Vision for District 7
It’s time we come together so we can face the threats coming our way and take hold of the opportunities too many of us have been shut out of.
Reliable Resident Services
Samuel will run a responsive District Office that answers calls, shows up for the community, and connects residents to the support, expertise, and resources they need from the City, State and each other.
Insist city departments are equitable and effective in their delivery of services so our neighborhoods aren’t left out
Connect families with City and State resources, as well as with community experts especially given the uncertainty at the federal level
Host & support donation drives, fundraising events and workshops to sustain vital community efforts
Assess needs in the District through in-person outreach to better serve residents and facilitate volunteer efforts
PRIORITIES
Local Investments in Economic Justice
Samuel will harness the power of policy and people to ensure District 7’s economic growth benefits residents, not bypasses them.
Expand access to affordable commercial space for neighborhood businesses
Bring back oversight of the Boston Residency Jobs Policy and organize residents throughout the district to demand compliance
Fight for fair contracting opportunities for local, minority and women owned businesses with the City and major institutions
Support business succession planning so retiring owners can profit, and new entrepreneurs can carry their legacy forward
Develop partnerships with new and existing career programs as well as unions so District 7 residents have real pathways to good jobs
PRIORITIES
Affordable & Stable Housing
Samuel will fight for a balanced approach that collaborates with housing advocates to protect tenants, build more homes, and expand ownership opportunities because housing is a human right and a path to stability and wealth.
Respond swiftly when housing is at risk and strengthen anti-displacement protections like rent caps, land trusts, rental vouchers for BPS families facing homelessness, and city and state investments in our public housing stock
Expand pathways to homeownership for low and middle income earners
Support mixed-income development that includes deeply affordable, middle-income, and market-rate units and hold developers to the letter and spirit of zoning laws that require affordability
Streamline permitting to cut red tape, lower costs, and speed up construction
PRIORITIES
High-Value Education
Samuel will advocate that every student have access to excellent, high-value education, from early learning through high school and beyond.
Hold BPS and other schools to account, especially when it comes to educating students from diverse backgrounds
Get Madison Park what it needs to be a destination school for young people in Boston who want a jump start on a career
Balance community voice and expertise with support for a hybrid School Committee that ensures seats for experts in areas like special education and English language learning—people who might not run for office but are essential to school leadership
Expand opportunities for heritage language instruction and for young people to become fully multilingual
Evaluate the capacity of existing after school programs and day-care providers and make sure every child in District 7 has access to a high quality and engaging out-of-school and early learning support
PRIORITIES
Dignity for Elders
Samuel will support older adults with the resources they need to age with dignity, remain in the neighborhoods they’ve helped shape, and continue sharing their wisdom and love with the community.
Connect older adults to government and community resources to help them age in place or find options to move to supported care
Advocate for investments that help older adults connect with each other, stay active, and access health care, transportation as well as crucial supports like heat and food assistance
Identify the needs of children who are caring for aging parents and facilitate networks of mutual support and information sharing
Explore other sources of revenue to provide further property tax relief for vulnerable groups like those on fixed incomes
PRIORITIES
Coordinated Responses to Substance Abuse
Samuel will address the substance abuse crisis by keeping neighborhoods safe and clean, expanding access to care, and working with elected officials across districts and at every level of government to develop solutions.
Call for bold, humane solutions that focus on treatment, meet the needs of people struggling with addiction, and meaningfully reduce negative impacts for residents of the district
Explore options to decentralize services so multiple parts of the city and other municipalities serve the needs of people struggling with substance use disorders
Fund unarmed, emergency responders who are trained to intervene in mental and behavioral health crises
Bring residents, the city, the state, courts, police, recovery service providers, and people struggling with substance use disorders together to pinpoint reasons people are not getting treatment, and why arrests and civil commitments don’t happen when they should
PRIORITIES
Community Spaces We Can Be Proud Of
Samuel will coordinate the efforts of landowners, management companies, developers, city departments and community groups to ensure District 7 residents can live in a clean, safe, and respected neighborhood — not one littered with trash, rats, and neglect.
Demand better trash collection procedures and enforcement for multifamily buildings and in particularly dense neighborhoods to curb rodent infestations
Implement better enforcement and notice from ISD to landlords and management companies to crack down on illegal dumping and lots littered with trash or that are poorly maintained
Partner with residents and businesses to fund and support local clean-up crews and anti-litter programs
Fund existing and new open and green spaces, and facilitate tree plantings that increase safety, community wellness, climate resilience, and local business activity
PRIORITIES
Safety & Violence Prevention
Samuel will approach violence as a predictable but preventable consequence of unsafe conditions and will advocate for interventions that center on prevention, healing, and relationships—not only policing—and are grounded in research and community wisdom.
Establish and fund a formal role for unarmed crisis response teams to improve community outcomes and reduce strain on law enforcement
Support and engage returning citizens as leaders and community assets, honoring the hard-earned wisdom they bring, meeting their needs, and creating pathways for meaningful participation in their own and others’ safety
Partner with advocates and trusted organizations to expand violence prevention programs, and grow the presence of mental health professionals in schools and community health centers
End the over-surveillance of Black and Brown communities by withdrawing from BRIC and exploring moratoriums on AI-driven surveillance like facial recognition
PRIORITIES
Interested in a print-ready PDF of our priority issues, click here.
What are your priorities?
Samuel is listening and learning so he can advocate for the regular people who not only live in District 7, but make our shared home vibrant, dynamic and powerful. Please share your input!
info@hurtado7.com