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Dec 2 2016 Newsletter: Transportation News
Since the November election, we have had plenty of disturbing national news. I have found the best thing is to focus on things we can do something about. Here are a few things happening locally on transportation issues where people have made a difference and continue to...
Nov 4 2016 Newsletter: Other voices on Question 2
Many people are confused about Question 2. My recent newsletters discussed Q2 and a better alternative. In this one, I'm sharing other people's answers to FAQ. But first, if you follow no other link and read no further, please watch this short video made by Boston...
Oct 28 2016 Sen. Pat Jehlen hosts Citizens' Legislative Seminar
http://medford.wickedlocal.com/news/20161028/sen-pat-jehlen-hosts-citizens-legislative-seminar
Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville, recently met with constituents who participated in the 77th Citizens' Legislative Seminar, which took place Oct. 17-18 at the Statehouse. CLS is a semiannual educational seminar geared toward adults of all ages interested in learning more...
Oct 26 2016 Baker-Polito Administration Awards $81,600 to Mystic River Communities for Environmental Restoration Projects Funds to Help Restore Water Resources Damaged During 2013 Oil Spill
The Official Website of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
BOSTON - The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded a total of $81,600 to the Town of Arlington and the City of Medford to support projects that will help to restore natural resources in the Upper Mystic River that were damaged during a tanker-truck fuel oil spill in...
Oct 25 2016 Newsletter: A better charter bill
“What changes do you want to see in charter schools?” I sometimes hear this from people who know I’m against Question 2, which would allow for unlimited expansion of charter schools without changing anything about them or their funding. Question 2 is an up or down...
Oct 14 2016 Newsletter: Making Inequality -- and Fighting Back
Massachusetts income inequality is among the highest in the country. The Globe reports that "Today, Massachusetts is about as unequal as we were at the height of the Roaring Twenties, before the fall into the Great Depression." Policies make a difference: the Minimum Wage...
Sep 30 2016 Newsletter: Ballot Question 2: Charter School Expansion
On November 8, near the bottom of the presidential election ballot, there'll be a question about erasing the current limits on charter school expansion, which could have a very big impact on our schools. It’s Question 2. I hope you'll join me in voting no. Here are some...
Sep 5 2016 Charter debate playing out in small races with big money
The Boston Globe
By David Scharfenberg Globe Staff  September 05, 2016   While the partisans in Massachusetts’ bitter charter debate are sinking millions of dollars into a high-profile ballot fight over whether to build more of the schools, they’re also spending...
Aug 4 2016 Massachusetts: Leading the Way on Equal Pay
US Department of Labor Blog
Massachusetts: Leading the Way on Equal Pay Filed in Equal Pay, Women By Jackie Cooke on August 4, 2016   Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announces the state’s new equal pay law, Aug. 1, 2016. This was truly a historic week in Massachusetts. After...
Aug 4 2016 Massachusetts Joins State-Led Efforts On Equal Pay For Women
NPR
Massachusetts Joins State-Led Efforts On Equal Pay For Women   August 4, 20163:57 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered Fred Thys From Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signs a pay equity act into law at the Massachusetts State House on...
Aug 3 2016 A triumph long in coming in fair pay fight
The Boston Globe
  A triumph long in coming in fair pay fight Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Dorothy Simonelli held the speech she read Monday.   By Shirley Leung Globe Columnist  August 03, 2016     At first, Dorothy Simonelli didn’t want to come, or see...
Aug 3 2016 New bill created to help close gender pay gap makes it ILLEGAL for employers to ask people how much they are paid during job interviews
Dailymail.com
New bill created to help close gender pay gap makes it ILLEGAL for employers to ask people how much they are paid during job interviews   Massachusetts passes new bill designed to eliminate the gender pay gap Bill bans employers from asking salary information during...
Aug 2 2016 Illegal in Massachusetts: Asking Your Salary in a Job Interview
The New York Times
Illegal in Massachusetts: Asking Your Salary in a Job Interview By STACY COWLEY    AUG. 2, 2016     Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker with State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg after he signed the salary bill into law on Monday. Credit Elise...
