Celebrating the Courage of Community is the theme of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s 20th Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace taking place on Sunday, May 8. The walk begins at Town Field Park at Fields Corner in Dorchester and ends with a peace rally at Boston City Hall. There are multiple ways to participate from walking as an individual, creating a team, and fundraising virtually, to being a sponsor or making a donation. You can find all the details at this link. Wear purple if you walk!
Watertown Community Foundation accepting applications for 2016 spring grant programs
The Watertown Community Foundation is now accepting applications for two 2016 spring grant programs. The application deadline is April 6.
Outcome on the Opioid Bill
Last week, the legislature reached agreement on legislation to control opioid drug abuse. The bill does a lot and I was pleased to support it. Compromises were reached on many of the key issues discussed on this site over the past few months.
Raising the Threshold for Felony Larceny
Once a person has paid a penalty for a crime, we should let them put their past behind them. Last week, the legislature took one small step in that direction by raising the monetary threshold that divides misdemeanor larceny from felony larceny.
Bicycle Safety Forum — Take Aways?
Last week we had a great forum on bike safety at Suffolk University. We got a lot of input that we are still digesting. Still thinking about how to put the pieces together and would welcome additional comments.
Reforming Criminal Justice Policy for Young Adults?
I spoke last week at a forum on reforming criminal justice policy for young adults. I can’t let go of the fact that we are incarcerating 5 times as many people in Massachusetts as we were 40 years ago, even though crime rates aren’t that different. We need to recognize the needs and risk factors that impel people to crime and do a better job of reducing recidivism by addressing those needs and risk factors.