Sam Mintz of Brookline.News and Jessica Smyser of Brookline Interactive Group discuss the latest news, including why trash is piling up, the latest on controversial bus lanes in Brookline Village, school leadership turnover and the story behind two popular Buy Nothing Facebook groups. Click play below, or find us on your favorite podcast platform.
Category: Town government
Explained in two minutes: The ongoing debate over whether Brookline should be a city or a town
In a two-minute video, editor Sam Mintz walks through the ongoing debate about the future of Brookline’s governance.
Two months late, Town Meeting member admits to $5,000 in previously unreported local election spending
In a form filed with the town in June, a Town Meeting member acknowledged being behind a mysterious election mailer that had raised questions about campaign finance laws this spring. On June 13, Richard Nangle filed a form with the Town Clerk’s office reporting that he was responsible for more than $5,000 in spending aimed… Continue reading Two months late, Town Meeting member admits to $5,000 in previously unreported local election spending
Family, colleagues remember Betsy Shure Gross, activist and Olmsted advocate who helped revitalize Brookline’s parks
Betsy Shure Gross was a tireless environmental and social justice advocate—a “rebel with a cause,” as she said in a 2001 interview with the Jewish Women’s Archive. When Shure Gross moved to Brookline in 1971, she grew enchanted by the Emerald Necklace, one of the many Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks where she felt “democracy was… Continue reading Family, colleagues remember Betsy Shure Gross, activist and Olmsted advocate who helped revitalize Brookline’s parks
The town wants to hear from you about parking in Brookline Village and Washington Square
The town has launched two surveys to hear from community members about one of the most perennially controversial topics in Brookline: parking. The surveys are for two neighborhoods, Brookline Village and Washington Square, and they are part of separate studies aimed at “improving parking conditions and overall mobility in each neighborhood,” according to a town… Continue reading The town wants to hear from you about parking in Brookline Village and Washington Square
Are the bus lanes near Brookline Village working? Town, MBTA say they need six more months to find out
A key town board on Wednesday recommended extending a controversial bus-only lane pilot near Brookline Village for at least another six months to allow the town and MBTA to keep testing out the concept. The “Gateway East” project laid down a bus-only lane last July that runs in both directions of Washington Street between Station… Continue reading Are the bus lanes near Brookline Village working? Town, MBTA say they need six more months to find out
Two jewelry businesses try out a Harvard Street storefront as part of Project Pop-Up
FindingYoyo and AuraBead, two small businesses with unique takes on jewelry design, have moved into an incubator space in Coolidge Corner, as part of the fourth round of Project Pop-Up Brookline. The partnership between the company UpNext and the town enables budding entrepreneurs to try out a brick-and-mortar storefront for several months, subsidizing a portion… Continue reading Two jewelry businesses try out a Harvard Street storefront as part of Project Pop-Up
Town moves to quickly install Driscoll School solar project as Trump slashes clean energy tax credits
The town is moving forward with a plan to purchase solar panels for the Driscoll School, despite uncertainty over federal tax incentives in the Trump administration. The Select Board on Tuesday signed off on the $343,155 purchase of 272 panels for the K-8 school’s roof, which is funded as part of the budget for the… Continue reading Town moves to quickly install Driscoll School solar project as Trump slashes clean energy tax credits
Restaurant updates: A Colombian steakhouse is coming to Washington Square, Brookline Lunch will keep the Busy Bee name, and two new Jimmy John’s
A Colombian steakhouse, a “Jimmy Dunks” and a popular Cambridge restaurant are coming to various locations on Beacon Street, according to a recent meeting of the town’s licensing panel. Capricho Colombian Steakhouse will take the place of the popular French restaurant La Voile, which shuttered at the end of its 10-year lease in April. Located… Continue reading Restaurant updates: A Colombian steakhouse is coming to Washington Square, Brookline Lunch will keep the Busy Bee name, and two new Jimmy John’s
Push for an outdoor pool in Brookline gains new momentum
Summer is here, and it’s been a hot one: Brookline residents are looking for somewhere to cool off. But with only one indoor public pool in town and private pools inaccessible or costly, the options can be slim. Since 2019, when Town Meeting passed a resolution calling for the town to study the possibility of… Continue reading Push for an outdoor pool in Brookline gains new momentum
