|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
"Ward One is a neighborhood with very low crime, but it is important to keep aware of what's going on and stay in communication with your councilor and community police officer." |
Greetings!
Quincy is a great city and a SAFE city to live in. Unkempt properties detract from that image and are being addressed at tonight's City Council Ordinance Committee meeting. Unfortunately, our City recently had some incidents of great concern. Mayor Koch is hosting a meeting TONIGHT regarding last week's shooting at North Quincy High School. There were four house breaks in Ward One during January, for which the suspect has been arrested and many belongings returned to the homeowners. I have included my article that was published in the Houghs Neck Bulletin regarding the break ins. I am grateful for the support of our community Police Officer Bill Mitchell and his partnership with Ward Two Community Police Officer Matt Miller and the Quincy Police Detectives for solving the house break crimes.
While these three topics may not reflect well upon Quincy, I want to leave this on a positive note and remind you that Quincy was recently named the "Best Place to Raise Kids in Massachusetts" according to Business Week Magazine. Sincerely, Margaret |
 |
Ward One's Worst Blighted Properties |
|
|
Our Ward One neighborhoods are known as great communities with active neighborhood associations and neighbors you can count on. Having blighted, neglected properties has a negative impact on the neighborhood and the "worst offenders" will be discussed tonight at the City Council Ordinance Committee Meeting at 6:30pm in the Council Chambers. The meeting will also be televised live on QATV - Channel 10.
The Ward One addresses being discussed tonight are:
15 Gertrude Ave, Adams Shore
98 Bayview Ave, Houghs Neck
124 Charles Street, Houghs Neck
54 Spring Terrace, Houghs Neck
There are other blighted Ward One properties that I am looking into. Sadly, some are victims of foreclosure (the above addresses are not foreclosure related) and have been vacant for an extended period of time. If there is a home near you that you are concerned about, please call or email me with the address. |
|
NQHS Safety Meeting TONIGHT - MONDAY 7pm |
|
|
Mayor Thomas Koch together with School Superintendent Richard DeCristofaro and Police Chief Paul Keenan will host a community meeting regarding Wednesday's shooting on Hunt Street near North Quincy High School at 7pm on Monday, February 8th in the North Quincy High auditorium. The meeting will be broadcast live on QATV - Channel 8. |
|
Home Safety article from January HN Bulletin |
|
|
Houghs Neck is known as a tight-knit community and a safe neighborhood to live in. Word gets around quickly and we all look out for each other. There were four house breaks in Ward One in the month of January, three of which were in Houghs Neck. The criminal has been apprehended and many of the belongings have been returned to the families. Living on a peninsula makes your neighbors recognizable and working on a tip from a neighbor of a suspicious person in the neighborhood, our Community Police Officer Bill Mitchell was able to connect the dots and solve the case of these house breaks. The officers said that car breaks and house breaks are up nationally and correlate with drug problems and other community concerns. The Quincy Police Department reminds you to lock your vehicles and your homes. These breaks are considered crimes of opportunity. Please clean out your cars, don't leave belongings inside. Although you may know the Dell computer box inside your car is intended for the Goodwill, it entices thieves. Don't put your pocketbook under a seat, people may be watching. You wouldn't expect a car seat or vacuum to be stolen from a car, but they have. Tools, electronic devices, such as GPS and ipod's are popular items for thieves as are the accompanying cords. Write down the serial number for your electronics as many do get recovered but are unable to be returned as owners don't know the serial numbers. Another tip is to install a sensor light that will turn on automatically when someone is in the area. If you see something or someone suspicious, the Quincy Police Department asks that you do not engage the suspect, do not turn on the outside light or make noise, pick up your phone and call 911 or 617-479-1212 so the police can apprehend the criminal. While we may have grown up in a neighborhood of open homes, where neighbors were welcome to borrow eggs and sugar anytime, times have changed. While the willingness to lend what's needed remains, the need to lock our homes to not subject our neighborhood to crime is crucial. Together with the Quincy Police, I will host a neighborhood meaning to talk about crime prevention (date tbd). You are welcome to contact Officers LT. Dan Minton, Crime Prevention Officer 617-745-5714 or Community Police Officer Bill Mitchell 617-594-2082 if you have any questions or concerns about public safety. I will be serving on the public safety committee of the Quincy City Council and continue to work with our Police Department on matters in Ward One. |
|
Quincy: 2010 Best Place to Raise Kids in Massachusetts |
|
|
Each year Business Week magazine compiles a "Best Places" list and for 2010 named Quincy as the Best Place to Raise Kids in Massachusetts. "The data used included school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters, other amenities, and diversity. Affordability, safety, and school test scores were given the greatest weight."
As a fifth generation Quincy resident, I strongly agree with their assessment and am proud to be raising my kids in "Massachusetts' Best Place". | |
|
Contact Information |
|
| |
|
|
Margaret Laforest
Ward One Councilor, Quincy
236 Rock Island Road
Quincy, MA 02169
617-471-1806 (home)
www.MargaretLaforest.com
P Please consider the environment before printing this email. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
