#mapoli

#BosPoli #Boston #MA #MAPoli #climate #seaLevelRise #transprtation

New Morrissey Boulevard Commission Will Come Up With Another Plan for Boston's Wettest Highway

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/30/new-morrissey-boulevard-commission-will-come-up-with-another-plan-for-bostons-wettest-highway

In #Boston, the upcoming redesign of a vulnerable waterfront highway will be a test for how seriously #Massachusetts agencies take the state's #climate goals:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/30/new-morrissey-boulevard-commission-will-come-up-with-another-plan-for-bostons-wettest-highway
#mapoli

As for #Massachusetts, Latino children are more overrepresented in foster care than any other state

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/30/opinion/dcf-latino-foster-care/

“If DCF saves a child from abuse, that is a good thing. Yet the vast majority of DCF cases are about neglect, a broad category that can be difficult to define and to distinguish from conditions created by poverty.”

Man this state really needs to deal with our racism. #MAPoli do better

I honestly was not expecting to like Maura Healey much -- I assumed that, as heir apparent to the governorship, she'd be perfectly fine but nothing to write home about -- but honestly between universal school lunch, free phones for prisons, getting Eng in for the T, free community college, rail investments... she's been incredibly effective. A lot of concrete improvements to the lives of regular people in a very short amount of time.

#boston #mapoli

Massachusetts State Senate President Karen Spilka: “With Elon Musk’s endorsement of a monstrous and dangerous antisemitic lie, I can no longer justify using the X platform for any reason.I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn, as can the Massachusetts State Senate. I hope you will follow me, and the Senate, on these platforms, and join us in leaving X.”
But not on Mastodon. Sigh. I'll try contacting her office next week to see if I might persuade them 😃
#MaPoli

I don't quite get how commuter rail ridership could be back at 90% of pre-COVID levels if people are working at home on Mondays and Fridays, even if weekend ridership is up. Thoughts, @jaloisi? (1/2) #MaPoli https://commonwealthbeacon.org/transportation/what-commuter-rail-ridership-gains-mean-for-boston/

On the latest What's That About? from CCTV Cambridge: The big bike lane elections are finally over! Desmond and the team help Cat from Tufts St break down what the results will mean for the big issues facing the city in the coming year... wait a minute, that's not Desmond! #cambridgema #mapoli https://vimeo.com/885666771

RT CAAS: Housing justice is worker justice, and housing justice is gender justice. It's time to lift the ban on rent control in Massachusetts.

#liftthebanma #rentcontrolma #housingjustice #mapoli https://twitter.com/CAASomerville/status/1725212508724527320video/1

Via the Mass Teacher Association: Take action on behalf of MTA higher ed members who are caught up in the dysfunction of a state Legislature unable to pass a supplemental budget that will fund their negotiated contracts. #mapoli https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-your-legislators-fund-the-state-employee-contracts/

I can’t tell if liberals who bring up “waning inflation” or say we have a “strong economy” realize how absurd they sound.
Corporate greed has pushed prices high. (Record profit for the rich.)
The climate and housing crises rage.
Washington keeps giving our money to a geno¢idal government.
It isn’t just DC. My state (#MAPoli) is largely failing, too. I’m afraid that 45 has a real chance to win the White House next fall.
@BostonGlobe
#USPol

We have a price tag from the #MBTA's capital needs assessment, and it's very big:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/16/report-the-t-needs-24-5-billion-to-attain-state-of-good-repair

Last spring, my union negotiated a new one-year contract with the state that had long-overdue cost-of-living increases set to kick in on July 1 with another on January 1. The Legislature did not pass a budget in July to fund the contract. Or in August. Or September. Or October. And now, in November, they have ended their legislative session with the contracts STILL unfunded. What do we pay these people for? #MAPoli

And no *actual* raises, of course. We haven't had any *actual* raises in years.

