Josh Amaral, the new director of New Bedford’s Housing and Community Development Office, has been an up-and-coming city leader for a decade.
He helped lead the city’s School Committee in a new direction and revitalized the local nonprofit PACE’s housing program, growing it exponentially in just a few years. He was the most visible leader in the New Bedford’s housing relief efforts during the COVID pandemic.
But can he solve the problem of rapidly escalating rents and mortgages that have suddenly descended on Greater New Bedford the last few years? Amaral joined Jack Spillane to talk about the city’s just released comprehensive housing program for spurring development.
THe CHAT ARCHIVES
O’Leary, DeLoach, Furtado Jr. working together for New Bedford students
The leaders of the city’s public schools joined the conversation to discuss collaboration and working toward a common goal. Watch the entire Chat.
Mitchell on his goals for the city, the budget, and immigration enforcement
In an hour-long one-on-one with The Light, the mayor hit on everything from education to wind to police to standing up for New Bedford.
Sheriff Heroux at the halfway point: ‘There’s still work I want to do at the jail’
If you missed the hour-long discussion with the Bristol County sheriff, we’ve got the full Chat available. He said while he has made progress, he is “not claiming mission accomplished.”