My study of the effectiveness of grassroots political organizing will center on my own “political neighborhood,” the
Massachusetts 6th Suffolk district comprised of neighborhoods in the
Boston neighborhoods of Mattapan, North Dorchester, Roslindale, Jamaica
Plain and Hyde Park.
While the geographical area is one district in one city and is served
by one state representative, it crosses five Boston neighborhoods each
with very distinct racial and socio-economic characteristics. The
district also crosses four political “wards,” which are the local
foundations on which “political infrastructures” are built. Among other
duties, Wards are responsible for endorsing candidates, raising and
disbursing funds for political purposes and conducting voter
registration drives.
Each of these neighborhood and political groupings presents unique
challenges to candidates who are attempting to communicate to voters
and to community groups attempting to organize residents.
As I began this project, I first set out to find out exactly where the edges of the District are.
I needed a map.
I had attempted to do this a couple of years ago, and just as I remembered last time... there is no map
available via a lot of Googling that shows the street boundaries of the district. There is only a map showing the district in relation to other districts. It's also outdated. It lists our Rep. as Shirley Owens-Hicks. Our Rep is now Willie Mae Allen.
I emailed the government documents desk at the Boston Public Library to see what they could come up with. Reference Librarians traditionally have mad Google skillz.
This is the note I got back from the research librarian at the Boston Public Library's Government Documents Desk:
We are unable to locate a map for this or any district which shows
streets. None of the congressional district maps we have are that
detailed, although we might be able to help you create one using the
Boston Redevelopment Authority’s Boston Atlas online. You can also try
the State Library of Massachusetts, which may have had some of these
maps made for them. Their number is 617-727-2590; ask for reference.
Please let us know if you have no luck with the State Library and we
will then try to pursue other avenues for you.
Disappointing to say the least.