boston politics

Mel King’s children grew up in a household where discussions of Boston’s politics and social justice issues were commonplace.

What happens to our public institutions when democracy fails? When elected officials ignore the will of the people, governing bodies lose their independence, and the fundamental right to local democratic control is stripped away?

The South End is in many ways a study in contrasts. A neighborhood where subsidized housing developments abut luxury condo buildings, a neighborhood where Black and Latino Bostonians have deep roots, but where few have pockets deep enough to afford rents.

Mel King died last week at 94, leaving behind a legacy of social change and political activism that had a profound influence on Boston’s civic life.

In the wake of a Boston Globe investigation that suggested that interim District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office declined to prosecute an MBTA police officer accused of misconduct, then received donations from the officer and his attorney, several local elected officials are calling on him to resign.

About seven weeks ahead of Massachusetts’ primary election, candidates presented different approaches to tackle a crisis of mental health, substance use disorders and criminal activity in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, also called Mass. and Cass.

With less than two months before the September primary, two leading candidates continue to compete to replace outgoing state Rep. Liz Miranda in the 5th Suffolk District seat.

After serving as mayor for nearly 7 months, Michelle Wu finally celebrated her fall victory with an inauguration celebration on City Hall Plaza.

A group of Massachusetts elected officials are calling on state and local law enforcement to execute a sweep of outstanding criminal warrants and to clear people with mental health issues and substance use disorder from the corridor near Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue, known as Mass. and Cass.

Last week State Representative hopeful Mark Martinez announced on Twitter that he would be withdrawing his candidacy for the 7th Suffolk District, citing his inability to find affordable housing in the district as the reason for the early end to the campaign.

Last Wednesday, the Boston City Council passed a resolution urging Massachusetts residents to oppose a statewide ballot measure that would make app-based drivers for companies like Uber, Lyft and Doordash independent contractors.