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When do Mass. state beaches and pool open this year? Here's what to know
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A heat advisory takes effect today at 11 a.m. across most of Massachusetts, with potentially record breaking temperatures in the forecast for this time of year. The record for May 19 in Boston is 90 degrees. We could even come close to the city's all-time high for the entire month of May: 97 degrees, set all the way back in 1880.
Now, to the news:
Pool prep: State officials opened more than a dozen Boston-area spray decks yesterday — five days ahead of schedule — to give locals some relief from the heat. "They were originally scheduled to open Saturday, so this is an early opening for us," Shawn DeRosa, the Department of Conservation and Recreation's director of pool and waterfront safety, told WBUR's John Bender. (See the list of spray decks here.)
- Save the dates: Per usual, DCR's ocean and inland beaches officially open (i.e. start staffing lifeguard stands and making you pay for parking) this Saturday for Memorial Day weekend. But we'll have to wait for schools to get out for the summer before DCR's dozens of public pools open across the state on June 20.
- Testing, testing: DCR staff are currently testing the beaches for bacteria levels and will post the results by Thursday or Friday, DeRosa said. Keep an eye on their water quality dashboard, unless you want to risk swimming in a Newburyport situation.
- Now hiring: DCR is also still looking for lifeguards, per usual. DeRosa said staffing levels are strong in most regions, but they're still a little short in areas like Brighton, Concord, Waltham, Watertown, Lawrence, Lowell, Chelsea, Revere and Nahant. The pay isn't bad either. You can learn more about applying here.
- PSA: DCR doesn't encourage swimming at beaches before they're open. For one, the water is still quite cold. And two, it's more risky without lifeguards. "We would recommend that you exercise extreme caution and always supervise children whenever they're in, on or around the water," DeRosa said.
At City Hall: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is proposing to pull $70 million from the city's rainy day fund — or should we say snowy day fund — to cover a budget deficit for the fiscal year that ends June 30. As WBUR's Eve Zuckoff reports, Wu blames the majority of the cost overruns on unexpectedly high snow removal costs this winter. The city's schools and health costs played a role, too.
- The big picture: There's more than $600 million in Boston's so-called reserve fund. Wu said the proposed $70 million withdrawal is just a “one-time” expense in response to an "extraordinary" winter. That said, city finance officials are projecting $50 million budget gaps in the years ahead.
- What's next: The Boston City Council is scheduled to vote on Wu's proposal this Wednesday.
Speaking of rising costs: Gov. Maura Healey's administration announced additional measures yesterday aimed at reining in residents' out-of-pocket health care costs. Officials ordered health insurance companies to limit increases in healthcare deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs for patients to 3.6% next year. The state's Division of Insurance has the power to impose such caps under a 2025 healthcare oversight bill signed by Healey in 2025. The cap this year is 4.8%.
- Go deeper: Healey's office said the 2027 caps will save patients an average of $232 a year and be the tightest limits on out-of-pocket health costs in the country. However, some skeptics think the limits will simply lead to higher premiums. State House News Service has more on the debate here.
P.S.— Cambridge is holding a meeting tonight to address residents' questions and concerns about the shooting last week on Memorial Drive. Officials say police will explain how the event unfolded and the next steps in the legal process in the wake of the shooter's arraignment. "We recognize that this was a traumatic event for many in the community and kind of a shocking one that has probably left a lot of questions," Cambridge Police spokesperson Bob Reardon told WBUR. "So, what we want to do is show that we're there for those that have been impacted."
