Commentaries

Redistricting Boston: The need for a better approach

By Daniel Glissman.  Download as PDF.  The object of electoral redistricting is to create a plan for districts that provides fair representation for all Boston residents.  The process of redistricting should also be open and inclusive. The City of Boston fell short on the latter score in its most recent redistricting plan, completed in October 2012.  The process was unnecessarily slow, complicated, and contentious. There is a better way to approach this task. Other major cities, such as San Diego, have an approach that is significantly more inclusive and more efficient. Continue reading »

The online sales tax problem: Congress must act

By Monisha Pahuja. Download as PDF.  Under current law, states cannot collect sales taxes from out-of-state retailers and the rapid growth in e-commerce is diverting an increasing share of sales taxes revenues from strained state budgets. Although state residents are required to self-report untaxed Internet purchases on their annual returns, states lack the ability to enforce compliance. Only federal legislation can resolve the online sales tax problem. If adopted, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 would finally authorize states to recoup these revenue losses.

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Massachusetts must restore the safety net to protect homeless families

By Deena Zakim.  Download as PDF.  The State of Massachusetts recently finalized changes tightening eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA). The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is shifting its focus towards providing permanent housing for homeless families, rather than emergency shelter. The department’s changes are well intentioned but hurt families in need. They must be fixed to protect families before they hit the streets. Continue reading »

Closing Massachusetts’ skills gap

By David H. Farrell. Download as PDF.  In late 2012, roughly 240,000 people were looking for work across Massachusetts, yet over 120,000 job openings remained unfilled. Too many of the Commonwealth’s workers lack the skills that are needed to fill the jobs that are available. The Patrick administration has recognized the need to fix this skills gap. More importantly, it has realized that community colleges are the way to close the gap and get people back to work. Recent reforms are a big step towards making this a reality. Continue reading »

A change for the better: Retooling the New England ground fishery

By Neil Clinton.  Download as PDF.  After decades of overfishing, mismanagement, and decreasing stock sizes, fishermen, scientists, and regulators have found a way to work together in order to bring about significant change in the management of the country’s first and oldest fishery.  Better science, tempered with a more flexible management style, is ending an era of overfishing, and helping to rebuild ground fish populations in New England. Continue reading »

Charting the MBTA’s path to financial viability

By Nigel Crocombe.  Download as PDF.  This year, the MBTA faces the most daunting financial crisis in its history.  It must resolve immediate fiscal challenges including a $130 million budget deficit, $5.2 billion of structural debt, and a $4 billion maintenance backlog.  The MBTA is also experiencing surging ridership that threatens to overwhelm its aging infrastructure, and must complete several costly expansion projects.  Three steps are essential to secure the future of the MBTA: finding new dedicated revenue, reducing its debt burden, and emphasizing its proven ability to drive economic growth in Massachusetts. Continue reading »

An early start to negotiating community agreements will aid host communities

By David Chorney.  Download as PDF.  Municipal leaders and the Gaming Commission have disagreed about the pace of the process for licensing new casinos in the state, and at what point community agreements should be negotiated. The Commission has taken a cautious approach.  But timely negotiation of community agreements could foster a more competitive bidding process and mitigate delays in licensing. In February 2013, Springfield’s Mayor announced that the city will begin negotiating community agreements with two of the region’s casino applicants. Springfield’s decision is the right one. It will reduce the chance of delays in the licensing process and provide a more competitive bidding process. Continue reading »

VMT: The real solution to Massachusetts’ transportation funding crisis?

By Paul A. Schmid.  Download as PDF.  In January, Governor Deval Patrick unveiled an ambitious budget for fiscal year 2014.  The media has focused primarily on one of the budget’s cornerstones: the Governor’s plan to spend $1 billion more per year on transportation.  However, there is an innovative proposal buried deep within the transportation plan that deserves more attention.  The Governor’s proposal to launch a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) pilot program in Massachusetts is essential to long-term sustainability of state transportation funding. Continue reading »

The political forecast for climate change: Cloudy nationally, clear locally

By Jeff Locke | Download as PDF. The summer of 2012 provided further evidence that climate change is a serious problem, with record-setting heat and catastrophic droughts recorded all throughout the United States.  Regardless, not one presidential debate raised the question of climate change to either of the candidates.  Further, many congressional candidates on either side of the campaign trail have chosen silence over action on this front.  However, at a local level, signs of hope are emerging that all is not lost in the climate fight.  Many U.S. cities are taking steps to deal with climate change.  A good illustration is Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s Climate Action Plan, and the city’s proposal for an energy efficiency reporting and disclosure bill for private and public buildings. Continue reading »

Massachusetts should expand access to college for students with severe disabilities

By Erin Riley | Download as PDF.  Since 2007, a small number of Massachusetts community colleges and state universities have implemented Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment pilot programs to provide access to inclusive college coursework for students with severe disabilities aged 18-22.  The programs have proven successful in teaching the important transition skills these students will need to be prepared for adult life in the community after special education. Now is the time to build on this success by expanding ICE programs to all public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.  Continue reading »