Photos: Election 2015 From the Front Lines

A balmy November day wasn't enough to draw more than 14 percent of eligible voters to the polls Tuesday for Boston's city elections. In Jamaica Plain, voting was quiet in the morning at Egleston Square, Amory Apartments and English High School. The only candidate volunteers were at Woodbourne Apartments in Wards 19 in Precincts 17 and 12, one of the battlegrounds for the very tight District 4 City Council race. In the evening, voting attendance was busier at the Margarita Munoz Academy (formerly the Agassiz School) on Child Street (Wards 11 -9 and 19 -8). At Egleston Square, Amory Street and Woodbourne, campaign signs covered fences and light poles.  

 

 

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City Councilors Boost Own Pay to $99,500

Boston's City Council voted today to give itself nearly a 14 percent raise next year, elevating councilors' salaries to $99,500. According to Universal Hub, "Councilor Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury), who had voted against an earlier pay raise, said he would vote for this raise as a compromise -- Council President Bill Linehan has urged a six-figure salary -- but said that he and [Councilor Ayanna] Pressley would file a proposed ordinance to link councilor pay to the average household income of Boston residents going forward." The pay raise would have gone into effect next week even without a formal vote, but Councilor Michael Flaherty urged the council to take action today. Read how each councilor voted on Universal Hub and the Boston Globe.

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As Marriage Equality Becomes Law of the Land, Remember JP’s Role

As you've probably heard, the Supreme Court on Friday handed down the landmark decision that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states. And while you also probably know Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage, it's worth remembering JP's key role. Of the seven couples who made up the lawsuit that led to marriage equality in the Bay State, three lived in Jamaica Plain at the time, according to the Gazette:

Julie and Hillary Goodridge
David Wilson and Robert Compton
Michael Horgan and Edward Balmelli

It's 11 years after the first same-sex marriage licenses were given out at Cambridge City Hall. Let's remember JP's role in sparking this startlingly fast national change.

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Alison Moronta, left, helps facilitate a meeting of business owners at The Haven on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

JP Organization Seeks Help to Restore Small Biz Funding

The JP Neighborhood Development Corp., known for its efforts at increasing affordable housing, is also an important backer of the neighborhood's small businesses. And the tax dollars that support a key program, Small Business Technical Assistance, aren't in the state Senate's budget (or the governor's, for that matter.)

Alison Moronta, business development director for the JPNDC, issued an urgent call at a Wednesday meeting of neighborhood business owners. She asked participants in a Hyde Jackson Main Street networking session at The Haven to call or write legislators, urging them to restore $2 million to the program. David Warner, co-owner of City Feed, said he'd already contacted legislators. "Our business wouldn't exist without the JPNDC," he told the crowd of about 20 business owners.

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Screen shot from video of City Councilor Charles Yancey speaking at a Casey Arborway meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2015.

Yancey on Casey: ‘I Have Grave Concerns About This Project’

Name-checking the successful grassroots effort that stopped the Southwest Expressway, City Councilor Charles Yancey told a sometimes raucous crowd of about 175 that he wants to make sure neighborhoods outside JP, notably Mattapan, don't suffer from ills he sees in the massive project. Yancey, who represents District Four, said he'd soon announce a date for a City Council hearing he's sponsoring for an "urgent review of the impacts" on the city's neighborhoods. Yancey was among the many voices at Thursday's construction information meeting at English High School who called the whole effort into question. Transportation officials have struggled at each of the three construction meetings this year to limit discussion to practical questions about carrying out the project. The District 4 councilor wants a series of public hearings on the traffic and environmental impacts of neighborhoods all along Route 203.

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City to End Half-Century Wait for a Master Plan

Mayor Marty Walsh has launched the first city-wide planning effort since 1965. As anyone involved with the politics of development knows, these days projects pretty much get considered one-by-one. The effort will ramp up over the next few years, leading to a blueprint for what the city should be like in 2030. The city has a fancy new Web site devoted to the effort. If you Tweet, the city wants folks to use #ImagineBos.

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District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley

O’Malley: Let’s Put Sunscreen Dispensers in Parks

The city councilor representing Jamaica Plain has floated the idea of the city installing no-cost sunscreen stations at all Boston parks. District Six City Councilor Matt O'Malley put in an order for Wednesday's council meeting to "explore the installation of sunscreen dispenser stations in Boston's parks." According to the Globe, Boston wouldn't be the first city to offer such a service. Miami Beach already does it, with costs underwritten by allowing advertising on the dispensers.

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Mayor’s One Direction Quip During Twitter Chat Goes Viral

.@choll12 We are all devastated about Zayn Malik but we must soldier on #ASKMJW— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) March 25, 2015

Mayor Marty Walsh took to social media Wednesday afternoon to field questions during a Twitter chat. And while he was asked about affordable housing, schools and of course the Olympic bid, an off-hand quip about a boy band is what went viral. The answer above was retweeted 3,400 times as of Thursday morning. Here's a replay of questions fielded by the mayor and his answers. [View the story "Mayor Walsh's Twitter Chat in Q&A Form" on Storify]

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The Jamaica Plain Honk Band participated in "Arts Matter" protests at the State House on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Naturally, JP is There at State House ‘Arts Matter’ Protest

It wouldn't be a surprise if every protest at the State House had a JP contingent, given the level of political activity in the neighborhood. Thanks to Rhea Becker, we happen to have a photo of JP in action at Wednesday's #ArtsMatter demonstrations on Beacon Hill. Jamaica Plain Honk Band was there to call for arts funding. If your JP group is in protests outside the neighborhood, consider uploading an item to our "From the Community" section. Jamaica Plain News can't be everywhere, but we love to help spread the word.

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Mayor’s Advice on Casey: ‘Try to Avoid It’

Mayor Marty Walsh makes a point during a press conference with neighborhood media on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Credit: Chris Helms

Mayor Marty Walsh sat down with reporters and editors from neighborhood publications like the Jamaica Plain News on Wednesday. Here are some highlights from the conversation. Casey Arborway

The Casey project is state-run, but takes place on several city streets. Walsh has not taken a strong public role since before his election as mayor, when he buoyed bridge supporters by issuing a statement calling on the Department of Transportation to "fairly evaluate" replacing the Casey with a "beautiful modern bridge."

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