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REAL ESTATE  Thinking of Selling? Ready to Buy? Roxbury/Fort Hill Call Today for a Free, No-Obligation130 Marcella Market Street Unit 1Analysis MAXFIELD & COMPANY (617) 293-8003 REALEXPERIENCE ESTATE • EXCELLENCE Vol. 29 No. 1 20 Pages • Free Delivery 25 Cents at Stores BOOK YOUR Jamaica Plain POST IT Call Your Advertising Rep Printed on (617)524-7662 Recycled Paper AZETTE 617-524-2626 • WWWG.JAMAICAPLAINGAZETTE.COM JANUARY 10, 2020 CIRCULATION 16,000 O’Malley heads into tenth CELEBRATING ‘THREE KINGS DAY’/ ‘EPIPHANY’ year as City Councilor, ready to tackle issues BY LAUREN BENNETT now the longest serving mem- ber of the Boston City Council. City Councilor Matt O’Mal- Throughout his time on the City ley was sworn in on Monday, Council, O’Malley has worked heading into his tenth year as the Dis-trict 6 Councilor—he’s Continued on page 5 JP drone pilot says the ‘possibilities are endless’ for unmanned aircraft BY SETH DANIEL and airplane mechanics. He said he grew up with his JP resident Julio Aguilar had father frequently working on an always been drawn to flight – and PHOTOS BY DEREK KOUYOUMJIAN as a kid in his na-tive Florida, Camila Garcia (right) gives herself a that took the form of air shows Continued on page 16 coronation during Three Kings Day – or Epiphany - on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the NEW COUNCILORS SWORN IN Connolly Branch Library on Centre Street. Members of the Hyde Square Task Force once again sponsored the dynamite event that drew numerous residents to celebrate and to hear the story of theThree Wise Men read in English and Spanish. See more photos on Page 10 and 11. Crime is down 9 percent in Jamaica Plain for 2019 BY JOHN LYNds Dec. 31, 2018 with the same time 2019. In total there were 906 Part period for 2019 crime dipped 9 One Crimes compared to the 995 Last week Jamaica Plain rang percent here. incidents that occurred in 2018. in the New Year and the Boston There were 89 less Part One In 2018 there were 392 larce- Police had some exciting news to Crimes reported when comparing PHOTO BY SETH DANIEL share about crime in the commu- the same period in 2018 with Continued on page 3 Councilor at-large Julia Mejia – amidst tremendous applause nity. – has a very emotional moment on stage after being sworn Jamaica Plain saw a 9 percent in as the first Latina ever on the Boston City Council during decrease in Part One Crime ac- Estadísticas de delincuencia de 2019 Monday’s Inauguration Exercises. Mejia’s journey to the cording to statistics released by BY LAURA PLUMMER (BPD). Council included a narrow one-vote win over candidate the Boston Police Department El OficialWilliam Jones pro- Alejandra St. Guillen. Her many supporters in Faneuil Hall last week. El jueves 2 de enero, Curtis porcionó copias de una tabla que wore buttons that read, ‘One Vote Counts,’ and she received According to the final report Hall en Jamaica Plain organizó compara las estadísticas de delin- numerous applause throughout the ceremony. Mejia and on Part One Crime (the most seri- la reunión mensual de policía y cuencia de 2019 con las de 2018. 10 other councllors – including JP Councilor Matt O’Malley ous crimes recorded by BPD) that relaciones comunitarias organi- Para interpretar las estadísticas – took the Oath of Office on Monday, Jan. 6, at Faneuil Hall. compares Jan. 1, 2018 through zada por el Distrito E-13 del De- Read all about it on Page 2. partamento de Policía de Boston Continued on page 3 2 • JAMAICA PLAIN GAZETTE • JANUARY 10, 2020 Taking the Oath Councilors welcome four new members; elects Kim Janey as council president BY LAUREN BENNETT elected council president. Janey Authority. succeeds Andrea Campbell, who Bok said she’s “just ready to Four new members of the Bos- was the first black woman to hold get to work. You knock on all ton City Council were sworn in at the title. these doors and people have so Faneuil Hall on Monday, joining Mayor Marty Walsh walked many ideas and things to work their nine returning colleagues the councilors through the oath on and so I’m ready to get to it.” to create a historic council that at the ceremony, and then deliv- She joked that her first steps is majority female and majority ered a speech. “This has certainly are to get her email up and run- people of color. District Council- been a momentous election in the ning and her office in order, but ors Kenzie Bok, Ricardo Arroyo, City of Boston,” Walsh said. “This she also has plans for what other Liz Breadon, and At-Large Coun- will be the most diverse council issues she wants to tackle first. cilor Julia Mejia—the first-ever in history.” He expressed his faith The proposed sale of the The