“How did this person get the job without a CORI check? How many people have been hired without a CORI check in that building? The people we put in that building have to be trusted.” — City Councilor Brian Gomes
Author Archives: Arthur Hirsch
Posted inCity Hall
Should New Bedford control rent hikes? City Council wants to know
“We have heard the stories [about rising rents]. This is just for us to ask the people of New Bedford what they want to do. Then we can begin the conversation.” — Councilor Shane Burgo
Posted inCity Hall
City Councilor Oliver apologizes for offensive Facebook posts
“Although this was never my intention I do see that my actions caused harm and for that, I apologize. No one should ever feel illegitimate, afraid, or unheard.” — Statement from Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver
Posted inBristol County Sheriff
Why so many prison suicides? Heroux turns to an expert
Sheriff Paul Heroux is consulting Lindsay M. Hayes, one of the country’s foremost authorities on jail and prison suicide who has been studying federal, state and local correctional systems for more than 40 years.
Posted inElection 2023
Oliver tops Amaral in race for Ward 3 city councilor
Shawn Oliver, who has served as a New Bedford constable for a little more than a year, attributed the result largely to legwork in the ward, starting when he took out his papers in early December to seek the office.
Posted inElection 2023
City Council candidate under fire for ‘hateful’ and ‘extremist’ Facebook posts
Shawn “Oliver’s public social media posts are disrespectful, hurtful, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and promote intolerance and division.” — Carmen Amaral, Oliver’s opponent in Tuesday’s Ward 3 election
Posted inCity Hall
New Bedford city councilors lash out at ‘elitist’ mayor
“It’s unfortunate that certain councilors have resorted to name calling and generalized insinuations” about how the administration has worked with the council, rather than deal “with the merits of the proposals,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said.
Posted inCrime and courts
How the $75,000 Whaling Museum thefts went down
Robert Burchell had a long history of addiction, debt, arrests and jail stints. Then the museum hired him as a “facilities associate.”
Posted inElection 2023
Sizing up the two City Council candidates in New Bedford
Both candidates bring to the race considerable personal appeal, compelling personal stories, and a grasp of city affairs. Neither of these candidates has run for office before; each attributed their success in the preliminary election to the work of meeting voters, often at their doorsteps.
Posted inCity Hall
Mayor wants to stop ‘excessive’ pay raises granted by New Bedford City Council
In a letter to the council, Jon Mitchell wrote that the council’s decisions “were not supported by a labor market analysis or an assessment or their impacts on internal compensation equity — both within and among city departments.”