Boston Policy Institute
@bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social
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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
Today is the first @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hearing on exam school admissions since 2020, and BPI has 5 questions for @bostonschools.boston.gov to answer, plus a quick run-down of the recent history of the exam school admission policy conversation & the Council’s role in it. #mapoli #bospoli
September 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Today is the first @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hearing on exam school admissions since 2020, and BPI has 5 questions for @bostonschools.boston.gov to answer, plus a quick run-down of the recent history of the exam school admission policy conversation & the Council’s role in it. #mapoli #bospoli
A discussion point at BPI's event abt post-COVID Boston yesterday & in @mayorwu.boston.gov's @bostonchamber.com speech Monday was office-to-resi conversions. Rent Cafe put together a comparison of major cities progress on this, and Boston is the back of the pack: www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-...
September 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A discussion point at BPI's event abt post-COVID Boston yesterday & in @mayorwu.boston.gov's @bostonchamber.com speech Monday was office-to-resi conversions. Rent Cafe put together a comparison of major cities progress on this, and Boston is the back of the pack: www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-...
This is a really interesting article about how most of the 225 new liquor licenses available in Boston haven't been applied for yet. The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a hearing order on this subject filed back in Jan by @brianworrell.bsky.social but no hearing has been held. #mapoli #bospoli
September 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This is a really interesting article about how most of the 225 new liquor licenses available in Boston haven't been applied for yet. The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a hearing order on this subject filed back in Jan by @brianworrell.bsky.social but no hearing has been held. #mapoli #bospoli
Docket #1719 on p. 71-72, a hearing order to "audit & review capital budget allocations & expenditures" from @juliaforboston.bsky.social highlights the Council's lack of control & visibility on capital spending, a top priority for a # of Clrs, including @liz4ab.bsky.social. #bospoli #mapoli
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Docket #1719 on p. 71-72, a hearing order to "audit & review capital budget allocations & expenditures" from @juliaforboston.bsky.social highlights the Council's lack of control & visibility on capital spending, a top priority for a # of Clrs, including @liz4ab.bsky.social. #bospoli #mapoli
Find an org chart of the Human Resources Cabinet from budget hearings earlier this year that shows Hennelly & Hernandez in their old positions on p. 2:
#bospoli #mapoli
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
#bospoli #mapoli
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Find an org chart of the Human Resources Cabinet from budget hearings earlier this year that shows Hennelly & Hernandez in their old positions on p. 2:
#bospoli #mapoli
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
#bospoli #mapoli
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
Docket #1698 on p. 24-25 is City Hall's response to a 17F request from CAL Erin Murphy looking for more information about 26-27 BPS school closures. The response reveals no new info, referring to previously released info about already approved school closures for 25-26.
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Docket #1698 on p. 24-25 is City Hall's response to a 17F request from CAL Erin Murphy looking for more information about 26-27 BPS school closures. The response reveals no new info, referring to previously released info about already approved school closures for 25-26.
This stands out in this wk's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet mtg: City Hall responded to @edflynnforboston.bsky.social's request (filed on 6/25/25) for info abt the office tower assessments fight. Written answers on p. 39-40 & open appeals on p. 22-38:
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
September 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This stands out in this wk's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet mtg: City Hall responded to @edflynnforboston.bsky.social's request (filed on 6/25/25) for info abt the office tower assessments fight. Written answers on p. 39-40 & open appeals on p. 22-38:
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
Last wk's WTR focused on last Wednesday's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social & @bostonschools.boston.gov Cmte mtgs, including a rare @mayorwu.boston.gov SC visit & another resolution spat w/ @edflynnforboston.bsky.social blocking @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social's rent control resolution. #bospoli #mapoli
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Last wk's WTR focused on last Wednesday's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social & @bostonschools.boston.gov Cmte mtgs, including a rare @mayorwu.boston.gov SC visit & another resolution spat w/ @edflynnforboston.bsky.social blocking @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social's rent control resolution. #bospoli #mapoli
The last overall Boston prelim q was today's turnout. Most predicted it would be btwn 50k and 100k, meaning fewer people casting ballots vs the '21 mayoral race w/ 108,731 votes cast. Based on turnout #'s so far, that <100k prediction should be correct. #bospoli #mapoli
September 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
For CAL, the top 8 advance to Nov, so 2/10 get eliminated today. In Nov the top 4 win office, so the top 4 today will be seen as the favorites to win. The big q after a few wks of bad press: will freshmen Santana be in the top 4? BPI readers don't think so. #mapoli #bospoli
September 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
September 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM