Mattapan

Willie Mae Allen vs. Kathy Gabriel and Chang-Diaz vs. Wilkerson

adamg — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:46:35 -0400

Mike Ball reports from a pair of debates at Boston English High - the first between incumbent state Rep. Willie Mae Allen and challenger Kathy Gabriel and the second between incumbent state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and challenger Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Elsewhere in Debateland:
John Kerry vs. Edward O'Reilly.

Three charged with mugging hapless pot buyer at gunpoint

adamg — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:13:02 -0400

Boston Police report (third item) that a guy who thought he was about to buy some pot was instead mugged and robbed of his scooter around 1 p.m. yesterday in Mattapan.

According to police, the man was riding his red scooter when three guys flagged him down and asked him if he was interested in some weed. When he said yes, they motioned him to the back of 80 Hiawatha Rd.

Once out back, the victim says that's when one of the suspects flashed a firearm and told him to give up his scooter. When he refused, the victim says that one of the suspects hit him in the back of the head with a firearm and, then, took his scooter. Officers observed a large bump on the back of the victim’s head.

In short order, police say, they round up James Cromartie, 22, of Roslindale, Bernard Lewis, 18, of Mattapan and Gary Lewis, 17, of Mattapan and charged them with armed robbery. Cromarties was also charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

Innocent, etc.

WCVB Chronicles the 2nd Suffolk Race

rossoduck — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:35:03 -0400

A nice review of the 2nd Suffolk Senate race aired on WCVB-TV last night.

The primary between Sonia Chang-Diaz and Dianne Wilkerson is scheduled for September 16.

Full disclosure: I am supporting Chang-Diaz.

Chang-Diaz poll shows lead for, surprise, Chang-Diaz

adamg — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:42:22 -0400

Blue Mass. Group posts numbers from a tracking poll conducted by the Sonia Chang-Diaz campaign in the Second Suffolk senate race. The campaign says 417 likely voters were questioned, but doesn't specify their geographic distribution in the district.

Brookline lad finds himself in a spot of trouble in Mattapan

adamg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:30:26 -0400

Boston Police report that when officers responded to a call for a car accident at 38 Evelyn St. in Mattapan around 6:30 this morning, they found:

A brown motor vehicle (a Ford Crown Victoria) facing the wrong way on a one-way street with two of its wheels resting on the hood of a parked car.

Also present: Zachary Guinney, 19, of Brookline, whom police charged with OUI.

Innocent, etc.

The whistling buses of Forest Hills

adamg — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:02:37 -0400

A few years ago, the MBTA replaced all the stinky diesel buses running out of the Forest Hill yard with clean CNG buses. Yay! Only now a lot of them have developed this interesting characteristic: They whistle as they go. Really loudly. You can often tell when a bus is a few blocks away because you hear something that sounds like a tea kettle or an elephant, or maybe an elephant holding a tea kettle.

Boston Phoenix: Great Read on Wilkerson/Chang-Diaz

rossoduck — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:18:14 -0400

While many of us were following breaking developments regarding Senator Wilkerson's finances this past weekend, the Boston Phoenix published a nice state-of-the 2nd Suffolk Senate race overview in its current edition.

Full disclosure: I recently posted an endorsement of Sonia Chang-Diaz in this race.

Some interesting take-aways from the story:

What would an election be without a story involving Dianne Wilkerson and financial improprieties?

adamg — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:16:23 -0400

Herald: Sen. Dianne Wilkerson reaches $10,000 settlement with AG:

... As part of the settlement, Coakley said Wilkerson acknowledged violations of campaign finance laws by failing to keep proper records from 2000 to 2004. ...

Sen. Wilkerson unable to account for money? Gosh.

Visiting Boston's original Chinese residents

adamg — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:04:34 -0400

The Chinatown Blogger visits Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, where some of the first Chinese residents of Boston are buried:

... Boston Chinatown was established in the early 1870s after a group of 75 workers were brought to work in the Sampson shoe factory in North Adams, MA and eventually migrated to Boston. These first Chinese who came to the U.S. were no different than many other immigrant groups. They faced hardship and discrimination but also persevered and founded communities. Many of them came seeking work and to start a new life. Others had planned on saving enough money and going back home.

However, some of these pioneers never made their way back home and died as bachelors. Without families and descendants, family associations paid for their burial. Their bodies were buried in several lots at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan. Many had just a simple marker to note their passing, but these early Chinese settlers formed Boston Chinatown's identity and history. ...

Shootings in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain

adamg — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:56:01 -0400

Boston Police report a pair of shootings overnight:

A man, 19, was shot at 49 Rockvale Circle in Jamaica Plain; rushed to Brigham and Women's in critical condition.

Shortly after 5 a.m. today, a man got lucky at Torrey and Oakwood streets, when a bullet only grazed his head; he was treated and released at Boston Medical Center.