The Boston Celtics swept the season series from the New York Knicks and it wasn’t particularly close New York travels to Boston for Game 1 of the series on Monday The series goes almost every other day (with a couple of two-day breaks) the rest of the way All times are Eastern (* = if necessary)Game 1: Knicks at Celtics (Mon Orlando’s defense did the best job we have seen of mucking up Joe Mazzulla’s offensive doctrine defending on an island (not helping as much and not getting in rotation) forcing the Celtics to beat them another way (a lot of Jayson Tatum OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are quality perimeter defenders but Boston rolls out five players who can shoot which means Towns will have to defend in space this series Beyond not having the personnel to execute the Magic’s strategy — Orlando is loaded with long New York is not — it’s not Thibodeau’s style to change drastically from what got the Knicks to the dance Expect the Knicks to switch a lot this series it’s what they did in the last two meetings against the Celtics in the regular season The problem is that it allows Boston to get back to its drive-and-kick swing-swing to an open 3-pointer offense where they thrive The Celtics are relentless — if they find a weakness they will go at it repeatedly The most glaring weakness for the Knicks is that their two key offensive players The Celtics will drag them into pick-and-rolls every chance they get which starts their kick-out-to-a-three offense The Celtics will look to wear the Knicks’ stars down If the Knicks are going to have any chance in this series and Brunson and Towns have to hold up defensively The Celtics come in a little banged up after a very physical series with the Magic Jrue Holiday has missed time due to a sore hamstring and that likely continues into the start of this series Jayson Tatum is playing through a sore wrist and Jaylen Brown has a bone bruise and right knee posterior impingement issue Boston had a lengthy rest after knocking off Orlando Brunson is playing through a sore ankle (which appeared to limit him at times in the final game injuries are not what will decide this series.—Kurt Helin Worst possible matchup for the Knicks - KAT struggles in space defensively and no team is better placed to punish him than Boston with the best spacing in the league Tatum and Brown will hunt Brunson on switches relentlessly the Celtics have elite defensive options to make Brunson’s life difficult The Knicks have great talent but it hasn’t clicked at the highest level all year - it magically happening in round 2 of the playoffs seems improbable Some lingering concerns about the health of the Celtics has me convinced we will see a relatively even series early on with wins decided largely by the Celtics’ 3-point shooting luck once Boston solves Brunson at the point of attack I would expect Knicks’ fourth quarter offense to be a meaningful problem late in this series so I could project a Game 5 win by margin for Boston and then a close out in 6 This series will be a dogfight and while the Knicks improved this year the Celtics are just too well-rounded to beat While both teams have four constant scoring threats in the lineup (Tatum Bridges) -- I am not sure about the New York role players and bench having enough in them to give the Knicks more than two wins in this series Boston’s bench is so much deeper and offers instant offense I would be closer to moving this to Boston in a sweep over Boston in six I just don’t see a path to success in this series for New York: The Celtics will win not only the 3-point game but also the possession game in this series and that is just too much for the Knicks to overcome assuming a cold-shooting Celtics squad and a big Jalen Brunson night A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem Follow live coverage of the Knicks vs. Celtics in the NBA playoffs today the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have appeared on a second-round crash course The Celtics will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday Three of The Athletic’s NBA writers — Jay King who has joined the Knicks beat for the playoffs — got together to answer five burning questions about the series King: The Celtics needed to adjust their style to overcome the gritty Orlando Magic Though no opponent found consistent answers for Boston’s 3-point attack during the regular season After generating at least 33 3-point attempts in each game of the regular season the Celtics fell shy of that low bar in each of the final three games against Orlando Boston found other ways to win with Jayson Tatum handing in a big series and the defense holding the Magic to 103.8 points per 100 possessions which would have easily ranked last in the league during the regular season The Celtics emerged from that series a little banged up but could benefit from nearly a week off between the end of the first round and Monday night’s second-round opener Edwards: I had questions about how the Knicks would handle a team as physical and relentless as the Detroit Pistons and I thought they carried themselves well New York didn’t play the prettiest basketball against Detroit (and neither did the Pistons) but it did rise to the occasion in terms of the intangibles The Pistons brought a fight to the Knicks and New York was tough both mentally and physically throughout the first-round series OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were really good in defending Cade Cunningham who is as tough a cover as there was in the NBA this season Detroit doesn’t exactly have the league’s most dangerous offense but the Knicks did what they had to do to keep the Pistons from truly gaining confidence on that end of the floor Josh Hart did Josh Hart things throughout the entire series what else is there to say about his greatness at this point reminding viewers why they owned a top-five offense during the regular season They played more physically than they had all year meeting the Pistons’ confrontational energy the Knicks looked like they had just learned how to play basketball The offense would go stagnant or they wouldn’t run their first action of a possession until far later than required They would get away from Karl-Anthony Towns Talent won out against the Pistons — albeit The Knicks had more of it; they had more experience who swept New York during four regular-season matchups King: The Celtics can win in a lot of ways after needing to adopt a different style in the first round they will likely be hoping to play more like themselves again They will want to recover their 3-point volume rapid ball movement and overall offensive flow They will want to free up their supporting cast which went missing for several games against Orlando The Celtics had few issues against the Knicks during the regular season going 4-0 while making 21 3-pointers per game Tatum averaged 33.5 points across those four games on 53.5-percent shooting If he continues to dominate New York like that generating great looks for himself and others Based on how the regular season matchups went the Celtics will likely try to use him to pick on Towns But especially after the big games Tatum had the Knicks should be ready for that type of focus from Boston Expect New York head coach Tom Thibodeau to have a few new wrinkles prepared Edwards: The Knicks have to find a way to play fast consistently They were at their best in the series against the Pistons when defending and rebounding at a high level upping the pace starts with getting stops far more frequently than they did against the Celtics during the regular season they also need to be strong on the defensive glass Boston ranked 10th during the regular season with 11.4 offensive rebounds per game New York ranked 25th during the regular season with 31.8 rebounds per game — and it averaged even fewer per game (30.8) once Mitchell Robinson made his season debut on Feb The Celtics offense is too potent to allow Boston to get multiple opportunities to score The Knicks need to try to get out in the open court as often as possible Boston has too many switchable defenders who can guard straight up without help It’ll be impossible for the Knicks to create an advantage against a set-up Celtics defense without some urgency Katz: All must go right for the Knicks just for them to stand a chance They need A-plus performances from Brunson and Towns which includes figuring out how to stop the Celtics from slicing New York’s center up in pick-and-rolls They need more from Miles “Deuce” McBride than they received in the Pistons series But let’s concentrate on one smaller game within the game that the Knicks have to win: The possession battle The Celtics shoot more 3-pointers than any other team in history were 28th in 3-point attempt rate during the regular season Robinson and Hart must gobble up rebounds on both sides of the court A team that loses the 3-point game as well as the possession battle won’t survive King: I’m going to sound like Joe Mazzulla who has repeatedly stressed that even in the playoffs most games come down to the simple details the Celtics need to focus on limiting free-throw attempts and offensive rebounds Though the Knicks don’t get to the free-throw line much Boston’s defense needs to be solid against him Sheesh.) But the Celtics should do whatever they can to keep him off the line New York also has two relentless offensive rebounders in Hart and Robinson who can change games with their pursuit of misses The Celtics will have plenty of other areas to worry about but discipline in those two categories would go a long way No team in the NBA shot more 3s than the Celtics during the regular season and they ranked 10th in terms of efficiency Boston has great shooters across the board and is tremendous at playing and winning the math game This group lives in the midrange and was bottom five in 3-point attempts per game If New York can’t change the way it plays offensively or can’t limit the amount of 3s the Celtics take — it’ll need to limit dribble-drive penetration to do this — this could be a series that resembles how the regular-season meetings went between these two teams Forget about the first-round struggles against the Magic Porziņģis unlocks Boston’s most dangerous mode will need to stray far beyond the 3-point arc to close out on deep 3s will likely begin the series guarding Hart the same way the Pistons placed centers on Hart last round The strategy will allow a 7-foot-3 tower to roam into the paint How do the Knicks approach the Porziņģis problem It would take a change in mindset from Thibodeau to try it The Knicks rarely crossmatch with their centers Does the defensive-minded Mitchell Robinson become increasingly important either because he plays alongside Towns or instead of him He is considered day-to-day after missing the last three games of the first round with a strained hamstring If he plays his usual role against New York as the primary Brunson defender Holiday’s health will face a significant test Brunson might be the worst player to need to guard immediately after returning from a hamstring injury He comes off screen after screen and his defenders had better be in tip-top shape The Celtics will need to adjust if Holiday’s hamstring can’t handle all of that herky-jerky motion but could be further limited by Jaylen Brown’s banged-up knee Boston would probably want Brown to avoid such strenuous minutes Holiday’s health is critical in this matchup Brunson has called Holiday one of the toughest defenders he faces Edwards: I feel like Towns is way too good to be labeled as an “X-factor” but I think it’s very clearly him as it pertains to this specific series Towns has to consistently punish smaller players when they are guarding him A few NBA head and assistant coaches I talked to said that part of their thinking in putting smaller players on Towns is that they don’t believe he can commit to playing a bruising style throughout an entire game or series and that he’ll eventually revert to his finesse ways at some point midrange jumpers or running floaters as he did against Detroit even if he is talented enough to hit those shots here and there The Celtics’ defenders are too good and their offense is too potent New York also needs to do a good job of making sure Towns is involved in the bulk of its offensive actions he’s one of the best offensive players on the court Towns has to execute his coverages at an elite level against Boston He can’t be too slow to close-out on Porzingis on the perimeter he’s got to make sure to commit aggressively and with active he does still have to contest shots and rebound well The Knicks’ sixth man has not looked like himself since returning from a knee injury late in the regular season flinging the ball back to the perimeter instead of trying a seamless 2-pointer the one whose trademark is his lack of hesitation He scored only 23 points during the six games versus the Pistons and shot worse than 30 percent After a regular season when he was the team’s best point-of-attack defender against guards he strayed too often from shooters lining the arc He can’t make the same mistakes when he’s on Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard For all the “The Knicks can’t win this series if…” hypotheticals “The Knicks can’t win this series if McBride struggles to this degree” may top them all he provides it — on both sides of the court the Knicks could use the usual version of him back and put constant pressure on Brunson throughout the series Boston isn’t perfect but the Celtics are damn close the winner of a playoff series is often the team with the fewest flaws All of the Celtics’ best players defend at a good-to-high level New York’s best closing lineup will always have two defenders with limitations the Celtics will always have at least three players on the court who can break down a defense off the dribble and create advantages That is a glaring weakness of New York’s roster this season it’s hard to generate a sustainable half-court offense over 48 minutes without multiple dribble-drive playmakers and the Knicks are lacking in that department Boston is a bad matchup for 99 percent of the NBA Regular-season results do not always point to what’s to come in the playoffs But the Knicks’ four games against the Celtics — especially the first three when Boston slaughtered them — made a wide gap between the two teams apparent (Photo of Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns: Elsa / Getty Images) Boston city Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty Monday to federal wire fraud and theft charges for taking a $7,000 kickback inside a City Hall bathroom from a relative who worked on her staff The 46-year-old Democrat who made history in 2021 as the first Muslim elected to the council appeared emotional during the hearing in US District Court Boston and said afterward You have to accept the journey even when it hurts I am looking forward to some healing from this and personal growth.” US District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 29 As part of a plea deal Fernandes Anderson signed in April prosecutors will recommend she serve a year and a day in prison and pay $13,000 in restitution The agreement doesn’t specify what sentence the defense will recommend who had said last month that she will resign said Monday she has yet to set a date but expects it will be sometime in June She said she has been focused on creating a guide that will ease the transition for her constituents in District 7 the most historically diverse neighborhoods in Boston “When I knew or decided that I needed to agree to a plea I have been planning to make sure that my staff was OK so that there’s a softer landing,” Fernandes Anderson told reporters outside the courthouse Fernandes Anderson was arrested by the FBI at her home in Dorchester in December on federal wire fraud and theft charges She announced in April that she had reached a deal with the government and would be pleading guilty to some of the charges she pleaded guilty to two counts for allegedly arranging to receive a kickback from a City Council staff member: one count of wire fraud and one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds Four other wire fraud counts were dropped by prosecutors as part of the deal A federal indictment alleges Fernandes Anderson hired her relative in December 2022 then gave her a $13,000 bonus months later with a caveat: She had to funnel more than half of it back to the councilor Mulcahy said if the case had gone to trial prosecutors were prepared to prove that Fernandes Anderson arranged for the relative to get a bonus “nearly twice as large as total bonuses to other staff combined,” based on their agreement that she would kick $7,000 of it back to the councilor After the city deposited the bonus into the relative’s account she withdrew the money in three increments and arranged to meet Fernandes Anderson At around 4 p.m. on a Friday in June 2023, the pair met in a bathroom at City Hall, where Fernandes Anderson took the $7,000 cash from the staffer and stuffed it in her pocket Fernandes Anderson received a one-word text from her relative saying “Ready,” before meeting to collect the cash “Any disagreement with those facts?” Talwani asked Fernandes Anderson “Are you in fact guilty of counts 1 and counts 6?” Talwani asked “Yes your honor,” Fernandes Anderson said in a soft voice Prosecutors allege Fernandes Anderson arranged the kickback when she was struggling financially and facing bank overdraft fees and a $5,000 fine from the state Ethics Commission for previously hiring relatives to her council staff A statement of facts filed in court in April indicates that as part of the plea agreement Fernandes Anderson also admitted to filing fraudulent federal income tax returns for three years; however she has not been charged with tax offenses the judge interrupted Mulcahy as he began describing the tax allegations noting that Fernandes Anderson was not charged with those crimes She instructed him to focus on the counts she was pleading guilty to A handful of friends and relatives attended the hearing in support of Fernandes Anderson including State Representative Russell Holmes “You have to be there for people when they need you,” said Holmes who described Fernandes Anderson as a kind-hearted person and a friend who was going through a difficult time the council does not have the power to remove a sitting councilor unless they have been sentenced for a felony conviction Fernandes Anderson will continue to receive her $120,000 salary until she is sentenced unless she formally vacates her seat earlier Fernandes Anderson has said her constituents did not want her to resign before May 8 which could require the city to hold a special election for her successor her seat will remain vacant until after the November general election Speaking to reporters about Fernandes Anderson at an unrelated event Monday She said her administration is committed to ensuring that District 7 residents receive answers to any questions they have and access to services they may need council President Ruthzee Louijeune said “The residents of District 7 deserve principled and trustworthy representation and I am deeply disappointed that this standard was not met.” She added she’s committed to making sure that District 7 “is represented with competence and care both during this period and upon Councilor Fernandes Anderson’s resignation.” Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday repeatedly invoked the Constitution and said it is what "binds us all together" after receiving the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Pence received the award for his refusal to go along with President Trump's efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election The award recognizes Pence "for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on Jan we have to find common ground," Pence said "I hope in some small way my presence here tonight is a reminder that whatever differences we may have as Americans the Constitution is the common ground on which we stand It's what binds us across time and generations... Click here for the full story via CBS Boston CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective causing about $1 million in damages to the building Firefighters responded around 10:30 a.m. to heavy smoke at the warehouse, located at 647 Summer St. in South Boston, the Boston Fire Department said in a post on X did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday evening Firefighters used an “aggressive” attack on the interior and exterior of the building to stop the spread throughout the large warehouse, Deputy Chief Martin McCormack of the Boston Fire Department told reporters on scene The cause of the fire is under investigation Massachusetts Port Authority owns the land at 647 Summer St The building is assessed at about $16 million, according to city records The warehouse is 467,410 square feet and was built in 1960 Ava Berger can be reached at ava.berger@globe.com. Follow her @Ava_Berger_. On the corner of Zeigler and Warren streets in Roxbury, a bright yellow flag on a street lamp reads, “Nubian Square, The Heart & Soul of Roxbury.” At the bottom, like many city signs, it bears the name of Mayor Michelle Wu Recently, another set of signs has sprouted a few feet away: blue and white “Josh Kraft 2025 Democrat for Mayor” posters which plaster the windows of the mayoral candidate’s new campaign headquarters where Kraft developed deep community relationships in the three decades he worked there including 12 as its president and chief executive “This couldn’t be a more appropriate place for our campaign to call home,” Kraft said in March at the opening of his campaign HQ “This campaign is about making sure that every voice in Boston is heard and valued.” A first-time candidate up against a savvy incumbent Kraft believes his narrow path to victory runs directly through Roxbury and Boston’s other communities of color and ribbon-cuttings she attends in her official capacity as mayor and regularly does Spanish-language interviews with the media reflects the campaign’s view that the political newcomer can make inroads among Boston’s voters of color Kraft in recent weeks has appeared on at least four radio shows with Black hosts that focus on the Black community and has frequently sat in pews for Sunday services and joined iftars in neighborhoods such as Dorchester and Mattapan His team has recruited people specifically to lead outreach among Boston’s Haitian and Cape Verdean residents the Kraft campaign hosted an event in Mattapan featuring a couple dozen of Boston’s Haitian residents formally endorsing his candidacy Since he launched his challenge to Wu in February Kraft has argued Wu “doesn’t listen” to residents and has neglected Black neighborhoods and other communities around the city the connections he developed through his nonprofit work give him an opportunity to capitalize on what they view as Wu’s vulnerability in Boston’s diverse neighborhoods More than two dozen interviews with Black Boston voters including some civic leaders and political strategists indicate Kraft will find at least some willingness to hear his message in these communities but he has a lot more work to do before November Boston’s Black community is incredibly diverse and not at all a monolith confirmed they are disillusioned with the mayor’s leadership Other Black voters told the Globe they still strongly support the mayor particularly in light of the national political climate Several others said they could possibly be open to voting for a challenger to Wu but don’t know enough about Kraft’s policy positions to decide yet in response to the intense community uproar “I feel like she’s kind of failed Black people,” said Priscilla Flint executive director of the Marcus Anthony Hall Educational Institute and then she makes decisions,” without first soliciting community input but said she’s been disappointed in Wu’s leadership and Flint’s organization has also received support from Kraft’s philanthropic work in the past saying the change could bring instability and compromise the district’s ability to address its significant challenges “[In] conversations that I’m having with many ‘[Wu] doesn’t show up for us unless she needs something or she only shows up when it can benefit her,’” said Jacquetta Van Zandt a senior adviser to the Kraft campaign and host of the show “Politics and Prosecco.” “She has made decisions and choices that have conveniently left out Black voices.” Elisa was also a plaintiff in a lawsuit that aimed to block Wu’s White Stadium plan both as a city councilor and as a mayoral candidate showed interest in addressing some issues he deeply cares about But “there are so many things she said she was going to do that didn’t happen,” Elisa said “I started off very much in support of her administration doing good things and she basically squandered that trust and that support by doing things that are totally unrelated to the needs of the community in which I live.” Other Black voters defended the mayor’s record “I just pray that she wins,” Williams said you have to really be in it to understand what we go through on a daily basis.” “I used to drive by there all the time to drop my kids off [at a youth program] … and I can say it looks markedly different,” Lambright said He was also impressed by Wu’s recent testimony before Congress in which she defended Boston and the city’s policies on how and when local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities I agreed with everything she said,” Lambright said “What I like about Mayor Wu is I feel like she gets the overall picture … I haven’t heard why [Kraft] would do a better job.” a 47-year-old Dorchester resident and morning show host on the Black-owned radio station Spark FM also said Kraft hasn’t articulated how his leadership would be different than Wu’s this is what I’m doing,’ it seems like he’s kind of harping on what she’s not doing,” Johnson said believe Kraft’s efforts to reach Black voters are working “He’s made himself available in a lot of spaces that we probably wouldn’t think that Josh Kraft would be in.” Kraft recently joined Johnson and her co-hosts on their Spark FM show While Johnson said she’s supported Wu for years and approves of the job she’s done in her first term she sees Kraft as a strong contender in this year’s race ‘Maybe there could be some change if we give Josh Kraft a chance.’” “It’s gonna be a tough race,” Johnson continued and I think that both of them have the opportunity to prove themselves.” All-day cafe Daily Provisions is opening in Cambridge this summer If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Union Square Hospitality Group, the NYC-based restaurant empire founded by famed restaurateur Danny Meyer, has something else in the works for Boston before the highly anticipated Seaport restaurants arrive later this year. The company will be opening a location of its fan-favorite all-day cafe, Daily Provisions The cafe is on track to open before the already announced Seaport locations of Daily Provisions and Italian restaurant Ci Siamo according to Daily Provisions president Zach Koff Daily Provisions is a neighborhood cafe and Harvard Square is one of the country’s celebrated neighborhoods,” Koff said in an email and plenty of new visitors — all of whom are curious smart and actively engaged — make it a perfect fit for Daily Provisions.” At the Harvard Square spot, customers can expect all the hits that put Daily Provisions on the map in New York City, including the excellent breakfast sandwiches with thick slabs of bacon, juicy roast chicken, and the widely sought-after French crullers There will be some Boston-specific menu items The summer opening marks the first time that Union Square Hospitality Group has expanded Daily Provisions outside of the New York City area. (A location in Jersey City opened in March.) The company is also working on another outpost of the cafe to open in Washington would be proud if Knicks push Celtics to 6 games (1:21)Stephen A Smith breaks down whether it's more likely the Knicks get swept or go to a seven-game series vs BOSTON -- Celtics guard Jrue Holiday is expected to return from a strained right hamstring when Boston opens its Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Knicks on Monday night No Celtics players were listed on the injury report Sunday meaning they could be at full strength when Game 1 tips off It's the first time Holiday hasn't been on the injury report since he missed the final three games of Boston's first-round series win over Orlando in five games Coach Joe Mazzulla said Holiday was able to "work on everything he wanted to work on" during Boston's practice session Saturday One of the Celtics' top defenders and facilitators on offense 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in the opening two games of the Magic series Also not listed on Boston's latest report is Jaylen Brown who has been dealing with a right knee injury that sidelined him for the Celtics' final three regular-season games The big story of the week for Boston was the loss of Triston Casas very likely for the season as he deals with a left patellar tendon rupture He isn't the only guy who was placed on the Injured List Walker Buehler also was placed on the Injured List due to right shoulder inflammation the team made it sound like this could be a very short stint and that they aren't too worried about him right now While this is the case, there's already been some wild speculation about how the team could replace him. For example, Newsweek's Andrew Wright suggested Los Angeles Angels hurler Yusei Kikuchi it does not seem like Kikuchi's name has been mentioned much when early-season trade deadline targets have been discussed That could be because he's making over $20 million per year or it could be because he's just been forgotten about on a very bad Los Angeles Angels team Boston should definitely be calling about the left-hander who has a manageable ERA of 4.21 in seven starts He has been roughed up by two bad offenses in the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins but those could be early season kinks that he's trying to work out." Kikuchi signed a three-year, $63.675 million deal with the Angels He's just seven starts into his Angels career This already feels aggressive to expect any sort of trade Boston seems more likely to make a move at first base rather than a wild idea like this More MLB: Red Sox 'Didn't Rule Out' Club-Altering Position Change The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The final buzzer last June at TD Garden set off more than just duck-boat parades and high-fives at sports bars—it was a seismic wave of release the Celtics were once again world champs—their triumph arriving just as the glory years of the Sox and Pats had begun to fade into memory The victory meant something even more for team governor and lead owner Wyc Grousbeck who’d spent the past two decades leading the Celtics alongside his father And the timing couldn’t have been more poetic: The team he’d helped rebuild was now valued at more than $6 billion—and they were selling Grousbeck’s diligence was especially impressive given that his succession plan involves a three-year transition period with the team’s new owner It was precisely the careful handling you’d hope to see particularly in a town where championship banners aren’t just decoration—they’re in our blood his final moments may end up being his most influential: ensuring that the next chapter is anchored in what has long made the Celtics And if that also happens to mean another title run next month The Edgerleys have established themselves as Boston’s premier conveners through their membership club recently bringing on Michelle Perez Vichot to run their philanthropic ’Quin House Impact Fund the couple keeps adding new eateries and art for the ’Quin’s members we’d be surprised if most people on this list weren’t members » The Interview: Sandy Edgerley so helming the region’s largest healthcare system—and the largest employer in Massachusetts—and forging ahead with innovative programs and partnerships is enough to make Klibanski one of the most important figures in town the stakes are even higher for the healthcare exec (and possibly the city’s fortunes) as she tries to enhance efficiency to improve Mass General Brigham’s bottom line and tries to keep its huge research efforts on track through the Trump administration’s funding freezes and restrictive new rules Pelton exemplifies that rarest of figures: a true renaissance man at the helm of one of Boston’s most vital institutions and leveraged his own network to forge partnerships and raise TBF’s profile His significant contributions to social justice earned him a spot in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences last year—and in a testament to his wide-ranging talents he even performed in a production of Carousel this spring » Boston, We Have a Wealth-Gap Problem Governor Healey didn’t waste any time pushing back against President Donald Trump this year—not with billions in federal dollars at stake for Massachusetts’ economic powerhouses which she’s determined to retain while attracting new businesses to the state having battled Trump’s policies as attorney general the first time around Now that he’s openly targeting Boston’s biomedical research funding and the state’s sanctuary cities the region seems ready to put aside its own squabbles over immigration and rally behind Healey to face down the threat from Washington Wu seems to be living rent-free lately in Trump’s head: After her 2025 State of the City address—in which Wu never mentioned the president by name—the White House issued a harsh statement that going to war with a Republican president over immigration and other issues has only brought local kudos and positive press And while plenty in business and development circles criticize her they have yet to show that they can defeat her in the mayoral race » Profile: Inside the Bunker with Michelle Wu It’s no wonder he has the ear of every elected official and business leader in town » The Conversion of Bob Rivers While his cybersecurity company continues to shine Thomas is now board chair for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts board chair of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and board vice chair of the Massachusetts High Technology Council He says he wants to use his chamber post to improve Boston’s competitiveness in tech and other industries and with a seat at virtually every power table in the region he’s uniquely positioned to make it happen » No, Cybersecurity Expert Corey Thomas Will Not Tell You His Mother’s Maiden Name The Financial Times has called her “The queen of Wall Street”; Forbes has said she’s the wealthiest person in Massachusetts this incredibly private finance powerhouse usually makes news just by showing up—as when she attended a Joe Biden fundraiser last year Johnson’s behind-the-scenes networking and philanthropy continue to quietly make her influence in Boston as essential as it comes » Who’s Afraid of Abby