Michael Weingarten v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20231728)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records August 8, 2023 SPR23/1728 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Records Access Officer City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Michael Weingarten appealing the nonresponse of the City of Boston (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On June 28, 2023, Mr. Weingarten requested the following records: [1.] Any studies, analyses, evaluations, and communications concerning Back Bay bike lanes over the past 12 months, including but not limited to emails, memos, and presentations sent, prepared, or received by [an identified individual] or his team members (collectively, “work”); [2.] ... any work related to the impact of the bike lane plans on abutters, traffic congestion, safety, the ability to find parking spaces, and pollution; [3.] Supporting data analyses that the City used as inputs for its plans [and] [i]ncluding Excel files; [4.] Studies or database information regarding vehicular/bike/pedestrian accident incidence on key Back Bay Intersections and along the A/B Beacon block; [5.] Post-2017 Back Bay parking meter capacity utilization studies; [6.] Analyses of the cost of the City’s bike lane construction plans and the prospective reduction in parking meter fees; [7.] Analyses of the financial impact of the City’s plans on reduced abutter property valuations and property taxes. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Shawn A. Williams, Esq, SPR23/1728 Page 2 August 8, 2023 Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Weingarten petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/1728, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the City intends on providing a written response to Mr. Weingarten. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Mr. Weingarten with said response in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Regulations and this order within ten business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Weingarten may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Michael Weingarten