This Just In

Quincy Woman Convicted Of Manslaughter In Death Of 11-Month Old Niece

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A Quincy woman has been found guilty of manslaughter by a Norfolk Superior Court jury for beating her 11-month old niece to death in 2018, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.

Shu Feng Hsu, 32, was living with seven family members in a home in Quincy’s Wollaston neighborhood in February 2018, including niece Chloe Chen.

“Hsu had been babysitting Chloe for several hours when she called 911 to report that the baby was in distress,” District Attorney Morrissey said following the jury verdict. “Chloe did not survive, and her autopsy revealed that she had died due to the infliction of trauma, including to her head.”

Investigation by Quincy Police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office included reviewing many hours of audio and video recordings of surveillance cameras within the home. Although there was no camera recording in the room where Chloe was, a nearby device captured an extended period of audio of the child crying. Hsu then entered the room, and the device captured multiple thuds in the room – after which the baby fell silent.

 Hsu was arraigned on a murder charge in Quincy District Court in March of 2018, and eventually indicted into Norfolk Superior Court in January 2019. “While the jury did not find the evidence to prove every of element of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, Hsu stands convicted of this homicide,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in state prison.”

Morrissey thanked the prosecution team of Assistant District Attorneys Lisa Beatty, Elizabeth McLaughlin, and Meagen Monahan, and Victim/Witness Advocate Kristin Collins and the detectives from Quincy Police and State Police who conducted the investigation, including lead detective Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik.

Judge Douglas Wilkins set sentencing for 9 a.m. on Thursday March 30.

Quincy School Committee, Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement

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By SCOTT JACKSON

The Quincy School Committee and Quincy Education Association on Friday afternoon announced they had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for the city’s teachers.

“The Quincy School Committee and the Quincy Education Association are pleased to announce the successful negotiation of a successor collective bargaining agreement for the period of Sept. 1, 2022 through Aug. 31, 2025,” the two sides said in a joint statement.

“Both parties agree that this settlement represents a positive step forward for the district and our educational staff who work hard in the schools every day supporting students and families. This new contract contains a number of significant improvements for Quincy educators. We are grateful for the work of both parties in reaching this contract and look forward to a continued collaborative relationship.”

Terms of the tentative agreement were not immediately available.

The previous contract between the city and the teachers’ union expired on Aug. 31, 2022. The sides had begun contract negotiations last spring and earlier in March requested the assistance of a state-appointed mediator to help reach an accord. The first mediation session was held last week, the second was held on Thursday, and the two sides returned Friday for a third previously unscheduled session.

The school board and the union both made their most recent contract proposals available publicly soon after agreeing to mediation. The two proposals differed in several areas, including parental leave, extended sick leave, longevity pay, and preparation time for school nurses and guidance staff.  Both proposals included 3 percent annual raises for teachers over the life of the contract though they differed in terms of step level increases.

MBTA: April Service Changes Will Allow Crews to Perform Track Improvement Work on the Red Line

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The MBTA today announced service changes in April on the Red, Blue, Orange, and Green lines, the Fairmount and Franklin/Foxboro Commuter Rail Lines, and Haverhill Commuter Rail Line.

April service changes on the Red Line will focus on rail and tie replacement work:

  • Accessible shuttle buses will replace service between Braintree and JFK/UMass Stations during the weekend of April 1-2. This service change will allow MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work along the track in multiple areas along the Braintree Branch that will alleviate speed restrictions.
  • Evening weekday trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between North Quincy and JFK/UMass Stations beginning at approximately 9 PM on April 3-6. This service change will allow MBTA crews to continue the tie replacement work on the Braintree Branch that began during the April 1-2 weekend and perform clean-up activities.
  • Evening weekday trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Park Street and JFK/UMass Stations beginning at approximately 9 PM on April 18-20. This service change will allow MBTA crews to perform pre-work activities including equipment and materials staging in preparation for the weekend diversions on April 22-23 and April 29-30.
  • Accessible shuttle buses will provide service between Kendall/MIT and JFK/UMass Stations during the weekend of April 22-23. This service change will allow MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work along the track in this area that will alleviate speed restrictions near South Station.
  • Accessible shuttle buses will provide service between Kendall/MIT and JFK/UMass Stations during the weekend of April 29-30. This service change will allow MBTA crews to continue rail and tie replacement to alleviate speed restrictions near South Station as well as perform work near the First Street gate in Cambridge.

