The Common

A civil rights organization claims they're being barred from monitoring how Boston Public Schools spends certain funds to support students who are English language learners, despite a decades-old federal court order that gives them permission to do so. BPS maintains that they're in compliance. Mandy McLaren, a reporter for the Boston Globe's Great Divide team, which looks into educational inequality in Boston and beyond, joins The Common to walk us through what's known about this conflict, and BPS' broader track record regarding support for students who are English language learners. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

In the past several years there has been a push among food service workers locally and nationally to unionize their workplaces. Recent local examples include three associated cafes in Somerville (Diesel Café, Bloc Café and Forge Baking Company), which reached a contract with their employer in February, as well as the Harvard Square location of Milk Bar, which closed shortly after workers there voted to unionize. Boston Globe Business Reporter Diti Kohli joins The Common to discuss the surge in union efforts among Boston-area cafe workers. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

You know that broken thing you have sitting in your closet that you just don't have the heart to throw away? It could be a broken lamp, a dead watch or a pair of scissors that's a little dull. Well, chances are there's a helpful neighbor nearby who would love to fix it up for you at one of the region's Repair Cafes. WBUR's Martha Bebinger joins The Common with more on the Repair Cafe movement and the folks behind it. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Which neighborhood should you visit, if you're looking to buy a relatively affordable home in Boston? Unless you're ready to drop a big chunk of change... none of them. It's an extremely challenging time to enter the housing market in Greater Boston, and there are a lot of reasons why. Business correspondent for the Boston Globe, Andrew Brinker joins The Common for a look at the factors contributing to Boston's challenging housing market, which disproportionately impacts Black and Latino residents. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Rumney Marsh is a protected wetland in Saugus. It's also home to a landfill that's close to reaching its 50-foot height capacity. While activists say it's about time to lock down the landfill, the operator of the facility, WIN Waste, wants to expand landfill capacity, regardless of state regulations. WBUR's Paula Moura joins The Common with more. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Tucked underneath the bustling Cambridge Common restaurant near Porter Square is the Lizard Lounge, a longtime gathering place for Greater Boston's poetry scene. Since 1998, the venue has hosted a weekly event that combines curated poetry performance with live, improvisational jazz. The venue just celebrated its 25th anniversary, and the retirement of Jeff Robinson, the leader behind the musical stylings that accompany this iconic poetry night. WBUR's Cristela Guerra joins The Common for more on Robinson's legacy, and what's next for the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is announcing her first budget recommendations this week. WBUR's Senior State House Reporter Steve Brown joins The Common to break down some of Governor Healey's biggest budget priorities this year. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The League of Women for Community Service is Boston's oldest Black women-led organization. Founded in 1920, the League provided a safe space and numerous services to Boston's Black community throughout the 20th century. WBUR Reporter Arielle Gray joins The Common to tell us more about this piece of Boston's Black history and the effort to restore its original building. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Haitian migrants landing in Massachusetts are waiting months to years for documentation that will allow them to legally work in the U.S. Meanwhile, worker shortages continue to plague industries from construction to school transportation. Seth Daniel, news editor for the Dorchester Reporter, joins The Common to discuss how this backlog is impacting Haitian immigrants locally and the Boston community at large. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Reina Morales Rojas, a recent immigrant and resident of East Boston, has been missing for three months. It took Boston police more than six weeks to announce her case and it has received little public attention since. Boston Globe Associate Editor and Columnist Marcela Garcia has been following the story, she joined us to tell us more about Reina and how her case was overlooked for so long. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Housing prices in Boston's Chinatown have been surging for decades, resulting in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the city. That's why housing advocates with the Chinatown Community Land Trust have turned to an alternative model for home ownership that helps working-class and immigrant residents stay in the neighborhood. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Team Common is taking the day off. So instead, we'd like to share this great recent story from the WBUR Newsroom. Boston wants the majority of new cars purchased to be electric by 2050. And of course, all of those cars need to be charged somewhere. The city has a plan to give every household access to an electric vehicle charger or car share facility within a 10 minute walk by 2040. However equity issues make it more of a challenge for some neighborhoods than others. WBUR Climate and Environment Reporter Paula Moura has the story. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

