The debate over Charter Schools is gearing up again as Governor Charlie Baker has proposed increasing the number of them in the state. We talked to residents in Boston and Cambridge about the schools in their neighborhoods and whether charter schools would help or hurt.

There are more than 6000 Bostonians who do not have a place to call home. Some live on the street camped out near subway stops and city parks. But the vast majority are less visible, living in temporary shelters and motels. The causes of homelessness range from mental illness and addiction to a lack of affordable housing or secure employment.

In the late 1800s landscape architect designed the Emerald Necklace, a series of parks that snake through the city of Boston. Olmsted saw parks as necessary for democracy, places where people of all backgrounds could meet.

More than a century later, the green spaces that Olmsted laid out, and many newer parks playgrounds, and waterfront walkways have helped make Boston one of the country's most liveble cities, according to the US Conference of Mayors.

But some neighborhoods fare better than others. Here's a look at the environment in area neighborhoods.

Getting around in Boston can be a challenge. Boston has the sixth worst traffic in the country according to the Wall Street Journal, costing the average commuter 64 hours a year and nearly fourteen-hundred dollars in lost productivity and extra gas costs. And public transportation is spotty, especially if you have to switch trains or buses. Here's what commuters in area neighborhoods had to say about their commute.

Finding fresh and affordable food in Boston and Cambridge can be a challenge. Depending on your zip code, a gallon of milk could cost as little as $2.99 or as much as $4.99. In wealthy enclaves like South End, fresh, organic food can be easily found, but it is expensive. In other neighborhoods, ethnic specialty stores abound. And in most neighborhoods, large supermarket chains are hard to find. Some residents of Boston leave the city to find a wider selection of products and lower prices in Quincy, Some