Wu Opens Campaign HQ in the South End
Michelle Wu, a candidate for Boston City Councilor At-Large, officially opened up her campaign headquarters in the South End. Located at 769 Tremont St., Wu held a grand opening celebration late last week that was attended by about 50 supporters. South End Patch News
Wu Opens Campaign HQ in the South End
Michelle Wu, a candidate for Boston City Councilor At-Large and a South End resident, officially opened up her campaign's headquarters in the South End. Wu hosted a campaign headquarters grand opening celebration at the new headquarters last South End Patch News
SoWa Food Truck Runs Kickstarter Campaign to Open Restaurant
One of Boston’s most popular food trucks, Mei Mei’s Street Kitchen, is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Audubon Circle this summer. But the owners of this already non-traditional business have sourced funding for their new expansion in yet another non-traditional way: By launching a Kickstarter campaign. Owners and siblings Andy, Margaret (Mei) & Irene Li opened their American-Chinese cuisine food truck in 2012, combining Andy’s dining management experience with Mei’s business acumen and Irene’s farming and cooking skills. Their Kickstarter campaign set a goal of $ 28,000 on June 1st to help turn their brick-and-mortar restaurance space into a certified sustainable business by the Sustainable Business Network. The trio said funds raised will go to environmentally-friendly improvements such as energy-efficient lighting, infrastructure & kitchen equipment, low-flow plumbing, compost and recycling programs, reclaimed materials for our floors, walls and counters and other green intiatives. And by Monday, June 24, one day before the last day of the campaign, they had raised $ 32,000 through more than 300 backers to accomplishing their goal. “We’re so grateful for all your support, and we’re so excited to feed you in the restaurant and hook you up with your rewards!” they wrote in an update on their Kickstarter page. The restaurant is scheduled to open by the end of the summer, on the corner of Park Drive and Buswell Street in Audubon Circle. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Campaign, Food, Kickstarter, Open, Restaurant, Runs, SoWa, Truck
South End’s Ross Launches City Council Campaign
Long time South End resident Jeff Ross announced this week he would officially start his campaign for an at large seat on Boston’s City Council. Ross, a resident of the South End for the last 19 years, is an attorney in Boston, serves on the Democratic State Committee, and works as a local activist for LGBT rights. If elected, Ross, as an openly gay man, would be the first LGBT person to hold the at-large seat. “I’m running for the City Council At-Large because I believe our city is best served when it is represented by a diverse group that is reflective of the city itself,” said Ross. “While I’m not in the race to make history as the first openly gay At-Large city councilor, the significance of it is not lost on me. Boston is a city that is strong because of its diversity and I am excited about how my campaign is already bringing people together across identities to focus on the issues facing us all.” Ross said his main issues he wants to tackle would be to invest in small business owners, improve public school education make every neighborhood safer, and have each of Boston’s neighborhoods become a “destination” neighborhood. “Each neighborhood has differnet aspects of culinary, art, business, venues and theater, and I think that each neighborhood can become a destination neighborhood for the city,” he said, specifically mentioning improvements in transportation to Hyde Park and Mattapan. Ross also said he’d like to see more development in the city to help increase Boston’s tax base, and reduce resident property taxes at the same time. “I struggled to establish a life where I could support a family, and I want to create better opportunities for the talent that comes here to Boston from all over to stay in the city,” he said. Ross is one of about 20 candidates running for four at-large city council seats, including another South End resident, Michelle Wu. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Felix Arroyo Launches Official Campaign for Mayor
City Councilor Felix G. Arroyo officially kicked off his mayoral campaign on Saturday in the South End. Arroyo outlined a series of goals that included improving Boston’s public schools, and having safe and affordable neighborhoods. “My family, like many families, needed a leg up and needed affordable housing and that was provided for them right here in Villa Victoria,” he said. “Everyone deserves to have a place to live, and that doesn’t happen by accident, and that doesn’t happen because you wish it so. That happens by intention.” Arroyo also noted he plans to support small businesses in the city. “Boston has over a billion dollars in deposits in various banks, yet we don’t know that these banks invest at all in any of our neighborhoods,” he said. “As Mayor I would implement legislation that will ensure that we only do business with banks that are lending to small businesses, to qualified homebuyers, to development projects, and that are helping solve our foreclosure crisis.” South End Patch
Felix Arroyo Kicks Off Campaign for Mayor