full City Council takes the Oath of Office from Mayor Latina on the council—all took in the councilors and praised Hynes Convention Center is a Martin Walsh in Faneuil Hall on Monday, Jan. 6. It is the most the oath of office for the first their past successes. big issue in the Back Bay that diverse Council in the history of the City, and is the first time time. At the first Council meeting “I’m excited to have you and will have an effect on the entire that it has been a majority female Council. shortly after, District 7 Councilor have new voices as a part of city, and Bok said that is high on Kim Janey, whose district covers the conversation as we move her list of issues to work on right made up of the first openly gay about half of the South End, was Boston forward,” Wash said. “I away. woman, the first Latina woman, want to make sure that Boston The feeling of excitement and and is more representative of is the best city for everyone who pride was palpable on Monday the City of Boston as a whole, wants to live here and be here.” morning, especially for the newly she said. “My district has rich He said that right now, there is elected councilors. “It’s such an history and amazing cultural “zero partnership” in Washing- exciting and historic council to assets,” she said, but it is also ton, D.C., and that he believes be part of,” Bok said. “I think “ground zero for many of the in- “Boston can and must show a that what’s nice; we’re going to equalities in our city.” There is an way forward.” Walsh added that be collaborating as a whole body “enormous wealth gap” despite Boston will continue to lead with on some of the biggest issues that economic prosperity in the city, its values, and he is “honored to face the city.” and the housing affordability do this work alongside you,” he After the inauguration cer- crisis continues, she added. told the councilors. emony, the councilors headed She also talked about other District 8 Councilor Kenzie across the street to City Hall issues plaguing the city, such as Bok won every precinct in the for their first meeting together, the climate change crisis which district and garnered 70 percent where Janey was elected as the she said “needs urgent action,” of the vote in last November’s first order of business. In her as well as car congestion that brings the “flow of traffic to a Jamaica Plain Councilor election. On her inauguration speech, Janey thanked her fellow Matt O’Malley greets other day, she confirmed her excite- council members, especially An- grinding halt.” ‘Gun violence is also still too prevalent in many members of the Council at ment and readiness to take on drea Campbell for her leadership City Hall after being sworn District 7 Councilor Kim of the city’s neighborhoods, she the role of serving her constit- on racial equity, as well as Mayor in at Faneuil Hall Monday Janey was elected as the said. uents. At the top of Kenzie’s list Walsh and her family. She also morning. new Council President on is working on affordable housing, outlined work the council has “Working together, we passed Monday. She received 10 as she has most recently served done this past year, and what she the short-term rental ordinance, millions of dollars in affordable votes from her colleagues, as Senior Advisor for Policy and believes needs to be focused on in proposed free MBTA buses to housing, the wet-lands protection with Councilor Frank Baker Planning at the Boston Housing the coming term. help with the economic dispari- ordinance, and a new strength- voting ‘present.’ “I am so proud of the work ties still felt strongly throughout ened Trust Act to protect our that we have accomplished to- the city. “This is a climate jus- immigrant brothers and sisters,” gether,” she told her colleagues. tice and economic justice issue,” Janey said of the council’s work “There is no better way to begin she said of transportation. “The this past year. this term than by working with dangerous decisions coming out “We must work collaborative- you to create a more inclusive of the White House are putting ly in our efforts to create a bright and equitable Boston for all.” us all at risk and jeopardize our future for all of Boston,” she said. Janey promised to continue to ability to live out the American Snow Tires, She also announced the creation prioritize racial equity and in- Dream. Who is at the table mat- of a City Council Committee on All Season Tires , clusion as a City Council. ters,” as it “determines not only Payment in Lieu of Taxes, as this “Representation matters,” 2 what is served, but who gets to 0 Alignments for Cars, Trucks has been a focus of the Council 2 Janey continued.
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