About Jeanne Rooney

Jeanne Rooney is the Editor in Chief for South Boston Online.
15 01, 2026

Senator Collins’ Tax Relief Legislation Wins Ways & Means Approval

2026-01-15T10:05:12-05:00January 15th, 2026|Categories: News|0 Comments

Property Tax Relief Package Moves to Senate Floor for Vote Thursday The Massachusetts Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means voted last week to advance bipartisan property tax relief measures, including An Act Relative Municipal Property Tax Relief, authored by Senator Nick Collins. This legislation would provide cities and towns the authority to issue direct rebates to homeowners by tapping the surplus fund. Currently, the City of Boston has more than $552 million in available surplus funds. Senator Collins believes a portion of that excess should be returned to taxpayers. A similar approach was taken at the state level in 2022, when the Governor and Legislature issued rebates after tax revenues exceeded the cap established under voter-approved law MGL Chapter 62F, which limits the growth of state tax collections. “With [...]

5 12, 2025

Councilors Passed a Unanimous Resolution in Support of Expanding Prevention of Drink Spiking

2025-12-05T09:57:47-05:00December 5th, 2025|Categories: Happenings|Comments Off on Councilors Passed a Unanimous Resolution in Support of Expanding Prevention of Drink Spiking

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata passed a unanimous resolution in support of prevention and public awareness campaigns related to drink spiking in the City of Boston. Drink spiking occurs when a person deliberately puts alcohol or drugs into someone else’s drink without their knowledge or permission. These drugs can include Rohypnol (“roofies”), GHB, or Ketamine. Instances of drink spiking can occur at bars, pubs, nightclubs, or even private house parties. According to reports, in 2023 there were 107 reported instances of drink spiking in the City of Boston and 71 reported instances in 2024. While there has been a decrease in reported incidents, many feel intimidated to report spiking to the Boston Police Department. It’s critical that we encourage survivors [...]

25 10, 2025

Billy Baker Field Dedication Honors South Boston Legend Who Built a Community Through Soccer

2025-10-25T14:01:28-04:00October 25th, 2025|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle, News|Comments Off on Billy Baker Field Dedication Honors South Boston Legend Who Built a Community Through Soccer

Under a crisp blue sky and the sound of bagpipes, dozens of family members, friends, former players, coaches, and community leaders gathered at Moakley Park to celebrate the naming of Billy Baker Field — honoring the man who, nearly four decades ago, founded the South Boston Youth Soccer League and forever changed youth sports in the neighborhood. Jack Baker, Billy’s youngest son, opened the ceremony with humor and heart. “My mother thought 20 or 30 people would show up, and she was worried about parking,” he said to laughter. “Obviously, more than that showed up.” After young South Boston resident Eve Polaski performed the National Anthem — a nod to the long-standing tradition Billy started at every league opening — Jack shared stories that captured [...]

23 10, 2025

Design Team Chosen for Next Phase of Moakley Park

2025-10-23T10:52:19-04:00October 23rd, 2025|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Design Team Chosen for Next Phase of Moakley Park

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department today announced Weston & Sampson as the technical lead and Stoss Landscape Urbanism as the design lead for the next phase of improvements at Moakley Park. Funded through the City’s five year Capital Plan, this new phase of improvements will deliver a rebuilt and enhanced baseball field, upgraded facilities to support community use and long-term park maintenance, and a landscaped multiuse path with harbor views. The project will also advance critical coastal resilience measures to help protect the South Boston neighborhood from flooding and climate impacts. “By transforming Moakley Park into a climate-resilient green space, we are ensuring that generations of South Boston residents and families can enjoy the green space,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. [...]

15 10, 2025

Honoring A Life of Legacy: Billy Baker

2025-10-15T16:15:18-04:00October 15th, 2025|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Honoring A Life of Legacy: Billy Baker

Billy Baker was a native Bostonian who was born and raised in South Boston. He owned several businesses and is most known in the neighborhood for bringing soccer to the youth of South Boston. In 1984, Billy gathered a group of parents to work with the Parks and Recreation Department to create a youth soccer league for South Boston. He successfully established the South Boston Youth Soccer League in 1985, whose mission is dedicated to the ongoing development of youth soccer players in an inclusive, safe, affordable and fun environment. Billy led and served as the South Boston Youth Soccer League President for 35 years until 2020. For over three and a half decades, he worked tirelessly to make the soccer league affordable for every [...]

