DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL candidate Danielle Allen unveiled a democracy agenda on Wednesday, outlining a host of initiatives to encourage greater voter participation and civic involvement and reduce the influence of money in politics. Some of the proposals are part of the current debate on Beacon Hill — same-day voter registration, the establishment of Indigenous People’s Day […]
Massachusetts politics
Posted inPolitics
Two Western Mass senators face off in lieutenant governor race
TWO DEMOCRATIC state senators from Western Massachusetts will run against each other next fall – but not for the Senate. Sen. Eric Lesser’s decision Tuesday to jump into the primary race for lieutenant governor will pit the Longmeadow Democrat against Pittsfield Sen. Adam Hinds, who launched his campaign in October. Also running are Acton Rep. Tami Gouveia […]
Posted inTransportation
Baker goes on GLX joyride
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER and the current and future mayors of Somerville took a joy ride on a portion of the new Green Line extension on Thursday — a preview of coming attractions as the $2.3 billion project nears completion. The Union Square branch of the Green Line extension is scheduled to open in March and […]
Posted inTransportation
T’s largest union signs new contract
THE MBTA board of directors on Thursday approved a new two-year contract with its largest union that provides 2.5 percent annual wage increases and one-time allotments per employee of $2,000 in pandemic pay and $2,500 for waiver of a job protection rule negotiated by the union in 2016. Ahmad Barnes, the T’s senior director of […]
Posted inPolitics
Chang-Diaz backs green new deal
ADVOCATES FOR a “green new deal” in Massachusetts gained another major backer on Thursday, as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz came out in support of fare-free public transit and rapid deployment of offshore wind, solar, and electricity storage to make the regional power grid run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. The positions of Chang-Diaz, […]
Posted inTransportation
Wu raises fare-free snafu with Buttigieg
BOSTON MAYOR Michelle Wu took her bid for three fare-free bus routes to Washington on Tuesday, briefing US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on a snag caused by guidelines issued by the Federal Transit Administration. Wu, who was attending a White House function on Tuesday, tweeted a link to a CommonWealth story on the fare-free bus […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker, Polito say 8 years is enough
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER recalled a backyard party in the fall with many of his staff where his wife said the biggest challenge associated with public life is not being present for so many family events and occasions. “I think she said it about me,” Baker said at a State House press conference Wednesday after announcing […]
Posted inPolitics
Healey calls Baker ‘valued partner’
ATTORNEY GENERAL Maura Healey, a Democrat who many believe is preparing a run for governor, issued a statement on Wednesday calling Gov. Charlie Baker a “valued partner,” while two of the three announced Democratic candidates for governor took a more combative tone in their statements on the departure of the Republican incumbent. Baker and Lt. […]
Posted inThe Download
Was Baker talking a bit of trash about Healey?
Gov. Charlie Baker was talking on Monday about what makes him run for elected office, but it seemed like he also could have been talking a bit of trash about one of his potential rivals. On the Boston Public Radio show, Jim Braude asked the governor yet again whether he intended to run for reelection. […]
Posted inPolitics
Was Baker talking a bit of trash about Healey?
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER was talking on Monday about what makes him run for elected office, but it seemed like he also could have been talking a bit of trash about one of his potential rivals. On the Boston Public Radio show, Jim Braude asked the governor yet again whether he intended to run for reelection. But this […]