THE MASSACHUSETTS ECONOMY is the envy of the nation. We quickly rebounded from the recession and are home to the nation’s best educated workforce and one of its largest and […]
Housing
Posted inEconomy, Health Care, Opinion
Doing more for homeless people in Massachusetts
THE FOUNDING OF the Massachusetts Bay Colony was grounded in the social contract. In a sermon delivered in 1630, Gov. John Winthrop articulated the belief that, “[W]e must… make other’s […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Mass Housing hires new chief in 10 minutes
It took less than 10 minutes for the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency to name a new executive director last month. The authority’s board convened at 2 p.m. on Jan. 12. […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Baker seeks to redevelop state parcel
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE PLANNING TO MOVE STATE HIGHWAY OFFICES from their perch above Boston’s Big Dig, city and state officials want to develop a large area at the edge […]
Posted inOpinion
In Newtonville, smart growth is taking hold
Photos from 1984 by Bill Dain; photos from 2015 by Amy Dain. TAKE OUT YOUR MAGNIFYING GLASS for a moment. You might need it to see some of changes in […]
Posted inOpinion
Getting used to the political brushoff
AFTER THE SPEECHES were over at a recent event, I walked over to say hello to one of state’s most prominent elected officials. He’s someone I have known for many […]
Posted inOpinion
Affordable housing at risk
Solving the Massachusetts affordable housing crisis will not be possible unless we preserve existing housing as well as produce new homes. Given the housing production constraints Massachusetts faces, losing even […]
Posted inThe Download
On housing supply, the more things change…
To understand what holds back the state’s economy, and what causes young families who are otherwise drawn to Massachusetts life to flee for greener pastures, check out this piece by […]
Posted inOpinion
The state should encourage accessory apartments
TEN YEARS AGO, I did a study of zoning regulations in the 187 communities within 50 miles of Boston. I wanted to find out if our region was allowing for […]
Posted inUncategorized
Lawrence facing housing crisis, report says
A NEW REPORT suggests Lawrence is facing a major housing crisis, with property values low, rents high, and new construction failing to keep pace with population increases. The study, funded […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion
Dealing with chronic homelessness
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, the city of Boston put the finishing touches on a new shelter for 400 homeless individuals on South Hampton Street and announced a bold homelessness […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Fair housing laws just got fairer
It got crowded out of the news by the blockbuster decisions on health care (issued the same day) and same-sex marriage (issued the following day), but an important Supreme Court […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
The failure of public assistance
Democrats and Republicans alike have fought for and voted to support programs and funding to provide assistance to our most vulnerable citizens. The intention of this support was always to […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker pushes family homelessness program
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER says he plans to make a big dent in the number of homeless Massachusetts families by taking $20 million now being used for shelter and hotel-motel stays […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Waging the war on poverty
IN 2015, THERE are emerging signs of bipartisan energy to address poverty. While contemplating a third presidential run, Mitt Romney vowed that a potential campaign would include a pledge to […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
CDCs applaud new tax credit program
As the year’s end brings a barrage of appeals from nonprofit groups hoping to capitalize on the spirit of holiday giving, the state’s community development corporations are making a pitch […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Homeless for the holidays
It was bad enough that the city’s homeless shelter on Long Island was shuttered on several hours notice, with 450 beds suddenly yanked from the city inventory of places for […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Residency ruse
It’s the gift that keeps giving, the evergreen story that gets repackaged every so often and then met with varying degrees of outrage, some sincere and others as phony as […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Boston’s inspectional disservice
The recent Globe Spotlight Team series “Shadow Campus” painted a devastating and detailed picture of the scummy world of Boston’s apartment rental market catering to the thousands of college students […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment, The Download
A flood of opposition to insurance and map changes
Anyone who lives near the ocean in New England knows it comes with a cost, but one of the prices that homeowners pay for the privilege is high insurance premiums […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Title insurance
JACK LALOND AND his wife Kathy have refinanced or taken out equity loans on their Plymouth home six times since they purchased it. They used the loan funds and the […]
Posted inEconomy
Poverty sprawl
INNER CITY SLUMS along with isolated rural outposts, have long defined our concept of poverty in America. Whether it is endless blocks of urban deprivation or a dilapidated house with […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, The Back Story
Taking back Brockton
If Brockton passes on the prospect of becoming the first American municipality to seize troubled mortgages by eminent domain, it won’t be because the city is worried it’s on the […]
Posted inEconomy
Eminent domain for mortgages
ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 28, Brockton police arrested 51-year old Tyrone Hubbard and his two sons for trespassing in their own home. Fannie Mae, the federally chartered purchaser of […]
