Latest news with #Onuoha
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Boston at-large city council candidates stand united against Trump immigration tactics, split on White Stadium, BPS
'If they're looking for people in Boston, police knows about it. ... They're going to direct them away from those schools, away from those churches,' Baker said. Advertisement It was one of the few things that the eight candidates agreed on at a forum organized by the Boston Ward Committee Democrats Monday night. Other than immigration, the candidates debated their policy stances on housing, education, criminal justice, transportation, and the Four of the candidates — Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy and Henry Santana — are incumbents, while three of the challengers who participated in the forum have worked in city government before, including Baker, the former councilor. Alexandra Valdez, the current director of the city's Office of Cultural Affairs previously worked in Mayor Michelle Wu's office, and Will Onuoha serves as executive director of the city's Office of Fair Housing, Equity and Civil Rights. Marvin Mathelier, the eighth candidate who spoke at the forum, is a former Marine and owner of the small business Ula Café in Jamaica Plain. Advertisement Five other candidates — Clifton Braithwaite, Jacob Jones, Rachel Nicole Miselman, Yves Mary Jean and Reggie Stewart — are also running for at-large seats on the council, though they weren't at the forum. Braithwaite, Jones and Stewart had not collected the minimum number of verified signatures needed to run, as of June 2. They have until June 24 to collect the signatures to qualify for the ballot. There will be a preliminary municipal election on Sept. 9, where voters will pick eight out of the at-large candidates to send to the general election in November. On most issues, including housing and criminal justice, Baker, Murphy and Onuoha supported centrist policies while the other five candidates took more progressive stances. Murphy, Onuoha, and Baker said they opposed rent control, which Wu supports. Onuoha proposed that the city tackle affordability through policies that encourage more building. '[Rent control] actually hurts mom and pop landlords who have investment property,' Onuoha said. On the city's inclusionary development policies, Baker and Onuoha said they disagree with the 'I think that you have to be flexible in an economy like we're having now, with the interest rates and the cost of labor the way it is,' Baker said, 'We're not building enough units right now … so 20 percent of nothing is nothing at the end of the day.' Advertisement Louijeune, president of the city council, said she supports both rent stabilization and encouraging new development through zoning reform. 'Rent stabilization is a commitment to communities, especially Black, brown, low-income communities, that says 'Our investments in your neighborhood is not to push you out, it's actually to keep you in,'' said Louijeune who's seeking a third term. On education, most candidates said they would support Boston Public Schools having a fully elected school committee in the future; Valdez, Onuoha, and Baker opposed that change. Valdez said she supported a 'hybrid' of some appointed members and some elected members. 'I'm a huge believer that we need to give a chance to everyone who wants to serve, both those who are education professionals and professors and those who are community members who would like to be elected,' Valdez said. Onuoha supported a similar hybrid proposal because he was concerned that a fully elected board could lead to education becoming 'politicized.' Currently, all nine members of the school committee are appointed by the mayor, but Mejia, who's seeking her fourth term, has 'I'm in full favor of an elected school committee, because as a parent, I understand the important role that I play in choosing who is going to be in that seat,' Mejia said. When asked how to improve Boston Public Schools overall, Santana, who's seeking his second term, proposed redirecting dollars spent on transportation. 'We're spending over $100 million dollars on transportation. We need to be able to really look at those costs and reinvest that,' Santana said, 'More than 10 percent of our students right now are unhoused so we should spend more money on housing our students than we are on transporting them outside of the city.' Advertisement Murphy, a former kindergarten and special education teacher for the Boston Public Schools who's seeking her third term on the council, proposed expanding early education so students have a better foundation. 'When over 80 percent of our third graders are not reading on grade level … and so many kids have chronic absenteeism. We have real systemic problems that we have to address,' Murphy said. On crime, Baker, Murphy, Onuoha and Valdez said that the city should not end its engagement with Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), a controversial counterterrorism intelligence center meant to facilitate information sharing about terrorism among local, state, and federal agencies. BRIC also manages Valdez said that there needs to be a more in-depth study on how the data are being used, rather than ending the partnership entirely. Louijeune said that a reformed version of the BRIC could be valuable in solving crimes related to white supremacy. Baker gave a more full-throated defense of the center. 'It's called Boston Regional Intelligence. We don't want stupid police,' Baker said, 'When very progressive [district attorney] Rachael Rollins was in office, she had her own database, and it nearly exactly matched with the police's.' The majority of the candidates at the forum said they opposed Wu's plan to redevelop White Stadium. Mathelier, who said he supported it along with Santana and Valdez, said he lives two blocks away from the site and believes the project could bring economic benefits to communities in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester if the needs of residents and small businesses are taken into consideration. Advertisement 'I really want to focus on ensuring that we are still taking care of those neighbors that live there,' Matherlier said, 'the last thing I want to see is that years from now, the whole landscape changed.' Mejia, an opponent of the project, said that nearby residents have a lot of unanswered questions. 'They are interested in knowing about the transportation plan. They're concerned about the climate, they're concerned about parking,' Mejia said. The conversation about White Stadium led the candidates to talk about the broader idea of community engagement for projects in the city. All eight candidates agreed that the city could do a better job at reaching out to residents. 'You don't have meetings just to check a box,' Baker said, 'you need to respond to the people that pay your salary … the people in the city of Boston." Angela Mathew can be reached at
