Laying the foundation

Also: a look inside Boston's new dumpling factory; the "steady stream" of people traveling to Mass. for abortions [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 26, 2023 🌫️ Mostly cloudy with rain this morning and a high around 45. Good Morning Boston, Did you watch Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's first State of the City speech last night? We're kicking off this morning's newsletter with what you missed, before we get to today's news: - Wu wanted a newer, bigger venue for her first State of the City, so she opted to take the stage at the MGM Music Hall by Fenway Park over her predecessor's favorite haunt, Symphony Hall. During her half-hour speech, [she announced some plans that were just as new and large]( aimed at pouring new foundations for construction and housing in Boston. - Her biggest swing came for the agency that controls most of the wrecking balls in town. While her [longtime goal of completely dismantling the Boston Planning and Development Agency]( requires some state approvals, Wu said she will begin shifting the city's planning work from the BPDA to a new department in her purview over the coming year. That work starts today with a new executive order establishing a Planning Advisory Council. - Wu also made clear [last week's trial balloon]( to bring back caps on rent increases is still afloat. In the "coming weeks," Wu said she'll send a home rule petition to the City Council. (If it passes, the measure will also need state approval.) - A bargaining chip: Wu said she'd offer 150 vacant city-owned lots to developers "for free" if they're willing to use the spaces to build affordable housing. Plus, the city plans to offer increased mortgage assistance "so our residents can afford to buy these homes." - The speech wasn't solely about housing. Wu also outlined plans for Boston Public Schools and touted her administration's staff and accomplishments along the way. You can watch a replay of the speech [here]( or read her full remarks [here](. - There's a tax battle brewing in Newton. WBUR's Samuele Petruccelli [reports that the city is gearing up for a special election on a property tax hike proposed by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller]( to help raise $15 million for a range of investments, including a $4.5 million chunk for public schools. (The special election is necessary due to [a state law]( capping how much communities can raise property taxes each year.) - If it passes: For owners of a home worth $1.2 million (the median in Newton), the hike would add $290 to their roughly $12,000 tax bill next year — and increase by another $183 by 2030. Newton also [created an online calculator allowing residents to put in their address]( and see the estimated impact of the tax hike on their home. - If it doesn't pass: School officials warn they could be forced to cut up to 50 teachers and extra-curricular programs without the additional funding. “In the end, when you have to make up a $6-8 million deficit you will be impacting staff," interim Newton superintendent Kathleen Smith said this week. - What's next: The special election is on March 14. There's also [a virtual town hall]( on the override vote tonight at 7 p.m. - Heads up: There's another partial Orange Line shutdown rumbling down the track. This weekend, the MBTA says it will suspend service between North Station and Ruggles to address [lingering slow zones]( that were supposed to be taken care of during the full Orange Line shutdown last summer. And according to [some in-station posters]( an identical shutdown is scheduled for next weekend, Feb. 4-5, too. (MBTA officials say they'll release info today or tomorrow on all the diversions coming next month.) - To get around downtown, T officials suggest riders take the Green Line instead. They’ll also be running shuttles between Ruggles and Copley, as well as between Government Center and North Station due to nearby Government Center garage demolition work. - Show don’t tell: If those diversion plans sound a bit confusing, check out [this more illustrative graphic from the T.]( P.S.— You all down for a movie night? The Radio Boston team [is hosting our first live "Set in Boston" event tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theatre](. There will be a screening of the classic Boston crime thriller "The Departed," followed by a panel discussion with local critics and filmmakers led by host Tiziana Dearing. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow]( Roberto Scalese Senior Editor, Digital [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Health care providers are seeing 'a steady stream' of people traveling to Mass. for abortion care]( Fifty years after the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade — and seven months after that decision was reversed— health care providers reflect on the history and the future of abortion care. [Read more.]( [Health care providers are seeing 'a steady stream' of people traveling to Mass. for abortion care]( Fifty years after the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade — and seven months after that decision was reversed— health care providers reflect on the history and the future of abortion care. [Read more.]( [America's eggs-istential crisis]( Eggs have tripled in price in the last few years and in some places, it's hard to find them at all. Now a raft of competitors are hoping to lure Americans away from their beloved breakfast food. [Read more.]( [America's eggs-istential crisis]( Eggs have tripled in price in the last few years and in some places, it's hard to find them at all. Now a raft of competitors are hoping to lure Americans away from their beloved breakfast food. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts congressman reads AI-generated speech on House floor]( The brief two-paragraph speech read by the Massachusetts Democrat on the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday was generated by the onlineAI chatbot ChatGPT. His staff said they believe it's the first time an AI-written speech was read in Congress. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts congressman reads AI-generated speech on House floor]( The brief two-paragraph speech read by the Massachusetts Democrat on the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday was generated by the onlineAI chatbot ChatGPT. His staff said they believe it's the first time an AI-written speech was read in Congress. [Read more.]( [New Bedford houses one of the oldest jails in the country. A new sheriff wants to close it]( A former sheriff described the conditions at the jail "Dickensian" and groups have frequently called for its closure. Last week, just 15 days into his new role as Bristol County sheriff, Paul Heroux announced he intends to close the Ash Street Jail. But he has a lot of people to convince. [Read more.]( [New Bedford houses one of the oldest jails in the country. A new sheriff wants to close it]( A former sheriff described the conditions at the jail "Dickensian" and groups have frequently called for its closure. Last week, just 15 days into his new role as Bristol County sheriff, Paul Heroux announced he intends to close the Ash Street Jail. But he has a lot of people to convince. [Read more.]( [Super Bowl MVP, Academy Awards among list of 'sports' approved for wagering in Mass.]( The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved for wagering things like professional league drafts, the Super Bowl MVP award, competitive eating events, and events like the Academy Awards. [Read more.]( [Super Bowl MVP, Academy Awards among list of 'sports' approved for wagering in Mass.]( The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved for wagering things like professional league drafts, the Super Bowl MVP award, competitive eating events, and events like the Academy Awards. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Here are [five things to do this weekend]( courtesy of WBUR's arts and culture team. The list is chock full of screenings, performances and fresh exhibitions, including two events at the Museum of Fine Arts. - James Beard Award-winner Irene Li just opened a 4,000-square-foot dumpling factory and cafe in South Boston. The new spot offers diners a front-row view of the dumpling-making process! [Here's a peek inside.]( - An unheralded 1975 movie recently dubbed the "greatest film of all time" is coming to Coolidge Corner Theatre next week. WBUR film critic Sean Burns [writes that you might not like it very much](. - You know how [people keep adapting]( Emily Dickinson poems to the "Gilligan's Island" theme song? Well, what about an indie pop ballad? Working with the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, folk musician Andrew Bird gave it a shot. [Get your headphones out and give it a listen here](.  What We're Reading 📚 - Alec {NAME} Didn’t Have to Talk to the Police. Neither Do You. ([The New York Times]( - South Station is giving homeless people the cold shoulder ([The Boston Globe]( - The Many Ingenious Ways People in Prison Use (Forbidden) Cell Phones ([The Marshall Project](  Tell Me Something Good [How an Alaskan 'puppy bus' went viral on TikTok]( In the small city of Skagway, there’s a one-of-a-kind bus service that is designed for a very particular type of customer — puppies. [Read more.]( [How an Alaskan 'puppy bus' went viral on TikTok]( In the small city of Skagway, there’s a one-of-a-kind bus service that is designed for a very particular type of customer — puppies. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common talks to WBUR's Martha Bebinger about [the new way the state is trying to provide mental health care to kids](. Before you go: ["We need to stop giving him sugar."]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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