A few questions about the proposed elimination of the Casey Overpass: Why is a group of bicyclists passing through our community given priority over long-term, politically active and concerned residents living with the threat of this disastrous plan? Why does the Department of Transportation cloak their preference for the cheap solution over the promised,...
Opinion
Letter: What was the point of S. Huntington input?
The following letter was sent to local elected officials: I am a resident of S. Huntington Avenue in Jamaica Plain, and I felt compelled to write to you about the poorly-handled Boston Redevelopment Authority approval process for the housing development at 161 S. Huntington Ave. As I understand it, the developer, Boston Residential Group...
Letter: Gazette was unfair about advocate
I was disturbed to see the Gazette make an unwarranted connection between Peter Roth, developer, and Peter Roth, chair of the Board of the Boston Preservation Alliance (BPA) when BPA submitted a letter opposing demolition of the Knight Building at 161 S. Huntington Ave. (“One developer under fire puts heat on another,” Oct. 12.) The letter...
Editorial: JPNC chair should resign
Benjamin Day, the chair of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, led an ill-informed smear campaign against the developers and elected officials involved in two housing developments that his council will review. He threw a bomb that backfired and damaged the JPNC. He should resign. This is a difficult call to make because Day has...
Editorial: Honoring veterans
As Veterans Day is observed Nov. 12, America is anticipating the official end of the Afghanistan war. Veterans will be welcomed home, but often to a lack of jobs and services. Veterans deserved thanks, but need much more than that. It is a good time to consider supporting Volunteers of America-Massachusetts or the Wounded...
Letter: Gazette failed to report real S. Huntington news
You and your reporters have failed to report the news. The editorial “JPNC chair should resign” (jamaicaplaingazette.com, Nov. 1) and article “Developers’ donations stir debate; JPNC chair’s role questioned” (jamaicaplaingazette.com, Oct. 31) contain misleading statements, and do not focus on what is truly newsworthy: 1) despite nearly total opposition to luxury condo developments at...
Letter: Casey plan degrades all forms of transportation
At the most recent planning meeting to eliminate the Casey Overpass, MassDOT announced its misguided “Complete Street” design, having degraded every form of transportation at Forest Hills. First, this meeting presented the elimination of on-street bike lanes along New Washington Street. This is being done because they have acknowledged that the six-lane roadway presents...
Letter: Opposing housing for poor or rich is class warfare
Hooray for the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, Boston Health Care for the Homeless and the Pine Street Inn! (“Homeless care project wins appeal,” Oct. 26.) The state appellate court has ruled in favor of the 461 Walnut Ave. respite care facility. The plaintiffs argued that increased traffic and decreased property values would impact...
Letter: Focus on developers, not critics
Your recent editorial “JPNC chair should resign” (jamaicplaingazette.com, Nov. 1) as well as your article “Developer’s donations stir debate” (jamaicaplaingazette.com, Oct. 31) cast a critical light on JP residents volunteering to improve our neighborhood. Why didn’t you choose instead to aim your attention at heavyweight luxury housing developers rapidly encroaching in JP? The nearly...
Letter: Higher standard needed in JPNC, S. Huntington debate
Residents of Jamaica Plain are wrestling over who can lay claim to the neighborhood. At a time of declining and stagnating real estate values overall, when one-third of mortgage holders nationwide are underwater, prices here are steady and rising. Some will benefit and some will not. We are attracting heightened interest, including from far-flung...