A few weeks ago, I (sort of) joked in this newsletter that if Josh Kraft really wanted to be mayor, he should have stayed and ran in Newton (where he lived for most of his adult life) rather than running in Boston, where he’s only lived since 2023.
On the other hand, long time Boston politician Brian Golden could soon be headed to Newton City Hall.
Allston-born and bred, Golden represented Boston as a state representative from 1999 to 2004 before running the Boston Planning & Development Agency (formerly the BRA) under Mayors Menino and Walsh.
But now Golden is running for Newton City Council.
He hopes to fill the Ward 7 At Large seat being vacated by Marc Laredo, who is running for mayor with no serious competition.
Golden has owned a home in Newton since 2006, something that caused a bit of a kerfuffle a few years ago. His old campaign account reportedly has $27.6K in cash on hand, which should be more than enough given that, so far, he’s unopposed.
Golden does not have a campaign website yet, so we don’t know much about his platform.
But the fact that Golden brings considerable expertise with economic development and working with employers and developers should make him great addition to a council that’s sadly lacking that knowledge now.
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On Jun 27, 2025, at 11:56 AM, David Strati <da...@uniformsforamerica.com> wrote:
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On Jul 16, 2025, at 9:46 PM, 'Eva Webster' via Cleveland Circle Community <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com> wrote:Ben & Chandler - you can’t force the people who live with roommates in free-standing houses into small apartments in new construction buildings. New housing (even small units) is more expansive to rent than what those people pay when they rent apartments in older homes and split rent with roommates.Also, many of the renters who live in free-standing houses LIKE having a porch and/or a yard (it allows them to see greenery outside their windows) and they enjoy access to a basement or attic for storage, not to mention parking. Those homes are also more pet-friendly than a small apartment in a new building. When the dog barks in an apartment building, many more people are disturbed.Additionally, the landlords who own free-standing houses and rent them out to multiple tenants are not likely to invest in renovating those homes in ways that would appeal to families -- and they will continue to charge rents that are too high for most families.Lastly, not all families want to live in free-standing houses – because if both parents work, they don’t have time to take care of the property, and it’s costly to hire maintenance and repair people all the time. They would rather have a larger apartment with a terrace or a private balcony (which developers in A-B rarely build for studios or 1-bedrooms).I think that constructing lots of buildings in A-B with small units is a mistake. Each of those buildings should have a mix of units of different sizes, including large ones that could be rented (or bought) by families, or leased to roommates who need to split high rent to be able to afford it.On 7/16/25, 9:00 PM, "cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of chand...@gmail.com" <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of chand...@gmail.com> wrote:Ben, that’s a very good point. Our lower Allston neighborhood has many houses that would be perfect for families but are occupied by 5+ renters at a time. I’m sure those folks would rather be in smaller groups (or solo) in modern apartments. I think The Link, for example, is very successful, and would like to see more buildings like it on the outskirts of traditional residential neighborhoods, leaving the older housing stock for families.
One ought to strongly disagree with the theory that Boston housing does not fit families. The problem is actually the opposite: most Boston housing is designed for families over 85% of households are 3 people or less.By creating more small units we can work to match the housing stock with the population. The large units aren't going anywhere, but more small households will choose smaller units opening up the larger units for the larger households.Ben Marshall, Personal Email Account
On Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 11:17 AM Chandler R <chand...@gmail.com> wrote:
I am so glad the Globe put this forward as a key issue in the race for mayor. My wife and I have genuinely struggled to stay in the city, especially after our kids were born. Schools were the biggest challenge. We watched dozens of our friends with young children flee to the suburbs as soon as they hit school age. We hang on because cities are great places to raise kids.Last weekend, my brother and his young family were visiting from suburban California. We took them on a tour of lower Allston: down to Artisani Park, then past the playgrounds and ball fields of Smith Field to Sloane's for dinner. We pointed out the new ART under construction, then picked up some milk at Trader Joe's on the way home. My brother couldn't believe it: every stop on that walk would have been a car trip back in the CA suburbs.Cities have old and young, rich and poor, immigrant and local-born, and growing up among that mix teaches our children that every person they meet deserves their respect. Cities are environmentally friendly, culturally and intellectually stimulating, and have great career prospects. Look at London or Edinburgh or Berlin or Vienna -- it's perfectly possible to sustain thriving cities. We just have to make a sharp break with the clumsy bureaucracy and the divisive accusations that keep us from working together effectively.I hope one of these two candidates comes up with a real set of plans to allow Boston families to thrive. I don't know if emphasizing family issues wins votes, but it will certainly help secure Boston's future.Chandler
On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM 'partslar...@aol.com' via Cleveland Circle Community <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Policies by Boston politicians that discouraged the long-term resident to remain in Boston neighborhoods has been a point of concern since the Mayoral reign of Marty Walsh. Mayor Wu simply doubled down on being sure the middle class and families are not part of the demographics.Now you are learning what the rest of the nation understands. Multicultural citizens are no different than white citizens and do not want to live within a forced socialist agenda.When Boston includes family sized apartments with parking in their developments, encourages small private property ownership, improves public schools and stops penalizing businesses then maybe the families will come back.For what it is worth,Michael dePierro
On Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 08:11:20 PM EDT, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com> wrote:
Let’s talk about the families that leave Boston (The Editorial Board, Boston Globe: July 10, 2025)Lamenting the flight of families to the suburbs used to be code for lamenting the loss of white families. But now those families are multiracial. The city needs to keep more of them here.
