Government

Health Care Costs, Addiction Services on Rep. Sanchez’s Agenda

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State Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez outlined a few of what he called "challenges" to an almost full Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council on March 22. "We have a new governor and lot of new members but I've been there for 14 years," said Sanchez, D-Jamaica Plain. "The budget is a challenge, but it's not like last year." First elected in 2002 to succeed the late legendary state Rep. Kevin Fitzgerald, Sanchez is the chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. During the Neighborhood Council, Sanchez spent most of his time on health related issues notably the "opiate epidemic...

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Neighborhood Life

Water, Baby Wipes and Formula On Their Way To Flint Following JP Drive

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Fourteen pallets of water, baby wipes and baby formula are on their way to Flint, Michigan, Saturday night on an 18-wheeler truck thanks to generous donations by the Jamaica Plain community. Josh McFadden, who works in the office of State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez (D-Jamaica Plain), shared the above photo with Jamaica Plain News on Twitter, depicting the donations stacked outside the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain on Centre Street Saturday, following a Flint Water Drive Saturday morning. "JP really turned out!" McFadden said. Sánchez's office, working with the church and the Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN), a Boston-based social justice organization, organized the collection effort in JP.

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File photo: Mayor walsh congratulates Dr Christine Ragbir for her community service award. She is joined by her sons.
Police and Fire

Residents, Cops Thanked for Their Community Work at National Night Out

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The annual National Night Out celebration in Egleston Square for 2015 honored people who don't get recognized or thanked enough for what they do for the community...both those in uniform and as well as neighborhood folks. Plenty of dignitaries were on hand. Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans joined the celebration - as well as City Councilor Matt O"Malley, State Representatives Jeffrey Sánchez and Liz Malia, District Attorney Dan Conley and Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins.  All spent more than an hour with residents and civic leaders

The Jamaica Plain News was there and here are a few highlights.

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The Jamaica Plain Post Office, 655 Centre St., on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015.
Real Estate

Post Office Confirms It Will Stay at 655 Centre St.

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The United States Post Office confirmed Thursday that it has agreed to a new lease to remain at 655 Centre St. The Post Office and landlord had been at loggerheads over a new deal, and the process to move the facility elsewhere had already begun. Rumors of a deal to keep the busy post office where it is have been swirling for weeks in JP. "I can confirm that we will remain in the facility and that a lease has been signed," wrote Maureen Marion, a spokesperson for the USPS. Marion later clarified that the actual signing of the lease was scheduled for Friday.

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The Jamaica Plain Post Office, 655 Centre St., on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015.
Real Estate

O’Malley ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Post Office Will Stay Where It Is

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City Councilor Matt O'Malley, who along with other local politicians has been working to keep the J.P. Post Office at 655 Centre St., said a solution could be in the works. "I'm cautiously optimistic," JP's district councilor said Wednesday. "It's a huge priority of mine to make sure the Jamaica Plain Post Office stays here." As of Wednesday, no new lease had been signed, O'Malley said. A representative of the landlord of the purpose-built building, Bulfinch Properties, said Wednesday she had no information about a possible deal.

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The Jamaica Plain Post Office, 655 Centre St., on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015.
Real Estate

Pols Put Pressure on Post Office, Landlord

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The neighborhood's elected officials are pressuring postal officials and the landlord of 655 Centre St. to reach a deal that would avoid moving the facility. As first reported by Jamaica Plain News, postal officials have set in motion the process to move the JP Post Office after they were unable to come to terms with the landlord on a new lease. On Friday, in an effort organized by JP's district city councilor, Matt O'Malley, elected officials sent a letter urging a resolution. "After having conversations with both Mike Powers from the United States Post Office and Robert Schlager of Bulfinch Properties," read part of the letter, "we are deeply concerned about the lack of communication and conflicting stories being expressed by all parties."

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Letterhead of Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley
Real Estate

Letter from JP Politicians: Keep Post Office in Current Place

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Mike Powers, District Manager, The United States Post Office
25 Dorchester Ave
Boston, MA 02205

Robert Schlager, President, Bulfinch Properties
250 First Avenue, Suite 200
Needham, MA 02494
Jan. 30, 2015
To Mike Powers and Robert Schlager,

We urge you both to resolve your ongoing lease negotiations and keep Jamaica Plain’s post office in its current location at 655 Centre Street. The post office is an anchor in the local shopping district and serves as a resource for residents and businesses in Jamaica Plain. Furthermore, it serves as an important tribute to the service and sacrifice of Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, a local resident for whom it is named. After having conversations with both Mike Powers from the United States Post Office and Robert Schlager of Bulfinch Properties, we are deeply concerned about the lack of communication and conflicting stories being expressed by all parties.

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Development
Dignitaries cut the ribbon at the Nurtury Learning Lab on June 16, 2014. From left: Latoya Taromino, Bromley-Heath resident and Nurtury parent; State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, D-Jamaica Plain; Mayor Marty Walsh; Nurtury CEO Wayne Ysaguirre; City Councilor Matt O'Malley (behind Ysaguirre), JP and West Roxbury; Education Secretary Matt Malone and Bill McGonagle, administrator of Boston Housing Authority.

Joy, Resolve on Opening of Multi-million Dollar Early Ed Center

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Jackson Square celebrated a milestone Monday with a ribbon-cutting on a $17 million early education center. But the joy was tempered, for at least one speaker, by the need to keep doing what it takes to lift families out of poverty and violence. About 200 residents and dignitaries marked the opening of the Nurtury Learning Lab outdoors under sunny skies. State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, D-Jamaica Plain, urged those gathered to remember the tough times poor Boston families must work through. When at full capacity, the new center will serve 175 students and their families.

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Students use tablet computers on the day of the ribbon-cutting for Nurtury Learning Lab on June 16, 2014.
Development

First Look: Inside Jackson Square’s $17 Million Early Education Center

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On Monday, nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the opening of a state-of-the art early education center that will in time serve 175 Boston children and their families. Nurtury Learning Lab, at 33 Bickford St. in Jackson Square, was many years and $17 million in the making. Check back soon with Jamaica Plain News for more details from Monday's ribbon cutting.

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh
Schools

$17M Learning Lab to Open at Bromley Heath on Monday

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Mayor Marty Walsh is scheduled to open a 34,000-square foot "learning lab" for infants, toddlers and preschoolers at Bromley Heath on Monday. The center also supports after-school programs and adult education. The new facility is a partnership between the Boston Housing Authority and Nurtury Boston. "The Lab will become a valuable resource for the community providing high-quality early education and care, family-support services, professional development, adult education programs, health and wellness programs, community cooking and nutrition classes and more," said a press release about Monday's opening. State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, D-Jamaica Plain, is also scheduled to be among the attendees.

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