Got Food Scraps? City Launches Compost Program
Food scraps and other compostable materials can be taken to farmers markets in Dorchester, Allston and Jamaica Plain through October. South End Patch News
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
American Red Cross Launches New ‘Boston Strong’ Page
The American Red Cross launched a new website one month after the bombings dedicated to helping those affected by the bombings recovery fully. The Red Cross has been involved in the Boston Marathon for decades, usually providing physical relief and care to runners. “Never could I have imagined we’d be talking about a response to the Boston Marathon that included taking a central role in Disaster Mental Health, aid to the families of the injured and deceased, and a role in helping our community heal,” said Jarrett Barrios, CEO, American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. “But that’s where the volunteers I work with were needed after the Boston Marathon Bombing, and where we stay, offering assistance.” The new web page includes tips for coping through a crisis, supporting the community and offering emotional comfort, public thank-yous to those who have helped the relief effort, and more. You can find the new webpage at redcross.org/bostonstrong. Do you feel like you’ve recovered emotionally from the attack on the marathon? Are you happy to see these tips for others in the community? Tell us in the comments. South End Patch