Other or unclear
Ideas that are off-topic, unclear, too general to classify, or outside the City's role.
Residents in this catch-all theme mostly make broad or unclear asks for community help, cost relief, or ways to spend the $2 million, plus requests outside the City's role.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
169 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 71 | 5.8% | 7 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 52 | 4.3% | 11 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 46 | 3.5% | 14 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
General help for the community
Residents ask for more opportunities, services or resources for their community without naming a specific project, so the ideas cannot be classified further.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Ideas about how the participatory budgeting money is used
Some residents urge more or all of the budget go to participatory budgeting, while others propose giving the $2 million to a single cause or organization.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Direct financial relief for residents
Residents ask for cash support, debt or fee relief, or other help with living costs, often with few details on how the City would deliver it.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Property tax cuts and returning surplus funds
Residents ask the City to lower property taxes or return surplus money to taxpayers instead of spending it.
Raised in 2024–25, 2026–27
Specific private businesses and food options
Residents ask for particular chains, late-night food, or drinking venues, which are private business decisions rather than City projects.
Raised in 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Cycle 1 had the most ideas and the widest spread, including reentry and legal support, stadium and credit union proposals, and several unclear or joke submissions.
2025–26
Cycle 2 included many empty or one-word submissions alongside cash-payment proposals, public funding for election campaigns, and requests for specific shops and restaurants.
2026–27
Cycle 3 saw more requests about stray animals and spay/neuter services, more property tax relief asks, and a cluster of requests for chain restaurants in Dorchester.
New in 2026–27
Animal-related asks, such as spay/neuter services, rescue grants and a dog shelter, and property tax relief requests grew noticeably in 2026-27.
Funding so far
No winning projects relate to this theme, so none of the recurring asks (general community help, cost relief, tax cuts, animal services, how the budget is spent) has been addressed by a resident-voted project.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Ideas in Other or unclear
169 ideas
2024–25: 71 · 2025–26: 52 · 2026–27: 46
- Disability access fixtures in public doors and restroomsResident proposes kick-down door stoppers on public doors and grab rails and toilet seat safety rails in public restroom stalls to improve access for disabled people.2026–27City-wide
- Give money back to taxpayersResident asks that funds be returned to taxpayers, believing the city is eager to spend every penny.2026–27City-wide
- More food safety regulationResident asks for more regulation of food safety.2026–27ChinatownSubmitted in Korean
- Return funds to taxpayers via lower property taxResident asks that surplus funds be returned to taxpayers by lowering property taxes so people have more money for basic needs.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Programs to rescue and help stray animalsResident asks for programs to help and rescue animals living on community streets.2026–27Leather District
- Fund a dog shelter in RoxburyThe resident asks for a fund to build a dog shelter in Roxbury to reduce stray animals on the streets and keep the community clean.2026–27City-wide
- More services to help the communityThe resident asks for more community services without specifying which.2026–27Roxbury
- Tinted windows for barber shopsThe resident asks for frosted or tinted windows for barber shops so clients feel safe and shops earn more; this largely concerns private businesses.2026–27RoxburySubmitted in Korean
- Support mothers staying home with newbornsThe resident asks for support enabling mothers to stay home with infants after birth to avoid separation and long-term emotional issues.2026–27City-wide
- Address smoking and vaping in public areasResident asks for clear rules, visible enforcement, public education and designated alternatives for smoking and vaping on trains, in parks and near homes, citing unequal health harms in East Boston.2026–27East Boston
- Fund a specific person's business proposalResident asks the City to invest in a named individual's proposal for an all-women's program with childcare and refreshments, to bring people together and improve workplace balance.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Build more casinosThe resident asks for more casinos to be built, without further explanation.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Grants for portable ramps at historic businessesThe resident asks for a city grant program providing portable ramps to historic local businesses with a single entry step, so disabled residents can access them.2026–27City-wide
- More Bojangles restaurants in northern BostonThe resident asks for more Bojangles restaurant locations in the northern part of the city, which is a private business request.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Korean
- Designated smoking areas to protect kids and seniorsResident proposes designated areas for smokers so children and older adults are not exposed to cigarette and marijuana smoke that harms their health.2026–27City-wide
- Wrong-way spikes at highway off-rampsResident asks for one-way tire-puncturing spikes at about 210 highway off-ramp exits to stop wrong-way drivers and save lives.2026–27City-wide
- Broad community resources, parks, education and food accessThe resident asks generally for more community resources, parks, youth and family education, food access, sustainability, public safety and recreation, without a specific project.2026–27City-wide
- Money for the CelticsResident proposes giving $2 million to the Celtics because they love the team.2026–27City-wide
- Mobile spay and neuter service in Allston-BrightonResident asks for a spay and neuter wagon to visit Allston-Brighton at least four times a year, to curb abandoned pets and reduce cost barriers.2026–27Allston
- Grants for cat colony trap-and-release groupsResident asks for grants to organizations doing trap-and-release for cat colonies in Allston and Brighton.2026–27Brighton