“NEW BEDFORD – Detectives have seized an illegal firearm and placed a New Bedford man under arrest for carrying it.

Sgt. Jarrod. Gracia, of the department’s Gang Unit, had received information about a male possessing a firearm. The male was identified as Mr. CURTIS MONTEIRO, 21, of New Bedford.

On November 9th, at around 4 PM, MONTEIRO was spotted walking in the area of the Chestnut St./Robeson St. intersection. Detectives Nathaniel Almeida and Samuel Algarin-Mojica moved in to approach him.

During a subsequent search, MONTEIRO was found to be in possession of a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. The gun was tucked into his waistband. MONTEIRO has no license to possess a firearm and a serial number of the gun had been defaced.

MONTEIRO was placed under arrest and is being charged with carrying a loaded, large-capacity firearm with an obliterated serial number without a license.

If you happen to have any information about crime, the NBPD would like to hear from you. Anonymous information can be provided at 508-99-CRIME or our website, www.newbedfordpd.com.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

The New Bedford Police Department have released a statement regarding two firearms that were seized on Wednesday, September 27th.

“On September 27th, at around 3 PM, Det. Sgt.’s Jonathan Lagoa and Jarrod Gracia responded to a call for two males with guns in the area of Chestnut St. and Willis St. in the city’s west end.

Two males matching the descriptions provided by the caller were observed very near to this location. At this time, Lagoa and Gracia, now joined on the scene by Det. Samuel Algarin-Mojica, attempted to stop the males as one immediately fled on foot. He was observed tossing a firearm into a nearby yard before being secured.

He was identified as Mr. DAZIERE COLTON, 18, of New Bedford. Upon further investigation, it was learned that COLTON had discarded a loaded, .22 caliber, Ruger pistol.

The second male had nothing of interest in his possession and was allowed to leave the scene. At the time of this arrest, COLTON had two open cases in New Bedford District Court for assault and battery, and assault by means of a dangerous weapon stemming from an incident in June.

He is now charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license. Later in the evening at around 9 PM, detectives were conducting surveillance in the south-end sector when they observed a suspected drug transaction taking place in the area of Purchase St./Russell St.

Upon being stopped, WILLIAM SANTIAGO, 22, was found to be in possession of a black Polymer handgun with a high-capacity magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.

SANTIAGO was placed under arrest and charged with carrying a firearm loaded with a high-capacity magazine without a license, distribution of marijuana, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.”

The following is an opinion sent to New Bedford Guide. It does not reflect the opinion of New Bedford Guide, nor is it an OP-ED. In fairness and objectivity, we share opinions from our readers whether we agree or disagree with their opinion.

Do you have a counter opinion to this opinion? Have an opinion about something else? Email us at info@newbedfordguide.com.

_____________________________________________________________

“In pursuit of housing security and rent stabilization in New Bedford can be an effective way to address housing affordability issues and prevent displacement in New Bedford’s housing rental market.

Although some business and real estate leaders have come out against rent control, it is important to review the evidence and research on the topic to determine how it might affect the local housing market. Studies show that rent stabilization can help tenants save money and avoid displacement.

The ballot question that will ask voters if the city should adopt an ordinance stabilizing rents is a step in the right direction. Although the question is non-binding, it can still spark conversations about whether rent control is right for New Bedford and what such a policy should look like. Rent stabilization policy can limit the amount landlords can raise the rent within a given time period, and it is not seeking a law that would put a hard cap on how much landlords can charge. Therefore, it can be one more tool to combat the city’s housing crisis.

It is understood that some capitalist economists are not fans of rent stabilization. However, some economists also opposed the regulation of trains, and the outcome of that on communities like East Palestine is an example of the impact deregulated markets can have on our communities. Rent stabilization is a step in the right direction that should be carefully considered. Multiple studies in various cities have shown that rent stabilization successfully kept rents low in regulated units and prevented displacement.

People need and value relative certainty in where they’re going to live and what they’ll pay, especially the most vulnerable among us, including the elderly, low-income households, the working class, single-parent households, the disabled, and the poor. Renter protections are especially important during a housing crisis.

It is important to consider the benefits of rent stabilization and to tailor policy options in a manner that better meets the needs of our community. We must understand that our city has the ability to tailor our potential rent stabilization ordinance towards directly addressing and balancing the needs of our communities tenants and property owners. We could create an ordinance that improves upon the examples of past rent stabilization in other cities. The first planes created were not always 100% successful at meeting their goals however with time and continued evolution the airline industry has improved dramatically. The same can be true of renter protections such as rent stabilization.

