City Councilors Anissa Essaibi-George (At-Large) and Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) offered an ordinance to support the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the American Postal Workers Union during the City Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The proposal urged Council members to call on Congress to ensure the USPS has essential support for its critical needs. Read More…
The City Council voted seven-to-five in favor of rejecting Mayor Marty Walsh’s three zoning board nominees, following the recommendation of At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu, Chairwoman for the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Lydia Edwards, Kim Janey, Julia Mejia, and Michelle Wu all voted to dismiss the Read More…
Councilor Lydia Edwards (District 1) proposed that the City Council share equal budgeting power with the mayor during the weekly City Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The proposed amendment comes after public dissatisfaction with the FY21 budget approvals where protesters demanded funds be reallocated from the Boston Police Department into community services. Councilor Edwards’ amendment Read More…
Progressives too, can back the blue By District One City Councilor Lydia Edwards Thank you. I haven’t said it enough to the men and women in blue that serve our great city. Time and time again they are expected to be at their best when we are at our worst. Whether it was during 9/11, the Read More…
During the weekly City Council meeting on June 17, City Councilor Andrea Campbell (District 4) offered a resolution to support the Bipartisan House Bill H.2146 that would require a special commission on establishing a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) system. Under this system, municipal police officers would require certification. This would ensure that municipalities Read More…
City Councilor Kenzie Bok (District 8) urged her colleagues to support an act recently filed that would provide equal stimulus checks to immigrant taxpayers. Despite paying an equal amount of taxes through the use of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), many immigrant taxpayers have been left out of recovery reliefs during the pandemic. In Read More…
Restaurants and bars are among those businesses most severely impacted by the government’s COVID-19 shutdown restrictions. Due to physical distancing directives and stay-at-home advisories, restaurants have been forced to transition to pick-up and delivery services only, putting many in jeopardy of never being able to open again. As these businesses are integral to Boston’s neighborhoods Read More…
City Councilor Lydia Edwards (District 1) held a virtual “coffee hour” Saturday morning via Facebook Live to discuss housing concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was joined by Joey Michalakes, an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services, to discuss housing resources and tenant/landlord rights as well as answer questions from residents online. Councilor Edwards, who Read More…
As Boston enters a period of surging COVID-19 cases, the City Council turned their attention toward the allocation of ventilators and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the event of limited medical resources. Councilor Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) proposed a hearing to discuss the pre-existing racial health inequities suffered by Boston’s communities of color and Read More…
For Boston residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gaining access to food has proven even more difficult as stay-at-home advisories and limited transportation options continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. More Bostonians are opting to remain at home during the City’s coronavirus surge, resulting in grocery delivery services no longer having available Read More…
As Bostonians continue to practice physical distancing and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising concern around mental health issues being exacerbated by the current situation have been noted by many experts. During their weekly City Council meeting, Councilor Andrea Campbell (District 4) addressed the need to prioritize mental health in the public health response Read More…
As the coronavirus continues to impact the daily lives of Boston residents, thousands are left experiencing a complete loss or severe reduction of income. The City Council tackled this financial uncertainty during their weekly meeting by hosting a conversation about how the City can offer relief to those suffering during this unprecedented public health crisis. Read More…