Seven local Boston environmental groups—Boston Clean Energy Coalition; Boston Climate Action Network; BYO Bag Boston; GreeningRozzie; Mothers Out Front, Boston; Resist the Pipeline; West Roxbury Saves Energy—asked candidates for City Council (including uncontested incumbents) and mayor to respond Yes/No (comments optional) to seven questions about issues currently before Boston. Responses received appear below, following each question. We did not embark on this effort for endorsement purposes, but rather to gauge the level of support from individual candidates for initiatives we deem crucial to Boston’s future.
Although we asked responses to be returned prior to the Preliminary on Sept. 26, some responses are still trickling in, so check back here periodically; we will continue to add them as received.
1) RECYCLING. Boston’s recycling rate falls below the national average, and both cultural and system-wide changes need to be made to improve our recycling performance. While increased education about single-stream recycling in the neighborhoods led to some improvements, we need to do more. The implementation of Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) policies in more than 145 other cities and towns in Massachusetts has been highly successful in reducing trash, encouraging recycling, and saving money while doing so.
QUESTION: Would you support efforts to increase recycling rates in Boston such as Pay-As-You-Throw or other strategies to reduce trash, increase recycling, and save money?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “I will support efforts to increase recycling rates. I would also encourage public-private partnerships in the area of textile recycling. We know that Massachusetts residents and businesses dispose approximately 230,000 tons of textiles annually (Commonwealth of MA). We would partner with retailers to increase “take-back” programs, non-profit-partners to increase reuse programs, partner with local colleges and universities on reuse initiatives, and lead by holding freecycles in city spaces (schools, libraries, city hall) for the general public and city employees. In terms of PAYT we would need to make sure not to unduly burden low-income residents. In a Jackson administration no policy will disproportionately impact any group—especially those most marginalized by race, gender, socioeconomic status, documentation status, dis/ability, and/or other factors.”
Mayor Walsh: Did not indicate Yes or No; “We have done our best to make it easy for residents to recycle, from continuing our single-stream recycling program, to providing free large recycling bins to residents, to allowing residents to convert a trash can into a recycling bin with the use of a sticker. There is still work to do, and it is mainly around educating our residents about the benefits of recycling and continuing to raise awareness about how easy it is to recycle. Earlier this year, the Public Works and Environment Department convened experts from around the nation to help us make progress on this important issue. As part of our Zero Waste Plan that will commence this fall, we will continue to look at other cities across the country who have higher recycling rates and see what they are doing well that can be adapted to Boston. We also need to lead by example, so I’ve directed our Department of Public Facilities to increase our recycling rates at City buildings and provide our janitorial staff additional training to ensure we recycle as much as we can. I am committed to increasing recycling rates in Boston by utilizing the approaches which best match the opportunities and challenges we face. I do not believe pay-as-you-throw is currently a viable solution for Boston, where residents of all economic means must have assured access to curbside pickup of residential trash and recycling for reasons of both public health and basic fairness. However, I am open and will continue to remain open to all Boston-appropriate recycling strategies as we move forward. Sustainable improvements in recycling rates can be built upon incremental improvements that build confidence in recycling and the green economy. The importance of consensus and community buy-in was starkly underlined by Boston’s initial attempts to kickstart urban agriculture—efforts which were significantly derailed by community push-back. We need a multi-class, multi-ethnic, multi-sector shift towards recycling, and I look forward to building the movement through a multi-tiered approach including infrastructure modernization, public education, local job creation, and innovative reuse and upcycling of materials for public projects.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “By increasing the rate more people would be forced to recycle, increasing refunds on cans and bottles more people would recycle too, all public buildings including school should recycle all recyclable materials as part of operations.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: No; “I strongly support efforts to increase recycling, reduce waste, and promote sustainability in the City of Boston. Right now, the greatest need for increased recycling efforts is with large commercial entities. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the City Council to ensure that all large buildings and companies doing business in Boston are recycling. Furthermore, more can be done in the Boston Public Schools. When I was teaching in BPS, I used to bring in my own recycling bin to get students to recycle. Not only is the scale in our public schools massive, but promoting recycling with young people helps teach behavior that will last a lifetime. I have concerns specific to “Pay-As-You-Throw” and don’t think it is the right fit for Boston.”
