The South End Landmark District Commission (SELDC) held its second virtual hearing this month via Zoom on May 11, where no very large projects were on the docket. Most had to do with facade changes or roof deck proposals for…
Massachusetts Weekly Unemployment Claimant Data
From May 3 to May 9, Massachusetts had 44,274 individuals file an initial claim for standard Unemployment Insurance (UI), a decrease of 10,949 over the previous week, and the sixth consecutive week of fewer initial claims filing over the previous…
Capt. David Ramsay Was an Elite Fighter Pilot in the Air Force: Only the 47th African American to Graduate from West Point in 1964
Ramsay Park might be better known for its basketball courts and recently-renovated playground areas in the South End, but the namesake of the park is a man whose shadow looms large on a day like Memorial Day. Capt. David Ramsay…
Kicking off a Campaign from the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Fight
State Rep. Jon Santiago this week finds himself continuing to care for patients on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, while at the same time making the ballot and kicking off his re-election campaign to the State Legislature –…
Boston Water Sales Drop Substantially as City Comes to Standstill: MWRA Reduces Rates Significantly for Water, Sewer Base
There seems to be no end to the secondary effects of the COVID-19 virus, and now City officials are at a loss to figure out why water sales for home and commercial ratepayers are down – particularly for Boston. The…
Rates, Cases and Testing Stay Steady and Low in the Downtown
Little has changed and rates and testing remains very encouraging for the downtown neighborhoods, as they display some of the lowest rates of infection in the city outside of the larger homeless population that is buoying up rates and cases…
COVID Relief Coalition Offers Pro Bono Legal Work to State’s Small Business and Nonprofits
A local lawyer has joined a number of fellow attorneys to provide pro bono work to the state’s small businesses and nonprofits in the age of COVID-19. Christian Westra, an attorney with the Ropes & Gray and a Charles River…
SELDC Approves New 566 Columbus Ave. Building in Concept, Remands Details to Subcommittee
The Harriet Tubman House project at 566 Columbus Ave. was back before the South End Landmark District Commission (SELDC) at a virtual hearing on May 18 after being continued from the May 5 hearing. The project was approved in concept…
BBAC Holds First Virtual Hearing on May 13
The Back Bay Architectural Commission (BBAC) met virtually for the first time on May 13, where project proponents were able to remotely present their proposals via Zoom. 545 Boylston St. At 545 Boylston St, applicant Kathryn Lampes proposed an extension…
Parks Parcel Priority Plan Survey Now Underway
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is encouraging park users and open space advocates to take part in the City of Boston’s new Parcel Priority Plan (PPP) using an online survey. The survey results will be used in developing the…
City Council Holds Hearing on Language Access During COVID-19 Pandemic
The City Council Committee on Civil Rights held a hearing on May 15 regarding language ac-cess and information parity during the COVID-19 outbreak. This was the first time a Boston City Council hearing was available in languages other than English.…
Rep. Livingstone Holds First Virtual Office Hours
State Rep. Jay Livingstone connected with constituents during his first virtual office hours last Thursday, May 14. The virtual office hours drew around 12 to 14 participants from Beacon Hill, the West End, Back Bay and Cambridgeport. But unlike his…