February break is here for Boston-area students and their families. Associate Producer for WBUR newsletters Hanna Ali gives The Common a run down of fun and affordable activities for families to check out around the city next week. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals used to make products ranging from firefighting foam to waterproof mascara. And as a result, they're basically in everything else too – including the bodies of about 97% of Americans. In the second of a two-part series on PFAS, The Common speaks with WBUR Senior Health and Science Reporter Gabrielle Emanuel about how PFAS can impact our health. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals used to make products ranging from firefighting foam to waterproof mascara. And as a result, they're basically in everything else too – including the bodies of about 97% of Americans. In the first of a two-part series, The Common talks with WBUR Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran about PFAS levels in Massachusetts drinking water, and the high cost of managing it. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Dinner with Cupid is a column from The Boston Globe Magazine that matches up two willing singles on a blind date and then features details on how the evening goes. This Valentine's Day, The Common sits down with Cupid herself, aka contributing editor Melissa Schorr, for a peak behind the scenes of Dinner with Cupid and the latest dating trends here in Boston. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last month, Eversource broke ground on a new electrical substation in East Boston, a piece of infrastructure that has raised significant environmental justice concerns in the community since it was proposed more than eight years ago. WBUR's Miriam Wasser joins The Common to walk us through this controversial project. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

In late January, Mei Mei Dumpling Factory and Cafe opened its doors to sold-out crowds for the first time since the pandemic. The story of Mei Mei, which was co-founded by James Beard Leadership Award winning chef Irene Li and her siblings, has been defined by adaptivity and Irene's ambition to rethink the restaurant industry from the ground up. The Common pays a visit to Mei Mei and finds out what this latest evolution is all about. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A new report from a Boston-based research and policy institute focused on higher education finds that eight out of ten students attending a four-year public university have $12,000 in unmet financial needs each year. For 9 out of 10 students attending community colleges, that number is nearly $9,000 each year. Today on The Common, Managing Director of the Hildreth Institute, Bahar Akman Imboden dives into the systemic challenges of accessing affordable higher education in Massachusetts. Check out the Hildreth Institute's full report, "Rising Barriers, Shrinking Aid" for more. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Households receiving SNAP benefits saw an additional boost of at least $95 per payment from the program during the pandemic. After almost three years, that increase is set to end this month. That means some recipients will have less money for food now priced higher than it was before the pandemic. Juan Camilo Saavedra, joins The Common to give us an idea of how this loss of additional benefits could impact local communities. He’s the director of food and nutrition at La Colaborativa, a social services organization focused on empowering Latinx immigrants in Chelsea. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

