A construction crane over Boston. (Alex Kingsbury/WBUR) Housing is more expensive in greater Boston than just about anywhere else in the country. Here’s how tough it is for families: Half of them who rent in this city, pay almost a third of their paychecks to their landlords. A quarter of them pay more than half. As the former candidate for Mayor of New York said, “The rent is too damn high.” It’s true in the Big Apple, and it’s true here in Boston. And because of those high rents, investors are buying up houses — pushing up their prices well above what working Continue reading >>>

BOSTON — Richie Rogers sat in a modest meeting room at the downtown headquarters of the Greater Boston Labor Council, an umbrella group for 161 unions in eastern Massachusetts. On a white board behind him: a list of agenda items from a recent meeting. One read simply “Mayor!” It was two days after state Rep. Martin Walsh, a longtime labor leader, edged City Councilor-At-Large John Connolly to become Boston’s first new mayor-elect in a generation. And Rogers was still a little stunned by the passion the race ignited among union leaders and rank-and-file members. During the Continue reading >>>

Follow Daily News Business Editor Bob Tremblay on Twitter @Bob Tremblay_MW. Slow economic growth forecast for N.E. Organizers of a major economic conference in Boston this week see slow growth ahead for New England. According to the New England Economic Project, all six states in the region are projected to see employment growth below the national average during a forecast period that extends to 2017. The Greater Boston area has more than recovered the jobs lost during the last recession and has been the "bright spot" in the region’s economy, but the broader region is Continue reading >>>

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Salvation Army USA is gearing up for its annual distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets to needy individuals and families in the Greater Boston area. The baskets include turkeys, stuffing and the traditional pumpkin pie - items that hard-up families struggle to afford. Over the past two years, demand for the baskets has risen by a third from 1,200 baskets in 2011, to 1,600 in 2012, and 1,800 this year. The baskets will be handed out on November 23 through five Salvation Army locations around Boston. "Many individuals are struggling to provide basic necessities such as food and clothing Continue reading >>>

Follow Daily News Business Editor Bob Tremblay on Twitter @Bob Tremblay_MW. Prudential Stephan supports Boston Food Bank Each year the Greater Boston Food Bank organizes a holiday meal drive that raises money to provide Thanksgiving meals to people in need. Participants can choose to make a monetary donation, fundraise or form a team of fundraisers. Prudential Stephan Realtors formed an office team in 2012 and raised almost $5,000, which provided close to 300 turkeys for less fortunate families in our community. This feat made Prudential Stephan the third largest fundraiser Continue reading >>>

[Image: A portion of the North End collage, courtesy of Ed Sokoloff] Newton resident and retired lawyer Ed Sokoloff has spent more than a decade photographing restaurants and other food establishments around Massachusetts and grouping them into collages. This fall, he has completed five: the North End (a portion of which is shown above), Greater Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and ice cream and yogurt around Massachusetts. "We believe that our montages are a new form of contemporary art, which will historically preserve restaurants in a manner not previously done," Sokoloff told Eater, Continue reading >>>

Across Greater Boston, college communities will be coming together to commemorate the alumni and students who have risked their lives to serve our country. Veterans Day ceremonies and other volunteer-focused events will be taking place throughout the day on local campuses in honor of the country's heroes. Below is a look at how you can celebrate. Boston College The Boston College Veterans Alumni Network will be hosting the 13th Annual Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony, open to all alumni, veterans and members of the BC community. Mass will be held at the school's St. Ignatius parish Continue reading >>>

BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Light (www.northernlight.com) today announced it has made a $50,000 challenge grant to The Salvation Army to help fund this year's annual distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets to needy individuals and families in the Greater Boston area. Northern Light is hopeful that the $50,000 challenge will encourage other corporate and individual donors to give, as well, so that The Salvation Army can reach its goal of $100,000 for the Thanksgiving meals program.Each year, The Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving food baskets – which include Continue reading >>>