Vehicle Theft Down in Jamaica Plain and Throughout Boston

By Abe Scherzer

Vehicle theft and attempted vehicle theft has declined significantly in Jamaica Plain this year.

There were 95 vehicle thefts or attempted thefts this year through Sept. 28 in Jamaica Plain, down from 174 during the same time last year.

The 45 percent drop is the largest in Jamaica Plain among crimes that the Boston Police Department reports by district.

To crack down on vehicle theft, Boston Police District commanders have organized sting operations with decoy vehicles, according to an e-mail from the Boston Police Department.

Boston Police advised residents that the most common items stolen were left in sight. These include GPS devices, money, stereos and stereo equipment, electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, Blackberrys and chargers, purses and briefcases.

The police department says vehicle theft crimes are among the most easily preventable. Usually car thieves look for unattended valuables.

To prevent vehicle theft, police advise car owners to remove their valuables or store them in the trunk. They also advise car owners to lock doors and windows, and warn that even a slightly cracked window makes break-ins easier.

The police department suggests car owners replace standard door lock buttons with tapered ones because they make it harder for thieves to use wires to unlock car doors. Officers advise car owners to buy anti-theft devices for their vehicles.

Michael Santary, an auto investigator in Boston, says vehicle theft is declining not just in Boston but throughout the country because of standard manufacturer installed anti-theft systems.

“Almost every new car across the country comes with a theft deterrent system,” Santary says. “This means a built-in alarm system. Five, ten, fifteen years ago this was optional.”

Santary explains that even some of the most basic elements of these systems can help eliminate crime. “Ford literally has a blinking light installed in its cars,” Santary says. “It doesn’t actually do anything, but this blinking LED system makes thieves go to the next car.”

“A lot of cars have micros chips installed,” Santary continues. “If you pull the key out, there’s no way to start it.”

The drop of vehicle thefts in Jamaica Plain was the fifth highest drop among the 12 Boston districts. The percent change between last year’s vehicle thefts and this year’s is the third highest among Boston districts. Vehicle thefts decreased in every district this year.

Vehicle theft decreased by 910 to 1,760 throughout all Boston, according to Boston police. Only larceny, which dropped by 1,335 incidences, saw a greater decrease in totals through Sept. 28. The 35 percent decline in vehicle thefts in all districts is by far the greatest percent change in monitored Boston crimes. The next closest percent change is for burglary, which declined by about 12 percent.

Wilkerson Will Not Quit

By Abe Scherzer

Michael Powell lives a block off Centre Street, in the heart of Jamaica Plain. He says he is a proud member of the community, but he has no problem with Senator Dianne Wilkerson running a sticker campaign against Jamaica Plain activist Sonia Chang-Diaz after already losing to her.

“If there’s a mechanism and it’s sanctioned by whoever makes the rules, then I think it’s fine,” Powell says. “Maybe she thinks she can get more votes, a better turnout. I think people just took for granted that she would win (the primary).”

Chang-Diaz defeated Wilkerson in Sept. 16’s Democratic primary. Chang-Diaz’s victory was confirmed in a recount last Saturday. Now, Wilkerson has vowed to run a sticker campaign to keep the seat she has held for 15 years.

Kevin Murray, 55, found walking down Center Street, isn’t a fan of Wilkerson, but still accepts her recent tactic. “I don’t hope she wins,” Murray says, “but I think she needs to have the opportunity to exhaust her options.”

Others aren’t as sympathetic toward Wilkerson. “I don’t like it,” says Marilyn Becker, 68, while standing on Center Street. “What I hear about her and her experiences with the law, I don’t appreciate her drawing-out the process.”

George Johnson, 36, of Jamaica Plain, starts off showing sympathy for Wilkerson. “I think it’s fair (she continues to run),” says Johnson. “Because of all the stuff she has done for the community, she wants to do everything she can to show she still belongs.”

Johnson then takes a moment to think. “It’s also very possible,” Johnson begins, “that she’s just kind of doing it out of spite; she’s being ungracious. She’s saying only she can have that seat.”

After Saturday’s recount, Chang-Diaz was pronounced winner over Wilkerson by a tiny margin of 213 votes out of a total of 18,386 ballots.

On Nov. 4, Chang-Diaz will also compete against William Leonard of the Socialist Workers Party that hopes to build a national labor party. Leonard is not considered a serious candidate for the seat.

Elisa Tosi, 49, found shopping on Center Street, says she wishes Wilkerson’s campaign would just disappear. “The electoral process is to vote, and she lost, period,” Tosi says. “Unless there’s some sort of obvious mistake they need to investigate, I think (Wilkerson) should just be done with it.”

“I’ve read about the things she’s done, all the trouble she’s gotten in,” Tosi says of Wilkerson. “Honestly, I’m just sick of her,” she says with a wry smile.

A Jamaica Plain Storey

By Abe Scherzer

The Gazette Publications office is located in the basement of a large faded-green house off Centre Street. It office resembles the Jamaica Plain Gazette, the paper that it produces: small, simple, and in the heart of Jamaica Plain.

“I live in JP, most of our staff lives here, it’s a JP business and readers feel a lot of loyalty,” Sandra Storey, 62, editor and publisher of the Gazette says. Storey says she has lived in Jamaica Plain for over 35 years.

Storey started the Jamaica Plain Gazette nearly 18 years ago with its first publication in February 1991. She has been the editor since the first issue, but she defers to the neighborhood and the people she serves.

“We run pretty much every letter we get,” Storey says. “We’re very reader-oriented. I think we’re exceptional in receiving phone calls from readers to get story ideas.”

Readers seem to appreciate the Gazette’s local focus.

“I particularly like reading to see what’s opening and closing on Centre,” Aaron Hallquist, 31, of Jamaica Plain says. “All the people in my community are very involved in the neighborhood. (The Gazette) just kind of gives us a sounding board.”

Jamaica Plain resident Julie Prucll, 43, also likes the Gazette’s local angle. “I think it provides a local flavor you don’t find in the city paper,” Prucll says. “I think it’s just more involved in the street, more involved with the neighbors.”

Ken Kocincki, 30, a former Jamaica Plain resident, thinks the Gazette’s local focus can be a weakness. “I sometimes wish it wasn’t always so hyper-focused on JP and took on a wider scope of stories,” Kocincki says.

Storey, though, is happy with the Gazette as a means of local bonding. “It connects people,” Storey says. “I think the Gazette has helped connect the community and businesses. Before it, it wasn’t cool to go into JP’s center,” she says.

Sasha Vaut, a 26-year-old who works for Urban Medical, one of the many non-profit organizations in Jamaica Plain, appreciates the Gazette as a tool to promote her business. “We use it for publicity,” Vaut says. “The Gazette does a pretty good job of communicating to people.”

“(The Gazette) tries to help out local businesses,” Vaut says. “They will take an ad, deal with the press release and run an article all for the price of just an ad.”

Sitting in her small office, amid bulging boxes of back-issues and files, Storey is proud of her paper. She is proud of its dedication to Jamaica Plain and everything it does for community business. Nothing brings out this pride quite like the readers.

“This is a ‘Letter to the Editor’ from three health care providers,” Storey says, eyes glued on her computer screen. When she finds it, she reads aloud with delight, ‘“our well-beloved JP Gazette.’” Storey lets out a brief chuckle as she spins her chair around triumphantly. Her curly red hair perfectly frames her smiling face.