April service changes on the Blue Line will focus on rail and tie replacement work:

  • Evening weekday trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Government Center and Orient Heights Stations beginning at approximately 9 PM on April 10-13. Shuttle buses will not serve Bowdoin station. This service change will allow MBTA crews to begin rail replacement and track alignment work on the Blue Line that will alleviate speed restrictions.
  • Evening weekday trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Government Center and Orient Heights Stations beginning at approximately 9 PM on April 24-27. Shuttle buses will not serve Bowdoin station. This service change will allow MBTA crews to continue rail replacement and track alignment work on the Blue Line that will alleviate multiple speed restrictions.

Due to the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction, Orange and Green Line service changes will take place in the downtown Boston area during the weekend of April 1-2 and on Saturday, April 8. Orange Line train service will be suspended between Back Bay and North Station. Orange Line riders are asked to use Green Line service between Copley and Government Center stations. Green Line trolley service will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between North Station and Government Center Station. Accessibility vans will also be available for on-demand transportation – Orange and Green Line riders should ask MBTA personnel for information and assistance.

 

Fairmount and Franklin/Foxboro Commuter Rail Line trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between South Station and Readville Station beginning at approximately 9 PM on March 31, during the weekend of April 1-2, beginning at approximately 9 PM on April 7, and during the weekend of April 8-9 to perform bridge replacement work at the East Cottage Street and Norfolk Avenue bridges. Over one hundred years old, both bridges are in the process of being replaced with updated steel infrastructures to improve safety and reliability. Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Readville and Forge Park/495 Stations.

Haverhill Commuter Rail Line trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Haverhill and Reading Stations for sixteen days from April 22-May 7 to perform Automated Train Control (ATC) work. ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed. Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Reading and North Station.

Due to an anticipated increase of riders expected to use the MBTA to travel for Boston Marathon events, there will be no scheduled service changes during the weekend of April 15-16.

Signage will be in place during all scheduled changes in service to direct riders to shuttle bus stops. Extra MBTA personnel and Transit Ambassadors will also be on-hand to assist riders.

Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on Twitter @MBTA for up-to-date service information.

The MBTA previously announced service changes taking place in March on the Red, Mattapan, Orange, and Green Lines as well as Haverhill and Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Lines. Riders are encouraged to visit mbta.com for a complete list.

The MBTA will announce additional service changes in advance as they are confirmed and scheduled. The MBTA apologizes for the inconvenience of these scheduled service changes, and appreciates the understanding and patience of riders as this critical and necessary work to maintain, upgrade, and modernize the system takes place.

For more information, please visit mbta.com/alerts, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, or TikTok @thembta.

MBTA Launches Online Speed Restrictions Dashboard

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The MBTA Thursday (March 23) launched a live, online Speed Restriction Dashboard that provides riders with up-to-date information on speed restrictions across the MBTA system. The dashboard reports on location, speed limit, when a restriction was put in place, and the reason for the restriction on the Red, Orange, Blue, Mattapan, and Green lines. The dashboard also provides the percentage of track under restriction, distance by individual line or systemwide, and total number of restrictions and can be viewed at mbta.com/speedrestrictions.

The dashboard is refreshed daily with data provided by the MBTA’s enterprise asset management system and helps riders see where speed restrictions are located with maps they are accustomed to seeing. The speed restriction activity summary will help illustrate the ongoing work the MBTA is doing to clear restrictions within the system. Last month, the MBTA began to provide riders with speed restriction data by releasing a static dashboard that reported information from the previous month.

“Today’s dashboard provides daily updates on our data based on activity from the previous day and was launched with the goal of providing transparent and timely information to our customers,” said Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville. “The dashboard delivers information that is clear and will assist riders in better understanding why they are experiencing slower conditions while riding the T. As we continue to validate and address track deficiencies, we also expect that over time, this platform will demonstrate the progress we’re making to remove speed restrictions. We know these restrictions impact riders’ daily commutes and we will continue to be transparent about the ongoing, daily work to improve our transit system.”

Users of the dashboard will be able to see when speed restrictions were put in place starting from January 2023 and review a summary of changes over time. This dashboard will provide riders with the latest information available at the start of each day providing a new level of transparency.

The new Speed Restriction Dashboard follows last month’s launch of an online safety dashboard that allows the public to see the status of the T’s progress in responding to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Safety Management Inspection (SMI) Special Directives. This dashboard includes a description of each Corrective Action Plan, what it is intended to correct, the MBTA’s analysis, recommendations, and the status of steps being taken to address the FTA’s Special Directives.

The Speed Restriction Dashboard was designed as part of the T’s response to the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection. To learn more about the FTA response, visit mbta.com/FTAResponse.

