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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Boston's plan to shift property taxes floundered on Beacon Hill. Now what?
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
TGIF. The heat today may make you want to take after the governor and dump a bucket of ice water on your head, challenge or not.
But first, let’s get to the news:
So much for home rule: There were many legislative casualties during Wednesday night’s marathon final day of formal sessions on Beacon Hill. Among them, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s effort to temporarily shift more of the city’s property tax burden onto local businesses. Despite agreeing to some tweaks in exchange for approval in the House, the city’s home rule petition never made it through the Senate.
- Catch up: Wu has argued the change is needed to prevent Boston homeowners from big increases on their tax bills — potentially to the tune of 33%. That’s because property values for many office buildings have declined due to increased remote work (and state limits on the difference between commercial and residential property taxes).
- Now what? Wu is holding out hope the Senate might still pass the measure during informal sessions. “This matter doesn’t become settled state law until next year’s tax bills have been mailed out to residents and mortgage servicers,” Wu told WBUR’s Simón Rios in a statement. “In the meantime,” she said the city plans to “communicate with residents about how their taxes may be significantly increasing under state law Prop 2 ½ without legislative relief,” so folks can start budgeting for a hike now.
- The big picture: Greg Maynard, the executive director of the Boston Policy Institute, says there are a lot of questions about Boston’s “post-office space future” without new office towers and increases in commercial property values to drive its budget growth: “This is the of first many extremely difficult decisions that are being made by the elected leaders of the city.”
- Meanwhile: Boston had two other home rule petitions that also failed to get across the State House finish line yesterday: one to increase the number of liquor licenses in the city, and another to restructure the Boston Planning and Development Agency.
In related news: The head of Boston’s new planning department is (excuse me) planning to leave. Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison told city workers yesterday he will step down on Sept. 13, citing the need to be closer to his wife and kids, who are living in Michigan.
Heads up, Allston-Brighton: The MBTA is suspending Green Line service on the B branch between Boston College and Babcock Street, starting today through Aug. 11. The 10-day closure — scheduled before BC and BU students return from summer break — is so crews can work on lifting the numerous speed restrictions that remain on the branch. Free shuttles will stop at all but three of the closed stations.
- Reminder: Boston is partnering with Bluebikes to offer locals up to five free rides during MBTA closures, including this one. Just use the code MBTAGREENAUGUST in the Bluebikes app.
- The T is also closing a big chunk of the Orange Line — between Wellington and Back Bay — this weekend. Shuttles will replace service between Wellington and North Station, and riders are encouraged to take the Green Line for service downtown. (Fare gates will be open at North Station and Copley’s inbound side.)
Beach bummer: Pieces of the broken turbine that fell off Vineyard Wind’s offshore wind farm are now washing up on Martha’s Vineyard. Edgartown officials advise people not to swim at Norton Point Beach and South Beach as a precaution, after pieces of (nontoxic) foam debris were found on the two beaches.
- What’s next: A Vineyard Wind spokesman told the Martha’s Vineyard Times that more turbine debris could head toward the island, due to shifting wind patterns.
- Go deeper: WBUR’s Miriam Wasser has more on the fallout from the broken blade and the dueling narratives trying to take hold.
Pour one out for… Distraction Brewing. The Roslindale Square brewery, which opened in 2019, plans to close for good at the end of this month. In a social media post yesterday, the brewery’s owners said the demands of the business have been “significant” and they want to spend more time with their children. Their last day is Aug. 31.
- What’s next for the space: A new brewery and coffee spot called “13 Volt Brewing and Roasting” plans to open in 2025.
P.S.— What legendary Boston music club is coming back to life? Take our Boston News Quiz and see if you know the answer!
