A Boston Police spy agency destroyed all of its controversial surveillance files of the Occupy Boston movement two years ago, it revealed in response to a Gazette public records request. That may come as a relief to civil liberties organizations…
Month: March 2015
Peace Garden Cleanup
Sexual abuse alleged at Italian Home in ’80s
The Jamaica Plain-based Italian Home for Children is facing an allegation that its former chief financial officer—George P. Forte Jr.—sexually abused a boy there during the early 1980s. The claim was made last month by lawyer Mitchell Garabedian, a famed…
The return of Dianne Wilkerson
Of all of the twists and turns of Boston’s Olympics bid, perhaps the most surprising is the public reappearance of Dianne Wilkerson. JP’s former state senator’s last public activities here were in 2008, when her reelection attempt collapsed with her…
Alcalde promete arreglar los parques, pero sin dar detalles
Hablando con periodistas en una mesa redonda el 11 de marzo en el ayuntamiento, el Alcalde Martin Walsh dijo que después de las Olimpiadas, Franklin Park sería renovado de estilo vanguardista en una oportunidad rara. Pero, aunque simpatiza con la…
Community Academy dodges closure
The Community Academy school may dodge closure thanks to an updated Boston Public School (BPS) budget proposal created by the school’s community. The small, alternative public high school that serves students who have struggled in traditional classrooms was pegged for…
JP’s Freedman leaves bike czar job
Nicole Freedman, a Jamaica Plain resident, is leaving her post as director of the City’s Boston Bikes program to take a transportation position with the City of Seattle, according to an email blast from her. Her last day is today,…
JP groups to host inequality forum
Several neighborhood organizations, including JP Progressives and the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), are co-sponsoring a forum on inequality that will take place April 9, according to a press release. The other co-sponsors of the event, which will be…
Mayor echoes Olympic park fix-up promises, but no new details
Mayor Martin Walsh said that a post-Olympics Franklin Park would be renovated to the “state of the art” in a rare fix-up opportunity, speaking to reporters at a March 11 roundtable at City Hall. But, while saying he sympathizes with…
JP Observer: Thaw reveals more work to be done
A new exercise program is being launched here this spring. Jamaica Plain resident Vivienne Frachtenberg called me last week to ask if I want to participate. She said it’s called “Walk and Bend,” and she started the program several days…