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes; “But no on Pay As You Throw. This would be a burden on middle-class homeowners.”
William King: Yes; “I would support a partial unit pricing model.”
Ayanna Pressley: Yes; “Increasing recycling is an important aspect of a zero-waste policy, and I believe that education and opportunity to recycle are the two best solutions to increasing any community’s recycling rate. Many neighborhoods in Boston lack comprehensive access to recycling, and over the next ten years, I would like to see a few solutions in this space. Since 2014, Councilor Matt O’Malley and I have partnered on hearing orders aimed at studying the feasibility and advocating for the implementation of curbside composting in the City of Boston. There are currently private companies filling the gap with commercial and residential clients who are willing to pay for composting services. The City can do more to encourage and educate residents and businesses about the benefits of composting, and to encourage participation through a citywide program. And as we continue to have discussions about this program, there is low hanging fruit such as increasing recycling within City of Boston buildings and departments. During the FY18 Budget hearing process, we worked collaboratively with the administration to ensure that every Boston Public School has access to recycling services and that within City Hall itself, we have designated recycling captains in charge of increase the recycle rate for each department. While the generation of municipal waste is a pressing issue, many residents of Boston are faced with innumerable financial challenges, stemming from living in a city that ranks near or at the top of every national ranking of income inequality. Although I wholeheartedly support efforts to reduce waste and encourage recycling, I cannot support asking households in struggling communities in Boston to pay an additional fee to dispose of their garbage.”
Michelle Wu: Yes; “Co-authored a hearing order in partnership with Councilor Flaherty on efforts within City Hall and held a hearing that led to implementation of recycling initiatives more quickly in the building. Very supportive of changing the culture throughout Boston to increase the recycling rate.”
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes; “I support comprehensive zero waste planning to divert waste from incineration and landfills, reduce emissions and create local green jobs in recycling.”
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes; “Yes, however, I would want to ensure that all residents of Boston have access to municipal trash removal. If there is a uniform fee for trash removal among all residents, then we run the risk of penalizing lower income communities, or creating a health and safety risk for residents who cannot afford the cost. I want to understand the policy more to ensure it is equitable for all residents regardless of income.”
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes
District 5
Tim McCarthy: No; “As City Councilor, I support efforts to increase recycling rates in Boston. However, I don’t think implementing PAYT is the right strategy for Boston.”
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I would support efforts to increase recycling efforts in Boston. We are not collectively doing as much as we should in terms of curbing waste and creating recycling and composting opportunities. Our neighbors in Cambridge and in many other major cities are taking the lead, and Boston should be right up alongside them in reducing our waste impact. Approximately 40% of cities and towns in MA have already seen success through incorporating PAYT. If they could reduce waste by between 25 and 50%, I can only imagine the volumes of waste that would be reduced by a city the size of Boston. My parents have been a great example to my family; they recycle daily and have a home composting system. I have in turn done the same. These habits start at home. We need to educate adults within Boston and kids too through schools. Greater change will occur if we are all more mindful of our choices and their effects on the environment.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: No; “While I support efforts to reduce waste and increase participation in our recycling program, I don’t believe that Pay-As-You-Throw is the right strategy for Boston to reach our sustainability goals.”
2) SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS. More than 60 towns and cities in Massachusetts have already banned single-use plastic bags. Plastic bags are made from fossil fuels, so they contribute to our dependence on petroleum. They are a major litter problem, thanks especially to their aerodynamic qualities. They are used on average for 12 minutes before disposal, where they live nearly forever in our landfills since they are rarely recycled or reused. Plastic bags handed out by stores are not free; their cost is passed along to shoppers.
