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
- More nighttime police presenceResident asks for more police presence at night because of shootings over the summer, to create safer environments in all neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- More security cameras to address crimeResident asks for more security cameras and other resources to address crime and keep neighborhoods safe.2026–27City-wide
- Emergency call buttons in parks and public placesResident asks for emergency help buttons or phones in parks, trails and busy public spaces so people can quickly reach police or medical help, especially seniors, children and people with disabilities.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Add or update street lights in neighborhoodsThe resident asks for new or updated street lights near homes, parks, sidewalks and bus stops to improve nighttime visibility and safety, especially for seniors, women and night workers.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Community safety patrols and neighbor educationThe resident asks for support for community safety patrols, resident safety education and neighbor mutual-aid activities to increase participation in neighborhood safety.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Community safety patrols and neighbor educationThe resident asks for support for community safety patrols, resident safety education and neighbor mutual-aid activities to increase participation in neighborhood safety.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- More lighting in neighborhoods, parks and transit stopsThe resident asks for more lighting in residential areas, parks, parking areas and transit stops to improve nighttime visibility and safety, especially for seniors, women and night workers.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Improve neighborhood safety measures and lightingThe resident asks for better community safety, including more street lighting, improved public spaces, safety signs and stronger resident emergency preparedness, with fair benefits for seniors, children and vulnerable residents.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Restorative justice youth centerThe resident asks for a youth center using restorative justice circles of therapists, mediators and legal professionals to keep youth, especially youth of color, out of the prison pipeline.2026–27City-wide
- Improve securityResident asks for improved safety and security.2026–27City-wide
- Reduce use of pepper sprayResident asks for less use of pepper spray.2026–27City-wide
- Address rising homicides and attacks on youth and seniorsResident asks for a focus on public safety, citing rising homicides and attacks on youth and seniors, and mentions community organizations working on the issue.2026–27City-wide
- Safer surroundings for shops and community servicesResident asks for added lighting, road repair and better pedestrian facilities around shops, restaurants and community service sites so residents, especially elders and people with limited mobility, feel safe visiting.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Cameras, emergency call posts and lighting in parksResident asks for high-definition cameras, emergency alarm posts and nighttime lighting in major parks and commercial areas to improve safety and create equal public spaces for all communities.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Address nighttime safety concernsResident asks the city to fix the problem of some places feeling unsafe after dark.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Cameras, emergency call posts and lighting in parksTranslated from Chinese: the resident asks for high-definition cameras, emergency call posts and night lighting in major parks and commercial areas to improve safety and give all communities safer public spaces.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Trained community safety patrol in parksResident asks for a trained community safety patrol in parks and public spaces because families feel unsafe around needles and groups of unhoused people.2026–27Roxbury
- Self-defense classes for all agesResident asks for self-defense classes open to people of all ages.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More safety in schools and sports to prevent drug useResident asks for increased safety in schools and sports so young people do not relapse into drugs, protecting the most vulnerable.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Fund youth, social workers and artists over policeResident asks the City to fund youth, social workers and participatory artists more than police, as young people have campaigned for, to invest in community solutions.2026–27City-wide