Diti Kohli, “Boston thrives off the dreams of young people. But can they make it here?,” Boston Globe, April 25, 2023.

“It’s not a coincidence. Part of the exodus can be attributed to the pandemic and the usual ebb and flow of students and footloose young people from the city. But many agreed that the soaring cost of living here is a major factor….Baby boomers and Gen Xers benefited from economic conditions that do not exist for millennials. And by many measures, the path ahead for Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is even more fraught.”

“Tide is turning, rightly, to considering voting rights behind bars” (Letters), Boston Globe, April 24, 2023.

“Allowing incarcerated people to civically engage contributes to rehabilitation, which benefits everyone in Massachusetts. The idea of denying civic engagement for the sake of punishment belongs in the ash heap of history.”

Andrew Brinker, “Rent control battle looms but it’s never been easy to pass tenant protections on Beacon Hill,” Boston Globe, April 23, 2023.

“And yet as Boston’s supercharged housing market transforms lower-income corners of the city, there are few formal mechanisms in place to keep vulnerable renters in their homes. Policies that have long been on the books in other high-cost cities, such as prohibiting so-called “no cause” evictions or allowing tenants the opportunity to buy their building when it goes up for sale, have gone nowhere in Boston, often because such measures also need approval from the state Legislature. “

Bill McKibben, “A Massachusetts Town Leads a Way Out of the Housing Crisis,” New Yorker, April 19, 2023.

“My family lives in multifamily housing; without it, we wouldn’t be able to live here in Lexington,” he said. “When my family dealt with financial hardship and eventual homelessness, we were told by many people in this town that we didn’t belong in Lexington and we should move somewhere else. How do you think it makes me feel when some people from a point of great privilege say that they don’t want the type of multifamily housing that I live in because it looks ugly?”

Emma Platoff and Matt Stout, “Massachusetts Legislature, hostile to rent control, includes more landlords than renters,” Boston Globe, April 21, 2023.

“Figures compiled by the Globe suggest that dozens of legislators may have a conflict on major housing policy proposals as they weigh their own financial interests alongside the needs of their constituents. A top-down government body that often moves at a plodding pace even on pressing issues, the Legislature has sometimes been a place where major housing policy proposals go to die.”

Nina Lev, “Needs of the many outweigh the desires of a few” (Letter), Boston Globe, April 19, 2023.

“Don’t these citizens already live in comfortable homes, send their children to good schools, and enjoy nice vacations? Wouldn’t their lives, like those of the rest of us, be enhanced by providing secure housing and great educational opportunities to all of the Commonwealth’s children? Like the rest of us, don’t they wantreliable transportation, environmentally sustainable infrastructure, public art, and glorious parks? Until we can fully fund all these priorities, shouldn’t we hold off on talking about refunds to the most fortunate?”

John Hilliard, “In the MBTA’s proposed $9.2 billion spending plan, transit advocates argue more funds are needed for expansion,” Boston Globe, April 12, 2023.

“Stacy Thompson, the executive director of LivableStreets Alliance, said the T must balance both near-term safety and maintenance, while also working on expansion….“Things like expansion and resiliency are not extras, or nice to have. They should be considered core to the viability of the system,”Thompson said.”

Peter Coy, “The 100-Year-Old Reason U.S. Housing Is So Expensive,” New York Times, April 14, 2023.

“Once a neighborhood is zoned for single-family detached homes, it almost always stays that way, even when a city’s growth makes such low density inefficient. Los Angeles permits the building of only detached houses on 75 percent of its residentially zoned land; Chicago, 79 percent. First, those detached houses are built to last. Second, “the politics of local zoning almost invariably works to freeze land uses, especially in a neighborhood of detached houses,” he writes. “This is a significant finding, not yet part of urban lore. I chose the title of the book to emphasize it.””

“MCAS is the problem, not the solution” (Letters), Boston Globe, April 11, 2023.

“If over 700 students in a single year were denied a diploma because of MCAS, that probably means many thousands have been deprived of diplomas since MCAS became a graduation requirement in 2003….DESE should publish the total number of students denied diplomas because of MCAS for each year since MCAS became a graduation requirement.”

Joan Vennochi, “When it comes to issues facing the state, it’s Maura ‘in the middle’ Healey,” Boston Globe, April 10, 2023.

“To progressive Democrats, the answer is not enough. Pointing out that Healey’s tax reform proposal is basically the same as Baker’s, Jonathan Cohn, policy director of Progressive Massachusetts, said, “Her instinct has been to give that money back, weakening our state’s ability to deliver on the promise of investment.” On housing and transit, he added, “I think we need to see more from her administration about what their major goals are and how they would track their own success. There isn’t enough communicated urgency about what is needed for the affordability crisis and the crisis of the MBTA.” Cohn also flagged Healey for a “wait-and-see” attitude on zoning changes that are aimed at increasing affordable housing.”

Mohamad Ali and Anne Margulies, “Here’s How We Define Competitiveness,” CommonWealth, March 11, 2023.

“However, some groups are using the issue of competitiveness as an excuse to rehash arguments against the Fair Share Amendment, which passed by a solid majority of voters last November. Rather than recycling rationales that voters rejected, or lobbying for new tax cuts that would contradict the expressed will of the electorate, it’s now time for state leaders, municipal officials, and business and community leaders to focus on how to invest the funds resulting from this amendment for the betterment of our state.”

Bruce Mohl, “Exodus of wealthy residents called non-existent,” CommonWealth, April 6, 2023.