WBUR midday host Jack Lepiarz is hanging up his headphones after over a decade at the station. Why? He's running away to join the circus, of course. The Common catches Jack, aka Jack Ze Whipper, on his last day to discuss how his Renaissance Faire act became a viral sensation on TikTok and for a look back at his career at WBUR. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Two Afghan families, forcibly displaced from their home country, remain occupants of a church basement in Newburyport. It's been more than a year since they arrived, but they’ve been unable to find a permanent home, in part, due to the lack of affordable housing options in the community they’ve become a part of. But, a group of advocates is hoping to develop new structures to help forcibly displaced people afford housing in Newburyport, and beyond. WBUR Senior Producer and Reporter Lynn Jolicoeur joins The Common with more. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It's that special time again – We've got WBUR CitySpace's Assistant Director, and general curator of fun, Candice Springer on The Common to tell us what events, happenings, and date-ready tea rooms (Yes! Rooms, plural!) can't be missed in Boston this month. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Believe it or not, many of the "expiration date" and "best by" stickers on your food are fairly arbitrary. So during a time when food prices are sky high, knowing what is and isn't still good to eat can help cut down on food waste and your expenses. Food For Free's Ben Engle joins The Common to give us a few pointers on how to be more thoughtful about reducing household food waste. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Since December 2021, the MBTA has been working on an "aggressive" hiring campaign to bolster driver numbers to bring bus services back to pre-pandemic levels. Now, in January 2023, they have fewer drivers than a year ago and bus services continue to be cut left and right. Boston Globe Transportation Reporter Taylor Dolven joins The Common to discuss why the campaign failed, and how Boston's Black and Hispanic communities are paying the price. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to change the way the city approaches development, with one goal being to increase opportunities for economic growth within communities of color. She wants to start with Mattapan, a neighborhood that's 43% Black and 31% Hispanic. WBUR's Rupa Shenoy walks us through the city's proposed plan in today's episode of The Common. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has made building a diverse and inclusive administration a priority during her first weeks in office. However, she has yet to appoint any Latino people to cabinet positions. Executive Chairman of El Planeta, Boston's largest Spanish-language publication, Javier Marin joins The Common to break down this moment. Also, we speak with Marcos Marin, El Planeta's new CEO and Editor-in-Chief, about his vision for the paper in the coming years. CORRECTION: A previous description for this episode stated the Healey administration hadn't appointed any Latino people to senior leadership positions when it should have stated "cabinet positions." The Healey administration has appointed several Latino people to senior leadership positions. The post has been corrected. We regret the error. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Wednesday night, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the stage at MGM Music Hall in Fenway to give her first State of the City address. She used the speech to highlight her plans for housing and development, and to celebrate the successes of her first year in office. WBUR reporter Walter Wuthmann joins The Common to walk us through the major points of Mayor Wu's speech, and to offer analysis on what this all could mean for the remainder of her first term. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, nearly 100 children across Massachusetts were stuck in hospital emergency rooms waiting for mental health services. This is not unusual, as child psychiatric units have long been overstretched, particularly during the pandemic. That's why the state has begun partnering with diversion services that allow children to access mental health counseling in their own homes. WBUR's Martha Bebinger joins The Common to share the story of one family's experience. If you or someone you know are in mental health crisis or may be considering suicide, contact the Massachusetts mental health helpline at 833-773-2445 or the national crisis lifeline, which is 988. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We've got more on housing, folks! Today, we're taking a look at what Gov. Maura Healey's has planned to address housing insecurity at the state level. WBUR's Simón Rios joins The Common to discuss what we know about Gov. Healey's housing policy, including plans to hire a cabinet-level housing secretary. P.S. if you missed it, check out yesterday's show all about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's new plan to propose a rent control policy in Boston, and the uphill battle she could face in doing so. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is planning to propose a rent control policy for the city that would cap yearly rent increases at 10%. However, Mayor Wu faces a steep uphill battle to push the policy through, with critiques of her plan coming from all sides of the issue. Boston Globe reporter Emma Platoff, who helped break the story, joins The Common to explain the plan and the arguments around it. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston was recently named the second worst city for traffic congestion in the country and fourth worst in the world, according to INRIX’s 2022 global traffic scorecard. Today on The Common, Boston's Chief of Streets, Jascha Franklin-Hodge joins the show to discuss city efforts to make transportation safer, more efficient and less car-dependent across Boston. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Stop sleeping on Boston's food scene! Editor of Eater Boston, Erika Adams, joins "The Common" to discuss the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2023, and why you should get excited to eat out in the city. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Since its unveiling on January 13th, The Embrace monument to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott, has received a wide range of reactions both good and bad. WBUR Arts Reporter Arielle Gray joins The Common to discuss why some in the community are disappointed with the memorial. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Arif Sayed Faisal earlier this month in Cambridge has the community demanding answers and calls into question how law enforcement engages with people in mental distress. WBUR Senior Correspondent Deborah Becker has been following the incident, she joins The Common to tell us what she's learned. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

From Chilean cinema to children's book adaptations to 24-hour sci-fi marathons – Greater Boston's film festival scene truly has something for everyone. Today on The Common, WBUR film writer Erin Trahan gives us the rundown on where to catch the best festival flicks over the next couple months. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last Friday, a new permanent monument was unveiled on Boston Common. It’s called The Embrace, and it honors the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and his wife, Coretta Scott King, who met right here in Boston as college students in the 1950s. WBUR Morning Edition Host Rupa Shenoy had the chance to see the Embrace before its unveiling. She joins The Common to describe the experience. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Libraries have a long history of filling in gaps in social services, and the Boston Public Library is no different. Director of library services for Boston Public Libraries, Michael Colford joins The Common to discuss how the library can help you out, beyond the obvious. Check out the "services" tab on the Boston Public Library website for more info on available programming. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