Aug 1 2016 Massachusetts Becomes First State Ever To Ban Employers From Asking For Salary Histories
ThinkProgress
Massachusetts Becomes First State Ever To Ban Employers From Asking For Salary Histories by Bryce Covert Aug 1, 2016 2:06 pm CREDIT: AP Photo/Steven Senne Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) in January   Massachusetts has leapfrogged over all other...
Aug 1 2016 Gov. Baker Signs Law Requiring Equal Pay For Comparable Work
WBUR
Gov. Baker Signs Law Requiring Equal Pay For Comparable Work August 01, 2016 Updated 08/01/2016 6:10 PM By Steve LeBlanc, The Associated Press     Gov. Charlie Baker hands out pens to supporters, including state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, right, after...
Aug 1 2016 Massachusetts Just Took a Big Step Toward Closing the Wage Gap
Mother Jones
Massachusetts Just Took a Big Step Toward Closing the Wage Gap It was the "nail in the coffin" for gender pay inequity. Becca Andrews Aug. 1, 2016 5:56 PM   ivector/Shutterstock   The Massachusetts Legislature unanimously passed the...
Aug 1 2016 As Session Closes, MA Lawmakers Approve Equal Pay And Energy Bills
WAMC Northeast Public Radio
As Session Closes, MA Lawmakers Approve Equal Pay And Energy Bills By Jim Levulis • Aug 1, 2016       Jim Levulis / WAMC     Massachusetts lawmakers worked late into the night Sunday to hammer out legislation and send...
Aug 1 2016 Gov. Baker signs law requiring equal pay for comparable work
7 News Boston
BOSTON (AP) - Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has signed into law a bill requiring men and women be paid equally for comparable work in Massachusetts. Baker signed the bill during a Statehouse ceremony Monday. Women are currently paid on average about 82 percent of what...
Jul 15 2016 Liquor licenses could draw new business
Somerville Journal
Erin Tiernan etiernan@wickedlocal.com Somerville officials are awaiting final approval of a bill that would allow the number of liquor license in the city to nearly double. All of the city's 82 liquor licenses are currently assigned, said Jaclyn Rossetti, deputy...
Jul 13 2016 Pay equity bill a long time coming, but may soon be here
The Boston Globe
Pay equity bill a long time coming, but may soon be here Globe Staff/File 2013 State Senator Pat Jehlen first cosponsored a version of the equal pay bill in 1998. By Shirley Leung Globe Columnist  July 13, 2016     A state equal pay bill took a key...
Jul 12 2016 Lowell schools part of task force working on alternative assessments
Lowell Sun
By Amelia Pak-Harvey Updated:   07/12/2016 08:50:29 AM EDT       LOWELL -- A consortium of public-school districts across the state, including Lowell, are teaming up to create an alternative accountability system that grades public schools beyond the...
Jun 30 2016 Senate prohibits customer fees to pay for new gas pipelines
MassLive
By Shira Schoenberg | sschoenberg@repub.com on June 30, 2016 at 6:53 PM, updated June 30, 2016 at 6:55 PM   BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Senate adopted an amendment Thursday as part of a comprehensive energy bill that would prohibit electric companies from...
Jun 25 2016 Senate passes bill strengthening economic security for older adults
Somerville Journal
Jun 25, 2016 at 4:04 PM   The Massachusetts Senate recently passed S. 1494, "An Act increasing the property tax deferral for seniors," sponsored by Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, D-Somerville. This legislation would offer property tax...
Jun 17 2016 Mass. teachers union criticizes the new “impact ratings” system
WWLP
By wwlptiffanychan Published: June 16, 2016, 11:08 pm Updated: June 17, 2016, 12:47 am BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Teachers Association is urging state lawmakers to eliminate the new “impact rating system,” which requires students to...
May 9 2016 MBTA board approves scaled-back $2.29 billion Green Line Extension proposal
MassLive
By Shira Schoenberg | sschoenberg@repub.com Follow on Twitter on May 09, 2016 at 6:45 PM   BOSTON -- The board of the MBTA on Monday approved a scaled back version of the Green Line extension project. The project includes 4.5 miles of new Green Line track in East...