One year report: District 1 City Councilor Lydia Edwards

District 1 city councilor Lydia Edwards on the recently passed short-term rentals regulation

On Wednesday, June 13th, the Boston City Council voted 11-2 to enact legislation regulating short-term rental platforms such as AirBNB. Councilor Edwards joined the council in voting to pass the legislation. The legislation:

• Allows owner-occupants to list their own unit, a part of their unit or an adjacent whole unit in their building as a short-term rental for 365 days per year
• Prohibits ownership or operation of short-term rental units by outside investors 
• Creates a public registry of short-term rentals 
• Completely exempts lodging houses, bed and breakfasts and certain corporate housing with established contracts with educational, medical or other institutions from regulation as a short-term rental. “Executive suites,” addressed in the zoning code, also function outside of the short-term rental regulation. 
• While in session, the Council also voted to adopt amendments which would improve data collection and allow investor-owner units a brief grace period to fulfill existing leases as their business model is phased out.

“Thank you to Mayor Walsh and my colleagues for diligent work on the short-term rental ordinance. This legislation balances the rights of homeowners to earn supplemental income with protections for housing stock under pressure from the investor-owned segment of the short-term rental industry,” said Councilor Lydia Edwards. “By preventing loss of traditional rental units to short-term rentals, the ordinance will supplement citywide efforts to preserve housing units and increase housing stock through new construction.”

“The ordinance also enables a fair playing field for a diverse hospitality industry,” added Councilor Edwards. “Visitors to Boston will retain numerous options, including short-term rentals, traditional hotels, lodging houses, bed and breakfasts, executive suites and corporate furnished housing.”

Councilor Edwards is committed to reviewing the success and challenges of implementing the short-term rental ordinance and revisiting the issue as necessary in the future. 

City Councilor Edwards announces Snow Angel Community Service Program

BOSTON (10 January 2018) - Newly-inaugurated Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards announced a district-wide initiative aimed to serve our most vulnerable neighbors during the winter months and connect residents through community service. 

The “Snow Angels” program will connect elderly and disabled residents unable to shovel in front of their homes to on-call, neighborhood volunteers ready to alleviate the burden shoveling can impose. 

“If Thursday’s snowstorm is any indication, there are many people in our neighborhoods who need assistance beyond what the City can provide for them. The beautiful thing about our district is that there are good-hearted individuals ready and willing to step up to the plate and help,” said Councilor Edwards. “The Snow Angels program will aim to coordinate and connect both communities.”

Councilor Edwards outlined that, depending on the amount of the volunteers, the program hopes to match neighbors in need to a Snow Angel within 500 feet of their home during each snowstorm. 

Edwards noted that she’s received the support of District One’s delegation such as Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of the North End, and Rep. Daniel Ryan of Charlestown. She is also actively looking for community sponsors to cover costs of shovels, snow melt, etc. 

What else does Councilor Edwards hope to achieve besides clear sidewalks? 

“Community connection,” Edwards said. “I hope that this will provide a vehicle for residents to engage and invest in their neighborhood but also cultivate long-lasting relationships between neighbors for generations to come.” 

Snow Angels must be 18-years-old and up, reside in the district, and are volunteering at their own risk. 

In order to be eligible for the service, you or someone you know must be an elderly or disabled resident of Charlestown, East Boston, or the North End. Snow Angel services are for residential properties only. 

To sign-up for the service or to become a Snow Angel, please call (617) 635-3200 or e-mail gabriela.coletta@boston.gov with your name, age, address, and telephone number. 

Source: Office of City Councilor Lydia Edwards 

City Councilor-Elect Lydia Edwards Hires Staff to Start January 2018

NorthEndWaterfront.com has the news: City Councilor-Elect Lydia Edwards Hires Staff to Start January 2018

Overview of the results from District 1 Boston City Council

Lydia Edwards wins East Boston; Challenges Opponent to Debates Across District

BOSTON (10/1/2016) —Lydia Edwards, Boston city council candidate to represent East Boston, Charlestown and the North End/Waterfront, today challenged Stephen Passacantilli to a series of debates throughout the district ahead of the November 7th general election.

“I am thrilled with the response of voters,” said Edwards. “Our communities are at a pivotal moment. My opponent and I have different perspectives on how to move the city forward and a substantive discussion on the issues facing this district is necessary.

“I look forward to highlighting those distinctions and therefore I challenge my opponent to debates in all three neighborhoods,” says Edwards. 

Edwards, a public interest attorney and community advocate, is no stranger to public service. She has spent her career fighting for women and working families. In her role as the Deputy Director of the city’s new Office of Housing Stability, she found innovative solutions to mitigating Boston’s housing crisis and stood up for vulnerable members of our community by co-founding East Boston’s community soup kitchen.

Lydia promises to bring a bold, independent voice with a fresh perspective to City Hall and her top priorities include ensuring pathways to homeownership for all residents, quality public schools for local families, responsible community-driven development, and reliable transportation.

Edwards is a resident of East Boston with her husband, Rogerio, a licensed electrician and small business owner.

The general election will take place on Tuesday November, 7th. For more information please visit: www.lydiaedwards.org.
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Source: Edwards Campaign

Political News: Local Resident to Run Passacantilli Campaign

NORTH END – Stephen Passacantilli, a North End civic leader, Boston Public Schools parent, and former staffer to City Councilor Sal LaMattina has hired lifelong North End resident Haley Renda to run his campaign for Boston City Council.  Passacantilli is running for District 1 City Councilor, which includes East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End.


Haley Renda grew up in the North End and is a graduate of Boston Latin School and Tulane University.  Prior to being hired to run the Passacantilli campaign, Renda worked with non-profits in Boston and New Orleans.  She spent time working on issues of substance abuse and recovery at the Gavin Foundation in South Boston and fighting human trafficking at the Eden House.  Renda was also an active volunteer with the Women's Action Group.


Passacantilli said, "I'm excited to have Haley Renda running my campaign for Boston City Council.  Haley has done incredible things in her life, and I'm looking forward to working with her to talk about our shared vision for District 1.  From increasing access to parks, open space, and the waterfront, to expanding the ability to attend great schools close to home, and standing up for our seniors, I know that we are going tobe able to get things done for District 1 by working together."

"I've known Stephen Passacantilli since I was a kid, and I've seen how much he's done for our community and Boston as a whole," said Renda.  "When Stephen reached out to me, I was excited to work with someone so committed to helping people and a proven record of success."


Many know Passacantilli from his years of public service across Boston. He is a lifelong resident of the North End where he has been deeply involved as past president of his local civic association and through local charities and community organizations like North End Against Drugs (NEAD) and the North End Beautification Committee. Passacantilli is also an active Boston Public Schools parent and serves on the Board of the Gavin Foundation.


Passacantilli and his wife, Renee, are raising their two children, Grace and Evan, just around the corner where he grew up in the North End.

Source: Passacantilli campaign 7/10/2017

East Boston News: DiCara to discuss his book on June 9

He's a smart guy even though he may be right a little more than half the time!
East Boston News: DiCara to discuss his book on June 9