Johnson? the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce named Fish a Distinguished Bostonian The construction king’s company keeps growing as does his fortune (reportedly north of $2 billion) and he remains one of the first calls for anyone looking to get something major done in Boston And his philanthropy keeps expanding: He and his wife recently pledged $10 million to his alma mater following their $25 million donation to Hobart and William Smith Colleges Jonathan has emerged as the true local powerhouse of his famous family—and depending on what happens this coming November could add “mayor’s big brother” to his résumé should Josh pull off an upset win against Michelle Wu And just look at how close he’s coming to finally getting a Boston-metro stadium for his New England Revolution Jonathan’s been making most of the decisions since the end of the Belichick era and fans are sure hoping for an exciting turnaround season this fall Vertex has grown as a pharma powerhouse under Kewalramani’s tenure most recently gaining FDA approvals for its latest cystic fibrosis treatment and a non-opioid pain medicine as well as acquiring Alpine Immune Sciences Kewalramani has become one of the highest-paid executives in the pharmaceutical industry and boosted her profile and presence in Boston accordingly and Boston University’s School of Medicine » The Interview: Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell Driscoll has built a tremendous web of connections across the state as the administration’s in-person conduit with leaders in the business Few expect Driscoll to pass on running for the top spot Being the head of the T is akin to being the head of the complaints department at Macy’s the MBTA boss has rapidly brought confidence back to the city’s public transit system and rightfully so: It’s hard to imagine the Red Line hitting 50 miles per hour and influence with the re-occupants of the White House he’s been putting his considerable financial clout behind electing more moderate and conservative local public officials While success in this progressive city has been unsurprisingly limited His latest: backing Josh Kraft’s challenge to Mayor Michelle Wu Still atop the North Carolina–based financial behemoth after 15 years Moynihan continues to live in Wellesley and thrive in the Boston societal and cultural ecosystem He’s a big presence at local charity events and organizations such as the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership last year he took on the additional role of Brown University chancellor Mayor Michelle Wu called his 400 Summer Street building a “transformational project” at its opening last year Governor Maura Healey joined other dignitaries at the opening of Sclar’s One Boston Wharf Road have earned him a powerful network around the city but it’s his life’s work making Boston buildings come alive that most people see and appreciate which aims to bridge the opportunity gap in underserved communities recently paying for high schoolers to participate in an MIT robotics competition But the Celtics star has bigger plans: namely to narrow Boston’s racial wealth gap and create a “Black Wall Street.” Hence the launch of Boston Xchange aimed at helping local entrepreneurs with funds It’s safe to say Brown is also pretty important on the parquet » The Interview: Jaylen Brown The man Wyc Grousbeck (see #1) once called “best friends to a lot of guys”—and powerful ones at that—Kane is synonymous with Boston nightlife His influence in the after-hours scene even caught City Hall’s attention with Mayor Michelle Wu appointing him to her Nightlife Initiative for a Thriving Economy committee last summer The venture now boasts locations in TD Garden » Ed Kane Just Wants To Have Fun (Right?) who is currently steering a half dozen enormous development projects apparently will not go through with a teased run for mayor if he had: As the former director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and former chair of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board the politically wired developer has received appointments from governors Deval Patrick and Maura Healey and mayors Tom Menino and Marty Walsh making the case that she and her institution are now the most important and impactful academic forces in this college-driven town MIT Health and Life Sciences Collaborative and most recently the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium She has described MIT as “the R & D for the country,” and expanded access by making tuition free for undergraduates from families earning under $200,000 beginning in fall 2025 » The Interview: Sally Kornbluth Now in her second term as House minority whip—the second-highest post among House Democrats—Clark is playing a huge role in the national opposition to President Donald Trump and Republicans who control Congress But it would take just a couple of Democratic gains in 2026 to turn her into majority whip transforming her Revere residence into a center for national lawmaking » Katherine Clark Is the Adult in the Room Is there anything that influences Bostonians more than the comings and goings of the Red Sox roster Kennedy’s off-season pronouncements about interest in free agents such as Alex Bregman and Juan Soto were pored over like sayings of the Oracle of Delphi But Kennedy is more than that: He serves on a variety of boards and is a go-to for charitable projects while also holding the role of CEO of Fenway Sports Group Real Estate—which means he’s guiding the organization’s Fenway-neighborhood development plans Now nearing two decades at the helm of Northeastern Aoun is the proverbial dean of Boston’s major higher ed institutions That’s one reason that he’s looked to for leadership particularly amid the recent turmoil on college campuses Aoun steered Northeastern between new compliance demands and what he called the university’s “core values” in a February letter to students he’s also emerged as a voice on higher education’s AI future many of the city’s most influential leaders sit on his own board he’s received almost every award the city has to give and remains the go-to for input on everything from transportation reform to immigration issues His continued success could hinge on deftly balancing the business interests of his members with the mayor’s ambitious vision for the city’s future Percelay stands out among Boston developers for his outspoken political engagement—and people listen bringing a MAGA Republican onto his politically mixed board while also sharing in the news fond memories of working with Jimmy Carter during Percelay’s days as Habitat for Humanity chair And as publisher of N Magazine and the Nantucket Current he is now leading efforts to end food insecurity on the island » Can the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Save Democracy? Budd has been speaking out this past year about the importance of restorative justice—in fact in which defendants can find ways other than prison to make amends in their case Budd has described this and other initiatives she’s trying out as a way of restoring confidence in and access to the court system Budd’s court continues to rule on the state’s most closely watched issues from the MBTA Communities Act to the retrial of Karen Read Boston Democrats these days are looking for fighters Her constituents overwhelmingly reelected her again in 2024 packing her recent local appearances (such as a March Town Hall in Roxbury) and feasting on YouTube videos of her skewering Trump appointees and officials they’ll follow her into battle any time she asks Rumors are circulating that she’ll challenge Senator Ed Markey next year—and she didn’t say no when publicly asked about it Sheridan is turning the city into a global magnet She snagged seven of next year’s FIFA World Cup matches for Gillette Stadium—a coup that’ll inject serious cash into the area’s economy in 2024; sponsors Meet Boston with Billy & Jenny on NESN; and just expanded Dine Out Boston to three weeks she’s been traveling the world to promote partnerships and events and has the hardware to show for it: BU’s School of Hospitality Administration just gave Sheridan its Icon Award » Can This Woman Bring Tourists Back to Boston? and they’re getting an earful as she warns that the state’s healthcare system is at a breaking point Governor Maura Healey boosted MassHealth primary-care spending in the latest budget and the state just passed legislation that creates a Primary Care Task Force to make recommendations on access and delivery Biotech remains one of the key drivers of Boston’s economy and Burlin O’Connell has become the industry’s face and voice at the State House and lately even in court—MassBio is leading the region’s legal charge against the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down crucial NIH grants always bring together a who’s who of the city—David Ortiz even spoke at one this spring He’s the new chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston His company just made its biggest dividend payout ever And since opening huge offices in the Seaport Crandall has become a major presence in Boston as well as MassMutual’s Springfield home But it’s clear that he’s looking for even more—both for MassMutual and himself if rumors of political ambitions are accurate Twenty-five years after Fialkow and Joel Cutler reputedly conceived their investment firm on a Hawaiian beach, the Cambridge-based company continues to thrive, recently raising $8 billion in capital to fund innovative ventures in a variety of sectors. While their business success is notable, Fialkow and his wife, Nina have focused their documentary investments on more sobering subjects which examines abuse at an Indian residential school → $4 billion economic development bill passed in November An evangelist of the “Team Massachusetts” motto appointed by Governor Maura Healey two years ago to spark economic growth Hao was instrumental in the recent passage of the massive Mass Leads Act Although she announced that she’s stepping away from state government as we went to press Hao has left her mark on making Greater Boston a center for climate technology and artificial intelligence going forward–and transformed herself from relatively obscure businesswoman to major player → $337,000 raised in first full month of mayoral campaign Unseating a Boston mayor is historically a steep climb brings unprecedented advantages to the challenge His years nurturing relationships through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston have built genuine community ties while his campaign team reads like a political All-Star lineup as key members of the business community rally behind his vision Win or lose against Mayor Michelle Wu in November Kraft is likely to drive policy conversation in the city going forward » Who Is Josh Kraft? Democrats may be having a tough time elsewhere who romped to reelection here last November with 60 percent of the vote Her power in Washington’s progressive circles is only growing as she started a new six-year term and took over this year as the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee one of the loudest voices of dissent and protest against President Donald Trump and the Republican agenda Upon taking over the city’s dominant news outlet in 2023 Barnes set out to transform the Globe’s digital presence this vision paid off with the paper’s first duPont-Columbia award from Columbia Journalism School for its multimedia exploration of the 1989 Charles Stuart case—spanning print it’s not just the big projects that have everyone’s attention: From the Steward hospitals bankruptcy crisis to Rhode Island politics Barnes has the region’s newspaper defining the area’s agenda every day In her role running one of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks Collins keeps an eye on the local and regional economy—and doesn’t keep her views to herself She gives speeches on where our economy is going as she did recently for the Insurance Women’s Investment Network and NAIOP Massachusetts such as one with the Boston Foundation’s Lee Pelton (see #5) at the Mass Black Expo She can also make her opinions known with a few words as she did recently at one speaking engagement realistically optimistic” about the economy Chambers made a deal in February to sell his eponymous and ubiquitous car dealerships But that doesn’t mean he’ll stop being a force in Boston—not when he’s willing and able to be one of the city’s biggest civic philanthropists His company took over as presenting sponsor for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular in 2024 and topped that in December with a $100 million donation to Massachusetts General Hospital and Chambers will remain involved with the auto business by retaining ownership of Mercedes-Benz of Boston The developer and his celebrity wife, actress Eliza Dushku Palandjian have been dipping their toes into politics lately publicly advocating for a Massachusetts ballot measure last year that sought to legalize some psychedelic drugs while also launching “A Day for Democracy” in Boston to get workers time off to vote their work supporting mental health treatment continues The father-and-son duo’s buildings can be found all over Boston making them one of the city’s most important landlords While Jonathan founded the real estate company his son Stephen has increasingly taken charge of its operations The company has expanded into scientific lab space including 1515 Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton Afeyan is a linchpin of Boston’s biomedical ecosystem He’s helped create more than 100 companies and has provided the kind of advice and opportunities that make this a region where the best and brightest want to converge and work and a hang-on-every-word commencement speaker (addressing MIT’s graduates in 2024 and Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s graduates this year) Mayor Michelle Wu was there to help cut the opening ribbon for IBA’s renovated South End housing development in December And that wasn’t a one-off: Local leaders can often be found posing with Calderón-Rosado Her connections and influence have led to the start of construction on La CASA which will soon be a major Hispanic cultural center for the city → $350 million+ donated toward cancer research The Quincy billionaire has perhaps become best known for his annual “Saving by Shaving” charity event to benefit cancer hospitals—this year’s head-shaving participants included Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla raising funds for Boston Children’s Hospital But that’s only part of his philanthropic efforts His $1,000 cash gifts to entire graduating classes—UMass Dartmouth last year—are becoming legendary as well Greater Boston’s only casino has exceeded initial expectations who has led the Encore team through expansion plans She has done so while choosing to integrate herself personally into Boston’s business and social scenes from serving on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce board to mentoring women in her industry » The Interview: Encore President Jenny Holaday remains one of the most important business leaders in Boston Chamberlain is increasingly seen as the local face of the mighty bank He was behind the Bank of America’s new 10-year Boston Marathon sponsorship and keeps the company involved in other events and charities → $15 million raised from 192 investors in 2024 Named to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s board of directors this year Francisco continues to solidify her place among Boston’s elite power players Her focus remains on bringing racial equity to the region’s investment and finance scene but anybody trying to shoehorn her into a niche role is way behind Francisco’s true impact The online-sports-gambling king keeps barreling forward Not only did DraftKings acquire two companies last year—another sports-betting provider and a digital lottery app—but it also has plenty of innovations in the pipeline Those include expanding into “futures contracts” wagering; accepting cryptocurrency payments from bettors; subscription models that might offer better payouts; and integration of AI into its software Robins’s 1,000 Boston-based employees have plenty to keep them busy His public relations shop remains a local powerhouse recently strengthening its team with two seasoned public-safety communications veterans from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police and more—to go along with his impressive client roster—Regan’s influence extends beyond his roots as the mayor’s spokesperson What many don’t see: Regan counts numerous power players near the top of this list as longtime close friends Their midday talk show is an unqualified ratings success for GBH; perhaps that’s why any and every major figure in Boston are eager to appear live at the Boston Public Library studio But their influence over the local conversation extends well beyond politics: “Delighted that our mission reached Jim Braude and Margery Eagan,” enthused Boston Dog Lawyers on social media in a typical reaction to getting mentioned on the program » Talk of the Town: Jim Braude and Margery Eagan Bernstein’s position heading the megabank’s New England operation makes him a big player in Boston’s financial scene which profiles and interviews many of the city’s bold-faced leaders: Jim Rooney and Sarah Iselin from this list among them Bernstein also cochairs the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education through which business leaders hope to shape public policy With an estimated $100 million in federal budget cuts anticipated