Flynn: Let’s Focus on “Nuts & Bolts” of City Government & Quality of Life Issues As Chair of the Boston City Council Committee on City Services, it is critical for the City of Boston to renew its focus on delivering basic city services, and the “nuts and bolts” of government, for our neighbors.

We need to address issues like snow removal, pest control, and pedestrian safety.

Following a significant snowstorm and feedback from constituents on difficulties for ambulances and first responders to navigate streets throughout Boston, I wrote to Mayor Wu and Chief of Streets Nick Gove requesting that the City purchase snow melting machines. There have been multiple reports that New York City has used these for nearly 20 years, with 8 currently in use, to melt 60-120 tons of snow per hour. This week, I filed a hearing order at the Boston City Council.

It’s important that the City refocuses on improving pedestrian safety in our neighborhoods. Last year, I filed an amendment to the mayor’s ordinance to effectively ban mopeds and e-bikes from third-party delivery. To my knowledge, I am the only elected official in the country to advocate to do so.

In 2022, reports indicated that the City of Boston encouraged large third-party food delivery companies to have drivers use two-wheel vehicles, while the companies also incentivized workers to prioritize speed over safety to get more assignments and higher ratings. In my opinion, the result has undoubtedly been a significantly worsened pedestrian safety crisis, with devices going over 20 mph through red lights, stop signs, and the wrong way down the street every day. No reasonable person believes the rules of the road can continue to be optional. It can no longer be the Wild West on the streets of Boston.

In addition, while the City’s Safety Surge (speed hump program) was well-intentioned, it placed dozens of speed humps on neighborhood side streets.

For 8 years, I’ve advocated for us to implement traffic-calming measures on our main streets, commercial roads, and high-traffic corridors. These areas are where the majority of pedestrians and vehicles are, and where other municipalities have done so.

On quality of life issues, Boston needs a more coordinated approach to address our pest control crisis. Unfortunately, the administration did not include the recommendation of both Dr. Corrigan (from their own plan) for a dedicated “Rat Czar”, nor did the Council approve my ordinance on a standalone Office of Pest Control. While public trash containers in commercial areas are helpful, we need to launch a massive public awareness and outreach campaign on proper trash removal and containerization for individual residents and businesses. Language access is also key for all communities to also understand their role in addressing a crisis that has left rodents carrying leptospirosis in Boston.

In the final analysis, it is critical that both the city administration and the Boston City Council remain focused on delivering neighborhood and basic city services to improve the quality of life for the people of Boston. Regardless of our differences of opinion, Boston works best when we work together, when we listen to one another, learn from each other’s lived experiences, and treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is the former Boston City Council President and U.S. Navy (Retired).