Recreation Department set to take over BACE programming
The Recreation Department is finalizing a plan to take over public education programming for Brookline adults, children and seniors, previously offered through the nonprofit Brookline Adult and Community Education. Tim Davis, the town’s recreation director, gave the update at a Park and Recreation Commission meeting on Tuesday. Discussions between BACE, the School Committee and the… Continue reading Recreation Department set to take over BACE programming
Town Meeting emails: June 2 to June 30
Brookline.News is publishing the latest emails from the Town Meeting Members Association listserv, which were obtained as part of an ongoing public records request. In these messages sent between June 2 and June 30, Town Meeting members discuss a variety of local government issues. Mobile users: Click the link to view the emails in a new… Continue reading Town Meeting emails: June 2 to June 30
Chabad Center wins legal fight over plans for new South Brookline synagogue, set to start construction
A state Land Court judge has ordered the town to issue a special permit for construction of a new synagogue for the Chabad Center at Chestnut Hill, clearing one of the final hurdles for the Orthodox Jewish group’s controversial plans to build a new house of worship on Bellingham Road. The June 25 ruling comes… Continue reading Chabad Center wins legal fight over plans for new South Brookline synagogue, set to start construction
Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
The developer planning a major commercial redevelopment on Route 9 has floated the possibility of turning the project into a residential development, if the town fails to make progress on a study aimed at rezoning a stretch of the thoroughfare. City Realty, which owns a mostly-vacant office park at 1280-1330 Boylston Street, is in the… Continue reading Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
Town and firefighters agree on new contract, resolve staffing dispute
The town and a union representing Brookline firefighters have agreed on a three-year contract and put an end to a dispute over fire department staffing levels. The new three-year contract runs retroactively from July 1, 2024, when the previous contract expired, to June 30, 2027. The details of the agreement were not immediately available. Town… Continue reading Town and firefighters agree on new contract, resolve staffing dispute
News in brief: Public health director departs, community fridge to reopen, a new tree manager
Sigalle Reiss, Brookline’s public health director, will step down on July 1 after more than three years in the role. She will join the consulting firm BME Strategies as Director of Public Health to support local health departments across the state. Reiss told Brookline.News that the departure was “bittersweet.” “I joined Brookline during a challenging… Continue reading News in brief: Public health director departs, community fridge to reopen, a new tree manager
Severe bedbug infestation spreads through Coolidge Corner condo building
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information from the Select Board meeting on Tuesday, June 24. A severe bedbug infestation in a condominium complex near Coolidge Corner has been festering for weeks, leaving residents frustrated and alarmed at the situation, and at the slow process of fixing the problem through the health… Continue reading Severe bedbug infestation spreads through Coolidge Corner condo building
Heat emergency: How to cool down in Brookline this week
With temperatures forecast to hit the upper 90s on Monday and Tuesday, the town of Brookline has declared a heat emergency for Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24. In an announcement, the town recommended that residents use air conditioners and take precautions when outside. To see more tips and resources on the state’s website,… Continue reading Heat emergency: How to cool down in Brookline this week
As Brookline considers becoming a city, what can it learn from Framingham?
With close to 63,000 residents, Brookline is the second largest town in Massachusetts behind only Plymouth, a status some residents would like to eschew: the City Charter Campaign continues to roll along, even as they’ve pushed their goal to the 2026 ballot. But the runner-up distinction is also a relatively new one: it was only… Continue reading As Brookline considers becoming a city, what can it learn from Framingham?
Town Meeting emails: April 28 – June 1
Brookline.News is publishing the latest emails from the Town Meeting Members Association listserv, which were obtained as part of an ongoing public records request. In these messages sent between April 28 and June 1, Town Meeting members discuss a variety of local government issues. Please note because of the size of the files, the emails… Continue reading Town Meeting emails: April 28 – June 1