Civic Engagement | Burbank Campaign
"One of Fenway CDC’s greatest strengths over the years has been an engaged and devoted membership base. We continue this tradition through the following initiatives."
Save the MBTA Campaign
Cut the Debt, not the Service!
It’s time for Governor Patrick and the state legislature to develop sustainable funding mechanisms for the MBTA, that consider the bigger picture and won’t force riders to bear the brunt of the Big Dig debt. Funding possibilities could include an increase to the gas tax or additional registry fees for higher-emission vehicles, with carve-outs for low-income drivers; or permanent allocation of a portion of the sales tax to transportation.
If you agree that fare hikes and service cuts are not the right way to fix the T, please take action!
It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
1) Join the rally and speak at the hearing on Monday February 13th !
4 PM Rally at Copley Square
6 PM Hearing at Boston Public Library, Boston Room
2) Call Gov. Patrick & your state legislators! Urge them to find a solution: that does not force T riders to bear the Big Dig debt burden, and that maintains a first-class public transit system, vital for a strong economy and a sustainable environment. See contact info below.
3) Ask everyone you know to contact their state legislators!
Find your legislators: www.malegislature.gov/people/findmylegislator
FENWAY STATE-WIDE OFFICIALS
Governor Deval Patrick 888-870-7770 617-725-4005
State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz 617-722-1673 Sonia.Chang-Diaz@masenate.gov
State Sen. William Brownsberger 617-722-1280 William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov
State Rep. Gloria Fox 617-722-2810 GloriaFox@mahouse.gov
State Rep. Byron Rushing 617-722-2783 byronrushing@mahouse.gov
For more info, contact Sarah at (617) 267-4637 x19 or shorsley@fenwaycdc.org
Burbank Campaign
Fenway CDC and the Burbank Apartments Tenant Association are working with the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants to pass the Statewide Enabling Act and the Boston Home Rule Petition. These bills would help preserve and restore subsidized housing such as Burbank Apartments. If these bills are passed, affordable housing will be preserved for the long term in the Fenway and neighborhoods across the state!
We recently met with State Senator Eldridge, co-chair of the state legislature’s Joint Housing Committee. He told us that he wants to hear from the Boston elected officials that they support this legislation. We know that the City Council does support the legislation, because they have passed similar legislation on the city level. However, they have not yet contacted state legislators to advocate for the state bills.
Now, we need YOU to contact the city council to ask them to contact Sen. Eldridge. Please call the city councilors listed below, and ask them to visit, call, and/or write State Senator Eldridge. We want the City Councilors to let Sen. Eldridge know that they support the Statewide Enabling Act and the Boston Home Rule Petition and want him to vote these bills favorably out of the Joint Committee!
District 7 City Councilor: Tito Jackson (617) 635-3510 Tito.Jackson@cityofboston.gov
District 8 City Councilor: Michael P. Ross 617-635-4225 Michael.ross@cityofboston.gov
At Large City Councilors: John Connolly 617-635-3115 John.r.connolly@cityofboston.gov
.Stephen Murphy 617-635-4376 Stephen.murphy@cityofboston.gov
Felix Arroyo, Jr. 617-635-4205 Felix.arroyo@cityofboston.gov
Ayanna Pressley 617-635-4217 Ayanna.pressley@cityofboston.gov
For more info on the Keep Burbank Affordable campaign, contact Sarah at 617-267-4637 x19 or shorsley@fenwaycdc.org
Fenway Plans!
Fenway Plans! is the FCDC's current organizing campaign. We build broad community engagement in neighborhood planning. We are mobilizing residents to advocate for Fenway's most critical needs: affordable housing, enhanced transit service, and community centers/spaces, especially for families and seniors.
Community Spaces
The Fenway neighborhood is one of two neighborhoods in Boston without a community center. The lack of community spaces and other family-friendly infrastructure -- including a neighborhood school and family-sized housing -- has contributed to the flight of families from the neighborhood and created an atmosphere of instability and impermanence. Existing programming within the neighborhood, including activities for seniors, children, and youth, has been constricted by the limited number of desirable group spaces.
To address these concerns, the Fenway CDC has launched a campaign to advocate for more community spaces in the Fenway. At an initial neighborhood meeting in the West Fenway in October, an overwhelming number of passionate residents turned out to voice their need for more community spaces. In addition to expressing their long-term desires, residents joined together in small groups to brainstorm ideas for temporary uses for a small outdoor space. Suggestions for part of the former McDonald’s lot at the corner of Jersey and Boylston Streets included an outdoor performance space, an area for community events, a temporary park or garden, and a number of other creative uses.