Boston Policy Institute
@bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social
Boston Policy Institute, Inc is a non-profit corporation focused on providing non-partisan information and in-depth analysis about the issues facing MA & Boston. Learn more at bostonpolicyinstitute.org!
BPI's Friday newsletter breaks down Wednesday night @bostonschools.boston.gov Committee mtg, where the SC voted to close 3 more schools, bringing the total number of schools BPS has closed in 2025 to 6.
#mapoli #bospoli
#mapoli #bospoli
December 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
BPI's Friday newsletter breaks down Wednesday night @bostonschools.boston.gov Committee mtg, where the SC voted to close 3 more schools, bringing the total number of schools BPS has closed in 2025 to 6.
#mapoli #bospoli
#mapoli #bospoli
The big takeaway in BPI's summary: Tuesday's hearing previewed the battle if @councilordurkan.bsky.social carries thru on her pledge to bring legislation forward in 2026 to enact this reform. Read more:
#mapoli #bospoli
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
#mapoli #bospoli
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
December 12, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The big takeaway in BPI's summary: Tuesday's hearing previewed the battle if @councilordurkan.bsky.social carries thru on her pledge to bring legislation forward in 2026 to enact this reform. Read more:
#mapoli #bospoli
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
#mapoli #bospoli
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
The 12/09 hearing on @councilordurkan.bsky.social's Docket #1061, “Order for a hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove parking minimum requirements for new development," previewed what a 2026 fight to enact the policy might look like. Read more in tmrw's WTR! #bospoli #mapoli
December 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
The 12/09 hearing on @councilordurkan.bsky.social's Docket #1061, “Order for a hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove parking minimum requirements for new development," previewed what a 2026 fight to enact the policy might look like. Read more in tmrw's WTR! #bospoli #mapoli
5 @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social spoke about Docket #2045 - which raises property taxes in 2026 - Worrell gave the cmte report, then Flynn, Murphy, Mejia, Durkan, and Louijeune spoke before it was approved unanimously. #mapoli #bospoli
December 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
5 @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social spoke about Docket #2045 - which raises property taxes in 2026 - Worrell gave the cmte report, then Flynn, Murphy, Mejia, Durkan, and Louijeune spoke before it was approved unanimously. #mapoli #bospoli
Today is the last City Council meeting of the year and the agenda is PACKED. In addition to property taxes, there is a vacancy on the ZBA, Clr Mejia has a school closures resolutions & Clr Flynn has a LOT on BHA elevators.
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1bNd-...
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1bNd-...
12.10.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Today is the last City Council meeting of the year and the agenda is PACKED. In addition to property taxes, there is a vacancy on the ZBA, Clr Mejia has a school closures resolutions & Clr Flynn has a LOT on BHA elevators.
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1bNd-...
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1bNd-...
There has been a LOT of action between Friday, December 5, and Monday, December 8:
-BPI released our WTR on Fri
-Boston's state-certified FY26 property values came out Fri
-BPI released 5 q's (+ some follow-ups) for today's hearing
-BPI's ED was on @massinc.bsky.social's Codcast
-BPI released our WTR on Fri
-Boston's state-certified FY26 property values came out Fri
-BPI released 5 q's (+ some follow-ups) for today's hearing
-BPI's ED was on @massinc.bsky.social's Codcast
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
There has been a LOT of action between Friday, December 5, and Monday, December 8:
-BPI released our WTR on Fri
-Boston's state-certified FY26 property values came out Fri
-BPI released 5 q's (+ some follow-ups) for today's hearing
-BPI's ED was on @massinc.bsky.social's Codcast
-BPI released our WTR on Fri
-Boston's state-certified FY26 property values came out Fri
-BPI released 5 q's (+ some follow-ups) for today's hearing
-BPI's ED was on @massinc.bsky.social's Codcast
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Thank you to @dotnews.bsky.social for running our op-ed! BPI looks at why @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hasn't held a hearing on school closures & related issues, and finds its b/c @brianworrell.bsky.social & @ruthzee.bsky.social haven't asked for hearings on dockets they filed. #bospoli #mapoli
December 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Thank you to @dotnews.bsky.social for running our op-ed! BPI looks at why @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hasn't held a hearing on school closures & related issues, and finds its b/c @brianworrell.bsky.social & @ruthzee.bsky.social haven't asked for hearings on dockets they filed. #bospoli #mapoli
While Boston's certified property values for FY26 are not public yet, the last two decades are. Check out values by class (Resi, CRE, Industrial) and just CRE below.
