Over at Blue Mass. Group, Carey Theil rebuts pundits who say that people didn't really know what they were doing when they voted to ban dog racing. (See my geographic […]
The majority rules on dog-racing ban
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Privatize the Mass Pike?
In today’s Wall Street Journal, the Manhattan Institute’s Steve Malanga argues that the federal government shouldn’t bail out states during the "cold-shower time" of shrinking tax revenues, since a rescue […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
US mayors ask for a jump-start from Congress
The US Conference of Mayors is asking for $24.4 billion from Congress to fund "ready-to-go" infrastructure projects — meaning projects that, theoretically, can be started and completed within calendar year […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
A foreclosure milestone on the West Coast
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 If you bought a house in Southern California last month, the previous owners probably didn’t leave willingly.
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Transportation topics in CommonWealth magazine
Photo by Mark Ostow; gas pump illustration by James Yang. Pump it up: The Bay State’s transportation networks are literally falling apart. New gas tax revenues may be […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Download, Transportation
Transportation topics from the gas tax to the state of the MBTA
Thanks to the furor over proposed increases to highway tolls, transportation issues are again front and center in Massachusetts. For context, visit our archived transportation stories from CommonWealth magazine. Of […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Going to college doesn’t mean finishing college
Most graduates of Boston public schools go on to college. Unfortunately, most of them never get degrees, according a story by James Vaznis in today’s Boston Globe: The Class of […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The latest scoop on road salt
Monday, November 17, 2008 The Brockton Enterprise has the South Shore angle on the rising cost of road salt. One town has apparently seen the wisdom of buying in bulk: […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
State planning more belt-tightening
The Patrick administration is telling executive branch agencies they should prepare for an 8 percent spending cut in fiscal 2010, which starts next July. One source told me that Leslie […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Same old transportation story
Though there were some fresh faces on hand at Wednesday evening’s Our Transportation Future/MOVE Massachusetts forum, like Mayor Kim Driscoll of Salem, the most striking feature of any statewide transportation […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Piecemeal toll hike
Gov. Deval Patrick says he wants to consolidate the state’s transportation agencies under one unified command, but he is preparing to pay for the services those agencies provide on a […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Malden takes top honors from people who don’t seem to have ever been there
My hometown of Malden has been named the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by BusinessWeek magazine, which calls the city "racially diverse, relatively affordable, and well-connected." The […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Holyoke
Thursday, November 13, 2008 A tale of two valleys: Can Holyoke tap the college-town prosperity of its neighbors?By Melissa DaPonte KatzFall 2006
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Lawrence
Broken homes: The housing bubble was built on reckless lending, and cities such as Brockton and Lawrence are paying the heaviest price.By Michael Jonas Lawrence’s mill makeover gets a second […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Lowell
Thursday, November 13, 2008 Urban re-renewal: Downtowns in Lowell and Worcester are emerging as places to live and play inBy Shaun SutnerGrowth and Development Extra 2006
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
New Bedford
City back in same old patternBy Steve UrbonStandard-Times, May 3, 2009Not everyone on the South Coast is getting into trainingBy Gabrielle GurleyCommonWealth, Spring 2008 Still working on the railroad: funding […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Pittsfield
Thursday, November 13, 2008 Second act: Can the arts bring Pittsfield back to life?By B.J. RocheGrowth and Development Extra 2006
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Springfield
Thursday, November 13, 2008 In Springfield, middle rank on development ‘deal breakers’ is taken as good newsBy Melissa DaPonte KatzCommonWealth, Summer 2006 Under control? Nearly bankrupt, Springfield struggles under outside […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Worcester
Urban re-renewal: Downtowns in Lowell and Worcester are emerging as places to live and play inBy Shaun SutnerCommonWealth, Growth and Development Extra 2006 Whither Worcester? Some look to a change […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Fall River
Not everyone on the South Coast is getting into trainingBy Gabrielle GurleyCommonWealth, Spring 2008 Still working on the railroad: funding fuzzy for South Coast railBy Gabrielle GurleyCommonWealth, Summer 2007 Bright […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Gateway Cities
Visit the Gateway Cities Project home page at MassINC. Broken homes: The housing bubble was built on reckless lending, and cities such as Brockton and Lawrence are paying the heaviest […]
Posted inPolitics
Cos and effect: Did Bill Cosby pave the way for Obama’s election?
While there was all sorts of talk before last week’s election about a potential “Bradley effect,” a much lower vote for Barack Obama than might be expected based on pre-election […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Torkildsen on his way out as state GOP chair
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Today comes the official word. The writing on the wall came with last week’s drubbing.
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Gateway Cities rally for state income tax
This time it wasn't at all close: Last week Massachusetts voters rejected a proposal to eliminate the income tax by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Only 30 percent voted "yes", […]