City Councilor Matt O’Malley, who represents and lives in Jamaica Plain, outlined his achievements and plans for the upcoming year in his fourth annual “Town Hall” meeting, held March 26 at Arnold Arborteum.
O’Malley said his “best role” in the Casey Overpass demolition and Casey Arborway construction project is to disseminate information and encourage JP residents to support their local businesses.
He said he will also work on pushing the MBTA to find the over $220 million required to build a permanent bus yard maintenance facility at the Arborway. The project is four years overdue and is still unfunded.
He further said that he would “love to explore the option” of possibly relocating the bus yard to a new site on American Legion Highway, proposed by JP resident Allan Ihrer.
“My most important role is to facilitate conversations,” he said.
For the upcoming year, he said he plans to devote his efforts to improving public spaces, specifically by adding public water stations and creating dog parks.
“I see enormous value in dog parks,” he said.
He also highlighted the renovation for the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, which was scheduled to have its first community design meeting April 9, and the possibility of beginning to revitalize the City-owned Curley House on the Jamaicaway.
He said he is “committed” to pushing for more summer jobs for Boston youths.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to a controversy over a quarry in West Roxbury in another part of his district.