Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Winnie Eke

No answer

Kendra Hicks

Our policy platform is both visionary and pragmatic. It creates racially equitable solutions that benefit us all by focusing on systems change and nurturing a more participatory democracy. It calls on us to remember what’s at stake—the well-being of our children, our families, our neighbors, and our descendants. We need to do the work today for a better tomorrow.

Mary Tamer

All three are tied to our environment, as well as public health, equity, & justice. And at a time of housing scarcity in Boston, we must prioritize transit-oriented development which will reduce reliance on cars, create more affordable units, and allow for greater density. We must push for collaboration among the city’s Department of Neighborhood Development, the Environment Department, the BPDA, & the MBTA. Expanding access to quality & predictable public transit options, including fare-free buses, bus rapid transit, & accessible pedestrian & cycling infrastructure, is also a top priority.

Winnie Eke

Bus riders want bus reliability, get to destination on time, and be comfortable in a bus . Bus services must consider the ridership and population in each route. The availability of buses should match the ridership, with slow and peak periods. City should have bus lanes on busy streets, maintain routes to avoid damages to buses due to pot holes etc. In essence the city should have a dedicated budget for route maintenance. Maintenance of the fleet must be a priority as well as replacing old buses. Designation of bus routes and stops should be managed by an advisory panel of citizens, not politicians. Bus services should be automated and should consider rapid lines like those in LA as well as its own signal. We should consider moving from long routes to shorter routes to lower the rates of transfer and cut down on frequent stops that slow buses. Cash payment should be discouraged to reduce vault management and maintenance. Finally, clean buses increase ridership as well as good customer service.

Kendra Hicks

I believe the city of Boston can and should implement a complete streets model. When implemented well, complete streets are each unique and respond well to that particular community’s context. In addition to sidewalks and bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders), complete streets may have special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe crosswalks, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and roundabouts. Creating complete streets helps make cities and communities more livable, improves health, safety, public health, and cuts transportation costs. As a city councilor, I will be a champion for infrastructure that considers a complete streets model so that all our neighbors can move freely around the city in safe, accessible, and effective ways.

Mary Tamer

It is a top priority of mine to expand access to quality and predictable public transit options, including fare-free buses, bus rapid transit, and safe and accessible pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. While the Boston City Council doesn’t have direct jurisdiction over public transit, Boston elected officials can use the bully pulpit and the organizing power of the office to advocate for changing the current transit system. This includes the fact that the City of Boston controls the streets the buses operate on.
We must begin by removing fares on MBTA buses as a pilot program and then explore further expansion. By utilizing bus rapid transit and better connecting cycling infrastructure, we can make intra-neighborhood transportation safer and easier. To truly reduce dependence on cars, we must give residents access to a clean, safe, and predictable public transit system, especially our MBTA trains, buses, and commuter rail. I’d like to see our MBTA buses as well as our Boston school buses move away from diesel fuel (which causes a multitude of health issues) toward a reasonable timeline for an electric fleet.

Winnie Eke

I will advocate for new governing board. I am happy to note that the legislature is moving toward that. Since Boston is one of the contributing cities and the largest, it should have a seat on the new Board. I will suggest that the mayor and or city council nominate three names for the mayor's approval

Kendra Hicks

Yes. In addition to advocating for a new governance board, I will work to ensure that the decision-making body is representative of the communities that most benefit from public transit and are impacted by the decisions being made.

Mary Tamer

Yes, I will advocate for a new governance board, and I will specifically advocate for the City of Boston to have a seat on it. The "how" is by organizing, and I would work with constituents in District 6, my fellow Boston City Councilors, as well as members of the Boston delegation serving at the State House to collectively advocate for this representative seat for Boston. As the largest municipality in the state with a significant portion of residents reliant on public transportation, this representation is crucial to ensure the voices of commuters are heard and that their needs are met.

Winnie Eke

There should be a time line for all projects and dedicated personnel for each or cluster of similar projects. Short-term projects like street safety team could work on street and traffic signs, road crossings, bike routes, speed lights, pedestrian ways. Long term projects will also need term line and on-point person. These include projects like transportation reliability, reducing car use, reducing emissions, and transportation affordability for low income households.

Kendra Hicks

Currently, about half of the projects on Go Boston 2030 are underway. I will be an advocate for the implementation of all short-term and long-term projects. As I referenced in a previous question, there is an opportunity to revise the plan in a way that engages stakeholders and all involved city government offices and this would be informed by that process as well.

Mary Tamer

One of the most important roles of a City Councilor is holding the Administration accountable for the implementation of policy. As City Councilor, I will ensure that the City is providing the funding required to implement these projects according to schedule and the oversight to ensure this.
This would be part of my approach to the City’s annual budget process and I would also work closely with advocates and experts to gain an independent understanding of project status and efficacy of implementation.

Winnie Eke

People are very passionate about their beliefs. However, using survey and data are the best way to focus all in the community, including opposition groups.

Kendra Hicks

If we want to house a changing city equitably, we need a housing plan based on our residents’ real needs. Half of all new construction should be designated for tenants and homeowners, making 60% AMI or below, reflecting Boston residents’ incomes. We will advocate for the funding we need and work to direct at least half of the housing funds from the recently passed increased linkage fees to housing for low-income residents with an income below 30% AMI. We will reduce land-use barriers by transforming zoning, deliver more permanent supportive and senior housing, include non-congregant shelter options, establish green standards for new housing, and expand City-funded rent subsidies, similar to Section 8.

