Category: News

  • Boston Pushes for Long Island Bridge’s Reconstruction, and Quincy Pushes Back

    Boston Pushes for Long Island Bridge’s Reconstruction, and Quincy Pushes Back

    Boston city officials are pushing forward with plans to build a new bridge to Long Island and re-establish an addiction recovery facility there. The Boston City Council expressed widespread support for the project, calling it a needed expansion in treatment for the thousands of people affected by the opioid crisis in the area.    At…

  • Vendor Fred Boykin: Life in Dorchester, life with cancer

    This is for all the victims of the world, all the people like me: we were not born with cancer, but it still chose us. You can be young or old, it still picks you. I had lung cancer at first, at the end of 2015. The hospital, Boston Medical Center, wanted to take a…

  • Editor’s Note: We’ll miss you, Fred Boykin

    Editor’s Note: We’ll miss you, Fred Boykin

    On Oct. 3, we at Spare Change News learned that longtime vendor Fred Boykin had passed away. While we plan to release a fuller tribute to Fred in the next issue, I wanted to acknowledge Fred, commend his hard work for the paper and make sure our readers — including his customers — heard the…

  • Protests against Kavanaugh bookend the week in Boston

    Protests against Kavanaugh bookend the week in Boston

    The week leading up to Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States started and ended with rallies protesting his appointment. On Monday, Oct. 1, hundreds of people gathered on City Hall Plaza next to a Forbes 30 Under 30 event  where Senator Jeff Flake was scheduled to speak. Flake had called…

  • Protests against Kavanaugh bookend the week in Boston

    Protests against Kavanaugh bookend the week in Boston

    City councilor and congressional nominee Ayanna Pressley speaks at a rally against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh on Monday. Photo: Kiera Murray. The week leading up to Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States started and ended with rallies protesting his appointment. On Monday, Oct. 1 hundreds of people gathered on…

  • Study Finds No Threat in Transgender Bathroom Access

    A study released Wednesday found including gender identity in nondiscrimination laws does not increase privacy or safety violations in public bathrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms. The study, conducted in Massachusetts by the Williams Institute, compared localities of similar size with and without gender inclusive ordinances. A voter referendum on the ballot this November gives…

  • Who-ray for her

    Who-ray for her

    The Doctor (JODIE WHITTAKER) – (C) BBC – Photographer: Steve Schofield There aren’t many roles on UK television that garner the kind of media attention that Jodie Whittaker received last year, when it was announced that she would be replacing Peter Capaldi to play the time-travelling alien called the Doctor in BBC’s long running science…

  • At Rosie’s Place, a legal program helps vulnerable women navigate immigration, debt and everything in between

    For over 40 years in Boston’s South End neighborhood, Rosie’s Place has opened its doors to homeless and impoverished women seeking assistance and safety. The bustling lobby rarely — if ever — slows down. A little past the front desk, the office of the legal assistance program has become increasingly in-demand and growing to meet…

  • Boston Housing Authority employee slights the city in letter to residents

    Boston Housing Authority employee slights the city in letter to residents

    Recently, someone mentioned that perhaps the Boston Housing Authority needs a consumer advocacy group made up of tenants and other partner agencies. This group could advise  BHA on problems such as it’s ponderous orientation program and interview process. But after a recent and undoubtedly colossal mistake by the agency, maybe it’s time to just start…

  • With thousands more projected to live in Boston by 2030, city plans to add affordable housing changes

    With thousands more projected to live in Boston by 2030, city plans to add affordable housing changes

    Census data from 2016 has Boston rethinking its housing goals for 2030, which is projected to see 59,000 more residents than anticipated. City officials released a revised version of their Imagine Boston 2030 plan that includes building an additional 16,000 units by 2030, upping the 2030 projected population of people in Boston from 709,000 by…