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 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
The ZBA has 7 members and 7 alternates, who each hold a seat with specific requirements. Aiken held 1 of 2 “neighborhood” member seats - there are also 2 “neighborhood” alternates - check out the screengrab for how that is defined:
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The ZBA has 7 members and 7 alternates, who each hold a seat with specific requirements. Aiken held 1 of 2 “neighborhood” member seats - there are also 2 “neighborhood” alternates - check out the screengrab for how that is defined:
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
Docket #2086 on p. 22 is David Aiken’s letter resigning from Zoning Board of Appeals. According to the ZBA’s website, Aiken was still serving despite his term expiring on 5/01/23. No replacement was in this week’s agenda packet. Aiken was 1 of 2 ZBA members approved by the Council back on 11/30/22.
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2086 on p. 22 is David Aiken’s letter resigning from Zoning Board of Appeals. According to the ZBA’s website, Aiken was still serving despite his term expiring on 5/01/23. No replacement was in this week’s agenda packet. Aiken was 1 of 2 ZBA members approved by the Council back on 11/30/22.
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
Docket #1989 on p. 56 is a University Accountability report listing the in-Boston #'s for: university students enrolled, how many live on & off campus, & how many properties each institution owns. The Council held a hearing on this ordinance on June 12:
app.legislata.com/posts/259358...
app.legislata.com/posts/259358...
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Docket #1989 on p. 56 is a University Accountability report listing the in-Boston #'s for: university students enrolled, how many live on & off campus, & how many properties each institution owns. The Council held a hearing on this ordinance on June 12:
app.legislata.com/posts/259358...
app.legislata.com/posts/259358...
Docket #1983 on p. 41-43 is an Open Mtg Law violation filed against the Council. The violation comes out a contentious hearing back on 10/16 abt Boston Housing Authority. Read the transcript for that hearing here & find the "bad actors" exchange at the 2:11:45 mark:
app.legislata.com/posts/266263...
app.legislata.com/posts/266263...
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Docket #1983 on p. 41-43 is an Open Mtg Law violation filed against the Council. The violation comes out a contentious hearing back on 10/16 abt Boston Housing Authority. Read the transcript for that hearing here & find the "bad actors" exchange at the 2:11:45 mark:
app.legislata.com/posts/266263...
app.legislata.com/posts/266263...
Docket #1953 on p. 8 is the appt of Bethany Moffi to the School Cmte Nominating Panel, the body which collects School Cmte member applications, interviews applicants, and submits 3 to 5 to the Mayor for appointment.
November 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Docket #1953 on p. 8 is the appt of Bethany Moffi to the School Cmte Nominating Panel, the body which collects School Cmte member applications, interviews applicants, and submits 3 to 5 to the Mayor for appointment.
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
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/...
#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/...
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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/...
#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/...
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...
www.bostonplans.org/getattachmen...
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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...
www.bostonplans.org/getattachmen...
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.
The review discussed this bike lane & discussed relocating it. 6 months later that possibility appears to have been dismissed w/ no public discussion. An enormous about-face like that is typically explained, not done w/o any public notice.
Read the review: drive.google.com/file/d/19VTp...
Read the review: drive.google.com/file/d/19VTp...
October 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The review discussed this bike lane & discussed relocating it. 6 months later that possibility appears to have been dismissed w/ no public discussion. An enormous about-face like that is typically explained, not done w/o any public notice.
Read the review: drive.google.com/file/d/19VTp...
Read the review: drive.google.com/file/d/19VTp...
. . . Docket #0972, a hearing order to learn more abt @mayorwu.boston.gov's 30-day review of streets projects was filed by @enriquepepen.bsky.social & @ben4district6.bsky.social back on 4/30/25, but a hearing hasn't been scheduled.
Read more: bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
Read more: bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
October 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
. . . Docket #0972, a hearing order to learn more abt @mayorwu.boston.gov's 30-day review of streets projects was filed by @enriquepepen.bsky.social & @ben4district6.bsky.social back on 4/30/25, but a hearing hasn't been scheduled.
Read more: bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
Read more: bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
Read more about which orgs have appts to the Boston Art Commission here:
www.boston.gov/departments/...
www.boston.gov/departments/...
September 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Read more about which orgs have appts to the Boston Art Commission here:
www.boston.gov/departments/...
www.boston.gov/departments/...
Docket #1745 on p. 20-78 is the “Regulations and the Statements of Fiscal Effect and Small Business Impact report” from the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission - better known as BERDO. P. 77-78 is the prose answers are: the rest of the document is an ordinance.
September 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Docket #1745 on p. 20-78 is the “Regulations and the Statements of Fiscal Effect and Small Business Impact report” from the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission - better known as BERDO. P. 77-78 is the prose answers are: the rest of the document is an ordinance.
His appt is Docket #1743 on p. 15 of this week's agenda packet. Check out the agenda packet here:
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
September 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM
His appt is Docket #1743 on p. 15 of this week's agenda packet. Check out the agenda packet here:
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
#mapoli #bospoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
September 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM