General Boston Discussion

A lot of Boston doom and gloom in this thread - JLL disagrees. From its 2024 Innovation Geographies report:

1. Boston ranks 3rd in the world (behind the Bay Area and San Diego) in number of patents generated per capita;
2. Boston ranks 4th in the world in innovation output (behind the Bay Area, Tokyo, and Seoul)
3. Boston ranks 3rd in the world in talent concentration (behind the Bay Area and Beijing)

We have a lot of problems here, chief among them the high cost of living. But let's not lose sight of this area's enormous strengths and the fact that people all over the world want to be here and invest here.
And literally all of those cities are unaffordable so I guess yay patents and investments that doesn't actually flow down to the average person 🤷🏽‍♂️

"Honey what's for dinner?

Patents, dear"

Guess where all the investment money go?

That's right, the C suites and the shareholders.

Those metrics are as relatable as:

Boston ranks 3rd in the world in building mansions. Millionaires all over the world want to invest here.
 
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A lot of Boston doom and gloom in this thread - JLL disagrees. From its 2024 Innovation Geographies report:

1. Boston ranks 3rd in the world (behind the Bay Area and San Diego) in number of patents generated per capita;
2. Boston ranks 4th in the world in innovation output (behind the Bay Area, Tokyo, and Seoul)
3. Boston ranks 3rd in the world in talent concentration (behind the Bay Area and Beijing)

We have a lot of problems here, chief among them the high cost of living. But let's not lose sight of this area's enormous strengths and the fact that people all over the world want to be here and invest here.
Yea bro, but have you heard the nightlife sucks?
 
And literally all of those cities are unaffordable so I guess yay patents and investments that doesn't actually flow down to the average person 🤷🏽‍♂️

"Honey what's for dinner?

Patents, dear"

Guess where all the investment money go?

That's right, the C suites and the shareholders.

Those metrics are as relatable as:

Boston ranks 3rd in the world in building mansions. Millionaires all over the world want to invest here.

Those metrics were in response to the idea that businesses are pulling back from investing here and/or fleeing the state. I agree the area is unaffordable and that is the biggest problem we face. If we don't build more housing and that investment keeps coming in it is only going to get worse.
 
If we'd like to talk about something that actually may have an impact on the region's long term population stability:

That is def on my radar... but for now, the Bigger schools in the Boston area don't seem to have any trouble growing.
 
This is great. Boston is once again opening Canal Street for pedestrians during Bruins/Celtics playoff games

I missed all of these last year. I planned to go when the Bruins got further along in the playoffs, and then.... omg the bruins, I'm still in shock how bad that was.
 
This is great. Boston is once again opening Canal Street for pedestrians during Bruins/Celtics playoff games

I missed all of these last year. I planned to go when the Bruins got further along in the playoffs, and then.... omg the bruins, I'm still in shock how bad that was.

too soon, I'm still nervous even with them up 2-1 right now
 
too soon, I'm still nervous even with them up 2-1 right now
😬
I've been avoiding responding, lest I jinx something, but.... how nervous are you now....?

Bruins collapse aside, has anyone gone down to Canal Street for any Bruins or Celtics home games? I've missed them all so far, and it looks like I'll be missing Bruins game 7 this weekend. I've seen pics of the similar thing they're doing in other cities. Toronto especially looks huge, big outdoor screen, and they're doing it for home and away games. Is Boston doing anything close to that?
 
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So the sky isn’t falling because the millionaires have all left? Quoting an old reply about potential surpluses and deficits. Thrilled the Commonwealth is 20% over expectations and that they’re remaining prudent about fiscal questions until things settle for awhile

A huge part of our past surplus was largesse derived from Covid policies. Let us also not forget that Healey just pushed through a tax CUT totaling almost $1B (see my earlier link and below). Not saying we're in a good place, but the surprising receipts for March (and let's see for April), remaining surplus to draw from, and the consequences of a tax cut are all contributors. The sky isn't falling.

 
So the sky isn’t falling because the millionaires have all left? Quoting an old reply about potential surpluses and deficits. Thrilled the Commonwealth is 20% over expectations and that they’re remaining prudent about fiscal questions until things settle for awhile
Population is dropping and millionaires are leaving. Even the Globe admitted it.
 
Not only is the state as a whole growing, it’s with looking at the county data. The growth of Nantucket’s and Martha’s Vineyard’s populations would seem to run counter to the idea that the rich are fleeing. The only areas that are shrinking are the rural parts of the state (Berkshire and Franklin counties)
 
Not only is the state as a whole growing, it’s with looking at the county data. The growth of Nantucket’s and Martha’s Vineyard’s populations would seem to run counter to the idea that the rich are fleeing. The only areas that are shrinking are the rural parts of the state (Berkshire and Franklin counties)

I would think the bulk of the growth in population on the islands would be service workers and tradespeople. Take a look at days on market for condos in Boston over ~$3m and tell me with a straight face that Massachusetts is a place the rich want to live and invest.
 
Massachusetts is a place the rich want to live and invest.

But furthermore, who cares either way? Why have you spent the last 15 years lurking this site just to crap all over this place?
 
But furthermore, who cares either way?

Drive on Route 93 South through Stoneham (towards Boston) and tell me why the state seems incapable of fixing that for over a year? It's the embarrassment of the commonwealth. Where did the money go that used to keep roads in any semblance of shape? Maybe it's just a spending allocation problem rather than an overall income problem, but it sure stands out to me whenever I go that way.

Rich people who pay 50-100x more taxes than the rest of us aren't using 50-100x more roads, but they sure are funding 50-100x more roads. So either why doesn't the state have as much money as it should, or otherwise why isn't it being spent to maintain basic needs, like our infrastructure?

I'm happy to see that the foundation of the state is strong enough to withstand the current policy blunders in the short term, but it's clear that something is wrong and it's affecting the quality of life for ordinary Massachusetts citizens.
 
Drive on Route 93 South through Stoneham (towards Boston) and tell me why the state seems incapable of fixing that for over a year? It's the embarrassment of the commonwealth. Where did the money go that used to keep roads in any semblance of shape? Maybe it's just a spending allocation problem rather than an overall income problem, but it sure stands out to me whenever I go that way.

Rich people who pay 50-100x more taxes than the rest of us aren't using 50-100x more roads, but they sure are funding 50-100x more roads. So either why doesn't the state have as much money as it should, or otherwise why isn't it being spent to maintain basic needs, like our infrastructure?

I'm happy to see that the foundation of the state is strong enough to withstand the current policy blunders in the short term, but it's clear that something is wrong and it's affecting the quality of life for ordinary Massachusetts citizens.
Yes, good good point, when I make my millions, I will decide where to live mostly based on how smooth the roads are.
 
Yes, good good point, when I make my millions, I will decide where to live mostly based on how smooth the roads are.

All 4 lanes are ripped to shreds on an interstate highway that leads directly to the hub city of a 5 1/2 state region. You'd think if we weren't having budget problems that they'd be able to fix that easily. Instead it's only gotten worse over the course of more than a year.

Your comment doesn't really make sense as a response to that fact. Maybe the people who made their millions are now funding the roads down in Florida instead? I don't know, but if we weren't having issues then this type of travesty shouldn't be front and center.

So either (A) where is the money, or (B) where is the money going?
 

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