• “Rent stabilization ensures that hardworking families can afford to keep a roof over their heads and live in the communities they call home.” – Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City.

• “Rent stabilization is a critical tool to prevent displacement and maintain affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families.” – California Governor Gavin Newsom.

• “Rent stabilization is the most effective way to protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords who would otherwise raise rents to exorbitant levels.” – Tenant Rights Advocate, Diane Yentel.

• “Rent stabilization provides an essential safeguard against rising housing costs and allows low-income families to live in safe and stable homes.” – New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh.

• “Rent stabilization ensures that people are not priced out of the communities they call home, and that they have a stable and affordable place to live.” – Massachusetts State Senator Sal DiDomenico.

• “Rent stabilization is a necessary policy to protect renters from the rising costs of living in urban areas, and to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.” – Economist Richard Florida.

• “Rent stabilization is a critical component of any comprehensive housing policy, as it helps to mitigate the impact of rising housing costs on low-income and marginalized communities.” – Urban Planning Expert, Karen Chapple.

• “Rent stabilization is an important tool to address the affordable housing crisis, and helps to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.” – Housing Policy Expert, Ingrid Gould Ellen.

• “Rent stabilization provides a crucial safety net for renters who might otherwise be at risk of eviction or homelessness due to skyrocketing rents.” – Tenant Advocate, Randy Shaw.

• “Rent stabilization is a proven policy that helps to keep housing affordable and ensures that renters are not forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table.” – Housing Justice Advocate, Mia Lehrer.

• “Rent stabilization is an essential policy for ensuring that low-income renters have access to stable and affordable housing, which is critical for their overall health and well-being.” – Public Health Expert, David Williams.

• “Rent stabilization is an important tool for promoting economic stability and reducing inequality, as it helps to ensure that all members of a community have access to safe and affordable housing.” – Economist Joseph Stiglitz.

• “Rent stabilization helps to promote community stability and prevent displacement, as it ensures that renters can continue to live in their homes and neighborhoods even as property values rise.” – Community Development Expert, Angela Glover Blackwell.

• “Rent stabilization is a necessary policy for preventing gentrification and displacement, and for ensuring that low-income families have access to stable and affordable housing.” – Civil Rights Advocate, Vanita Gupta.

• “Rent stabilization is a common-sense policy that helps to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing, and that renters are not at the mercy of market forces beyond their control.” – Housing Policy Expert, Rachel Bratt.

In pursuit of housing security,
Erik Andrade
La Soul Renaissance.”

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“We, the undersigned, wish to express our strong support for rent stabilization in New Bedford, MA. Rent prices in our city have been dramatically increasing over the years, making it difficult for many residents to remain in their apartments or find affordable housing alternatives. In more recent years, we have seen rent increases that have exceeded 50%-100% in a single year, resulting in mass evictions and the displacement of many residents. In 2022, New Bedford had some of the highest eviction rates and average rental increases in the state.

Rent stabilization is a tool that can help prevent price gouging and ensure that housing remains affordable and accessible to all city residents, regardless of their income level. It will provide stability and security for tenants and for our neighborhoods. It can also stabilize educational opportunities for school-age children, preventing them from having to frequently change schools as a result of displacement caused by exorbitantly high rents.

With the knowledge that rent increases will be reasonably limited, tenants can better manage their finances, thereby reducing financial stress while also providing them with an improved sense of housing security, connectedness and pride in their community. This is especially important for vulnerable populations, such as the working class, low-income families, single parent households, elderly residents and individuals with disabilities who may be at a higher risk of being displaced due to significantly rising housing costs.

We understand that some property owners may be concerned about the impact of rent stabilization on their surplus profits, but we believe that it is possible to find a solution that is fair and equitable for all parties. For example, exemptions could be made for owner-occupied properties or for property owners with only a few rental units. Ultimately, as we work to increase the availability of housing by reducing barriers to development and investing city resources into rental businesses, we must implement policies that will benefit all city residents.

To further the continued vitality, diversity, and culturally unique character of every neighborhood and community throughout the city, we must take steps to ensure that current and future residents of New Bedford will not be displaced by market effects that allow for increasing profit margins for property owners while tenants suffer the cost. A comprehensive and equitable housing plan that includes a thoughtful rent stabilization policy would help to do just that.

Overall, we believe that rent stabilization is a crucial policy that can help ensure that our city remains a diverse and vibrant cultural hub that offers equitable and affordable housing options for every current New Bedford resident, while remaining attractive to future residents, developers and businesses. We urge the City Council to override the Mayor’s veto and let the people vote.

