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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Should the City of Boston have its own official merch? Here's what to know about the idea
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The Red Line is fully open again, but now the MBTA’s other three subway lines are having big problems this morning. As of 8:30 a.m., Green, Blue and Orange Line trains continue to run with "significant delays" due “a power problem” affecting the T's stations and signal system. Officials suggest riders consider alternative travel options.
Let’s get to the news:
Should the City of Boston have official merch? A City Hall hoodie? Boston Planning and Development Agency reprints of historic maps? Public Works coffee mugs? There’s a lot of enthusiasm for the idea inside City Hall, says Councilor Sharon Durkan. During a meeting yesterday, she filed an order to explore the creation of a citywide merchandise licensing program in Boston. “When you fall in love with this city, you want to wear it on your chest,” Durkan said in an interview. “You want to put on a hoodie. You want to put on a cap. You want to wear it on your water bottle.”
- Zoom out: For decades, New York City has licensed official clothing, apparel and souvenirs — from NYPD hats to Department of Sanitation trash can pen holders. (Durkan says she got the idea after seeing a friend with a NYC Parks and Recreation hoodie.) Similar programs also exist in Los Angeles, Chicago and London.
- Why get into the merch game? For starters, it’s a way to show off civic pride. Boston already has no shortage of Red Sox hats and Celtics jerseys. But, according to Durkan, this would allow residents to rep Boston’s various agencies, neighborhoods and symbols — and allow Boston to own its own brand. “In the absence of a structured license framework, these treasured emblems remain untapped reservoirs of potential, susceptible to indiscriminate reproduction and commercialization,” she said in the meeting.
- It also could be a revenue opportunity. The proposal came just before a new report showing that Boston faces growing tax revenue shortfalls due to empty office buildings. While Durkan says it’s difficult to estimate how much money merchandise licensing would bring, NYC’s program netted the city $24 million in 2009.
- What’s next? The process kicks off with scheduling a hearing in the near future. Durkan hopes to work with council colleagues and various city departments to eventually put out an RFP to local artists and businesses that would create and sell the merchandise. “I’m excited to see where the conversation goes,” she said.
- Share: What merch would you want from the city? Parks and rec sneakers? 311 t-shirts? Smells like public works candles? Let us know by emailing newsletters@wbur.org and we could feature your response in a future story or newsletter.
Zoning out: Milton voters have overturned a new zoning plan meant to encourage more multifamily housing in parts of the Boston suburb, as the “no” campaign won yesterday’s referendum with 54% of the 9,466 votes cast.
- Now what? State officials say Milton will be in violation of the MBTA Communities Act as soon as the results are certified. While Massachusetts Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said the state is “hopeful” they can work with Milton to put forward a new compliant zoning plan, he said the town “will begin losing out on significant grant funding from the state” in the meantime. Attorney General Andrea Campbell also hinted that her office is prepared to take legal action.
Leaving the Legislature: Four veteran Democratic state legislators in Massachusetts announced this week they will retire at the end of the year, joining what’s become a growing exodus on Beacon Hill. The list is headlined by the Senate’s longest serving member, Marc Pacheco, of Taunton, who has been on Beacon Hill for over 35 years.
- Who else? Thirteen-term Newton Rep. Ruth Balser, eight-term Westport Rep. Paul Schmid, and seven-term Needham Rep. Denise Garlick all announced they won’t seek reelection. In total, that makes two state senators and nine state reps leaving office, per State House News Service.
Pushback in Franklin Park: The BPDA scrapped a proposed vote on a zoning amendment last night that was key for advancing plans to renovate White Stadium into the new home of Boston’s upcoming women’s professional soccer team. According to The Dorchester Reporter, officials are lightly tapping the brakes due to concerns from local residents about traffic, the use of the space and the timeline.
- The big picture: Boston officials still say they expect to finish the renovations by early 2026. However, the delay this week means demolition work will not begin in April as originally planned.
P.S.— Tickets for this summer’s Levitate Music Festival in Marshfield go on sale today at noon. The July 5-7 festival is slated to feature a rare appearance by the recently reunited ’90s surf-punk band Sublime, along with Lake Street Dive, Mt. Joy and many others.
