JP Progressives hold Climate Action Forum

By Enid Eckstein, JP Progressives

Climate change has long been a concern of Jamaica plain residents.  With this in mind, JPP sponsored “Action for Climate Change at the Local, State and National Level” forum on April 30.  Moderated by Kendra Lara, former JP City Councilor, the panel included panelists Hassann Farooqi of Boston Climate Action Network, Roseann Bongiovanni of GreenRoots, Elizabeth Tamton from Mothers Out Front, and our special guest Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the first-ever White House national climate advisor.

Gina McCarthy addressed the big picture of national policy and some of the accomplishments of the Federal government including the infrastructure investments of the Inflation Reduction Act but stressed “the ball starts rolling at the local level and it is the organization of the every bodies that makes change”.  Roseann Bongiovanni emphasized the importance of environmental justice and this is the time to recognize many of the systemic changes necessary.  Hassann Farooqi outlined the importance of enforcement of the new Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance which sets requirements for large existing buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over time.  Elizabeth Tanton outlined a number of the Mothers Out Front campaigns including the move away from gas infrastructure, fighting gas leaks and the effort to reduce school building indoor pollution.  

When asked at the end, what gives you hope for the future and what should JPers do to address climate change, Hassann Farooqi urged people to “get involved, vote and sign up,  for Community Choice Electricity, which gets its energy from renewable sources”.  Elizabeth Tamton, urged participants to  “get mobilized and stay mobilized, and be part of an environmental justice movement by partnering with various organizations”.  Gina McCarthy talked about the importance of engaging and “pulling up your pants and move and together and we will win”.  Roseann Bongiovanni urged  people “join an organization, support legislation, contact elected officials, volunteer and listen, and center equity into every conversation and uplift the voices of those most impacted”.  All speakers stressed a belief in young people’s involvement and the importance of action.

Will MA Do the Right Thing on Housing?

In poll after poll in Massachusetts, the #1 issue on voters’ minds is housing. And it’s no surprise why. Escalating rents and soaring housing prices have forced people out of their communities or out of the state entirely. That’s not sustainable, and we need robust policy action to address this growing housing crisis.

Over the past few months, the MA Legislature has been working on its main piece of housing policy this session: Governor Maura Healey’s H.4138, the Affordable Homes Act (known as the “housing bond bill”), with the House expected to vote soon. 

Among the key provisions of the bill are a real estate transfer fee local option, which would provide cities and towns a critical tool for addressing their local housing crises, and allowing for accessory dwelling units (ADU) as of right, a way to boost the supply of affordably priced housing.

Your legislators have been hearing from a well-funded real estate lobby trying to block the transfer fee proposal.

And your legislators have been hearing from those who want to preserve the exclusionary nature of their local zoning laws.

But the question is: have they been hearing from you?

Can you write to your state legislators in support of comprehensive action to address our housing crisis?

PM in the News: “Healey’s No New Taxes Talk”

Gintautas Dumcius and Bruce Mohl, “Political Notebook: Healey’s no-new-taxes talk | Rollins pay adjustment | Who is Jeanne Louise?,” CommonWealth Beacon, May 3, 2024.

Jonathan Cohn, policy director for Progressive Massachusetts, said Healey’s “clichéd ‘no new taxes’ line is out of step with her own promises and the needs” of the state. He pointed to high child care costs, health insurance premiums, and traffic as forms of taxation that hit working and middle-class residents.

News Roundup – May 2, 2024

Editorial Board, “Healey’s ADU proposal: small homes, big impact,” Boston Globe, May 1, 2024.

“It is essential, then, for lawmakers to recognize that the housing crisis is one shared by everyone in this state. Every town’s resistance to reasonable housing development will only worsen every other town’s shortage.”

Katie Lannan, “‘Raise the age’ bill, free community college are top priorities for the state Senate,” WGBH, April 222, 2024.

“I would love to raise the age to 21,” said Spilka, an Ashland Democrat. “All research shows that emerging adults’ brains really aren’t formulated till almost 25, so 21 makes sense, but at the very least, we’re trying to work on raising it to include 18-year-olds.”

Dana Gerber and Kirkland An, “People are leaving Massachusetts in droves. Who are they?,” April 18, 2024.

“It’s always hard to pin any one reason down,” Ciurczak said, “but certainly, housing seems to be a big one.”

Taylor Dolven, “With soaring ridership levels, Worcester considers another year of fare-free transit,” Boston Globe, April 10, 2024.

“But in Worcester, last year’s ridership exceeded its pre-pandemic level by about 30 percent, one of only three RTAs that had more riders last year than before the pandemic. One of the other two, Merrimack Valley Transit, is also fare-free.”

Samantha Gross, “With cuts to child-care grants looming, providers worry about future of program,” Boston Globe, April 7, 2024.

“If a budget is a statement of values, we need our government to demonstrate the value of early education and care to the Commonwealth through their investments. [Cuts] could be no less than catastrophic.”

“Letter: Why can’t US match other countries on basically free higher ed?,” Boston Globe, April 8, 2024.

“Are these countries dupes or do they realize that education is the best investment regardless of national origin? Horace Mann began free elementary education in the United States here in Massachusetts. Eventually the United States went to free secondary education, but we went astray and failed to keep up with much of the rest of the developed world more than a generation ago. We can do better.”

Victoria Law, “After Reforms to Solitary Confinement, Massachusetts Prisoners Say Officials Just Renamed It,” Bolts, March 29, 2024.

“People who remain in long-term isolation and lawmakers who want to reduce solitary claim that lockups have simply renamed the practice.”