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
- Universal basic income pilot for 150 familiesResident proposes a one-year pilot giving 150 families $500 per month, totaling $1 million, citing reduced crime and support for working families.2025–26City-wide
- Personal spending on family and collegeThe resident describes personal uses of the money, such as buying their mother a house and saving for college, rather than a city proposal.2025–26City-wide
- LGBTQ resource center in Allston/BrightonOpen an LGBTQ resource center in Allston/Brighton.2025–26Allston
- Battery and PFAS disposal and pickup informationProvide battery collection times, pickup options, and information on where to dispose of PFAS items.2025–26Brighton
- More clothing donation drop-off locationsThe resident asks for more places to donate clothing for people who need it.2025–26City-wide
- Fatherhood support hub with court-prep and visitation spaceResident proposes a hub offering court-prep workshops, supervised visitation space and trauma-informed support for low-income fathers handling custody, child support and housing instability.2025–26City-wide
- Nonprofit legal aid to challenge courtroom injusticeResident proposes spending $2 million on a nonprofit of attorneys and paralegals to assist people facing civil and criminal injustice and to hold courts and lawyers accountable for bias.2025–26City-wide
- Remove bike lanesResident asks for no more bike lanes, saying they cause traffic and are not used.2025–26City-wide
- Invest in community developmentResident says they would invest in community development but gives no specifics about what should be done.2025–26City-wide
- Build a church in the areaThe resident hopes a church will be built in the area to bring fellowship and knowledge of God, which is outside the City's role.2025–26Roxbury
- Unclear request about well-being in buildingThe resident says they would like to get their well-being back in their building; the request is unclear.2025–26Roxbury
- Public funding for military veterans and service membersThe resident asks for public funding for men and women who serve in the military, mentioning many poor and homeless people, and a program to unite the community.2025–26City-wide
- Repair broken City Hall escalatorsThe resident says the City Hall escalators have been broken for 10 to 20 years and asks for repair so everyone has easy access.2025–26Downtown
- End world hunger and child laborThe resident asks the City to end world hunger, end child labor and stop population growth, which are global issues outside the City's role.2025–26City-wide
- No idea submittedThe submission contains no content (N/A).2025–26City-wide
- Donate funds and give away goods freeResident suggests donating $1 million and using another $1 million to buy electronics, food and clothes to give away for free.2025–26City-wide
- Give $2 million to public broadcastingResident asks that $2 million be given to public broadcasting.2025–26City-wide
- Voter education about AI misinformationResident asks that voters be informed so they are not misled by AI after the current administration ends.2025–26City-wide
- Remove residency requirement for library workersResident suggests ending the city residency requirement for Boston Public Library workers to ease cost-of-living pressures, improve retention and widen the pool of qualified, diverse candidates.2024–25City-wide
- Free brain health classes with MGHResident asks for free brain health classes in partnership with MGH to focus on cognitive wellbeing.2024–25City-wide