In the spirit of community,

• Jessica Gracia
• Ana Dias
• Marcus Barrett
• Karen Blake-Robinson
• Erik Andrade
• Emilio Tirado
• Colin Green
• Raena Camacho
• Margaret Mott
• Erin Duarte
• Renee Ledbetter
• Carleen Cordwell
• John “Buddy” Andrade
• Marlene Pollack
• Shane Burgo
• La Soul Renaissance
• NAACP New Bedford Branch
• Southcoast Fair-housing
• NAACP New Bedford Branch
• Coalition for Social Justice
• Old Bedford Village
• Immigrants Assistance Center.”

As they say “more is always revealed” upon posting my disappointment at the lack of communication regarding the application for the Poet Laureate position in the city of New Bedford. A former poet laureate took it upon themselves to reply to my post with the following:

“The New Bedford LCC placed notices in all the proper places, such as the newspaper, social media, and City Hall. All poets were required to fill out an application and submit samples of their work, and recent publishing credits. The final decisions rested on the shoulders of board members of the Cultural Council, as well as myself as the outgoing Poet Laureate. The three finalists were then interviewed, asked to give a brief reading of their best work, and were then subjected to a Q and A session in order for the LCC members to reach a final decision. It is the responsibility of local poets to stay updated on the procedure, as well as to be involved with the local poetry community as a whole. Personally, I had hoped you’d apply and was disappointed that you did not.”, “Best advice I can give any of you young people is “plan your work and work your plan.” and “ In all honesty, I thought I mentioned it to you directly after you and I left the lawyer’s office with Jibreel. In the chaos of 2020 – 2020”.

Contrary to their original claim the New Bedford LCC did not place notices in all the proper places the former poet laureate listed in their post. In fact, none of the media (Standard-Times, New Bedford Guide, New Bedford Light – A community-news organization, The Scallop, 1420 WBSM, The Public’s Radio 89.3FM) published any public notice of an application for this public position. I also was never told about the application by the former poet laureate as they stated that they “thought they had informed me when they saw me and Dr. Khazan at South Coast Legal Services.”

Despite the fact that in their post they claimed “they had personally hoped I would apply and were disappointed that I did not”, they did not inform me when they saw me on Grinnell Street either any of the dozen of times they claim to have seen me, even though I literally lived on the same street a block away from the home they moved into. Nor did they email me, Facebook message me, or phone me.

Given those facts, I find it troubling that they choose to reply and imply that the failure was mine for not applying to an application like “all” the other poets, ignoring the fact that I, and many other well-known poets in our community, were left in the dark about the application. And also falsely implying that they had “hoped I’d apply and were disappointed I did not” despite never informing me.

Not that I feel they were required to seek me out and inform me, unless public outreach was part of their role as the former poet laureate and as a member of the search committee’s review board. I do find it troubling that they posted a comment discrediting my disappointment and attempting to place the blame on me for not keeping up with the procedure.

It is troubling that many poets, including the city’s most well-acclaimed Langston Hughes Society and Gwendolyn Brooks Award-winning poet, Professor Emeritus Everett Hoagland, who was also the first poet laureate of New Bedford and for whom Maya Angelou wrote an introduction for his first book, were left in the dark regarding the application.

In fact, it appears that it is not the first time we as a community were left in the dark regarding the process. If the terms of the Poet Laureate are every three years as they mentioned in their post, we were also left in the dark regarding the 2017 application. The last application that had a public notice was in 2014. That is troubling for a public position to not have a public and transparent notice. It is also troubling to place the onus on those left in the dark to submit an application that has not been made public.

The application process was flawed and unfair. Moreover, from their description of the selection process, it appears the selection process was also flawed and biased. As from their own description of the process, they would have been voting for themselves during the 2017 selection as their first term as poet laureate from 2014-2017 would have ended. So they would have needed to reapply and go through the procedure they described.

Also, from their description of the process and brief research, it appears that in the most recent selection process, they voted for their mentee poet who considers them “her fairy godmother” and is someone whom the former poet laureate directly encouraged to apply to become the next poet laureate after them. It appears someone who was informed by them “planned their work and worked the previous poet laureate’s plan.”

And in response to the claim that the lack of communication was because poetry took a hiatus or the claim from another that I have been noticeably absent from the scene, in 2020-2021 the fact is poetry for me and many others was far from on a hiatus. Many, my self included, were very active living up to the “artist’s duty to reflect the times” as Nina Simone had advised.

