Josh Kraft | Democrat For Mayor Josh Kraft on Policy
I have spent my life working in the communities of Boston. I love this city, but I have serious concerns about its future and many issues need attention. Lack of access to housing that regular people can afford, which is forcing many people to leave the city. Boston Public Schools that are failing our kids and families. Poorly planned bike and bus lanes that are changing our neighborhood streets and creating gridlock all across the city. The humanitarian crisis and public safety concerns at Mass and Cass need to be addressed. And we have an administration that is out of touch, unresponsive and unreachable to the residents of Boston. My policy plans will address these concerns with actionable and achievable solutions.
Housing Access & Affordability Plan
Josh’s multi-dimensional housing plan, focused on both access to and affordability of housing – will turbocharge production by providing incentives to get shovels in the ground, offer meaningful relief for renters, and create new construction jobs. “On the number one challenge facing our residents—access to housing that regular people can afford—production under Mayor Wu has ground to a halt,” said Josh Kraft. “Having so many permitted projects continue to sit on the shelf generates no new housing, no new jobs, and no new tax revenue. My plan will change that.”
A Coherent Approach to Rodent Control and Waste Reform
Boston’s rodent problem has grown worse under a fragmented system spread across multiple departments. Josh Kraft’s plan establishes a dedicated Office of Rat and Pest Control to bring coordination, accountability, and modern tools to the issue. Paired with reforms to waste management—sealed containers, stricter enforcement, and smarter cleanup—this approach addresses the root causes while improving quality of life across every neighborhood.
Josh Kraft’s Plan to Improve a Transportation System Stuck in the Past for a City Ready to Move Forward
Boston’s outdated transportation system is failing to meet the needs of a modern, growing city. From crumbling sidewalks and unreliable T service to chaotic curb-use and confusing bike lanes, years of mismanagement have left riders, drivers, and small businesses frustrated. Josh Kraft’s plan brings common sense back to the streets: focusing on basic services, safer roads, stronger oversight of the MBTA, and smarter connections between development planning. With bold leadership and better coordination, we can build a cleaner, faster, and more equitable transportation system that actually works for Boston.
Josh Kraft’s Plan to Champion and Support Small Businesses in Boston
Josh’s plan will make Boston a true partner to its small businesses, replacing bureaucratic roadblocks with clear, timely support. It builds a direct connection between business owners and City Hall, ensures access to financing for those who need it most, and delivers resources to every neighborhood. By creating a fairer, more responsive system, this plan will help local entrepreneurs open their doors, grow their ideas, and keep Boston’s neighborhoods vibrant.
Opportunities & Support After Incarceration
Boston was once a national model for reentry services, but in recent years, that progress has stalled. Josh will restore momentum by rebuilding partnerships with trusted community organizations, empowering leaders with lived experience, and creating a coordinated, city-backed system that starts preparing individuals for reentry before they are released. His plan includes forming a Boston Reentry Network, reviving the successful Operation Exit program, and forging new educational and career pipelines through institutions like Roxbury Community College and Bunker Hill. Josh recognizes reentry as also a tool for public safety, and that supporting those returning home is essential to breaking cycles of violence and building a safer, more inclusive Boston.
Mass & Cass Plan
The humanitarian crisis at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Blvd, also known as “Mass and Cass,” centers around individuals experiencing addiction, serious mental health issues and housing insecurity – and in many cases, a combination of these factors. It is also a public safety crisis, with rampant drug dealing, theft and violent crime that seriously harms people who are suffering, as well as residents and businesses in the surrounding neighborhood. Josh’s plan to finally address the longstanding problems at Mass & Cass centers on three areas: a recovery-first approach to supporting those suffering from addiction; dealing with crime and threats to public safety; and providing individualized support for housing and other services.
Boston Public Schools Plan
Josh has spent more than three decades working with Boston’s youth, and he understands that significant change must occur to offer the current generation – along with those who follow – the education they deserve. Josh’s plan puts students and families first, prioritizes parent and community engagement, nurtures and accelerates partnerships, and returns strong competent management to the school district.
Josh’s LGBTQ+ Plan
Throughout Boston, the LGBTQ+ community experiences varying levels of discrimination and hostility. The LGBTQ+ community often faces intolerance merely because of whom they chose to love. While Boston has made progress supporting LGBTQ+ rights, we have more work to do in becoming a welcoming community that supports all people, no matter their gender orientation or sexuality.