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Boston's Morning Newsletter
An 'alarming' 25% of Greater Boston's young adults are thinking about leaving
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.
We should get details on Gov. Maura Healey’s “blanket pardon” plans for those with marijuana possession convictions at 10 a.m. this morning during a press conference at the State House.
But first, here’s what we already have details on:
Shipping out: A new poll shows almost nine out of 10 young adults in Greater Boston are pretty happy with their day-to-day lives. But at the same time, an “alarming” 25% say they’re at least somewhat likely to leave the region in the next five years. As WBUR’s Fausto Menard reports, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce surveyed more than 800 people between the ages of 20 and 30. “We don’t want to lose them,” Chamber spokesperson Casey Baines told Fausto, stressing young adults are the key to the region’s future and the vibrancy of local neighborhoods.
- What are the most important factors? Despite the mostly positive sentiments, the survey found — perhaps unsurprisingly — that affordability concerns were top of mind. Job availability (66%), cost of rent (66%), ability to buy a house (55%), transportation and mobility (41%) and proximity to family (40%) were the top five priorities people said were “very important.”
- The big takeaway: Young people around here want local leaders to focus on affordable housing and quality jobs. “They’re looking for change in those areas so that they can continue living here, continue creating a future here … and not be drawn away to competitor cities that are more affordable,” Baines said.
- Go deeper: The poll found some difference across gender, race and sexual orientation. For example, women ages 28-30 and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were the most likely to say they plan to stay in Greater Boston long term. Meanwhile, Black women and LGBTQ+ individuals — both more likely to rate cultural and racial diversity as an important factor — were the most likely to say they plan to leave within five years. Read more about the poll’s insights here.
- Psst: We can’t lower your rent, but if you want to feel more connected to your community, check out our Newcomer’s Field Guide to Boston newsletter. (There’s a lot in there for native Bostonians, too.)
A new home in Nubian: Work is officially underway on the new Roxbury campus of the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. The small private technical college — which was created with money from Ben Franklin’s will — plans to move from its long-time location in the South End to Nubian Square by fall 2025.
- The planned 68,000-square-foot building will have a rooftop learning lab, automotive shop and an advanced manufacturing center. (See more renderings of the campus here.)
- Aisha Francis, the president of Franklin Cummings Tech, also says the construction itself gives students an opportunity to get hands-on experience with the contractor. “They are using our building project as a learning tool in the classroom and similarly for our practical electricity students and students in our HVAC or refrigeration program,” she told WBUR’s Dave Faneuf.
Still on the picket line: The strike at North Adams’ Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is now entering its second week. As New England Public Media’s Jill Kaufman reports, museum leaders and the union have not met since the strike began last Wednesday.
- Ripple effects: Some businesses close to (and inside) the museum say they’re seeing a drop in customers. Kaufman reports it could be that less people are going to MASS MoCA or because locals don’t want to cross a daily picket line.
- Catch up: WBUR’s Arielle Gray has more on what the union is asking for in a new contract and what the museum is offering.
Heads up: A Bluebike price hike is ahead. The local bikeshare system says it’s raising some of its rates on April 11 to support its expansion in the Boston area and the addition of new e-bikes.
- What’s changing: Annual memberships will go from $129 to $133.50 and monthly memberships will go from $29 to $30.50. Fees for rides longer than 30 minutes will also increase.
- What stays the same: The price for a single ride under 30 minutes will remain at $2.95. There’s also no change to Bluebikes’ e-bikes fees or memberships for low-income riders and Boston residents.
P.S.— Keep your head on a swivel for the big saw-wielding helicopter flying around western Massachusetts. Starting this week, Eversource will be using the blade-dangling chopper to trim trees in the region. (Eversource says this way is more efficient and actually safer than traditional trimming methods, but … maybe don’t stand below it.)
