Mayor Marty Walsh expressed his bold vision for Boston in this week’s State of the City with his biggest priorities being housing, transportation, and Boston Public Schools. Housing Walsh wants $500 million to build thousands of homes across the city of Boston over a five-year period. However, he said he will need help from state Read More…
The Boston City Council recently voted in favor of a two percent real estate transfer fee on transactions exceeding $2 million. The council voted 10 to 3 in favor of the new tax with Councilor Frank Baker, Mark Ciommo, and Althea Garrison voting against it. The proposal was developed by City Councilor Lydia Edwards, who Read More…
The Boston City Council wants Boston to be a safer city for pedestrians. The council held a hearing this week about pedestrian crossing signals, traffic calming, and vision zero. City Councilor Ed Flynn said his number one priority as a councilor is pedestrian safety. He would like to see raised crosswalks and more speed bumps Read More…
During the regular city council meeting, the council passed city councilor Kim Janey’s ordinance involving a new marijuana oversight board that will publicly evaluate and vote on license applications from cannabis companies based on a set list of criteria. The goal is to create equity in this new industry. The new ordinance will create a Read More…
The City Council wants more regulations for ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. The council held a hearing earlier this week and believes these companies are part of the reason Boston’s traffic keeps getting worse. “It’s just getting worse and worse and worse,” said City Councilor Michelle Wu. According to city officials, there were Read More…
The Boston City Council wants to make sure short-term rental units are following the new rules. At a hearing Thursday afternoon at City Hall, the council met to make sure AirBnb is complying with the new regulations. Those who choose to list their homes on AirBnb must register their units with the city and follow Read More…
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins has ruled it should be the Commonwealth’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) that decides the fate of vaping for medical marijuana users in the state, not Gov. Charlie Baker, who enacted a four-month statewide temporary ban on vaping on September 24, 2019. According to Wilkins, the ban on all vaping Read More…
Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell is requesting a hearing to look over the community ombudsman oversight panel. The community ombudsman oversight panel was created in 2007 as a way for Boston residents to review appeals made with the Boston Police Department over internal investigation cases. The panel is comprised of independent residents with background Read More…
The Boston City Council is growing frustrated with the sky rocketing prices of car insurance rates in the city. Council President Andrea Campbell is requesting a hearing regarding car insurance rates in Boston. “It’s an issue for all of us,” she said. “Anyone that owns a car in the city of Boston knows how expensive Read More…
The 2019 November city council election saw the most diverse council in Boston’s history elected. Minority candidates will make up a majority of the Boston City Council for the first time in the council’s history. The majority of the council will be women and seven of the 13 councilors will be people of color. Julia Read More…
Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is looking to create a special commission to end family homelessness in the city of Boston and requested a hearing regarding this ordinance to create the commission. “Our city is experiencing a housing and displacement crisis,” she said. “There is an urgent need to help this vulnerable population.” According Read More…
Councilor Althea Garrison wants more dedicated senior housing in the City of Boston. “I know senior citizens don’t feel safe in their housing situations,” she said during the regular city council meeting. Garrison said many senior citizens do not feel safe in their current housing situation because they are forced to live with individuals suffering Read More…