Finally – today's #MBTA board meeting includes an agenda item to discuss its "Capital Needs Assessment Inventory" – a document that policymakers have been waiting to see for almost a year now:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/06/29/an-unpublished-report-tallies-how-much-money-the-t-needs-to-fix-its-problems-why-doesnt-the-t-want-anyone-to-see-it

Ian Coss talks 'Big Dig' podcast on Say More with Shirley Leung

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/16/business/big-dig-ian-coss-say-more-podcast/

“At times, you wonder why Coss unearths so much of the ugly politics and what went wrong (shoddy slurry walls and tragic death of a motorist killed by a tunnel ceiling tile.) The payoff comes in this week’s final episode as he lays out why the Big Dig was worth it and why we need to think big again.”

#BosPoli #Boston #climate #MA #MAPoli #transportation

#BosPoli #Boston #MA #MAPoli #transportation

‘Cameras Don’t Have Guns’ – Boston’s Black Community Weighs In On Camera-Based Traffic Enforcement

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/16/cameras-dont-have-guns-bostons-black-community-weighs-in-on-camera-based-traffic-enforcement

"The big takeaway was, cameras don’t have guns," says report author Lindiwe Rennert. "While there are civil liberties concerns associated with camera-based enforcement, the concern is de-escalated from loss of life, to an abuse of information. Both are important, but the scale is unquestionably different." #mapoli

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/16/cameras-dont-have-guns-bostons-black-community-weighs-in-on-camera-based-traffic-enforcement

Commission to rethink state seal and motto concludes with no specific proposal for either | GBH

https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2023-11-14/commission-to-rethink-state-seal-and-motto-concludes-with-no-specific-proposal-for-either

#MAPoli #Massachusetts #StateFlag #StateSeal

We've seen several other examples of how the Healey admin's press office has meddled in the #MBTA's efforts to operate with more transparency, but this one is especially wild...
#mapoli
https://commonwealthbeacon.org/transportation/why-did-massdot-hang-t-employees-out-to-dry/

#climate #MA #MAPoli #Massachusetts

Hopefully the opposition fails but I think it may be time for #insurance companies to pull out of the Cape like they have in Florida.

Cape Codders say no to offshore wind transmission lines under their beaches:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/14/science/cape-cod-offshore-wind/

Last week, voters in #CambridgeMA , #Boston, and #WorcesterMA said "not in my city hall" to "not in my backyard" politicians.
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/13/the-polls-are-in-hating-bike-lanes-is-not-a-winning-electoral-strategy
#mapoli

For folks that think MA is too expensive. (I get housing cost is a difficult topic) MA also has a lot of first-time buyer programs. #AffordableHomeownership #housing #mapoli #walkablity https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/57006563_zpid/

New at Media Nation: CommonWealth Beacon reports new details on why The Boston Globe fired investigative reporter Andrea Estes — yet questions still remain. #journalism #MaPoli #MBTA https://dankennedy.net/2023/11/12/commonwealth-beacon-reports-new-details-on-andrea-estes-firing-by-the-globe/

Listening to Radio Boston (MBTA unveils plan to eliminate all T slow zones)

<p>MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng announced a plan Thursday to shut down various parts of the T for a total of 188 days through the next year, with the stated goal of eliminating all slow zones across the system.

https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2023/11/09/mbta-green-red-organge-blue-line-shutdowns

#MBTA #MAPoli #BosPoli

I still don't get why the Massachusetts legislature doesn't welcome DiZoglio's audit in the name of transparency.
#MApoli

#MaPoli #BosPoli Okay, so Kraft and Dershowitz, obviously. Who else?

Brothels that catered to the wealthy in Greater Boston, Virginia, busted with arrests of three operators, officials say
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/08/metro/brothel-bust-boston/

Congrats to our newly-elected and continuing mayor and city councilors! Cheers to Katjana Ballantyne, Matt McLaughlin, JT Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Naima Sait, Lance Davis, Judy Pineda Neufeld, Will Mbah, Willie Burnley Jr, Kristen Strezo, & Jake Wilson!

