Mayor Marty Walsh delivers his first State of the City address. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 at Symphony Hall.
Politics

Jamaica Plain Takeaways from Mayor’s ‘State of the City’ Address

By |

Mayor Marty Walsh mentioned JP just once in his inaugural "State of the City" speech, but the pithy address had a long list of items that will have an impact on the neighborhood. About 2,500 residents and dignitaries packed Symphony Hall for the speech, which has more often been given in smaller Faneuil Hall. The 30-minute address touched on affordable housing, crime, protests against police brutality, schools, diversity on the city work force and — briefly — the 2024 Olympics bid. Transit-Oriented Development

The only specific reference to JP came as the mayor alluded to his plan to allow greater density and fewer parking spaces on parcels along the Orange Line. "We're marking out transit corridors in South Boston and Jamaica Plain to create housing for middle-income families where it's needed most," he said.

1,424 Views
Politics

JP Votes 80 Percent For Coakley, 15 Percent for Baker

By |

A look at the precinct-by-precinct results shows Jamaica Plain went heavier for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley than the rest of the city did. While Boston as a whole went 66 percent to 30 percent for Coakley over Governor-elect Charlie Baker, JP voters chose Coakley by an 80-15 margin. Independent Evan Falchuk made a slightly stronger showing in JP than in Boston: 3.5 percent in the neighborhood and 2.8 percent city-wide. But while JP was overwhelmingly for Coakley, there were differences among precincts. Residents of Moss Hill, with its suburban feel, also voted more like suburbanites.

2,564 Views
Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, D-Jamaica Plain, represents the Second Suffolk seat.
Politics

As Expected, Chang-Díaz Wins Reelection

By |

There was only one contested election within JP's Beacon Hill delegation. As expected, Sonia Chang-Díaz, D-Jamaica Plain, cruised to reelection over Republican David James Wyatt for the Second Suffolk Senate seat. The unofficial tally was 90 percent for Chang-Díaz to 10 for Wyatt. Chang-Díaz, a JP resident and first Latina to become a state senator in Massachusetts, won her fourth term. The rest of the JP delegation ran unopposed.

1,302 Views
From left at "A Conversation With the Next Governor," a Latino town hall sponsored by El Mundo Boston and Northeastern University: Alberto Vasallo III, moderator; Steve Lively (independent); Jeff McCormick (independent); Evan Falchuk (independent); Martha Coakley (Democrat); Charlie Baker (Republican); Sara Suarez, Entravisión; Yadires Nova Salcedo, WBZ and Marcela Garcia, Boston Globe. Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.
Politics

Jamaica Plain Puts Its Mark on Latino Gubernatorial Town Hall

By |

Jamaica Plain put its stamp on a major statewide political event as a crowd heard all five candidates for governor tackle the issues Latinos want to hear about before Tuesday’s election. JP's Pablo Calderón, president of the Egleston Square Neighborhood Assoc. and one of the core organizers of Friday’s event, introduced Gov. Deval Patrick, who accepted an award from JP-based El Mundo Boston. The media company co-sponsored the Latino Town Hall with Northeastern University. More than 350 people attended the event, which took place at Blackman Auditorium on that school's campus.

1,510 Views
District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley
Politics

JP’s City Councilor, Matt O’Malley, Votes ‘No’ on $20K City Council Pay Hike

By |

The city councilor who represents Jamaica Plain was one of four "no" votes as City Council voted itself a $20,000 raise. The move hikes city council salaries from $87,500 to $107,500, starting with councilors elected in 2015. The measure passed 9-4, enough to override any mayoral veto. But District 6 Councilor Matt O'Malley, who represents JP and West Roxbury, was one of the nays. Instead, he pushed a failed measure that would have tied increases to the average median income in Boston.

2,099 Views
Politics

Absentee Ballots Available For Sept. 9 Primary

By |

#174197275 / gettyimages.com

If you'll be out of the city for the Tuesday, Sept. 9 primary election, absentee ballots are now available. You can print out the absentee ballot application from the PDF at this link or call 617-635-3767 for an application to be mailed to you. You can even head down to the Election Department at City Hall during normal business hours and go ahead and vote, according to the city's website. The voter registration deadline is Wednesday.

1,286 Views
District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley
Politics

Why is JP’s City Councilor Endorsing in an Arkansas Election?

By |

The district city councilor for Jamaica Plain, Matt O'Malley, made waves this week by taking the unusual step of endorsing a state rep candidate — in Arkansas. The story goes back to the Marathon bombings, when Arkansas State Rep. Nate Bell insulted everyone who abided by the "shelter in place" order that was in effect while police chased, fought and cornered suspects. The Tweet itself was swiftly deleted, but Bell sorta-kinda apologized for it on his Facebook page. What does this have to do with JP, you ask? Our district councilor is backing Bell's opponent, Chase Busch.

1,180 Views
City Councilor Matt O'Malley, District 6, addresses the crowd at his Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 2014.
Politics

O’Malley Urges Residents to ‘Adopt a Restaurant’ in Forest Hills During Casey Project

By |

The city councilor who represents Jamaica Plain reviewed his last year in office and discussed his future priorities at a "Town Hall" style meeting on Wednesday at the Arnold Arboretum. City Councilor Matt O'Malley's fourth-annual event drew a crowd of 70 to the Weld Hill Research Building, which sits in the middle of the Sixth District that he represents. He's the councilor for Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury and parts and Roslindale, Roxbury and Mission Hill. O'Malley said his accomplishments the last year included being re-elected with 85 percent of the vote and helping pass a number of quality-of-life measures in his role as chairman of the government services committee on the city council. Those initiatives include getting more liquor licenses for Boston and taking control of their regulation back from the state, which has long insisted on overseeing them.

1,504 Views