Election roundup: Barros wants to green neighborhoods, Walsh wants to buld new elementary schools

John Barros is calling for creation of neighborhood green task forces:

These broad stakeholder groups will identify key priorities, launch local initiatives, and review our performance to provide feedback and ideas on how we can accelerate progress.These neighborhood task forces will then come together and work with the Green Ribbon Commission to develop a city-wide plan that will keep Boston a beacon for the rest of the world.In this process, we must address our local vulnerabilities, as well as remedy the environmental disparities that still exist in low-income neighborhoods. No neighborhood can be left behind in Boston’s green future. As demonstrated in Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina, the most resilient cities are the ones that have robust community leadership and social networks.

Marty Walsh wants to spend $1 billion over 10 years to renovate existing schools and build some new ones; says it's time to not only ensure quality schools in neighborhoods with growing populations of kids but to take advantage of a state school construction program:

The 10-year, $1 billion school construction initiative will be funded 70 to 75 percent by qualifying state reimbursement and 25 to 30 percent by construction bonds paid by creating efficiencies/reducing redundancies in City and School Department functions, charitable contributions, and income from property sales and rentals. Redirecting $20 million from the current City budget each year - roughly the amount contributed from the meals tax to the City's general fund – could provide the revenue for the City's contribution to the school building initiative without placing an additional burden on taxpayers.

A series of groups are sponsoring a mayoral forum on "pathways to education and employment for out-of-school youth and young adults" on Thursday. It starts at 5 p.m. at the Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center.

David Bernstein asks at-large Councilor Ayanna Pressley why she decided to run for re-election rather than for mayor.

Teamsters Local 25 is putting its broad shoulders behind Flaherty, Kelly, McCarthy, Pressley and Wu for at-large seats. It had previously endorsed Marty Walsh for mayor.