The future of Boston Common

Also: How a SCOTUS pork case could impact Mass; Dunkin' backlash! [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  October 12, 2022 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 73. Good Morning Boston, We can all sleep a little bit better going forward: NASA's asteroid -bashing DART mission is [officially a success]( With that matter tidily squared away for future existential crises, here's what else is on our radar today: - America's oldest public park is [getting a makeover](. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new Boston Common master plan this morning, outlining how the city would like to use [millions of dollars from the sale of the Winthrop Garage]( to make the historic park more accessible and inclusive in the run-up to its 400th anniversary in 2034. The plan includes everything from more restrooms, to expanded areas for sports, to a dramatically revamped Frog Pond. While some projects are already underway, officials are [seeking public feedback]( through November. Here are some of the plan's highlights: - Across the Common: more trees, seating, event space and signs directing people to key features and accessible routes — plus upgraded restrooms, concessions and a visitor center. - Landmarks: Frog Pond is slated for a full renovation, including a new two-story pavilion with a restaurant and outdoor dining. The Parkman Bandstand would get a fully accessible ramp. And there are paths to connect to the [under-construction MLK memorial](. The Tadpole Playground could also triple in size. - Sports: The plan also calls for reconfiguring the Common's baseball and tennis courts to make room for a multi-use soccer field, basketball courts, a dog park and — yes — [pickleball](. Rendering of a view of the future Boston Common looking east. - In other news: Wu suggested Tuesday that she may reject [the City Council's proposal last week]( to give themselves — and her — a 20% salary increase next term. During an interview on GBH, Wu called the proposed raises "too high" and said she might veto them. She originally proposed 12% raises to keep up with cost-of-living increase since the last raise in 2018. - The City Council does have the power to override Wu on the issue, if at least nine of the 13 councilors hold their ground (they passed their version with unanimous support last week.) - There's a Dunkin' backlash afroth! The Canton-based coffee chain [overhauled its rewards program last week]( creating a new tiered system that now allows customers to cash in their loyalty points for food and earn some smaller freebies quicker. (Starbucks [made a similar change in 2019]( But many Dunkin' loyalists are pointing out that the new program makes it harder to earn free drinks that were the hallmark of the old program. - How the math shakes out: Under the old system, you could basically redeem any free coffee drink after spending $40. While the new system allows you to get "Li’L Treat" rewards after $15, it also raises the threshold for a free coffee to $50. And for “crafted drinks” like cold brew, lattes and other espresso drinks, it’s $70. - The company says they made the change to add more "flexibility, variety and recognition" to their rewards program. They're also dangling [a slate of one-off freebies]( to kick off the revamp. That has done little to appease critics, who argue Dunkin' could have just added a new food tier rather than [changing the scales for drinks](. As one Redditor put it: "The new system is trash." - Hockey fans, on the other hand, are having a better day. The Bruins begin their season tonight! They take the ice at 7 p.m. against the Washington Capitals in D.C. But you can cheer them on at home on Saturday when they're back in Boston for their home opener. P.S.— New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman is [coming to WBUR CitySpace tonight]( to talk about her new book on the rise of Donald Trump and her unique understanding of the former president. In-person tickets are already sold out, but you can still get virtual tickets to watch online [here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [What to know about the application for Biden's student loan relief]( On Tuesday, the Biden administration shared new details of its debt relief application, and what borrowers will need in order to fill it out. [Read more.]( [What to know about the application for Biden's student loan relief]( On Tuesday, the Biden administration shared new details of its debt relief application, and what borrowers will need in order to fill it out. [Read more.]( [Hog farming case with Mass. implications goes before Supreme Court]( The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over a California law that would regulate how hogs are raised, even if the farms are in another state. A similar Mass. policy has been on hold while the case works its way though the courts. [Read more.]( [Hog farming case with Mass. implications goes before Supreme Court]( The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over a California law that would regulate how hogs are raised, even if the farms are in another state. A similar Mass. policy has been on hold while the case works its way though the courts. [Read more.]( [Key Senate races tighten with a flood of GOP ad spending]( The field of the top 10 races most likely to flip finds Republicans making serious runs at five Democratic-controlled seats and Democrats contending in the other five. [Read more.]( [Key Senate races tighten with a flood of GOP ad spending]( The field of the top 10 races most likely to flip finds Republicans making serious runs at five Democratic-controlled seats and Democrats contending in the other five. [Read more.]( [Labor Department proposal could change gig worker and company rules]( The U.S. Department of Labor has published a new proposal on how workers should be classified, saying that thousands of people have been incorrectly labeled as contractors rather than employees. [Read more.]( [Labor Department proposal could change gig worker and company rules]( The U.S. Department of Labor has published a new proposal on how workers should be classified, saying that thousands of people have been incorrectly labeled as contractors rather than employees. [Read more.]( [Prosecutors drop charges against Adnan Syed, the subject of 'Serial' podcast]( Adnan Syed served 22 years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. His conviction was overturned last month. Prosecutors have decided not to retry Syed. [Read more.]( [Prosecutors drop charges against Adnan Syed, the subject of 'Serial' podcast]( Adnan Syed served 22 years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. His conviction was overturned last month. Prosecutors have decided not to retry Syed. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The new movie "Tár," starring Cate Blanchett as a genius conductor, is coming to Boston theaters this week. WBUR's Sean Burns [writes that the film is complicated and difficult]( much like its protagonist. - Frederick Hewitt [makes the case in this commentary]( for tying disaster relief to states' efforts to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. - Fat Bear Week crowned a new champion Tuesday night, despite [a late-stage cheating scandal that threatened to tarnish the results](. But the competition was able to forge ahead and celebrate a legitimate winner: the incomparable 747, [aka Bear Force One]( who also won in 2020. - [Where will the next "Hamilton" come from]( now that so many playwrights are in TV? Some say new talent, but a play by an unknown writer is not an easy sell to audiences.  What We're Reading 📚 - Indebted ([The Philadelphia Inquirer]( - “Election Interference”: Oil Price Hike Is Saudi Arabia’s October Surprise Against Biden ([The Intercept]( - Why Jon Stewart’s Humiliation of an Anti-Trans Official Is So Important ([Slate](  Tell Me Something Good [Lending a Hand: Cambridge Tiki Bar's Stolen Giant Skeleton Arm Replaced After Twist of Fate (NBC Boston)]( Call it an eerie coincidenceor a Halloween miracle, but make no bones about it:Wusong Roadis one lucky restaurant. [Read more.]( [Lending a Hand: Cambridge Tiki Bar's Stolen Giant Skeleton Arm Replaced After Twist of Fate (NBC Boston)]( Call it an eerie coincidenceor a Halloween miracle, but make no bones about it:Wusong Roadis one lucky restaurant. [Read more.]( Before you go: At long last, an answer (sort of) to the question we've all been asking: [did Emily Dickinson have a Boston accent]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.