So despite COVID and extensive community organizing with BREATHE New Bedford, Justice For Malcolm Gracia, New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools, Police Reform Now (MA), Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation, Cape Verdean American Veterans Association, Revolutionary Healing, and La Soul Renaissance the following is a list of my contribution via poetry and public speaking in 2020.

December 11, 2020 -spoken word poetry performance for Jewish Voices for Peace -“Rekindle The People’s Menorah – Hanukkah Artists For Abolition” on the second day of Hanukkah (virtual)

November 22, 2020 – spoken word poetry performance for Revolutionary Healing – Friendsgiving Festival Atlanta featuring Sa-Roc, Erik Andrade, Kevhn Clarence, Basheer Music, and 19 Keys (in person)

November 20, 2020 – ‘Go Within” featuring poetry by Erik Andrade & Piano by Miles Flisher video released

November 17, 2020 – “Round Here” by Stuart James featuring Erik Andrade off of Stuart James from Spirit Lake, North Dakota’s album “Something Different’ released on all streaming platforms.

November 15, 2020 “Saturday (Feelings)” by AgaJon – Y’akoto – remix featuring poetry by Erik Andrade producer- Aga John Machirus Lyrics – Jennifer Yaa Akoto Kieck, Poetry by Erik Andrade released

November 8th, 2020 “As My Last” Spoken word poem by Erik Andrade featuring Dr. Jibreel Khazan “Instrumental produced by Zhane98 – video released

November 6, 2020 “Water Is Life” spoken poetry performance video by Erik Andrade instrumental produced by Zhane98 -video released.

November 3rd, 2020 – “What Becomes” spoken poetry performance video by Erik Andrade instrumental produced by Zhane98 -video released

November 2, 2020 “It isn’t prudent” spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade instrumental produced by Euro – video released

October 30, 2020 – Cape Verdean Beautiful People featuring Chachi Carvalho, Erik Andrade, SupremeOverStanding, Carlene Fonseca, Susan Pires, and Daniel Shaw (virtual)

October 24, 2020 – BREATHE for Malcolm – Justice for Malcolm Gracia – spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade at United Front Housing prior to March. (in person)

October 12, 2020 – Justice for Elder Fernandes – spoken word performance / speech by Erik Andrade at Brockton City Hall (in person)

October 11, 2020 – spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade at “Indigenous People’s Day Convergence- organized by Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition (virtual)

September 27, 2020 – spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade at “Rally for Real Police Reform – Black Leaders from all across the state of Massachusetts virtually rally to express growing concerns regarding police unions influence on police reform legislation (H.4886/S.2820). (virtual)

September 27, 2020 – spoken word poetry / speech by Erik Andrade at Ash Street Jail, New Bedford MA New Bedford in support of call to eliminate phone call costs for incarcerated people and their families. The bill S.2846 in Massachusetts (in person)

September 8, 2020 – spoken word poetry / speech by Erik Andrade at “Justice for Angie Barros, Elder Fernandes, Junior DaVeiga, and Malcolm Gracia- Speak Out and March – Coppens Square Dorchester (in person)

August 19th, 2020 – spoken word and New Bedford report back by Erik Andrade – National Community Conversation -Civilian Review Board Community Oversight Board with subpoena power. (virtual)

July 25, 2020 – spoken word performance /speech by Erik Andrade at Stand Up for Justice Bridgewater Part VIII – Stand UP for Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty – Central Square Bridgewater (in person)

July 2, 2020 8pm Erik Andrade and Kasim Allah performing poetry live on For > Word hosted by spoken word poet Harlym 125 and Michael Warrior Bonds. (Virtual)

June 24, 2020 Spoken word poetry Performance by Erik Andrade for People’s Agroecology Process celebrating six years of building collective power in the movement for food sovereignty! With members of SAAFON, Eastern Woodlands ReMatriation, Organización Boricuá, Union Paysanne, National Farmers Union Canada, and CATA (virtual)

June 19th, 2020 – Spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade at La Soul Renaissance “Juneteenth Drive To Justice New Bedford” – lifting up the names, legacies and families of stolen lives from across the nation including local area stolen lives of #LesterLima, #MorrisPina, #ErikAguilar #JosephRamos, #MalcolmGracia, #LarryRuizBarreto (in person)

June 14, 2020 – speech by Erik Andrade at “Sunday’s Best Peaceful Protest” march from Buttonwood Park to New Bedford City Hall (in person)

