Removal of Designated Port Area Designation in Favor of New England Revolution Stadium Frustrates Environmentalists and Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17th, 2023
Contact: Vick Mohanka, vick.mohanka@sierraclub.org, 508-451-4188
EVERETT, MA – Sierra Club Massachusetts denounces the Massachusetts State Senate’s decision to remove the Designated Port Area (DPA) designation for the proposed soccer stadium in Everett. This decision ignores regional community input, environmental concerns, and urban planning best practices in the service of private profit. The pursuit of this project has circumvented traditional processes which are traditionally navigated through regulation. Such circumvention sets a dangerous precedent in regards to public process and transparency.
Numerous issues warrant a regulatory approach to building the New England Revolution stadium. Massachusetts environmental justice law and policy require an accounting of cumulative air pollution impacts on local residents which is sorely needed for this project. Additionally, transit concerns, infrastructure, and utilization of federal funding all must also be considered in an inclusive process.
We urgently call on the state legislature’s conference committee to not allow this backroom deal to go through at the behest of billionaire Robert Kraft.
Surrounding communities have repeatedly been subjected to consequences of decision making without proper input which has resulted in lopsided benefits and exorbitant costs to the health, air, and environment of Massachusetts residents.
This process must incorporate broader community voices in the development of an MOU and community benefit agreement, along with a board made up of regional residents to coordinate with the larger community.
Massachusetts cannot subvert established processes for the benefit of individual private interests. This is further demonstrated by the exclusive nature of the DPA designation being specific to the Kraft group and a soccer stadium.
Sierra Club is the country’s oldest and largest environmental advocacy nonprofit with approximately 100,000 members and supporters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.