74-Group Sign-on Letter on Biomass to the TUE Committee
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
5h ago
Progressive Mass joined 73 other groups in a letter to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in opposition to the expansion of subsidies for burning trees for energy. Read the letter here ..read more
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A Budget is a Moral Document
Progressive Mass
by Jonathan Cohn
1d ago
Yesterday, the Ways & Means Committee, aka the budget writers, in the MA Legislature held a hearing about priorities for the next fiscal year. A budget is more than just numbers: it’s a moral document. It shows what we, as a commonwealth, value and what society we wish to build together. If you want a budget that reflects core progressive values, then write to your legislators in support of key investments in education and economic security. Here’s what a budget that reflects our values would do: Incorporate key provisions of the Cherish Act, such as increasing investment in public colleg ..read more
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Testimony: Investing in Our Commonwealth and Our Shared Prosperity
Progressive Mass
by Jonathan Cohn
2d ago
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Chair Michlewitz, Chair Rodrigues, and Members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means: My name is Jonathan Cohn, and I am the Policy Director at Progressive Massachusetts, a statewide grassroots advocacy group fighting for a more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic commonwealth. Thank you for your work on the FY 2025 budget. In the following, we outline several key priority areas for the budget to ensure that it builds on recent progress in investing in our commonwealth. Strengthening Our Commitment to Public Higher Education Our public colleges and univ ..read more
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Letter: Need to Push Legislation for Affordable Housing
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
4d ago
Nina Lev, “Letter: Need to Push Legislation for Affordable Housing,” West Roxbury – Roslindale Bulletin, March 21, 2024. I have recently had the opportunity to help a family of newcomers to Boston. This experience has given me a new appreciation of our City’s resources. The children were welcomed by the Boston Public Schools. The family has benefitted from excellent care at Boston Medical Center and enjoyed outings at the zoo and city parks. In so many ways we have created wonderful amenities, BUT our housing crisis makes it nearly impossible for our young people to build lives here, newcomers ..read more
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Spring into Action with These Upcoming Events
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
6d ago
Happy spring! Coming soon will be sunnier days, warmer weather, greenery, flowers, and more. It can’t come soon enough. Also coming soon in the spring? Fun opportunities to take action in person. Read on for some great events coming up over the next few weeks.  NEXT THURSDAY: Immigrants’ Day at the State House Each year hundreds of immigrant and refugee constituents from across the Commonwealth come together in the State House to celebrate their contributions and advocate for their legislative and budget priorities. This year, Immigrants’ Day at the State House will be next Thursday, March 28 ..read more
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Letter: The Affordable Homes Act and the price of living in Massachusetts
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
1w ago
Hewon Hwang, “Letter: The Affordable Homes Act and the price of living in Massachusetts,” The Concord Bridge, March 16, 2024. Our house was the single largest purchase in our lives, but we could afford it on our salaries in 1993. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible for many families today.    Massachusetts has a housing crisis. Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach, as the state’s median home price is approximately $600,000. In more than 20 communities, including Concord ($1,594,000 in 2023), the median home price recently passed $1 million. The high cost of h ..read more
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Letter: Grafton Needs the Affordable Homes Act
Progressive Mass
by Dan Cusher
1w ago
Dan Cusher, “Grafton Needs the Affordable Homes Act (Letter),” Grafton News, March 14, 2024. Grafton, along with every community in the Commonwealth, has a housing crisis. Typical rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Grafton is $1,500, requiring an income around $70,000, more than twice the minimum wage at 40 hours per week. Home ownership has become increasingly out of reach, with Grafton’s 2024 median single-family home value rising to $596,235, and new construction in town prioritizing luxury McMansions. Seniors who raised their families here can’t afford to stay. Young people who grew up here ..read more
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PM in the News: The Governor and Transparency
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
1w ago
Matt Stout, “‘My personal life is my personal life.’ Healey defends decision not to disclose details of four-day trip.,” Boston Globe, March 18, 2024. Jonathan Cohn, policy director of the group Progressive Massachusetts, said while Healey shouldn’t be expected to disclose what hotel she’s staying in or other intimate details, “you should be at least willing to tell people where you went.” “It’s a sense of accountability to the public,” Cohn said. The public “should be able to know when you’re gone for a period of time without it being somehow shrouded in mystery.” Kelly Garrity and Lisa Kashi ..read more
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Letter: Support the Affordable Homes Act
Progressive Mass
by progressive.mass
1w ago
John Kyriakis, “Letter: Support the Affordable Homes Act,” Dedham Times, March 8, 2024 ..read more
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Universal School Meals: Good Politics and Good Policy
Progressive Mass
by Jonathan Cohn
1w ago
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were able to offer meals to all students at no charge through the pandemic-related child nutrition waivers offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Massachusetts chose to extend it and then last year voted to make it permanent, using funding from the Fair Share Amendment. A new report by the Food Research and Action Center highlights the positive impacts of universal school meals. As the report notes, the research is clear: participation in school meals improves academic achievement, attendance, and student behavior at scho ..read more
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