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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From the Community

Malia & O’Malley: Thank You for South Street Summer Hot Dog Nights

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State Rep. Liz Malia (D-11th Suffolk) and District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley would like to thank the generous community partners who made the 24th Annual South Street Summer Hotdog Nights possible and successful. The community partners included Roche Bros., Fernandez Spa, Il Panino Cafe & Grill, Read Boston, Boston Police Department’s District E-13 Community Service officers, Boston Tenant Coalition, many loyal volunteers like Bette Jo Green and Jo Ann Whitehead, summer interns, and the managers, residents and neighbors of the Boston Housing Authority’s South Street Family Development. The cookouts were held at 5:30 pm every Tuesday (weather permitting) June through August. The event builds community by bringing residents, neighbors, and public safety officials together, and helps to provide a safe and healthy space for all attendees to interact one hot dog at a time.

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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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Arts

JP Porchfest is July 7th: Get Ready for 170 Performances on 90 Porches!

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The 5th Annual Jamaica Plain Porchfest this Saturday will be more awesome than the previous four as it will include music, theater, dance, spoken word, storytelling, comedy, circus arts and a politicians' porch. "We have 90 generous porch hosts this year – that is, folks who offer their porches to performers. In some cases, people perform on their own porches, but they often welcome others," said Mindy Fried, co-organizer with Marie Ghitman and Eli Pabon. "And in many cases, porch hosts simply offer their porches to whomever we assign to their porches, of course taking into consideration their available space, and if they have any special requests." Click on the map of porches to see a description of all of the performances (courtesy JP Porchfest).

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Neighborhood Life

State Lab Community Garden Members Dedicate Little Free Library Honoring Co-Founder

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Members of the JP State Lab Community Garden came together to dedicate a Little Free Library to honor Detlev Koepke, a garden cofounder, who fought to keep the garden when it was threatened. Led by Koepke, the garden was established in 1987 thanks to the community organizing of the Asticou Martinwood South Street Neighborhood Association (AMNSNA). Today the community garden remains active, producing several tons of produce every year. There are more than 40 active gardeners comprised of neighborhood residents and state lab employees. Koepke’s brother Jens played an audio clip of an interview with Detlev in his final weeks, said Chuck Collins to Jamaica Plain News.

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