to affect Boston Children’s in the coming months Churchwell’s steady leadership has perhaps never been more important for the country’s number one recipient of National Institutes of Health pediatric research funding But the top-ranked hospital’s leader isn’t letting that slow him down maintaining a focus on equity programs while remaining active in business groups including the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Costa is the face—and voice—of Boston in more ways than one. He has the region’s ear on Kiss 108 every morning. He has us watching Dining Playbook and Meet Boston on NESN. Now he’s helping us make dinner—Costa and his brilliant NESN cohost, Jenny Johnson a cookbook that takes readers on a tour of Boston’s food scene The prolific PR strategist and DEI champion sees the Trump presidency as a catalyst for Boston’s leaders to elevate their impact—and they’re listening Her events celebrating the area’s diversity attract the most prominent figures in town (even the mayor seems unable to resist her gatherings) A powerful behind-the-scenes architect of the New Boston Phillips shapes public discourse through her incisive op-eds and is regularly quoted in others’ columns cementing her status as an essential voice guiding the city’s evolution » The Secret Sauce of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion It’s not easy to last 10 years atop the state’s vital five-campus public university system but Meehan continues to keep the schools thriving getting what he needs from the state legislature and the federal government through every change in elected officials congressman—and his extensive connections regularly on display at the UMass Club » Is UMass’s Marty Meehan Boston’s New King of Clubs? → $57.78 billion in state funding makes him the gatekeeper every lawmaker needs Not many elected officials would demand that the local business community change their attitude on taxes and presumed next House Speaker—has the power to tell off whoever he wants After making big changes to Boston’s ports and terminals as head of MassPort Wieland is now working on upgrading the energy provided to much of the region That involves implementing the Massachusetts Electric Sector Modernization Plans part of a planned $14 billion investment into turbocharging the state’s energy infrastructure Keeping the literal lights on is influence enough but Wieland is also just as active in civic and business groups as she was in her MassPort days When Bell stepped into the top role at Boston Medical Center Health System in 2023 he couldn’t have predicted what came next: Steward’s collapse handed him two more hospitals—St Elizabeth’s in Brighton and Good Samaritan in Brockton—more than doubling his system’s beds overnight the region’s ability to care for its most vulnerable residents hinges on how well he meshes these operations Bell has friends in high places: State Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh who will dole out $417 million to help five former Steward facilities As the top economic development person for the city, Idowu has brought the city roaring back from the pandemic. That happened partly by luring new companies, such as Lego and potentially Hasbro; partly by launching programs that offered financial help to small businesses using federal recovery funds; and partly by advocating for legislative measures such as last fall’s liquor-license expansion That’s why you’ll likely find Mayor Michelle Wu highlighting Idowu’s successes on the campaign trail this year Bancel, of course, helped save lives with his company’s first product to market: a vaccine for COVID He has also pledged to spend much of his resulting fortune on philanthropy via Bancel Philanthropies (Although not all local: He recently gave $20 million to Villanova University.) For his next act Bancel’s company has 10 more products in the pipeline with the goal of bringing them to market by 2027 He just needs to get through the new vaccine-skeptical federal administration » The Interview: Stéphane Bancel Plenty of Bostonians have advocated for ranked-choice voting but only when Louijeune took up the cause last year did it seem like it might happen A fast-rising political star with plenty of allies—including former boss Elizabeth Warren—Louijeune has also shown a willingness to go toe-to-toe with anyone That includes fighting Mayor Michelle Wu over the latest city budget she plans to have the council address its own ethics and school-closure plans—issues of considerable importance to residents » This City Councilor Is Boston’s Brightest Rising Political Star She was the first woman to head up the San Jose Mercury News the largest public broadcasting station in the United States At a time when the feds are slashing budgets like mad » The Interview: Susan Goldberg Honored with a Shattuck City Champion Award last year Curry continues to fight for health equity at a time when “equity” has become a dirty word Frequently called upon by officials in City Hall and the State House for task forces and advisory groups the former head of the NAACP Boston Branch has built up MLCHC’s professional staff and used his influence to wring more resources out of state government for Massachusetts’ vital community health centers Gilliam has embraced a more active civic role since her September inauguration She’s positioned the university as a key city ambassador traveling to Washington to advocate for funding amid federal cuts and launching the “Living Our Values Project” to foster campus unity Her leadership of an institution with 37,000 students and 140 prime urban acres ensures her decisions will shape not just BU but Boston itself » The New Boston University President Is a Renaissance Scholar’s Dream The governor and mayor both attended the opening of CarGurus’ new Back Bay headquarters He still owns a small portion of that company and a chunk of TripAdvisor Steinert is busy in Cambridge with company number three Honored by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce with a coveted Pinnacle Award this year Low continues to steer the beloved local radio station through tough economic times for local media That meant recently axing the Radio Boston show and continues to keep the station’s reporting top-notch and highly relevant Just a few months after del Carmen assumed the top job at MGH she got handed a $100 million check from Herb Chambers (see #41) and started work on the cancer facility it will pay for Perhaps that makes up for the turmoil she faces due to plans to merge some operations with Brigham and Women’s Hospital as the head of the state’s oldest and largest hospital—with the largest hospital-based research program in the country—and in her new position on the board of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association reportedly angled for the top Boston job when Trump first took office in 2017; her patience was rewarded with the appointment this year which include cracking down on immigrants in the country illegally will likely bring her into conflict with local elected officials Foley has maneuvered to let outside figures such as border czar Tom Homan take the public heat while she quietly goes about her business » Meet Trump’s New Federal Prosecutor in Blue Massachusetts A big slate of bills became law in the last session and observers say that in the final analysis Spilka got more of what she wanted than either House Speaker Ron Mariano or Governor Healey (Spilka also made headlines by killing Mayor Michelle Wu’s property tax proposal in December.) Community-college affordability and Boston liquor-license reform were among the bills passed by the Spilka-led Senate and ultimately signed into law → 6.1 million square feet to be developed as part of Dorchester Bay City Sykes continues his mission to champion diverse investment in development with his latest venture the Boston Real Estate Inclusion Fund (BREIF) which offers smaller-scale opportunities for people of color and women to invest in Boston’s biggest projects Sykes continues to shape the industry’s landscape as board chair of NAIOP Massachusetts while transforming the Dorchester waterfront through the expansive Dorchester Bay City development but the exec has also integrated herself into the local community including M & T’s co-presenting sponsorship of the Pan-Mass Challenge—which she also rides in More evidence of her sway: The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce honored Lee with a Pinnacle Award this year the Boston Business Journal named her among its “Women Who Mean Business.” Sharma has consistently been called one of America’s top financial advisers—the Sharma Group is ranked by Forbes as the premier private wealth team in Massachusetts and 10th in the country—so people pay attention when he speaks He uses that attention to push for collective good in everything from wealth equity to housing Bonus points for cochairing the Boston Foundation’s Annual Fund for Civic Leadership this year Has it really been five years since Hills switched on his webcam and created a community livestream program regularly appear as guests (he’s also an adviser to Mayor Michelle Wu) And Hills isn’t stopping with his show: He recently became a fellow at Salem State University’s Berry Institute of Politics expanding his influence to the next generation » “Java with Jimmy” Host Jimmy Hills on Success, Positivity, and Coffee → 1,000+ residential units developed/invested in The number of people Settles has helped and mentored over more than 25 years in hospitality and development provides him with a veritable army of allies who support his every move (see: the sold-out James Brown tribute concert he executive-produced at the Strand last year) every significant diversity and equity initiative over the past quarter-century has borne his imprint Tingle is using his post at one of Boston’s most iconic companies to work with local researchers, hospitals, and businesses on something important to nearly every person on earth: living to a ripe old age. It’s called the “longevity economy,” and the idea is to help an aging population live longer Tingle recently testified to Congress about the concept but the work is being done in and around Boston Phelan is so well known for gathering and mentoring local professionals—in part via his famous breakfast gatherings—that it’s easy to forget how much he gets done at his day job He helped pull together $19 million to rescue the iconic S.S Pierce Building that anchors Brookline’s Coolidge Corner He also helped arrange a $62 million refinancing deal for the Addison apartments in East Boston and has been generous with local organizations such as Catholic Charities Boston and the Boston Foundation » How to Live Long and Prosper, According to Overachievers Living Longer After creating the Boston While Black membership network in 2020 Collier quickly turned it into a mighty force for change in the city Partnering with corporations and universities and quickly surging well past 1,000 members the organization has both highlighted and helped create inclusive Black culture and networking in Boston Collier keeps spreading the word and widening the net—hosting a three-day summit opened last year; this year brings a Sicilian eatery and we’re eagerly awaiting what this trendsetter dreams up next as he transforms Boston into the ultimate dining and drinking destination » How COJE Restaurants Put the Sizzle Back into Boston Dining As an investor and philanthropist with national political connections—he serves on the board of the Obama Foundation—Martin spent two decades with Adage Capital Management before starting a wellness company with a mission: invest profits into health equity The transition has been so successful that Harvard Business School recently did a case study on Martin and the school’s African-American Alumni Association gave him the prestigious Bert King Award for Service last year The city has no shortage of major nonprofit institutions with strong leaders but people in the halls of power point to Spruill as the one who has the most pull these days The aquarium’s fearless leader is heavily involved in Boston’s civic from the Boston Green Ribbon Commission to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to the International Women’s Forum of Massachusetts And don’t underestimate Spruill’s advocacy for Mayor Michelle Wu’s ever-expanding Boston Family Days program which brings students and their caregivers into cultural centers Having sold most of the family car dealerships Boch continues to be the region’s most unpredictable philanthropist—for example donating $11,000 to a double lung transplant patient in Salem after happening to see a report on Boston 25 News But the city can always count on Boch’s enthusiastic support for the arts—behold the Boch Center theaters—and the work of his family foundation → $16.3 million committed through the New Commonwealth Fund Wilmot chairs the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (a.k.a established after George Floyd’s death in 2020 to ensure that local philanthropy serves inclusive purposes While others may have drifted away from those goals—or turned against them—in recent times Wilmot’s idea of using holistic philanthropy to drive long-term change continues to power the NCF And it’s part of his ongoing influence in Boston since he left Vertex two years ago Seelig specializes in connecting exceptional luxury properties with buyers who contribute significantly to our local economy Peep the $19.8 million Hyannis Port manse next to the Kennedy compound or the $7.5 million three-bedroom on Beacon Hill they pale beside the $80 million Manhattan property that won Seelig last year’s “Stratospheric Sale” Power Broker award but the Cambridge-based agent and her firm are certainly keeping the local scene hot has finally said who will take over his beer company when he can no longer run it: his wife Not that he plans on stepping away anytime soon His Samuel Adams beer has become practically synonymous with the city and Koch is known for his personal involvement in everything done in his company’s name Some of that activity is done more quietly than the attention-seeking brewery: Working with the Accion Opportunity Fund Koch’s Brewing the American Dream gives loans to businesses that have trouble getting funding elsewhere → $1.6 billion in 2024 net product revenue Greenstreet’s influence among Boston’s pharma leaders continues to grow driven by her Cambridge company’s reputation both as a model employer and a pioneer in drug development with treatments in the pipeline for heart disease Her impact extends far beyond the lab—she is a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee and holds other key roles It’s no surprise the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association named her their 2024 Woman of the Year » The Interview: Biotech Leader and Alnylam CEO Yvonne Greenstreet With a hand in everything from the convention center to the Mass Black Expo Obi is a powerful force running the most impactful minority-focused business organization in the state Through BECMA and the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office and Small Business Advisory Board (which she chairs) Obi is making headway in getting government contracts into the hands of Black-owned businesses She’s involved everywhere you look in the city serving on the Environmental League’s board and even fundraising for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra » The Interview: Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Head Nicole Obi Lyrik Back Bay marks another milestone in Samuels’s portfolio The property’s website calls it “the most significant project of its kind in Boston in over 40 years,” and the Boston Globe celebrated how Samuels “built a slice of the city out of thin air.” It’s a fitting achievement for the developer this magazine dubbed “Fenway’s man with the golden charm” a decade ago The Fenway Alliance had never given its Spirit Award to an architect or a designer—until this year when it picked David Manfredi and Lowrey for the work they’ve done throughout the Fenway Cultural District Lowrey’s work can be seen in buildings all over Boston and far beyond; she has also been making an impact locally with her involvement in the Civic Action Project and other programs aiming to lift up the next generation of talent → $9.3 billion+ in residential sales since firm’s founding Campion keeps getting the most fabulous listings such as the $16 million Four Seasons penthouse overlooking the Public Garden or the 23-bedroom Ayer Mansion on Massachusetts Avenue while also making her a premier mover and shaker among Boston’s elites The legendary presidential historian and political commentator went personal last year with a book centered on her late husband Kearns Goodwin is not making that trip down memory lane the coda on her career—or if she planned to the second Trump administration pulled her right back into the action explaining how the president’s actions break with historical precedent Schuster has shaped healthcare leadership for two decades as Emerson Health’s chief executive earning consistent recognition in regional and national media Her path from registered nurse to the top role reflects her deep understanding of healthcare delivery which has helped Emerson Health become renowned for exceptional nursing care Her expertise recently led Governor Maura Healey to select her for a crucial working group addressing the aftermath of Steward Health Care’s closures Hired last year for the quasi-public post once held by Jim Rooney (see #27) Vernon oversees both Boston convention centers and the popular Lawn on D He now plays a leading role in the flow of visitors through Boston—and their spending One of his big tasks is to ensure the wealth gets spread equitably to local minority- and women-owned businesses; this commitment to equity is why Sheena Collier (see #79) cochaired the selection committee that hired him Jones has conquered the legal scene and now leads the way Ropes & Gray just reelected her to another five-year term as chair after annual profits soared from $2.8 million to $4.5 million in her first go-round is keeping the firm growing—most recently by opening a Paris office O’Brien has brought his Medford-raised pugilistic attitude into the national spotlight He delivered a prime-time speech at Donald Trump’s nominating convention that made Republicans uncomfortable with its anti-corporate message He clashed with his own member unions over withholding an endorsement from Democrat Kamala Harris and reportedly voiced his support for Trump’s Labor Secretary pick—a selection that again unsettled many traditional conservatives Washington publication the Hill named the former Local 25 member a Changemaker at year’s end » The Interview: Sean O’Brien Boland has been one of Boston’s top corporate lawyers for years—and now an inaugural member of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame particularly when it comes to fundraising for women including those you’ll find elsewhere on this list Bonus points for pitching in on the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative board and chairing the New England National Association of Corporate Directors After a remarkable four decades working at one of Boston’s best-known charitable institutions Downie knows just about everybody who can further the Pine Street Inn’s mission of helping and housing the homeless such as a new 202-unit housing development in Jamaica Plain—named as is his founding role with RISE Development & Construction He’s frequently quoted and published in local media—in opposition to last year’s ballot measure rescinding the MCAS graduation requirement and in favor of the White Stadium renovation plan He also spoke at the Mass Black Expo about the long road still to go for racial equity in Boston Heading the Boston Teachers Union apparently wasn’t enough for Tang who was unanimously elected president of the state AFT last year That gives her even more influence as she works to advance public education in Massachusetts Her reach extends from classrooms to Beacon Hill and even Washington where she successfully lobbied at the end of 2024 to change a Social Security provision that With his newly released “Extraordinary Emerson 2030” strategic plan Bernhardt is making clear that he plans to be a major player in Boston’s academic scene for years to come He’ll do it by leaning into Emerson’s reputation for developing and encouraging communications and artistic talent among the student body which already makes itself heard locally and around the world At the helm of the state’s leading Small Business Administration lender Miller’s influence reaches far beyond banking He’s on the board of directors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Continuing to boost his presence in the region Miller completed Eastern’s acquisition of Cambridge Trust last summer The medical malpractice attorney recently brought a class-action lawsuit against former Brigham and Women’s Hospital rheumatologist Derrick Todd for alleged assaults on more than 200 patients His work led to Todd’s indictment by a Middlesex County Grand Jury highlighting Meyer’s ability to deliver justice for those who have been failed by the medical system » The Secret Truth About Boston Doctors Nearly two years after purchasing the city’s premier Black newspaper Mitchell and Stark have the redesigned paper and website—and the revived business and sports sections and the virtual art gallery—feeling more relevant than ever Adding to that sense of vibrancy is a move from the Banner’s longtime Lower Mills offices to Roxbury’s Nubian Square Boston’s incubator for entrepreneurial talent Babson has flourished under Spinelli’s leadership—and the school’s 14th president continues pushing the college forward for instance launching a new Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship that will include a focus on AI News & World Report says it’s the top undergraduate school for entrepreneurship and the Wall Street Journal ranked it number two among all U.S Fittingly for someone helping students flex their entrepreneurial muscles Spinelli also serves on the board of Planet Fitness → 78 hospital and healthcare-system members The Hub’s healthcare segment seems to go from crisis to crisis; if it’s not the Steward hospitals collapse As head of the association that represents and advocates for hospitals and other healthcare providers Walsh has placed himself at the center of it all and hospitals are teetering on the edge,” Walsh titled a recent op-ed Through his lobbying of state government and work with his member institutions Walsh does more than anyone to keep the system from collapsing It’s been another banner year for Thornborough—and not just because of that pretty new Celtics championship banner now hanging from the rafters TD Garden’s CEO has also kept the North End jumping with major concerts All of that led to the Garden being named a finalist for Sports Business Journal’s Facility of the Year When the Boston Foundation wanted to provide guidance for nonprofits facing burnout who conducted research and led a panel discussion there last fall The Rhode Island Foundation just partnered with her as well—in fact you’ll find social service and philanthropic organizations that have benefited from Coentro’s work which only figures to become more important as those organizations pick up the slack from services cut by the Trump administration → 1,055 stories published in CommonWealth Beacon in 2024 the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth has become indispensable to anybody whose life or work intersects with state politics added former Congressman Joe Kennedy III to his board of directors all while pumping out policy papers on Gateway Cities → 500,000 members represented from more than 800 local unions and well connected to rise to the top job at the state’s AFL-CIO charter since Lynch—who has all the other qualities in abundance—broke that 130-plus-year streak Want to know exactly how connected Lynch is she was Senator Ed Markey’s guest at President Trump’s State of the Union address → 40,000 employees for which she handles communication Garcia has quickly become a familiar presence in Boston’s civic life You’ll find her involved just about anywhere in town where they’re helping the less advantaged and she was recently named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Finance by Women We Admire → $398 million raised for third Engine Ventures fund Tasked with turning the tech genius of MIT into viable companies that will shape our collective future Knight and Rae split the job in two: Knight runs the incubator itself while Rae heads a spinoff venture capital firm Together they have incubated—and often invested in and advised—dozens of companies which convenes women and minorities in venture capital → 300+ startups invested in (more than two dozen of which have a $1 billion+ valuation) In the vital Boston game of matching funds to those with great ideas venture capitalist extraordinaire Eric Paley is always at the center highly sought after by company founders from Uber to Whoop Founder Collective launched its fifth fund Narang’s smart payment platform has been the invisible engine powering Boston’s dining renaissance—a transformation we’re all savoring He recently told investors he’s now working on AI tools to elevate restaurant marketing and menu optimization empowering businesses to reach new heights And he hasn’t stopped there: Narang is now expanding his technological prowess to make shopping easier at your local grocery store → $50 million proposed for early-literacy funding with direct or indirect impact on almost every Bostonian has canceled a lot of funds and laid off many It took less than a day for the facility to reopen and less than a week for the fired employees to be reinstated That’s a taste of the power and influence of the institution and the woman who has now been in charge for nearly six years → $350,000 in consulting services provided to Massachusetts Port Authority since 2022 Widely recognized as the “father of” genetics research and innovation Church has been leading the pack for so long one might overlook how far ahead he remains right now which he launched last fall with $75 million of backing and a promise to revolutionize cell therapy raised $60 million to fund therapies for gout and other conditions earlier in the year an RNA therapeutics developer Church collaborates on which added $10 million of funding this year » How Three Cambridge Biotech Startups Want to Change the World with DNA. → 20 million+ square feet of real estate managed Shen was given great credit for his city-planning work under mayors Tom Menino and Marty Walsh Now Michelle Wu has brought him back from his MIT job to work more magic Shen has Wu’s full trust; at the same time developers who are sometimes skeptical of the mayor believe that Shen understands their point of view—so much so that one local columnist wrote that “Shen might as well be a human olive branch” from Wu to local business leaders While Fidelity’s Abigail Johnson keeps her famously low public profile Everhart continues to expand her presence and impact in Boston Governor Maura Healey recently appointed her to the powerful MassPort Board of Directors—the second assignment she has given her Everhart spearheads the investment giant’s local government and community relationships keeping her connected with the city’s power players Nagahiro is the brains behind much of Boston’s public appearance while improving the city in ways you can’t as easily see is not only visually striking—its design has led the way in Boston’s climate-resiliency push for energy and materials efficiency Nagahiro has also been active in equity and diversity efforts within the local architecture profession returned two years ago after managing collections and education at the prestigious National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and she’s brought some of her star power with her (just check out the Bridgerton-inspired gown she wore to draw attention to the MAAH’s Living Legends Gala) Trent has quickly become a leader in the local Black community—not just in Boston where the MAAH-operated African Meeting House just celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding When Kim threw her first gala for the fund she launched with the Boston Foundation in 2020 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (see #7) gave the keynote; Bob Rivers (see #8) attended to receive an honor; and Raj Sharma (see #74) served as cochair That shows some serious juice as Kim works to assist Asian-American organizations in the area the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston merged with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts; Essaibi George is helping the organization through the transition and may ultimately take a new formal role But the former city councilor’s networks and experience remain highly valued in other corners of the city She is chairing a Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester awards event holding “living room politics” gatherings in her home commenting on local events for local media And don’t count out a return to public life if the opportunity arises Is there a business or social leader in Greater Boston who hasn’t collaborated with Wiley and the Partnership Developing and placing diverse professionals with the organization’s myriad corporate collaborators Wiley also sits on Governor Healey’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment Wiley combines all these spheres of influence into a powerful personal network Everybody wants practical robotics and artificial intelligence these days Amazon now has more than 750,000 robots at work including thousands at the massive new warehouse in North Andover And Brady’s not afraid to bring more bots to Boston: He also cofounded MassRobotics a nonprofit championing new robotics startup companies → 2 million case studies published and sold who has become known for her case studies of innovative companies preaches the gospel of not playing it safe in business serving on the boards of industry giants like Mastercard she teaches one of the most popular courses at HBS where students look to her as they make their way through Boston’s business world Papachristos has changed what Bostonians expect from a restaurant experience is yet another testament to his successful 15-year partnership with chef Jody Adams It’s been called a “culinary gem,” but that’s what we’ve come to expect from Papachristos but that doesn’t just mean checking permits and reviewing code violations He’s the guy Mayor Michelle Wu leans on to oversee details of the White Stadium renovation And for good reason: Irish knows the city and City Hall as well as anybody having served several mayors running the Inspectional Services Department and the Election Department over the past 25 years Lots of people report the daily happenings in the city; plenty more express opinions on those topics But nobody’s words matter more than Leung’s whose columns get info straight from the top people in business and government and often include her own informed judgment on the city’s key issues Her articles are widely read and have shifted public opinion on such issues as Mayor Michelle Wu’s property tax proposal and the candidates in the upcoming mayoral race—as well as the failure of government and corporations to pursue diversity goals Wade just might be the next local Boston TV news anchor (after David Muir at ABC News) to go national; last August CBS began using him as an occasional fill-in to anchor the national news broadcast though: A Somerville native and Emerson College alum Janey cemented his spot as the next big talent from Roxbury earning a Boston Music Awards nomination for R&B Artist of the Year in the process he is the nephew of former Boston Mayor Kim Janey) But that unusual mix of skills is earning him a following throughout the city In the press release celebrating the big economic development bill signing in November Governor Maura Healey’s office made a point of quoting Turnbull Henry’s praise for the bill’s investment in climate technology considering Turnbull Henry consistently has the ear of elected officials whose voters pay close attention to ELM’s endorsements and candidate questionnaires Reveling in the Herald’s version of resistance journalism in the Wu-Healey era Dwinell does double duty as executive editor and enterprise reporter That has him frequently rapping city expenditures and state action on immigrants—often channeling and shaping popular but underrepresented conservative perspectives in a largely progressive media environment Once known for her soccer skills with the Boston Breakers Salwasser can be found on the boards of nonprofit organizations all over town—particularly those serving women and people of color But her biggest impact is with the Red Sox Foundation and her role as executive vice president for social impact with the Red Sox both of which have her distributing crucial funds for local charitable causes the council has more say in the annual budget tussle with the mayor His communication style certainly seems to be working: Wu recently signed on to cosponsor his home-rule petition that ultimately got the state legislature to give Boston more liquor licenses Worrell has also teamed up with his brother to offer constituent services in and around Dorchester No wonder he’s emerged as the new star of City Hall When CarGurus moved its headquarters to 225,000 square feet on 10 floors in the Back Bay given that she specializes in hybrid workspaces that encourage collaboration and flexibility Her firm is a top-10 Interior Design “Giant” of the industry and Vijay’s local impact includes serving on the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children advisory board eating out in South Boston meant meat-and-potatoes Irish fare Aulenback has helped change that dramatically with restaurants in the neighborhood showcasing modern American Lately he and his partners have been transforming Charlestown Campion’s executive search and consulting firm is one of the biggest in the country and her connections are widespread: As the former CEO of the JFK Presidential Library Foundation the one-time banking exec and presidential campaign veteran has worked with key people in Boston and beyond She’s also heavily involved in the city’s leadership organizations including the Massachusetts Conference for Women → 32 George Balanchine works performed under his direction Boston’s most famous Finn has ensured that Boston Ballet remains one of the world’s finest dance companies performing classic story ballets and mixed repertory programs that have earned rave reviews from critics as jaded as the European press corps who were breathless about the ballet’s Paris tour last spring The key to selling high-end Boston real estate is knowing and being known by the area’s rich and powerful That kind of influence is why Carucci gets exclusive listings for $10 million homes in the Back Bay His digital Rolodex reads like a who’s who of Boston’s