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Boston police officers will now wear name tags under new contract extension
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.
It’s Election Day in 55 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The Boston mayor’s race is wrapped up, but there’s a battle for the only open City Council seat. And in Quincy, Mayor Tom Koch may not be on the ballot, but voter discontent over some of his decisions could lead to a turnover on the City Council. Click here for more on the contested mayoral races in Somerville, Gloucester, Brockton and elsewhere.
Now, let’s cast our way into the news:
Hi, my name is... Boston police officers will add a new piece of flair to their uniforms: name tags. As WBUR's Fausto Menard reports, it's one of a host of changes made under a one-year contract extension announced yesterday between Mayor Michelle Wu's administration and the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association. Superior officers (like sergeants and lieutenants) already wore name tags. And officers always had their unique badge number visible, so a name tag might seem like a small change. But Wu said it's especially important now, given the prevalence of masked federal agents conducting immigration enforcement. "Real public safety requires transparency and knowing someone's name makes a difference," the mayor said.
- What else is in the contract? Officers will get a 2% raise, which will cost the city roughly $6.7 million. They'll also get free access to gyms at BPD facilities (previously they had to pay a membership fee) and, if operations allow it, officers can work out for 30 minutes each shift. The contract also expands the summer vacation schedule (hopefully lessening mandatory overtime) and increases the number of sick days officers can "sell back" when they retire (from 80 to 100).
- In the details: The new contract streamlines detail assignments to better align with officers' existing shifts. It also moves the clerical duties of assigning details away from patrol officers and to civilians instead. (The existing contract already allowed officers outside the department — such as BPD retirees or local university police officers — to work unfilled detail assignments.)
- The big picture: This extension builds on the five-year contract Wu signed with the patrolmen's union in 2023 — the first negotiated after the push for police reform in 2020. That contract closed a loophole that allowed officers charged with serious crimes to overturn discipline through the arbitration process.
- What's next: The new contract was ratified last week by union members. Now, the Boston City Council just has to approve funding for it.
Back in court: Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is taking the Trump administration to court (for the second time in a week). This time it's over changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which offers to cancel the student loan debt of borrowers who spend a decade working in public service. The Department of Education now says that it can deny forgiveness to those who work for nonprofits or governments that engage in activities with a "substantial illegal purpose." WBUR's John Bender reports Campbell and the 21 other AGs worry the Trump administration will use loan forgiveness as a weapon against local governments it doesn't like.
- What's an "illegal purpose"? According to the Department of Education, it includes "aiding and abetting violations of federal immigration laws." That could put cities like Boston — which is already facing a lawsuit from the Trump administration over its refusal to cooperate with immigration officials except in criminal matters — in the crosshairs. During a press conference Monday, Campbell said organizations that provide gender-affirming health care to transgender youth or promote diversity, equity and inclusion could also be threatened.
High water: This week brings what are known as king tides (or, wicked high tides if you're local). These tides are two to four feet higher than normal — and are a preview of our future with continued sea level rise. The high tides start today at 9:25 a.m. and peak Thursday and Friday in the 11 a.m. hour with roughly 12-foot tides.
- State officials say to prepare for road and lane closures on the oft-flooded stretch of Dorchester's Morrissey Boulevard.
- Why do we get these tides? It's all about the moon's gravitational pull — and how close the moon is to Earth. Stone Living Lab has a great explainer on king tides. They're also holding information sessions at flooding hot spot Long Wharf in downtown Boston during high tide on four days this week.
P.S. — Another big Green Line diversion is on the docket. Starting at 8 p.m. tonight, the Green Line north of Park Street is closed — meaning no trains from Park Street to Union Square or Medford/Tufts. Shuttles will run between North Station and Medford/Tufts and the T recommends the Orange Line for trips between Park Street and North Station. (There are no shuttles to Union Square, so the T suggests taking a normal bus or walking to a nearby station.) Read more about the work here.
