Mayor Michelle Wu offered a forceful defense of the city’s decade-old Trust Act, a policy that limits Boston police cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during a testy House Oversight hearing in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.
Government
Posted inPolitics
Wu fends off GOP critiques of Boston immigration policies
Mayor Michelle Wu defended Boston’s immigration policies on Wednesday, testifying with three other blue state mayors before a GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee.
Posted inOpinion
Some hopeful signs, but still a long way to go on legislative transparency
Rules reforms are step one in a wider cultural change needed in the Massachusetts State House, one in which rank-and-file legislators must be willing to be more proactive and to remember that they ultimately work for their constituents, not for anyone else.
Posted inHealth Care
Treating the ‘dire diagnosis’ of Massachusetts’ primary care crisis
In an episode of The Codcast, Dr. Wayne Altman argues that now is the time for action on the state’s primary care system.
Posted inHousing
A new wrinkle in MBTA Communities rebellion, courtesy of DiZoglio
Responding to a request from Wrentham officials, Auditor Diana DiZoglio waded into a local battle over the controversial MBTA Communities law, finding that the law is an “unfunded mandate” handed down by state officials.
Posted inOpinion
State ed board should reject Lynn charter school expansion plan
The acting education commissioner’s recommendation to allow KIPP Lynn to add 450 seats represents selective enforcement of the long-standing and clear regulations governing charter school expansion in the Commonwealth.
Posted inHousing
Vacation home trends add to Massachusetts housing crunch
A new statewide housing assessments finds almost half of all vacant homes are being reserved for seasonal or part-time use, worsening an “existential crisis” for small tourism-centered towns.
Posted inOpinion
Thieves are stealing $1 million a month from Mass. SNAP recipients — and there is an easy fix to stop it
Every month in Massachusetts, tech-savvy thieves wipe out roughly 1,700 low-income families’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. We can easily fix this.
Posted inGovernment
Behind the scenes of the fight over accessory dwelling units
“This one-size-fits-all ADU law completely disregards local zoning regulations without considering the specific needs of individual cities and towns,” Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan wrote.
Posted inOpinion
RFK Jr.’s embrace of junk science is bad for families like mine dealing with autism
With last week’s confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s highest health care official believes in junk theories about our wellbeing.