elite making him the broker of choice when luxury properties change hands It’s also why he has testimonials from some of his fellow most influential Bostonians the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of Boston’s premier cultural attractions and the powerhouse at its head runs things with an élan and attention to detail that Mrs Fogelman has flipped the script surrounding the $500 million heist the museum suffered turning it into a matter of mystique rather than embarrassment Running a top AI solutions company seems like a good place to be these days Add the financial might of private equity company American Securities The optimism and room for growth showed in NWN’s acquisition of Leverage Information Systems last fall which put the company into the federal government market But the company’s nationwide expansion hasn’t taken Sullivan’s focus away from local business or charity—witness his company’s work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester What can you do with a $12 million donation Watts McKinney has ideas for her organization which provides experiential education on Cathleen Stone Island (formerly Thompson Island) to Boston Public School students The first woman of color to lead Boston’s Outward Bound school and create new programming with a focus on climate education but she’s no stranger to inspiring Bostonians—she previously led the Museum of African-American History “Leverett the Connector” is all about building bridges and forging bonds with Boston’s top leaders which puts him in a position to influence many spheres in the city aims to demystify the legislative process for those looking for a window into state government You’ll also find him on boards of Boston Harbor Now and Eastern Bank—a wide-ranging list that enables him to keep his hands in much of the city’s business the 115-year-old marketing and communications trade group has doubled its membership and transformed the annual Women’s Leadership Forum into a can’t-miss That’s in part due to Reilly’s powerful friends and partners (Arnold CEO George Sargent recently became the Ad Club’s chair) in one of Boston’s most important and venerable industries where she serves as the premier connector—a position uniquely suited to further help strengthen Boston’s evolving media landscape If changing people’s lives for the better counts Berik has earned her place on this list many times over Her national reputation and media presence as a smile-fixer just earned her a spot on Inc which uses near-infrared light therapy to accelerate tooth realignment She founded Bubble Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics given a great many Bostonians reason to smile—and the ability to do so on keeping the beautiful homes in Boston and the surrounding suburbs filled with residents Rodriguez plays a crucial role in ensuring this happens; his office is one of the top luxury property-selling teams in the entire Boston area Beyond his professional success in real estate this powerhouse agent maintains an active presence in the city’s vibrant social scene demonstrating his community involvement through activities such as cochairing the prestigious Shakespeare Under the Stars gala last year Is Boston ready to rely on regionally grown the Kendall Foundation has been dedicated to environmentalism; under Andrew Kendall’s leadership that focus has homed in on so-called farm-to-school programs in New England with the goal of cooking up more-nutritious lunches for students he has unveiled a five-year plan centered on strengthening the region’s food systems and bolstering the state’s agricultural businesses Whatever happened to Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe on that snowy January night three years ago, one thing is certain: We have all lived in Karen Read’s world ever since. We followed all of the twists in the trial last spring and hung on each character’s every move, from family members to Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney we’re diving headfirst into a second trial and a chance to debate every aspect all over again » The Karen Read Case in Canton: The Killing That Tore a Town Apart » How the Karen Read Case Turned a Neighborhood Bar Into a True Crime Landmark She goes everywhere advocating for the city with nothing but rave reviews and reception to help her mother stand up to Congressional questions about Boston’s policies on immigrants She attended a cabinet meeting and met with the press afterward She even made an appearance at the State of the City address Forget campaign strategists—the Hub’s tiniest VIP has already mastered the art of winning hearts Photo Credits: Ken Richardson (Wyc Grousbeck); Getty Images (Celtics and crowd); Eric Levin Photography (the Edgerleys); Marilyn Humphries (Hostetter Calderón-Rosado); Greg Mueller/Mueller Design (Klibanski); Ken Richardson (Pelton Johnson); Suffolk Construction (Fish); Courtesy of New England Patriots/David Silverman (Jonathan Kraft); Dina Ruddick (Kewalramani); The Boston Globe (Campbell); Courtesy of the Office of Governor Maura T Tutwiler); Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe (Eng); New Balance (Jim Davis); Courtesy (Moynihan Sclar); NBAE/Celtics/Getty Images (Brown); The HYM Investment Group (Thomas O’Brien); Boston Globe (Kornbluth); Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (Clark); Boston Globe (Kennedy); Courtesy (Aoun Percelay); Matt Kalinowski (Budd); Courtesy of Representative Pressley (Pressley); Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images (Iselin); Jonathan Wiggs/Boston Globe (Burlin O’Connell); MassMutual (Crandall); John Goodman (Fialkow); Pat Piasecki (Josh Kraft Lee); Massachusetts Senate (Spilka); Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe (Sharma); The Boston Globe (Settles); Courtesy (Tingle Phelan); Josh Jamison (Jamison); Courtesy (Martin); David Yellen (Boch Jr.); Courtesy (Wilmot); Elevin Studio (Gold Seelig); Courtesy (Koch); Boston Globe/Getty Images (Greenstreet); Courtesy (Samuels); Trevor Reid (Lowrey); Mitch Weiss (Tracy Campion); Courtesy (Schuster); Courtesy of MCCA (Vernon); Courtesy (Jones); International Brotherhood of Teamsters (O’Brien); Joanne Smith (Boland); Richard Howard (Downie Moon); Courtesy (Duverné); Courtesy of the Boston Teachers Union (Tang); Courtesy of Emerson College (Bernhardt); Getty Images (Meyer); Bay State Banner (Mitchell and Stark); David L Ryan/Globe Staff (Spinelli); Courtesy (Walsh); Courtesy of TD Garden (Thornborough); Lauren Page Wadsworth (Coentro); Leise Jones Photography (Kriesberg); Jose Rodriguez (Lynch); Courtesy of Charter Communications (Garcia); Courtesy (Rae); David Ryan/The Boston Globe (Knight); Courtesy (Paley); Toast (Narang); Rick Bern (Flor); Courtesy (Keyser and O’Connor); Christopher Michel (Church); David L Ryan/Globe Staff (Shen); Fidelity Investments (Everhart); Courtesy (Nagahiro); Matthew J Lee/Globe Staff (Trent); Nicole Ward (Kim); Boston Globe Staff (Essaibi George); Kevin Thai of Three Circles Studio (Wiley Irish); Boston Globe (Leung); Courtesy (Wade); Levi Walton (Janey); Courtesy (Turnbull Henry); Arthur Pollock/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images (Dwinell); Courtesy (Salwasser); Oby Ojimba & The Corner 345 Team (Worrell); Courtesy (Vijay Aulenback); Erin Clark/The Boston Globe (Heather Campion); Liza Voll (Nissinen); Cheryl Richards (Carucci); Stephanie Berger (Fogelman); Courtesy (Sullivan); Lleyton Wing (Wing); Courtesy (Reilly Kendall); Getty Images (Read); Boston Globe / Conor Pewarski (Wu Pewarski) Kseniia Petrova was returning to the US from a trip to France when officials revoked her visa and detained her A Russian scientist from Harvard Medical School has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement On Wednesday, Cora Anderson, who works with the Russian scientist Kseniia Petrova, shared the news of Petrova’s detention on Facebook, saying the Russian scientist arrived at Boston Logan international airport on 16 February from a trip to France when she was stopped by US authorities. According to Anderson, authorities revoked Petrova’s visa and told her that she was to be deported to Russia. In response, Petrova said that she feared political persecution and was instead sent by authorities to a detention facility, Anderson said. “Despite having lawyers and the fact she did not do anything illegal in the first place and we have no idea when she will be paroled (or released however simply released is unlikely),” she added Petrova’s boss, Leon Peshkin, said in an interview on Thursday that the researcher had good reason to fear being returned to Russia because she had publicly protested the Russian invasion of Ukraine in its first days, called for the impeachment of Vladimir Putin first to the former Soviet republic of Georgia and then to the United States Peshkin said that Petrova was a highly skilled researcher – “she is spectacular the best I’ve ever seen in 20 years at Harvard,” – and had a visa that enabled her to work in the US and travel abroad freely He asked her to pick up a box of frog embryo samples from colleagues in France and bring them back to the lab at Harvard but Petrova made some sort of paperwork mistake on the US customs declaration form and was stopped by customs officers on her return to Logan airport in Boston Although the legal penalty for improperly importing this non-toxic, non-hazardous frog material is simply a fine of up to $500, Peshkin said, immigration officers decided to deny Petrova re-entry to the US. When she informed the authorities of her very real fear of being jailed for protesting Putin’s war on Ukraine should she be returned to Russia to wait for an asylum hearing,” Peshkin said Petrova should be eligible for parole while she waits for that hearing A GoFundMe page set up by Anderson for Petrova said that the researcher was hired to work for Harvard Medical School and had entered the US on a work visa Anderson did not specify which work visa category Petrova was under She said that Petrova is “supported in applying for a new visa” but added that it is a “multi-month process during which she will not be able to work thus not collect a paycheck” Reports of Petrova’s detention come just weeks after a French scientist was denied entry in the US this month after US immigration officers searched his phone and found messages critical of Donald Trump But Petrova’s boss told the Guardian that she does not seem to have had her visa revoked over any type of protest activity in the US She never protested against Trump or in support of Palestinians under siege in Gaza Boston Municipal Court Judge Mark Summerville addresses the court room Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in contempt after he detained a suspect while he was on trial Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden speaks about the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement detaining a man while he was on trial during a news conference on Wednesday ICE agent Brian Sullivan took Wilson Martell-Lebron into custody last month as he was leaving court Boston Municipal Court Judge Mark Summerville found Sullivan in contempt arguing that he deprived Martell-Lebron of his rights to due process and fair trial District Judge William Young dismissed the case after the Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell agreed with U.S Attorney Leah Foley that the contempt order should be vacated “While you might disagree with the enforcement of our federal immigration laws there is simply no legal basis for you to hold federal officers in criminal contempt for carrying out their sworn duties,” Foley wrote to the municipal judge on April 2 “Any attempt or threat to interfere with the lawful functions of federal government agents will not be tolerated.” Attorney Foley’s position that a state should not investigate whether a federal agent exceeded the bounds of their authority is a chilling threat to Judges “Perhaps Agent Sullivan acted within what is ‘necessary and proper’ in the performance of his duties An investigation would have revealed that and answered these questions the Federal Government told the State to cease and desist.” Ryan Sullivan described a tense scene in which ICE agents pounced on Martell-Lebron without identifying themselves The trial had begun with opening statements and the first witnesses The Justice Department said in its motion that agents including Brian Sullivan identified themselves and told Martell-Lebron to stop before detaining him who is from the Dominican Republic and living with family in Massachusetts is now at the Plymouth detention facility for allegedly being an undocumented immigrant the Justice Department alleged that Martell-Lebron is in the country illegally and has several criminal convictions for drug trafficking It also said ICE has been trying to detain him since 2007 Summerville dismissed a charge against Martell-Lebron of making false statements on his driver’s license application — namely that he was not Martell-Lebron Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden lashed out at ICE over the arrest outside court “This action by ICE was troubling and extraordinarily reckless,” Hayden said Martell-Lebron of his right to a fair trial It also deprived our office of our intent to hold the defendant accountable for his alleged crime.” Neither spokesman for Hayden nor a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office responded to a request for comment about the dropping of the contempt case Immigration officers were a growing presence at courthouses during Trump’s first term prompting some pushback from judges and other local officials Trump has gone further in his second term by repealing a policy in place since 2011 to generally avoid schools immigration officials can make arrests “in or near courthouses when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present” and as long as they are not prohibited by state or local law An official website of the United States government Watch Live at 11:30 a.m. ET: Results of Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort Press Conference View the latest ICE guidance on COVID-19 Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here Reportándose con ICE: Obtenga información sobre cómo reportarse a su oficina local de ICE aquí View in other languages Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime Learn More About ICE ICE's ERO officers uphold United States immigration laws by focusing on individuals who present the greatest risk to national security View the annual report Media Inquiries @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners apprehended 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime and egregious illegal alien offenders March 18-23 “The Commonwealth is a safer place for our residents to live and work because ICE and our federal law enforcement partners arrested hundreds of alien offenders and removed them from the streets of Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around Boston Our efforts resulted in 370 arrests throughout the commonwealth ICE and our federal law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the homeland through the eradication of transnational criminal organizations dismantling dangerous criminal gangs preying on the American public locating and arresting criminal alien offenders and making our communities a safer place to live.” ICE and federal law enforcement partners targeted egregious criminal alien offenders including transnational criminal organizations known to operate in and around Boston and throughout Massachusetts These organizations include the notorious MS-13 “This week’s enhanced enforcement operations with our partners from the FBI DSS and CBP prove that we are taking a whole of government approach to protecting our communities from foreign nationals involved in transnational gangs violent criminals and dangerous individuals living in New England,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J “ICE will use every resource and authority we have to prioritize the safety and security of our communities.” “Everyone should agree that we cannot and will not tolerate individuals who not only violate our immigration laws but then commit crimes that endanger our communities Those who enter and remain in this country unlawfully are breaking the law,” said U.S Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B “My office remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that dangerous individuals are identified so that the people of Massachusetts can live and work in safe and secure communities.” 