Media Coverage - Sullivan Advises on Changes to Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal

On Monday, February 24, 2020, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh signed an executive order designed to strengthen conflict-of-interest, financial disclosure and other rules for the city's Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA).

The order followed a report by Sullivan, which was selected by the Mayor's office to conduct a comprehensive review of the ZBA's practices, policies and procedures.

Several months later, in late July 2020, additional changes backed by the Mayor's office and Boston City Council, many of which were outlined in Sullivan's report, are pending State House approval to be passed into law. 

The media coverage relating to the report, the Mayor's subsequent executive order, and, most recently, suggested changes coming before the legislature, is extensive, including:

• Edwards Moves Zoning Board Reform Legislation to State Rep. Dan Ryan (Charlestown Patriot-Bridge, August 5, 2020)
• Boston City Council backs ZBA changes, now State House must approve (Boston Globe [sub. req.], July 30, 2020)
• Boston City Council passes zoning board reform (Boston Herald, July 29, 2020)

• Walsh outlines ZBA reforms prior to a City Council meeting (Dorchester Reporter, February 27, 2020)

• Michelle Wu sees 'crisis of public trust' in wake of City Hall bribery scandal (Boston Business Journal [sub. req.], February 26, 2020)

• Walsh Outlines Changes to City's Zoning Board of Appeal (Boston Business Journal [sub. req.], February 24, 2020)
• Following Bribery Scandal, Walsh Unveils Zoning Board Reforms (Boston Globe [sub. req.], February 24, 2020)
• Boston Making Changes to Troubled Zoning Board (Boston Herald [sub req.], Febuary 24, 2020)
• ZBA gets overhaul (East Boston Times - Free Press, February 28, 2020)
• Walsh looks to get past zoning board scandal (CommonWealth Magazine, February 25, 2020)