A Just Quincy

08/24/2026

AJQ Newsletter: August 24, 2026: 7-0
Where Massachusetts’ highest court keeps Quincy’s saint statues off the new Public Safety Building — and leaves the City with a much harder case to fight.

link in first comment

08/20/2026

A longer piece to follow

The SJC has spoken. And it wasn’t close.
7–0.
(aclu press release https://www.aclum.org/press-releases/massachusetts-supreme-judicial-court-upholds-injunction-preventing-the-installation-of-religious-statues-on-quincy-government-building/)

The Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously upheld the injunction keeping the statues off the Public Safety Building.

There is a lot in a 34-page decision. The Court kept the legal framework the plaintiffs were defending, rejected several of the City’s key arguments, and had some particularly interesting things to say about how the statues were commissioned — and what could happen if Mayor Koch’s motivations are explored as the case continues.

We’re reading through it carefully now.

Much more from AJQ soon.

08/19/2026

Roath has an impressive resume and platform, but my reasoning will have a more familiar ring to AJQ readers.

Link in first comment

08/17/2026

Solicitor James Timmins, Hand of the King
Where we examine the power Quincy's City Solicitor has and who, if anyone, is providing oversight on the City's Law Department.
The Quincy Law Department is Out of Hand.

For those of you wondering what I’m on about now, in the Game of Thrones fantasy series, the Hand of the King is the monarch’s chief advisor and the second-most powerful figure in Westeros—the fictional realm where the stories unfold...

08/17/2026

I think this "gift" article should be available without a paywall.
The director of Harvard's Election Law Clinic wrote this op ed on Gerrymandering. It's very good.

The Supreme Court has closed off nearly every legal avenue for challenging partisan gerrymandering. The answer isn’t better maps. It’s proportional representation.

08/07/2026

Where we examine what happens when you win a Massachusetts Public Records Appeal.
Last week, we examined how three Quincy public records requests took three very different paths through the Massachusetts Public Records Law. One of those stories has now reached its next chapter.
link in comment below

08/04/2026

(TONIGHT)
Here's a chance to take in some free entertainment with your fellow activists. Come to the Church of the Presidents tonight for a screening of the classic Award-winning documentary “Run Granny Run”.
There will be a Q&A with the filmmaker, Marlo Poras.
Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 6 pm

United First Parish Church
Parish hall (side door)
1306 Hancock Street

Description:
At the age of 94, Doris “Granny D” Haddock ran for US Senate in 2004 after walking from California to Washington, DC, in support of campaign finance reform. Watch her inspiring story in the award-winning documentary “Run Granny Run,” which will be presented at the Church of the Presidents by filmmaker Marlo Poras. Enter through the side door of the church.

08/02/2026

If you think you can enjoy the Summertime, when "the living is easy", and keep out of politics until the leaves begin to turn, you may miss much of the real decision-making. In a blue state like Massachusetts, many of the most consequential elections are effectively decided in the September primary, not the November general election. The Norfolk County District Attorney's race is one of them. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will almost certainly become Michael Morrissey's successor.

Link to substack in comments

07/31/2026

July 31st AJQ News: RECORDing In Progress: Who Owns the Masters?
Where Massachusetts’ Public Records Law promises access to government records. But as three Quincy case studies show, getting those records can look very different depending on the request.

Link in comment
Hi folks,

I hope everyone is enjoying the Summer. I can’t believe it’s the end of July already.
If you made it to the end of the article, thank you for your continued interest. I know these past two articles have been long. I hope you found these explanations informative and at least a bit fun or interesting.
I have some day-job stuff going on the next couple weeks so I’m not sure when my next article will come out. As always, drop me a line if there are any topics, tips, or controversies you want my take on.

Talk to you all very soon.
Joe

07/24/2026

The System of Records: What Happens When Citizens Ask Their Government for Its Papers
Where AJQ examines the experiences of journalists, elected officials, and residents to better understand how Quincy administers the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

Who can request government emails? How long should it take? What happens when things go wrong? I’m digging into Quincy's public records process.
Did you know your emails to city officials can become public records—and be requested by your fellow citizens and delivered like a pizza?

Click the link in the first comment to know more.