Question: Do you support the City Council’s plastic bag ban ordinance (docket #17-19), which prohibits giving out checkout bags at the point of sale that are not reusable bags of designated materials or plastic of at least 3.0 mil in thickness without charging a fee of $.05 per bag, to be retained by the store?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “Yes, I am on record in support of plastic bag ban ordinance. We know that around 20 tons of plastic bags are removed from trash annually, and it would be irresponsible not to support a ban. I will work with the Boston Public Schools and all city agencies to ensure procurement contracts include sustainable alternatives to plastics.”
Mayor Walsh: Did not indicate Yes or No; “Bringing safe and recyclable containers to scale is a smart choice for Boston. However, we need to be careful about how such a policy impacts our residents. I recently opposed the ordinance that would charge residents for plastic shopping bags, because this placed a disproportionate burden on our most economically vulnerable residents. I would support a strategic, phased implementation of safer materials that moves toward a comprehensive implementation, but this must be done in consultation with our retail community and must not further impact or disadvantage our vulnerable populations.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “When you drive in the inner city the bags are all over the streets, this would be a way to help keep the city clean.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes; “Councilor Matt O’Malley has been a champion for environmental issues on the City Council, and I look to his leadership on issues of sustainability. I support this ordinance, and upon its passage, I will work collaboratively to ensure that its implementation is done in a manner that doesn’t adversely impact our elderly, people on fixed incomes, or small businesses.”
Michael Flaherty: Yes; “As the Chair of the Committee on Government Operations (the Committee in which the proposal is in), I have held fair and transparent public meetings on the matter which addresses concerns from proponents and opponents. To continue, in my role as Chair, to be objective, I am still receiving comments on the proposal and am withholding my final judgement until I bring the matter to the Council floor for a vote.”
Althea Garrison: No
William King: Yes
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes; “Yes, however, I also want to be sure that when implementing this measure we are being sensitive to the impact on low income families. I fully support that decreasing the use of plastics. They gum up our waste streams, and draw on petroleum, a non-renewable resource. I would be in favor of a net positive solution to plastics, understanding that even paper can have a negative effect on our environment, is resource intensive, especially if sourced unsustainably.”
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes; “I’m proud to have co-sponsored this ordinance with Council President Michelle Wu and will continue to push for swift passage.”
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “The plastic bag ban ordinance is well overdue. For the better part of the last decade, a large percentage of our population has been exposed to the idea of bringing reusable bags when shopping. Should one forget to bring one’s own bag, there is room in the ordinance for a store to have approved bags on hand for sale (note: I suggest that for the first year the pricing should be limited to wholesale cost). I support immediately moving forward with this ordinance to reduce the City’s waste disposal, as well as the prevalence of plastic bags that litter our parks and streets.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Did not indicate Yes or No; “I support a statewide plastic bag ban (S. 424).”
3) COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY (CCE). The City of Boston has the authority to decide where our energy comes from. By adopting CCE, Boston would benefit from the power of bulk purchasing for its residents and choose to buy more renewable electricity without increasing costs and—as evidenced in the more than 150 municipalities in Massachusetts who have already adopted municipal aggregation plans—in many cases decreasing costs.
Question: Do you support Boston’s aggregation of the electricity load of the residents and businesses in the City according to the process outlines by state law and including the solicitation of bids for a default aggregation of at least 5% Class I renewables sourcing above the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), per the City Council hearing authorization order filed Aug. 2 (docket #1063)?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “I supported the ordinance to implement CCE, it has proven to be a successful strategy for reducing fossil fuel consumption, and by focusing on local renewable energy sources, it can stimulate job growth in the green economy.”
Mayor Walsh: did not indicate Yes or No; “I am committed to lowering energy costs for our residents and incorporating more renewable energy in our delivery system. I am supportive of solutions that help us achieve those goals, and we will continue to evaluate tools like Community Choice Aggregation to see if they can move us in the right direction.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “Today’s technology on renewable energy can produce power at double the rate 10 years ago.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes
William King: Skipped this question
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes; “I’m proud to have co-sponsored this ordinance with Council President Michelle Wu and will continue to push for swift passage.”
