Jack Spillane
Columnist covering all things New Bedford
Mayor’s State of the City highlighted big wins but shed light on big problems
Jon Mitchell wrapped up his speech with a plea for volunteering and private-sector fundraising.
Director Suzanne Houbre brings another powerful drama to Your Theatre
Fuller and McCaughey carry the amazing “The Humans” in its two-week run in New Bedford.
Immigration arrests in New Bedford, Part 2: Activists speak out
Jack Spillane was joined by Adrian Ventura, executive director of Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, and UMass Dartmouth anthropologist Lisa Maya Knauer. Watch the full video here.
Audio and transcript: Jack Spillane’s interview with New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira
The Light’s columnist speaks with New Bedford’s outgoing police chief about the department, his 30-year tenure in law enforcement, and his reaction to accusations made in a recent Boston Globe series.
Business and residents duke it out as New Bedford waste costs spiral
How do you address the issue of exponentially increasing trash costs without trampling on the quality of life of residential neighbors?
Years after Michael Bianco raid, New Bedford immigrants still have to hide
Everyone suffers when the federal immigration policy is unclear and unfair.
Melville statue recognizes greatness that came out of New Bedford
Melville’s body of work stares straight at us and asks “Can you accept reality as it is?”
Police union chief roils City Council president race
An organized, public effort against a council president candidate is a new thing for the city.
2024 in review: A win for women – and the Feast
The women festeiras were so successful that two of them were subsequently elected to the club’s governing board.
Remembering the big poetic soul of Maggi Kerr Peirce
Our lives are blessed with something special by poetic souls like Maggi Peirce. And I know I got a big dose of it.
Fighting the system in the North End of New Bedford
Pine Hill Acres residents believe to their core that their Far North End community is not the right place for a regional transfer station.
Helping out the Missionaries of Charity
There aren’t too many places for most of us, where we get together with other folks for the sole purpose of doing something thoughtful for other people.
In ‘The Ways,’ Everett Hoagland transforms nature and history
The poet has a way of sculpting words into meditative, actually spiritual edifices.
Trump grows stronger on South Coast, and a warning sign for Montigny
People talk about racism and sexism and threats to democracy but this local election looked like the price of butter and housing to me.
Agreement to support Zeiterion is a bargain for New Bedford
All the councilors say they value the arts, but some didn’t like the taxpayer support.
Inspector general blames everyone, but UMass killed the Star Store
The bottom line is that if UMass Dartmouth had really wanted to stay in New Bedford, it could have.
Maura Healey gives back of her hand to the poor provinces
As progressive as she is, Healey has a blind spot for down-and-out places like New Bedford, Dorchester and Ayer.
An arts college is not a pit stop
A year after Chancellor Mark Fuller abruptly closed the New Bedford CVPA campus, students look for ways to keep arts in the city.
Time for New Bedford to better integrate its schools
Let’s see if there is any groundswell in the city for more integration of New Bedford’s middle- and low-income neighborhoods into single schools.
Two ways of looking at DA Paul Walsh Jr.’s legacy
Depending on their politics, people will debate the former district attorney’s tenure for a long time.
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