For more information, visit mbta.com/speedrestrictions, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, or TikTok @thembta.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Issues Guidance for Pharmacies to Ensure Continued Access to Reproductive Health Medications

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The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy (BORP) Wednesday (March 22) issued clarifying guidance to all pharmacies in the Commonwealth that as an essential part of the healthcare system and under its regulatory obligations, all pharmacies and pharmacy departments are required to stock and/or procure all reproductive health medications, including Mifepristone (Mifeprex®), and dispense those medications pursuant to a valid prescription and/or order.

“Here in Massachusetts, we will always protect access to reproductive care, including abortion,” said Gov. Maura T. Healey. “At a time when states are rushing to ban medication abortion and some pharmacies are irresponsibly restricting access to it, we are reminding Massachusetts pharmacies that they have an obligation to provide critical reproductive health medications, including Mifepristone. It’s safe, effective, and legal.”

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognizes access to abortion as a fundamental right and as a basic healthcare service which those in the healthcare system have an obligation to provide and support,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “We urge pharmacy providers nationwide to commit to making all reproductive health medications available based on state and federal laws.”

“Our regulations require pharmacies to stock and/or procure all prescriptions necessary to meet the needs of the community, and we interpret that to include all reproductive health medications, including Mifepristone,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “This is consistent with our standards as they relate to other basic though controversial medications, including naloxone.”

Since the United States Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision in Dobbs, millions of people who can become pregnant have lost access to abortion in their home states. This decision has allowed states to restrict abortion to the furthest extent possible, stripping access to basic and often life-saving healthcare. While Massachusetts remains steadfast in its support for abortion as a human right, we know that other states are making decisions that will ultimately result in increased maternal mortality and other ills of forced birth that will disparately impact poor women and women of color.

Twenty Attorneys General around the country have signed letters calling on pharmacies in their state to refuse to distribute Mifepristone, an FDA-approved and essential abortion medication, based on a restrictive interpretation of the law and misrepresentation of facts. Yielding to these coercive tactics will further strip pregnant people of their agency and rights and will violate the responsibility of pharmacies and pharmacy departments to provide critical healthcare services, including medications for abortion care.

The clarifying guidance to pharmacies was accompanied by a statement from Commissioner Cooke reaffirming the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring access to abortion for all people throughout Massachusetts and urging pharmacy providers nationwide to adhere to their obligation to provide critical medications to patients, as determined by the individual’s healthcare provider.

Quincy Councillors Concerned Over Conditions At Two CVS Stores

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By SCOTT JACKSON

City councillors on Monday raised concerns about conditions at two of the CVS stores in Quincy – one in North Quincy and the other in Quincy Point – and asked representatives from the pharmacy giant to appear at a future meeting to address issues at those locations.

Ward 6 Councillor William Harris on Monday introduced a resolution expressing concerns about conditions at the CVS located at 321 Quincy Shore Dr.  After Ward 1 Councillor David McCarthy said he shares similar concerns about conditions at the CVS at 626 Southern Arty., Harris’ resolution was amended to reference both of those locations.

The amended resolution passed unanimously.

Speaking during the meeting, Harris said the CVS store on Quincy Shore Drive is an important part of the community and has great employees, but concerns that he, other city officials and residents raised about conditions on site have gone unanswered since the fall.

“We just couldn’t get CVS folks to do the right thing,” he said.

Harris showed his colleagues photographs showing damaged fences around the dumpsters outside the store, a rat and rodent burrows, and issues with traffic circulation in and out of the parking lot. Other photographs showed the wooden fence that separates the store from neighboring homes in a state of disrepair, including sections that had fallen down.

“I’m sure CVS has enough money to maintain this property much better,” Harris said. “CVS has not responded to multiple requests to resolve these issues over months – phone calls, emails, directive from neighbors and obviously city officials.”

The resolution calls upon “representatives from the CVS Corporation [to] appear before the Quincy City Council to address these complaints, answer to why they have not been resolved, and provide a clear plan to ensure these matters are resolved.”

Following Harris’ presentation, McCarthy said he has concerns about the CVS on Southern Artery in his ward.

“I have my own pet peeve with CVS on Southern Artery. It’s just same as the Councillor Harris – maybe not as bad traffic problems, but the dumpster, the debris in the back. I’ve had Inspectional Services down on Southern Artery numerous times just trying to get them to fence it in, to move it, and they’ve kind of blown us of,” McCarthy said.

The city has attempted to clean up the area around the store, like the Souther Tide Mill site, only for debris from the CVS parking lot to blow over there, McCarthy added.

“It does make for a blighted situation down there at the Souther Tide Mill that is an area that we’re trying to clean up,” he said. “I would love to have CVS talk a little bit in front of us about that location.”

