The battle brewing at Shingle Place Hill in Manchester by the Sea is a paradigm for what affects cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
A travesty in Manchester by the Sea
Posted inHousing
Milton special counsel steps down; MBTA alleged conflict
Tad Heuer, a partner at Foley Hoag, joined Milton’s legal team as a special counsel on Tuesday night and appeared at a hearing before a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday. But later that day state officials apparently raised concerns that Heuer had a conflict of interest because Foley Hoag in other capacities represents the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the MBTA.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: Healey’s evolution, Ryan’s slow probe, Wu train
Gov. Maura Healey isn’t the first politician to flip-flop on a policy issue, and voters are typically less inclined to punish a pol if the flop is in the direction they agree with.
Posted inHealth Care
Lots of finger-pointing at health care cost growth hearing
A report released Wednesday estimated total health care spending in Massachusetts at $71.7 billion in 2022, and a per capita health care expenditure of $10,264 per resident, according to the Center for Health Information and Analysis.
Posted inOpinion
Ending MCAS requirement would be a step backward
IN RECENT YEARS, many Massachusetts public education policy decisions have been made with an eye toward increasing equity. It’s a worthy goal, but too many of the policies have proven to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Restorative justice funding on the budget chopping block
A late-in-the-budget-process ask and a shrinking revenue forecast could spell trouble for two state initiatives – a three-year-old community grant program and a bid to launch a dedicated statewide office of restorative justice.
Posted inTransportation
Wu in talks with MBTA on city-funded commuter rail stop
Talks with the MBTA continued even as the O’Bryant plan fell apart. Appearing on WBUR and GBH Radio in the last week, Wu said there is a commitment from the T on the new station, though based on a statement from the MBTA, the agreement does not yet appear to be finalized.
Posted inOpinion
Lead exposure may have played role in Maine shootings
Symptoms of acute lead exposure run the gamut of cognitive problems; exposures have been linked to feeling confused, more prone to anger and hostility, and issues with thinking straight.
Posted inMarijuana
Healey makes history with marijuana mega-pardon
Healey said her move makes Massachusetts “the first state to take action” since President Joseph Biden in 2022 asked the nation’s governors to follow his lead on pardoning simple cannabis possession convictions.
Posted inCourts
On zoning law, Campbell seeks legal shot across the bow
Campbell wants to skip a trial in Superior Court and go straight to the SJC in May in an effort to establish clearly that Milton and other communities in the state are subject to the law and her office has the authority to enforce compliance.
Posted inHousing
In housing battles, left-right lines are blurred
The push for zoning reforms that allow for more housing is bringing together a rare convergence of the political left and right.
Posted inBallot Questions
Ballot question opponents warn tipping will go away
The ballot question, which must still clear several hurdles before it goes before voters in November, would raise the state’s minimum wage for tipped workers from $6.75 to $15, while allowing them to keep tips but revamping the system by allowing cooks and restaurant office workers to share the tip revenue.
Posted inOpinion
Searching for college funding with a simple click
The system’s opaqueness presents obstacles, particularly for low-income students who can be unaware of the significant financial aid available to them. Other states and even regions within Massachusetts have successfully implemented technological solutions to offer students a transparent and user-friendly portal to access this critical information. It’s time for our state to follow suit.
Posted inHousing
A divided Milton heads into court
Milton seems unprepared, partly because of the fast-moving pace of legal action and mostly because town officials are as divided as the town they represent.
Posted inOpinion
Legislation needed to address teacher diversity
Despite our best efforts, the gap between the percentage of educators of color and students of color is expected to continue to widen in the coming years.
Posted inEnvironment
Healey $1m ad campaign seeks to boost climate efforts
The “Climate Action is for All of Us” media campaign will attempt to educate residents on how they can participate in climate initiatives like electric vehicle adoption or residential solar programs.
Posted inEducation
Rachael Rollins lands job at Roxbury Community College
Rachael Rollins is working on a new program geared towards formerly incarcerated people, with a focus on women of color.
Posted inTransportation
I-90 Allston project gets $335m in federal funding
No official announcement has been made, but US Sen. Edward Markey tweeted on Monday afternoon that the money will help reunite the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods of Boston.
Posted inArts and Culture
A first for Old Ironsides
“I fight and drive ships and lead sailors,” said Commander Billie JU. Farrell.. “And so that’s what I’ve done for the past 20 years. I’m very fortunate that I’ve worked with a bunch of great commanding officers.