June 13, 2020 – speech by Erik Andrade at Fairhaven’s Black Lives Matter March and Protest (in person)

June 9, 2020 – “I wonder” poem by Erik Andrade published online

June 7th, 2020 – poem and speech by Erik Andrade at Justice for Malcolm Gracia Car Caravan New Bedford MA organized by BREATHE New Bedford (in person)

May 14, 2020 Jewish Voice for Peace Boston presents Poets for Palestine: Honoring the Nakba on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the Nakba, featuring poets: Mosab Abu Toha, Sara Abou Rashedt, Erik Andrade, Ashley Rose, and Ruby Poltorak. (virtual)

May 1, 2020 – spoken word poetry performance by Erik Andrade at Virtual Celebration Of Life of José A Soler – award winning Union Activist, Immigrant Rights Leader, International Organizer, Award winning Photojournalist, and Educator. (virtual)

March 12, 2020 – Spoken performance at La Soul Renaissance – Um Frenti Unido – Um Prujeto Di Memória Kultural” (A United Front – A Project Of Cultural Memory) Open Mic & Spoken Word Poetry performances at historic Cape Verdean Veterans Hall -561 Purchase Street New Bedford MA (in person)

Ultimately, as we move forward, I pray that those responsible for the application process in the City of New Bedford and the New Bedford Local Cultural Council will ensure that the entire New Bedford community is informed about opportunities. For at least two cycles, the position was not properly publicly posted, and as a result, our community was left in the dark. Furthermore, if there are any conflicts of interest based on close personal relationships with applicants, those on the selection committee should disclose them and abstain from voting.

“Peace and Blessings:

We pray this letter finds you well and open to self reflection.

One must be wise enough not to place words in the mouth of others. Never have I dubbed myself a leader of “our” community. The use of the word “my” throughout your letter feels awkward and misguided.

Your thoughts on our actions preventing Jon Mitchell from speaking at the John Lewis tribute during the summer of 2020 are your opinions. The direct action were in protest of Jon Mitchell’s participation in the cover up of the violation of 15 year young Malcolm Gracia’s Constitutional Rights and his horrific murder by New Bedford Police.

The two associates of John Lewis present as invited speakers at the event, held quite the opposite opinion. Both Gloria Clark (Xifaras) and Congressman Bill Keating expressed support of our actions and both stated that John Lewis would have supported us.

As you likely know, Gloria Clark (Xifaras) knew John Lewis from her time teaching at the Holly Springs Freedom School during the Mississippi Freedom Summer and Congressman Bill Keating knew him intimately from their years together in the United States Congress.

Additionally, John Lewis’ good friend Dr. Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr) also supported the action and stated that his friend John Lewis would have approved of our non-violent direct action.

The city of New Bedford and the Cape Verdean community are far from monolithic. It seems important to remind you that many others in “our” community do not feel as you feel about the non-violent direct action that took place nearly two years ago.

Given that you have stated your letter was a response to our critique of the Marion Institute, Grow Education, Liz Wiley, and Adam Davenport it seems you are far off topic. This often is a tactic of deflection. You have not yet sought to listen and learn in order to understand where we are coming from regarding our real concerns about their harmful history and behavior.

With your limited and only recent experiences with the Marion Institute, Grow Education, Liz Wiley, and Adam Davenport it would be wise in our opinion for you to seek to understand before making assumptions. Also, it is important to note that your opinion of them also does not negate the lived experience of community members who have met their harmful behavior.

In response to your statement and question “We accept and embrace them as Douglass accepted and embraced the Quakers or were you unaware of that piece of history?”

Yes, we are aware of the history of the Quakers’ involvement in abolitionism and their relationship with Frederick Douglass, who moved to “our” city and lived here for four years.

We are also aware of the Quakers’ involvement in colonization, oppression, slavery, patriachy, and racism. As you know there have been allies, accomplices, oppressors, and enemies from all walks of life. Again, it must be said that your question seems a deflection as it is unrelated to the issues brought up in the initial letter you claimed to be responding to.

In your desire to fulfill “your” own agendas, it appears that you seek to negate and ignore the lived experiences of others in “our” community. To our knowledge you have not yet sought to become aware of the reasons why Liz Wiley, Adam Davenport, the Marion Institute, and Grow Education have earned our critique as tokenizing, colonizing, exploitive, manipulative, and harmful.

Instead, your letter is filled with deflection and seems dedicated to deliberately misunderstanding and mischaracterizing to the point of absurdity. For example, it appears you need to refresh your understanding of the terms carpetbagger, provocateur, and infiltrator.