205 of those arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges Six were foreign fugitives currently facing charges or convictions for murder “Safeguarding the integrity of the immigration and citizenship process is critical We simply can’t permit violent and dangerous criminals to enter or remain in the United States under false pretenses It’s a direct threat to public safety and our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Jodi Cohen “There’s no question our communities are safer today because of this enhanced will continue to support ICE with these efforts.” Law enforcement officials seized approximately 44 kilograms of methamphetamines three firearms and ammunition from illegal alien offenders during the operation “DEA is proud to have worked with our federal partners in this successful enforcement effort using all of the resources of the federal government to remove violent criminal aliens from our communities said DEA New England Field Division acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau “DEA has prioritized investigations on those involving violent illegal criminal aliens responsible for flooding our communities with deadly and dangerous drugs DEA’s core mission is to keep the American public safe by seizing deadly and dangerous drugs before they get into our communities and to bring justice to the criminals responsible for manufacturing ICE and their federal law enforcement partners made many of the apprehensions after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders and instead chose to release aliens from custody forcing officers and agents to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities “The successful outcome of this immigration enforcement operation demonstrates the dedication and collaboration of our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division James M “By targeting individuals who pose a threat to public safety we are reinforcing our commitment to protecting our communities and upholding the integrity of our nation’s immigration laws.” “The Diplomatic Security Service is fully committed to supporting the Administration’s priority to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S travel system,” said Diplomatic Security Service Boston Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matthew O’Brien “This enhanced operation definitively made our communities safer and international law enforcement partners to conduct passport and human trafficking investigations and assist in apprehending fugitives to protect the integrity of U.S Among those arrested during the enhanced targeted operation include: Partner law enforcement participating in the operation were the Boston offices of the FBI Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston Parking restrictions and street closures will be in effect in the City of Boston for Patriots' Day and the Boston Marathon This year, Marathon Weekend will have two main races on the Saturday before the running of the 2025 Boston Marathon: the Boston Athletic Association's 5K and Invitational Mile. In addition to the events hosted by the Boston Athletic Association, the City of Boston will host One Boston Day on April 15 and the Patriots’ Day Parade on Monday 2025. Parking restrictions will be in place for all of these events Please plan accordingly and follow all posted signage. People coming into the City for the events are urged not to drive their personal vehicles. Information on Bluebikes may be found on the Bluebikes website, and public transit information can be found on the MBTA website the MBTA advises riders to purchase a round-trip rather than a one-way ticket Walking is also a great way to move around Boston Changes to the restrictions on this page may be made by the City of Boston’s Police and Transportation Departments It is important to read all posted signs and variable message boards carefully and organizers expect 10,000 participants. The route will be posted with "No Stopping" signs in the areas that will not already be posted because of the Boston Marathon The Patriots’ Day Parade begins with a ceremony at City Hall Plaza Various parking restrictions will be in place to support the running of the 129th Boston Marathon The Boston Athletic Association in partnership with the Boston Transportation Department will be removing flexposts along the route in preparation for the 129th running of the Boston Marathon and the Boston 5K. Removal will take place on the following streets: cones will be temporarily placed at key locations (except during events) to increase safety and guide traffic with a modified configuration on Boylston Street to reduce the number of flexposts for the bike lane. the map shows parking restrictions on Marathon Day To check for parking restrictions on other days click the filter buttons at the top of the map for your selected day View the full map If you can, please avoid driving into the City. Consider using Bluebikes, the regional bike share system, or use public transit through the MBTA We may make changes to our traffic and parking plans in the days leading up to these events. You’ll find updated information on posted signs, variable message boards, and on Boston.gov More information on traveling around Boston can be found in our guide: Get the latest Boston Marathon information from the Boston Athletic Association 14 Restaurants to Try in Downtown Crossing, According to Eater Contributors The Best New Restaurants Around Boston Right Now, According to Eater Editors Boston’s Best Tacos, According to Eater Editors Plan dinner around La Brasa’s essential carnitas tacos but get there early for $1 oysters served with horseradish and cocktail sauce every day from 5 to 6 p.m The Best Mexican Restaurants Around Boston Find $1 oysters at historic Charlestown spot Warren Tavern — which has counted George Washington and Paul Revere among its patrons — every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m Tourist Trap Restaurants That Are Actually Good in Boston Waypoint in between Central Square and Harvard Square offers $1 oysters from 5 to 7 p.m. Celebrate the Holiday Season With Weekday Lunches and Afternoon Teas Central Square restaurant Viale is shucking $1 oysters daily from 5 to 7 p.m. Looking for an earlier buck-a-shuck deal? Viale’s sibling restaurant across the street, Althea Where to Eat and Drink in Cambridge’s Central Square The Ultimate $1 Oyster Guide for Summer 2016 Enjoy $1 oysters at State Street Provisions Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m These 170+ Patios Are Officially Open for 2017 Swanky Beacon Hill spot Carrie Nation offers $1 oysters Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m The Ultimate Guide to Tuesday Dining Specials in Boston Bustling downtown seafood spot Fin Point offers $1 oysters every Thursday through Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m Downtown brasserie the Merchant has $1 oysters on deck every Monday and Friday from 4 until 7 p.m 14 Restaurants to Try in Downtown Crossing Snag $1 oysters at the Fort Point location of Trillium Brewing Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m Southern-rooted spot Bootleg Special offers late-night $1 oysters on Friday and Saturday 13 Restaurants Around Boston That Are Great for Groups Where to Find Great Small Plates in Boston Mediterranean restaurant Ilona is shucking oysters for $1 apiece all day on Thursday and from 4 to 7 p.m One 2019 Restaurant Opening to Know in Every Boston Neighborhood South Boston restaurant and bar Publico is serving up $1 oysters — and $1 shrimp cocktail — every Monday and Tuesday from open until they sell out Get In the Holiday Spirit at These Pop-Up Bars Around Boston Head over to South Boston hangout Lincoln for $1 oysters and $1 shrimp every Tuesday from 10 a.m Savin Bar and Kitchen serves $1 oysters Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m The Ultimate Guide to Friday Dining Specials in Boston Chill neighborhood spot Lower Mills Tavern offers $1 oysters every Monday until sold out 12 Excellent Dorchester Restaurants for Takeout and Delivery 10 Irresistible Dessert Destinations in Dorchester Albert started to wonder if there was something wrong with him He got advice on how to regulate his emotions But after on-site interviews with seven companies — and no offers — he started to doubt himself Albert — who didn’t want his real name used in part because he’s at a new job — had an enviable resume: a PhD in cancer immunology years of experience at a multinational biotech in Cambridge and a stint at a biotech startup in the Boston suburbs But when he was laid off in the summer of 2024, it didn’t feel like it was enough. He felt financially stressed. He heard that hiring managers received hundreds of applications for each job posting What we’re witnessing may be a remaking of biotech — surprising even to those in the industry. After five months of searching, Albert ultimately found a job at a small Boston-based biotech, where he focuses on cancer research. But some in the industry worry that we face the prospect of Kendall Square operating with a fraction of the folks who work there now leading to knock-on effects on restaurants In Massachusetts, biotech has been an important driver of jobs and wealth for decades, with Kendall Square at the epicenter of that growth. In 2024, the state had more than 140,000 jobs in the life sciences, according to MassBioEd And the average salary was nearly $200,000 “I think it is actively happening,” said Isaac Stoner chief executive of Boston-based Octagon Therapeutics “When an industry goes extinct or faces this existential moment it causes broad economic pain for the region for a while This happened when we lost our leadership position in computing in the late eighties and early nineties It was maybe a 15-year period where there wasn’t an industry to step in there and fill the void.” Cambridge-based Biogen, for example, has had multiple rounds of layoffs since 2022 The most recent round — done earlier this year — marked “a shift of resources to external opportunities,” according to the company (Though there are also jobs heading to other countries including India.) And with every passing year companies outsource more of their lab work to lower-cost countries That means that many traditional jobs in labs — from research chemists to process technicians quality control specialists to associate scientists — are evaporating Some of these jobs require specialized undergraduate training; others require master’s or doctoral degrees boasting more than 6,000 drugs in development the United States peaked at more than 9,000 drugs in development in 2022 and has dipped slightly since then noted the center reflects “the extensive opportunities that exist for collaboration and access to talent “The drugs that we believe will be approved in the next five to 10 years a larger proportion of them are going to be coming from China,” said George Voren vice president of founder strategy and operations at venture firm Curie.Bio “Meaning the discovery of them is coming from China And not necessarily the biotech labs in Cambridge.” A key reason that American companies work with Chinese labs is that they have scientists who are on staff and ready to go a company “can immediately get work started and make progress,” rather than “building your own lab and spending six months to hire people.” (Though there may be concerns about the safety of intellectual property.) Opler said some biotech investors have historically believed that Boston sits at the epicenter of innovation we’ve got Harvard.” But after traveling to China in March Opler concluded: “That view is no longer accurate you’re seeing Chinese companies move at lightning speed into areas of high innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry.” Opler argues that biotech remains a global growth industry — making him less concerned about overall employment though the skills needed to secure a job may shift companies face “an existential threat” if they don’t become more efficient meaning they may have to outsource certain jobs simply to survive Losing jobs does not mean that venture capitalists or executives will necessarily leave Massachusetts But while we might retain those who make millions of dollars a year we risk permanently losing the legions of jobs that pay $100,000 So what happens to the Boston area if biotech jobs largely slip away Stoner said he’s seeing signs of “a white-collar recession where these people with very specialized degrees and very specialized training are having a hard time finding their next position and I’m just seeing the number of folks there job-hunting going up and up and up Apart from job losses, the character of Cambridge, Somerville, and other biotech hotspots may shift. Huge amounts of lab space have been built over the past decade managing director at commercial real estate firm Hughes Marino and the slowdown in occupancy has been jarring it’s the worst [market] in history for landlords to operate in,” he said Amarante points out that many landlords can’t reduce prices enough to make a deal with prospective tenants — doing so would violate the terms of their own financial obligations And he believes that will force more and more buildings into foreclosure is that when potential renters tour large lab buildings that are empty or nearly empty they realize “it can create a post-apocalyptic experience for their team Stoner worries about “decay of various neighborhoods And it just kind of has this slow rolling effect.” I asked Stoner if anything could be done to turn the tide in biotech. He said the United States would have to turn to “brutal protectionist measures.” Pharmaceutical tariffs — which the president promised on April 8 — wouldn’t be enough It would have to be “things like the FDA saying: ‘We are not going to review your drug if the data was generated in China.‘” Opler said making pharmaceuticals in China can prove tremendously cost-effective. In a conversation with a CEO who makes an ingredient for aspirin, Opler asked if he was worried about tariffs The CEO laughed and told Opler: “If it was a 100 percent tariff It is so inefficient to make [an ingredient] in the United States and it would be more efficient for me to make it in China.” “If I’m a top 10 or top 20 global pharma company,” Stoner said “I don’t care where the innovation comes from at the end of the day I have no incentive to make sure this cluster in Kendall Square remains the envy of the bio world.” Follow Kara Miller @karaemiller. a new social-and-sports concept featuring outdoor pickleball and padel courts and community events like tournaments and theme nights the plan is to convert the pickleball courts to an ice rink (Heaters and hot toddies should keep things comfy.) Courts and social spaces will be open to all Ballers will open its first location in Philadelphia in mid-June The company aims to open 50-plus locations in the United States in the next seven to 10 years “It’s an iconic sports city,” says founder and CEO David Gutstadt The idea is to connect people through sports and social experiences via the fast-growing racquet sports industry “We want to bring people together around the love of sports in an urban setting.” With top-of-the-line courts and upscale amenities Ballers is looking to create a private club experience in the city unless you want one; two-tiered monthly memberships will be offered that include free open play The Boston venue will offer three padel courts — the first ones in Boston — designed for year-round play (The pickleball courts will transform into an ice rink with a synthetic surface in winter.) The pickleball- or padel- curious are welcome; Ballers will offer lessons for both sports padel is played on a court enclosed by glass walls “Padel is harder to master than pickleball,” says Gutstadt a former college tennis player who is now “obsessed” with padel Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the world According to the International Padel Federation padel is now played by around 25 million people across the globe FIP estimates there are courts in more than 90 countries And the pickleball boom hasn’t started to sour Kids are starting to play in schools — you’ve got a brand-new wave of people coming into the sport,” Gutstadt says According to the Sports, Fitness, and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report 19.8 million Americans played pickleball last year Pickleball participation has grown 311 percent in the last three years Post-play eating and drinking will be part of the scene they’ll open an outdoor café (under a shaded pergola) in partnership with James Beard Award semi-finalist chef Mitch Prensky of Supper Philly The cost to play each sport will range from $15 to $30 per hour. 45 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston; www.ballers-us.com Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com Mayor Michelle Wu’s office announced in a press release Monday Boston will lose nearly $48 million in already-awarded funds if the city does not agree to comply with a range of Trump-issued executive orders and grant conditions which the city said are “unrelated to housing and likely unconstitutional.” “We are joining other cities and counties across the country to protect critical funding to prevent homelessness and house families in need,” Wu said in a statement “Boston will not back down on making our city a home for everyone.” The grants the federal government is withholding are part of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Continuum of Care” program which the city said is the “single largest source of federal funding Boston and other cities use to address homelessness.” Trump’s administration is also withholding some transit-related grants administered by the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration The city partners with local nonprofits to use those housing grants to help connect more than 2,000 people and families experiencing homelessness with stable housing along with other supportive services like health care and counseling The people who benefit from the programs that rely on these funds include veterans also depend on these federal grants to pay employees and provide services Wu’s administration said that complying with many of the new federal executive orders would force the city to compromise on its values “These unlawful conditions are imposed to direct and coerce grant recipients to comply with the President’s policy agenda,” the plaintiffs wrote in the lawsuit Should Boston agree to the Trump administration’s conditions and the Trump