Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed suit on Tuesday, asking the court to order that Milton has to comply with a sweeping state law requiring that communities within a certain distance of public transit rezone to allow for minimum amounts of multifamily construction as-of-right.
AG Campbell sues Milton over MBTA Communities law
Posted inPolitics
Fires everywhere for Healey administration
Now, with more and more things going wrong at the same time, Healey is more willing to mix it up, lofting verbal volleys at those she regards as troublemakers. Her chief targets have been former president Donald Trump and Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre, although in both cases she often refuses to call them out by name.
Posted inOpinion
Public flogging of Milton is unnecessary
Balance is struck when we pass laws that are punitive (or expensive) towards undesirable behavior. From laws restricting pollution, to taxes on tobacco, we guide society in the direction we desire. Society becomes off kilter when the restrictions become too onerous and begin to impede the rights we possess.
Posted inHealth Care
Healey calls Steward ‘house of cards’ and a ‘charade’
After a meeting on Monday with top legislative leaders at the State House, Healey said the company’s failure to provide audited financial statements beyond 2021 in response to a demand letter from the governor is evidence that the company’s books are in disarray and no auditor will sign off on them.
Posted inHealth Care
Steward: A cautionary tale complete with Snidely Whiplash
“What we have right now in Massachusetts for the nation is we have a new poster child of private equity and his name is Dr. Ralph de la Torre,” said John McDonough.
Posted inThe Codcast
Steward: A cautionary tale complete with a Snidely Whiplash
This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute talk to CommonWealth Beacon’s Bruce Mohl about what went wrong with Steward Health Care, and the different paths out of the current situation.
Posted inOpinion
Should we repeal the state’s right-to-shelter guarantee?
Massachusetts is the only state with a right-to-shelter law, a distinction that is drawing criticism and praise as the state grapples with a surge of homeless migrants arriving here.
Posted inTransportation
Here is why state feels Milton is a rapid transit community
The Guidelines do not – and cannot – take into consideration the quality of the service or the type of equipment used on any given line.
Posted inEnvironment
A warning about radioactive air pollution from Pilgrim
“Whatever is in the reactor water can evaporate along with the water,” said Dr. Petros Koutrakis, professor of environmental sciences at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The idea that only water comes out is wrong.”
Posted inHealth Care
Healey says Steward information ‘insufficient’
Steward earlier this week said it provided the state with an enormous amount of financial data, but administration officials said audited financial statements were not included.
Posted inPolitics
Fifth time’s the charm for sex ed law?
Supporters of the Healthy Youth Act are taking a fifth swing at passing the legislation, which has made it through the state Senate four times only to fizzle in the House.
Posted inOpinion
Time is now for Allston I-90 project
The I-90 Allston Multimodal Project could be described as a MassDOT highway project—yet it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect the Allston community and to deliver transformational transportation options, unprecedented development opportunities, and critical environmental benefits for Boston, Worcester, and beyond.
Posted inHousing
Milton Planning Board deciphers vote against zoning plan
“We shouldn’t assume we know why people voted no. And we shouldn’t assume we know why people voted yes,” said board member Cheryl Tougias. “We shouldn’t assume everyone supports reclassification.”
Posted inEnergy
Mixed messages on Vineyard Wind
“To me, it doesn’t matter if we finish in November this year or February next year,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said. “The important thing is that we finish.”
Posted inGambling
On age minimums, state weaving a tangled tale
What’s the right age to grant the rights and responsibilities of adulthood? Based on current policy debates, it all depends. Are you looking to roll the dice or rob a store?
Posted inHealth Care
Steward to Healey: We are cooperating, pursuing orderly sale of hospitals
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally concerning the orderly departure of Steward from Massachusetts.
Posted inOpinion
Is ‘paper compliance’ with the MBTA Communities law good enough?
It doesn’t add any new homes for young adults or new families, or add diversity. It doesn’t create new opportunities for downsizing seniors. It doesn’t add the homes our local employers need to attract and retain workers. But it passes the compliance test.
Posted inHealth Care
Steward’s Mass. landlord talks of ‘retenanting’
Officials reported a $664 million loss in the fourth quarter, prompted by $772 million in writeoffs and impairments related to Steward. Company officials said Steward paid only a quarter of the rent it owed during the quarter.
Posted inCourts
Healey’s former romantic partner poised to ascend to SJC
The Governor’s Council paid relatively little attention to Supreme Judicial Court nominee Gabrielle Wolohojian’s past romantic relationship with Gov. Maura Healey, focusing instead on artificial intelligence’s threat to the judiciary and a court case involving a dog named Peppermint.