MAXFIELD & COMPANY (617) 293-8003 REALEXPERIENCE ESTATE • EXCELLENCE JP OBSERVER P. 2 Vol. 29 No. 10 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 G MAY 22, 2020 WWW.JAMAICAPLAINGAZETTE.COM NEW RANGERS JPNC Housing & Development Committee continues discussion on sustainability and construction BY LAUREN BENNETT also looking for ways it could advocate for affordable housing The Jamaica Plain Neighbor- to meet sustainability goals. hood Council (JPNC) Housing & Last month, the Committee Development Committee held a heard a presentation from Aidan virtual meeting on May 19, where Foley, who talked about the is- members and residents contin- sues, concerns, and opportunities ued their discussion of sustain- for electrification of new con- ability standards in construction struction in the neighborhood. He and talked about electrification said that things like life cycle cost and the construction of afford- consideration, health concerns, able housing. and what has been done in Brook- The City’s Department of line with banning new hook ups Neighborhood Development for gas and oil are all things that PHOTO BY STEVE KRUSZKOWSKI (DND) released recommenda- should be considered. In Brook- The Boston Park Rangers welcomed a new class of seasonal Rangers with a ceremony held at tions regarding affordable hous- line, the ban applies to single Franklin Park on May 15 within proper social distancing guidelines. This year’s class includes ing construction, which was used family homes and most buildings Brighton residentsTyler Bowman, Alexander Hartgrove, and Michael Materia, Dorchester residents as the basis for some of the dis- MIchael McRae and Randall Pinkham, Jamaica Plain residents Eli King and Emily Wright, and cussion, and the Committee was Connor Decarlo of South Boston.The new seasonal Boston Park Rangers receive their certificates Continued on page 3 presented by Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods and Chief Boston Park Ranger Gene Survillo in a properly socially-distanced ceremony in Franklin Park on May 15. Without proper Memorial Day exercises due to COVID, visit one of Jamaica Plain’s Hero Squares and learn about history JP’s Self Esteem Boston turns to technology to provide services to women BY JOHN LYNDS for service members killed in action. The gold star on each sign BY LAUREN BENNETT in person, but, like many other not that different than being in There are over 1,700 Hero represents the ultimate sacrifice programs and events, have had to a pandemic—abuse, destroying Squares across Boston and sev- that was given. It is designated For more than 25 years, JP- go virtual because of COVID-19. their bodies, emotional traumas, eral in Jamaica Plain that pay only for those killed in action. based Self Esteem Boston has President Marion Davis and a big spectrum of things,” Davis tribute to residents that made In 2013, the city created and been providing self-esteem cours- Operations Director Jeri Levitt said. “The programs are help- the ultimate sacrifice by giv- added biography plagues at each es for women living in transi- spoke with the Gazette about ing them to be more resilient ing their lives for their country Hero Square. These plaques have tional living facilities, substance how they have adapted these pro- throughout this. This is a true during wartime. a barcode you can scan that takes abusers, victims of domestic vio- grams to continue to help women “These squares are found in in- you to a website with more de- lence, and the unemployed. These during this period of uncertainty. tersections like the one we are in tails and photos about the service programs are typically delivered “These women’s lives were Continued on page 12 today,” said Mayor Martin Walsh. member. “These squares deserve to be no- For example there is a Hero ticed and those memorialized Square for Charles H. Arnott at For the latest news in JP that you need to for their commitment to service the corner of Brookside Avenue should be remembered.” and Minton Street. know, check jamaicaplaingazette.com In 1898, the first Hero Square On 13 November 1942 Arnott Email [email protected] or in Boston was named Dewey was aboard the USS Monssen [email protected] or call 781-485-0588 Square at South Station. Since during the Battle of Guadalcanal. then, the city has dedicated for your Jamaica Plain information more than 1,700 Hero Squares Continued on page 3 2 • JAMAICA PLAIN GAZETTE • MAY 22, 2020 JP OBSERVER Let’s not waste the corona virus crisis; good things can result BY SANDRA STOREY / SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE The covid-19 pandemic has injustices. Buried in all the pre- Let planet earth catch its breath future. They, especially restau- close that people of color and been a three-month nightmare dictions and talk of “new normal,” and again enjoy the clean air that rants, create the living rooms of low incomes are literally more for us in Jamaica Plain and pretty the one thing we know is that resulted this time. our communities—the next circle vulnerable than other neighbors much the entire world. No one there will be some permanent Then let’s encourage people past our houses and streets that to the virus. knows how long it will continue changes as a result of covid-19. (tax breaks?) to choose workplac- pulls us together. They also bed- And people are donating to to plague us. Just describing and Our job is to use this time to rec- es and living spaces based more rock the economy and employ- their fellow humans in amazing responding to the new, invisi- ognize that and start make sure on how close they are to each ment in this country. Nonprofit amounts—from money to food ble, travelling killer is torturous, it’s change for the better. other. Those long commutes have organizations need to be respect- banks to face coverings for people because it affects every aspect One of the most promising been no good for psyches, climate ed as basic forces in the economy who need them. of both our personal and public potentials to emerge from this or economies, and they’ve been as well as people’s lives. The shortage of housing afford- lives. health crisis is the huge increase getting worse. So many people Meanwhile, the whole idea able to ordinary working people More than 570 Boston resi- in awareness of crucial issues the sent home to work have said not that the US has somehow proper- everywhere in the US has been dents have died from it and more covid-19 has delivered. having to commute has made ly evolved into a service/research a growing crisis for years. With than 12,000 have caught the high- People started saying, “We them surprisingly happy during and development economy and the huge, sudden unemployment ly contagious virus. As of May 14, are all in this together,” almost this time. other countries like China should that’s hit, temporary measures 605 people in JP alone had caught simultaneously in ironic response Meanwhile, public transport do the manufacturing has got to from the CARES Act, etc., won’t it, according to the Boston Public to the social distancing we have to needs to be upgraded and made go. It’s bad for employment, eco- help for long. We are seeing that Health Commission. do. We use it to mean groups the safer. Very importantly, it needs nomic security, and even health many people sharing small hous- Fighting the virus has left size of a family, a neighborhood, a to be expanded throughout the security to not have more man- es and apartments have trouble us with struggling businesses, state, a country, the entire world. country. Those of us in old cities ufacturing here. Things will cost distancing enough from one an- nonprofits and individuals who We certainly are all in this are used to having it, but many more, but it will be worth it for other to protect themselves. suddenly lost their jobs. Meeting together, but, looking around, it Americans have none. Think of our total economy and general The federal government as basic needs has become a chal- becomes quickly apparent that how the economy and the climate well-being. well as the states need to ante lenge for man. We will never be though we are all vulnerable, would improve if people could Though everyone is “in this up more. Government has to sub- the same. we are not equal. One basic good more easily get to stores and jobs together,” people here are much sidize housing to a much greater Even while grieving our loss- we can take from the crisis right and education, as well as be able less advantaged than people from extent than it does now. No more es and fighting the coronavirus’s away is to vow to turn it into a to stay home more, too. other places, we see in the covid fantasies that—unlike with oth- rippling effects, it’s important to true equalizer. We should be able Working from home, if done spotlight. Of all the countries hit er basic human needs—we can heed what Rahm Emanuel said to turn to our companions and carefully and with the right jobs, hard by the virus and its reper- expect the private sector to shore at the height of the recession in say, “What happens to you on can be fabulous. Let’s have more cussions, the US is the only one up people’s housing costs on a per- 2008: “Never allow a good crisis happens to me.” That can drive us of that, mixed with some local where everyone wasn’t instantly manent basis.