“Kurt Wise, the senior policy analyst at the Budget and Policy Center, said in the brief that research shows state tax levels have little impact on decisions by high-income households about where to live. Wise suggested it would be smarter to use tax revenues to make investments that would make Massachusetts more affordable for working families rather than cutting taxes to benefit the wealthy.”

Christian Wade, “Healey gets pushback on $750M tax cut plan,” The Eagle-Tribune, March 28, 2023.

“Estates worth more than $3 million – including those worth hundreds of millions of dollars – would receive the biggest tax break: a guaranteed $182,000,” he told the panel. “Massachusetts can reform the estate tax without large giveaways to the ultra-rich.”

Nik DeCosta-Klipa, “What to know about Gov. Healey’s estate tax proposal — and why some Dems are pushing back,” WBUR, March 28, 2023.

“Several Democratic lawmakers argued that the real reason people have moved away is the state’s expensive housing and child care costs — and suggested Healey’s tax plan should double down on those issues. State Sen. Lydia Edwards said that “if we’re going to center equity,” Healey’s proposed tax cuts for renters should be “doubled, if not tripled,” while the estate tax reforms should be pared back. “I’m OK with being an outlier on so many things, because we lead,” Edward said.”

Matt Stout, “Healey is pushing a plan to make calls free in Massachusetts state prisons — with limits,” Boston Globe, March 7, 2023.

“But in reviving the issue, Healey would also set a monthly 1,000-minute cap for free calls per person, making it one of the most restrictive such programs among those adopted across the country. She is also seeking to limit the change to the Department of Correction.”

Ivy Scott, “Proposed amendment to state constitution could give prisoners back their right to vote,” Boston Globe, April 6, 2023.

““Those people are still in our care and our custody,” she said. Before 2000, it was common for elected officials to visit the prisons or jails in their districts, even if just to observe the quality of the facility. But Miranda and Uyterhoeven both said that since inmates lost the right to vote, the presence of elected leaders in correctional houses has been, with few exceptions, sporadic and infrequent.”

Cabell Eames, “Fair Share for the Fossil Fuel Industry,” CommonWealth, March 5, 2023.

“Should the Polluters Pay bill become law, the state will have a sizable downpayment to achieve its climate goals and build resiliency for the Commonwealth. With a democratic stronghold in both the executive and legislative branches and the first-in-the-nation climate chief, Massachusetts is poised to deliver on climate strategies that we can all agree on.”

Brooke Mohr and Dan O’Connell, “Help us address the Cape, Islands housing crisis,” CommonWealth, April 8, 2023.

“The families, healthcare workers, teachers, and public safety officers who came to the State House are demanding the right to adopt a mechanism to raise the kinds of funds commensurate with the problem they face: A transfer fee on high-end real estate transactions. The creation of a transfer fee on real estate transactions of 0.5 percent to 2 percent – with an exemption for lower-cost properties – would create millions of dollars for each community that opts in to creatively address its own specific problems. Adoption of the transfer fee is by local option only – you won’t have the fee if you don’t see a need and choose to pursue it. The details, too, are up to each city or town: How much the fee would be, what would be exempt, how the funds would be used.”

Jeremy Siegel, “Ridership on fare-free MBTA buses more than doubled in program’s first year,” WGBH, March 6, 2023.

“I think what’s so exciting about this is that it doesn’t look all that different. But for the people who are using free buses, it feels very different,” Thompson said. “And what that means is that when it is pouring rain outside, when it’s snowing, you can get on the bus faster; the bus moves faster; there’s more money in your pocket if you’re not making a transfer and that’s your only ride.”

Dharna Noor, “Red states are leading on renewable energy, while Mass. ranks 29th, new analysis shows,” Boston Globe, March 8, 2023.

“Buta separate February analysis of federal data from Yale Climate Connections, which considered not only wind and solar, but also hydropower, found that 16 states now generate at least half their electricity from renewable sources, and Massachusetts is not one of them. South Dakota, another red state, has the largest share of renewable energy at 83 percent, largely as a result of impressive adoption of wind energy.”

Diego Lopez, “Evictions in Boston spike over last year,” Boston Globe, March 21, 2023.

“The number of evictions filed each week in Boston are up nearly 75% from last year, according to new data released by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, looking at the four-week average. Advocates and attorneys say eviction rates are coming back up after a lull during the pandemic, saying it’s been a decades-long problem exacerbated by a cost-of-living crisis.”

Tiffany Jenkins (letter), “Lawmakers, be bold and lift the crushing burden of child-care costs,” Boston Globe, April 3, 2023.

“Like many, I’ve had to juggle raising my daughter and working a part-time job while attending school full time and working toward a certificate. Paying for child care on top of that is a burden that forces me to make impossible decisions about paying for other basic needs, from groceries to transportation.”

“Infighting, obfuscation, delay: the chaotic end of Massachusetts’ legislative session,” Boston Globe, 8/8

“Even for seasoned lobbyists, lawmakers, and advocates used to the secretive, deadline-averse Massachusetts Legislature, the end of the formal session came as a shocking disappointment, with billions of dollars in spending and major policy proposals left on the table as legislators decamped for a five-month recess from formal duties.”

“Senate president is our employer, she should talk to us,” Common Wealth, 8/6

“On July 29, one day after Spilka rejected voluntary recognition of our union, staff asked Senate counsel if we had a path forward and the answer was yes. The hurdles ahead shouldn’t deter anyone – after all, the Senate tackles complex issues every day. For the sake of her workers and workers unionizing everywhere in Massachusetts, we hope that Spilka opens her doors to her staff. Union busting should not become a pillar of her Beacon Hill legacy.”

