Editorial: Why I’m running for City Council, District 2
Friends and neighbors,
My name is Corey Dinopoulos and I’m a resident and homeowner on K Street. On Wednesday April 19th, I filed to run as your City Councilor for Boston’s District 2!
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and hopefully we’ll have a chance to get to know each other at an event or around the neighborhood soon.
I moved to Boston in 2004 to attend the Massachusetts College of Art in Design; the only public art and design school in the nation. MassArt sparked my interest in the local community, in our social issues, and in state & local government. Massachusetts public education made me passionate and fearless, and I want that for every kid in the City of Boston. I graduated from MassArt as a designer committed to changing my civic environment for the better, finding creative solutions to challenging problems.
I’ve now lived and worked in South Boston for 9 years, and in that time I have seen things change dramatically. In just this past decade, 50% of all the new development in the city occurred in this very district. With such rapid change, we find ourselves with many new challenges, but those challenges lead to new opportunities.
Having worked in the public and private sectors for 10 years as a designer and problem solver, I believe that empathy and good design can inform how we work together to solve these challenges. We can improve access to opportunities for the people of this district: in transportation, in education, and in housing.
First, in Transportation: While we have great jobs here in Boston, we as a city are falling short of our responsibility to provide reliable, affordable transportation. As a resident who takes the bus to work (find me on the 7, 9, 10, & 11!), I see how our system struggles to serve our growing neighborhood. Designing a better transportation experience in Boston includes holding the MBTA accountable, but it doesn’t stop there. The City Council currently doesn’t have enough influence with the MBTA, something I will work to remedy. Strengthening the MBTA is only part of a complete vision of safe, affordable, and convenient transportation system, however. I’ll work with all community groups, whether they get around on two, four, or no wheels at all, to make navigating Boston easy, safe, and enjoyable.
Second, in Education: Massachusetts public education empowered me and made me passionate and fearless. I want that for every kid in this city, they deserves it for K-12 through higher education. My commitment to education was fostered at home. My parents have devoted their careers to public education, my father for 42 years and my mother for 26 years, both in elementary education. They taught me that the focus should be on our children, and in making sure there’s appropriate funding and access to resources, regardless of the school they attend.
Supporting our students and teachers means not just helping them excel in the classroom, but also making sure they, and all other Bostonians, have access to safe, affordable housing in vibrant communities near where they work and play.
This brings me to the third opportunity: Housing: Massachusetts was recently ranked the best state in the country to live – and while I’m very proud of that, we also need to be aware of the increasing inequality present in our community. Access to housing is one of the main areas where this inequality can be felt. Throughout the district, folks are finding living in our vibrant communities increasingly unaffordable, even on living wages, and that’s not right. We must do more to create affordable housing that meets the needs of everyone in the community.
Everyone who works hard and contributes to our city should have the opportunity to thrive here in Boston. I have chosen to focus my campaign around these three issues: transportation, education, and housing, because I feel they are key to a larger conversation about opportunity and the future of our city.
City government is stronger when it reflects the diversity that makes Boston great. At 32 years old, I would be one of the youngest representatives, and a proud LGBT voice, on city council. I will work hard to bridge the divide of new and old and speak up for those whose voices aren’t heard.
The local level is where we, as residents, can have the most impact on our day-to-day lives and the lives of our neighbors. So, I am asking that you all stay engaged. Everything great that happens in Boston happens because a Bostonian made it happen—and that can be you, and me, and all of us, together.
If you’re interested in getting involved or to learn more, please visit www.coreyforboston.com or email me at [email protected].
Corey Dinopoulos
Candidate for Boston City Council, District 2
www.coreyforboston.com
Hey Corey, one tip for you. Stop referring to Southie as a “District,” it’s a neighborhood…you won’t win if you keep doing this.
Good luck. You have some good ideas
You were one of the founders of Boston 2024. As part of it, you completely ignored feedback from residents and tried to push through something that would’ve been devastating to Southie.
How we can trust that you’ll listen to us and not let the billionaire construction developers get to decide what happens?