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I fully support adopting CCE. We need to make strategic long-term energy decisions that focus on renewables. Additionally, we need to promote new construction that is built with plans to rely on renewable energies. This is a decision that we make not only for ourselves but for future generations. Let’s be on the right side of this movement.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Yes
4) FOSSIL-FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE. The City of Boston is committed to being carbon-neutral by 2050. At the same time, more than 70 million square feet of new development is on the books, almost all of which is slated to be fueled by “natural” gas, a fossil fuel. New gas pipelines will be built to serve the new developments, and this infrastructure will exist and be used for 40 or 50 years. We do not see how these new gas pipelines, which will increase Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions exponentially in the decades between now and 2050, can coexist with the stated goal of being carbon free by 2050.
QUESTION: Would you join us in supporting renewable energy sources over fossil-fuel infrastructure when possible in order to combat climate change and meet Boston’s carbon-free goals?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “I spoke in favor of the resolution calling on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to divest all of its assets from fossil fuels, and I opposed gas pipeline projects in West Roxbury and the Back Bay.”
Mayor Walsh: did not indicate Yes or No; “I have publicly committed that Boston will uphold our commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement, and in that spirit, we are doubling down on our efforts to reduce emissions 25 percent by 2020 and to become carbon neutral by 2050. Within the City of Boston, we have ample opportunities to cut greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and renewable power, and, in my second term, I plan to continue the great work we have already put in place to achieve our goal of 25 percent reduced emissions by 2020. There are four main categories of work we are doing that will help us reach this goal: improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings in Boston by requiring green building standards in public zones and requiring all large-scale projects to meet federal energy efficiency standards; reducing emissions through transportation changes by encouraging more Bostonians to walk or bike to work and by reducing the number and length of commutes by creating more jobs closer to where Bostonians live; conserving energy by supporting Renew Boston, a program that connects residents to incentives and no-cost energy efficiency upgrades, resulting in more efficient homes and cost-savings on utility bills down the road and by implementing the Renew Boston Trust, a program for our municipal buildings wherein a vendor will guarantee that energy efficiency cost savings will exceed any financing or construction costs, which will help to green our buildings while generating cost savings for our taxpayers; and reducing solid waste through our Public Works Department and our Zero Waste Plan, including initiatives to increase composting, leaf and yard waste collection, and paint swaps and drop-offs. We are looking to add renewables to municipal facilities and will use tools like the Renew Boston Trust to ensure that we balance our energy portfolio with sound fiscal practices that do not leave the taxpayers on the hook.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “We have to help stop killing our planet.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes
William King: Yes
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes; “I believe we must build for the future, which means a Boston that is both renewable and affordable for all residents and with a sufficient housing supply to welcome our growing community. I will continue to work with advocates on strategies to achieve all ends.”
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I agree that we should plan for our reliance on renewables versus fossil fuels. Additionally, we have many examples of gas leaks (small and large) across Boston. I’ve personally experienced this near my home and in my local park. Constructing new gas lines will only add to the possibility for gas leaks which in turn negatively impacts resident wallets and the environment that we all share.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Yes
5) BOSTON NET-ZERO-CARBON STRATEGIC PLAN. The built environment is responsible for at least 50% of greenhouse gas emissions, and in Boston some estimates put the number at 82%. The City is currently engaged in numerous planning processes that pertain to the Mayor’s commitment to be a carbon-neutral city by 2050, but no overarching roadmap exists that comprehensively and cohesively ties these disparate efforts at planning together into an implementation strategy.
Question: Do you support the effort to create a comprehensive Strategic Plan to make all new Boston buildings net-zero-carbon, per the City Council hearing order filed Aug. 2 (docket # 1062), which calls for developing net-zero-carbon requirements and incentives for future construction?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “Yes, I spoke on the Council floor in support of this hearing order and I believe an implementation plan is essential in order to achieve net-zero goals.”