“‘It was you!’ Traffic spat turned police coverup leads to questions for DA Hayden,” Boston Globe, 8/6

“But then Rollins left the prosecutor’s office to become the US attorney for Massachusetts early this year and attorney Kevin Hayden was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to finish out her term….Under Hayden, the office seemed far less eager to pursue the case….And now a Globe investigation into the incident has sparked a swirling controversy, with fingers pointed in all directions, and accusations of deception and lies lobbed back and forth among attorneys, police, and prosecutors.”

“Pressley, Markey want MBTA to eliminate fares on all subway and bus service while Orange Line is shut down,” Boston Globe, 8/4

“Congress has appropriated sufficient resources to make this necessary investment and provide meaningful relief while the Orange Line is out of service,” Pressley and Markey said in a statement. “The state has let riders down, and riders shouldn’t have to shoulder both the inconvenience and the cost.”

“A ballot measure that could mean billions in new revenue,” Boston Globe (letter), 8/4

“The Fair Share Amendment will constitutionally guarantee almost $2 billion more each year for two of the business community’s most important priorities: better roads and transit and improved public education. Yet, as The Boston Globe has reported, opponents are targeting the Legislature in a desperate attempt to confuse voters. Only the very rich will pay more, and we will have billions of dollars in new revenue to build a better economy that’s fair for everyone.”

“Will the cost of housing tank the Massachusetts economy?,” Boston Globe, 8/1/2022

“We are facing a potential “brain drain,” says Michael Goodman, a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In this hub of intellectual firepower, our most potent natural resource isn’t land or oil; it’s talented people. And when they can’t afford to live in the state, that’s a problem.”

“A new prison won’t help our community,” Boston Globe (letter), 7/30

“We seek to stop funneling money into prisons and fund services in the community to provide support and intervention to individuals with disabilities that may divert them from becoming mired in the criminal justice system, and also to provide alternatives to incarceration and civil commitment in correctional facilities. Moreover, necessary mold and asbestos remediation within an existing prison would not run afoul of the moratorium.”

“How to create a community where we all want to live? Tax the rich.,” Boston Globe (letter), 7/29

“As a Boston resident and parent of young children, I want nothing more than to create a community that values education, robust public resources, and collective investment in shared well-being. The super-rich have accumulated wealth with the support of these very things. For only an additional 4 cents of each dollar earned above a million dollars, we can restore and revitalize our economy and create the communities we all want to live in.”

“Baker won’t sign no-cost prison calls without dangerousness bill,” Boston Globe, 7/28

“When someone is found to be dangerous – before a jury is seated and the full evidence has been gathered – they are taken from their communities, locked up and forced to sit behind bars while presumed innocent,” Benedetti said. “This is not how justice is done, and we applaud Chairs Mike Day, Jamie Eldridge and other lawmakers who recognize that expanding this punishment-first law hurts our clients and has a disparate impact on poor people of color.”

“‘For a major city to not have reliable public transportation is a huge problem.’ Rider frustration with T cuts is palpable.,” Boston Globe, 7/27

“T riders say they are frustrated by having to pay the same fare for worse service, and splurge on Uber rides or spend more time away from home to be able to make it to appointments, work, and school on time. And advocates warn about the service cuts deepening racial inequities and increasing carbon emissions.”

“I was on the Orange Line train that caught fire. I’m furious.,” Boston Globe, 7/25

“The state needsto pay for more frequent and thorough car inspections so that people don’t get caught in doors and dragged to their deaths. It needs toput money into fixing busted stairs so people don’t fall through them and die. It needs to fix the ceiling of the heavily-trafficked pedestrian tunnel that connects the Red and Orange Lines at Downtown Crossing before it caves in.”

“Four Framingham city councilors express support for Fair Share Amendment,” MetroWest Daily News, 7/24

“Thankfully, the Fair Share Amendment will be on the November 2022 Massachusetts statewide ballot. It will create a tax surcharge of four percentage points on annual income above $1 million. These funds would then be dedicated to quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.”

“‘Things need to change.’ For the next Massachusetts governor, housing challenges await.,” Boston Globe, 7/20

“The calls for decisive action have been coming from city planners and urban policy analysts, as well as social justice activists and environmentalists, transportation enthusiasts who push for smart growth and business leaders focused on economic development. All agree that the state can do more to desegregate communities, bring more economic diversity to Boston’s suburbs, and create more places where average people can afford to live.”

“41% of Massachusetts families struggle to afford health care,” Boston Globe, 7/20

“Massachusetts continues to be the state with the lowest uninsured rate in the nation,” said Christine Loveridge, manager of research for the Center for Health Information and Analysis. “And yet, two-fifths of residents report they and their families experienced affordability issues in the last 12 months.”

“State House staffers have to wait months for health insurance to kick in. Their bosses nixed part of a bill to give them coverage on day one.,” Boston Globe, 7/20

“The day state senators and representatives are sworn into office, they are covered by Massachusetts’ employee health insurance. But legislative staff — the chiefs of staff, legislative aides, policy directors, and others who play a large role in crafting laws — are subject to a minimum 60-day new hire waiting period before coverage is effective.

A Senate-backed proposal to immediately cover staffers was included in the chamber’s state budget bill but was killed in negotiations with the House, to the chagrin of staffers who had hoped their concerns about the gap in coverage would be addressed this year. That means the budget sent to Governor Charlie Baker this week does not include any such help for hundreds of employees who work in the state House and Senate.”

“A $250 check from Beacon Hill? Great. But don’t leave out the very poor.,” Boston Globe, 7/9

“But if the state is going to provide one-time payments out of what is expected to be a historic, nearly $3.6 billion surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30, then tending to the most vulnerable families should be top of mind.”