One thing to notice: during the Great Recession, Boston's CRE values didn't recover their FY09 value til FY14. #mapoli #bospoli
One thing to notice: during the Great Recession, Boston's CRE values didn't recover their FY09 value til FY14. #mapoli #bospoli
December 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The City of Boston's process to set 2026 property tax rates got started today with a @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social filing for their regular meeting this Wednesday, Dec 3. #mapoli #bospoli
December 1, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The City of Boston's process to set 2026 property tax rates got started today with a @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social filing for their regular meeting this Wednesday, Dec 3. #mapoli #bospoli
This week the regular meeting of @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a LOT of important dockets. Keep reading for what BPI is watching, and read the whole Council Agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1dLq3...
#bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1dLq3...
#bospoli #mapoli
11.19.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This week the regular meeting of @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a LOT of important dockets. Keep reading for what BPI is watching, and read the whole Council Agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1dLq3...
#bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1dLq3...
#bospoli #mapoli
Despite today's election, there is still a regular @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social meeting tmrw. The agenda is *very* light: there is just one interesting docket. Keep reading for that, and check out the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
11.05.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Despite today's election, there is still a regular @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social meeting tmrw. The agenda is *very* light: there is just one interesting docket. Keep reading for that, and check out the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
Last wk, @brianworrell.bsky.social's proposal to re-categorize 30+ unit apt bldgs in Boston from resi to CRE in order to more than 2x their property tax bills came out. Today, the home rule petition for it was in the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda for their 10/29/25 mtg. #mapoli #bospoli
October 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Last wk, @brianworrell.bsky.social's proposal to re-categorize 30+ unit apt bldgs in Boston from resi to CRE in order to more than 2x their property tax bills came out. Today, the home rule petition for it was in the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda for their 10/29/25 mtg. #mapoli #bospoli
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social Agenda Packet for this week's 10/22/25 meeting is out! Keep reading for what BPI will be watching at this week's meeting, and check out the whole agenda packet here: #bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
10.22.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social Agenda Packet for this week's 10/22/25 meeting is out! Keep reading for what BPI will be watching at this week's meeting, and check out the whole agenda packet here: #bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
This project started back in 2020:
8/11/20 Filed Letter of Intent w/ BPDA
3/16/23 Approved by BPDA Board
4/26/23 Filed w/ ZBA
8/09/23 Approved by ZBA
10/02/25 Building permit issued
This isn't the end of the project: according to BBJ only the resi component pulled a permit. #mapoli #bospoli
8/11/20 Filed Letter of Intent w/ BPDA
3/16/23 Approved by BPDA Board
4/26/23 Filed w/ ZBA
8/09/23 Approved by ZBA
10/02/25 Building permit issued
This isn't the end of the project: according to BBJ only the resi component pulled a permit. #mapoli #bospoli
Construction set to begin on $35M office, residential project near Boston Landing - Boston Business Journal
An Allston project that includes a 12-story office building and a seven-story residential building has secured a city building permit and will begin construction in October.
www.bizjournals.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Today the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a relatively light agenda, but there are a few important dockets to highlight. Read the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
10.08.25 Agenda Packet
drive.google.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Today the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a relatively light agenda, but there are a few important dockets to highlight. Read the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
If you read the news abt a major Boston-area developer being hired to figure out what to do about Carney Hospital in @dotnews.bsky.social & wondered what other hospitals have been converted into, this @wsj.com article from earlier this year offers some potential possibilities. #bospoli #mapoli
Everyone wants office-to-residential conversions, but it's hospitals-to-residential conversions that are the big opportunity. We never stopped designing them in such a way that most rooms had a window and some access to plumbing.
