In June 2024, Boston had heat indexes of 108°. And it seems like we set a new "hottest month on record" every summer.

It's hottest in the historically redlined parts of the city, where low-income, Black, and Brown folks still suffer disproportionately from heat waves.

But our elected officials don’t seem to be getting it. They seem to be hoping that by September, voters will have forgotten all about it.

It's time for our elected leaders to take action to make our communities more resilient to extreme heat.

• Invest in green space and tree coverage.
• Fund green rooftops and depaving projects.
• Build shade and seating at bus stops.
• Ensure residents aren’t displaced by gentrification.
• Reduce energy costs for low-income folks and help people afford air conditioners.
• Force major polluters to cut back.
• Create housing for the unhoused and end mass incarceration.