Miriam Wasser and Colin Young, “Mass. outlines new strategy for getting customers and utilities off of natural gas,” WBUR / State House News Service, December 7, 2023.
“At its heart, the order is a strategy to help steer the state toward a cleaner energy system that is safe, reliable and affordable for all. It says that utilities can’t charge gas customers for new gas infrastructure if there are viable non-gas alternatives. It changes the existing cost recovery process that incentivizes adding new gas customers. And it prohibits utilities from using ratepayer money to “promote” natural gas.”
Stefanos Chen, “New York’s Millionaire Class Is Growing. Other People Are Leaving.,” New York Times, December 5, 2023.
“Now, a new report based on the latest census and state tax filing data has found a reversal: The ranks of millionaires have come surging back, while lower- and middle-income New Yorkers are heading for the exits, according to the study, published Tuesday by the Fiscal Policy Institute, a left-leaning policy group.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, “Massachusetts can improve equity in higher ed by passing CHERISH Act,” MassLive, December 5, 2023.
“Building on Gov. Healey’s work to expand financial aid access and enable more students to attend college tuition-free, the CHERISH Act would create a path for debt-free college in Massachusetts, expand student support services, provide funding to repair crumbling campus buildings and improve wages and working conditions for staff.”
Andrew Brinker, “Investors snagged 1 in 5 homes for sale in Greater Boston, worsening housing crisis, report finds,” Boston Globe, December 3, 2023.
“Even more challenging though will be figuring out how to pump the brakes on the trend, said Draisen. A real estate transfer tax could help, he said, because it could discourage speculators from buying and selling homes in quick succession. And it would provide funding for more affordable housing efforts.”
Miriam Wasser, “Mass. is on track to meet its near-term climate goals, but the hardest work lies ahead,” WBUR, December 1, 2023.
“So how is the state doing on all of this? On Friday, the Healey administration revealed in its first annual climate report card that the state is on track for its 2025 goals….But, when it comes to meeting the 2030 and 2050 goals, a lot more work (and funding) is needed. And success is far from a sure thing.”
Samantha Gross and Matt Stout, “Mass. Legislature closes out least productive period in decades,” Boston Globe, November 29, 2023.
“In the House, where any spending bill must originate, lawmakers have taken fewer votes at this point in their two-year session than any other going back two decades, a Globe review found.”
Diti Kohli, “With funding challenges looming, Mass. child care could be in jeopardy,” Boston Globe, November 28, 2023.
“But providers said the child-care industry is so broken that it requires a more permanent funnel of government money that goes directly to providers, such as the Commonwealth Cares for Children grants that came through during COVID-19.”
Lisa Guisbond, “Myopic focus on test prep means students are missing out (Letter),” Boston Globe, November 24, 2023.
“If Massachusetts weren’t so myopically focused on prepping students for standardized MCAS exams, there would be more capacity to assess student learning through project-based performance assessments that have been shown to help prepare students for college, career, and civic life.”
Andrew Brinker, “A housing crisis in Massachusetts: A look at single family homes,” Boston Globe, November 22, 2023.
“Roughly 950,000 homes in Massachusetts have large enough yards to accommodate at least one ADU in their backyard…”
Sarah Betancourt, “Massachusetts becomes fifth state in nation to make prison calls free,” WGBH, November 17, 2023.
“Ensuring that individuals in state and county prisons can keep in contact with their loved ones is key to enhancing rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and improving community safety,” Healey said in a written statement. “I’m proud to sign this important legislation and grateful to the Legislature and advocates for their partnership.”
Rep. Andy Vargas and Sen. Lydia Edwards, “It’s time to protect gig workers and consumers,” CommonWealth, November 15, 2023.
“These are not impossible standards. Most are already the current laws of Massachusetts. Every other company that chooses to do business here has to follow our laws, which include a minimum wage and the worker protections that come with the presumption of employee status.”
“Big College Aid Expansion Will Lift 25,000 Students,” State House News Service, November 15, 2023.
“The governor announced that $62 million in new program funding included in the fiscal year 2024 budget she signed this summer will go toward expanding the MASSGrant Plus program, which her administration says will benefit approximately 25,000 students attending the state’s community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts.”
Gregg Croteau and Mary Gomez, “To reduce recidivism, raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction,” CommonWealth, November 14, 2023.
“Raising the Age does not remove accountability….Rather, it allows for learning and growth in a different setting so that the likelihood of further criminal activity is dramatically reduced as brain development advances. When we do this, we’ll be giving every young person the opportunity for redemption and to be part of the solution moving forward. And our communities will be that much safer.”
Enid Eckstein, Steve Dubb and Lydia Lowe, “Boston’s large nonprofits fall short once again,” CommonWealth, November 12, 2023.
“Yet each year contributions have failed to meet even this modest standard. While some smaller institutions may be financially challenged, many larger institutions also consistently fall short.”
Zeninjor Enwemeka, “How Greater Boston’s zoning decisions reverberate a century later,” WBUR, November 8, 2023.
“Zoning causes us to have areas of concentrated advantage and areas of concentrated disadvantage,” said Amy Dain, who researched and wrote the report for Boston Indicators. “So, if you’re living in an area of concentrated disadvantage, you are missing out on the social networks, the best schools, the access to certain jobs that will help you to advance economically in life.”
