“In our divided times, we can do well by recalling America at its most united.

Today I paid a visit to Windsong Blake, a New Bedford native who enlisted in the Navy at 16 just after Pearl Harbor. A longtime chief of the Assonet Wampanoag Tribe and multiple-black belt in karate, he has lived a full life.

At 99 years old, his memory is remarkably vivid, and he is generous in sharing his stories from the war. He had me hanging on every word as he described the scene of Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri.”-Jon Mitchell.

“NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell and Police Chief Paul Oliveira have agreed on a new three-year contract that keeps the head of the Police Department to 2027.

“Despite a decrease in police manpower, under Chief Oliveira’s leadership, violent crime in New Bedford has continued to decline with a 58% drop over the past decade,” Mayor Mitchell said. “Chief Oliveira has worked hard to build trust between the department and residents, which will set us up for still more improvement in public safety.”

“It is a great honor and privilege to accept this new contract as I continue to serve as the Chief of Police for the City of New Bedford,” Chief Oliveira said. “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Mitchell for this extended opportunity and his steadfast trust in my leadership. Serving this incredible community is a responsibility I hold with the utmost respect and dedication. I will continue to prioritize safety, transparency, and community engagement. I am equally fortunate to remain a member of this valued team and work alongside all of the amazing men and women who are its foundation. To them, I say, I will continue to support you, advocate for you, and ensure that you have the resources to continue to perform your duties safely and effectively. I look forward to continuing our work together in an environment of mutual respect and trust, to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Bedford residents.”

Under Chief Oliveira’s leadership, violent crime has continued to decline. According to the FBI, the city has experienced declines in the incidents of rape (-34%), robbery (-61%) and aggravated assault (-62%). Property crime also decreased 55% over the last 10 years with sharp drops in arson (-68%), burglary (-71%), and larceny (-57%).

Having grown up in New Bedford, Chief Oliveira began his career with the NBPD in 1992 as a uniform patrol officer before transferring to the Narcotics Division. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2000. Oliveira served as a Sergeant in Uniform Patrol, Detective Division, and the Narcotics Division. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2007, and served as Commander of the Professional Standards Division internal affairs), and as Commander of the Narcotics Division.

In 2012, Oliveira was promoted to the rank of Captain, and led the Professional Standards Division before his appointment as Deputy Chief of Police in 2016 and Chief of Police in 2021.

Chief Oliveira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College. He also graduated from Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police program.

Chief Oliveira’s new contract runs through June 15, 2027.”

“Early this morning at approximately 1 AM, police responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the Russell St. and Acushnet Ave. (Monte’s Playground) area.

Upon arrival, three adult victims with non-life-threatening wounds were located and transported to the hospital, where it was soon learned that an additional three adult victims had arrived via private auto.

The scene was secured as members of the detective division were activated to further the case.

Currently, the investigation is very active as police follow up on leads.”-New Bedford Police Department.

Mayor Mitchell’s statement on Monte’s Park shooting:

“The shooting early this morning at Monte’s Park was a brazen act of violence. While we are relieved that no one was seriously injured, we will not sit idly by in the face of threats to public safety. Chief Oliveira and I, along with senior police leadership and Councilor Brian Gomes, visited the scene, and the department is rapidly responding, both there and elsewhere. We will track down those responsible and hold them accountable, and we will take all necessary and appropriate steps to address the risk of retaliation. We will not permit a few people to deprive our residents of their sense of security.”

“Mayor Jon Mitchell issued the following statement on the New England Fishery Management Council’s decision to halt work on the Northern Edge:

“I am disappointed by the New England Fishery Management Council’s decision last week after scant public notice to reverse itself and halt further discussion of the opening of the Northern Edge scallop access area.

The decision comes less than three months after the Council voted to advance the opening of the Northern Edge, which was grounded in more than a decade of research showing that scallops are abundant in the area. Halting work on the Northern Edge so abruptly is an affront to scallop fishermen who were given every reason to believe that the council was working toward a fair, long-term solution.”

Mayor Mitchell testified before the council in April (pictured), urging the board to open the Northern Edge to New Bedford fishermen. Read his letter to the board on our website.”-City of New Bedford.

