A few stray thoughts while waiting for the impeachment hearings to start…

• The field of candidates for Suffolk County DA is pretty impressive. Several former prosecutors are in the mix, including a Dorchester lawmaker — Evandro Carvalho— who has been in the trenches making real-time reforms to criminal justice laws in the state; another Dorchester resident, Greg Henning, who has solid experience in leading a major section of the DA’s office; Rachael Rollins a former Massport legal counsel and president of the Black Lawyer’s Association; Linda Champion, another former prosecutor with deep connections to the city’s Cape Verdean and Korean communities; and Shannon McAullife, another veteran attorney who has been working on innovative ways to divert people from the court system. It’s a dynamic, diverse, and talented field— as shown in Reporter news editor Jenn Smith’s profiles of the candidates in our news pages. This race is worth our attention and the field seems to be rising to the challenge.

• Over her 14 years as a candidate for state offices, this newspaper never endorsed former State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry in this space for one simple reason: She’s my wife. She is no longer in elected life so I can now say without reservation that had there been no family ties, she would have certainly been our choice.

Her successor will be chosen on May 1. I’ll be voting for Rep. Nick Collins on May 1 as I did on April 3. He has demonstrated that he is a reliable ally on issues that matter to our communities— from transforming the Fairmount Line and investing in Morrissey Boulevard to pushing UMass officials to make the Dorchester campus a priority. He is a diligent and forthright public servant and he’ll be an asset to Dorchester and Mattapan in the state Senate.

• A decision on the Yawkey Way matter has been delayed again after the Red Sox, who initiated the petition to change the name back to Jersey Street, asked for the deferral last week. Sox ownership say they intend to press the case. If that’s true, the city’s Public Improvement Commission really has no cause to do anything other than approve the team’s request.

Over the course of more than a month of deliberation— and two passionate public hearings— there has never been any doubt that all of the Yawkey Way property owners are in agreement that the name should revert to Jersey Street. Not a single piece of testimony— to my knowledge— has suggested that there are any issues related to “public safety, wayfinding,” etc.— which is the other factor the commission must confirm.
The public debate has pivoted on whether Yawkey the man — and thus, the name— is problematic. But, in fact, by the commission’s own admission—such testimony is moot.

The only parties with standing in the matter— the property owners on the impacted street— have spoken in solidarity. If the city of Boston plays by its own rules, the street name will be changed on April 26, the date of the next opportunity for the BPIC to meet and vote.

– Bill Forry