Urban farming from plants to bees and chickens - join the conversation this spring!
This week, we received calls and tweets alerting us to a swarm of honeybees camping out on a car in Dorchester. Springtime is when crowded hives occasionally send bees looking for new space, which can be an alarming sight. Together with our Animal Control division, we helped coordinate with Noah Wilson-Rich of Best Bees, a local beekeeper who was able to collect and house the colony, bringing them to a place where they can continue their work pollenating local plants.
Noah and beekeepers like him are part of the urban agriculture movement, and this spring, Boston is joining the conversation. Mayor Menino is a strong advocate for access to fresh, local food, and that’s why Boston is in the process of rezoning urban agriculture. Urban agriculture increases access to affordable and healthy food in cities. Food produced in the city reduces shipping expenses, cuts emissions, and builds community. It’s good for the environment and it’s good for us. Learn more about how to get involved in Boston’s rezoning process via the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
The City of Boston has received many warm wishes from near and far following recent events. Several pieces have been rescued from the elements; see a collection via our new Tumblr.
The Prudential Tower lights up Monday night in support of the One Fund. (Photo credit: Aram Boghosian, Boston Globe)
Superintendent Johnson called Boston Public Schools families this evening to welcome them back following April vacation week.
Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and members of his Emergency Management Team and Cabinet previewed plans for the re-opening of Boylston Street and the Copley Square area of Boston.
The Five phase plan will commence when the scene is cleared by Federal Authorities and returned to the City of Boston.
“Nearly a week ago our City took a deep breath and was forced to dive into a pool of uncertainty and fear,” Mayor Menino said. “Friday as our officers reported to the world ‘we got him’, a huge sigh of relief was felt across our great city and nation so now it is time for us to start moving our city forward.”
The Mayor committed to two top priorities for the plan:
- Making sure the City reopens this area as respectfully as we can for the victims, their families and all of those impacted by last week’s tragic events
- Operating as quickly and seamlessly, without bureaucracy for the business owners and residents who have also been affected by the attack on our City.
The City’s Copley Square Re-Entry Plan is a multi-agency effort that maximizes all of the resources – Manpower, Equipment and Expertise - of our city team.
The Five Phase effort includes:
Phase 1: Decontamination and Testing
Phase 2: Structural Building Assessments and Utility Coordination
Phase 3: Debris Removal
Phase 4: Internal Building Assessments
Phase 5: Re-Entry, Communications, and Counseling
As this plan commences we will be respectful with all memorials and other personal effects left at the scene. The Boston Police Department will return personal items secured at the scene that have not been retained as evidence by the FBI. The items that are now part of a memorial to victims at the intersection of Boylston and Berkeley Streets will be temporarily relocated to Copley Square Park as will other items from other memorial sites around the area. As we respect the need for people to continue to express their support for the victims and our city we will place large message boards in the vicinity of the area to allow people to record their thoughts and reflections.
As we move toward re-opening we will continue to update the public on our progress and plans.
For more information or resources please log onto cityofboston.gov/oneboston or call our Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500. Businesses affected can call or visit our Business Resource Center at the Park Plaza Hotel. Anyone with counseling needs should contact the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050.
A Letter from Mayor Menino to residents & businesses inside the crime scene perimeter.
April 20, 2013
To the residents, property owners, and proprietors of the impact area, I am so grateful for the resiliency of this great city, and the kindnesses that we have witnessed in this past week.
I want to update you on the City’s plan for reopening Boylston Street and the impact area. One of my top priorities is ensuring the stability and health of the Back Bay neighborhood, and multiple city agencies have been coordinating to create a plan.
As you know, the impact area is currently an FBI crime scene, and the City is providing support to the FBI as they secure this area.
As soon as we receive clearance from the FBI, the City will move quickly to ensure that the area is safe for residents and businesses to return. We will be taking steps to secure the public safety, including:
- Ensuring that streets and sidewalks are clean of equipment and debris and are safe for pedestrians
- Ensuring that all buildings are structurally sound
Once we have established that these important public safety issues are resolved, we will then provide a staggered schedule for limited access for inspectors and business owners to survey their property to ascertain readiness to reopen, and for residents to return to their homes.
We believe that some blocks may be ready to open more quickly than others; we are committed to working as hard as possible to reopen the entire area, and to helping more highly impacted businesses through any structural or health and safety issues they may encounter.
All City staff who are connected to helping residents return to their homes and businesses reopen are on standby, and are prepared to execute on this plan as soon as we have clearance from the FBI. I have instructed my staff to use best efforts to get the Back Bay up and running, and I am committed to making sure that all of you have the resources you need.
What you can do right now:
- Please take a moment to register online at cityofboston.gov or by calling 617 635-4500, so that we can have the best information to reach you quickly.
- Consider the types of services you may need from outside contractors, and begin lining up their services, for example, construction, trash removal, board-up services, provision delivery, etc. If you need help securing reliable vendors, the City will have some lists available.
- Please monitor the news closely for updates on when the crime scene is released. In addition, information is available at the City’s web site: www.cityofboston.gov and on Twitter @NotifyBoston.
We thank you for your patience as we rebuild together.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Menino,
Mayor
Emergency Remain In Place Order
Due to ongoing investigation into suspect considered armed and dangerous related to marathon bombing, residents are encouraged to remain indoors at home. Full list of City of Boston alerts and cancellations located at www.cityofboston.gov