You might be familiar with the Department of Public Utilities as the state office that regulates electricity and gas services. However, they're also responsible for overseeing safety on the MBTA. A new investigative report from WBUR shows that the DPU has routinely allowed the T to file safety investigations late, delaying the review process. Senior Investigative Reporter Beth Healy joins "The Common" to discuss her findings. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Sound Museum has been a fixture of the Allston-Brighton music scene for three decades, serving as a practice space for Boston musicians. At the end of January, these artists will be forced to find a new place to meet. WBUR Arts Reporter and Critic, Amelia Mason joins The Common with the latest on the Sound Museum's fight to survive. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A number of new state laws are coming into effect in 2023, from an updated minimum wage to legal drivers licenses for undocumented people. WBUR Senior Statehouse Reporter Steve Brown joins host Darryl C. Murphy on The Common to talk us through these laws and how they will impact life in the Commonwealth. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

WBUR senior health reporter Priyanka Dayal McCluskey stops by The Common to give us a post-holiday COVID update and to help us understand where things are with the pandemic overall. Then, we've got Chris Bentley, host of Here & Now Anytime. It's another great news podcast from WBUR and NPR, available for you to add to the rotation now. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Look, we know January can be a drag. Which is all the more reason why you need a good excuse to get out there and have some fun. Today on The Common, WBUR CitySpace Assistant Director Candice Springer tells us about three local game-themed bars that offer an all-around good time for the whole family. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Starting in November, Massachusetts instated some changes to its waste disposal rules. The changes included bans that further limit how much food can be wasted by commercial kitchens and also prohibits mattresses and textiles from going in the trash. WBUR climate and environment correspondent Barbara Moran joins The Common to tell us about how these new rules will impact our daily lives. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will be sworn in as governor on Thursday. Alongside her will be Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who is taking on the role of lieutenant governor. New leadership means new priorities for the state, so we got Boston Globe politics reporter, Samantha J. Gross to come through for a look at what we can expect for the future. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts residents will be able to begin participating in sports betting very soon, with in-person betting starting as early as the Super Bowl. The Common's Darryl C. Murphy sits down with WBUR Morning Edition associate producer Samantha Coetzee to look back at what the road for legalized sports betting has been like so far, and what consumers can expect from the Massachusetts sports betting experience. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Team Common is taking some time off to rest and recover over the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories from WBUR’s newsroom in 2022. Lots of people took up skateboarding during the pandemic, including many women and girls, and a new local skating club called Lonely Bones is catering to that clientele. They create an environment that is comfortable for people considered to be on the margins of traditional skate culture. WBUR’s Lauren Williams visited the club in Cambridge over the summer. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

When the album “Songs of the Humpback Whale” first hit record stores five decades ago, it energized the Save the Whales movement and helped push Congress to pass the Marine Mammal Protection Act. To mark the 50th anniversary of that landmark act, WBUR’s Barbara Moran spoke with the album's creator about its influence on the environmental movement. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Team Common is taking some time off to rest and recover over the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories from WBUR’s newsroom in 2022. Every year, one lucky independent musician is launched into the national spotlight as the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. In Massachusetts, nearly 150 local artists entered songs into this year's competition. Arts reporter Amelia Mason listened to them all. For WBUR's Sound On music series, Mason and four other panelists chose their favorite local submission: "A Man Is A Man" by Lee Zangari. Find the original story here. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Team Common is taking some time off to rest and recover over the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories from WBUR’s newsroom in 2022. About 5.5 million people use wheelchairs in the United States. But those wheelchairs aren’t always reliable. They often break down and the average repair takes up to a month. That’s a serious problem for people who use them, and it’s been linked to medical complications. In May, WBUR health and science reporter Gabrielle Emanuel took a hard look at the reasons behind these frequent breakdowns. Today, we look back at what she found. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.