I grew up on the North Shore, in Lynn. My whole family from the time we first got off the boat from Ireland, like God knows how many others, has lived in the Boston area.

This city is becoming a haven for boring, old, rich 1%ers (including Cambridge, Newton, and Brookline obvs).

I live in Brighton now and literally all I hear people talk about and all I see is: - corrupt politicians (both parties, which is damn depressing because the Democratic super-majority in MA proves that Dems don't give a damn about "the people") - Unaffordable rents driving us all farther and farther away from where our jobs and schools. Yet plenty of new luxury apartments everywhere... - A low MW considering the COL - Shitty public transit (the T needs serious modernization) - A homelessness epidemic. - No efforts at reducing MA's and Boston's carbon footprint - That BS pulled with the marijuana delay - Gentrification - An entire third of the city effectively ignored by the yuppies in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, etc. - Three (very wealthy) surrounding cities that use Boston for all of its needs yet refuse to help support the city: Newton, Cambridge, Brookline

This is a city for rich, white, old people. I see little artistic flare. I see no daring initiatives to take on any of the major crisis we face (climate change, poverty, homelessness, racism, etc.). I see nothing affordable. Nothing in this city is affordable.

I am young, but I have seen dozens of other cities. They make Boston look backwards. Yet, we have EVERY advantage! All of the colleges, young people, etc., etc.

Also, in b4 "if you don't like it, leave" ^ That is a simplistic and foolish argument. 21st century jobs are overwhelmingly in urban centers. Can't exactly get a job in rural MA, NH, VT, or ME... I can live here AND want to make it a better, more modern city. There is NO reason why Boston can't be THE city of the future. With the smartest young people in America (MIT) on our doorstep. But it has to be FOR EVERYBODY not just the 1%.

Suggestions: - Rent controls - MW increase - Direct input from local communities with all developments: i.e. "gentrification" - Abandoning the Democratic Party/running primaries on all D's because they legit f-ing suck. Socialist Alternative is my personal suggestion. - Initiatives for urban gardening and greater support to Boston's hinterland farmers: Support your CSA's people! - More bike lanes - A car-less city center. We should close Beacon Hill and Downtown to automobiles. - A T modernization effort: jobs, 21st century transport. - No charter schools; no private schools - Either finally conglomerating Newton, Cambridge, and Brookline with Boston OR making those cities pay some kind of rate into Boston - Public WiFi

Go ahead, say "who's going to pay for all that?" Call me a stupid liberal or socialist. Whatever. Down vote. Whatever.

You all agree, though, that the city is changing. And it is changing for the worse at the moment. BUT WE CAN MAKE IT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

Vote with your dollars and your ballots.