Dear friends,
As I come to the end of my first year in office, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on what we have been able to accomplish together.
My first priority as City Councilor was to recruit and build a team to serve the residents of Roxbury, South End, Dorchester, and Fenway. With a responsive and effective team in place, I began to focus on the priorities that are most important to the residents of District 7. From hosting a community meeting with the Chief of Streets and Transportation Commissioner on transportation issues facing the district, to standing alongside the residents of Highland Park to save the historic Saint James African Orthodox Church from demolition, I've been fighting for our community. Throughout this work, I’ve been proud to partner with residents, like the seniors at Rockland Street who needed a crosswalk, or the moms who want to clean up and redesign Jeep Jones Park and make it an asset for our community. From the South End Library to Franklin Park, I secured significant capital investments in District 7 going forward through the budget process.
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One of my top priorities this year has been on housing. In November, I hosted a hearing on gentrification and displacement in Roxbury to get community feedback and ideas on solving the housing crisis. I advocated for the passage of the Jim Brooks Stabilization Act to help tenants facing no-fault evictions. I testified in favor of laws to prevent 13A expiring use affordable housing from expiring, and supported tenant organizing efforts to save their homes. I also worked with my colleagues and the Mayor to pass a bill regulating the short-term rental industry, which eliminates the practice of converting entire buildings to short-term rentals while preserving residents' ability to earn some extra cash by renting out an extra room in their home or an adjacent unit. I have also supported several families who were facing eviction, and offered resources to families impacted by fires.
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Public safety has been another important issue that I've worked on. I held a hearing on summer violence to review the City's preparations in place. I advocated for a greater public safety presence in Dudley Square, after residents reported graphic events occurring in the area. I've collaborated with the Public Works Department to make sure that they are keeping Dudley Square clean. The opioid crisis continues to impact our city. I stood with students, parents, and teachers at Orchard Gardens School to demand that our playgrounds and parks are kept clean from needles. I filed hearing orders on sober homes and on mental health, homelessness, and addiction. I also worked for the implementation of police body-worn cameras, which received funding in this year's budget.
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In my maiden speech as a City Councilor, I talked about my love for Roxbury and the importance of building wealth for people of color, right here in our community. We deserve real economic justice. As the Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Small Business and Consumer Affairs, I am working to promote equity in how the City operates with small businesses. Just this month, I chaired a hearing on ensuring equity in the City’s emerging marijuana industry, to make sure that we are not left out of this economic opportunity, like we were for decades with liquor licenses. I also supported small businesses like Soleil, District 7 Tavern, and Fasika Cafe in obtaining liquor licenses for their business. I joined colleagues in filing legislation to require community process and engagement before opening chain stores.
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As the Chair of the Council’s Arts, Culture, and Special Events Committee, I held a hearing on protecting the Huntington Theater, to ensure that it remains used for artistic purposes in perpetuity. I continue to stand with the artists of the Piano Factory and AAMARP, whose work space is increasingly endangered.
I’ve led the push for greater equity in Boston’s construction industry. From monitoring the diversity of jobs in my district, to co-sponsoring an ordinance to create a Commission on Economic Justice in the city’s construction industry, I’m fighting to make sure that construction boom jobs are going to Boston residents, people of color, and women. I successfully advocated to include inclusion and equity language in the PLAN: Dudley RFPs, which means that projects will be encouraged to have diversity at all levels, from ownership to workers. I'm proud that it has become the model for all RFPs that the City plans to issue. I have stood on behalf of workers seeking better working conditions and fair treatment, from the hotel workers of UNITE HERE Local 26 who went on strike for better working conditions, to the security workers of SEIU 32BJ, to National Grid workers who have been locked out, to medical professionals at Whittier Street Community Health Center seeking the right to organize.
Voting rights and ballot access has been another area where we've been able to make progress this year. I co-sponsored a home rule petition to expand early voting to City elections, in order to make it easier and more convenient to vote in important elections. I also introduced an amendment to an ordinance expanding access to voter registration to add BCYF centers as a location required to provide voter registration forms.
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I’ve continued to fight for educational equity and racial justice. I sponsored a hearing on teacher diversity in Boston, advocated for investments in vocational education and Madison Park High School, and we are working to reform the exam school admissions system. I co-sponsored a hearing, held at the Burke High School, on students who have not received proper support for on-time graduation. I worked alongside advocates to push universities and other non-profit institutions to pay more in PILOT payments. And I pushed back on BPS school closures alongside parents, teachers, students, and activists.
Finally, I worked hard to deliver strong constituent services that residents deserve. I conducted "snow patrols" and "pothole patrols" to proactively identify issues and to alert the proper departments. And I've produced this newsletter, on a regular basis, to keep residents informed and connected and I hold community office hours throughout the district.
Looking to next year, I know that the work is just beginning, and that we have much more to do. While I’m sad to be losing my sister-in-service Ayanna Pressley, I’m excited that she’ll continue to be a partner as our new Congresswoman. I also hope that I can continue to count on your partnership and support, as we take on the new challenges that lie ahead.
