Sonia Chang-Diaz apparently sick of Whole Foods issue

By adamg on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 8:24am

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports the JP Neighborhood Council has formed a five-member bargaining committee to try to wrangle a "community benefits agreement" out of Whole Foods. The move comes after council members talked to local groups and politicians about the impending store - but not Chang-Diaz, who refused to talk to them. You may recall it was Chang-Diaz who first proposed Whole Foods help start an affordable-housing fund or stay out of JP.

At a meeting last month, the council noted that Stop & Shop signed one of these agreements as a condition of moving onto city-owned land off Centre Street. Whole Foods has a lease to move into the vacant Hi-Lo property.

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Comments

It was her decision to make

By anon on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 9:20am.

It was her decision to make this issue an opportunity to grandstand and pander. She owned it then; she owns it now; she'll own it at election time (I hope).

This may come off as flame

By anon on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 9:38am.

This may come off as flame bait, but Ms. Chang-Diaz worried about Whole Foods moving in because it would bring more white people into JP thus removing the minority vote she needs to get reelected?

Chang-Diaz has been more popular with district whites

By Dan Farnkoff on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:29am.

Than minorities, so I doubt she would want to keep whites away.
And besides, that's racist.

A pocket flip-flop

By Dan Farnkoff on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:10am.

Against it before she was for it, evolving political climate, etc. All politicians are bound to have a couple of expedient conversion experiences in their careers.

Update: Chang-Diaz denies refusing to talk

By adamg on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 6:57pm.

The Gazette follows up its report by talking to a Chang-Diaz aide, who says the senator never refused to talk to anybody from the council, that the issue was one of trying to arrange a suitable time, and that just proved impossible in the two weeks the council had set for interviews.

I hate to hate, but...

By jonbowen on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:16pm.

I read that letter Sonia Chang-Diaz wrote and I was aghast at the absurdity and ridiculousness of the proposals put forth by Chang-Diaz. The letter was fascist and farcical. Does she think we're living in Mussolini's Italy? Rob Consalvo, can you please do Chang-Diaz a favor and give her some pointers? Thanks.