Right Lane Closures On Quincy Shore Drive Start Wednesday (March 22)

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Beginning on Wednesday, March 22, and continuing through Friday, April 14, (excluding weekends), the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement right lane closures along Quincy Shore Drive (outbound) from Sachem Street to Rice Road in Quincy from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate wood rail and guardrail replacement work.

The work crew will be on site from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. DCR urges drivers and pedestrians to use caution in the work zone. Traffic patterns will be clearly marked, and a police detail will be on site.

1000 Southern Artery Safety Meeting March 27

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The Quincy Police Department will hold a safety meeting at 1000 Southern Artery on Monday, March 27.

The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. that morning in the South Wing Auditorium within the housing complex.

1000 Southern Artery is the largest senior housing complex in Quincy, with 641 apartments spanning three interconnected buildings.  Since 1966, 1000 Southern Artery has been a staple of Quincy Point, and the City of Quincy as a whole.  The complex is owned by a partnership comprised of 1000 Southern Artery Renewal LP, and 1000 SA GP LLC (or “Foundation Housing”) according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State.  “1000 Southern Artery is the 2nd oldest senior housing in the State but has been maintained over the years in a way that provides safe, affordable, and attractive senior housing,” according to its website, www.1000sasc.org.

However, recently residents voiced a number of serious safety concerns.  Such concerns include but are not limited to: non-residents trespassing in the building (and sometimes staying for periods of time), residents’ packages disappearing from the mail room and their storage units, and a general lack of security personnel.  1000 Southern Artery is believed to be the only senior building in the City without any video surveillance, camera system, or security personnel.

Attorney Richard Ash, President of the Ward 2 Civic Association, received a call from some concerned residents last month.  “The safety issues reported were extremely concerning and directly impact the safety of the most vulnerable population, our seniors,” he said.  “The Quincy Police Department does a great job responding to the seniors there.  QPD has been urging 1000 to install some surveillance for a while.  We were told that management at 1000 received quotes to install a surveillance system pre-pandemic.”

With the help of City Hall, Representatives from “Foundation Housing” (a Maryland-based LLC) met with Richard, QPD Community Resource Officer Steve Cleary, and the 1000 Southern Artery management team in the beginning of March.  All parties amicably agreed that the property and its residents would benefit from security cameras.

Reviewing bids, implementing and installing will likely take some time.  To discuss different measures and safety precautions that will be taken in the interim, the police department’s next “Safety Meeting” at 1000 Southern Artery will be held on March 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the South Wing Auditorium.  Residents, and their families and loved ones, are encouraged to attend.  If you are unable to attend but would like to voice your concerns, please call/text Richard at 617-201-6405, or email ward2civicassociation@gmail.com.

Healey-Driscoll File $734 Million Supplemental Budget

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The Healey-Driscoll administration on Friday (March 17) filed a $734 million supplemental budget to provide additional funding for core programs and services, such as COVID-era workforce and public health programs, and to make other one-time priority investments.  

The funding proposed in this bill builds on the investments made in Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll’s proposed budget recommendation for Fiscal Year 2024, with additional support for the state’s universal school meals pilot program, clean energy and technology, and additional resources for the MBTA to better recruit and retain employees. 

“In our Supplemental Budget, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I are proposing additional investments that will move us forward on our goals of increasing affordability, competitiveness and equity in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Healey. “The universal school meals program has proven to be a success in expanding access to nutritious meals for all students, and it’s essential that we keep it running and evaluate our options for the future. We also know that workforce shortages are fueling the serious service issues at the MBTA, which is why we are proposing dedicated funding for hiring and retention. And this funding will play a key role in supporting our efforts to tackle the climate crisis and make Massachusetts a global leader in the clean energy economy.” 

“This supplemental budget will provide the funding needed to make sure critical programs that Massachusetts residents rely on are continued and expanded,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll. “We look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to advance universal school meals, clean energy and technology, and hiring at the MBTA, as well as ensure we are adequately supporting our health care workforce as the COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end.” 

This bill fulfills Governor Healey’s commitment to triple the operating budget of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center with an additional $35 million for the agency to keep Massachusetts on the cutting edge of clean technology and decarbonization efforts and to forge new partnerships with public higher education institutions and trades to grow the clean energy industry. This funding would be in addition to the new money proposed for MassCEC in the administration’s House 1 budget recommendation, and MassCEC would be authorized by this bill to establish the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal to further the creation of new green jobs. 

 This legislation requests an additional $171 million to extend state-funded universal free school meals through the 2023-2024 school year. It also directs the Executive Office of Education to report by early next year on options to reform, modify or extend this program in a way that promotes equity, maximizes federal revenue and improves predictability and sustainability of funding into the future. The Healey-Driscoll Administration previously requested additional funding to continue the program through the end of the 2022-2023 school year. 