Mayor Walsh: did not indicate Yes or No; “We are very proud that this year, for the third time in a row, Boston was named the most energy-efficient metropolis in the country by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. We were specifically awarded points for our efforts in local government operations, including LEED requirements for all public buildings and benchmarking energy use in 100% of our municipal buildings. While we are proud of our efforts and results, we know that there is still work to do, and we will continue to track our progress to inform future energy-saving measures and investments in our public facilities. To continue this great work, I’ve committed $10 million of our capital plan to cost saving Energy Efficiency and Water conservation measures on our municipal buildings through the Renew Boston Trust. I would love to continue the progress we have made in all of our buildings, and I am committed to doing what it takes to build upon our great success.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes
William King: Yes
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes; “I fully support net-zero requirements in Boston and accelerating our emissions reductions timeline.”
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes; “I believe we must build for the future, which means a Boston that is both renewable and affordable for all residents and with a sufficient housing supply to welcome our growing community. I will continue to work with advocates on strategies to achieve all ends.”
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes; “I’m proud to have authored this hearing order.”
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I am in agreement that we need a comprehensive strategic plan for new Boston buildings to be net-zero-carbon. If we don’t create incentives and building requirements now, we’ll pay later with increased pollution, warming conditions, and other negative environmental effects. We need to proactively mitigate the CO2 impacts of fossil fuel based energy consumption by holding new construction to a higher standard.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Yes
6) RESILIENCY. We shouldn’t need reminders that climate change is causing seriously damaging weather disruptions all over the planet, but the recent storms in Texas and Florida serve as such, and soon enough Boston, too, will no doubt be confronted by extreme weather conditions that could cause devastation, especially in areas such as the Seaport District.
Question: Do you agree that Boston needs to devise a fully comprehensive, realistic, and far-reaching emergency plan in the event of a hurricane or other extreme weather, including being more proactive in regard to resiliency building requirements for all of the new development?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “Yes, it is imperative to develop an emergency plan that will address expanding flood zones and sea level rise. We also need to create common sense policies to address climate change, in all new developments and for heat islands. We will use an equity lens to both redress existing environmental inequities and be proactive in the distribution of positive environmental assets.”
Mayor Walsh: did not indicate Yes or No; “Preparing for climate change is a top priority for Boston, as it is for many cities around the world. Climate Ready Boston, a planning initiative that aims to generate critical solutions to allow Boston to prosper in the face of long term climate change impacts, was released in 2016. It was the result of a collaborative community process in partnership with the Green Ribbon Commission. The report is a comprehensive vulnerability assessment which identifies a range of climate impacts Boston faces and recommends resiliency initiatives to address these challenges. We are developing shovel-ready projects to protect East Boston, Charlestown and South Boston. In the next term, we will focus on developing more detailed climate plans for other at-risk Boston neighborhoods. Furthermore, we recently released Boston’s first resilience strategy, which looks at how to make Boston more resilient to the acute shocks and chronic stresses of 21st century urban life, and is rooted in racial equity. Among many other initiatives, the strategy proposes analyzing many of the climate projections for Boston to understand what the specific impacts will be on communities of color and other vulnerable populations who will be less able to recover quickly in the face of a disaster. That strategy was the result of the input of more than 11,000 residents, and we will use those contacts and networks to engage further as we do the important work of enshrining equity in our environmental protections.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “Boston is at sea level god forbid that we have a category 5 hurricane causing flooding or other damages.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes
William King: Yes
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes; “Ensure our communities are resilient in the face of extreme weather, heat, disruptions of our food, water or energy systems, or other consequences of climate change is a top priority. While I think new development is an area for the city to be proactive, we need to plan for all residents and for appropriately retrofitting neighborhoods that are already here.”
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes; “I’m proud to have sponsored a hearing order to address the city’s resiliency planning.”
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I agree that we need a realistic emergency plan for not only the potential for extreme weather, but for also continually rising sea levels. We pursue building along the harbor with very little strategic preparation; moving building systems to the second floor and adding water flaps to below grade garage entrances are not true solutions. While the Climate Change Preparedness and Resiliency Policy, enacted in 2013, has a required resiliency checklist, the process is not as exact and as stringent as it should be given the importance of the situation.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Yes
7) CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE. Released earlier this year, the City’s GoBoston 2030 Vision & Action Plan is a forward-looking, aspirational document based on wide-ranging public outreach and input. Part of the Plan’s aspirational goals calls for the “walk share” of commuting in Boston to increase by nearly 50% and the “bike share” to increase by 200% (4 times) at the same time that it endorses the goals of VisionZero to reduce traffic fatalities in the city to zero. In addition, the plan calls for all households to be within a 5-minute walk of a protected bicycle facility or shared-use path.
