With City Councilor Felix Arroyo joining the mayoral race, there is a chance for Jamaica Plain to be home to a mayor for the first time in nearly 50 years. At least five Boston mayors have hailed from JP, including the legendary James Michael Curley. Here is a list: John Collins (1960-66). Oversaw creation...
Blog Archives
Menino’s JP years
Before Thomas Menino was mayor, he was a Hyde Park city councilor whose district long included a large chunk of Jamaica Plain. Councilor Menino’s district included Woodbourne, Forest Hills and the Stonybrook area along Washington Street. Gazette stories from the early 1990s show he had a reputation as a straight-talking, sometimes blunt, politically moderate...
On the Police Beat: March 24 – April 7, 2013
The following crime incident reports are public records provided by the Community Service Office of the District E-13 Police Station, which is solely responsible for their content. All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in court. April 7: Hit and run (property), 669 Centre St.; assault with dangerous weapon, 2030 Columbus Ave.; vandalism, 180...
JP Tunes: New local music
Jamaica Plain musicians recently released the following albums or singles: Boston Cello Quartet, “Pictures” (self-released). Bostoncelloquartet.com. Gracious Calamity, “Double Indemnity” (Whitehaus Family Record). Graciouscalamity.bandcamp.com. Steph Barrak, “Words to Break Your Heart” (self-released). Stephbarrak.com. JP musicians can notify JP Tunes about new releases at news@jamaicaplaingazette.com.
JPNC-City links seen in early documents
The Gazette has discovered JPNC documents from the 1980s that may bolster its claim in a controversial lawsuit to be a government body. An April 10 court hearing in the dispute concluded without a decision by the judge. The documents include discussion of a contract between the JPNC and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood...
City takes over some Charlestown council duties
The City of Boston has quietly taken over some Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) zoning review duties after a private City Hall meeting with its leaders, the Gazette has learned. The move apparently was triggered by recent lawsuits filed against the council, and the plaintiffs say it bolsters their argument that the CNC—and other neighborhood...
Man shot to death; vehicle sought
By John Ruch and Peter Shanley, Gazette Staff HYDE SQ.—A man was shot to death at 104 Minden St. on March 31, and Boston Police are seeking a dark-colored Ford Flex vehicle seen in the area around the time of the 8:30 p.m. shooting. The victim was Edward Villalona, 25, of Jamaica Plain, according...
No decision on JPNC lawsuit
A Suffolk County Superior Court judge made no decision on a motion to dismiss the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council’s (JPNC) controversial lawsuit at a hearing yesterday afternoon, according to an attorney involved in the case. The attorney declined to speak on the record about what happened in the hearing. No further hearings have been scheduled...
Hennigan won’t join mayoral race
By John Ruch and Peter Shanley/Gazette Staff Maura Hennigan, clerk of the Suffolk County criminal courts and a 2005 mayoral candidate, will not run for mayor this year, she told the Gazette. “As much as I would love to run for mayor with this open seat, the short timeframe to put together a campaign...
Arroyo announces mayoral run
City Councilor At-Large Felix Arroyo, a Jamaica Plain resident, officially joined the mayoral race today, kicking off his campaign at the downtown office of the Service Employees International Union Local 615. “I will bring my skills as a community organizer, my experience as a city councilor and my commitment to moving Boston forward to...