“Police can seize your property too easily in Massachusetts,” Boston Globe, 6/29

“The legal parameters of civil asset forfeiture have long cried out for reform. But that is only part of the problem. Removing the financial incentives for abuse — by taking district attorneys and police departments out of the equation — is just as essential.”

“With allegations of hypocrisy, State House staffer union ups pressure on Senate President Spilka,” Boston Globe, 6/29

“Let me be absolutely clear: The Senate president can prove [the Senate] is a champion of labor today by announcing its support for the Massachusetts State House Employee Union,” Senate staffer Tara Wilson said, prompting applause and cheers from a crowd gathered in front of the building.

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“Massachusetts can lead in supporting LGBTQ+ youth,” CommonWealth

“To prevent sexual violence, coercion, and assault, young people need access to sex education that includes lessons about consent and healthy relationships, starting well before college and well before they become sexually active. By passing the Healthy Youth Act, the Legislature would ensure that our young people are taught the importance of healthy relationships and consent, which are pivotal to preventing sexual violence in our communities.”

“Driver’s licenses for immigrants without legal status in Massachusetts becomes law; Beacon Hill overrides Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto,” MassLive

““I can’t wait to see the impact this bill will have with such a worthy group of individuals,” state Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat, said on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon. No longer will undocumented immigrants need to fear interactions with law enforcement, Gomez said, if they are pulled over or are entangled in a minor fender bender.”

“Bay State Billionaires: Massachusetts billionaires’ wealth surges 46 percent during the pandemic,” Institute for Policy Studies

“As in the rest of the country, the growing wealth of the Bay State’s most well-off residents contrasts sharply with the pandemic struggles of its working people. One year into the pandemic, over 2 million Massachusetts residents reported loss of employment income. And this spring, over half a million experienced a loss of income due to lost jobs or hours.”

“SJC throws out Uber-Lyft ballot question,” CommonWealth

“Wes McEnany, campaign director of Massachusetts is Not for Sale, said in a statement, “Millions of Massachusetts drivers, passengers, and taxpayers can rest easier knowing that this unconstitutional bid by Big Tech CEOs to manipulate Massachusetts law has been struck down by the Supreme Judicial Court… We commend the court for getting it right on this issue and we will remain vigilant and united against any further attempts by Big Tech to water down worker and consumer protections in Massachusetts or beyond.””

“State not living up to environmental justice responsibilities,” CommonWealth

“In fact, the only track record the state maintains is one for dismissing the lives and concerns of environmental justice communities. The Baker administration has skirted multiple laws and policies that have been promulgated to protect environmental justice populations.”

“Why do we accept asthma with our ‘natural’ gas?,” CommonWealth

“We can no longer afford to ignore the health and climate impacts of fossil fuels on the residents of Massachusetts. We need utilities’ partnership in order to address asthma in Massachusetts and we need to find a way forward to deliver clean heat that does not involve continued dependence on health harming petrochemicals that leave us tethered to the past. There is a path available to utilities that will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases and preserve jobs for utility employees: networked ground source heat pumps. Let’s choose clean heat so we can all breathe easier. “

“Massachusetts election reform bill emerges from negotiations without same-day voter registration provision,” MassLive

“A Massachusetts elections reform bill codifying pandemic-era allowances, including no-excuse voting by mail and expanded early voting, has finally emerged from a conference committee — without its most contentious provision….Bay Staters still will not be allowed to register to vote on Election Day, based on the comprise agreement disclosed Wednesday.”

“A program to remove police from some 911 calls in Denver helped reduce crime, study finds,” USA Today

“A program in Denver removing police from certain 911 calls led to a 34% reduction in low-level crimes, according to a study released Wednesday amid a growing wave of cities changing their responses to mental health crises.”

“Sonia Chang-Díaz knows what it’s like to be ‘other.’ It has shaped her and her bid for Massachusetts governor.,” Boston Globe

“If you’ve never been on the outside, I don’t think you understand how that feels,” said Liz Kinsella, Chang-Díaz’s sister. “It’s quite motivating to make others not feel that way.”

“Communications 101: Closing the language barriers in state agencies,” Boston Globe

“The pandemic has shown that people are willing to step up, but we shouldn’t have to. We do it because we’ve all experienced it,” she said. “Ya traes la costumbre, you’re already used to it — you hear someone batallando en Español, struggling in Spanish, and you start helping.” There are at least 70 languages spoken in the Malden public schools. “Can we get at least the top five or 10 languages? How are people going to be engaged if we’re not doing that?”

“House plans vote on prison construction moratorium,” CommonWealth

“Mallory Hanora, executive director of Families for Justice as Healing, which has been leading the campaign to oppose construction of a new women’s prison, said a five-year moratorium would provide “an opportunity for us to pause as a state and reconsider our spending priorities and take this opportunity to invest in what we know actually creates safety and wellbeing.” Hanora argued that the state should invest in community-based solutions for female offenders, like housing, health care and treatment, rather than building a new prison.”

“Next steps beyond Roe v Wade,” CommonWealth

“The national reproductive health care landscape—with abortion as the first domino to fall—is about to be drastically altered. But as we face this unprecedented moment in history, there is one thing we know to be true: Massachusetts can rise to the occasion and remain a leader for reproductive freedom. We can pave the way forward for abortion access and serve as an example of what is possible when leaders are committed to smart, forward-thinking reproductive equity policy. This agenda is an important starting point.”

“Make abortion pills available over the counter,” Boston Globe

“But there is a way to improve access: Make the pills available for over-the-counter sale. That way, women in antiabortion states could ask friends or family members in neighboring states to visit a pharmacy or grocery store, grab the two-drug combination off the shelf, and send it along. Or, if time was a concern, they could drive across state lines themselves and make a quick purchase.”