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Council announces park paddling pool will reopen
A "much-loved" paddling pool at a park in Derby will reopen for the bank holiday weekend. The popular feature at Markeaton Park began to deteriorate at the end of 2023 and has since been closed to allow for "essential" resurfacing work and repairs to take place. Speaking in April, Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, cabinet member for leisure, said the essential resurfacing work had been a "much more complex task than anticipated". On Thursday, Derby City Council confirmed the pool will reopen on Saturday. The repair work was hampered by wet weather, and the pool, which traditionally is up and running for children each May, was shut for the entire 2024 season. Onuoha said he "shared everyone's disappointment" that the pool could not open last year. After the council announced the pool was reopening, he said: "We know how incredibly popular the paddling pool is, and we're absolutely delighted that it will be open for its usual season this year. "Our teams have worked diligently with the contractor to ensure the pool is safe and ready for everyone to enjoy this year." Tree House Trek, which is based in the park, said: "We're absolutely delighted to see progress being made on the reopening of the paddling pool. "It's a much-loved part of the park that brings families, laughter, and life to the area, and we know how much local visitors have missed it. "We appreciate the efforts being made to get everything just right and can't wait to welcome even more families back this summer." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'Complex' paddling pool repairs delay reopening No reopening date for park paddling pool Derby City Council
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Palace's biggest challenge is internal'
Like Nottingham Forest versus Manchester City, Crystal Palace against Aston Villa is an FA Cup semi-final of contrasting do not necessarily keep a lot of possession, but they have got the ability to attack at high Eagles' supporters - and Villa's - do not get the chance to travel to Wembley all the time for big cup matches, so it will be a a huge occasion for both until two or three weeks ago, Palace looked like one of the most solid teams in the Premier of a sudden, they get hit for five - two weeks in a that has not only cast doubt over how we perceive them from the outside, but there will be players in the team who probably are not as comfortable as they were a fortnight ago. Maybe there are hints of is really tough to call, but it might be one of those games dictated by that first goal, because the two styles of play are not that the desire and the drive to try to win that game to get in the final is going to be beat Villa comfortably 4-1 at home in February so they will have a belief that they can go and do it will not fear Unai Emery's side. The biggest challenge is internal because they have never won a major is such a big occasion and I think that makes it a really interesting Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Liverpool do not require a massive rebuild this summer'
Liverpool are in a very unique position, having such a large lead to a point where most people would accept that the league title is probably is different to a lot of the title races in years gone by which may explain their dip in form, but it reminds us of just how difficult the Premier League is It also shows how much credit they deserve for this season because at times they did not play as well - as has been the case in recent weeks - but picked up so many are trying to find their rhythm again but they're up against teams who themselves have much to play for - like Fulham this last weekend for example having the chance to play in Europe again. The last third of the season is the hardest because every team has some goal to play for.I don't think recent performances show Liverpool require a massive rebuild this Alexander-Arnold's probably going to be leaving, but I think it's just a case of deciding, figuring out who's going to be there next season, and then building a plan around want your captain and most influential players to stay. Ultimately, it's the squad that's going to be lifting the Premier League title on the final day of the season. I think to say that squad requires a big rebuild would suggest that this season was a fluke, and I don't think that's been the case at all.I think they'll know the areas that they need to try to bolster and and I don't think it's that many.I don't think they're going to be looking at a completely different side next year with low expectations because as the season starts, if they have the majority of the same squad, I don't see why those players and managers would not believe that they can win the Premier League title Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
BBC News
07-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Improvement work at parks across Derby completed
Work to improve accessibility at a number of Derby parks has been completed. It included upgrades to footpaths in Chaddesden Park, Alvaston Park, Allestree Park, South Avenue Park and Gravel Pit Lane Recreation Ground in Spondon. Derby City Council said new smoother paths were designed to ensure everyone could enjoy the city's green authority said the work had been completed in time for spring. A path between Alvaston Park and the nearby Lakeside Primary School was upgraded to make the route accessible while improvements were also made to paths in Allestree Park. The authority said South Avenue Park and Gravel Pit Lane Recreation Ground also had their paths revamped and the entrance from South Avenue improved with new railings installed. In Chaddesden Park, where several paths were upgraded, the entrances to Chaddesden Wood Local Nature Reserve were also improved. Two new benches were also installed at the site by volunteer group Friends of Chaddesden Wood, as well as a new wooden sculpture of an owl and mouse. The city council said improvements to the nature reserve entrances were funded by Section 106 funding - contributions developers are obligated to make as part of planning Onuoha, Derby City Council's cabinet member for street pride, public safety and leisure, said: "Spending time in nature has positive effects on our physical and mental wellbeing, so we hope the improvements we've made will encourage more people to visit their local park or green space."
