Wednesday, October 31, 2012
A new scheme for City Council districts could pull one or two JP neighborhoods out of District 6.
A proposed redistricting map could split up Jamaica Plain, leaving the neighborhood no longer represented mainly by one city councilor. City Councilors must agree on a new district map soon. The law requires updating district boundaries with each Census. A final vote is expected Wednesday at the council's last meeting before the legal deadline next week. The difficulty is how to redraw districts while not diluting representation of people of color. Mayor Thomas Menino has rejected two maps passed by City Council so far, arguing they don't pass muster on that score. Such maps could even face legal challenges. Here's how it breaks down: District 6, the seat held by City Councilor Matt O'Malley, currently represents almost all of JP. …
Monday, September 24, 2012
Menino says the map creates an over-concentrated area of protected groups in District 4.
On Monday Boston Mayor Thomas Menino rejected the second redistricting map submitted by the Boston City Council, once again citing concerns of an "over-concentration of protected groups" in districts. Menino said District 4, currently represented by Charles Yancey, is especially over-concentrated. In his veto letter, the Mayor wrote: "Under both maps passed, almost 70 percent of District 4's voting age population is Black and almost 95 percent is Non-White. In a city where diversity is found broadly, I had asked that you to endeavor to avoid over-concentration of minority voters, and I make that same request again." (See attached letter.) District 4 includes Dorchester and Mattapan. Menino vetoed the first redistricting map on Sept. 6 (see…
Mayor Thomas Menino rejected the previous redistricting map submitted by the Boston City Council, citing it "concentrates our many citizens of color into too few districts."
The Boston City Council passed a second redistricting map Wednesday in a 7-6 vote, which now needs to be passed or vetoed by Mayor Thomas Menino. Menino rejected the previous redistricting map passed by the Council in a 7-6 vote on Aug. 23. He said the proposed map "concentrates our many citizens of color into too few districts, and in doing so may limit their equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice." Several city councilors warned of possible litigation being brought against the city if the map did not accurarely reflect the demographics of the city. City Council Tries Again District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson reintroduced the map he and District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley created. (The map is attached to this article…
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Do you know what a "pig parker" is? If so, don't be one.
District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley loves the "old world charm" of Boston, but says it's time motorists learned "the new rules of the road." At Wednesday's Council meeting, O'Malley called for a future hearing to consider ways to improve traffic flow in Boston. Mentioning that Boston's original roads were made by following cow paths (not the most ideal for traffic flow), he said it's time to use better signage and enforcement in Boston neighborhoods. O'Malley, who represents JP and West Roxbury, led a hearing last winter to explore traffic calming measures, added he "wants to use every arrow in our quiver" to improve traffic flow. O'Malley raised four specific areas of concern: O'Malley said he's "not wanting to fine people" but…
Monday, August 27, 2012
O'Malley, who represents JP and West Roxbury on City Council, teaming up with the Parkway Running Club.
Jamaica Plain's City Councilor Matt O’Malley is teaming up with the Parkway Running Club to hold running office hours - literally. An avid runner who counts six finished marathons to his credit, will combine constituent services and physical fitness inviting Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury residents to join him for "Office Hours on the Run" beginning in September. “Since my election I have been holding district office hours regularly in coffee shops and restaurants in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury,” said O’Malley. “I thought it was time to get outside and work off some of those pastries and bagels while talking about residents’ concerns. It’s a great opportunity to get some exercise while taking a closer look at what’s going on around the …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
After 16 months of discussing the 2010 US Census results, the Boston City Council passed a redistricting map that tries to keep as many neighborhoods in one district as possible. JP's district councilor, Matt O'Malley, voted for the new map.
With a large Asian contingency in Boston City Council's meeting chamber, the body supported a redistricting map that keeps Chinatown in one City Council district. The vote was not easy. It passed 7-6. Councilmembers with JP ties split their vote: At-Large City Councilor Felix Arroyo, who lives in JP, opposed it. The neighborhood's district councilor, Matt O'Malley, supported the new map. The (attached) redistricting map now needs to be signed by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. "Today's vote sends the issue of redistricting to my office," Menino said, "and we will review this map to make sure all residents are properly represented. We will take a close look before making any decisions." Redistricting is legally required every 10 years based …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Boston City Council's weekly meeting was short on time, as councilors rehashed redistricting districts.
The Boston City Council's weekly meeting was quick and to the point this week with District 2 City Councilor Bill Linehan once again producing a redistricting map that several of his colleagues did not like for their districts. Linehan did say additional public meetings and hearings will be held prior to a Boston City Council vote on a new redistricting map to represent Boston for the next 10 years. Said Linehan, "This particular task has been going on for nine months now. This map here demonstrates in my mind all of that work. It presents a map in which discussion, presentation and public discourse was fully vetted. It truly is a map that a majority of our body could support. No map will achieve unamimous support." Then District 4 City …
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Boston City Council
1 City Hall Sq Ste 550, Boston, MA
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The annual rite of spring, the restocking of Jamaica Pond with more than 1,000 trout and salmon, took place Wednesday morning.
Students, local politicians and even the governor were on hand Wednesday morning for the annual restocking of Jamaica Pond. More than 1,150 trout and salmon were released into the pond. Among the attendees were Gov. Deval Patrick, City Councilor Matt O'Malley and State Representative Liz Malia. O'Malley was fresh from having completed the Boston Marathon on Monday. Even the landscape mastermind behind Boston's park system, Frederick Law Olmsted, was there in spirit, as JP's Gerry Wright reprised his ongoing role interpreting the 19th-century figure. “This event is a great way to educate our young people about fishing, wildlife and the importance of protecting our natural resources,” Patrick said in a press statement. “When we teach …
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Jamaica Pond
507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, MA
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
JP District Councilor Matt O'Malley ran in the 2012 Boston Marathon and recorded his last 200 yards.
District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley video recorded his last 200 yards while running the 2012 Boston Marathon. The Arborway resident represents Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. O'Malley has run the Boston Marathon before, but not in 80-degree heat. In the video at one point O'Malley looks in the camera and playfully says, "200 yards is more than I thought." He also yells, "Let's make some noise!" You can hear people yelling for him, too. The always congenial councilor congratulated people as he passed by.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
JP's District Councilor "encouraged and impressed with Mayor Menino's FY 2013 budget proposal."
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino proposed a $2.4-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which begins on July 1. District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley, who represents JP and West Roxbury, offered an initial comment regarding the proposed budget: At first blush, I’m encouraged and impressed with Mayor Menino’s FY2013 budget proposal. Today begins a lengthy and robust City Council process of hearings and conversations about our spending priorities and revenue streams. What is perhaps most heartening about the budget is the fact that due to the City and municipal unions coming together to address health care costs, we were able to actualize a $26 million savings. This is particularly noteworthy as while other cities and towns seem to be …
Ian St. Germain
9:08 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
as a Jamaica Plain resident of 13 years (11 of those in the Bourne neighborhood), I'd really rather be in with the rest of my borough, neighborhood, district, what-ever you want to call it. I was to actually be represented by my elected representatives. My neighborhood is not Mattapan or Dorchester, and its true, those counsellors have way too much to worry about without thinking of what we need … more ›