“We must invest in early education and care,” CommonWealth

“When a mother loses the choice to work or a family must go into debt in order to care for their children, our system has failed them. When a child loses an opportunity for early childhood or after school education, our system has failed them. When a small business owner can’t open because their employees cannot return to work due to childcare responsibilities, our system has failed them. Our childcare system is failing us in all of these ways. We must act now to make the changes required to support families in the Commonwealth.”

“In prison, phone calls home aren’t a frill. They’re as important as food and clothes.,” Boston Globe

“Onerous fees for a basic necessity like communications do nothing to protect public safety, and in fact make rebuilding life after prison harder if they cause inmates’ social and family connections to fray. The fees are simply an unnecessary and counterproductive burden, one that should be lifted by lawmakers this year.”

“The housing divide is pulling Massachusetts apart,” Boston Globe

“It’s a really difficult problem,” Schuetz told me, “when you have people who say that they care about inequality. They say that they care about racial justice … And yet they are not willing to make changes in their own life, or to accept changes in their personal environment that would make equity better, that would reduce racial segregation.

“School takeovers by the state haven’t worked, Globe analysis shows,” Boston Globe

“As Massachusetts considers taking control of Boston Public Schools, evidence suggests the state has failed to make meaningful progress in turning around much smaller districts it currently oversees….A Globe analysis of test scores, graduation rates, college enrollment, and a dozen other metrics in Lawrence, Holyoke, and Southbridge shows the state has failed to meet almost all its stated goals for the districts.”

“Illegal voting latest Baker license bill red herring,” Boston Globe

“The driver’s license bill was passed by veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate for all the right reasons. It would make an estimated 185,000 undocumented immigrants eligible to learn the rules of the road, to take the tests that would certify that they know those rules and are competent behind the wheel and in doing so that would make the roads safer for all of us….And it would make a difference in people’s lives, allowing more to join a workforce where they are badly needed….No amount of gubernatorial obfuscation can change those simple facts of life.

“Massachusetts is segregated. Here’s why.,” Boston Globe

“The segregation of Massachusetts communities has been forged by a legacy of discrimination, including redlining, in which banks refused to grant loans to Black and brown households in certain ZIP codes. And local “Not in My Back Yard” zoning rules have historically prevented the development of affordable homes, including multiunit developments.”

“Letter: Fair Share passage would help schools, public transit,” The Daily News

“Anyone who travels around the Merrimack Valley by public transportation or car knows that our infrastructure is in serious need of repair. Our streets and highways are full of potholes and our bridges are crumbling….Using public transportation in this area poses many challenges from bus stops lacking bus shelters and information about times and routes to the difficulties traveling from the seashore to the inland cities of Haverhill and Lawrence.”

“Massachusetts lawmakers should put their name where their vote is,” Boston Globe

“The Massachusetts House of Representatives has a reputation for operating with less transparency than the Senate, said Cohn of Progressive Mass. But both legislative bodies, he said, embrace a style of consensus-building that “likes to pretend divisions don’t exist.” When they do, roll call votes are avoided. Lawmakers are counselled to withdraw amendments and a quick voice vote is called. He also said lawmakers who oppose a measure that is generally seen as popular seek the cover of a voice vote, rather than be recorded with a “nay.” Beacon Hill’s lack of transparency, said Cohn, “is striking, compared to other states. Massachusetts likes to view itself as a positive example, but this is one place where we can learn something from other states.””

“Letter: Climate reasons for supporting the Fair Share Amendment,” The Daily News

“Our greatest challenge in the 21st century is climate change mitigation. In Massachusetts the largest sector of greenhouses gas emissions (42%) is transportation. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuels in our cars, trucks, and heavy duty vehicles….The Fair Share Amendment will provide new revenue to allow substantial investment in transportation and public education in Massachusetts. These investments will make it easier for us to kick our fossil fuel dependence by providing safer options for pedestrians and cyclists as well as speedy, affordable, regular, reliable and convenient public transportation.”

“Massachusetts should have a state-owned bank,” Boston Globe

“A public bank would alleviate some of those racial disparities by allowing the state to funnel money through the new banking institution to minority-owned businesses, giving them more access to the financial capital that they need.”

“‘Damning lack of transparency’ on Massachusetts sports betting vote in Senate raises skepticism law will get on the books this session,” MassLive

“Progressive Mass Policy Director Jonathan Cohn called out a “damning” lack of transparency that permeated the Senate debate on Thursday. Members passed the bill in a voice vote — an unusual move for a major policy change that he suggested was “intentionally opaque” and “choreographed” to tee up contentious closed-door negotiations as the two chambers work to reconcile major policy differences and pass a bill over the next three months.”

“A strategy for tackling housing, climate crises simultaneously,” CommonWealth

“While the state has significant ARPA funds to deploy right now, HERO revenue would likely kick in just as the ARPA funds begin to deplete, ensuring that we can sustain investments now being launched. As state legislators consider proposals on housing and climate, the HERO Act deserves their support.”

“Almost 60% of Mass. provisional ballots were rejected in 2020 election,” Boston.com

“In the 2020 Massachusetts general election, nearly 60%, or 2,587 ballots, were rejected, according to Massachusetts Secretary of State data acquired by pro-democracy non-profit Common Cause Massachusetts….While this number represents a minuscule number of ballots, approximately .05%, it is discouraging for voters to know that if they have an issue at the polls, it’s likely that their vote won’t be counted.”

