BOSTON (July 6, 2020) - Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards has filed a proposed amendment to Boston’s city charter that would give the Boston City Council budgetary powers equal to those of the mayor.
The historic proposal was filed under a provision in state law that allows local elected officials to propose amendments to city charters which has never been used before.
“I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few weeks thinking about how to answer the calls for systemic change and investment in our future,” said Councilor Edwards. “An annual up or down vote alone on the mayor’s budget cannot bring about the long term change that is needed and that people are calling for. That change will not come from any one vote or annual budget. It’s time to break the wheel of Boston’s budget making process. This will take time, research, negotiations, and sustained conversations about what we want to invest in as a city. Until we change the budget process, we don’t have an opportunity
to have those conversations in a meaningful way.”
The proposed amendment specifically targets the budgetary powers of the City and is separate from the complete charter reform Edwards proposed earlier this year. "Boston can move forward on specific reforms to our budgetary process even as we pursue a democratic process to examine the entire charter,” added Councilor Edwards. “That process will require much more organizing and eventually candidates will have to run for an opportunity to write the charter. I am still committed to writing a clear, accessible, complete charter but right now people are asking for direct impact and influence on our budget. We can give them that power by modernizing and democratizing the budgetary process and expanding participatory budgeting, which would give residents greater control over portions of the budget."
Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 43B, section 10, subsection (b), a member of the city council may suggest a charter amendment. After a hearing and final vote by the city council the Attorney General must approve the question's constitutionality and then it will be put to the voters to decide in November 2021. This proposal would be the first known charter amendment to be implemented using this process.
If Boston voters approve this amendment next fall, the Boston City Council and the Mayor would share power over the city’s budget. This includes the ability to create proposals for the city’s capital and operating budgets, change line items within the proposals, allocate parts of the budget for a participatory budget process (voter direct allocation), and amend the budget for Boston Public Schools.
Additionally, this change would also give the city council tools to more quickly respond to the need for budget cuts in times of fiscal austerity and allow for public deliberation on what services could or should be reduced without lasting harm. This change also allows for earlier budgetary deliberation should either the Mayor or Council desire to do so.
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The first new police station in ten years, the $29.9 million construction will be located on East Eagle Street
BOSTON - Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Boston police officers and community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new East Boston Police Station on East Eagle Street.
The start of construction on the District A-7 precinct marks a $29.9 million investment in East Boston's community and safety by creating a building to improve the Boston Police Department's operations in the neighborhood, and create a community space. This new police station will be the first complete new station in a decade.
"In Boston, we put our community first, and this new police station is an investment in East Boston, and in public safety," said Mayor Walsh. "This station is our commitment to the next generation. We're dedicated to community policing, and that means interacting with residents, families and youth in a positive way. For our young people, this station is a place where they can learn about a career in law enforcement, join a youth group, or get mentoring. We will continue to invest in our values of trust and community, and create public spaces that help all residents."
As Boston leads in community policing, the city's crime rate is down 25 percent in the last five years. In A-7, major crime is down by 15 percent this year.
"Our officers work hard every day to serve the residents of Boston, creating relationships and ensuring public safety," said Boston Police Commissioner Gross. "I'm proud that my department has won the trust and respect of our residents, and this new building will allow our police officers to do their jobs more effectively, and continue their incredible work and relationships with the East Boston community."
The design and location of the building creates a more efficient 27,000 square foot, three story station, and will be LEED Silver Certified, as part of Mayor Walsh's Climate Action Plan goals.
The new building will include a lobby, front desk and gathering space for the community that holds up to 49 people, a community service office, new fencing, a parking area, pedestrian paths, landscaping, and new site utilities. The station will also contribute to Mayor Walsh's "Percent for Art" program by permanently housing a piece of public art.
The "Percent for Art" program is the City of Boston's five-year commitment to granting $13.4 million to public art pieces over the time-frame. It is a part of the City's cultural plan, Boston Creates, founded in 2016. The allocation of funds for the new police station comes from Mayor Walsh's Capital Plan for fiscal years 2020 to 2024 supported by the Capital Budget.
This is one of several BPD projects that will be funded by the Capital Budget. Public safety and education make up 60 percent of spending in the Capital Plan.
The Boston Police Department and the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department partnered with Leers Weinzapfel Architects and J&J Contractors Inc. to design an efficient and effective, community-oriented police station.
The A-7 police station builds on Mayor Walsh's commitment to investing in community spaces and services for residents in East Boston, and across the city.
In East Boston, Mayor Walsh has dedicated $2.4 million for renovation at Engine 5 for the Boston Fire Department; $8.9 million for the Paris Street swimming pool; $4.8 million for Noyes Park; $1 million for a new senior center at Orient Heights; $3 million for McArdle Bridge; new lights at Memorial Stadium; and resilience upgrades at key points along the waterfront.
Legislation could raise hundreds of millions for affordable housing, deter speculative real estate practices
WHAT: The Boston City Council will hold a hearing TUESDAY, MARCH 19th on housing legislation filed by Councilors Lydia Edwards and Kim Janey to enact a real estate transfer fee on high value, commercial and investor-owned properties. The fee would EXEMPT owner occupants and sales under $2m, conveyances between family members, and allows for additional local exemptions.
A transfer fee of up to 6%, split evenly between buyers and sellers, would generate millions of dollars each year - hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years - for affordable housing to help stabilize communities. All funds would go to the Neighborhood Housing Trust for production of affordable and workforce housing.
The proposal also includes a higher fee on secondary sales, or flipped properties, in an effort to deter practices that destabilize neighborhoods and artificially inflate real estate prices.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend or submit testimony.
WHERE: Iannella Chamber, 5th Floor, Boston City Hall
WHEN: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 19th, 2019
WHO:
· Boston City Councilors
· Representatives of the Walsh administration
· City Life Vida Urbana, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, Institute for Policy Studies, Boston Tenant Coalition, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
