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
14 ideas
2024–25: 5 · 2025–26: 9 · 2026–27: 0 (of 126 in this theme)
- Lighting for Central Square park at nightThe resident asks for lights at Central Square park because many people feel unsafe walking through it in the dark.2025–26East Boston
- Greater security in public schoolsIncrease security in public schools to encourage joint participation by teachers and parents.2025–26East Boston
- More security at public schoolsProvide more security at public schools, which would increase participation from parents and teachers.2025–26East Boston
- Surveillance cameras to help small businessesResident asks for surveillance cameras to help small businesses in the community and foster empathy across language, race and color.2025–26East Boston
- More street lighting and mental health for older adultsResident asks for more public lighting and mental health support for older adults, so people of all ages and races are considered and helped.2025–26East Boston
- Community-run neighborhood safety groupsResident proposes creating groups of community members who help keep the city safe, to build unity and community security.2025–26East Boston
- Street lighting and emergency pointsResident asks for lighting on streets and emergency points.2025–26East Boston
- More patrols and cameras at Lo Presti ParkResident asks for more police patrols and security cameras at Lo Presti Park in East Boston to prevent fights during pickup soccer and basketball and keep families and youth safe.2025–26East Boston
- More lighting in East Boston parks and stationsThe resident asks for more lights in parks and the most-used train stations in East Boston to protect all residents.2025–26East Boston
- Community safety through street lighting in East BostonSet up community safety through better street lighting, since East Boston is about 60% immigrant and largely affected by insecurity.2024–25East Boston
- Public lighting for community safety in East BostonImprove community safety through more public lighting, especially in central East Boston where many immigrants live.2024–25East Boston
- Street lighting in central East BostonInstall street lighting in East Boston, specifically in the center of the neighborhood.2024–25East Boston
- Street lighting in East BostonImprove street lighting in East Boston, which would benefit low-income residents.2024–25East Boston
- More street lighting in central East BostonAdd more street lighting, especially in the center of East Boston, for everyone's safety.2024–25East Boston