<GlobeA.jpg>
When so many families choose to raise their kids elsewhere, the city is not the whole communityit should be.Illustrations by John Daly; photo by John Tlumacki/Globe StaffHere’s a number that Josh Kraft and Michelle Wu should focus on in the Boston mayor’s race: 15.2 percent.That’s the percentage of Boston residents who are under 18, according to the census. It’s a low number. The statewide figure is 19.2 percent. The country as a whole is 21.7 percent.What that means is that Boston simply has fewer school-age children, as a percentage of the population, than the communities that surround us.You can see the effects in the schools, where long-term falling enrollment has led to painful downsizing, despite the fact that the city itself has been growing in population. You can see it in the city’s newer apartment buildings, full of studios and one bedrooms.And you can see it if you visit neighboring communities, where children tend to make up a much higher share of the population. In Needham, 28 percent of residents are below 18. In Canton, it’s 22.2 percent. In Milton, it’s 25.7 percent. In Chelsea, it’s 24.5 percent.Boston is a thriving city in many respects. But when so many families choose to raise their kids elsewhere, the city is not the whole community it should be.A decade ago, an article in Commonwealth magazine captured that larger, less tangible impact on the city’s soul. Fewer Scout groups. Fewer Little League teams. Fewer of “all of those other bedrock institutions that cement neighborhoods and create a sense of community.”Some of the decline in the child population is well outside Boston’s control. For families that just want a bigger yard, there’s probably not much Boston can do to compete with the suburbs.Still, Boston’s demographics aren’t inevitable or intrinsic to big cities. As the mayoral race heats up, voters are hearing a lot about bike lanes, White Stadium, and the candidates’ fund-raising. That’s all well and good. But the city has bigger challenges, and opportunities.Over the next few weeks, the Globe editorial board will be posing some of the questions we wish local politicians spent more time discussing — and more energy solving. Start with this one: How can Boston become more family friendly?There was a time, not too long ago, when lamenting the departure of families from Boston was code for lamenting the loss of white families. That may be one of the reasons the slow bleed of families to the suburbs still tends to be talked about gingerly, if at all.But it’s now a much more widespread trend. The city has been losing Black residents, too. Boston Public Schools’ Black enrollment is half what it was two decades ago — though some of those students have gone to charter or parochial schools, rather than outside the city completely.