#SomervilleMA #VilleMA #SomerPoli #MApoli

Today's edition of the New England Muzzle Awards focuses on Marblehead and Waltham, where teachers and officials seek to stifle scrutiny. New at Media Nation: #MaPoli https://dankennedy.net/2023/11/08/in-marblehead-and-waltham-teachers-and-officials-seek-to-stifle-public-scrutiny/

Happy Election Day!
$7 million Proposition 2½ operating override
#ArlingtonMA #mapoli
YES 7950 (61.4%)
NO 4964 (38.3%)

I'm less than lukewarm on our current mayor's performance so far, so I really could have done without the 4:30pm text spam today wherein she asked for my "vote" (her inexplicable scare quotes, not mine). #somerville #mapoli

It's Election Day! Please go vote! (and get your friends to vote too)

Municipal elections are critical for improving bike infrastructure and elections are often won by small margins.

If you live in #CambridgeMA this is especially true! There are candidates that are suing the city to "remove all bike lanes" so we need to maintain a strong majority on the council.

Cambridge voter guide: https://www.cambridgebikesafety.org/election/

Somerville voter guide: https://somervillebikesafety.org/somerville-city-election-2023/

#BikeBos #BikeBoston #MApoli

The local town and city council positions that are up for election today have the most leverage over how safe your local streets will be, and whether your neighborhood allows affordable housing. Find out where to vote, and learn about key races we're watching today:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/11/07/election-day-how-to-vote-what-were-watching-2

Today’s the big day! Don’t forget to vote! Check out our endorsements if you’re still undecided: https://somervilleyimby.org/2023/election/

Election Day info: https://www.somervillema.gov/news/get-out-and-vote-tues-117-polls-open-7-am-8-pm-mailed-ballots-due-6-pm-elections-deptdropbox

#SomervilleMA #VilleMA #SomerPoli #MApoli

Releasing incarcerated people from maximum security directly to the street sets them up for failure and it makes everyone less safe. Republican holdover Commissioner of Correction Carol Mici has near complete control over this but she is stuck in old carceral thinking. MA Governor Maura Healey can and should replace this Republican holdover immediately with someone who has a modern approach to criminal justice. It’s baffling that she hasn’t yet. #MApoli https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2023-11-07/nearly-one-in-five-state-prisoners-go-directly-from-maximum-security-to-the-street

Tomorrow’s the big day! Don’t forget to vote! Check out our endorsements if you’re still undecided: https://somervilleyimby.org/2023/election/

Election Day info: https://www.somervillema.gov/news/get-out-and-vote-tues-117-polls-open-7-am-8-pm-mailed-ballots-due-6-pm-elections-deptdropbox

#SomervilleMA #VilleMA #SomerPoli #MApoli

On today's CCTV Cambridge show: Last week, an LED box truck circled Harvard Square showing pictures of Harvard students labelled as "anti-semites," and multiple billionaires have declared they will blacklist students and stop donating money to the school. We gingerly try to explain what's that about. #cambridgema #mapoli #harvard
https://vimeo.com/881764313

Overview of the candidates for #SomervilleMA election Tuesday 11/7 #SomervillePoli #CambridgeDay
https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/11/05/somerville-races-for-office-in-2023-highlighting-question-about-what-it-means-to-be-a-councilor/ #MaPoli

Boston’s issue of motorized traffic on the sidewalks: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/06/metro/boston-traffic/

“On one hand: what the heck?

On the other: We want people to use lighter, more environmentally friendly forms of transportation, but too often they have nowhere safe to travel. What are people who need to get somewhere supposed to do?”

#Boston #MA #MAPoli #transportation

Anyone in #CambridgeMA want to help me vote for School Committee? #MAPoli

@Ofsevit @Cambikelanes @bikepedantic @Kevin @itamarst @andr_w @jfsheehan @kinkema @crschmidt

Bigger and better coverage of #MaPoli: The rebranded CommonWealth Beacon has gone live. Check it out at https://commonwealthbeacon.org.

