Councilors want more neighborhood oversight of proposals for life-sciences labs in their midsts

But at the same time, now that residents are living, or could soon be living, cheek to jowl with labs researching any number of diseases, residents deserve to be heard about the potential impacts of such research, both in terms of public health and safety and other effects on the neighborhood, everything from construction noise to the ways that lab workers might not stick around after work in the same way that traditional office workers might, Flynn said.

Some genetics dork sitting at his computer thumbing through genetic marker data for multiple sclerosis next door while you're making a ham sandwich for lunch in your uninsulated triple decker probably has more to worry about your kerosene space heater lighting his lab on fire than you have from catching "any number of diseases" from his lab.

Also, what is this bullshit about "lab workers might not stick around after work"? Is he complaining they won't spend money at a local bar to stimulate the hyperlocal economy of the neighborhood? Because what? Lab workers don't drink after their work day like a "traditional office worker"? Why? Are they automatons? Nerds, therefore they don't drink or shop or go to dinner with significant others or colleagues? What the ever-loving random fuck is Flynn insinuating?

This whole "life science labs are different and we must act in a new way!" bullshit is fucking stupid. These places aren't leaking diseases. Most R&D is on model systems or a specific protein target. You can't catch diabetes from a ventilation system...and we're all lucky these councilors' stupidity isn't directly contagious either.

Dear Southie, your councilor is a moron. Clean your shit up.
And Flaherty...you're just lucky we take more than 2 at-large councilors each election.