Massachusetts community health centers are facing pressure from wait times, workforce crunch, and migrant care.
Health centers seek relief from ‘deep challenges’
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to hold social media companies accountable
Just as we eventually recognized the dangers of lead paint, asbestos, and cigarettes and took action through public policy, it’s time to hold companies accountable and take steps to mitigate the impact of social media on young people’s well-being.
Posted inEnergy
Lawmakers are hopeful about a climate bill. Advocates are skeptical
With the end of the Legislature’s two-year session drawing near, lawmakers say they’re hopeful that a climate change bill will still emerge and get signed into law, but advocates are more skeptical.
Posted inHousing
Business groups cheer, progressives knock House axing transfer fees
The House offered up a version of Gov. Maura Healey’s housing bond bill that leaves out a local-option transfer tax on high-end home sales, disappointing housing advocates and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, the levy’s most prominent booster, and setting up a potential clash with the the more liberal Senate.
Posted inOpinion
The affordable housing problem in Massachusetts might be even worse than we thought
The state affordable housing count includes all units — affordable and market-rate — in a development built under the Chapter 40B affordable housing law. It’s time to consider changes to that policy.
Posted inHousing
House Democrats outline $6.2 billion housing plan
With sky-high sale prices and rents suffocating residents, the House will try to shift the tide by pumping more money into existing housing programs and rolling out a few new strategies.
Posted inHousing
Taking aim at barriers for underrepresented developers
Rather than waiting for underrepresented groups to become eligible for traditional housing funding sources, a new fund is “just doing away with this chicken and egg thing.”
Posted inThe Codcast
Community-centered equitable development
This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Moddie Turay, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, to discuss the Equitable Developers Fund, and how to build enough housing to supply the current shortage while addressing community needs.
Posted inOpinion
Here’s the biggest challenge facing Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard law enforcement
On Nantucket, the average price of a home is nearing $4 million. Visitors will spend $20,000 or more a week to rent a house – making a year-round rental for a police officer virtually impossible.
Posted inOpinion
Antisemitism Awareness Act is insult to Jews like me
Based on both the Jewish values I was raised on and my experience living in Israel, I believe Israel is a fundamentally racist state. This is exemplified by its anti-miscegenation marriage law, a segregated school system that severely underfunds non-Jewish schools, and legally segregated towns.
Posted inOpinion
Distributed justice must be key in state energy efficiency plan
The state’s energy efficiency programs continue to price out and leave behind low and moderate-income residents—a failure that is not only bad for our communities but a fatal flaw in our state’s efforts to meet our climate goals.
Posted inMarijuana
State agencies clear up confusion about hemp-based seltzers and gummies
The notice from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources made explicit that the “addition of CBD and/or THC to food manufactured or sold in Massachusetts is illegal.”
Posted inCourts
Political Notebook: Judicial mischief | Incumbent stronghold | Home equity reckoning
“Chief Justice Gants has said that if he couldn’t have played for the Red Sox, being chief justice ultimately was a good second, solid choice,” Gov. Maura Healey said.
Posted inOpinion
How to move beyond local resistance to more housing
Currently, private development is tasked with assessing the impact of their proposals. If this became a state-driven cost benefit analysis, we could standardize impact and support towns that lack resources and help residents to understand pros and cons associated with development.
Posted inEconomy
House approves liquor licenses for under-served Boston neighborhoods
The redrafted bill steers 180 non-transferable licenses over three years to 12 ZIP codes in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, East Boston, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Charlestown, and Jamaica Plain.
Posted inState Government
Crunch time is coming to Beacon Hill
“It’s always been part of the process that no matter what you do, or who’s doing it, that there will be a lot of serious work left for the last few days of session,” said Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat who is leaving the Senate after 32 years in the chamber.
Posted inOpinion
State should increase funding for micro-transit services
When people don’t have access to transportation, getting to medical appointments or the grocery store can become close to, or truly, impossible.
Posted inMarijuana
More turmoil at the Cannabis Control Commission
Commissioner Roy alleges actions by fellow commissioner members caused upheaval and discord
Posted inHealth Care
Warren, Markey say Mass. not safe in national fight over abortion
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sounded the alarm about the negative impact that a Trump presidency could have on reproductive rights, even in Massachusetts where lawmakers have done a lot to codify those rights.
Posted inPolitics
65% of incumbents in Legislature face no opponents
130 incumbents appear to be going without a challenger in either a primary or the general election. Democrats are expected to continue to hold a super-majority in both chambers.