Mayor Michelle Wu is beefing up her team with new blood in the Office of Neighborhood Services. The City of Boston announced today that three new liaisons have been appointed to serve as the boots on the ground in various Boston neighborhoods. Joining the ranks are Anthony Nguyen for Mid-Dorchester, Josh McCorkle for Roslindale, and Maccon Bonner handling a chunk of Boston that includes Mission Hill, Fenway-Kenmore, Beacon Hill, and Back Bay.
"Our neighborhood liaisons are our residents' direct connection to City Hall and its services," Wu said in a statement detailed by the City of Boston. These appointments aim to strengthen resident input across the cityscape, ensure service requests don't fall through the cracks, and foster a clearer line of communication between City Hall and its citizens. With fires and other emergencies springing up, these liaisons are also tasked with responding swiftly to help displaced residents.
As Mid-Dorchester's new point man, Anthony Nguyen brings his local upbringing and experience from directing SPARK Boston to the fore. "I look forward to working closely with residents to continue improving our neighborhood and address constituent concerns," Nguyen told the City of Boston. With Dorchester's vast sprawl, the division of labor sees Nguyen covering areas including Uphams Corner and Codman Square, while Ross Cochran caters to other parts like Savin Hill and Lower Mills.
Maccon Bonner's roots trace back to Boston and Brentwood, New Hampshire, before gravitating towards City Hall after his tenure at Suffolk University. "Becoming a neighborhood liaison is a new chapter in my life," Bonner expressed in a statement obtained by the City of Boston. He's all about drawing government closer to the people in his reach across some of Boston's most iconic neighborhoods.
With a sturdy background in education and communications, Josh McCorkle is stepping into the Roslindale liaison role. He's coming in with the goal of strengthening the community's sense of connection to their government. "I plan to make community members feel that they have a clear line of communication with City Hall so that they can feel confident that their government is working for them," McCorkle said, as per the statement on the City of Boston.
The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) continues its push for resident participation through channels like service requests, meetings, and emergency responses. To flag non-emergency issues, Bostonians can hit up BOS:311 by dialing 3-1-1 or downloading the BOS:311 app on mobile. The city encourages this engagement, as seen in ongoing initiatives like Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours. It's one of the events where locals can hash it out face-to-face with the mayor, their neighborhood liaisons, and other city department staff.
