Perhaps you heard that the EPA announced the 2013 water quality grade for the Mystic River Watershed last month. Unfortunately, for the fourth year in a row the watershed received a “D” water quality grade based on bacterial contamination. Luckily, there is also good news about efforts to improve water quality throughout the watershed!
Budget
budget and local aid updates, community preservation act, financial outlook, local aid policy, priorities/requests, resources, revenue, taxes
Protesters Who Block Major Highways
Protesters who are arrested, charged and convicted of blocking highways should be responsible for repaying the cost of police and fire fighters who respond to the situation, just for starters. Additionally, if any person suffers injury due to inability or delay in accessing appropriate medical attention, protesters should be held criminally and civilly liable.
FY15 Chapter 90 Local Transportation Aid
Yesterday, the administration released an additional $100 million of Chapter 90 funding to the cities and towns of the Commonwealth. Here are the amounts allocated for Belmont, Boston, and Watertown.
The Economic/Financial Outlook
Incoming Senate President Stan Rosenberg recently organized a briefing for Senators on the state’s economic and fiscal outlook. The presentations (which are attached below with permission of the authors and Senator Rosenberg) were sobering.
Silver Maple Forest
The important land at Alewife Reservation is in imminent danger of being razed and developed, which not only annihilates an irreplaceable piece of nature, but also apparently leaves surrounding residential areas more vulnerable to severe flooding. Please intervene, see postings at the Friends of Alewife Reservation website.
Pension/OPEB obligations
Roger Wrubel expresses concern about pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefit obligations in Belmont, and asks what can be done at the state level to control these obligations.