11 09, 2025

Public Hearing about Mass/Cass Crisis Held at Hampton Inn

2025-09-11T10:55:05-04:00September 11th, 2025|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Public Hearing about Mass/Cass Crisis Held at Hampton Inn

by Rick Winterson Recently, a vitally important public hearing took place. In an unusual step, the Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Health, Homelessness, and Recovery held this hearing off-site – not at City Hall. District 3 City Councilor John FitzGerald chairs this Committee and he decided that an offsite public meeting was important. The hearing was urgent, controversial, and if it results in effective action, will ultimately have been successful. Docket #1547, a resolution proposed by District 2 City Councilor Edward Flynn, was the hearing’s single topic. This docket reads, “Resolution to declare Mass. and Cass and impacted neighborhoods a Public Safety and Public Health Emergency and a Humanitarian Crisis.” And there’s little or no question that drug abuse is now a crisis in [...]

8 09, 2025

Councilor Flynn Respectfully Asks For Your Vote Tuesday, September 9th

2025-09-08T09:43:16-04:00September 8th, 2025|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Councilor Flynn Respectfully Asks For Your Vote Tuesday, September 9th

It is an honor to serve as your District 2 City Councilor, and I have worked hard each and every day for our residents and community. With multiple challengers now also on the ballot with me this year, I am respectfully asking for your vote again on Tuesday, September 9th so that I may continue to focus on constituent services and advocate for quality of life issues in District 2. Over the last few years, with the help of strong neighborhood advocacy, we were able to share some key victories. These include new Boston EMS & Boston Fire Department stations in the South Boston Waterfront, a new Josiah Quincy Upper School and affordable housing developments in Chinatown, a new Thomas C. Foley Little League Field [...]

7 08, 2025

South Boston Community Health Center Breaks Ground on Major Expansion

2025-08-07T17:14:48-04:00August 7th, 2025|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle, News|Comments Off on South Boston Community Health Center Breaks Ground on Major Expansion

In a milestone moment for local healthcare, the South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC) celebrated the groundbreaking of its long-awaited expansion at 409 West Broadway on Wednesday, Aug. 6.  The project, set to add 11,000 square feet and 11 exam rooms, will significantly increase the center’s capacity to provide primary, preventive, and behavioral health services to the South Boston community. The event coincided with National Health Center Week, highlighting America’s 60-year legacy of community-based healthcare. SBCHC’s CEO, William J. Halpin, Jr., described the project as “a wonderful accomplishment” that will allow the health center to deepen and strengthen its commitment to the community and welcome even more patients seeking care. Board President Ann Brady opened the ceremony, thanking the dedicated staff, leadership team, community partners, [...]

31 07, 2025

Councilor Flynn Testifies in Support of Sister Mary Veronica Park

2025-07-31T10:40:03-04:00July 31st, 2025|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Councilor Flynn Testifies in Support of Sister Mary Veronica Park

At the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission hearing, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn testified in support of the City of Boston acquiring and preserving Sister Mary Veronica Park through the use of Community Preservation funding and the Open Space Acquisition Fund of the Parks and Recreation Department. This pocket park in South Boston - nestled between F Street, West 8th Street, and Grimes Street - has been a topic of contention for several years with significant concerns over a potential sale and loss of open space and five mature trees within the neighborhood. In 2023, there was a petition signed by over 1,700 South Boston residents to save the park for the community. The park was named after Sister Mary Veronica, a South Boston girl [...]

24 07, 2025

Vertex Interns Spark Curiosity and Confidence in Young Scientists

2025-07-25T09:48:15-04:00July 24th, 2025|Categories: Education, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Vertex Interns Spark Curiosity and Confidence in Young Scientists

For the third summer in a row, Vertex Pharmaceuticals brought its commitment to community and STEM education to life through hands-on science experiments led by its high school interns for local youth at the Edgerley Family Boys & Girls Club. The service event in mid-July offered children ages 6 to 10 the chance to dive into the world of science through the following engaging activities: strawberry DNA extraction, slime making, and circuit building. The idea behind the initiative is simple but powerful: give Vertex interns an opportunity to give back while sharing their passion for STEM with young students. It’s a day of service, but it’s also a day of mentorship, said Brandon Hagen of Vertex. Interns get to guide the kids through experiments, working [...]

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