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Boston City Council District 8 Race: Sharon Durkan and Montez Haywood
Two candidates are running for District 8: Incumbent Sharon Durkan and Montez Haywood.
We surveyed both candidates on their priorities and some of the most pressing issues facing the Boston City Council this election season, based on input from our readers. Here’s what they had to say.
Sharon Durkan responded late to Boston.com’s survey, we apologize for the inconvenience.
The following responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
What are two of your top priorities that you would like to address?
Haywood: Fully elected school board [and] Re-Focus the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) to work with developers that will concentrate on homeownership for city residents instead of rental properties.
Durkan: My top issues are affordable, attainable housing, quality of life issues, protecting our parks, transit and safe streets, climate resilient neighborhoods, and mental health care for all. If I had to pick two, I would have to say affordable housing, and climate resilience, but all are interconnected. You can find my platform on www.sharondurkan.com.
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Housing is a human right; no one should struggle to find a safe, stable place to call home. Boston is facing a serious housing crisis, with soaring rents and a shortage of affordable housing options. Too many of our District 8 neighbors, residents with low or moderate incomes, seniors, and more–are being forced out of their homes and pushed out of the city. We must create and preserve affordable housing opportunities, and ensure that everyone has access to a safe and stable place to live.
The climate crisis poses a serious threat to Boston’s people, communities, people, and infrastructure. We must protect our city and our planet for future generations. Our public parks and open spaces are a treasured part of District 8–and they make our neighborhoods more resilient by buffering increasingly severe storms and absorbing stormwater run-off. I recently co-sponsored a hearing on stormwater and flooding, an important topic for the financial health of our city, and I’ve joined the Groundwater Trust, as a trustee.
What solutions would you support regarding the area of Mass and Cass and the underlying issues of addiction, mental health, and homelessness?
Haywood: I am advocating for the creation of a floating hospital. This ship would be equipped with medical professionals and necessary recovery tools, programs, and housing options to immediately address the public health emergency that our city is currently experiencing. After the people receive the treatment at the floating hospital facility they will be given a plan that addresses their ongoing need for treatment, housing, education, and employment.
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Durkan: Boston has intersecting crises of substance use disorder, mental health and homelessness. I recently voted in support of a tent removal ordinance that would allow police to remove tents, starting November 1, at the intersection of Mass and Cass. I support the housing-first model and public health-led approach to this crisis, led by the administration. We must continue to invest in supportive housing, and a public health led approach. We also must ensure it’s safe for our City workers to do their jobs.
The situation at Mass and Cass had become an unsafe situation for public health workers and others in the area, treating those in the encampment. We need to break down barriers to mental care by investing in treatment for substance use disorder, mental and behavioral health services. Last week I hosted my first hearing to evaluate the mental health resources available to City workers. Front-line workers, from civilian 911 dispatch to EMS, are the first line of communication and assistance for many impacted by addiction, mental health, and homelessness. As your City Councilor I will continue to prioritize the conversation around mental health and addiction so our front-line workers can better address the issues facing Mass and Cass.
How can housing in Boston be more affordable and inclusive of all communities while mitigating gentrification?
Haywood: We need to change the mindsight of the BPDA that suggests areas of District 8 are over-housed. I believe the city should start searching for developers who are looking to build family-focused affordable home ownership options throughout the city. I believe that we focus these new construction projects on affordable home ownership options that will mitigate gentrification, and encourage families to stay in Boston.
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Durkan: Boston is facing a serious housing crisis, with soaring rents and a shortage of affordable housing options. We need to invest in expanding affordable housing and affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and middle-income families. In addition, I recently supported updates to the Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) to meet the moment and ensure that large-scale development projects bring benefits to our residents, and more affordable housing to our communities, ensuring our communities are attainable for residents. In short, with deepening our City’s standards for what each project must contribute to their impacted communities, we are mitigating gentrification. I’m hopeful that these updates and initiatives will deepen affordability in neighborhoods, especially with the addition of a voucher component to residential projects. I believe we must create and preserve affordable housing opportunities, and ensure that everyone has access to a safe and stable place to live.
What does the city need to do to address gun violence and improve public safety?
Haywood: I believe that District 8 needs walking beats that cover the entire District. Private business owners are paying to have Charles Street privately patrolled at night. This is a core function that the city should be addressing, not small business owners. In addition to walking beats the city needs to study, and address its youth housing insecurity crisis. We need to make sure that the city’s youth aren’t made homeless merely because they have turned 18. We need to identify these youth on the margin prior to them becoming homeless and make sure that they have a plan for success.
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Durkan: Although Boston is generally considered a safe city, gun violence is an issue that garners concern from many residents. The nature of gun violence in Boston has changed over the decades, meaning the solutions to the issue should change.
As the Senior Advisor for community safety, Isaac Yablo is tasked with advancing safety, preventing violence, addressing trauma, and increasing justice in Boston. I look forward to working with him to ensure we are getting ghost guns off of the streets, identifying the individuals responsible for gun violence and providing mental health services to these individuals. This should be a top priority for the city. As District 8’s Councilor, I have spoken with Commissioner Michael Cox about the issues facing us, and I have committed myself to be a partner in making sure BPD has the resources they need to remove unlicensed firearms from our streets.
How would you improve Boston’s roads and public transit?
Haywood: The city needs to put into its ongoing budget the fixed cost year over year of repairing and maintaining all of the city roads and sidewalks in a timely fashion. Additionally, the public transit system needs an overhaul that includes additional train service and a plan to run express trains during rush hour, and around concerts, and sporting events so we can more efficiently move people around the city.
Durkan: Whether traveling by foot, bike, bus, subway or car, Bostonians should be able to access all parts of our city safely and reliably. Our district is home to some of the city’s most walkable and bikeable neighborhoods. Yet our crosswalks, intersections, paths, and protected bike lanes are not safe and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
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As District 8’s City Councilor, I am already prioritizing Boston’s infrastructure to ensure our neighbors can get where they need to go safely, comfortably, and accessibly. For example, through advocacy, patch repaving has begun on the North Slope of Beacon Hill, including Myrtle St, Anderson St, Garden St, Pinckney St, and Grove St. The next round of streets will be West Cedar St, Willow St, Joy St, Grove St and Charles St. I’ve also done an audit of missing and loose bricks on Charles St, the beginning of a model my office will use to prioritize constituent infrastructure tasks within city departments.
I’ve advocated and commented on my thoughts regarding the proposed Red Blue Line connector, as well as the Charlesgate Revitalization Project in Kenmore Sq. These partnerships with state agencies, will require a Councilor focused on convening neighborhood voices.
Many readers say they’ve lost faith in the Boston City Council. How would you work to regain their trust?
Haywood: This starts with showing up for work every single day, being present in the neighborhood meetings, and listening to the neighborhood’s concerns, all the while fiercely advocating for solutions for your District.
Durkan: When I’ve spoken to District 8 residents at their respective doors, and on the phone as their representative, I’ve found that they are most concerned about responsive government, and having a councilor who cares about the work in front of them. This job provides the opportunity to make a difference, in a way that no other job could! I’m honored by the trust residents have placed in me. In these first 11 weeks, I believe I’ve been able to demonstrate that commitment to residents. I hope that they will continue to put their trust in me on November 7th.
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Find out more about Montez Haywood on his website.
Find out more about Sharon Durkan on her website and social media.
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