I'm not blaming biotech exclusively for the current situation, but as the #1 growth industry in the region, they certainly have had an impact around here and not always in a positive way.

Think the cost of living and housing here is ridiculous? It's not because of Amazon or Google or Microsoft. Sure, they might have provided high paying jobs but it came with a cost to the rest of the communities they affected.

You know things are getting bad when we're outdoing San Fransisco and new arrivals from CA are flabbergasted by the availability and cost of housing here.

Personally speaking, I'm financially fine and living comfortably, but I'm not wealthy by any means. Others that I know aren't doing as well and even with affordable housing, it s not going to change their situation very much for the foreseeable future.

The last thing they're concerned about (and I don't blame them), is what other cities have done or "greener ways".

Example: The Western Ave Corridor study and rezoning plan in Allston I don't live there, but I do live close by, and this shit benefits no one but Harvard U and developers at the expense of lower wage earners and businesses in the area.

Eliminating 180-200 parking spaces for local residents and business, and creating an "innovation corridor" where cars are discouraged by diverting traffic and creating two one way streets and make way for bike and bus lanes for the sake of profit under the pretense of "greener ways" is pretty fucked up if you ask me.

In reality, its not really my problem, but it does piss me off