The City Council is nearing a compromise on redistricting the City’s nine districts, according to Councilor Matt O’Malley. And JP’s leadership is unlikely to change. “There are still a number of steps to be taken, but short answer: Some consensus is being built,” said O’Malley, who lives in and represents Jamaica Plain. The City...
Blog Archives
Political Notes: O’Malley has new JP liaison
O’Malley has new JP liaison City Councilor Matt O’Malley, who lives in and represents Jamaica Plain, announced recently the addition of Ture Turnbull to his staff as a JP liaison, according to a press release. “I am thrilled to have Ture on my team,” said O’Malley, according to the press release. “Ture is smart,...
Goddard House closure is questioned
S. HUNTINGTON— Local state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez has questioned the closing of the Goddard House Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and asked officials to reconsider, while the head of Mount Pleasure Home, another local nursing home, called the closing the result of the community’s “moral responsibility” failing. With the closing, Jamaica Plain is losing...
Mayor’s rep observes JP for 24 hours
Jullieanne Doherty, Jamaica Plain’s coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, recently spent 24 hours observing JP and talking to its residents as part of an effort by the City to give the coordinators a different perspective of the neighborhoods they cover. “I learned some things and gained valuable experience in the off...
City census finds zero homeless on JP streets
The number of homeless people living on the City streets dipped to the lowest level since 1997, according to the City’s 2011 homeless census. And in Jamaica Plain, no homeless people were found on Jamaica Plain streets on the night of the census, said a City official. The census, which is normally released during...
JPCC chair criticizes City partnership
Jamaica Plain Community Centers (JPCC) chair Kerry Costello is criticizing the relationship between Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) and the local councils that run the community centers, saying the City is attempting to garner more power over the partnership. The partnership is still governed by a 1974 “Plan of Operations” document. The...
Homeless census results still missing
The City has yet to release its 2011 homeless census, despite the fact it released previous census results during the winter months. The census has been conducted for 32 straight years, with the last several showing a drop in the homeless population. The City uses the census to help determine homeless programs and funding....
BHA: Drug deal sparked Bromley violence
By Peter Shanley and John Ruch, Gazette Staff The recent violence at the Bromley-Heath housing development is the result of a drug purchase gone awry, according to Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Administrator Bill McGonagle. “That’s what I’m getting from my police,” he said. “There might be other theories out there.” The BHA and other...
Medical marijuana goes on the ballot
Jamaica Plain residents will soon have an opportunity to help decide whether or not to legalize medical marijuana. The issue has been placed as a question on the state ballot for November. Supporters of the measure had to gather 79,000 signatures to get the question placed on the ballot. But local state Rep. Jeffrey...
Community centers may lack written deals
It remains unclear what, if any, operating agreement there is between the City and the local organizations that help run community centers. The only known document covering their operation dates to the 1970s. Earlier this year, a committee was formed to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City’s Boston Centers for Youth...