Question: Do you support the accelerated implementation of protected bicycle facilities such as cycle tracks separated from traffic in order to meet GoBoston 2030’s Vision and truly making Boston’s streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists?
Mayoral
Tito Jackson: Yes; “I support implementation of separated bike lanes, parking protected bike lanes, and sidewalk level bike lanes in order to provide safe and comfortable means of biking for Boston residents, commuters, and tourists. I will direct budget funds towards implementation these plans, and will immediately establish road diets on all existing street/sidewalk repair projects.”
Mayor Walsh: did not indicate Yes or No; “Go Boston 2030 was a major planning initiative of my administration, and I stand behind the initiatives that were part of it, including the Better Bike Corridors and other bike projects. That is why we made sure that bike infrastructure projects were included in the City’s FY18-22 Capital Plan, and why I am committed to remaining engaged with the stakeholders who were part of the planning process to ensure implementation. A major recommendation of the Go Boston 2030 plan is implementing better bike corridors across the city. Today, Boston residents can already experience protected bike lanes in many parts of the city, future better bike lanes are planned for additional corridors. Our goal is to pursue more priority routes with bike lanes that are separated from moving vehicles and on neighborhood streets that are retrofitted to slow traffic. These goals are a part of Boston’s Complete Streets Guidelines and Neighborhood Slow Streets efforts. We will continue to identify priority areas for protected bike lanes and will work closely with communities and important partners, including the Boston Transportation Department, Public Works, and MassDOT, to implement.”
At-Large
Domingos DaRosa: Yes; “We need more crosswalks with solar power flashing signs capable of users request for crossing. Protected bike lanes on major roads, more buses equipped with bike racks capeable to hold multiple bikes, more secured bike storage at train and bus stations, all public building should be equipped with bike racks.”
Annissa Essaibi-George: Yes; “As the mom of four boys who spend a significant portion of their free time on bikes, I see protected bicycle facilities as a major public safety issue. I want to continue the City’s collaboration with bike advocacy groups to expand protected bike lines and better connect Boston with cycling infrastructure.”
Michael Flaherty: Yes
Althea Garrison: Yes
William King: Yes
Ayanna Pressley: Yes
Michelle Wu: Yes; “I plan to host a bike ride in every neighborhood next term to continue drawing attention to this issue.”
District 1
Lydia Edwards: Yes
District 2
Mike Kelley: Yes
District 3
No response to date (Frank Baker)
District 4
Andrea Campbell: Yes
District 5
Tim McCarthy: Yes
District 6
Matt O’Malley: Yes
District 7
No responses to date from finalists (Kim Janey and Rufus Faulk)
District 8
Kristen Mobilia: Yes; “I’d like to do everything we can to meet the GoBoston 2030 Vision of making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. I walk every day in Boston and ride my bike quite a bit as well, so I have a good understanding as to the overall safety conditions. It is essential for residents of all ages to be able to safely walk and cycle around the city. The more we can incorporate accessible sidewalks, slow streets, and separated bike lanes, the more we’ll get people out of cars and using alternative methods of transportation. As for cycle tracks, there are challenges given the unique roadways around our city. However, it is possible to incorporate them in many areas. I do have concerns for residents who need regular curbside pick-ups and drop-offs (especially our neighbors with accessibility challenges). We just need to be aware of all perspectives, so that we are sure to make thoughtful long-term decisions as we begin to redesign our city streets.”
Josh Zakim: Yes
District 9
Mark Ciommo: Yes; “As Chairman of Ways and Means, I was proud to have allocated additional funding to increase bike infrastructure through the Go Boston 2030 initiative.”