<Screenshot_12-7-2025_19265_www.bostonglobe.com.jpeg>
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One ought to strongly disagree with the theory that Boston housing does not fit families. The problem is actually the opposite: most Boston housing is designed for families over 85% of households are 3 people or less.By creating more small units we can work to match the housing stock with the population. The large units aren't going anywhere, but more small households will choose smaller units opening up the larger units for the larger households.Ben Marshall, Personal Email Account
On Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 11:17 AM Chandler R <chand...@gmail.com> wrote:
I am so glad the Globe put this forward as a key issue in the race for mayor. My wife and I have genuinely struggled to stay in the city, especially after our kids were born. Schools were the biggest challenge. We watched dozens of our friends with young children flee to the suburbs as soon as they hit school age. We hang on because cities are great places to raise kids.Last weekend, my brother and his young family were visiting from suburban California. We took them on a tour of lower Allston: down to Artisani Park, then past the playgrounds and ball fields of Smith Field to Sloane's for dinner. We pointed out the new ART under construction, then picked up some milk at Trader Joe's on the way home. My brother couldn't believe it: every stop on that walk would have been a car trip back in the CA suburbs.Cities have old and young, rich and poor, immigrant and local-born, and growing up among that mix teaches our children that every person they meet deserves their respect. Cities are environmentally friendly, culturally and intellectually stimulating, and have great career prospects. Look at London or Edinburgh or Berlin or Vienna -- it's perfectly possible to sustain thriving cities. We just have to make a sharp break with the clumsy bureaucracy and the divisive accusations that keep us from working together effectively.I hope one of these two candidates comes up with a real set of plans to allow Boston families to thrive. I don't know if emphasizing family issues wins votes, but it will certainly help secure Boston's future.Chandler
On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM 'partslar...@aol.com' via Cleveland Circle Community <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Policies by Boston politicians that discouraged the long-term resident to remain in Boston neighborhoods has been a point of concern since the Mayoral reign of Marty Walsh. Mayor Wu simply doubled down on being sure the middle class and families are not part of the demographics.Now you are learning what the rest of the nation understands. Multicultural citizens are no different than white citizens and do not want to live within a forced socialist agenda.When Boston includes family sized apartments with parking in their developments, encourages small private property ownership, improves public schools and stops penalizing businesses then maybe the families will come back.For what it is worth,Michael dePierro
On Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 08:11:20 PM EDT, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com> wrote:
Let’s talk about the families that leave Boston (The Editorial Board, Boston Globe: July 10, 2025)
Lamenting the flight of families to the suburbs used to be code for lamenting the loss of white families. But now those families are multiracial. The city needs to keep more of them here.
<GlobeA.jpg>
When so many families choose to raise their kids elsewhere, the city is not the whole communityit should be.Illustrations by John Daly; photo by John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Here’s a number that Josh Kraft and Michelle Wu should focus on in the Boston mayor’s race: 15.2 percent.
That’s the percentage of Boston residents who are under 18, according to the census. It’s a low number. The statewide figure is 19.2 percent. The country as a whole is 21.7 percent.
What that means is that Boston simply has fewer school-age children, as a percentage of the population, than the communities that surround us.
You can see the effects in the schools, where long-term falling enrollment has led to painful downsizing, despite the fact that the city itself has been growing in population. You can see it in the city’s newer apartment buildings, full of studios and one bedrooms.
And you can see it if you visit neighboring communities, where children tend to make up a much higher share of the population. In Needham, 28 percent of residents are below 18. In Canton, it’s 22.2 percent. In Milton, it’s 25.7 percent. In Chelsea, it’s 24.5 percent.
Boston is a thriving city in many respects. But when so many families choose to raise their kids elsewhere, the city is not the whole community it should be.
A decade ago, an article in Commonwealth magazine captured that larger, less tangible impact on the city’s soul. Fewer Scout groups. Fewer Little League teams. Fewer of “all of those other bedrock institutions that cement neighborhoods and create a sense of community.”
Some of the decline in the child population is well outside Boston’s control. For families that just want a bigger yard, there’s probably not much Boston can do to compete with the suburbs.
Still, Boston’s demographics aren’t inevitable or intrinsic to big cities. As the mayoral race heats up, voters are hearing a lot about bike lanes, White Stadium, and the candidates’ fund-raising. That’s all well and good. But the city has bigger challenges, and opportunities.
Over the next few weeks, the Globe editorial board will be posing some of the questions we wish local politicians spent more time discussing — and more energy solving. Start with this one: How can Boston become more family friendly?
There was a time, not too long ago, when lamenting the departure of families from Boston was code for lamenting the loss of white families. That may be one of the reasons the slow bleed of families to the suburbs still tends to be talked about gingerly, if at all.
But it’s now a much more widespread trend. The city has been losing Black residents, too. Boston Public Schools’ Black enrollment is half what it was two decades ago — though some of those students have gone to charter or parochial schools, rather than outside the city completely.
<Screenshot_12-7-2025_19265_www.bostonglobe.com.jpeg>
Ben & Chandler - you can’t force the people who live with roommates in free-standing houses into small apartments in new construction buildings. New housing (even small units) is more expansive to rent than what those people pay when they rent apartments in older homes and split rent with roommates.