“Mayor Jon Mitchell offered this reflection on the passing of former Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh:

“I was saddened to learn tonight of the passing of Paul Walsh, the longest serving Bristol County District Attorney. A native of New Bedford and a former basketball star at Holy Family High School, Paul was a natural politician, a student of history, and an enthusiast of all things Irish. As District Attorney, he assembled a talented team of prosecutors and unfailingly supported them in bringing difficult cases. The office secured countless convictions of individuals who victimized the innocent and threatened the safety of their communities. But his greatest legacy is that many of his hires went to become distinguished judges and elected officials themselves.

I am grateful for his support and encouragement of me, and his wise advice that public officials should remember to have fun along the way. Paul’s untimely passing will be sorely felt in New Bedford, but his service has made the city and the rest of the county more safe and just, and maybe a bit more fun. I offer my condolences to the extended Walsh family.”-City of New Bedford.

“NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that the City of New Bedford’s Independence Day fireworks display will take place at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

Sponsored by Claremont Companies and Taunton Federal Credit Union, the fireworks will be staged from a barge located off the State Pier in New Bedford Harbor. Lower Union Street (Between N. Water Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard) will be closed to vehicle traffic and will be one of the best spots Downtown to view the display.

The Downtown fun continues on Friday, July 5, with the second Summer Sound Series free concert of the season. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, a band performing Americana/blues tunes, will hit the stage on lower Union Street from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Visitors are also encouraged to check out some of Downtown New Bedford’s signature attractions, such as the New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Art Museum, and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, and grab a bite to eat or a cold beverage at one of Downtown’s many unique restaurants and bars.

“We invite residents and visitors to come early, visit Downtown and enjoy this year’s celebration,” Mayor Mitchell said. “The July 4th fireworks display is one of the City’s signature summer events and draws people from across Greater New Bedford to explore and enjoy everything the City has to offer.”

For more information about summer events and festivals in New Bedford, visit www.ExploreNewBedford.org.”City of New Bedford.

The following is an opinion sent to New Bedford Guide. It does not reflect the opinion of New Bedford Guide, nor is it an OP-ED. In fairness and objectivity, we share opinions from our readers whether we agree or disagree with their opinion.

Do you have a counter opinion to this opinion? Have an opinion about something else? Email us at info@newbedfordguide.com.

This opinion is a response to the City of New Bedford requiring lodging house licenses and upgrades to the sober houses throughout the city.

_____________________________________________________________________________

“I can tell you one thing: putting all these rules and regulations on sober homes is forcing recovering addicts back on the streets.

Where are we going to go!?! I can be a testimony on how my sober home ‘Dawns New Day,’ saved my life, held me accountable, and helped me find my faith and my way. Many other women at the homes can vouch for this. Thanks to the sober house I’m now a fully functioning member of society. Working full time, going to church, and saving up to be able to move into my own apartment. I have learned how to be of service to the community.

You may be attacking the sober homes but the ones who will suffer the most are going to be the people like me who are just trying to find my way back. You think you have a problem now, wait till we are forced back into the streets. All the public asked for is that addicts get help! How can we if we dont have safe places to go after detox? You can go to detox but detox doesn’t help you get acclimated to the real world. You need time to be able to find a network and learn how to live clean.

And if you get help and you then leave detox to go back to the street that never ends well. I live in the grad house at ‘Dawn’s.’ It’s very spacious, we are a family. These are my sisters! We cook together, eat together, clean together, and support each other.

To some women this is the only family they have. I have fought hard to be here and earned my way. This is a home not a facility!

The mayor is doing more HARM than good. YOU DONT WANT ENCAMPENTS but are forcing sober homes to close! So what that is saying is you want more addicts and less recovery in our city. That’s the message. The train is coming and its about to get worse, way worse… let’s take the sprinklers out of the mayor’s salary, since he ‘cares’ so much about us burning alive.”-Jeanna DiSanti.

Project Will Act As Anchor to Acushnet Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization.

“NEW BEDFORD – When it opened more than 100 years ago as the first New Bedford theater built specifically for screening movies, the Capitol Theater was a cornerstone for social life and culture on Acushnet Avenue. The theater shuttered around 1980 with shops, markets, and businesses coming and going in the street-front retail space in the years following, but it has been mostly vacant for the last decade.