In Solidarity,
Councilor Kim Janey
To learn more about what I'm up to, please visit my website,
KimJaney.org
,
and my
social media pages
below.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE
The City's plastic bag ordinance went into into effect on December 14th. Businesses will no longer be able to give away single-use, plastic shopping bags. Businesses may charge a fee for paper, compostable, or reusable bags. Residents are encouraged to obtain reusable bags in order to avoid these fees.
You can learn more here.
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Spotlight on Small Business
Wally's Cafe Jazz Club
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If you are looking for a nice and cozy jazz scene, Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club is the place to go. Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club is a family owned business first started by Joseph Walcott and is now run by his great grandson. The first African-American owned nightclub in New England, the club has been visited by famous jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker. Wally’s is one of the longest-running jazz clubs in Boston. It remains committed to providing a training ground to the next generation of jazz musicians, as well as featuring the pros, and it provides live music 365 days a year.
Check out their website to learn more here.
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Commonwealth Magazine
Michael Jonas
In November, Councilor Kim Janey sponsored a hearing on Displacement and Gentrification within Roxbury. Over 350 people attended the hearing, which was held in the evening and in the community so that residents most impacted would have an opportunity to be heard and listen to the panelists.
“People are feeling the heat,”
she said on this week’s Codcast
.
“People are being pushed out of our neighborhood. And so we need to come up with creative solutions to keep residents who want to be in Roxbury in Roxbury.”
"
All things really need to be on the table, including recent talk of a return to rent control, which was banned through a 1994 statewide ballot question. There isn’t one magic pill we can take that’s going to solve it.”
Dorchester Reporter
Jennifer Smith
In order to avoid an industry that is white, wealthy, and not inclusive of Boston residents, the City needs to be intentional and promote greater equity. The City Council is exploring Boston’s options to protect minority applicants and encourage greater equity in the industry.
At a well-attended hearing of the Small Business and Consumer Affairs Committee, councilors asked city and state officials about possible safeguards that could be added to the system to ensure equity.
“We are not here to debate whether we should have dispensaries, but whether how they will open and who will benefit,” Councilor Kim Janey said. Voters “overwhelmingly” supported the legalization of recreation marijuana, she said, with the 62 percent in favor “opening the door to a massive economic windfall for those able to take advantage of the opportunities presented.”
The problem, Janey and her fellow councilors said, is that those poised to take advantage are looking like white owners from outside of the city.
WGBH
Saraya Wintersmith
Earlier in November, Councilor Janey held a hearing on Gentrification and Displacement within Roxbury. During an interview with WGHB News, Councilor Janey said,
“I’d like us to be thinking about how we go after these luxury condos.
”
She also said,
"If you wanted to sell your property within the first year, which a lot of flippers and speculators do, you would then be paying a higher tax when you let go of that property, versus if you held on to it."
“We need to be looking at each and every option. “I took lots of notes and I’m looking forward to reviewing the comments again so what we can make sure we’re lifting up all of the solutions to see what can have some real traction.”
Boston Globe
Editorial
Though recreational marijuana is legal is Massachusetts, the City of Boston is taking its time to create and implement equitable legislation.
City Councilor Kim Janey stated,
“You don’t have to consume marijuana or buy it; it’s about who is going to become a become a millionaire out of this. What we don't need to happen is another Seaport. We need to be intentional about how this rolls out, so that there is equity.”
Many have voiced out their concerns for the city's lack of guidance as recreational cannabis on the state level moves forward. Many are looking to the city to provide transparency on how the selection process really works and what the criteria the city uses to evaluate applicants.
Boston Globe
Dan Adams
This week, Councilor Kim Janey convened a hearing on the emerging industry of regulated marijuana. Her colleagues Councilor Pressley and Councilor McCarthy sponsored the hearing to focus on examining and discussing the city’s equity practices within the industry of regulated marijuana.
Councilor Janey said,
“As the billion-dollar cannabis industry grows, it’s imperative that the economic benefits are directed to the communities that have, for far too long, been negatively impacted by the so-called war on drugs. We need to make sure that communities that have been locked up are not locked out of this economic opportunity.”
Later, she said,
“There’s frustration from applicants, and especially equity applicants, who are trying to move forward and not getting a lot of guidance.”
MassLive
Shira Schoenberg
The Boston City Council held a hearing on promoting equity within the regulated marijuana industry.
Councilor Janey said,
"We need a policy to help us correct the harms and right the wrongs that have been inflicted by mass incarceration."
She went on to day she would like this industry promote equity in its early stages so there are more minority/women owned dispensaries.
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Jobs, Resources, and Events
Our office often receives job announcements, which I will endeavor to share with District 7 residents on a regular basis. Please share within your networks. Thanks!
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Join the Grove Hall community for a day of healing, peace and rebirth. This event is for anyone facing gun violence, eviction or just tired and needs to relieve some stress. There will be facials, massages, games and crafts for children, and counseling sessions for any one in need. Food will be provided and special guests from the community.
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Caribbean Thursdays!
Need a little spice in your life? Grab your friends and head to
Slade's Bar & Grill
for a night of "Caribbean" fun.
This event will start on
December 14th and every 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month
. Tickets are $8. To find out more about this event, visit
here
!