This year's attempt to pass automated traffic enforcement cameras in the #Massachusetts legislature has one notable omission: while the bill would allow cameras on school buses, it makes no mention of cameras for public #transit buses.
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/10/30/legislatures-latest-attempt-for-automated-traffic-enforcement-is-missing-the-bus

New at Media Nation: CommonWealth Magazine, a policy-oriented nonprofit, will rebrand and expand. #LocalNews #MaPoli https://dankennedy.net/2023/10/26/commonwealth-a-policy-oriented-nonprofit-will-rebrand-and-expand/

New at Media Nation: Worcester Telegram & Gazette editor says he held Fattman campaign-finance story because it lacked “confirmation." #MaPoli #journalism https://dankennedy.net/2023/10/25/tg-editor-says-he-held-fattman-story-because-it-lacked-confirmation/

It's a travesty that this violent fascist is still on the streets of Boston. We cannot let police investigate themselves. #boston #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/24/metro/boston-police-commissioner-rejects-excessive-force-claim-suspends-captain-3-days/

Ridiculous. Danilecki has been the subject of complaints for years. Cleared again. Michael Cox as Boston Police Commissioner is not a change from prior approaches. #MApoli /1 https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/24/metro/boston-police-commissioner-rejects-excessive-force-claim-suspends-captain-3-days/

#MAPoli #BosPoli #MAEdu

Just a reminder: proper ventilation in schools is a great way to improve educational outcomes. When students, teachers, staff, and parents don't get sick as often, everything gets better.

Where's The Barr Foundation on this issue? Where's The Boston Foundation? Where are all the rich people who purport to care about urban education?

It's almost like all their money and advocacy isn't actually about improving education.

@vmbrasseur
I live in the "liberal", affluent, car centric city of Newton MA, a suburb of boston
At the April 2022 earth day celebration, there was a booth touting ecars as eco, and the booth explicitly described the eHummer and eF150 as eco and

what ever

#NewtonMA #Mapoli #massachusetts

Charlie Baker is presiding over a corrupt disaster at the NCAA. Kind of like his leadership at the #MBTA. #MaPoli https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/us/college-athletes-donor-collectives.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Despite breathless reporting by our local media outlets, I continue to not see the big deal about the gauge issue for the #GLX .

The problem is a bummer but it sounds super fixable, and folks are making a big deal over a nothingburger story. Folks seem to be getting outraged for reasons I don't understand. Y'all had bad requirements document and now have bad results, so to be safe you've got to move a bunch of rail over a eighth inch. #MBTA #MAPoli

New at Media Nation: The latest Green Line Extension problems are an outrage. #mbta #MaPoli https://dankennedy.net/2023/10/20/the-latest-green-line-extension-problems-are-an-outrage/

Got a batch of MCAS scores yesterday for two of my kids. They are so valuable for knowing how they and their schools are doing. No wonder the #mapoli teacher unions are fighting to eliminate them. They want us to kneel before them, and accept their assessments as gospel.

@ben Seems like a big assumption that #mapoli is the hashtag commonly followed on every platform. Or that people even follow hashtags on other platforms (I never did on Twitter, but I use them heavily here). I get the general sentiment expressed in the article, I’m just questioning the accuracy of the one exercise the author undertook to draw some conclusions…

Worth noting: My commute on the #MBTA today (commuter rail and Orange Line) was exceptionally smooth and comfortable. It was like the good old days. #MaPoli

@dankennedy_nu
Because our #MAPoli politicians have been brainwashed with the conservative framing.

Why are our local media united in referring to the #MaPoli tax cuts as "tax relief"? It's an unnecessary package, mainly skewed toward the rich, that will offset the ballot question we just passed to try to meet some real needs in schools, transportation and social services.

