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
Mayor talks voter records, the unhoused and more
The mayor’s third appearance on the show came on the heels of his pushback against the Trump administration’s Department of Justice request for voter records. But that’s not all. Watch it here.
Excitement now, and more thrills to come at Whaling Museum
Whaling Museum Executive Director Amanda McMullen, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Bernadette Souza, and Chief Curator Naomi Slipp joined Light columnist Jack Spillane on The Chat Friday. Watch it here.
No easy way out of budget crisis
Experts Adam Chapdelaine and Phineas Baxandall joined Light columnist and host of The Chat Jack Spillane to examine the statewide crisis and New Bedford’s predicament: a $32 million budget deficit.
