay held at bay by its plastic bag. The room is quiet, save the occasional furtive whisper. The suited officials on stage listen to Mr. Kozak, eyes trained on the fish. He is protesting a tilted public process and the inability of local residents to influence it.
Mr. Kozak asks members of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board to reconsider siting a high-voltage electrical substation not far from his own home in East Boston’s Eagle Hill neighborhood, next to Chelsea Creek. Behind him are residents and supporters who share his concerns. They hold up neon poster board signs and wear matching T-shirts designed by GreenRoots, an environmental justice group that has organized many of those present. Employees of Eversource, the electric utility petitioning to build the substation, line the edges of the room. Eversource claims that the project is necessary to address the area’s growing electricity demand, and its proposed placement and design would minimize the cost of construction, which would be passed on to its customers. Though, pending approval, they plan to build the project half a mile from here, this is the first time—February 5, 2019 — the board and Eversource have held a public meeting in East Boston.
Kozak addresses the board: “I speak here as a resident of East Boston. I am probably the third closest house to the new site change, approximately sixty yards I would guess from the site. I have three children: ages six, four, and two. I speak for them as well.” His tone is measured, in an attempt to temper the palpable anger in the room.
Kozak is one of dozens to provide public comment this day. Elena Letona, a native of El Salvador and director of Neighbor to Neighbor, an immigrant rights organization, provides her testimony also. Her voice is