Today, the City is supporting the Community Economic Development Center’s renovation project that will transform the theater into a mixed-use building with apartments, retail space, classrooms, business incubator space, community kitchen, and office space for the CEDC.

City of New Bedford photo.

“The Capitol Theater was part of the fabric of living and working along the Ave.,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “Redeveloping this long vacant building into a hub of commercial, educational, and professional activity will contribute significantly to the revitalization of the neighborhood.”

The Capitol Theater rests on the corner of Acushnet Avenue and Deane Street in the commercial corridor that has been designated by MassDevelopment as a Transformative Development Initiative. The City has championed improvements along Acushnet Avenue over the years with public art, creative placemaking, and revitalizing vacant spaces.

The City has supported the Capitol Theater transformation with more than $1 million in Community Preservation Act allocations, a $1.64 million American Rescue Plan Act award, and a $375,000 grant from the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. The CEDC has used the funds to leverage other sources of capital, including state and federal Historic Tax Credits, grants from MassDevelopment, and private fundraising.

City of New Bedford photo.

“We are so excited to see construction progressing at the historic Capitol Theater. It has been a long road to get here, and we could not have done it without such broad and deep support in New Bedford and at the state level. We are so grateful to the Community Preservation Committee for championing this project from its inception, to WHALE as our pre-development partner, and to Mayor Mitchell’s administration for the investment of ARPA funds,” said CEDC Director Corinn Williams. “While the property has been blighted and largely vacant for decades, it is truly on the cusp of becoming the hub of activity and vital resources for the North End community and beyond. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for a ribbon cutting next year, when the transformation is complete.”

Once completed, the 24,000-square-foot building will be the new home for the CEDC and will feature four classrooms, business incubator space and a community kitchen on the first floor to compliment 2,400 square feet of leasable retail space. The second floor will have six mixed-income housing units. Work is underway and expected to be completed in 2025.”-City of New Bedford.

City of New Bedford photo.

City of New Bedford photo.

City of New Bedford photo.

Mayor Jon Mitchell unveiled the 2024 Mayor’s List at the New Bedford Art Museum on Wednesday, the 12th annual celebration of the top 10 academically ranked New Bedford High School seniors.

The ceremony recognizing the City’s highest achieving students also highlighted their extracurricular activities, the colleges they will attend, potential fields of study, and career goals. All of the awardees are enrolled in NBHS’ Academy of Honors. As in previous years, this year’s list includes students who reside in surrounding towns that elected to enroll in the Academy of Honors through the district’s “school choice” program.

“The Mayor’s List represents academic excellence, and it reflects the commitment of the City and School District to showcase high achievement,” Mayor Mitchell said. “I congratulate this year’s members, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish at the next level.”

The graduates and their higher education destinations are:

1. Kiva Bank, Yale University
2. Sophia Perry, Northeastern University
3. Isabella Colangelo, Cornell University
4. Carter Barbosa, Harvard University
5. Keyanna Jones, Columbia University
6. Amelia Davis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
7. Lauren Mitchell, Harvard University
8. Angel Lin, UMass Amherst
9. Maria Oliveira, University of Southern California
10. Annabelle Huston, Springfield College

Due to forecasted rain, New Bedford High School graduation has been rescheduled to Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. on Walsh Field.

“Mayor Jon Mitchell delivered his FY2025 budget proposal to the City Council Wednesday night.

Did you know that about 75% of the total budget (the purple and red pie slices in the chart) are costs the City is legally mandated to pay, no matter what? That’s why we encourage everyone to check out the Mayor’s address and the complete budget proposal, both available on our website, to learn about the budget process and the proposed plan.

We know municipal finance isn’t the most exciting thing on your plate, especially right in the middle of a Celtics playoff game, but it’s extremely important, especially to New Bedford taxpayers.”-City of New Bedford.

City of New Bedford photo.

Complete Budget Proposal: newbedford-ma.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/20240515193836/Proposed_Final4.pdf

Mayor’s Budget Address: newbedford-ma.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/20240515194329/FY25BudgetAddress.pdf