Boston brief: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Archived edition, published Tuesday, October 27, 2026. See today's Boston page.

Boston planning board approves first market-rate tax relief deal for stalled housing projects.

From Boston News

• Council presses assessor on luxury home tax gaps. Boston's Ways and Means Committee pressed the city's interim assessing commissioner on why multimillion-dollar home sales are being assessed for a fraction of their price, as a property owners' group and a University of Georgia economist offered sharply different explanations.Boston News
• Council presses BPS on English learner services. Boston's City Council Education Committee spent more than four hours pressing Boston Public Schools on why English learners are lagging on MCAS and whether mandated special-education timelines are being met, with advocates calling the results "tragically low."Boston News
• BPDA approves tax relief for four housing projects. Boston's planning board took up its first tax break for market-rate rental housing, aiming to jumpstart four stalled developments in Allston-Brighton and Charlestown, as officials debated whether targeted relief amounts to a giveaway or an investment.Boston News
• Obituary notices for the week of Oct. 19-25. One Boston resident, Carlota Russell, 83, was remembered this week; services were held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Dorchester on Oct. 26 after visitation Oct. 25, arranged by McHoul Family Funeral Home.Boston News

Today in Boston

• Mayor Wu names new chair of Licensing Board. Mayor Michelle Wu appointed Ava Callender Concepcion to chair the Boston Licensing Board, the city announced Tuesday.City of Boston
• Supplier Diversity Week opens with contract award gains. The city kicked off Supplier Diversity Week, highlighting growth in contract awards to certified businesses, according to a Tuesday announcement.City of Boston
• Boston schools win $500 for breakfast participation. The Eos Foundation gave awards to 145 Massachusetts schools, including 19 in Boston, for getting at least 80 percent of students to eat breakfast at school, El Planeta reports.El Planeta
• J.P. Licks rolls out fall treats. J.P. Licks is rolling out pumpkin, apple and caramel treats, new affogatos and fall bakery items at its Boston shops, Boston Patch reports.Boston Patch

Coming up

• Wed, Oct 28: Digital literacy workshop canceled. The city's Digital Literacy Workshop, previously scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, has been canceled, according to the Boston events calendar.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28, 10 a.m.: Business certification office hours set Wednesday. The city's Business Certification team holds office hours for applicants Wednesday at 10 a.m., according to the Boston calendar.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28, 10 a.m.: Medicare enrollment clinic set in North End. Age Strong hosts a Medicare open enrollment clinic in the North End Wednesday at 10 a.m. to help seniors review coverage options.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28, 4 p.m.: Supplier Diversity Week holds opportunity fair Wednesday. The city's Supplier Diversity office holds an Opportunity Fair for certified businesses Wednesday at 4 p.m., part of Supplier Diversity Week.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: UP Academy Dorchester trustees meet Wednesday. The UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester's Board of Trustees holds a public meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to the city's public notices.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: Public Facilities Commission meets Wednesday. Boston's Public Facilities Commission (BTD) holds a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to a public notice posted by the city.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: Water and Sewer Commission meets Wednesday. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission holds its regular meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28, per a city public notice.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: Licensing Board holds virtual hearing Wednesday. The city's Licensing Board holds a virtual transactional hearing Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to a public notice.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: Licenses committee holds hearing Wednesday. The Inspectional Services Committee on Licenses holds a hearing Wednesday, Oct. 28, per a city public notice.City of Boston
• Wed, Oct 28: Public Facilities Commission PFD meets Wednesday. Boston's Public Facilities Commission (PFD) holds a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to a city public notice.City of Boston
• Thu, Oct 29: Adam Grant talks connection at Boston event. Author Adam Grant discusses his book on building strong relationships during a Boston appearance Thursday, Oct. 29, Boston Patch's calendar shows.Boston Patch
• Fri, Oct 30: PAW Patrol Live tickets go on sale Friday. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30, for PAW Patrol Live's five shows at the Boch Center's Wang Theatre in January, Boston Patch reports.Boston Patch
• Sat, Oct 31: Pirate-themed Halloween party set for Night Shift. A pirate-themed Halloween party called Nauti(cal) takes place at Night Shift Brewing in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 31, according to Boston Patch's calendar.Boston Patch
• Sat, Oct 31: Debo Ray plays Halloween rock and soul show. Debo Ray performs a Rock and Soul Halloween show in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 31, per Boston Patch's events calendar.Boston Patch
• Sun, Nov 1: Scholar talks multispecies warfare Sunday. Irus Braverman gives a talk on multispecies warfare in Palestine-Israel in Boston on Sunday, Nov. 1, Boston Patch's calendar shows.Boston Patch
• Tue, Nov 10: East Boston masterclass covers food business permits. A free masterclass in East Boston on Tuesday, Nov. 10, will cover permits, food safety and how to formalize a home-based food business, El Planeta reports.El Planeta

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