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#mapoli

6 posts3 participants4 posts today

Via today's Act on Mass newsletter, I learned that the $4 billion economic development bill contained a section which would shield "foreclosure rescue" shared-appreciation mortgage lenders from liability for predatory lending practices and lack of disclosure in their agreements. It seems designed to inoculate BlueHub Capital from a pending class-action lawsuit. Despite outcry from advocacy organizations, Governor Healey left this intact when she signed the omnibus jobs bill last week. BlueHub's CEO has been one of Healey's biggest donors and fundraisers. A bad look.

wgbh.org/news/housing/2024-11-

wgbh.org/news/politics/2024-11

Beacon Hill
GBH · Advocates implore Healey to veto shield for Roxbury nonprofit accused of predatory lendingBy Saraya Wintersmith

There's a Cambridge (MA) Committee on Public Planting meeting this evening (Nov 21) at 5:30, where they'll be reviewing the latest Linear Park path redesign plans, and taking public comments. I assume the focus will mainly be on tree canopy impact.

cambridgema.gov/citycalendar/v

Location: DPW at 147 Hampshire Street, #InmanSquare, #CambridgeMA.

I expect there to be a big turnout from people opposing the proposed renovation. Advocacy groups (like "Cambridge4Trees") are urging people to show up to the meeting and voice objections. C4T claims that the plans involve "severely damaging or killing 150+ mature trees" -- a worrisome claim I haven't seen substantiated -- along with a lot of ancillary FUD (drought! safety! taxes!).

The redesign website is here: cambridgema.gov/Departments/co

(As written, planners stated they anticipate taking down "5 unhealthy cherry trees", and planting 100 new trees. Note that dying and diseased trees are taken down every year by the city.)

Due to childcare timing, I probably won't be able to make it to this meeting myself, but I'd like to hear how it goes. Tagging @Cambikelanes , @streetsblogmass , @bikepedantic and @itamarst in case they can boost and/or attend.

www.cambridgema.govCommittee on Public Planting - Special MeetingCommittee on Public Planting - Special Meeting

#MApoli #Markey and #Warren, our two MA senators, were of the 18 who voted for #JRDs to block arms to Israel. M was NOT on board until the last minute. I saw coordinated visits from several organized coalitions on the ground, and much resistance from both senators at first. Markey's office called when he knew what his vote would be - about 15 mins before the vote. Both followed up immediately with groups to keep working together after the vote. Is this what democracy looks like? 🦋

C’mon y’all, our House is about give the incoming Nazis full authority to remove non-profit status from any group they dislike - unless we make a fuss.

tiktok.com/t/ZTYRRs1g4/

If you’re feeling deja vu it’s because this bill came up last week. Failed to get the supermajority it needed to pass, but Congress has the votes to pass it now.

, I don’t see Lynch or Pressley on this list, but if you have a different rep then PLS CHECK!

www.tiktok.comTikTok - Make Your Day
Continued thread

My "progressive" (not!) state senator, #WillBrownsberger, responds:

"Civil fines are one thing, criminalization is another. But either way, I’m not gonna jump into that Brockton issue. I do think municipalities have challenges to keep order on their streets and I’m not going to be an opponent of their efforts. If you want to work on the issue, my suggestion would be to talk to the civil liberties union of Massachusetts. They may want to litigate this."

Fuck that noise.
#politics #USPol #MAPoli

I think I dislike the new MBTA Charlie branding because it looks like a marketing firm who didn't know Boston used a subway map from a different city.

I made a mockup of a new Charlie logo that looks like the T as well as the original Charlie Card which looks like a Green Line train.

Massachusetts still has a law making consensual sodomy illegal, which is dangerous in these times. But if you live here, you could help fix that!

There is a bill to erase that law that is sitting in House Ways and Means and has been since 2019. It never gets out due to the sclerotic nature of our legislature.

I just emailed my state representative with the following text that you, too, can use:

There has been some talk of the upcoming federal administration overturning the Lawrence Supreme Court decision, which invalidated laws that made consensual sodomy a felony.

Massachusetts still has a law on the books that makes sodomy a felony. It is important to remove it before Lawrence is repealed rather than after, because it could be used as a tool to go after people.

The bill to do this, S.2561, has been sitting in House Ways and Means all year. It is malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2.

Can you light a fire under anyone to get this moving before the end of the year?

Sincerely,

[my name]

Please spread the word! #mapoli #uspol #uspolitics

malegislature.govBill S.2561

Everyone should make sure to call and email their reps, and the governor to ask them to finally be proactive instead of just being reactive to the right wing government.

They need to protect our rights, healthcare, education, and everything else BEFORE Trump tries to mess with it