 The bill proposes $20 million to enable the MBTA to better recruit and retain employees to meet its needs and deliver safe, reliable service across the system. This includes money that would be used to increase and expand hiring and retention bonuses, boost entry-level pay for bus operators, and develop a robust marketing campaign to support hiring efforts. 

 The bill also directs $200 million toward a Critical Health and Human Services and Workforce Reserve to cover projected deficiencies in Fiscal Year 2023 and expenses in early Fiscal Year 2024 for the continuation of COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts. This includes temporary staffing relied upon to respond to health crises in our nursing homes, group care settings, state hospitals, and Soldiers’ Homes. 

 The bill’s workforce funding is necessary to ensure there are enough health professionals, including licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), to meet the needs of vulnerable residents under state care while we transition beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.  

 The Healey-Driscoll administration is also proposing $10 million to create a new LPN career ladder program to support nursing facilities and home- and community-based services providers in their efforts to retain direct care staff and upskill them to LPNs. The program would fund no-interest loans and grants to support the cost of attending an LPN certification program, as well as living expenses while attending. 

 “We are pleased to have the resources necessary to continue to support critical health services for our most vulnerable residents, to build new pipelines for residents to start and advance their careers, and to make record investments in areas like clean energy that will ensure the Massachusetts economy is well positioned to grow and thrive,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. 

 Other key investments recommended in this bill include:  

  • $75 million for Chapter 766 rate relief to assist school districts in managing extraordinary increases in tuition prices for approved special education placement programs 

  • $60 million to support caseworkers and staff at the Department of Transitional Assistance 

  • $20 million for a bridge to stabilize critical victim service programs throughout the Commonwealth and ensure continued access to trauma-informed services in light of decreased federal funding through the Victims of Crime Act 

  • $10 million to double the Cultural Facilities Fund for the Massachusetts Cultural Council 

  • $5 million for the Martin Richard Field House  

  • $3.5 million to support the redetermination process at MassHealth 

  • $2 million for the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution 

  • $100 million supplemental transfer to the pension fund, as agreed to with the House and Senate as part of the consensus revenue process to fully pay down pension liabilities attributable to the 2015 Early Retirement Incentive Program ahead of schedule. 

 Additionally, several outside sections would make recommended adjustments to municipal finance laws and governance. One of these changes would give municipalities more flexibility in how they spend opioid settlement money – making it easier for cities and towns to quickly use these resources for treatment and recovery services. They will also simplify accounting and fiscal rules regarding revolving funds, insurance proceeds and mitigation agreements. A separate section would also provide raises for sheriffs. 

 Finally, the administration is proposing to extend three Public Health Orders issued in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency beyond the end of the emergency declaration on May 11. This legislation would permanently extend staffing flexibilities for advanced life support ambulances; temporarily extend staffing flexibilities for freestanding dialysis providers, and temporarily extend flexibilities for the administration of prescription medications to clients of state agencies who reside in community settings. 

 The spending recommended in this bill would be covered by a mix of available General Fund revenue and one-time resources.  

 Read the Governor’s supplemental budget filing letter here and the bill here.  

Quincy Educators Vote 98% No Confidence In Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch

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Members of the Quincy Education Association overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch March 16.

For over 190 days, Quincy educators have worked under an expired contract. The union, comprised of nearly 900 members, had one-on-one conversations with its members over the last few weeks.

Ninety-eight percent of members agreed to support the Quincy Education Association’s position of no confidence in Mayor Koch. These negotiations have shattered our confidence in Mayor Koch’s ability to lead and have created low morale amongst Quincy Public School educators, the QEA said in a press release issued Friday morning.

“Our working conditions directly impact the learning conditions of Quincy’s students,” said QEA President Gayle Carvalho. “Today’s vote by our members, across all 19 school buildings, demonstrates how deeply dismayed Quincy educators are at the lack of urgency demonstrated by Mayor Koch to address these pressing concerns in our public schools.”

The QEA is seeking:

  • Compensation that will allow Quincy Public Schools to remain a competitive district for the recruitment of new educators and the retention of veteran educators.

  • Modern and reasonable parental leave that allows Quincy educators to care for their newest family members. We are asking the district to cover two weeks of this leave and for educators to have the right to fund the remainder out of their leave out of their accrued time.

  • Time in the day to support educators’ most vulnerable students and their families by providing adequate staffing and preparation time, particularly for those educators who currently have no protected time in the day.

The Quincy Education Association is comprised of the nearly 900 certified educators in Quincy Public Schools who negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the city of Quincy.