A summer election? It's happening today

Also: Mass. regulators deny nuclear plant wastewater dumping plant; state-funded shelters reach new record [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 25, 2023 🌤️ Partly sunny, with a high of 87 and a chance of evening storms. Good Morning Boston, As a native Granite Stater, I hope someday we'll all agree that New Hampshire and Massachusetts are both nice states and stop [dissing each other](. But first let's turn our attention back home; we have a local election to deal with. - Boston voters will choose today who gets to join [the chaos that has been City Council]( lately. After former councilor Kenzie Bok was [picked to run the Boston Housing Authority this spring]( today's special election will determine who fills her District 8 seat — at least until the end of the year. Here's what to know: - Who's voting: District 8 includes some of the city's densest neighborhoods: the West End, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway and Mission Hill. Also remember: this election is using [the old 2021 map]( — not [the new one]( that will be used in this fall's elections. - Where do I vote? The city website has [a list of the special election voting sites](. (You can also [look up your ward and precinct here]( Per usual, the polls are open until 8 p.m. - Who are the candidates: There are two names on the ballot: [Sharon Durkan]( and [Montez Haywood](. Durkan is a political consultant and former campaign aide for Mayor Michelle Wu and Sen. Ed Markey (both of whom, along with Bok, have endorsed her). Meanwhile, Haywood is a longtime prosecutor in the Suffolk County district attorney's office. He previously ran for the District 8 seat in 2019, finishing fifth in the preliminary. - On the issues: If elected, Durkan says she'd push for more affordable housing in the district and expanded mental health services for city workers. She's stressed she's "the only candidate in the race who has the experience to lead on day one." Meanwhile, Haywood says his top priority would be [the idea of buying a cruise ship to serve as a "floating hospital"]( for people suffering from drug addiction and mental illness, at least until services are re-established on Long Island. He also has emphasized his support for [a fully elected school committee]( and his opposition to [contentious bike lane proposals]( in Back Bay and [Beacon Hill](. (On bike lanes, Durkan says she supports "good public process.") - What to expect: If you're appalled by how [low turnout normally is in local elections]( you may want to look away from the numbers for a special election in the middle of summer vacation season. However, voters may get two chances to vote in this race. That's because the seat will be up for grabs again this fall — and Durkan and Haywood are the only two who made the November ballot. - MassDOT's latest initiative to make [the Sumner Tunnel closure]( a little more bearable is music to MBTA riders' ears. Literally. MassDot and the T are partnering with the Berklee College of Music to serenade Blue Line riders with "upbeat music" twice a week starting tonight. - When and where: Berklee students will perform 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Aquarium stop, and from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Thursday at Wonderland Station through the end of August. - Heads up, cyclists: The [relatively new bike path]( between Somerville's Assembly Square and Sullivan Square in Charlestown is shutting down for a month. State officials [announced yesterday]( the Draw Seven Park Path Extension will stay closed until Aug. 24 for repaving work. - Wait, for a whole month? Yup. State Rep. Mike Connolly [tweeted]( ([X-ed]( that he requested the work because the path was "already showing signs of wear and tear." He added he's "concerned and disappointed" such significant renovations were necessary so soon. DCR officials are looking into why. - Just in time for the "[heat dome]( South Boston's L Street beach is reopening today for the first time in three years after the city finished[ renovations to the nearby Curley Community Center](. (The refurbished center itself [reopened on July 7]( but the beach opening was [delayed by piping plovers in the area]( - Psst: Swimming is also [allowed again at all Plum Island beaches]( after tests showed bacteria levels had dropped back down to acceptable levels. P.S.— We're hosting [a listening session this Saturday in Brockton]( to hear from the community about the ideas and issues on your mind — and you're invited. It's a chance to speak directly to WBUR journalists and help shape our coverage. Space is limited, so [RSVP here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [State-funded shelters in Mass. reach new record: nearly 5,000 families]( The emergency family shelter system is seeing an "unprecedented" increase in homelessness as a result of high housing costs and new arrivals to the state. However, experts say these numbers represent just a fraction of all homeless families in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [State-funded shelters in Mass. reach new record: nearly 5,000 families]( The emergency family shelter system is seeing an "unprecedented" increase in homelessness as a result of high housing costs and new arrivals to the state. However, experts say these numbers represent just a fraction of all homeless families in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [State regulators deny plan to dump radioactive wastewater in Cape Cod Bay]( State regulators have denied a permit modification sought by the company in charge of decommissioning the nuclear power plant in Plymouth to discharge 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. [Read more.]( [State regulators deny plan to dump radioactive wastewater in Cape Cod Bay]( State regulators have denied a permit modification sought by the company in charge of decommissioning the nuclear power plant in Plymouth to discharge 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. [Read more.]( [Obamas' personal chef drowns near family's home on Martha’s Vineyard]( State Police confirmed that the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday was 45-year-old Tafari Campbell. [Read more.]( [Obamas' personal chef drowns near family's home on Martha’s Vineyard]( State Police confirmed that the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday was 45-year-old Tafari Campbell. [Read more.]( [U.S., European heat waves 'virtually impossible' without climate change, new study finds]( Punishing heat waves have gripped America, Asia and Europe this July. A new study finds human-caused climate change is a major reason why. [Read more.]( [U.S., European heat waves 'virtually impossible' without climate change, new study finds]( Punishing heat waves have gripped America, Asia and Europe this July. A new study finds human-caused climate change is a major reason why. [Read more.]( [Mariano puts gun reform bill on hold until fall]( Top House Democrats will back down from their controversial push to approve a 140-page omnibus gun reform measure before lawmakers break for vacation in August. [Read more.]( [Mariano puts gun reform bill on hold until fall]( Top House Democrats will back down from their controversial push to approve a 140-page omnibus gun reform measure before lawmakers break for vacation in August. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Tony Bennett may have been a born-and-bred New Yorker, but his life story also has roots in Boston, including a game-changing moment that revived his career. Read (and listen) to WBUR arts reporter Andrea Shea's full story on Bennett's time in Boston [here](. - Don't look now, but it's almost time for the Newport Folk Festival. From the Connecticut jam-groove band Goose to singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers to pop star Lana Del Rey, WBUR culture writer Lauren Daley [highlights the musicians to check out at this weekend's festival](. - Trader Joe's has [recalled two types of almond cookies]( because they contain, um, rocks. (Not really the crunch you'd want.) Anyone who may have previously bought the cookies should throw them away or return them to a Trader Joe's store for a full refund. - Laura Shea Souza [writes in this commentary]( her mom was the first person she called when she got engaged — in her imaginary life. After losing her mother at the age of 26, Souza reflects on what is shared by members of this club she never wanted to join.  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - Sending a message on Beacon Hill ([CommonWealth]( - A Decade Ago, Jeff Bezos Bought a Newspaper. Now He’s Paying Attention to It Again. ([The New York Times]( - Spouse Out of Town? It’s Time For ‘Husband Meal’ ([GQ](  Life Advice [There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT]( All those daily activities we'd rather avoid — taking the stairs, cleaning the house etc. — have a big metabolic payoff. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis can help manage weight and boost health. [Read more.]( [There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT]( All those daily activities we'd rather avoid — taking the stairs, cleaning the house etc. — have a big metabolic payoff. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis can help manage weight and boost health. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [previews this week's NAACP Convention in Boston]( with speakers ranging from Kamala Harris to Meek Mill. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: We can only dream of having [this much space on "Storrow Drive."]( 😎 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? 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