State Funding for Local Housing Authorities

In April, Senator Brownsberger presented a letter to Town Meeting regarding the Belmont Housing Authority’s application for Community Preservation Act funds to help pay for an electrical upgrade at one of its properties. The Belmont Board of Selectmen responded expressing concern that the state is providing insufficient financial support for the local housing authority. Here is Senator Brownsberger’s subsequent letter to the Selectmen, which agrees with their concern.

Top state officials seek review of criminal justice system

The Boston Globe reports that, “the top officials in Massachusetts government are asking for an independent review of the state’s criminal justice system.” The nonprofit group the Council of State Governments will conduct the analysis with the funding of the US Department of Justice and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Senator Brownsberger, who has been studying Massachusetts criminal justice statistics?, told the Globe that the request is a solid effort to get more data in an area where the state needs to make progress, “which is how do we get people safely back out onto the street in a way they can succeed and not return to being incarcerated.”