Serve as a Judge for the 2019 John F. Kennedy
Profile in Courage Essay Contest
The JFK Presidential Library and Museum invites you to
serve as a judge
for an essay contest. Volunteer judges will be asked to read 50 essays between
Sunday, January 20th, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM to Wednesday, February 20th from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
To learn more about this contest, please click here.
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If you are interested in an apartment complex in an area where you can easily walk to public transit and have access to what Boston has to offer, look no further than Bartlett Station. It is located near Dudley Square area and is made up of mixed-income units.
To learn more to apply, please click here.
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Women’s Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts
The Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition is hiring for two positions: a
Program Manager (click here for job description)
and an
Administrative Coordinator
. The Administrative Coordinator works closely with the President to support the WSCC Board in all aspects of their work by c
oordinating the administration of the WSCC, providing technical and Board support and assisting with communications and event planning.
The Program Manager works with the WSCC President and Board to
plan and organize WSCC’s fundraising, events and related communications to assure the success of the organization’s fundraising and events programs
. The manager ensures that all related deadlines for fundraising and events budgets are met.
We Love the Kids 6th Annual Holiday Celebration
Score4More Inc. is bring joy to the kids of Boston by hosting a toy drive! You can donate new toys and gift cards to the
Hawthorne Youth & Community Center at 9 Fulda Street and the Melnea Cass Center
. This drive will be happening every day until December 20th.
For more information, email [email protected]
.
Mass Incarceration & the Impact on Urban Communities: Open Mic
Stop by
the Haley House on December 21st from 7PM-9PM
for an open and candid discussion on the causes, effects and solutions to mass incarceration. Come and share your opinions, experiences or any resources by making sure your voice is heard! There will also be a fundraiser to build funds for the New Beginnings Re-entry Services Program, an organization that provides therapeutic services and job training for women recently released from prison.
Queens Co. Holiday Happy Hour + Toy & Toiletry Drive
On December 20th from 6 PM- 9 PM at the Fort Hill Bar and Grill,
join Queens Co. during this holiday season to give back to those less fortunate! Mix and mingle with people around the city, while collecting toys and toiletries to support low-income families of color in our community. There will be food, drinks, board games, music and much more!
To gain admission pay a $10 donation or donate an item to RSVP for free.
All proceeds will go directly to Project Hope, a multi-service agency that aims to help lift families out of poverty. To learn more about this event,
visit here
. To learn more about Project Hope and volunteer opportunities,
click here
!
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Black Millennial Book Club
Join the Black Millennial Book Club for their first official meeting on
December 22nd from 10AM- 12PM
at the Dudley Cafe. At this event, the club will meet each other, decide club structure and pick the first book. To learn more about this event, click
here
!
Bend it Like Pepper
Join Pepper the Robot for
a week dedicated to students to consider a career in STEM.
The event will take place from
Monday, February 18, 2019 9:00 AM to Friday, February 22, 2019 1:30 PM
. Bend it Like Pepper will take place at the
Roxbury Innovation Center, 2300 Washington Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02119.
To learn more or buy your tickets for $50, please click here.
Soul Synergy LIVE!
The Kecosa Collective presents "Soul Synergy Live!", an evening of original and traditional music, dance, poetry and movement of the African Diaspora. The event will be held at the
Hibernian Hall on December 29th from 8PM-10:30 PM
. To learn more about the performers and the event,
click here.
Ujoma - First Night of Kwanzaa
The Institute for Pan African Cultural Education Inc.(PACE) is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration on December 26th at the Roxbury YMCA. Umoja stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, whic
h is reflected in the African proverb, “I AM because WE ARE.”
Learn more here.
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Assistant Property Manager
The Marksdale Gardens Cooperative Corporation is seeking a assistant property manager to assist the Property Manager with day-to-day operations in the office and facilitates all aspects of the leasing process. To learn more about the position, click on this
link
.
Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to Nikki Toon at [email protected].
Part-time Bus Driver
The Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry is in need of a part-time bus driver to drive high school students home after their after school programs.
To find out more about this position,
you can find a description here
.
Project Director
Housing Opportunities Unlimited is looking to hire a Project Director will be responsible for ongoing oversight of relocation activity and residents services at sites in the Greater Boston area and throughout New England.The Project Director will be primary point of contact for clients and will ensure that contract deliverables are being met.
Email your resumes to [email protected] if you think this is the job for you.
Improbable Players
Black Veteran's Calendar
Black Market, located at 2136 Washington St in Roxbury
, will be selling a calendar commemorating the contributions of Black veterans. The Black Veteran's calendar is an education on some of the History of honor and sacrifices by African Americans that dates back to the American Revolution up to World War II.
The images are vivid and colorful as it is not just a calendar with information, but it is Art.The proceeds from the calendar is used to support the Veterans Reading Brigade, which is an organization that volunteers and assist youth in learning how to read.
50 Portraits of Villa Victoria
In celebration of Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción's 50th anniversary, artist Devin Ferreira and IBA Teens present "50 Portraits of Villa Victoria," a collection of photographs, vignettes, drawings, and paintings. The gallery opens on December 20th at 5PM at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, and you can
learn more here
.
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