Standing in front of a wall lined with supporters, another city councilor announced he would be running for mayor Tuesday morning. City Councilor Felix G. Arroyo officially entered his name into the race at a press conference from SEIU Local 615 Tuesday morning. If elected, Arroyo, who lives in Jamaica Plain, would be Boston’s first Latino mayor. Arroyo answered a few questions from the media, including one about his campaign’s approach. “I will have the strongest grassroots campaign, powered by committed volunteers and funded by small donors, that’s…the only way that I would want to win, and that’s exactly how I will govern,” he said. Arroyo has been an organizer advocating for workers’ rights at SEIU 16. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Candidates Defend Iraq War Votes, Campaign Ads Aplenty
The Democratic candidates for Senate this week talked about the war in Iraq, launched more television ads, opened regional and local campaign offices and continued to get the word out as the April 30 primary draws near. This past week marked the 10-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, and with a hotly contested U.S. Senate Primary just over a month away, both Congressmen seeking the Democratic nomination found themselves defending their votes. Democratic opponents Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) and Edward Markey (D-Malden) both voted to use force in Iraq, but the two Senate candidates disagreed on a vote the following year to approve $ 87.5 billion to fund the war. MassLive.com reports that Lynch voted for the funding package and also voted for four bills between 2004 and 2006 partly to fund the war, while Markey voted no on the funding package and was opposed to the bills. At a 10th anniversary event last week, MassLive.com, reported that Lynch said he voted the way he did because he wanted to make sure the U.S. operation in Iraq had what it needed to be successful and to bring the troops home safely and as soon as possible. Meet Write-In Candidate Brett Rhyne This week Patch caught up with Needham resident and Democratic write-in candidate Brett Rhyne to learn more about his write-in campaign and how he thinks he will fare in the April 30 primary and beyond. Gomez Raises $ 350K for campaign Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez reportedly has raised $ 350,000 for his campaign since February. Boston.com reported the former Navy SEAL’s campaign said more than 70 percent of those contriutions were under $ 100. Lynch launches new campaign ad The latest Lynch campaign ad “I am Stephen Lynch” hit the airwaves this week. MassDems launch Sullivan attack ad MassDems launched an attack ad against Republican candidate and former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan this week, saying he stands with big “companies,” not with the hardworking people of Massachusetts. April 10 Deadline for Voter Registration, Party Affiliation Changes Just three weeks left to register to vote in the April 30 Senate primaries. The last day to register to vote, change a voting address or change party affiliation for the April 30 primary is Wednesday, April 10. Not sure where or how to register to vote or change party affiliation? Here’s everything you need to know, courtesy of Secretary of State Galvin’s office. South End Patch
Suzanne Lee Kicks off City Council Campaign for District 2
Suzanne Lee, who came within 97 votes of unseating incumbent Bill Linehan in 2011, announced on Wednesday she is again running for the Boston City Council in District 2, which includes the South End. Lee said she remains committed to improving the quality of life here in Boston, and to developing “safe and vibrant communities.” “As I’ve continued to talk to residents throughout the district, I still hear concerns about jobs and liveable wages, about ensuring that every child has a quality education and about making Boston a place where families can find affordable housing options,” Lee said. “As City Councilor, I will build on my years of service to our communities and work hard to deliver the results that our families deserve.” More about LeeLee’s previous campaign in 2011 came just 100 votes short of unseating incumbent Bill Linehan. A resident of Chinatown, Lee has worked in the Boston Public Schools for 35 years, first as a teacher and later as a principal. She led a turnaround at the Baldwin School in Brighton, then went on to head the Josiah Quincy Elementary School for 10 years. During her tenure the school was named one of the Best 100 Elementary Schools in Massachusetts. Lee, a first generation immigrant, first got involved in community work by helping immigrant mothers launch the first Chinese Parents Association and helping unemployed garment workers secure Boston’s first bilingual training program. She has also worked closely with the Boston Foundation to address persistent poverty in the city. Lee grew up in Grove Hall, the child of garment and restaurant workers, and graduated from Girls’ Latin School. Lee was the first in her family to attend college, earning a scholarship to Brandeis University. Later, she earned her Master’s degree at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. “Suzanne’s work at the Josiah Quincy school demonstrates that she knows what it takes to builda successful urban school,” said Josh Weissof the South End, a longtime education advocate and parent of two children in the BPS. “As City Councilor, I am convinced that she will bring neighbors andcommunity groups together to help solve many of the issues our schools face.” SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch