After the electoral mess of 2000, which came close to being repeated in 2004, many of us believed that the time had come for electoral college reform at the national level. While a constitutional amendment seemed out of reach, one proposal, the National Popular Vote compact, seems to be a workable solution. Under the National …
Cell tower proposal — are there alternatives?
Regarding Verizon’s proposal to site a tall cell tower in Belmont on Rte. 2 (http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/features/x1520846849/Residents-object-to-Verizon-cell-tower-proposal), are there feasible solutions that would improve our cell coverage but which would use less visible antennae? What are the trade-offs?
FY2011 Budget Priorities
In my annual budget letter, I reinforced concern re local aid and health insurance reform and expressed a preference for a budget without earmarks.
Municipal health insurance update
Groups from diverse perspectives — the Boston Foundation, Stand for Children, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation — are pushing for change in municipal health insurance. I think that the legislature is really beginning to focus on making something happen and I am starting to be hopeful that we’ll have a bill this spring.
Lawrence Financial Crisis — House Action
I want to thank everyone who took the time to comment on this issue before the vote. I read all of the comments. I did vote for the bill. The House did strengthen the bill on the floor in one important respect. We gave the financial overseer the power to trigger a financial control board at any time.
Lawrence financial crisis in perspective
Although it is true that Lawrence is a relatively poor city, Lawrence’s financial crisis largely reflects relatively recent municipal management decisions, some fairly attributable to the recently ousted Mayor. And that is grounds for believing that the crisis may be easier to resolve than some fear.