“New England Lawmakers Demand Legislative Action to Protect Abortion Rights,” NBC Boston

“Our fundamental right to abortion care is under attack, and the draft majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade shows that the stakes could not be higher. We must be clear: abortion care is still legal in America, but Congress must legislate to protect this fundamental human right and codify it into law. We know that our most vulnerable communities will bear the disproportionate brunt of any decision to restrict and deny access to abortion care—particularly Black, brown, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and low-income people. We must legislate as if our lives depend on it, because they do.” — Ayanna Pressley

“We need new tools to deal with epidemic of wage theft,” CommonWealth

“Wage theft takes many forms. It happens when tips are skimmed at a restaurant, when employers fail to pay for prep time before the official beginning of a shift, not paying time and a half for overtime hours, or when an employer does not pay the wages that are owed to workers for a job that they perform. This example from Amherst reveals how commonplace wage theft has become in Massachusetts, even at major employers who should know better, and why we need new legislation to stop it.”

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“Opinion: Help cut the high cost of college by voting ‘yes’ on Fair Share Amendment,” The New Bedford Light

“With this ballot question, we can reverse decades of underfunding and start making our public colleges affordable again. In the face of declining enrollment at our public colleges, we need to act urgently to remove the barriers that are preventing working and middle-class students from pursuing a degree at our public colleges.”

“Letter: Fair Share Amendment would make Massachusetts’ opportunities more equal,” Berkshire Eagle

“When we work hard and enjoy financial success, we like to tell ourselves that we’ve excelled in a fair race. Can we say this when our tax system is inequitable and public university is unaffordable? The Fair Share Amendment will get us back toward an equal opportunity Massachusetts.”

“Abolishing MBTA bus fares is about more than improving transit access,” Boston Globe

“On the surface, abolishing bus fares is about improving transit access and easing the financial burden of transportation on poor residents. But more than that, the fare-free bus program is about government taking a small step toward providing people with the dignity they deserve. No one should be denied a ride because they can’t afford it. No one should be made to feel ashamed for having to ask a bus driver to let them on. And no one should have to choose between paying for a bus fare or getting a couple of extra items at the grocery store.”

“State power limits Boston’s vision,” Boston Globe

“Thanks to a striking concentration of power in the seat of Massachusetts government on Beacon Hill, the capital city and other Massachusetts municipalities must seek state sign-off for both substantive policy changes, such as restricting how much rents may increase each year, and more routine proposals, such as changing speed limits on some roads.”

“Senate plan puts too much emphasis on electric vehicles,” CommonWealth

“do not oppose the transition to electric vehicles, indeed I embrace it. But we need to be honest with ourselves about what an all-electric vehicle future means. Primarily, it means continued traffic congestion, continued poor land use, continued particulate matter emissions – in other words, every negative externality of today’s auto mobility system other than carbon emissions will remain present in an all-electric vehicle future. We can do better than use public funding to enable that future, without any effort to balance the scales in favor of more sustainable, healthier, sensible mobility solutions. Right now, neither the current Baker administration plan nor this Senate bill gets this balance right.”

“College becoming increasingly inaccessible to low-income students, report says,” State House News Service

“After two decades of disinvestment, we’re too far down the road to expect a few reforms will re-chart a new course for our public institutions and students. Years of inaction will force the state to finally decide the role the Commonwealth, which prides itself on being the birthplace of public education, should play in post-secondary public education,” wrote Bahar Akman Imboden, managing director of the Hildreth Institute and the author of the report.

“Boston Common Rally Calls To Make Early Education More Affordable In Massachusetts,” CBS Boston

“The child care system in Massachusetts is struggling to meet the needs of families and parents, but it’s also not working for providers who are struggling to keep their doors open. And it’s not working for workers who are not making a livable wage.”

“Taxing Massachusetts millionaires to boost racial justice,” Boston Globe

“A graduated income tax is a fact of life for federal filers. Those who make more, pay more. Graduated state tax systems across the income spectrum are also common (as are, yes, zero state tax states). In Massachusetts, where there is so much wealth and yet so much poverty, starting with an extra tax tier for those who are fortunate enough to make over $1 million in a year seems only just.”

“Two months in, Maura Healey’s pitch for Mass. governor is light on the details,” Boston Globe

“Chang-Díaz’s platform web pages link to news articles, studies, and votes the senator has taken while serving on Beacon Hill, going into great detail with bulleted lists of actions she would take as governor. She’s been endorsed by groups like Progressive Massachusetts, which require lengthy, detailed questionnaires. Chang-Díaz’s was 48 pages long.”

“Dear Governor Baker: You’re wrong on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants,” Boston Globe

“Fearmongering Republicans make it a sport to assume the worst possible behaviors of undocumented residents. The truth is that the vast majority of people without valid immigration status are like the radio caller from Pembroke — maybe they overstayed their visa (not a criminal violation), maybe their green card has expired, maybe they have a pending immigration case. But they have jobs and pay taxes, and they have kids to drive to school. It’s in everyone’s best interest to license them to drive.”

“Legalization 2.0: Massachusetts Senate approves overhaul of marijuana laws,” Boston Globe

“With this bill, Massachusetts will reclaim our leadership role, carving a path to make equity a reality in the cannabis industry,” said Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Democrat, who championed the legislation as co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy. “Lowering entry costs and opening up new avenues to capital will put this multibillion-dollar industry within reach for many talented equity entrepreneurs.”

“Opinion: Transfer fees on high-end real estate sales could fund affordable housing,” Cape Cod Times

“Do we really want to spend another year watching neighbors move away to somewhere they can actually afford to live? The pandemic allowed us all to see that everyone who makes up our communities are essential personnel, and the sense of community that once marked every single one of our towns is dying.”

