Government

City Councilors Push for Examination of Boston’s Gas Infrastructure

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In wake of the horrific gas explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, a trio of Boston City Councilors are calling for an examination of the city's gas safety infrastructure. District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley, District 2 City Councilor and At-Large City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, filed the order to hold a future hearing at Wednesday's City Council meeting. For O'Malley, it continues his pursuit to make sure the city's gas lines are safe. In 2016, as chair of the council's Environment, Sustainability and Parks Committee, O'Malley led the passing of a city law that would reduce gas leaks, improve safety, help the environment and lessen the cost of gas. But it has not been implemented due to gas company National Grid's lawsuit opposing its implementation.

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Elections

Q&A: Register of Deeds Murphy on His Successes Since Taking Office

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Stephen Murphy was elected as the Suffolk County Register of Deeds two years ago and is up for reelection this fall. Murphy fielded questions from Jamaica Plain News about the purpose of the Register of Deeds, should the register accept Venmo and more. Q: You were elected in 2016 as the Suffolk County Register of Deeds. What have you accomplished in the position since being elected? Murphy: The job of the Register of Deeds is to keep the land records for Suffolk County accessible, reliable and secure.

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Animals

Three Sites Proposed for Possible Dog Parks on Southwest Corridor

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Eventually, there will be a dog park in Jamaica Plain. There have been numerous proposals through the years, but the community never bit for any of them. But the latest doggone effort by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which proposed three different possible sites along the Southwest Corridor for dog parks, seems to have some (four?) legs to it. At a DCR public meeting on August 2, state officials provided an overview of three possible locations. Click here to view the entire Department of Conservation and Recreation proposal.

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Government

Matt O’Malley’s Busy Day: Dockless Transportation, Supporting Locked Out National Grid Workers and Mobile Infrastructure

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District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley had a very busy Wednesday! Jamaica Plain's city councilor introduced hearing orders on a dockless bike and scooter share, investing and expanding Boston's wireless infrastructure and offered a resolution in support of locked out National Grid employees. Let's take those one at a time. Dockless Transportation

Dockless bike and scooters have been popping up in Boston, Cambridge and elsewhere. Some municipalities are seizing them and removing them from the streets as they are aimlessly hanging out around and getting in people's ways.

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Government

Malia, Like Fellow JP Rep. Sánchez, Couldn’t Force Public Vote on Immigration Protections

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Jamaica Plain state representatives Jeffrey Sánchez and Liz Malia both supported immigration provisions as a rider in the state budget. But neither demanded a public roll call from their colleagues—despite being chair and assistant vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means—because they say they didn't have the numbers to support it. As previously reported in Jamaica Plain News, Sánchez was disappointed the immigration provisions were stripped from the state budget during House-Senate negotiations. The provisions, which among other things would have prohibited police from asking people their immigration status unless required by federal or state law, ultimately did not appear in the approved state budget. Malia said she is also disappointed the legislature didn't have enough votes to override Governor Charlie Baker's veto. As for why a public vote wasn't taken, she told Jamaica Plain News, "It appears many of my colleagues didn’t want to take the vote, especially in certain purple and red districts of our commonwealth.

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