The city of Boston is working to ensure that a diverse collection of residents are benefitting from the fruits of the city's current building boom.
"After years of disappointing results from an ordinance intended to increase the hiring of Boston residents, women, and minorities to construction jobs, the city of Boston is eyeing changes to make it more effective," according to an article by Matt Rocheleau.
The work of requiring a local and diverse cross section of employment opportunities for the construction trades falls to a 37-year-old ordinance called the Boston Residents Jobs Policy. The ordinance, "requires construction companies to demonstrate good faith efforts to guarantee that 50 percent of all hours worked go to Boston residents, 25 percent go to minorities, and 10 percent go to women," according to Rocheleau. The ordinance, however, is having trouble meeting the demands of the current building boom. Progress has stalled in hiring of minorities, and hiring of women and local residents has never hit targets.
Led by Karilyn Crockett, the city's director of economic policy and research, the city is looking for ways to improve the ordinance in a review process that began in 2015. Changes in communications policy have already been implemented, and open data improvements are also planned in an effort to improve results.
FULL STORY: City ponders how to boost hiring of certain groups in construction industry
Trump Administration Kills Obama Era Local Hiring Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation quietly killed an Obama Administration program that would have been the only federal level local hiring initiative.
U.S. DOT Will Allow and Encourage Local Hiring
The U.S. Department of Transportation has changed its rules in favor of local hiring: a pilot program will even encourage it. Minorities traditionally barred from high-paying construction work stand to benefit.
Boston Bus Signal Priority Project Yields Faster Travel Times
The city now plans to expand a year-long pilot project that reduced the time buses waited at traffic signals.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)