Policy Deep Dives
Local government impacts your daily life more than any other level of leadership—from the timing of the traffic lights on Main Street to the long-term sustainability of our parks. However, the "why" behind these decisions often gets buried in 400-page agenda packets and dense legislative jargon.
We’re determined to change that.
The Deep Dive series is our Office’s resource for breaking down complex municipal concepts into clear, actionable information.
We believe that a well-informed community is a powerful one. Here, we peel back the layers of city governance to show you how the gears turn and, more importantly, how you can help steer them.
When you understand the framework of a policy, you are no longer just a spectator; you become a partner in the process. These deep dives are designed to empower you with the context needed to provide informed feedback, ask the right questions at town halls, and advocate for the future you want to see.
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Get the Scoop: Rent Control vs. Rent Stabilization
In this Deep Dive we’re breaking down the facts on rent stabilization versus rent control, the proof that reform works, and how this strategy pairs with our other housing goals.
Why we need to end parking minimums
We know there is no single fix for the housing crisis, but we need every tool in our toolbox to address the invisible, outdated rules that are quietly driving up rents and stalling progress.
One of those tools is addressing an outdated 1950s-era rule known as Parking Minimums.
In this deep dive, we’re breaking down the hidden costs of parking minimums, proof that reform works, and the key takeaways from our recent hearing.
Legalize Triple-Deckers
Triple-deckers are a part of Boston’s fabric, and today I want to share a deeper dive into their history, critical issues with our city's current zoning code that actually make even existing triple-deckers illegal, and the immense importance of fixing our zoning code.
Boston Needs ADUs
Today, I want to share a deeper dive into ADUs: their immense potential to address our housing shortage, the critical issues with our city's current zoning code that make building them so difficult, and the importance of fixing our zoning code so that homeowners can more easily create these flexible, low-cost homes.
Unpacking Mixed-Income Social Housing
In Boston, the disparities are stark: your zip code can determine your life span. A resident of Back Bay has an average life expectancy of 92 years, while just two miles away in Roxbury—a community shaped by the historic injustice of redlining—it's only 69.
This is the tangible harm of socioeconomic segregation.
To heal this divide, we need solutions as bold as the problem is severe. While tackling this crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, today I want to focus on one solution with transformative potential: mixed-income social housing.