"When you get knocked down you get back up, always offer a hand to those in need, and stand up for those who need your help."
The oldest of four children, John grew up in a tight-knit Boston family where serving others was an important family value. His mother, Patricia, worked as a nurse, while his father, Kevin, served for over 28 years as a State Representative. From an early age, John learned from his parents’ example the importance of hard work, humility, and community involvement.
John attended Boston Public Schools, where his mother said he was a mediator even as a child, always trying to find common ground and encouraging everyone to work together. His desire to help others inspired him, while attending Boston Latin, to join the Mayor’s Youth Council, a group responsible for representing their peers, community members, and youth across the city. Following high school, John attended Northeastern, receiving his Bachelor’s in Communication and Master’s in Business Administration. After college, John worked at the Reggie Lewis Center before eventually getting a job with the City of Boston, where he has worked for the past 17 years.
While working at City Hall, John has held several important positions. He served as Deputy Director of Imagine Boston 2030, where he helped to oversee and implement the first citywide plan in 50 years. As Director of Finance for the Office of Economic Development, John worked to increase investments into our communities, securing tens of thousands of dollars for locally owned small businesses without access to capital. Finally, in his current role as Deputy Director Of Real Estate Operations, John oversees the property management of over four million square feet of land owned by the BPDA.
In addition to his years of public service working at City Hall, John has always remained committed to supporting his community and other worthy causes. He has served as President of the Tobin Community Center for the last 20 years and, since 2008, has been the lead organizer for Team Fitz, an organization established following his father’s death from cancer, where riders raise money competing in the annual Pan Mass Challenge. Since its inception, Team Fitz has raised over one million dollars for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Today, John and his wife Meghan, a public school teacher, live in Dorchester with their three beautiful children, Callan, Mac, and Theresa. Their two oldest attend Boston Public Schools and John coaches Callan’s t-ball, flag football, and street hockey teams.
When I was a kid my dad used to take me to the McKeon Post to box. I remember not only the fun we had but also the valuable lessons I learned, both in and out of the ring.
When you get knocked down you get back up, always offer a hand to those in need, and stand up for those who need your help. Those lessons, along with a legacy of public service passed down by my dad, still inspire me to this day.
Now I am running for Boston City Council to take those same principles to City Hall where I will fight everyday on behalf of the people of District 3.
If elected, John will fight to keep housing affordable for renters and homeowners alike.
John will push for investments in our first-time homebuyer programs. These programs offer the opportunity to first-time buyers, many of whom would not be able to purchase their first homes, the opportunity to do so by qualifying to make a below-average down payment upon purchase and lower their monthly mortgage rates.
To deal with our shortage of affordable housing, John believes we first need to plan, then build, for the realities of our residents. This means pushing for the development of all types of housing, with a focus on affordability to ensure everyone, regardless of their income, has increased access to the market and a pathway to homeownership. He will ensure the city prioritizes the development of new housing to meet the growing demand, especially multi-bedroom housing that we desperately need. At the same time, John understands that different communities have different needs. If elected, he will also work to guarantee that residents have more say regarding the proposed projects and that the development process is not a one-size-fits-all neighborhood system.
John believes wholeheartedly that in addition to creating more access and opportunity for those looking to buy a home, we also must help current homeowners, many of whom have been increasingly burdened by the ever-rising cost of property taxes and other home-owning expenses. If elected, John will explore ways to curb the increasing property taxes for our residents to help keep families and aging residents in the home and neighborhoods they love.
As a husband to a public school teacher and a father to two Boston Public School students, with a third to attend in the coming years, John understands how important it is to invest in our education system and ensure that every child can attend a safe, stable, and high-quality school to receive the education they deserve.
If elected, John will fight for increased resources and investments in our schools while ensuring parents always have a seat at the table when it comes to their child’s education.
Ensuring our schools are fully funded and that our kids have the opportunity to receive the best education possible is the best investment we can make in our future. If elected, John will work to secure additional sources of investment from the state and local levels which will help to modernize classrooms, ensure our teachers have the resources they need, and our students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue their dreams.
Decades of disinvestment from the state and federal government have created major deficiencies in the quality of our school buildings. With an aging infrastructure, the conditions of BPS facilities have exacerbated inequities in the school assignment process. Our current school building plan has only addressed the overdue necessary improvements and not the major renovations promised to families and school communities.
There is a childcare shortage in Boston, and while we have made great strides in recent years toward universal pre-k, much work remains to be done. If elected, John will work to leverage community partnerships, City investments, federal block grants, and development funds to ensure we are able to offer truly universal child care and early education to all children in Boston ages 0 to 5.
John knows one of the most important jobs of any elected official is ensuring our community and its residents are safe.
If elected, he will work with our first responders to ensure they have the resources they need and they partner with community organizations to develop effective strategies for reducing crime, getting to the root cause of violence, and ensuring all of our communities are healthy and safe.
Firefighters put their lives on the line for us every day, and it’s important that they have access to the latest and best safety gear available. If elected, John is committed to working with Boston’s Fire Department to modernize our firehouses and ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to safely and appropriately respond to calls for help.
Every community deserves safe, secure streets where individuals and families can grow and thrive. If elected, John is committed to working with police and community leaders to create a multifaceted, coordinated public safety plan that puts community policing first. He will support increased investments in community-focused public safety programs and other initiatives that help reduce crime and get to the root cause of violence.
Boston Emergency Medical Service personnel are responsible for responding to some of the most extreme and difficult situations imaginable, yet they are often undervalued and under-resourced. If elected, John will ensure that our EMT’s have the tools and training they need to respond effectively and compassionately to all types of medical emergencies, especially those involving individuals with mental health or addiction issues.
As someone who has spent 17 years working at Boston City Hall, John knows that a City councilor’ job is not only to focus on big-picture issues but also on the essential services that make our city run.
If elected, John will always be committed to ensuring residents have access to the resources and basic city services they need for everyday life.
Our city infrastructure is in desperate need of attention, and if elected, John will ensure we are taking steps to both improve existing infrastructure and invest in new projects that will benefit everyone. He will work to ensure our streets are cleaned, our roads are repaired, and our parks and recreational facilities are well-maintained and can be enjoyed by all residents.
It is no secret that our public transportation system has been failing us for years and requires much-needed investments. If elected, John will work with members of our state and federal delegations, along with the MBTA, to ensure we are securing the funding necessary to create a transportation system that is truly reliable and accessible to everyone.
John believes it is essential that both our policies and planning should include measures that make our city welcoming, accessible, and inclusive of our aging residents. If elected, he will work to expand city programs that provide the elderly with access to healthcare, recreational activities, and other forms of necessary support, providing them with opportunities to stay engaged with their local communities.