administration found that the city was not in compliance with those executive orders based on “this federal administration’s unfounded and unsupported interpretation of the laws,” Boston would be on the hook for paying back three times the amount of the original grants That would put needed housing for thousands of residents at risk as well as put Boston in a bad financial position Seven other cities and counties have signed on as plaintiffs in the lawsuit alongside Boston and Snohomish County in Washington; New York City; Columbus Calif.; and the city and county of San Francisco Niki Griswold can be reached at niki.griswold@globe.com. Follow her @nikigriswold. that’s a thing — have sprung up in parts of Boston especially around Mattapan’s Harambee Park Walk down Talbot Avenue on a sunny day and there’s a good chance you’ll see five to 10 vendors in contractor vans To many neighbors, the vans are noisy nuisances, and as their numbers have grown, so have complaints to the city. “They are running a car detailing business using a loud generator on weekends and nights,” one resident reported to 311 “Illegal car wash services being performed with god knows what going into the drain system and thus the harbor,” said another. “Black van parked for over two months, operating a car wash, and blocking multiple parking spots. Do something!” said yet another The city seems to have heard the message; officials told the Globe editorial board that they would be cracking down on the vans this spring and summer But they should also give the businesses a chance to go legit as long as the operators are willing to obey some common-sense rules around noise Like food trucks when they first burst on the scene almost two decades ago car washes are clearly meeting a market demand in an innovative way Customers seem to be happy with their services — without the subscription model that many brick-and-mortar car washes are now hawking As one vendor outside of Harambee Park put it bluntly: “I used to sell drugs Does the city want me to do that instead?” Car wash activity isn’t confined to Talbot Avenue Boulevard in Roxbury and near the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Devon Street the number of people working in the mobile car washing business appears to have exploded Google Maps photos from 2023 show only one vendor along the Talbot Avenue hub a stretch where the Globe counted eight on a recent afternoon Most of the complaints about mobile car washes end up with no citations because there are no specific regulations for mobile car washes in Boston as its rules are focused on brick-and-mortar establishments Other rules could be reconfigured for mobile car washes like the permits and licenses for food trucks or general business certificates Proper regulation could go a long way toward fixing the issues reflected in 311 complaints though vendors seem to be taking some welcome steps on their own Many operators travel with their own water totes so they don’t have to hook up to city water from the street Some use professional-grade cleaners and soaps the same ones used by traditional car washes The most challenging piece of the puzzle is the environmental impact The concentrated soaps and shampoos used to clean cars aren’t great for waterways But they’re a smaller problem than what’s on the cars themselves and exhaust residues wash directly into the stormwater system This impact is nearly impossible to mitigate which is why brick-and-mortar car washes have water recycling systems It’s hard to remember now, but not too long ago food trucks were a new and, to some, strange addition to street life. But the city, and the truck operators, have turned them into an accepted niche industry. Officials said that any effort to shut down car washes this summer will also include plenty of education, training, and outreach to vendors. But they should be willing to listen, too, and look for ways to preserve a service that many residents obviously value. 🎂 AND B-Siders Rachel Simeon and Kevin C’s birthdays! Happy Even if you aren’t a teacher or a nurse Challenge accepted: If Mother Nature can make it rain this week Here are the best free things to do around Boston this month: ✍️ Draw us like one of your French girls. Imagine: A local artist guiding you through fun and easy drawing exercises as live music plays in the background. Sound good? That’s exactly what Seaport Sketch Even better: They provide the art supplies! ⛴️ Set sail to Spectacle Island. A ferry ride there normally costs ~$25, but thanks to Free Ferry Weekend on May 17 and 18 so get to the ferry center as early as possible (it opens at 8 a.m.) and keep your squad small — only five tickets are allowed per adult Enjoy sips from over 12 local spots with the task of crowning the best of the best. Just remember: Tickets are available on a first-come 🍷 Drunk-dial your state reps. Every Monday, Rebel Rebel wine bar hosts a night of political mobilization where you’ll tackle one community action item while sipping on wine 📲 Forget your FYP for the night. Ditch your phone and spend a few screenless hours crafting and chatting with like-minded folks at this no-phone night in Somerville on May 8. If there’s one thing that’ll get Massholes riled up, it’s a Dunkin’ closure. And apparently Recently, a bunch of State Reps down in D.C. got wind that a Dunkin’ location in their office complex was closing to be replaced by a — *gasp* — Starbucks New England lawmakers wasted absolutely no time taking to the internet to complain … and meme. Check out all of the wild — and very New England — reactions here — Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario 🍩 Thanks for reading! You can take the New Englander out of the Dunkin’ … 💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce for supporting local journalism and connecting Boston’s movers 🎓 The results are in: 55% of B-Siders both got into and attended their No 1 college — Gia and Emily absolutely cannot relate This is the April edition of a monthly column that rounds up restaurant closures in and around Boston. Catch up on more news about closures in the Boston area right here Know of a restaurant closure that should be on Eater Boston’s radar? Get in touch here Back Bay: The Park Plaza location of Italian restaurant Strega closed down this month after seven years of operation. The restaurant was one of three Strega outposts that restaurateur Nick Verano (the original Strega owner) sold to PPX Hospitality, according to MassLive Verano still owns the original North End location of Strega Brighton: South American natural wine bar and specialty market Super Bien has bowed out of the Charles River Speedway. The owner, Melissa Stefanini, will continue to run her fan-favorite empanada shop Buenas and quirky market Homie Goods in Somerville’s Bow Market Brookline: French brasserie La Voile has shut down after a decade in Brookline’s Washington Square. The restaurant’s Newbury Street outpost lives on Seaport: Beloved dueling piano bar D’s Keys closed down after nearly seven years, Axios Boston reports Owners Matt Nichols and Robert Morse told the publication that business had slowed in the last couple of years amid the rising dining-out costs for consumers plus companies have scaled back bookings like holiday parties that have historically helped keep the business afloat Nearly 14,000 costumers were without power across Massachusetts as a thunderstorm swept through the Northeast Saturday evening The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city of Boston Boston Logan International Airport suspended operations due to the storm. Average delays reached 90 minutes, but were decreasing after the storm According to PowerOutage.us, at 6:40 p.m. more than 14,000 customers experienced outages statewide. Of those, 11,891 were reported by National Grid and 2,347 by Eversource. In Tewksbury, a tree toppled onto an SUV. Police confirmed that while the vehicle sustained damage, no injuries were reported. Several downed trees were reported in Newton and Palmer. Go to Home PageSubscribeAdvertiser disclosureSearch The Points Guy The New York-based carrier filed plans to exit two markets over the weekend as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson JetBlue will end its service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and the Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) near Islip on May 7 It also won't launch the new service from BOS to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Canada as originally planned on June 26 These are some pretty drastic last-minute changes from JetBlue as the airline is barely giving flyers much notice about these cuts they give a bit more notice than four days (like in the case of the Islip cancellation) on the airline's recent first-quarter earnings call George even admitted that this might just be the first time in the airline's history that it's cutting a route before the first flight even takes off Bargain hunting: When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare? This unprecedented move must indicate that demand was way weaker than JetBlue expected for the two affected routes An airline spokesperson confirmed that "bookings have not met expectations" and explained that the move is "one of the necessary steps we're taking to manage our business through softer-than-expected travel demand this year and ongoing economic uncertainty." JetBlue said that the change "may be disappointing for those who had already booked travel." With such last-minute notice flyers will likely be on the hook for pricey replacement flights on other carriers American Airlines and Air Canada offer flights between Boston and Halifax JetBlue is offering full refunds to flyers due to the service cancellation It'll also offer accommodation on its route between BOS and John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for impacted travelers on the Islip flight JetBlue says that it might still launch service to Halifax in a future summer season but there are no definitive plans right now The news comes just a few days after JetBlue shared more about its network strategy during its first quarter earnings call The airline said that it is seeking a new U.S airline partner that will allow it to offer travelers award redemptions to places like Boise and Omaha "The most important thing, number one, is a significantly higher network opportunity for earn and burn of TrueBlue points," St. George said during the airline's first-quarter earnings call JetBlue recently partnered with American Airlines as part of the now-defunct Northeast Alliance which included a codeshare and loyalty partnership between the two carriers A federal judge deemed the pact anti-competitive back in 2023 there have been rumors about which airline JetBlue might partner with next While some might have thought that JetBlue would just rework the Northeast Alliance to fit within the confines of the law, American published an internal memo on Monday saying that JetBlue wasn't interested in teaming up again. All eyes now turn to United, which has been rumored over the past few days to be seriously pursuing a partnership with JetBlue. The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality as four teams open up their second-round series on Monday night the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson are massive underdogs against Jayson Tatum and the defending champion Boston Celtics as they went 0-4 against Boston in the regular season The C’s are -800 favorites to win the series and nine-point favorites in Game 1 I have a pick for a side in that game as well as two player props for today’s NBA Best Bets Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are fresh off a Game 7 win and have a quick turnaround against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder OKC swept the Memphis Grizzlies and has been off for quite some time ahead of this matchup Oddsmakers have set the Thunder (who are the current favorites to win the title) as nine-point favorites in Game 1 I’m sharing my breakdowns and top bets for the playoff action on Monday night Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. averaging 33.5 points per game while taking at least 18 shots in every matchup He has killed Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks’ drop coverage in the pick-and-roll clearing 27.5 points in three of the four meetings between these squads Tatum has at least 25 points in every game against the Knicks this season and he’s gotten off to a great start in the playoffs In the final three games against Orlando after missing Game 2 with a wrist injury and with Jaylen Brown dealing with a knee injury and Jrue Holiday nursing a bad hamstring He should thrive against this Knicks team that hasn’t had an answer for him all season and he’s loved torching his former team since being traded to Boston In seven matchups against the Knicks as a Celtic Porzingis has made at least two 3-pointers in all of them shooting a combined 26-for-52 from deep (50.0 percent) He’s taken at least five shots from beyond the arc in all seven of those games the Knicks had issues guarding Myles Turner – another stretch big – and they have been awful against Boston’s pick-and-roll offense all season long KP should get plenty of easy looks against a Knicks team that was in the bottom five in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage during the regular season OKC is a massive favorite in Game 1 for good reason The Thunder are an NBA best 29-12-2 against the spread when favored at home this season and they were also 11-5-1 against the spread when they had a rest advantage The Nuggets are essentially playing six games at the moment – there are some spot minutes for DeAndre Jordan and Peyton Watson – and they have a short turnaround after a wild seven-game series with the Clippers has struggled with a rest disadvantage this season (11-12 against the spread) and it has not held up on the defensive end since the All-Star break ranking 23rd in the league in defensive rating Even though OKC had some anxious moments in Game 3 against Memphis it rolled through that series without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing at his best Denver lacks the perimeter defenders to deal with SGA (outside of Christian Braun) and OKC has been too good at home this season (37-6 overall) for me to fade it in Game 1 Boston had four wins against the Knicks and three of them came by double digits New York’s defense simply couldn’t hold up against the C’s and even a shorthanded Boston team beat the Knicks in overtime late in the regular season Brunson’s heroics against the Detroit Pistons kept the Knicks alive but New York only had a plus-eight point differential in that series That is way too close for my liking when heading into a matchup with the defending champs Boston finished the regular season with the second-best net rating in the NBA and it can beat the Knicks in a ton of ways on offense but mainly by spamming pick-and-roll against Karl-Anthony Towns In the first five games of the series against Detroit New York was allowing more than one point per possession against Detroit’s pick-and-roll offense with Towns in the action The C’s have dominated at home this season going 28-13 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs They also covered the spread in both home games that Tatum played in during the Orlando series they are just 5-14 against the spread this season when they have a rest disadvantage I’m not buying them to pull off the upset in Game 1 Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help Are you new to DraftKings? Sign up today and place a $5 bet to earn a guaranteed $150 in bonus bets. Win or lose DraftKings will issue six $25 bonus bets instantly Making its second straight appearance in the Patriot League title game BU (11-5) fell behind by four at halftime and was unable to get back into the game in the second half as Colgate (10-7) pulled away for the victory Junior Connor Kehm had one caused turnover and five ground balls while sophomore Logan Styles forced two Colgate giveaways and added a ground ball Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Welcome to Eater Boston’s best dishes column. This is where we share the dishes (and, occasionally, drinks) we couldn’t stop thinking about each month, from both hot new spots and classic destinations. See past installments here Sample a few of the seafood-focused small plates to start but be sure to anchor the meal around the whole grilled fish and orange blossom honey-infused sauce poured tableside makes for a conversation-stopping main course which includes Caviar and Basil in liquid form Cybertruck on Burroughs Street in JP reported for being up on the sidewalk Don't even think of doing anything the least bit wrong, like, oh, parking on the sidewalk, because an alert resident will report you to 311 Earlier:311 complaint of the day: Illegal dumpster in Charlestown Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution the curbstone alone isn't exactly parking on the sidewalk; I saw a car parked just like that get a ticket in Allston And while I don't think it's an egregious offense I say lay it on the Cybertruck (Swasticars) all the more If you like what we're up to and want to help out please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution Copyright by Adam Gaffin and by content posters.Advertise | About Universal Hub | Contact | Privacy Photo by: Meg KellyZhang Paving National Road For BC Women's Golf May 05 The BC junior tees off this morning in Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional