From the Community

Jamaica Plain Benefit Fun Run to Raise $ for Immigrant Advocates on June 24

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A free fundraising fun run to benefit the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) is expected to draw hundreds to Jamaica Pond on June 24. The event is being organized by Jamaica Plain nonprofit Boston For All, a local coalition dedicated to strengthening community bonds and raising money for organizations working to preserve rights. Boston for All was founded in 2016 by Jamaica Plain neighbors determined to raise money for civil liberties organizations in the wake of the presidential election. Since then, the group has hosted the first wildly popular Run for All, two sold-out ‘Rock For All’ community concerts and a Dining for a Difference restaurant week. The group raised more than $14,000 for the ACLU in 2017 and more than $6,000 for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition so far in 2018.

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Government

Councilor O’Malley Proclaiming June 20th Des Linden Day, Honoring Boston Marathon Winner

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Desiree Linden was the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years, and to honor her, Wednesday will be Des Linden Day in Boston. District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley will host a meet and greet with Desiree “Des” Linden in Boston City Hall (Curley Room, 5th Floor) from 11 am to noon. Later at the weekly Boston City Council meeting at noon, O'Malley, himself and avid runner, will declare June 20, 2018, Des Linden Day in Boston. Linden has completed the Boston Marathon six times, and won it this year in treacherous weather conditions, with a time of 2:38:55.

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Business

Poll: Should Commercial Property Owners Pay a Fee for Empty Storefronts?

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Should landlords pay a fee when their storefronts are vacant? That's the question that a Boston City Council hearing will tackle on Tuesday. District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley proposed a vacancy fee for landlords causing "high-end blight" in April. "When properties remain vacant year after year, they create holes in the fabric of our communities," said O'Malley to Jamaica Plain News. "As we encourage investment in our neighborhoods, we must also make sure that investment benefits our neighbors.

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Elections

Part I: 4 Elected Officials Ask 5 DA Candidates Questions

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Jamaica Plain News easily could've asked our own questions to the five candidates vying to be the next Suffolk County District Attorney. But instead we asked four elected officials to provide questions. Their questions are based on their own experiences, personal opinions and elected positions: State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins and At-Large Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu. Candidates were provided the questions and asked to provide written answers. The five candidates are Evandro Carvalho, Linda Champion, Greg Henning, Shannon McAuliffe and Rachael Rollins.

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Government

Vacancy Fee for High-End Property Owners with Empty Storefronts, Apartments Proposed by O’Malley

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Tired of looking at those large empty storefronts or vacant luxury residential units in big buildings? So is District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley, who has proposed a vacancy fee for landlords causing "high-end blight." "When properties remain vacant year after year, they create holes in the fabric of our communities," said O'Malley to Jamaica Plain News. "As we encourage investment in our neighborhoods, we must also make sure that investment benefits our neighbors. When storefronts and high rises are filled with people, they contribute to the community as well as to the property owner's bottom line.

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Funny

Breaking: City Councilor O’Malley ‘I’m Not a Real Redhead’

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In a shocking turn of events, District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley held an impromptu press conference to announce that he has been a fake redhead for years. "It started when my parents dyed my hair when I was just a toddler. They wanted me to fit in with all the other redheads on my block. I continued on with the charade until now. But I can no longer go on with being a redhead --- it's not who I really am.

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City Services

National Grid Suing City, Rejecting O’Malley’s Ordinance to Fix Gas Leaks

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A city law that would reduce gas leaks, improve safety, help the environment and lessen the cost of gas has not been implemented due to gas company National Grid's lawsuit opposing its implementation. The law, which was to be implemented in July 2017, created a new mechanism for the city to deal with gas leaks to improve the management of Boston's infrastructure by coordinating maintenance, repair, upgrades, replacement with gas companies. Gas companies, of which National Grid is dominant in Boston, would be notified when a street is open by another utility company, cable company and others.  The ordinance also gives the city the authority to recoup costs from utility companies for the destruction of trees and shrubbery, which often happens from gas leaks. District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley authored the law, which was passed by the Boston City Council and signed into law by Mayor Marty Walsh in December 2016.

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Neighborhood Life

You’re Invited: Community Preservation Act Forum in JP on April 3

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Boston has an additional $20 million this year to fund affordable housing, parks, open space and historic preservation thanks to the Community Preservation Act. On April 3rd, the Jamaica Plain community is invited to a public forum to share their ideas on how to spend that money. The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) organized and will lead the forum with a host of elected officials sponsoring the event and local organizations as co-sponsors. Boston adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA) by voting in support of it in November 2016. More than 170 Massachusetts municipalities have adopted the CPA, according to the Community Preservation Coalition.

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Government
District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley

Q&A: City Councilor O’Malley on Banning Plastic Bags, Gentrification, Dog Parks and More

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To compost or not to compost -- District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley knows the answer. That's not the only answer Jamaica Plain's city councilor recently provided to Jamaica Plain News in a ranging interview. Q: Your ordinance to ban single-use plastics bags was approved by the city council in November and signed into law by Mayor Walsh. When will it take effect and how will businesses be informed about what they need to know? O’Malley: It’s slated to take effect one year after its passage from the date the mayor signed it into law, which was December 15th.

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Neighborhood Life

New Pedestrian Walk, Path Around Pond Being Discussed at Celebration of Jamaica Pond Park Meeting

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Two grants that will fund the creation of a new path around Jamaica Pond and a pedestrian walk from the Cabot Estates into Jamaica Pond Park will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday night. The grants will also provide funding for landscaping. The Jane Addams-Ellen Swallow Richards-Harriet Tubman Institute is presenting a Celebration of Jamaica Pond Park on Thursday, Jan. 18th at the First Church in Jamaica Plain (6 Eliot St.) at 7 pm. The meeting is free and open to the public.

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