As the coronavirus outbreak continues to impact the City of Boston, an increase of hoarding food supplies have wiped grocery store shelves clean and left vulnerable residents worried about feeding their families. During their weekly meeting, the City Council addressed the increase in food insecurity among residents and discussed possible solutions. While parts of Eastern Read More…
The Boston City Council had a full agenda for their second-ever virtual council meeting. Much of the conversation focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on Boston residents and workers, as well as on housing and businesses. The Council spoke about resolutions that can be enacted now, and how the city can prepare for future recovery. Read More…
City Councilor Liz Breadon (District 9) offered a hearing on zoning variances in Boston amid the ongoing conversation about rebuilding trust with residents regarding the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) at a recent City Council meeting. According to Breadon, the Boston Zoning Code exists to preserve and protect neighborhoods against development that could potentially compromise Read More…
At-large City Councilor Julia Mejia introduced a proposal for income-adjusted fines for parking violations at a recent Boston City Council meeting. According to Mejia, parking tickets should be reflective of Boston residents’ financial situations. She believes that residents shouldn’t be placed in a position where they’re forced to choose between paying parking tickets or putting Read More…
City Councilor Lydia Edwards (District 1) and City Council President Kim Janey offered a hearing regarding biannual review of the Boston Employment Commission (BEC) and Boston Residents Job Policy (BRJP) at the City Council’s weekly meeting on Wednesday afternoon. In 2017, Mayor Marty Walsh revised the Boston Residents Jobs Policy Ordinance, originally enacted in 1983, Read More…
Councilor Kenzie Bok, representing District 8, gave her first speech at this week’s City Council meeting regarding a hearing to explore the current state of housing cooperatives and strategies for its further expansion. The City of Boston has increasingly seen transient residents who can no longer afford to remain in their neighborhoods and find themselves Read More…
Councilor Andrea Campbell (District 4) has called for a hearing to explore and recommend diversity initiatives in the City of Boston’s public safety agencies. In an ongoing effort, Councilor Campbell reopened the discussion regarding the need for racial and gender diversity in public safety. “We know that diversity in our public service jobs allows government Read More…
Councilors Ed Flynn, District 2, and Kim Janey, City Council President, requested a hearing to discuss adding security measures to high-rise garages in the City of Boston amidst recent suicides and attempts. Over the Christmas holidays, a mother and her two children fell to their death at Northeastern University’s Renaissance garage in a suspected murder-suicide. Read More…
Councilors Lydia Edwards (District 1) and Michelle Wu (At-Large) requested a hearing regarding the adoption of transportation benefit ordinances in an attempt to promote public transportation usage in the City of Boston. “Transportation benefit ordinances are not new,” said Councilor Edwards. “There are many cities that already have them such as Seattle, Los Angeles, San Read More…
Boston City Councilors Ed Flynn (District 2) and Michelle Wu (at-large) requested a hearing regarding ways to promote achieving an accurate count for Boston’s 2020 Census. “The census not only dictates how many elected congressional members we have,”said Councilor Flynn, “but, even more importantly than that, it determines the federal resources that come into a 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…