“New Bedford taxpayers deserve to be fairly compensated for the land taken by the MBTA. This settlement achieves that goal, and I am grateful for the efforts of Governor Healey and the MBTA to make it happen.” — Mayor Jon Mitchell
Author Archives: Arthur Hirsch
Posted inBusiness
Backers pull the plug on downtown business district
“The participating property owners within the proposed BID are ceasing their efforts to have the plan and petition adopted by the Finance Committee and full City Council.” — letter from BID consultant Marco LiMandri
Posted inArts and Culture
Crews begin A to Z upgrade for city’s storied theater
The 101-year-old Zeiterion Theater downtown is being gutted for a renovation expected to cost $37 million and be completed in time for opening at the end of 2025, or early 2026.
Posted inCity Hall
City Council cuts funding for vacant police jobs
The Police Department stands at about 200 sworn officers, short of a full complement of 256. The approximately 50 open slots are more than half the city’s total vacant positions.
Posted inBristol County Sheriff
Unlocking stress
For Bristol County Sheriff corrections officers in distress, members of the 12-officer Stress Unit are on call at a dedicated phone line to help with mental struggles.
Posted inHousing
City clamps down on sober homes and lodging houses
“The requirement is grounded in concerns about public health and safety, including, as we’ve witnessed firsthand in New Bedford, the risk of fire. It applies to all lodging houses, including those that hold themselves out as ‘sober houses.’” — City spokesperson Jonathan Darling
Posted inCity Hall
Short on shelter, New Bedford mulls homeless camp
The City Council last month decided to at least talk about this as a starting point, and councilors received copies of a report that makes the case for a temporary homeless encampment.
Posted inCity Hall
New Bedford City Council puts ‘BID’ district on hold
All 11 councilors agreed to postpone further public deliberations six weeks until city officials provide clear answers to fundamental questions that have surfaced.
Posted inCity Hall
City councilors set to hear more on plan for downtown business district
Opponents point to a count of owners that were omitted from the signed petitions that proponents have presented, showing that the BID has about half the required support, at least for now.
Posted inCity Hall
State unlikely to enforce city’s paused ban on ‘nip’ bottles
It appears city liquor stores will be free to sell tiny liquor bottles, or “nips,” after Aug. 1, when a citywide ban was due to take effect.