What finally did in Tom Hodgson was the decent, hard-working people of the city of New Bedford, Bristol County’s largest working-class community and the place that undoubtedly has sent the largest number of inmates and correctional officers to tangle with the county’s chief jailer these last 2½ decades.
Author Archives: Jack Spillane
Posted inJack Spillane column
Opinion: Contested state rep races offer strong choices for South Coast voters
It would be even better if other area lawmakers — state senators Mark Montigny and Mike Rodrigues; and state reps. Tony Cabral, Chris Markey and Chris Hendricks — more frequently had competition.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Opinion: South Coast is just getting to know the Attleboro mayor who wants to be sheriff
Paul Heroux repaired public school roofs that had leaked for 20 years, boosted education funding for his school department and established a special education stabilization fund for his city of about 50,000.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Opinion: Some questions for Sheriff Tom Hodgson
Is it possible that these high Bristol County suicide numbers are related to your “tough love” philosophy and practices? Is it worth re-examing whether your procedures are the latest best practices in prevention, given the worrisome suicide numbers?
Posted inJack Spillane column
Driver’s license vote will tell us a lot about New Bedford’s pride in being a city of immigrants
We are going to vote in November on whether these folks who live such meager lives among us should be able to legally obtain a driver’s license and travel to their jobs and wherever else their lives take them.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Opinion: It’s not perfect but we need it — Train service to Boston hinges on vote to join MBTA
The train to Boston really and truly is going to begin at the end of 2023. And we are now reminded that, in order for that to happen, the cities of New Bedford and Fall River must vote to join the MBTA.
Posted inJack Spillane column
New Bedford on the right track with immigration issues
The city’s offer to help the Venezuelan migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard is not the first time New Bedford has stepped up to accommodate new arrivals to the country.
Posted inThe Light on radio
The Light on Radio: A mothballed city statue and immigrants on Martha’s Vineyard
The New Bedford Light’s Jack Spillane made his latest appearance on Town Square Sunday. He talked about the upcoming gubernatorial race, the transport of Venezuelan immigrants to the Vineyard, and […]
Posted inJack Spillane column
Poseidon lives a lonely life at New Bedford’s public works yard
I was unprepared for the sight of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s magnificent 2,000-pound sculpture of the ancient Greek god of the sea, standing up right there against one of the utilitarian building’s plain brick walls.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Gov ticket hopefuls talk working-class city issues in an election that seems theirs to lose
Healey and Driscoll know that in Gateway Cities — where good-paying jobs and adequate social services are always the highest priorities — lunch-bucket themes are the better message.