Also, many of the renters who live in free-standing houses LIKE having a porch and/or a yard (it allows them to see greenery outside their windows) and they enjoy access to a basement or attic for storage, not to mention parking. Those homes are also more pet-friendly than a small apartment in a new building. When the dog barks in an apartment building, many more people are disturbed.
Additionally, the landlords who own free-standing houses and rent them out to multiple tenants are not likely to invest in renovating those homes in ways that would appeal to families -- and they will continue to charge rents that are too high for most families.
Lastly, not all families want to live in free-standing houses – because if both parents work, they don’t have time to take care of the property, and it’s costly to hire maintenance and repair people all the time. They would rather have a larger apartment with a terrace or a private balcony (which developers in A-B rarely build for studios or 1-bedrooms).
I think that constructing lots of buildings in A-B with small units is a mistake. Each of those buildings should have a mix of units of different sizes, including large ones that could be rented (or bought) by families, or leased to roommates who need to split high rent to be able to afford it.
On 7/16/25, 9:00 PM, "cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of chand...@gmail.com" <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of chand...@gmail.com> wrote:
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cleveland-circle-community/80AF9617-2145-468B-B647-A9F28F608C57%40gmail.com.
On 7/16/25, 10:04 PM, "Andrew Fischer" <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of andrewm...@gmail.com> wrote:
Eva
No one is suggesting anyone force anyone to small apartments. Young singles prefer the amenities of new small units because of the amenities. If you build it they will come.
Andrew, what makes you, Ben and Chandler think that the young people who are happy to rent in free-standing houses would all move to new studios or one-bedroom apartments in newly constructed buildings?
We have had many such buildings built in A-B in recent years, and free-standing rental houses remain popular among childless young renters.
I can’t prove it, but I have a gut feeling there are many new apartments that sit vacant, but not many free-standing houses remain unoccupied (unless they’re awaiting a renovation).
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Mike, that’s so interesting about the lead paint laws. Thanks for explaining that. But that wouldn’t keep a family from buying a single-family house if it came on the market, right? Or do sellers have to delead before selling?
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On Jul 17, 2025, at 09:56, Michael DeMarco <michael...@gmail.com> wrote:
Any possibility of using the Mt. St Joseph site? It appears empty. There is ample parking and it is on a bus route.
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To: cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com>, AllstonBrighton2006 <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, Brighton Allston Community Coalition <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Brighton Allston Community Coalition] Veronica B Smith Multi Services Senior Center Renovation Project Update
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Jake Haendel never thought much about how hard it is to get around in Boston until 2017, when he wasdiagnosed with a brain disease that left him reliant on a motorized scooter. Haendel now notices mobility challenges right in the open, scattered across miles of Boston sidewalks.
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On Jul 21, 2025, at 4:06 PM, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com> wrote:
Walking, cycling, public transit and driving can work well together if the framework is one of accessibility and efficiency rather than one of political expediency.
On 7/21/25, 4:58 PM, "Andrew Fischer" <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com on behalf of andrewm...@gmail.com> wrote:
Well said, Tony.
Thank you.
Andrew, you have made it clear many times that you’re a part of the cyclists’ lobby. That lobby has been very successful by engaging politically in order to achieve its objectives. We see the results everywhere.
As we all know, the losers in this game have been pedestrians and drivers in Boston because their needs have been largely neglected or entirely ignored (as the terrible conditions in Cleveland Circle, or example, perfectly illustrate).
The City has limited resources to spend on traffic improvements and sidewalk & road maintenance (and now, we learned, there is an $800 million backlog, while money is very tight). So why has a disproportionate amount of limited resources been allocated to the mode of transportation that is used by the smallest segment of street/road users?
We also know that citizens who have been calling for ensuring efficiency of vehicular traffic and availability of parking (the latter is especially important to families, seniors, and people who live in free-standing homes) have been routinely silenced – thanks to the efforts by the cyclists’ lobby.
So while Tony’s statement makes sense, I’m puzzled by you concurring with it – because I have never heard you acknowledged that human beings who drive also have needs that should not be routinely disregarded.
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Hello Everyone,
Obviously, we must have exceeded our BCYF programming budget again!
Tony
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