News and Notes

Protection from Elderly Eviction

Two bills have been filed to support right to counsel and protection for older adults in eviction proceedings that Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has testified in favor of.

One act filed by Rep. Chynah Tyler and Sen. Sal DiMenico which would provide any low-income tenant facing eviction with a court appointed attorney for representation.

The others sponsored by Adrian Madero would prohibit no-fault eviction of people over 75 years of age, limiting rent increase to five percent per year to prevent landlords from using large rent increases to get around just cause protection.

Mayor Appoints SOAR Director

The revamping of the City’s violence prevention and intervention program, SOAR formally BCYF Streetworker Program has taken place within evidence base approach.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has appointed Talia Rivera as Soar Boston’s Director, the first woman to lead and oversee the program since it was created in the early 1990s.

“Our team has been working very hard over the last year to rethink and enhance this program to be as effective as we can,” the Mayor said.

Woods Named Parks Commissioner

Ryan T. Woods has been appointed by Mayor Martin Walsh as the next Commissioner of Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

Woods is served in the department since 2007.

“Boston is a great parks City and Ryan brings a wealth of internal and external experience to the role of Parks Commissioner,” Mayor Walsh said.

Boston Summer Eats Program Launched

The 2019 Boston Summer Eats Program that provides free nutritional meals to youth ages 18 and under has been launched at more than 100 locations throughout Boston.

“No child in Boston should ever go hungry and this program helps serve all students throughout the summer months,” Mayor Martin Walsh said.

The program is led by the Mayor’s Office of Food Services in partnership with Project Bread, Greater Boston YMCA and Boston Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services. Site funding is provided by Boston Children’s Hospital.