• A “carpetbagger” is a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections.

• A “provocateur” is an undercover police officer or a political operative whose job is to incite people to break the law so that they can be arrested.

• An “infiltrator” is someone who takes up a position surreptitiously for the purpose of espionage. Or a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors

Your letter clearly demonstrates the intentions of those who seek to deflect, attack, and ignore the concerns presented that are based off of the real history and lived experiences of members of “our” Cape Verdean, BIPOC, and Greater New Bedford Communities in the defense of “your” own agendas.

”Your” choice to defend them seems rooted in your new relationship with them. Your choice to partner with them does not erase the lived experiences of those impacted by their exploitative, transactional, tokenizing, entitled, and manipulative behavior.

Liz Wiley of the Marion Institute and Adam Davenport of Grow Education “New Bedford” have clearly illustrated that they are willing to ignore, mislead, suppress, and oppress the voices of anyone in the community that does not follow their colonial leadership. They would rather move fast alone than follow the leadership of New Bedford community members.

Especially, if the voices threaten their selfish visions and the Marion Institute’s corporate goals. For nearly three years Liz and Adam have decided to edit out New Bedford community voices and mute the righteous dissent from the New Bedford coalition to Save Our Schools members.

Adam Davenport and Liz Wiley circumvented the community and continually chose to move without community consent. Like Columbus before them, they seem to seek to conquer and colonize our community, carrying the marketing flag of the Marion Institute and the Grow Education “New Bedford” brand. They have oppressed and silenced our community while slyly and secretly they schemed to expand the Marion Institute’s empire of Marion Billionaire Michael Baldwin.

Since first opening up about the harmful behavior of the Marion Institute, it was alarming to receive messages from other community members that they have also harmed on their path to personal power and the perception of “progressive” community-based work.

Your letter is an attempted attack designed to deflect to defend the Marion Institute.

While members of our communities are getting exploited for social capital, cultural capital, political capital, and financial capital.

Adam Davenport, Liz Wiley, the Marion Institute, and Grow Education misrepresented their relationship with the community in order to cash in on grants in the name of our community, our challenges, our culture, our history, and our needs all while ignoring New Bedford’s internal leadership and the New Bedford community’s right to self-determination.

Instead of listening and learning you have instead decided to defend, deflect, and attack. We pray you self reflect and correct this.

In the spirit of truth and transparency,
Erik Andrade

‘Anything about us, that is not with us, is NOT FOR US’”

Detectives assigned to the Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau have arrested two men for trafficking in Fentanyl.

On November 30th, detectives established surveillance in the downtown area. Detective Sgt. Jarrod Gracia observed a drug transaction taking place between two men near the bus terminal. Nearby units then stopped the males as they departed from one another. One suspect was identified as KENNETH COSGRAVE, 40, of 60 Hathaway St. Upon being stopped, he was found to be in possession of over 21 grams of fentanyl and $2,363 in cash. The second suspect was identified as DEVIN JENKINS, 32, of 341 Cottage St., #1. JENKINS was stopped and found to be in possession of $3,991 in cash. Both men were taken into custody.

COSGRAVE was charged with trafficking in excess of 18 grams of fentanyl subsequent to a previous conviction and conspiracy. He was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in August of 2020. He has several open cases in Bristol superior and New Bedford district court for charges including possession with intent to distribute cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, and receiving stolen property.

JENKINS was charged with distribution of fentanyl subsequent to a previous conviction, trafficking in excess of 18 grams of fentanyl and conspiracy. He has previous convictions in Fall River district court for narcotics and firearm related offenses. The above-mentioned cash was seized as a result of the nature of the charges.

The arresting officer was Det. Drew Frenette The New Bedford Police department remains steadfast in its struggle against the current opiate epidemic which has shattered so many lives throughout the country. If you have any information on criminal activity in your neighborhood, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991- 6300 Ext. 1. You may also leave a tip at our website.

“Dear New Bedford City Council Members and Elected Officials,

The recent report released by Citizens for Juvenile Justice “We are the Prey”, based on NBPD public data, illuminates serious racial disparities in police interactions in New Bedford. In a time where the nation is calling for change, it is our hope that New Bedford will use the information presented in this report to develop an equitable system of public safety in our community.

Mayor Mitchell recently stated, “We are committed to confronting any indication of systemic racism in public institutions.” We agree but we demand real action. It is time to stop pandering to those who would see a status quo that is deeply embedded in systemic racism to continue. It is time to pursue communication that is inclusive of voices from our communities that have been impacted by police practices.

