In the face of federal and local attacks by carceral, policing, and deportation systems - Boston residents are taking matters into their own hands to rectify harm and resource the communities that need it most.
BOSTON, MA - On Saturday, March 14th, 100+ Boston residents from across various neighborhoods gathered for the second People’s Budget Assembly, hosted by a coalition of community-based organizations called the Better Budget Alliance. The diverse, multi-generational crowd came together to practice direct democracy and make collective decisions about their community’s funding priorities for the FY27 budget cycle.
Attendees discussed and debated the merits of budget proposals, crafted by residents after the first assembly, within each of the following three areas: food access, support for immigrants, and affordable housing. Attendees also discussed proposals for divesting from the police budget in order to reallocate funds into much-needed community programs, aid and infrastructure.
"Whose budget? Whose city? Whose power?" called out Better Budget Alliance organizer Eliza Parad, which was met with collective shouts of "Our budget, our city, our power!"
Picture Credit: Dante Luna Media Group
By the end of the assembly, individuals participated in a ranked choice voting process that identified the winning 12 priorities as follows:
Support for immigrants:
- Increase the grants from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) to community organizations for legal support and consultation.
- Expand the city’s free legal consultation program.
- Create a municipal health insurance program for immigrants to access low cost health care.
Access to fresh, healthy, affordable and culturally relevant food
- Provide free or reduced cost groceries and produce vouchers for low-income families.
- Build a year-round program with sites for families and youth to get healthy cooked meals.
- Open a low-cost city-supported grocery store.
Affordable and stable housing:
- Build truly affordable housing.
- Establish an urgent rental assistance fund.
- Preserve rental housing as permanently affordable by funding the Acquisition Opportunity Program (AOP).
Community safety and wellbeing:
- Cut the budget for Boston Police Department (BPD) salaries.
- Cut BPD’s overtime budget.
- Shut down the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and the gang database.
“It is important, now more than ever, that elected officials hear the call and wisdom of their constituents.” Kat Ramos, an attendee of the assembly, said.
Picture Credit: Dante Luna Media Group
These winning proposals make up the Better Budget Alliance’s platform for the People’s Budget this year. These budget priorities, informed by over 700+ Bostonians and affirmed at the mass gathering, will be circulated to city council and Mayor Wu to get their sign on and support.
###
The Better Budget Alliance (BBA) is a city-wide coalition of 30+ grassroots organizations rooted in Boston’s working class and BIPOC neighborhoods. The BBA organizes to increase democracy, equity and transparency in Boston’s budgeting decisions.
