This debacle with the UMass Dartmouth fine arts campus makes one wonder. Is local defeatism just coming around again?
Author Archives: Jack Spillane
Posted inJack Spillane column
It’s silence of the lambs on Star Store
Around town this week, it was hard to find anyone who is a longtime observer of New Bedford who thought there is still a prayer of saving the downtown college.
Posted inJack Spillane column
UMass outplays New Bedford on Star Store
It’s a mess, and the elected officials of New Bedford have let us down. It only remains to be seen whether Gov. Maura Healey, who a week after all this news broke, has remained silent, will also let New Bedford down.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Star Store campus receives knockout punch
“So there we have it. We have another Democratic governor willing to go along with the old boy network running the state university system.”
Posted inEducation
UMD arts program leaving downtown Star Store campus
Chancellor Mark Fuller made the announcement In a letter to UMass Dartmouth staff and faculty. He attributed the closure to the state’s decision not to fund the New Bedford campus in its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which was finalized by the state on Aug. 9.
Posted inJack Spillane column
It’s all about the at-large races
If anything is going to shake up a New Bedford election system that overwhelmingly favors incumbents, it will be this year’s candidates for at-large City Council seats.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Anger and finger-pointing after demise of New Bedford ballot question
“His job is not to dispense legal advice. He may have made some suggestions, but at the end of the day, he said, ‘I’m not a lawyer; you should talk to a lawyer.’” — Mayor Jon Mitchell on Election Commissioner Manuel DeBrito.
Posted inJack Spillane column
New Bedford aiming for ‘dream school’ at Goulart Square
“Our report, our submission to the MSBA was touted as a model of how an education plan should be written.” — Interim Superintendent Andrew O’Leary describing the new DeValles/Congdon plan.
Posted inJack Spillane column
Time to stop nips in the bud
The swarms of nip bottles are already in the city. We need to change. We’ve already done something similar by banning the plastic bags, and it has not been the end of the world.
Posted inJack Spillane column
City and Whaling Museum burned by bad hires
The question is this: If we think of substance abuse and related crime as another illness and societal problem, what level of risk are we willing to accept in giving people a chance?