Boston

Push to Remove Racist Names Draws Support—And Backlash

"We need to have this conversation."

  • By Marsha Mercer, Stateline

D.C.'s Transit System Won't Fully Restart Service Until Next Spring

A phased recovery plan for the Metro system in the Washington, D.C. area doesn't envision a quick return to normal levels of service. Across the country, transit agencies are figuring out how to balance safety and service.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Cities Rush to Respond as Homelessness and Coronavirus Collide

Homeless people are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. Cities are working to implement protective measures, often with no idea how they'll pay for it.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Cities and States Look to Tap More Tax Revenue From Expensive Real Estate Sales

“It basically allows for luxury housing to pay for affordable housing,” said a Boston city council member describing a "transfer" tax proposal there.

  • By Bill Lucia

How One City Saved $5 Million by Routing School Buses with an Algorithm

The Boston Public School District held a contest to determine the best solution for busing around 25,000 students to school every day. The winning algorithm improved the efficiency of the routes in 30 minutes.

  • By Emma Coleman

The Utter Inadequacy of America’s Efforts to Desegregate Schools

In 1966, a group of Boston-area parents and administrators created a busing program called METCO to help desegregate schools. They thought of it as a quick fix to a passing problem. But the problem hasn’t passed, and METCO isn’t enough to fix it.

  • By Alana Semuels, The Atlantic

General Electric to Pay Back State Incentives After Backtracking on New Headquarters

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Ann Arbor dioxane plume … Norfolk’s recycling quandary … and the Bay Area’s new managed toll lane agreement.

  • By Michael Grass

Boston Looks to Shore Up Its Harbor Against Flooding in 2019

The city wants a $10 million federal grant to make its coastline more resilient ahead of disasters.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Verizon Extending Fiber Network to Every Boston Neighborhood

The move will pave the way for an unscheduled 5G rollout, though the telecom giant was mum on any city concessions in the new agreement.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

A New Approach for Families Experiencing Homelessness In Boston

2018 NAVIGATOR AWARD WINNER: Annissa Essaibi-George, Boston City Councilor, City of Boston, Massachusetts.

  • By Mitch Herckis

'Living With Water': Facing Climate Change, Cities Trade Sea Walls for Parks

City planners now say they are increasingly turning to methods aligned with the Dutch concept of “living with water.” Instead of resisting water, cities are channeling it to where they want it to go.

  • By Rebecca Beitsch

Mayors More Likely to Perceive Discrimination Nationally than Locally, Report Says

The survey, released by the National League of Cities, is based on interviews with 115 mayors from 39 states.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

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‘Troubling’ Findings on Who Speaks Up About Housing Development

New research highlights concerns that local officials are hearing a narrow subset of views at public meetings.

  • By Bill Lucia

In and Around Boston, the Green Line Gets Many Green Lights

The MBTA’s new GLX project will connect to America’s oldest subway line and surface corridors seeing major investments in transit-priority signals. Here’s what’s underway.

  • By Michael Grass

Boston Tightens Regulatory Screws on Airbnb

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | San Francisco mayor’s election is resolved … St. Louis airport privatization … Alaska governor uses line-item veto … and a “funny looking” but dangerous foam in Michigan.

  • By Michael Grass

Federal Immigration Reform Could Boost Boston’s Economy

The city faces a potential labor shortage in key industries it’s typically filled with immigrants.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Coastal Flooding Likely to Continue Breaking Records

High-tide flooding happens twice as often in coastal areas as it did 30 years ago due to rising sea levels, according to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Study Casts Doubt on Feasibility of Boston’s Proposed Flood Barrier

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Virginia on path to expand Medicaid ... another jail torture lawsuit in Utah … Georgia governor talks up Atlanta’s Amazon HQ2 bid.

  • By Michael Grass

Boston Officials Propose 'A Better Deal' for Public Housing

The proposal plans to reinvest in public housing and the 2.2 million lowest-income seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and other individuals who live in public housing.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

5 U.S. Cities Named Finalists for Engaged Cities Award

These localities have done “significant work with citizens to tackle a public problem, clear evidence of impact, and potential to apply the strategy to other problems and geographies.”

  • By Michael Grass

Low-Lying Boston’s Frigid Flood Risk Reminder

A powerful Nor’easter storm brought some of the highest tides on record to Massachusetts—and they’re a taste of what’s to come.

  • By Michael Grass