Q&A: District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson

It seems like District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson just finished campaigning...the Grove Hall native earned his spot on the council during a special election to replace Chuck Turner in March, and has served just six months.

In that time, Jackson has co-sponsored an from 16 to 18, and sought to curtail the sale of knives to minors at convenience stores across the city.

Patch asked Jackson to answer some key questions leading up to tomorrow's Preliminary Election. His answers are below.

What are the biggest issues facing the South End right now?

The South End is a vital part of District 7 and of Boston. It is important that we work together to address concerns regarding public safety, public works, and the local economy:

-Crime in any part of Boston is unacceptable. The City, its residents, stakeholders, officials, and police alike need to communicate and work together to keep the neighborhoods safe and clean. In the South End, violence and theft have been especially problematic over the last few months. It is hard to explain why two promising young men both found themselves victims of violence, but I know with the help of the community and law enforcement, we can curb this recent pattern.

-Business development in the South End in recent years has been tremendous. It is important that we sustain that growth, especially in regards to Washington Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. South End businesses have thrived, providing jobs for people in the district and adding to the local flavor of the South End.

In a tough economy, any support these businesses can receive is helpful as they have been at the forefront of the South End’s revitalization and cultural rebirth.

-The has long troubled South Enders. The presence of the South End’s beautiful historic streets and buildings means that the alleys connecting all of them are also ancient. Some are private and some are public, and this creates an array of problems regarding plumbing, electricity, snow removal and waste
disposal.

If re-elected, what would you do to address these issues?

In my role as City Councilor, I will continue to encourage the neighborhood and local law enforcement to be in constant communication, because just having other sets of eyes on the sidewalks and parks will lessen the likelihood of criminal activities occurring there.

Since being in office, we have connected over one hundred District 7 residents with jobs in Boston. My office will continue to help our neighbors support themselves and their families. Developing working partnerships with local institutions and businesses in a community-based economic growth plan will encourage entrepreneurship and thus increase jobs available for District 7 residents.

This will be especially valuable on Washington Street in the South End between Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue where for too long shop doors have been closed. Restaurants and stores are increasingly opening in that area. I will make sure that we sustain that momentum.

Throughout District 7, year-round job training programs for youth and adults alike will help the community grow economically now and in the future. I know District 7 is on the brink of noticeable economic growth. The community will thrive as people return to work and dollars continue to flow even more within our community.

As in other areas of the City, issues of public works like trash removal, snow plowing and clogged water drains arise often in the South End. Boston City Council held a hearing at which I was present to hear the testimony of Boston residents regarding public and private alleys and the problems the regulations cause for residents. In City Hall we are working to address those issues. However, coming to a resolution will probably take a few years, because the alleys have been grandfathered into this system. 

In the meantime, I propose helping South End residents organize committees based on the alleys that they abut. Many neighborhood associations are attached to two or three different alleys, some of which are private and some are public. The members of those associations do not always have a common interest in a particular alleyway, and they are not familiar with the other people with whom they share the alley. Bringing these people together for group  meetings to discuss the wiring, tree removal, snow plowing and plumbing issues may not solve all of the issues, but it will create an organized group of people with an equal stake in the alley they use.

What has been your biggest success thus far on the council?

I am proud to say that the in Boston Public Schools that I co-sponsored with At-Large City Councilor John Connolly was approved unanimously by Boston City Council on Wednesday, September 21.

By ensuring that students complete high school, we will give them the opportunities and skills they need to have a promising future, contribute to our community and affect change in a positive way. Too many young people make the rash decision to stop attending school too early in life, diminishing their chances for a happy, fruitful future. The City can ensure its own future by securing that of its young people.

What unique skills do you bring to the position?

In my time on Boston City Council representing District 7, I have utilized my experience in the business world and the government at the state level to build partnerships to help District 7 residents find jobs and have access to a better education.

We have been working with private businesses to create training programs for young people to learn various trades. Furthermore, I facilitated a partnership between Science from Scientists, a non-profit dedicated to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, and middle schools and elementary schools in District 7. In doing so, my office and Science from Scientists are bringing world-class scientists into these schools to give students the chance to explore the opportunities that pursuing their interests in science and technology can lead to later.

Economic development will lead to opportunity in District 7. My unique background in healthcare, technology and government sectors give me an advantage when it comes to providing the District 7 community and the South End the tools it needs to continue to grow.

For a Q&A with District 7 candidate Sheneal Parker, click here.

The Preliminary Municipal Election will be held on September 27. The Municipal Election will be held November 8. For more information, visit the city's Election Department website.