So much has happened in the last few years, and yet in many areas, it feels like the rollercoaster ride has only just begun. People have begun to demand more accountability from the government, and Boston City Council has been fighting to make our voices heard in budgetary matters. They want to make sure that everything is above board. How could this possibly be a bad thing?

2020 was like a perfect storm, between Covid lockdowns and calls to defund the police and reform the government ringing out across the country. It functioned as a wakeup call: we can't sit around and wait for the government to do the right thing, it is time for us to put our democratic process into action.

Based on a proposal made by Massachusetts Senator (then-Councilor) Lydia Edwards, the City of Boston has determined that the City Council and Mayor should receive equal authority in deciding upon the budget. It gives council members the right to play a stronger and more direct role in how the #budget for the city is structured.

Numerous citizens contact members of the City Council with requests that they make certain adjustments to the city budget. As good as many of these suggestions may be, until now it was impossible for the Council to implement them, since they couldn't wield the same level of power as City Councils do in other locations. Now they will have the power to add to and modify the city budget with the Mayor. It is a truly wonderful opportunity for real change to take place, though it is of course possible that the constant back and forth regarding the budget will complicate the process unnecessarily. 

It's clear to see that as things currently stand in the country, we need to do more to ensure that the people's voices are heard. Moving forward, insightful changes like these need to be welcome. We just need to ensure that it is incorporated at a time and in a manner that make it the most positively impactful to the people.