Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed legislation that will bring Massachusetts up to current standards for federal identification as mandated by the federal REAL ID Act, according to a press release. New REAL ID compliant cards will begin to be issued in the fall of 2017. “I thank the members of the Legislature for their...
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Boston strives towards goal to end homelessness
Mayor Martin Walsh recently announced that the City is “well on its way” to meeting its goal to end chronic and veteran homelessness by 2018, according to a press release. The City’s action plan, originally launched in 2015, has been re-launched under the name “Boston’s Way Home.” According to the press release, Boston has...
Residents have early-voting option
Boston’s Board of Election Commissioners has established “one-day early” voting sites for the upcoming November election, including Curtis Hall and the Back of the Hill Apartments, according to a press release. Overall, there will be 27 early voting sites across Boston, three in each of the city’s nine council districts, in addition to early...
Invitacion, Aug. 12, 2016
El plazo para la sección de participación es al mediodía, martes, el 23 de agosto para la edición del 26 de agosto. Mande eventos a [email protected] Note: marca el 617 antes de los números que salen abajo. Reuniones Comité de casas abandonadas en JP, primer miércoles del mes, 10:30, en la comisaría del distrito...
JP Agenda, Aug. 12, 2016
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues., Aug. 23 for the Aug. 26 issue. Send listings to [email protected] Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Meetings Forum with Candidates for Local Contested Elections, hosted by Ward 11 and Ward 19 Democratic Committees. Aug. 23 at Farnsworth House,...
Sights and Sounds, Aug. 12, 2016
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Aug. 23 for the Aug. 26 issue. Send listings to [email protected] Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Special events Movie Night, Thurs. Aug. 18 6:30pm. Knucklebones Playspace 7:30 p.m. Movie Sugar Bowl, Jamaica Pond Movie Night! Thursday, August 25...
Letter: Friends of the JP Branch Library group responds
We write in response to Allen Spivack’s July 8 letter entitled, “Artists need to be paid appropriately.” We think he is under a few misconceptions. First, the Friends of the JP Branch Library (Friends) is a small nonprofit that exists to support the JP Branch. We are an all-volunteer organization and spending $3,000 for...
Letter: Vote yes on Question 4
Far too many lives have been destroyed by our senseless war on drugs. Millions of people have criminal records for drug offenses that make it harder to get student loans, find affordable housing, and secure a good job. Even more disturbing, our drug war has unevenly targeted people of color. Massachusetts’ current policy of...
Letter: Diversity of Boston Scholars
In the July 22 Gazette, Major Walsh recognized by name 35 recipients of the City of Boston Scholars award, given for academic achievement and community service. Especially impressive to me, judging by the names of the students, was their marked diversity of ethnicity and national origin. It made me feel proud that Boston and...
Letter: Stop state bullying of JP community gardeners
Imagine a state agency cutting off water to a JP community garden in the heat of the summer? In some parts of the world, this could be considered a dangerous and hostile act. That’s what’s happening in JP. The agency that manages state assets is bullying our scrappy neighborhood association, pressuring us to sign...
Letter: Trees planted in sidewalk are a danger
I would like to thank the JP Gazette for printing Sandra Storey’s article on the effects of planting trees in sidewalks. I unfortunately did trip on a raised sidewalk (due to tree roots) in JP Center and my upper right arm fell against the tree trunk as the rest of my body hit the ground. The...
Letter: Vote no on Question 2
Question 2 on the ballot this November considers lifting the cap on charter schools. It is imperative we vote NO and keep the cap. Charter schools directly reduce Massachusetts’ public schools’ funding and quality. Charter schools are funded with public money that would otherwise go to public schools. In 2015-16, the state’s public schools’...
Changes coming to 76 Stonley Road project
Changes are coming to the proposed 76 Stonley Road development, including the height of the project being reduced by one floor, according to Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) spokesperson Nick Martin. Developers John Morrissey and Bryan Austin originally planned a 31-unit, 40,940-square-foot project at 76 Stonley Road. But attendees during a BRA-held community meeting on...
Renovation and expansion for 125 Amory St. in the works
Amory Street Partners held its first meeting on July 6 to discuss a renovation and expansion at the 125 Amory St. site that would include adding a significant amount of mixed-income units. The development at 125 Amory St. is a City-owned property that currently provides housing for seniors and people with disabilities. The Amory...
Persisten las preocupaciones sobre la propuesta para 3193 Washington St.
De Josie Grove Especial a la Gaceta A pesar de los cambios que ha hecho City Realty a su propuesta para el desarrollo de 3193 Washington St, los participantes en una reunión comunitaria el 11 de junio expresaron dudas sobre el proyecto, incluido su impacto en el aburguesamiento y el progreso del proyecto sin...
Concerns remain for 3193 Washington St. proposal
By Josie Grove Special to the Gazette Despite City Realty making changes to its 3193 Washington St. development proposal, attendees at a July 11 community meeting continued to express concerns over the project, including its impact on gentrification and the project proceeding without having to follow the Plan: JP/Rox guidelines. “It seems like every...
Main Streets businesses and volunteers honored
Several Jamaica Plain volunteers and businesses were chosen as business and volunteer of the year at the 20th annual Boston Main Streets awards ceremony last month, according to a press release. Karen Sama of Egleston Square Main Street and Arno Puskar of Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street were celebrated as volunteers of the year, and...
BRA still reviewing 3353 Washington St. project, changes possible
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is still reviewing the 3353 Washington St. project and changes might come to it, according to spokesperson Nick Martin. Martin said in an email BRA staff met with the developer, Mordechai Levin, to discuss the density bonus that is being proposed as part of the Plan: JP/Rox study. That...
JP Observer: Translating harmony into justice takes work
Porchfest in Jamaica Plan revealed an almost other-worldly neighborhood on July 9. Crowds of people of many colors, backgrounds and ages stood in attentive clusters every few streets, clapping for bands and singers and other performers, too. All afternoon, the grand mix of humans—some holding maps dotted with the 80-plus locations offering entertainment—paraded down...
Obituary: Elizabeth G. English, a JP resident, dies
Elizabeth G. English, a longtime Jamaica Plain resident, died on July 7. She was 97. Daughter of the late Thomas H. Skinner and Esther (Jennings) Skinner. She married Edward Wesley English, Jr. (deceased) of New Bern, North Carolina. She is survived by five children: Deborah A. (English) Rippy, Mai Chang (formerly Joyce I. English),...
Sights and Sounds, July 22, 2016
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Aug. 9 for the Aug. 12 issue. Send listings to [email protected] Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Special events Viva el Latin Quarter Summer Series, Theater performances on Tuesdays, Family zumba on Wednesdays, Concerts on the Plaza on Thursdays,...