New Bedford must make up for the unjust murders of Malcolm Gracia, Erik Aguilar, Morris Pina, and Larry Ruiz-Barreto. These killings are all part of the horrible legacy of cases that all used excessive force, illegal and unconstitutional approaches, and resulted in murder. Lester Lima and others that were shot in 1970 were not protected by NBPD, nor the judicial system. NBPD must stop subjecting our black men to intergenerational trauma. Let us return to the same values that made our city a beacon of safety and equality for the formerly enslaved.

As city council members elected to represent us and our fellow New Bedford residents, we are calling on you to take a stance for your constituents and to reject Councilor Brian Gomes’ claim that a report based on the critical academic analysis of the city’s data is “garbage” and dismiss his motion to denounce the report. We remind you that your duty is to serve your constituents and listen to the people, not to strengthen political alliances or ensure continued campaign donations from the NBPD union.

It is critical that you read and understand CFJJ’s response to the NBPD’s invalid claims of misrepresentation and miscalculation. Significant racial disparities exist in the Field Incident Report data no matter how you cut the data. CFJJ is clear that they counted the number of individual people and not the unique Field Incident Reports. CFJJ’s metric of analysis demonstrates the impact on actual people, and proves that people of color are disproportionately policed in New Bedford.

Not only are we asking you to reject Councilors Gomes and Carney’s dismissal of the findings in the CFJJ report, but we are asking you to take it a step further and use this as an opportunity to carry out your own objective data analysis, “meet and greet” your constituents, and involve us in creating and implementing meaningful change. We, the people of New Bedford, are making a motion to challenge you to engage in productive dialogue with your constituents about police racial profiling, especially those who have been directly impacted by it. We as a community have the power to make a difference.

Sincerely,
STAR-NB

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STAR-NB stands for Standing Together Against Racism-New Bedford. Justice for Malcolm Gracia is initially what brought STAR organizers together, and we continue the fight!

STAR’s mission is to work collectively with our allies to build an anti-racist community that works to: dismantle all forms of oppression; end state sanctioned violence; and build new supports for a healthy, safe, and thriving New Bedford.

On Friday night and after a month-long investigation into fentanyl production and distribution taking place at 2100 Phillips Rd. NBPD Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau (OCIB) Detectives produced the largest seizure of the deadly synthetic drug in the history of the city and by memory the largest drug seizure ever by our Narcotics unit.

Approximately 7.2 kilos of fentanyl with a street value of $400,000, a long list of drug processing paraphernalia, and $2,440 was confiscated in those locations during the raid.

Ramon Emilio Genao, 2100 Phillips Rd. Apt. # 3 and Apt. #20, was the target of search warrants. He was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl in 200 grams or more.
Detective Samuel Algarin-Mojica led the investigation involving multiple Detectives from Narcotics and Gang units, although the investigation was not gang-related. Narcotics enforcement has made great strides in the past five years due to a highly skilled team and the collaborative approach of both units being led by Lt. Justin Kagan under the command of Capt. Al Sousa. The following were instrumental in this raid: Sgt. Jarrod Gracia, Sgt. Jon Lagoa, and Sgt. Andrew Simmons along with Detectives Bruce Szyndlar, Marciano Silva, Lavar Gilbert, Kevin Barbosa, Jon Lagoa, Andrew Simmons, Nate Almeida, Steve Gwozdz, Tim Soares, Matt Sylvia, Jordan Dasilva, and Drew Frenette.

Chief Joseph Cordeiro said “this puts an immediate strain on the supply of fentanyl in the city and greater area. Opioid dependent individuals will notice the impact as their suppliers will seek alternative sources. We hope for an uptick in individuals seeking treatment while the supply is limited, and our outreach workers will be working diligently to aid those who are suffering.” This type of successful seizure can only be accomplished when members of the community, anonymous or not, provide information to investigators by calling our tip line at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1, he added.

“This is an exceptional quantity of drugs seized for a single investigation,” said Lt. Kagan. “Many investigations combined throughout a year may provide a significant volume. But a single investigation producing this quantity is exceptional.”
It is because of the highly professional and extensive work these officers are doing every day that we see the rate of crime incidents in New Bedford consistently dropping. “We continue to strengthen our bonds with members of the community to ensure every member of our City is kept safe,” said Cordeiro. “We continue to pursue safety and security of city everyday.”

