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
- Approve late-night Taco BellResident asks the city to approve a Taco Bell staying open late, as a quick food option for late-night hospital and police workers.2025–26Brighton
- End forced welfare checks on eldersStop city police, fire and ambulance staff from forcing entry into elders' homes for welfare checks when no danger exists, and let elders opt out.2025–26City-wide
- Paint underground tunnels to brighten themPaint the concrete underground tunnels to make them less dreary for drivers, improving mood and well-being of people commuting by vehicle.2025–26Bay Village
- Community resources (unspecified)Resident submitted a very general idea about community resources without specifying what is needed.2025–26Jamaica Plain
- Help youth and adults with studies and healthThe resident asks for help for young people and adults with education and health, and for unity against racism in difficult times.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Buy and distribute a financial education bookThe resident asks the City to buy copies of a specific financial book and distribute them with financial education, to fill gaps left by public schooling.2025–26City-wide
- Public funding for city election campaignsResident proposes public funding for city council and mayoral campaigns so candidates who are not wealthy or well-connected can compete.2025–26City-wide
- Better scaffolding inspection at construction sitesResident asks that construction supervisors assemble scaffolding properly because poorly built scaffolds are dangerous and workers could fall.2025–26City-wide
- Racial justiceResident calls for racial justice, hoping for more empathy among people regardless of race or color.2025–26City-wide
- Help for people with disabilitiesResident asks for help for people with disabilities, without specifying what kind.2025–26City-wide
- Unclear request about streetsThe idea is too garbled to interpret with confidence; it may refer to streets and something else.2025–26City-wide
- Request for a Trader Joe's storeResident says the area needs a Trader Joe's, which is a private business request.2025–26Dorchester
- Highway sound barriers along I-93 and Savin Hill AveResident asks for sound barriers along Route 93 and on the Savin Hill Ave bridge because of loud highway noise.2025–26Dorchester
- Unclear one-word idea about streetsResident submitted only the word 'Streets' without describing a specific request.2025–26City-wide
- No idea providedThe submission only says 'N/a' and does not describe a proposal.2025–26City-wide
- Support for mistreated mothersResident's idea is brief and unclear but appears to ask for help for mothers who have been mistreated, to assist poor communities.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Resources for single mothers and people with addictionsResident's text is partly unclear but appears to ask for resources for people who use substances and for single mothers.2025–26City-wide
- Baby bond programResident proposes a baby bond program for economic empowerment, with no further detail.2025–26Chinatown
- More opportunities, schools and community helpResident asks for more opportunities, more schools and more help for the community; the request is general and not specific.2025–26City-wide
- Recycle black plastic containers curbsideResident asks the City to invest in equipment to recycle black plastic containers, which are currently not accepted in blue bins, citing Los Angeles as an example.2025–26City-wide