Tanisha Sullivan, “How Secretaries of State Can Lead the Fight to Strengthen Democracy,” Democracy Docket

“Massachusetts deserves a secretary who takes up the mantle of leadership and embraces a shared vision for a stronger, more vibrant and more expansive democracy for all of us. Voting rights and access is about more than just the laws on the books; it’s about giving people a pathway into our democracy and a reason to engage.”

“Election day voter registration in Mass. shouldn’t be this hard to achieve,” Boston Globe

“Some lawmakers think they need to be the gatekeeper, to choose their voters,” said Beth Huang, head of Massachusetts Voter Table, a civic advocacy group. “Everything about this reflects how power is weighted against people who are more transient, younger, low-income, and often Black and brown.”

“As Beacon Hill moves toward undocumented drivers’ licenses, big-city mayors voice support,” WGBH News

“The experiences of undocumented communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit them especially hard, may have boosted the proposed reform’s prospects on Beacon Hill. Many undocumented individuals worked in-person providing essential services throughout the pandemic, and there’s some evidence that carpooling linked to the drivers’ license status quo helped spread the virus.”

“Massachusetts election reform conference to hold first meeting this week,” State House News Service

“Lawmakers tasked with reaching compromise on legislation to make mail-in voting a permanent part of the Massachusetts electoral landscape are set to hold their first meeting Thursday, more than two months after they were appointed to hash out differences between the House and Senate bills.” (They need to include Election Day Registration!)

“A Millionaire Tax is Necessary to Advance Critical Education Investments in Massachusetts,” MassBudget

“Federal pandemic relief has helped avert education cuts and added significant funds to expand services during the pandemic, particularly in K-12 schools. But it is insufficient and too short-term to meet the Commonwealth’s existing promises to improve education, much less to make bold new investments in early education, K-12 schools, or on higher education campuses.”

“From #MeToo to #WhoMe? on Beacon Hill,” Boston Globe

“Most successful organizations in this state thrive because they recognize talent, protect and nurture employees, and ensure a respectful work environment where merit, not privilege, drives promotions and allocation of resources. We deserve better from our elected officials.”

“The Three E’s: Greater Transportation Funding Can Improve the Economy, Equity, and Environment,” Mass Budget

“Massachusetts has long underinvested in our transportation systems. Our roads, bridges, trains, buses, ferries, and bike paths are not in the condition they should be. Opportunities to expand and improve these systems are stalled due to lack of dedicated funds. These funding shortfalls create serious harm for Massachusetts’ “three E’s:” the economy, equity, and environment. New sustaining revenue is needed, and no source of new funding is better scaled to meet the size of these unfunded needs than the Fair Share Amendment, which voters will decide on at the November 2022 ballot.”

“Waiting for the governor’s race to get going,” CommonWealth

“Those stances and comments reveal a lot about Healey, but voters need more from a candidate for governor. A governor deals with a multitude of issues, from education funding to public transportation, from prisons to the State Police, from public health to climate change. Sorting out where candidates stand is what campaigns are all about.”

“Charts: How much did housing costs go up in your town?,” Boston Globe

“The survey also found rapidly rising home values in Greater Boston, with some cities, including Boston and Cambridge, reporting home values about 50 percent higher than they were in 2010, the last time a similar survey was released. In Boston, the median owner-occupied home value was $581,000 in 2020, up from $395,000 in 2010. In Cambridge, the median owner-occupied home value was $843,000, compared to $560,000 in 2010. In Somerville, prices rose even higher, from $454,000 in 2010 to $710,000 in 2020 — a 56 percent hike.”

“Four takeaways from the latest report on the Future of Work in Mass.,” Boston Globe

“Most office jobs at big employers will be hybrid or largely remote, for the foreseeable future. For that reason, the MBTA should offer more flexible fare options that aren’t tied to five days a week of commuting. State officials should extend passenger rail service to the South Coast or Western Massachusetts where housing is cheaper. The thinking: People might be more willing to settle down further from their office, if they don’t need to commute every day, and instead take “longer distance, lower frequency trips tied to specific purposes.””

“What if College Were Free? This State Is Trying to Find Out.,” New York Times

“As universities across the United States face steep enrollment declines, New Mexico’s government is embarking on a pioneering experiment to fight that trend: tuition-free higher education for all state residents….After President Biden’s plan for universal free community college failed to gain traction in Congress, New Mexico, one of the nation’s poorest states, has emerged with perhaps the most ambitious plans as states scramble to come up with their own initiatives.”

“Massachusetts Senate passes CROWN Act,” Boston25News

“The CROWN Act ensures that discrimination based on one’s hair style, which largely impacts Black residents, has no place in professional or school settings in the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen Spilka. “We must never forget how long and hard the struggle for true racial justice has been for Black and brown residents of Massachusetts.””

“The Police State Is Failing Officers Too,” The Nation

“As a society, we have been taught that police should respond to every issue, and as a result, their outsize budgets take away resources from basic community needs, including schools, affordable housing, and infrastructure. This one-solution-fits-all approach is backed by neither data nor common sense, and all too often leads to violence and death.”

“MBTA Looking at $230M Shortfall When Federal Aid Runs Out,” State House News Service

“In fiscal year ’24, even after using about $100 million in fiscal year ’24, we still have a gap of $236 million,” O’Hara said. “Our fiscal cliff is then in fiscal year ’24.” A great case for Fair Share

“How Air Pollution Across America Reflects Racist Policy From the 1930s,” New York Times

“Urban neighborhoods that were redlined by federal officials in the 1930s tended to have higher levels of harmful air pollution eight decades later, a new study has found, adding to a body of evidence that reveals how racist policies in the past have contributed to inequalities across the United States today.”

