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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 6d

The HRP for Worrell's proposal is Docket #1932 and can be found on p. 81-86 of this week's agenda packet: #mapoli #bospoli

10.29.25 Agenda Packet.pdf

drive.google.com

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 6d

Read BPI first blush analysis in last week's Weekly Transcript Round-Up & lessons that this proposal should take from @mayorwu.boston.gov's unsuccessful push for a tax shift last year: #bospoli #mapoli bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 6d

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

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

A # of interesting hearing orders were proposed this wk, but w/ election day in <2 wks & only 2+ months before the year-end, it isn't clear how many will be heard.

Sign up for BPI's 'Weekly Transcript Round-Up' that comes out every Friday:
#bospoli #mapoli
bostonpolicyinstitute.org

Boston Policy Institute

BPI is focused on providing non-partisan information and in-depth analysis about the most important issues facing Massachusetts and the City of Boston.

bostonpolicyinstitute.org

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1854 on p. 172-175 is the one interesting non-hearing order filed this week. It is a 17F from @edflynnforboston.bsky.social with 22 questions for @bhaboston.bsky.social about complaints related to issues at the Ruth Barkley Apartments.

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

#1846 - Claire Teylouni - til 11/15/25
Teylouni's very short term is on the Participatory Budget External Oversight Board, which has been the subject of extensive organizing & Council battles since its creation by binding ballot q in 2021.
www.boston.gov/departments/...

Participatory Budgeting

The Office of Participatory Budgeting (OPB) advances its mission by: Furthering public engagement and direct democratic involvement; Building collective capacity on issues of racial and social justice...

www.boston.gov

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Dockets #1844-1846 on p. 148-are 3 more appts:
#1844 - Matthew Dickey - til "resignation or replacement"
#1845 - Ester Farah - til "resignation or replacement"
Both of them are now on the www.boston.gov/departments/...

Commemoration Commission

The Boston Commemoration Commission will invest in inclusive and robust historical resources and preservation tools by working with diverse community voices and organizations who steward Boston's hist...

www.boston.gov

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1843 on p. 33-147 is OPAT's FY25 annual report, plus OPAT findings. While the letter (52-55) is included, the brewing fight btwn OPAT & BPD Commish Cox over his refusal to implement OPAT punishments goes unmentioned in the report. www.wbur.org/news/2025/10...

Police oversight board tells commissioner to stop ignoring its discipline recommendations

Boston police officers are refusing to cooperate with the city’s police oversight agency, according to a civilian watchdog group in a new letter sent to the police commissioner. The group also says Co...

www.wbur.org

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1842 on p. 27-32 is the cover sheet of "Boston Logan International Airport 2023/2024
Environmental Data Report" - there is a pdf w/ the complete doc, but the photo-copy in the Agenda Packet doesn't allow users to click on it.

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1841 on. p 26 is the appt of Brian Swett as "Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space." Swett has accumulated a LOT of titles: in May he was named Interim Commissioner for Parks & Rec and in June 2024 he was appt'd to the @MWRA_update Board & "Chief Climate Officer".

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

There are 5 holdovers (& 2 more w/ terms ending) listed on the City's website, so it isn't clear which are being replaced:
#1837 Steven Farrell til 11/02/25
#1838 David O'Donahoe til 10/06/29
#1839 Bethany Patten til 10/06/29
#1840 Robert Qua til 10/06/29
www.boston.gov/departments/...

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Dockets #1837-1840 on p. 22-25 are appts to the Boston Groundwater Trust, which monitors "groundwater levels in sections of Boston where the integrity of building foundations is threatened by low groundwater levels." Here is an example of their work:
www.bostonplans.org/getattachmen...

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1836 on p. 20-21 seeks to extend a 3 year contract to buy 6 BFD trucks. So far only 2 trucks have been delivered, so City Hall wants to extend the contract 2 years for the remaining 4 trucks, rather than rebid the contract. Read more: internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/boston-fire-...

Boston Fire Department orders six more E-ONE aerials

E-ONE, a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus and subsidiary of REV Group, Inc., has announced that the Boston Fire Department has placed an order for six

internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

Docket #1834 on p. 16-17 is a $48k grant from the United Nations to use AI to "study to address chronic school bus delays" at key intersections and during pick-up & drop-off close to school bldgs.

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 11d

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...

10.22.25 Agenda Packet.pdf

drive.google.com

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 20d

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

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

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

Watch the Council's meeting live on YouTube & to read a summary of this week's policy action sign up for Friday's Weekly Transcript Round-Up!
bostonpolicyinstitute.org

Boston Policy Institute

BPI is focused on providing non-partisan information and in-depth analysis about the most important issues facing Massachusetts and the City of Boston.

bostonpolicyinstitute.org

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

Docket #1791 on p. 43 got some attn in the press this week b/c it mirrors a proposal that got a lot of attn from NYC mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani: govt-run grocery stores.

Read more from @bostonherald.com:
#mapoli #bospoli
www.bostonherald.com/2025/10/06/t...

Two Boston city councilors pitch government-run grocery stores championed by NYC socialist mayoral candidate

“Publicly-owned grocery stores can be structured to prioritize community benefit over profit, enabling lower prices, better food access, and stronger local sourcing.”

www.bostonherald.com

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

Docket #1690 on p. 25-29 is approval to spend $2.5M on the 1st stage of a new bldg for Ruth Batson Academy. 1 thing that stood out from the hearing: the school currently has abt 600 students enrolled, but BPS expects 1,000 at the new bldg. W/ declining enrollment, those #'s will come from somewhere.

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

Dockets #1777-1782 is $4.6M in “Federal FY26 Title III-C Nutrition Services Program Grant” for @agestrong.boston.gov:
#1777 - $2,316,369.00 p. 8-9
#1778 - $1,067,829.00 p. 10-11
#1779 - $540,791.00 p. 12-13
#1780 - $470,366.00 p. 14-15
#1781 - $177,619.00 p. 16-17
#1782 - $84,002.00 p. 18-19

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

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...

10.08.25 Agenda Packet

drive.google.com

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 25d

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

M. Nolan Gray 🥑 @mnolangray.bsky.social · Feb 18

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/...

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

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 26d

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:

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · Sep 19

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

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Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 29d

Read

3 important actions in the Council chamber,

3 Council-related policy stories, and

4 state-wide announcements and events that have big implications for Boston

Here:
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...

Weekly Transcript Round-Up for 10/03/25

Packed week has updates on everything from education w/ Exam Schools, METCO, MCAS, & New School Bldg, to budget & economy w/ warnings abt federal cuts & a new office lease announcement, to bike lanes

bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com

Boston Policy Institute @bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social · 29d

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.

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