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Forget Office Conversions. Cities Are Turning Old Hospitals Into Residential Housing.
Ideal locations are typically on prime real estate near city infrastructure with built-in amenities.
www.wsj.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
If you read the news abt a major Boston-area developer being hired to figure out what to do about Carney Hospital in @dotnews.bsky.social & wondered what other hospitals have been converted into, this @wsj.com article from earlier this year offers some potential possibilities. #bospoli #mapoli
This week's candidate's forum is a must see! The questionnaire responses are a great read, and its issues made recent appearances in @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social regular mtg agendas. Live Q&A will add an additional layer of insight to those answers & Council debate so check out the details below:
Leadership matters in a housing crisis.
📍 City Council At-Large Candidate Forum
🗓 Oct 9, 6-8PM
📍 Roxbury Community College
Hear candidates talk about affordability, zoning, transit growth + more.
🔗 Info & RSVP: www.abundanthousingma.org/atlargecandi...
#BostonHousing #Bospoli
📍 City Council At-Large Candidate Forum
🗓 Oct 9, 6-8PM
📍 Roxbury Community College
Hear candidates talk about affordability, zoning, transit growth + more.
🔗 Info & RSVP: www.abundanthousingma.org/atlargecandi...
#BostonHousing #Bospoli
October 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This week's candidate's forum is a must see! The questionnaire responses are a great read, and its issues made recent appearances in @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social regular mtg agendas. Live Q&A will add an additional layer of insight to those answers & Council debate so check out the details below:
Check out BPI's latest WTR! This was a packed week w/ education updates (MCAS, METCO, Exam Schools, & New School Bldg); economic & budget updates w/ FY27budget concerns on Beacon Hill & a big office lease on South Station, and a number of other issues, including housing, bike lanes & pharmacies.
October 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Check out BPI's latest WTR! This was a packed week w/ education updates (MCAS, METCO, Exam Schools, & New School Bldg); economic & budget updates w/ FY27budget concerns on Beacon Hill & a big office lease on South Station, and a number of other issues, including housing, bike lanes & pharmacies.
Based @mass.streetsblog.org's reporting, @jfh01.bsky.social & City Hall didn't inform anyone before getting starting to install new bike lane protection in Back Bay last wk. This issue also hasn't been heard by the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social . . . #bospoli
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
Boston Tries Out 'Better Barriers' to Sub For Battered Bollards - Streetsblog Massachusetts
"Long-term, our goal is to move away from flexposts in most circumstances," says Boston's Chief of Streets.
mass.streetsblog.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Based @mass.streetsblog.org's reporting, @jfh01.bsky.social & City Hall didn't inform anyone before getting starting to install new bike lane protection in Back Bay last wk. This issue also hasn't been heard by the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social . . . #bospoli
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda w/ a # of appts, a major green bldg report, & dockets on university housing, composting, & Boston's plan for a new recovery campus. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
10.01.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda w/ a # of appts, a major green bldg report, & dockets on university housing, composting, & Boston's plan for a new recovery campus. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
Looking thru this week's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet, @massgovernor.bsky.social re-appt'd fmr D6 Clr @mattomalley.bsky.social to BPDA's Board for a full term expiring 9/09/25. Read more abt him in this piece from the @bostonglobe.com last year: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/24/b...
Healey names former city councilor O’Malley to BPDA board - The Boston Globe
O'Malley became the third new member appointed to the board since Mayor Wu took office.
www.bostonglobe.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Looking thru this week's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet, @massgovernor.bsky.social re-appt'd fmr D6 Clr @mattomalley.bsky.social to BPDA's Board for a full term expiring 9/09/25. Read more abt him in this piece from the @bostonglobe.com last year: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/24/b...
This hearing has started! Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
September 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This hearing has started! Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...