“Federal COVID funds offer Boston Mayor Michelle Wu a big boost with her big plans,” Boston Globe

“The biggest barrier in this city is believing that we can’t do more,” Wu said. “And so being able to show and have people see with their own eyes and live the impacts is going to be transformational for making the case for larger investments down the line.”

“How Did This Many Deaths Become Normal?,” The Atlantic

“The United States reported more deaths from COVID-19 last Friday than deaths from Hurricane Katrina, more on any two recent weekdays than deaths during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, more last month than deaths from flu in a bad season, and more in two years than deaths from HIV during the four decades of the AIDS epidemic.”

“Boston Progressives Fear Rollback of Reforms After DA’s Early Exit,” Bolts

“There’s a strong and growing body of research that shows that declining to prosecute nonviolent misdemeanor cases not only minimizes individuals’ current involvement with the criminal legal system, but also substantially reduces the probability of future involvement,” Cohn told Bolts. 

“Chang-Diaz aims for big, progressive change,” CommonWealth

“We have seen so many examples, time and time again, where people power movements have taken on and won against establishment powers in Massachusetts,” she said. “In the end, we have to remember…that it’s not money that wins elections. It’s people that win elections.”

“2 senators say proposed building code comes up short,” CommonWealth

“The straw proposal bars a city or town from mandating all-electric new construction, even after local officials allow for vigorous analysis and debate. For municipalities in Massachusetts and other progressive states, all-electric construction is the favored strategy for decarbonizing new buildings. Barring communities from employing it would be a significant setback,” the senators said. They added, “Bottom line: Despite its unequivocal support of ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050, despite the special challenges of reducing emissions in buildings, and despite having been given a full 18 months by the Legislature to do its work, the Baker administration has proposed a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code that comes up short.”

“‘This should not be survival of the fittest.’ For high-risk people, COVID is far from over,” Boston Globe

“In a way, it was comforting to see people indoors for a while. I thought they would understand what it’s like to not leave your house,” she said. “But when given the chance, the world went outside in a flash and left me behind. I see all my friends living their lives. When is that going to be me?”

“State Senate hires a pay consultant in wake of report that says staff pay ‘breaks with best practice’,” Boston Globe

“The conversation around staff pay was always . . . can we afford to have this conversation with the Senate president now?” Raynor said. “It’s wild when you see the policies you’re pushing for addressing poverty and the fiscal cliff, and realize it’s about you.”

“Senate passes ‘period poverty’ bill,” CommonWealth

“We don’t expect school nurses to pay for toilet paper for everyone in the school,” Jehlen said. “Why should they pay for menstrual products?”

“State Police troopers may have inflated hours they worked in hundreds of details, inspector general finds,” Boston Globe

“The change, the report notes, “appears to remove the incentive for troopers to misrepresent” their hours. But it also means troopers will likely be paid for more time than they actually work, Cunha’s office said.”

“Fewer than 10% of applicants have been granted medical parole, frustrating some Mass. lawmakers,” WBUR

“It reminded me of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ” said Eldridge, a Democrat whose district includes Middlesex and Worcester. “It was incredibly outdated and cramped and just not ideal for providing health care to prisoners in their 70s and 80s.”

“‘A no-brainer’: Merrimack Valley RTA makes all buses free to ride for two years,” Boston Globe

“I’m about to say something completely radical,” Berger said. “What I’m going to say that’s radical is that we are going fare-free, and that ain’t radical, that’s mainstream.”

“Local-option COVID approach slammed,” CommonWealth

“Not only are we seeing a patchwork of different rules in different communities in this state, which is confusing for the public and also less effective for the public health protections, but it also means that the decisions are getting pushed on to the backs of local public health staff who are then the folks who are being harassed and threatened,” Pavlos said. “That’s really unacceptable.”

“Ending mask mandate won’t bring us back to normal,” CommonWealth

“The pandemic is far from over. Just a few weeks ago, our ERs were overflowing and our primary care colleagues were pulled in to cover hospital shifts. While we are relieved to see the decline in Omicron cases, more variants are sure to emerge. Just last week, the World Health Organization announced a newly detected, even more contagious Omicron subvariant.”

“Massachusetts’ roadmap bill created an environmental justice advisory council. Where is it?,” Boston Globe

“The historic climate law that Governor Charlie Baker signed last March included provisionsmeant to make sure low-income communities and people of color don’t suffer disproportionate environmental harm from new polluting projects….It required Baker’s administration to appoint a special council to weigh in on which communities should have certain environmental protections, on the grounds that they’re already overburdened by pollution from fossil fuel infrastructure…But nearly a year later, Baker hasn’t appointed anyone to the council yet. And the body’s first report is due in July.”

“Mass. residents should welcome law on licenses for undocumented immigrants” (Letter), Boston Globe

“We found that not just immigrant and US-born Latino residents in those states responded more positively to welcoming immigration policies, but also most white, non-Latino residents did as well. Like immigrant and US-born Latinos, white residents displayed a more positive emotional response and felt like they belonged in their state more when immigration policies were more welcoming.”

“14 Takeaways From The Latest U.N. Study On Climate Change’s Deadly Toll,” HuffPost

“But the report emphasizes what millions of people can already intuit from dramatic shifts in weather patterns: Ways of life that sustained generations are coming to an abrupt and chaotic end, causing great suffering that world governments’ responses so far have proven woefully inadequate to ease, much less reverse.”