Jamaica Plain residents, business owners, and city officials braved the heat at Mozart Park for Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s coffee hour on August 26. The Mayor’s coffee hours are an annual tradition for all Boston neighborhoods, and offer a way for residents to connect with city departments and each other.
As a new offering this year, Dunkin’ provided iced coffee, and fresh fruit was available courtesy of Star Market. Officials and representatives from various city departments, including Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF), EMS, Arts and Culture, Veterans Services, Public Works, and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD), were on hand to answer questions or address concerns from residents.
Additionally, Jamaica Plain’s new mayor’s liaison, Tiffani Caballero, was in attendance to chat with residents, as were folks from the city’ housing department.
Acting Mayor Kim Janey spoke briefly, providing an update on vaccinations and COVID. She said that around 70 percent of Bostonians have received at least one shot, and talked about the indoor mask mandate, which went into effect on August 27.
“We still have more work to do to make sure that we’re getting every resident the protection that they need in terms of vaccines,” Janey said.
Janey also talked about the importance of parks and open space, especially during the pandemic, as they provide a place for residents to get some fresh air and meet up with others in a safer way.
“I’m really grateful to see such a great mix of residents and business owners as well as folks from city government doing everything possible to make sure that our city is stronger than ever, and that we put the darkest days of the pandemic behind us,” Janey said. “Even as we continue to live with COVID, we’ve got to do our part to make sure that we’re protecting ourselves and our families from this deadly virus.”