John Kaehny has written and successfully lobbied for the passage of state and New York City laws related to government transparency and accountability, including the first open data law in the world in 2012.
New local laws that took effect March 15 prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in both communities, as part of a growing push to reduce noise and emissions from landscaping equipment.
The Quincy Firefighters Association Local 792 expressed their disappointment, stating, 'That's negligence, not due diligence. This isn't about politics - this is about doing the right thing and protecting the men and women who go out and protect Quincy every day.'
Campaigner Aysha Hawcutt stated that residents were 'not anti-homes', but believed the Adlington plan was 'the wrong proposal in the wrong place'. She expressed pride in the community's resilience against the development threats.
Mamdani stated that the City Council's budget strategy effectively ensures this structural deficit will continue indefinitely, impacting vital city services and failing to solve deep financial problems.
The previous council voted the raises into law without a single public hearing and without reviewing the salaries of any similar elected positions. This process or lack thereof, eroded the public trust and inspired several of us here to run for office.
When you have people sleepwalking into an authoritarian regime, it's up to us to sound the alarm. People feel isolated, helpless and hopeless. And when you hear about other people who are just like you taking a stand and representing something that you believe, that gives you not only hope, but it gives you power.
Massachusetts is known for being one of the least transparent states in the country when it comes to the accessibility of public records. The governor, judiciary, and state lawmakers enjoy broad exemptions for compliance with public records requests. There are no independent statewide audits of compliance with public records law.
The retreat is an opportunity to step away from the regular meeting agenda and focus on long-term planning, priorities and the financial health of our city. These retreats are an important part of good governance, allowing the council and city staff to look ahead thoughtfully and ensure we are aligned on the challenges and opportunities before us.
Portland's transition to a new form of government last January brought new practices and procedures for the City Council. Among the largest changes, impacting both the Council and members of the public, was the introduction of eight policy committees. The committees, which considered topics including transportation, climate, finance, homelessness, and public safety, were intended to provide a focused venue for councilors to introduce legislation and hold conversations on specific topics, as well as to hear public testimony.
The status quo is not an option. We have to ban it here in Boston. Kratom refers to both a tree native to southeast Asia and products derived from its leaves. There is particular concern among officials and experts about 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a potent compound found in kratom. In recent years, products that contain synthetically enhanced amounts of 7-OH have proliferated in smoke shops and convenience stores around the country.
America's quilt work of states whose governors and lawmakers are bucking for housing policy change to break through supply constraints at the root of the nation's affordability crisis now counts Massachusetts among them. With a focus on prohibitively constrictive building codes and zoning ordinances, Gov. Maura Healey has adopted an approach officials in other states and cities have taken before pulling the legislative trigger study the matter for a year or more before drafting a reform policy agenda.
State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, a Democrat from Somerville, delivered a forceful renunciation of ICE in a video she posted to social media Wednesday. "We need to get ICE the f- out of Massachusetts," she said in the video. Uyterhoeven's language is reminiscent of how Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to "get the f- out of" his city in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Renee Good.
It's been a pleasure working with you for the past three years you've shown compassion, you've shown an effort to make our community a little bit better, said Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein to Mehlinger at Tuesday's meeting. I look forward to the partnership.
