Submitted by GlobeOpinion t3_11h22h0 in boston
The Globe Editorial Board writes:
What is it with Mayor Michelle Wu and the North End?
But more important, can this relationship be salvaged — at least in time to bring another summer of outdoor dining to one of the city’s most iconic spots for tourists and locals alike.
The mayor is so concerned about the city’s vibrancy that last week she named a “director of nightlife economy” — an important job, its boring title notwithstanding. It was, her office said, in keeping with Wu’s “vision to make Boston a city for everyone.”
So yes, the tables will be bustling along Newbury Street and Charles Street all summer, but along Hanover Street — well, not so much. How is that fair?
This year’s virtual ban on North End outdoor dining comes on the heels of last year’s double standard — one that had only North End restaurants paying a seasonal fee of $7,500 to set up tables on the sidewalks, plus a $480-a-month fee for every parking space used for additional dining. Most of the nearly $800,000 in fees went for special clean-up efforts, the city said.
More: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/03/opinion/fairness-demands-better-solution-north-end-outdoor-dining/