As Boston tries to get more liquor licenses for outer neighborhoods, simple beer and wine license on #NewburyStreet sells for $251,000 in bidding war
#Boston #mapoli #liquor #licensing #BackBay #ramen https://www.universalhub.com/2023/boston-tries-get-more-liquor-licenses-outer

#bospoli #Boston #MA #mapoli #news #transportation

It looks like MassDCR may be going in the literal wrong direction when it comes to Arborway.

https://twitter.com/MassDCR/status/1708955925355110559

Someone tell them Boston is a city. Adding more automobile lanes DOES NOT ALLEVIATE CONGESTION. It may for a moment, but then people drive more - and you have more congestion than you started with.
Turn around!! We need a *protected* bike lane, not *zero* bike lane. People, not cars. Omg the insanity

Here are our endorsements for the 2023 Somerville City Council elections! https://somervilleyimby.org/2023/election/

#SomerPoli #VilleMA #SomervilleMA #MApoli

They put out portapotties that are locked. Gross #Boston

Editing to tag #mapoli

We pay too much for this shit.

#Cannabis chair sues state treasurer to block her suspension; charges treasurer took side of out of control, vicious staffers who resent oversight
#Massachusetts #marijuana #mapoli https://www.universalhub.com/2023/cannabis-chair-sues-state-treasurer-block-her

I was at an event today and learned of some MA-based groups and resources that might be interesting to people. One is a virtual #LGBTQ+ community space for older adults. This community faces support challenges that other groups don't so they created #OutstandingLife for that.

#MApoli #seniors

https://outstandinglife.org/

A big week for #animal advocacy continues today with a hearing on the Housing Bill, which would, among other things, bar housing providers from arbitrarily restricting responsible #dog owners from keeping their #pet based on their pet’s size or weight.

Learn more about the measure and why it’s SO critical for the welfare of Massachusetts pets here, via The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/29/business/dog-owners-face-lack-of-apartment-rentals/

#mapoli #mapoliwithpets #rescuepets

🚨 Animal Advocate Alert!🚨 There’s a hearing today at 1 pm on #Ollie’sLaw, an important bill that would enact common-sense regulations in doggie daycare and boarding facilities. Tune in here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4697

Have you or your #pet been affected by issues with an unregulated facility? Virtual testimony on Ollie’s Law will be accepted until October 3, one week from today. Want to testify, but have questions or need help? Email us at advocacy@mspca.org

#mapoli #mapoliwithpets #dogs

@gbhnews I hope Boston comes to realize that one of these residents is worth more than a hundred finance bros. We gotta do better for each other. WGBH, please send encouragement as you can, let folks know we're fighting for them. I just called the Mayor's office but would love to know if there is anything more tangible we can do today. Accessible, quality homes are a human right. Tax the rich! Fund real investments!
#bospoli #housing #mapoli #uspol

New at Media Nation. They don't make politicians like Whip Saltmarsh anymore. #MaPoli https://dankennedy.net/2023/09/25/whip-saltmarsh-was-a-legend/

a pair of really intriguing articles about #housing in the metro #boston area from the WBUR newsletter (ty!)

I wonder how many people in massachusetts,
1) currently own more than one home, or,
2) have owned other homes before the current (and only) home they live in

#sustainability #homelessness #affordablehousing #mapoli

https://www.propublica.org/article/massachusetts-public-housing-units-vacant-despite-waitlists

https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/09/13/new-build-passive-homes-west-roxbury-brucewood

Visit http://www.mspca.org/housing for more info on the bill. If you want to advocate for this measure, please consider testifying at the hearing, which will be held at the State House and remotely, so you can testify from the comfort of your own home–or submit written testimony.

If you plan to testify, or have any questions at all about the process, please email us at advocacy@mspca.org. Let’s work together to eliminate barriers to adoption!

#Massachusetts #mapoli #mapolipets #pets #dogs

Mike Connolly is interviewed on #WBUR #RadioBoston, on the #RentControl issue and their ballot petition. Sign this petition if it gets in front of you. They need 75k signatures.

#MApoli #SomervilleMA #CambridgeMA #yimby #MikeConnolly #housing

He points us to http://bit.ly/rentcontrol2024

Interview link: https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2023/09/07/mike-connolly-petition-landlords-real-estate-cambridge