With the FIFA World Cup kicking off in less than two weeks, you’d expect the city of Boston and state transportation officials to have their act together. Not quite. Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration and MBTA leadership remain deadlocked over a seemingly straightforward question: who controls a stretch of Summer Street in front of South Station on match days?

The T wants to close that block to vehicle traffic for up to 10 hours at a time on game days — a reasonable-sounding ask given that up to 20,000 fans per match could be funneling through South Station to catch trains to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng put it bluntly in a letter to the city: it’s a matter of necessity for pedestrian safety. But Boston officials have pushed back, and after days of closed-door meetings, neither side has budged. The MBTA board was expected to address the standoff at its monthly meeting Thursday morning.

Here’s why this matters beyond the bureaucratic squabble: Boston sold the world on its ability to host a global mega-event. Seven games will be played at Gillette. The eyes of billions will be on this region. If the first match brings a crush of confused fans and a gridlocked Summer Street because two government agencies couldn’t coordinate a street closure, that’s not just embarrassing — it’s a genuine safety problem. Someone needs to blink, and fast.

Wu axes her own green infrastructure office — then says she doesn’t know the details. Mayor Wu laid off Max Rome, the city’s director of green infrastructure, and eliminated his office entirely — a striking move for a mayor who built her political identity around climate action and who released a 2030 Climate Action Plan just last month that mentions green infrastructure dozens of times. When reporters asked Wu about it Wednesday, she said she wasn’t familiar with the specifics. That answer is going to follow her. Boston Globe →

House Republicans come for Boston’s sanctuary policies. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and immigration subcommittee Chair Tom McClintock sent letters Wednesday demanding extensive records from Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, and Sheriff Steven Tompkins — all related to the city’s immigration enforcement policies going back to 2022. The agencies have until June 10 to respond. This is the latest front in an ongoing federal-vs.-Boston battle, and it lands at a particularly awkward moment given that the Republican-controlled Congress is also scrutinizing cities nationwide. Boston Globe →

Rachael Rollins is officially back. The former Suffolk DA who resigned as U.S. Attorney in 2023 amid ethics violations has confirmed she’s running to reclaim her old job, turning in nomination papers with more than 1,600 certified signatures. She’ll face current DA Kevin Hayden and former Hayden staffer Linda Champion in what’s shaping up to be a crowded and complicated race. Rollins is leaning into community trust as her message — but hasn’t yet directly addressed the scandals that ended her federal career. Boston.com →

Healey’s municipal tax flexibility bill dies again — quietly. For the second legislative session in a row, Governor Maura Healey’s attempt to give cities and towns more revenue flexibility — including optional surcharges on meals, lodging, and car excise taxes — has died on Beacon Hill without a vote. With municipalities across the state laying off staff and canceling fireworks (more on that below), the Legislature’s continued reluctance to expand local revenue tools is worth noting. GBH News →

YIMBY legislation gets a boost from Driscoll. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll showed up at a Beacon Hill rally Wednesday to back legislation that would allow up to five housing units by right on lots served by water and sewer, eliminate parking minimums near transit, and make it easier to build on smaller lots. The bills, sponsored by Sen. Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Rep. Andy Vargas of Haverhill, have real momentum — and Driscoll’s presence signals the Healey administration is willing to push harder on housing supply this session. CommonWealth Beacon →

Carney Hospital site could become 500 apartments and a health campus. Developer HYM Investment Group and Dorchester nonprofit My City at Peace have filed a letter of intent with Boston’s Planning Department to redevelop the shuttered Carney Hospital campus on Dorchester Avenue into a mixed-use site with housing, healthcare, retail, and open space connecting to Dorchester Park. It’s early-stage, but this is one of the more significant redevelopment proposals the neighborhood has seen in years. Universal Hub →

MBTA Board Meeting — Today. The T’s board meets this morning and is expected to address the South Station/World Cup standoff; it’s worth watching for any resolution or further escalation. Boston Globe →

Massachusetts Democratic Convention — This Weekend in Worcester. Delegates gather at the DCU Center to weigh in on the Markey-Moulton Senate race; Alex Rikleen has already dropped out and endorsed Markey, who leads in the latest Emerson poll 37% to 32%. CommonWealth Beacon →

Cape Cod Commuter Rail proposal moves forward. State Senator Dylan Fernandes and transportation advocates are actively pushing a plan to extend commuter rail service from Middleboro to Bourne — a step toward giving the Cape a year-round transit connection to Boston for the first time. Public attention on this one will matter. WBZ / CBS Boston →

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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

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Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Candidates

• Josh Bowdridge (Republican) — House, 4th Worcester — Filed: 5/28/2026
• Corey Lambo — House, 3rd Berkshire — Filed: 5/26/2026

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