Councilor Ed Flynn is worried about evictions in the city of Boston. During the regular city council meeting, Flynn called for a hearing regarding evictions and how to find solutions in helping residents. Currently, if someone is facing an eviction for reasons other than non-payment, they have 30 days to find new housing. However, Flynn Read More…
Boston residents expressed their concerns regarding the MBTA’s proposed 6.3 percent fare hike at a public meeting this week. The crowded room of meeting attendees said they were very against the hike, expressing that it would be a hardship for low income and senior riders. They also said they should not have to pay more Read More…
The Boston City Council is currently working on a new ordinance regarding licensing and regulating of shared mobility businesses. This would create a licensing structure to regular businesses offering small vehicles for rent on City streets and sidewalks, such as scooters. Councilor Matt O’Malley said they have seen cities and town create similar ordinances and Read More…
Residents learned more about a proposed observation wheel at the end of Long Wharf on the Boston Harbor at the February Wharf District Council meeting. Boston Freedom Wheel, LLC is proposing a 200-foot observation wheel and plans include a 2 story café, outdoor seating. Brian Burke, of Boston Freedom Wheel, said they are in the Read More…
The Boston City Council voted in favor of extending councilor term limits from two to four years. The council voted in favor of the new term limits 11-2. Councilors Josh Zakim and Michelle Wu voted against it. Council President Andrea Campbell, a sponsor of the bill, said two-year cycles are ineffective. They also cost the Read More…
Construction is happening all over the city, with cranes and excavators constantly moving dirt and metal to create new developments. Now, City Councilor Ed Flynn is calling for a hearing regarding construction hours and weekend work. Flynn, who represents District 2 including Downtown, Chinatown, the South End and South Boston, requested the hearing during the Read More…
City Councilor Kim Janey recently introduced a draft of a new ordinance ensuring equity for minority business owners when it comes to the marijuana industry. The ordinance calls for the development of an equity program in which marijuana business equity applicants must meet three out of the following five guidelines: A person who has resided Read More…
The Impact Advisory Group (IAG) assigned to the dock square garage project reacted positively to recent changes made to the proposal in a discussion at the IAG’s Wednesday night meeting. Developers appeared before the IAG to discuss changes they made to the plans for the Dock Square Garage since the last time they met several Read More…
During the regular city council meeting, the Boston city councilors discussed institutions and organizations that do not pay property taxes and how to get a fair share of financial contributions from them. Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Lydia Edwards sponsored the motion, requesting a working session on the topic. Boston has a PILOT (payment in Read More…
During a hearing this week, Boston city councilors discussed how to allow early voting in municipal elections, similar to state elections. The overriding goal is to boost voter turnout in city contests. According to Councilor Josh Zakim, only 28 percent of voters showed up at the polls in the 2017 municipal election. However, residents were allowed Read More…
The Boston Planning & Development Agency held a public meeting Monday night to discuss the planned development area of the dock square building project. Most notably, a change in the plans has reduced the overall addition from ten new stories to seven new stories. The plan is to build a seven-story, 220,000 square-foot addition on Read More…
Mayor Marty Walsh gave the State of the City address on Tuesday, January 15 at Symphony Hall in Boston. Walsh compared Boston’s growing success to the struggles the nation is facing as a whole. “The state of our city is strong, but I’m concerned about the state of our union,” said Walsh. “What we do in Read More…