Author Archives: Jack Spillane

After years of fruitless negotiations, the mayor took out a big stick. If he had a better relationship with the delegation, or if he and the delegation were better at communicating with each other or advocating at the state level, it might have been different.

The new sheriff got control of the situation and took back the unlocked units the inmates had taken over. He did a good job. … It would also be good if former Sheriff Hodgson gives his successor a chance to do that job, without second guessing everything he does.

State law allows the city to fine owners of multi-unit buildings up to $1,000 for fire code violations, and the city has in some cases tried to enforce the code. But the city has lost some cases when property owners appealed.

Potential candidates for mayor are all keeping their powder dry. City councilors Brian Gomes, Linda Morad and Ian Abreu continue to look in the mirror and see a mayor staring back at them.

Put a councilor term-limits question on the November ballot, along with a rollback of the recently approved 25% salary hikes.

Having a bad attitude in middle school, this kid used to skip out of classrooms and hide in the bathrooms or hallways. Now he’s much more engaged, especially by GNB Voc-Tech teachers who he says he feels “respect” him more.

There has literally been no citywide conversation as to whether these questions are even advisable, not to mention any consultation with the mayor’s office over whether they are in the correct format to be legally placed on the ballot.

The collapse of voting at a New Bedford senior and disabled building points out inequities in the redistricting process.