Support WBUR
Boston's Morning Newsletter
Opponents of Blue Hill Avenue's revamp call on Trump administration to pull $80M in road funding
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.
Congrats to the Knicks on winning another NBA championship after 53 years! Us Bostonians know the euphoria of clinching a title after a long dry spell.
But does this victory count as breaking a curse? Where does it rank in sports history? Don't worry; according to The New York Times, Boston still beats NYC on that record.
Now, let's get to the news:
Getting tapped in: The fight to halt construction of a bus lane in the center of Boston's Blue Hill Avenue is escalating to the feds. After years of imploring Mayor Michelle Wu's administration, opponents of the city's approved redesign of Blue Hill Avenue are calling upon the Trump administration to pull $80 million in funding from the $162 million project (which has been stalled for some time now). The controversial center bus lane would run from Mattapan Square to Grove Hall in Dorchester, a route that serves 37,000 bus riders. City officials say the revamp is necessary for Blue Hill Avenue, which is notoriously "chaotic" due to double-parking, traffic congestion and dangerous intersections. But some community members think the change would do more harm than good.
- Why? Some residents have been critical of the Blue Hill Avenue redesign long before it received funding in February 2026. WBUR's Eve Zuckoff reports a group made up of a dozen business owners and residents is worried the bus lane may hurt the area's small businesses and those who shop at them. In a written appeal to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the group is also concerned they have not been able to get a meeting with the mayor. "The Black community in Boston has been forced to appeal to the Trump administration for relief from the Wu administration," said Dianne Wilkerson, a former state senator and signatory. "We recognize how extraordinary this is. But this is where we are." She added the federal government has confirmed the letter has been received.
- The other side of the coin: Reggie Ramos, executive director of Transportation for Massachusetts, told WBUR's Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez she disagrees with the call to cut funding for the redesign. "The funding is there. What are we waiting for? People are dying in that corridor. And having letters sent to the federal government that is not representative of safety of the residents and is quite concerning," Ramos said. "Really, this takes us several steps backwards and that's not what the residents deserve."
- So, what's Wu saying? There has been no direct response from the mayor's office. But in a statement, a spokesperson for the city said Boston is "working closely with community leaders, residents and the MBTA to deploy federally-awarded funds to make much-needed improvements to Blue Hill Avenue, beautify the roadway, speed up commutes and expand opportunities for small businesses along the corridor."
Tartan Army takes it: Foxborough's first World Cup match ended in disapointment for Haiti, with Scotland taking the win 1-0. The kilt-wearing Scottish fans celebrated, bagpipes and all, after watching their national team lock in their first World Cup win in 36 years.
- Any hiccups? There were Disneyland-style lines to board the trains to "Boston Stadium" from South Station, according to Andrea, but overall the MBTA's plans went off without any major hitches. (The Boston Globe reports 20,000 fans queued up for the sold-out trains.) Some fans cited poor crowd management at Gillette, with long lines outside the stadium's security turnstiles, even after the match had started. But overall, BPD told the Globe that fans were well-behaved, making only two Fan Fest-related arrests Saturday, while State Police reported “no major incidents.”
- See for yourself: Check out these photos from the friendly fan ruckus that took place from Boston to Foxborough.
- Going viral: Aside from the one Scottish fan who came from Los Angeles to Boston on foot to raise awareness for mental health, the internet is also loving this Boston police officer with some major keepy-uppies skills.
Hunger in Massachusetts: The Greater Boston Food Bank is donating $6.3 million to its more than 600 partners, WBUR's Fausto Menard reports. The food bank, which has spent nearly $65 million on food for those in need over the last year, said it expects to distribute 94 million meals this year — 2 million more than it did last year. But it's necessary, according to Kathryn Alexander, GBFB vice president of external affairs. She said 40% of Massachusetts households are currently experiencing food insecurity. "That is a staggering number," Alexander told Fausto. "Back in 2020 when we started the report, that number was 19%, so we're seeing this huge jump."
- What's causing the increase? Alexander says the rise in food insecurity "is a combination of high inflation, the high cost of living and the new federal restrictions to food assistance."
P.S. — If you want to channel your inner Scot, add a little buzz to your next World Cup viewing experience. Here & Now has three international cocktail recipes from America's Test Kitchen mixologist Joe Gitter.
Meagan McGinnes-Bessey helped contribute to today's newsletter.
