BOSTON (January 9, 2023) – Councilor Gabriela Coletta recently released her second Annual Report reflecting on 2023 and her first term on the Boston City Council. In the report, she highlights funding wins, community service initiatives, policy and organizing efforts, and looks ahead to priorities on the Council and in our neighborhoods for 2024.
“I’m excited to share all the important work we have been doing the past year and what I’m advocating for in the new year. The year has been filled with hard work and dedication to District One inside and outside of the Council. It is an honor to continue serving the residents of District One in 2024, and I look forward to your ongoing partnership,” said Councilor Coletta. “My goal is to always be accessible and responsive. I am hopeful we can continue to expand the prosperity and foster the vibrancy of Charlestown, East Boston, North End, and the Downtown Waterfront together in 2024.”
In the report, Coletta shares her work with city departments to make infrastructure changes for effective constituent services, her efforts to ensure the City of Boston addresses community concerns about neighborhood growth, and her commitment to protecting and improving quality of life for all residents.
This was the second year the Council had the opportunity to reject, reduce, pass, or amend line items in the city budget. Coletta hosted a series of five budget town halls to hear directly from constituents about budget priorities such as additional resources and capacity for faster street and sidewalk repair, and more inspectors for rat and building inspection. Coletta’s FY25 budget priorities include but are not limited to:
- Targeted investments in affordable home ownership opportunities and housing access for all income levels
- Modernization of internal technology system to make city government more efficient
- Ensuring life saving resources are invested as neighborhoods grow such as Emergency Medical Services
- Technical assistance for civic associations
- Technical assistance for nightlife businesses to protect patrons from drink containment
- English classes for Immigrants
- Enhancing waterfront resiliency, accessibility, and inclusivity
- Additional resources and capacity for faster street and sidewalk repair
Throughout the year, Coletta put forward a robust policy agenda that addresses both the “nuts and bolts” and the grander goals of the city so it functions effectively. Policy initiatives include:
- Calling for a district-wide, comprehensive plan for our Waterfront to protect against displacement due to coastal flooding and storm surge
- Establishing street food enterprises in the City of Boston municipal code through a streamlined process making it easier to set up a street vending business
- Piloting an environmental justice and climate change curriculum in Boston Public Schools
- Calling for the coordination of construction and utility street work while improving technology systems for permits
- Securing an audit of citywide parking regulations due to patchwork of conflicting parking rules that do not match enforcement
- Exploring a Food Recovery Program requiring grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels to donate safe-to-consume leftover food
Coletta launched an anti-trash community initiative to reduce litter across the neighborhood through a multi-layered strategy focusing on litter prevention like increasing the number of trash barrels, expanding civic awareness, and making investments such as funding for more Hokies and community clean-ups. Additionally, she recognizes that mattress recycling has been a persistent neighborhood issue and has advocated for additional resources and funding from the state so that mattress recycling runs smoothly.
In the new year, Councilor Coletta is excited to continue advocating for District 1 with a robust policy agenda. She will be hosting a series of listening tours to hear from residents and shape her 2024 policy agenda. East Boston’s Listening Tour will take place virtually on Wednesday, January 17th at 6pm. Residents can RSVP at bit.ly/Coletta-Listening.