Mary Tamer

I have heard from residents all over District 6 about the need for safer streets, more outdoor spaces (whether for restaurants or community events), safe biking infrastructure, as well as issues around parking. Through the pandemic, so many of our local restaurants have embraced outdoor dining & would like to retain the spaces that were initially created as temporary measures. Whether we are considering new development, park renovations, or reimagining our streets, residents want transparency and a voice in these processes. To this end, I would advocate for a robust community process, similar to what Boston Parks and Recreation facilitates as part of their ongoing renovation of the city’s parks and green spaces. I have taken part in several of these meetings, which start with a facilitated listening process, followed by a presentation of themes and options (based on previously collected feedback from 1st meeting), then a survey where stakeholders can weigh in on the various options, and then a final presentation of the design that garnered the greatest amount of support (while also addressing the priorities identified via the community process). This is a positive model to follow.

Winnie Eke

The city needs affordable units. I support increasing the IDP. However, i prefer that it is graduated to a 2% increase starting with present 13% to 15% a so that we encourage instead of discourage developers.

Kendra Hicks

If we want to house a changing city equitably, we need a housing plan based on our residents’ real needs. Half of all new construction should be designated for tenants and homeowners, making 60% AMI or below, reflecting Boston residents’ incomes. We will advocate for the funding we need and work to direct at least half of the housing funds from the recently passed increased linkage fees to housing for low-income residents with an income below 30% AMI. We will reduce land-use barriers by transforming zoning, deliver more permanent supportive and senior housing, include non-congregant shelter options, establish green standards for new housing, and expand City-funded rent subsidies, similar to Section 8.

Mary Tamer

When it comes to housing, Boston’s challenge is two-fold: we have a scarcity of housing, and we have a scarcity of affordable housing. As I meet with more people across District 6, I have heard of a multitude of challenges faced by those who live in subsidized housing, as well as those who pay full-market rent or mortgages for condos or homes. In the scenario presented above, I would support a 60-unit building with 20% affordable units for two key reasons: first, it provides more needed units (of varying income levels) and second, it provides twice as many affordable units as the 12-unit proposal. Boston’s population has grown by nearly 13% since the 2010 census, and the need for affordable housing is profound. We must address the urgency of the need, and I fully support mixed-income housing models such as the recently approved proposal to renovate and expand the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain -- and I was the only candidate in the District 6 race to testify in favor of this proposal (as supported by the existing residents) at the BPDA meeting prior to the board vote in April 2021.

Winnie Eke

First, determine the reason for the delays. If it is staff-based, plan and hire the required number of personnel to do the work. Faster times for permits will generate the revenue to offset the new hires and provide needed housing at the same time.

Kendra Hicks

We need our housing decision-making to better match the nature of our housing needs and to ensure racial, gender, and economic equity. More Black and Indigenous people, people of color, renters, women, lower-income and unhoused residents, seniors, and students should be represented in our housing decision-making bodies. I would support dedicated Housing Need Representation on the Zoning Board of Appeal and require representation in zoning hearings, Boston Planning and Development Agency meetings, and other deliberative sessions to empower and hear directly from people who would benefit from affordable housing.

Mary Tamer

One of the greatest barriers to creating needed housing is a convoluted permitting process. The City must create processes that give all stakeholders -- residents, community development corporations, builders, organized labor, and other community-based organizations -- both predictability and transparency.
This has continued to be a challenge across all of our neighborhoods, and there are concrete steps I would take to streamline the process and to ensure proper staffing in place at Inspectional Services (ISD) for quicker turnaround times; for greater transparency in the permitting processes with clear guidelines on how to proceed; as well as the addition of permitting “troubleshooters’ available in-person and by phone for those seeking assistance.
The City must also encourage greater collaboration between entities to achieve housing goals that also meet pre-existing community needs.

Winnie Eke

I support all the policies. However, policies such as codifying conditions under which a landlord can evict tenants in foreclosed properties does not require a home rule petition. This could be part of a normal system on the city's website, Boston Housing Authority on what tenants should know. In addition, providing legal representation should also be part of an education series who renters in the city.

Kendra Hicks

The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have compounded the threat of displacement for our neighbors. I will champion the passage of Article 91 of the City of Boston Zoning Code and establish anti-displacement overlays in high-risk neighborhoods, as an investment in a just recovery from the pandemic and an affirmation of the right to remain for Bostonian renters and homeowners. Anti-Displacement Zones will designate a new type of zoning district with unique standards and programs to give current residents a meaningful role in shaping their neighborhood’s future.

Winnie Eke

Since the community is already focused on unit affordability. I will support getting more housing units and less parking as the parking negates the affordability of the units. Not having the parking spaces will be a way to encourage people to use other means of transportation, help the environment and improve health. With a few parking spaces, those who truly need them should pay except for handicap spaces.

Kendra Hicks

One of my strengths is my experience and skill at bringing people together to solve complex problems across difference. I also am running for City Council because I believe we need leadership willing to make hard decisions that benefit the many even in the face of opposition.

Mary Tamer

All proposed development must prioritize an open and transparent community process with input from residents and community stakeholders. As City Councilor, it will be important to work closely with all parties involved to ensure that development projects are mutually beneficial and enhance the community at large. I look forward to bringing people together and facilitating honest and respectful dialogue that will result in the best possible result.
With any proposed development, I will advocate for open space, LEED certification, accessibility, and ability for community members to access housing. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to the considerations mentioned above (more units, parking, etc.), because of the diversity of the district (density of proposed site, access to public transportation, as well as other factors).