Rosemarie Sansone, former city councilor and downtown business advocate, dies at 77

By adamg on Thu, 02/24/2022 - 9:49pm

Rosemarie Sansone, who in 1977 became only the third woman elected to the Boston City Council, died Monday - less than a week after retiring as CEO of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District.

Born in Lexington, Sansone went into politics after graduating high school, working frist for then Lt. Gov. Francis Bellotti in 1964, then working on Kevin White's 1970 campaign for governor. In 1977, she won a seat on what was then an all at-large, nine member Boston City Council - the year after she had led a successful effort to win passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in Massachusetts. During her two terms, she led the campaign to broaden the council to nine district councilors and four at-large councilors.

After deciding not to run for a third term, she became director of the Mayor’s Office of Business and Cultural Development under Ray Flynn.

She spent 13 years as director of public affairs for Suffolk University before becoming CEO of the then new Downtown Boston BID, which uses fees collected from downtown property owners to help promote Downtown Crossing - efforts that included regular concerts on Washington Street and the hiring of "ambassadors" to help keep the area clean and to provide information to visitors.

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Comments

Business Improvement

By Refugee on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 8:03am.

Business Improvement Districts are funded by property tax surcharges on commercial land within the district boundaries. Boston has own for downtown and one for the greenway. They're basically slush funds with a ton of money but not a lot of oversight.

The Downtown Boston Business

By anon on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 9:18am.

The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District is overseen by a 33 member Board of Directors largely made up of the commercial businesses that pay the fees collected to support the organization. Every five years they vote to continue the work of the BID and the organization is established by state statute. With over 300 commercial entities, the vote to continue the work of the BID has been supported by over 95% of the voting members.

Let me fix that for you

By MrZip on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 9:20am.

BIDs are the result of a collective decision by commercial property owners to pay a small additional fee into a fund to bring additional services and amenities to an area with the intent to improve the retail climate and public realm. The BID is governed by these businesses and they get a say in how the money is used. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of mismanagement but in Boston the Downtown BID has made a difference and Rosemarie was a class act.

Moreover, the BID is overseen

By anon on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 9:38am.

Moreover, the BID is overseen by a 33 member board of directors largely comprised of the commercial property owners. By statute the BID is reauthorized by a vote every five years. When last reauthorized two years ago, the vote was 98% in favor of continuing the crucial work of this organization.

Facts About the BID

By George Comeau on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 12:02pm.

The Downtown Boston BID is overseen by 33 member board of directors. The BID is a private, non-profit corporation created and maintained by the commercial property owners in Downtown Boston. We serve the entire downtown community -- businesses, employees, residents, students, and more. Our mission is to transform and engage Downtown Boston through programs and supplemental services that meet area needs. Every five years we are reauthorized by our commercial property owners. The last vote passed by over 95% in support of continuing the vital work that we do.

Rosemarie Sansone was a transformative leader whose work in support of the mission of the BID is felt throughout the entire neighborhood. May she rest in peace.

They can be a force for good

By Bob Leponge on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 1:18pm.

BIDs can be a significant force for good, but, as a matter of policy and governance, they're right up against the ragged edge of a lot of fundamental legal issues around taxation, representation, etc.

What fundamental legal issues?

By ScottB on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 3:56pm.

The BID has zero legal authority. People who live in the BID don't get to vote on BID matters (unless they also own commercial property there) but they're also not subject to the BID assessment.

Now, if you want to talk about how the City itself should be funding most of these activities out of the general fund, that's another story.