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Council pushes for clearer capital‑plan transparency as residents demand Jackson Mann and EMS investments
Summary
Councilors pressed OBM about neighborhood equity and project delivery in the five‑year capital plan; public commenters asked for action on Jackson Mann community center and EMS facility upgrades in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.
Councilors pressed the Office of Budget and Management and capital staff at the May 26 hearing for more accessible, neighborhood‑level detail in the five‑year capital plan.
Deputy Budget Director and Director of Capital Ian Donnelly said projects categorized as "citywide" reflect annual rolling programs — such as repaving and street reconstruction — that are intended to touch every neighborhood. "We say multiple neighborhoods and citywide just to make sure that it's understood," Donnelly said while explaining that discrete projects spanning more than one neighborhood are placed in a "multiple neighborhoods" category.
Councilors from Mattapan, Hyde Park, Allston‑Brighton and Roxbury pressed whether the published tables actually translate into visible investments for residents, asking for five‑year neighborhood breakdowns and clearer timelines for projects that remain "to be scheduled." Donnelly acknowledged the communications gap and said partner departments (parks, streets, public facilities) provide the subject‑matter prioritization used to schedule projects.
Public testimony amplified those concerns. Kevin Norton and Ryan Kelso from Allston‑Brighton described low per‑capita capital allocations for their neighborhoods and urged moving the long‑stalled Jackson Mann community center from planning into construction. Jason Atkins, speaking for Boston EMS personnel, urged targeted investment in EMS stations and busing facilities in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, linking facility condition to response times and workforce retention.
OBM agreed to improve neighborhood reporting and provide updates to council offices on the status and cash‑flow timing for specific projects named by members.
Ending: Councilors sought quarterly project‑level reporting with timeline changes and reasons for delay; OBM said a capital projects dashboard and GIS mapping exist and pledged further collaboration to increase transparency.