“This successful investigation resulted in a significant seizure of narcotics by any measure, but especially for a single event, culminating in the largest seizure of fentanyl in the city. The city and its residents are safer thanks to the hard work of the detectives and officers involved in this investigation,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell.

If you have any information on criminal activity in your neighborhood, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1.

“Hello, good evening, my name is Sixto Rodríguez, I am looking for my older brother named Emerito Rodríguez Quiñones.

My hometown is Cayey Puerto Rico. I have not heard from him since 1975 and the last I knew about him is that he was in a home care facility in New Bedford. I just found out this week and no one knew an address or phone number.

I would like your help if it is possible to be able to help me. I appreciate it very much! My phone number is (1-939-281-8076). Thank you God bless you!”

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“Hola buenas noches mi nombré es Sixto Rodríguez estoy buscando a mi hermano mayor de nombre Emerito Rodríguez Quiñones.

Mi cuidad natal Cayey Puerto Rico. Ase que no se del desde el año1975 y lo último que supe de el es que esta en camado en New Bedford en un home care me acabo de enterarme esta semana y nadie supo darme dirección ni teléfono.”

Quisiera de su ayuda si esta en sus manos de poderme ayudar sé lo agradecerá mucho mi número telefónico es (1-939-281-8076) Gracias Dios les bendiga!

A long-running investigation into a substantial drug trafficking organization culminated this week with the arrest of five suspects, and the seizure of over two kilograms of Fentanyl, two kilograms of cocaine, 11 firearms, and approximately $12,000.

Participating in the investigation were: the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, the Hampden District Attorney’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Springfield Police Department Narcotics Unit, United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Homeland Security Investigations,the West Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee Police Departments, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Massachusetts State Police’s Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team, Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “This long running, multi-agency investigation has dismantled a prominent drug trafficking organization here in the western Massachusetts region. The large amount of narcotics seized, specifically the Fentanyl, and the dismantling of this organization, unquestionably has saved many lives. The agencies and officers involved should be commended for operating a very successful and intricate investigation that targeted the trafficking of Fentanyl, an extraordinarily potent drug that has killed thousands across Massachusetts just over the past few years.”

On December 5, 2020 members of the District Attorney’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant on Julian Delgado’s residence at 26 Columbia Terrace in Springfield for his alleged involvement in the distribution of cocaine. A preceding motor vehicle stop, which led to the arrest of Julian Delgado, 29, of Springfield, yielded one kilogram of cocaine. The subsequent search of his home yielded another kilogram of cocaine, found in a cardboard box under a Christmas tree.

Julian Delgado has been charged with: Trafficking a Class B Drug “Cocaine” Over 200 Grams, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.

On December 7, 2020, investigators learned that Maralaisy Gil and Junior Degracia would be traveling to the Lawrence, Mass. area to procure a large quantity of Heroin/Fentanyl. Later in the evening, a traffic stop was conducted in which six large bags containing approximately 2.87 kilograms of Fentanyl was found in the vehicle.

Both Junior Degracia, 41, and Maralaisy Gil, 39, both of Springfield, have been arrested and charged with Trafficking in Heroin/Fentanyl Over 200 Grams.

The following day, on December 8, 2020, search warrants were executed in Springfield and Belchertown resulting in the arrests of the following two Individuals for the following offenses:

John Feliciano, 45, of Springfield, charged with: Trafficking in Heroin/Fentanyl Over 200 Grams, Manufacturing in Heroin/Fentanyl, Commission of a Felony while Armed, Conspiracy to Violate 94C Narcotic Laws, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (10 Counts), Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun, Possession of Ammunition without FID Card

Jose Antonio Diaz, 46, of Belchertown, charged with: Trafficking in Heroin/Fentanyl Over 200 Grams, Manufacturing in Heroin/Fentanyl, Conspiracy to Violate 94C Narcotic Laws, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (10 counts), Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun, Possession of Ammunition without FID Card.

Recovered during these searches were the following: Approximately 400 Grams of Heroin/Fentanyl, Eleven Firearms (7 Pistols, 2 Rifles, 1 AR15 Rifle & a Sawed-off Shotgun), Two (2) Ballistic Vests , $11,200 US Currency, and Numerous rounds of various ammunition.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office provided funding for this investigation. AG Healey’s Office has prioritized combatting the opioid crisis and has been working closely with federal, state and local partners to fight illegal drug trafficking throughout New England. The AG’s Fentanyl Strike Force was created in 2016 using a $1 million federal grant that has since been strengthened with an additional $5.6 million in funding to expand ongoing multistate and cross-jurisdictional investigations.

Arraignment information was not immediately available.