Public safety & crime prevention
Making neighborhoods feel and be safer through lighting, cameras, police presence and violence prevention.
Residents mainly ask for better street and park lighting, plus cameras, police patrols and community-based safety, so people feel safe at night and in public spaces.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
126 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 49 | 4.0% | 13 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 31 | 2.6% | 17 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 46 | 3.5% | 13 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Brighter street, park and transit lighting
Residents across all three cycles ask for more or better lighting on streets, in parks and near transit stops, so people feel safe after dark.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More security cameras
Residents ask for cameras to deter and solve crime, in neighborhoods, parks and commercial areas, though one 2026-27 resident opposes expanding surveillance.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More police patrols and security presence
Residents ask for more patrols or security staff in specific places such as transit stops, parks, Chinatown and commercial areas, often at night.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Emergency call points and community safety groups
Residents propose blue light phones, emergency call buttons, and resident-led patrols or safety groups, as a way to get help quickly and build neighborhood involvement.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Self-defense and safety education
Residents ask for funded self-defense, gun safety or other safety classes, including for youth and adults.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Lighting dominated, especially repeated East Boston requests, alongside calls for cameras, gun violence prevention, police patrols and safer MBTA stations and parks.
2025–26
Lighting stayed central, with East Boston and school security prominent, plus requests for cameras, patrols, blue light phones and self-defense classes.
2026–27
Residents focused on lighting, cameras and emergency call posts in parks, night patrols and community safety patrols, with new interest in housing security and restorative justice.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include security and repairs at BHA housing, emergency call buttons on park paths, restorative justice and youth alternatives to policing, bleeding-control and overdose stations, and opposition to surveillance cameras.
Funding so far
The one winning project, grants for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth, connects to youth and restorative justice asks, but no winning project has yet addressed the recurring asks for lighting, cameras, patrols or emergency call points.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Programs Supporting Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Youth
2024–25 · $250,000 · related theme
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to support youth ages 14-21 who are formerly or currently incarcerated, helping them build a brighter future.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Police Department
- Public Works
- BCYF
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Public safety & crime prevention
126 ideas
2024–25: 49 · 2025–26: 31 · 2026–27: 46
- Lighting on Cambridge Street Mass Pike overpassResident asks for better lighting for pedestrians and cyclists on the Cambridge Street overpass above the Mass Pike, where the sidewalks are very dark.2026–27Allston
- Spend more on public safetyIncrease city spending on safety.2026–27RoxburySubmitted in Korean
- More patrol officers in Roxbury, Dorchester, MattapanThe resident proposes cutting salaries of the mayor, her staff and city council by 40% to fund more BPD patrol officers with higher starting pay in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.2026–27City-wide
- Sexual violence prevention and response campaignRun a campaign with education, bystander training and youth-led design sessions, with translated materials, to address sexual violence beyond the criminal-legal system.2026–27City-wide
- More police and cameras on Boston CommonResident asks for additional police, cameras or private security on Boston Common, saying parts of it feel unsafe and this affects families, tourists, businesses and the city's reputation.2026–27City-wide
- More Chinatown police patrols, especially at nightResident asks for increased police patrols and more frequent night-time security in Chinatown so residents, merchants, seniors and visitors feel safe.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- More police patrols in commercial areas at nightResident asks for more frequent police patrols, especially in commercial areas and at night, to make residents, seniors, merchants and visitors feel safer.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- More cameras on roads, busy areas and parksAsks for more surveillance cameras on roads, in busy areas and in parks because crimes often occur without anyone being caught, to keep people safer.2026–27City-wide
- Station security, park lighting and clean waterResident wants active security at every transit station, plus more funding for park lights and clean water so children feel safer and avoid getting sick while playing.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Solar emergency call buttons on park pathsResident asks for visible solar-powered emergency call buttons along dark or isolated walking paths in city parks.2026–27City-wide
- More street lighting, community policing, crosswalk cameras, pothole repairThe resident asks for more street lighting, expanded community policing, more crosswalk cameras and pothole repairs, emphasizing equity and community voices.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Citywide initiative against drink spikingResident proposes a citywide partnership of bars, colleges, police, hospitals and advocates to raise awareness of drink spiking and support victims, including toxicology testing.2026–27City-wide
- More street lighting in high-crime areasResident asks for increased street lighting, especially in areas with crime, applying a consistent standard across neighborhoods to improve safety and equity.2026–27City-wide
- Public bleeding-control and overdose-response stationsResident proposes public stations with tourniquets, hemostatic gauze and naloxone, with free in-language training, sited in neighborhoods with the most violent trauma and overdoses.2026–27City-wide
- Reduce street light pollution to protect sleepResident proposes lowering light pollution by changing street light fixture height and brightness, with neighborhood pilots and safety education, to protect residents' sleep and health.2026–27City-wide
- Oppose surveillance cameras and smart city techResident asks the city not to expand surveillance cameras or become a smart city, citing constitutional rights and concerns about targeting of minorities and help to ICE.2026–27City-wide
- Path lighting on park walking loopsResident asks for solar or low-voltage path lighting along park walking loops that get dark by 4:30pm in winter, extending safe evening use.2026–27City-wide
- Free self-defense and safety classesThe resident proposes free self-defense, de-escalation, online harassment and bystander intervention training at community centers, libraries and schools to build safety skills regardless of income.2026–27City-wide
- Security posts and law enforcement at parksThe resident asks for security posts or law enforcement stations at parks and similar sites so people feel safe participating in community activities.2026–27Downtown
- Restorative justice training at neighborhood librariesResident proposes restorative justice training sessions at neighborhood libraries so trained neighbors can facilitate circles when conflicts or harm occur, especially across different identities.2026–27City-wide