😫 Don’t look like a Boston newbie

It’s Wednesday, Boston.

🚨 When we heard Salem’s fire department trucks debuted a new alarm sound … We had a couple guesses as to what it would sound like, based on the city’s spooky reputation. But we literally never would’ve guessed this EDM hit. 

📝 Are you a college student in Boston? Do you have thoughts about how unions, student protests, and/or AI are going to affect campus life this year? We want to talk to you! Respond to this email to get in touch <3. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Reduced MBTA fares start … NOW

• Gov. Healey’s new job?

• A Pats parking predicament 

Up first…

THE BIG MOVE

Just moved? Here’s what to do.

Congrats! You survived a Sept. 1 move-in and Allston Christmas. So, uh … what now? 

For our final installment of our move-in series, we’re talking about settling in. 

Here’s your post move-in checklist:

📲 Get acquainted with the City of Boston. And we’re not just talking about taking a walk. Have a non-emergency question? Dial 311, Boston’s 24/7 city services hotline. They’ll point you in the right direction. Or connect with your neighborhood liaison, sign up for your neighborhood newsletter, and find any other info you need here.

🚘 Pahk ya cah (legally, ofc). If you plan on street parking, you’ll need your car to be registered in Mass. Once that’s squared away, you can apply to get a parking permit in your neighborhood. And since Boston is infamous for its parking tickets, you should probably also figure out your street sweeping schedule.

🚇 Get a CharlieCard. No car? No problem. You don’t actually need a CharlieCard to ride the T or bus, just use the tap-to-pay function on your phone or credit card. But if you want to ride the Commuter Rail or ferry, or want a weekly or monthly pass, you’ll need one, so here’s how to get it. You may also want to see if you qualify for reduced fares.

🚲 And a Bluebikes membership. Prefer to get around on two wheels? Don’t sleep on Bluebikes, metro Boston’s bikeshare program. You can always grab a day pass, but if you’re a student or if you haven’t had a membership in the past three years, you can get a discounted annual membership.

🗑️ Figure out trash day. You gotta get rid of those moving boxes somehow. First thing’s first: You need to know your trash pickup day. If you need to get rid of bigger items, you can schedule that here … unless of course it’s a mattress, in which case, schedule it here.

🗳️ Update your voting info. It’s election season, after all. If you’re new to Mass., you can register to vote in-state here. But even if you’re just changing apartments, you’ll want to update your address ASAP, too.

📚 Sign up for a library card. A library card is a magical thing, especially here in Boston. It can give you access to everything from free museum passes to English fluency classes. Sign up for one either in person or online.

TOGETHER WITH EQUITABLE

Educators need a financial game plan too 

👩‍🏫✏️ You’re busy shaping young minds, but who’s helping you shape your financial future? As a Boston-area educator, you can get the guidance you need with Equitable. Saving for retirement may seem daunting (especially in today’s economy), but Equitable’s plans are designed to build your savings no matter where you’re starting from. Strive for financial stability with an Equitable retirement savings plan today and set yourself up for a brighter, more secure tomorrow.*

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🗳️ Here’s the latest on the juiciest state primary races. First up: Republican John Deaton will take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren for her U.S. Senate seat after beating out two competitors in the GOP primary. Allison Cartwright declared victory over Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy in the race to be clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County. And it looks like a recount might be possible in the primary race for this state rep. seat in Cambridge (there’s only a 40-vote difference with 99% of the votes counted!). You check on all the other primary results here.

🤑 The MBTA just got a whole lot cheaper for a whole lot of people. Starting today, around 60,000 riders can take advantage of the T’s new reduced fare program, potentially slashing transit costs in half on the commuter rail, bus, subway, ferry, and The Ride. It used to apply to seniors, people with disabilities, or low-income folks under 25, but now, all adults who are enrolled in an approved state assistance program qualify. Make sure to check if you’re eligible here, and if so, enroll here.

🍾 Boston nightlife just got a lifeline. Mass. lawmakers announced a deal on Tuesday to add 225 new liquor licenses to 13 zip codes across Boston (which they unsurprisingly failed to hammer out during their formal sessions). Most of the licenses will be doled out evenly across the zip codes over three years, with a focus on underserved neighborhoods. The deal is specifically great for communities of color and small biz owners, who have historically struggled to afford the licenses' often six-figure price tags.

🙋‍♀️ Is Gov. Healey considering a new job? Not quite. As her star has been rising on the national political stage, her name is being tossed around as a potential candidate for the role of U.S. attorney general if Kamala Harris wins the election. Granted, when pressed about the situation, Healey sort of shut down the chatter, saying: “I am not interested in any job other than being governor.” Long story short, for now, it’s too early to say, but in the event Harris wins the presidency, keep your eyes peeled.

QUICK QUESTION

🎫  Be honest with us: When was the last time you got a parking ticket in Boston?

GIVEAWAY

Together with PVDFest

Enter to win a $100 gift certificate to a PVDFest Food Truck of your choice! To enter, just refer a friend and have them accept your invite by 6 p.m. EST on Sept. 8. If you’ve already referred a friend to B-Side (and they’ve accepted), you're eligible! Full details below*

18+. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit one entry per person. See Official Rules & an additional entry option here.

MEDIA SPONSORSHIP

Your dream vintage thrift market? It’s popping up in Roxbury.

B-Side is a proud sponsor of Select Markets, the local vintage clothing pop-up team who’s bringing us their biggest event yet, MASSive Thrift Market, on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1350 Tremont Street in Roxbury Crossing with @thrift2death. Expect a MASSive amount of fun: $10 piles, food trucks, temporary tattoos, tooth gems, free drinks, and live DJs. Grab your tickets fast! 

ONE LAST THING

A Pats parking predicament 

It turns out, not even Patriots are immune from Boston’s parking tickets.

Pats rookie Javon Baker landed himself in some hot water with the team this weekend after he posted an Instagram live video ranting about, what else, a Boston parking ticket. Apparently, he was dropping someone off at the airport when he was given a parking ticket for, as he put it, “no reason.” 

Soon after his spat with the parking enforcement officer (which, yes, he streamed on Instagram live) made the rounds online, he received a penalty and stern talking to from Coach Jerod Mayo, who said “Everything that you just stated in no way represents what the organization is about.” 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🏈 Thanks for reading! Look, Coach Mayo. We’re not saying he’s right. We’re just saying we’ve had similar reactions to Boston parking tickets in the past. 

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Equitable, for supporting local journalism and helping Boston-area educators plan a financially secure future. 

🍸 The results are in: 43% of readers say they’re pro-open container zones in Boston. One rebellious reader said: “If you’re cool it’s already legal <3.”

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].

*Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company NY, NY and Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America, an AZ stock company with an administrative office located in Charlotte, NC.