longform Archives

ON THE WAY HOME

A New Beginning For Formerly Incarcerated Women “Stepping into this house made me feel better … She has a way of transforming pain into passion.” When Stacey Borden exited MCI-Framingham for the final time in 2010, she was done with more than three decades of jail stints and drug use

JEAN TROUNSTINE January 11, 2023

STILL WAITING

Tainted Drug Evidence Victims Still Waiting For Settlement Payments “We’ve got a system in place where it’s just, grab this money from mostly poor people, but don’t have mechanisms in place to really account for what’s taken.” It may be a new year, but tens of thousands of individuals wrongfully

ZACK HUFFMAN January 9, 2023

EARS FOR FEAR: THE SHOTSPOTTER WORKAROUND

Boston, Regional Police Dodge Transparency Ordinance In Bolstering Surveillance Network At a public hearing at the end of November, Boston police and officials heard from activists and lawmakers concerned about transparency regarding surveillance technology in the city. The gunshot detection system ShotSpotter received particular criticism over accuracy and deployment, but

DAN ATKINSON December 13, 2022

PHILHARMONICAL WARFARE

How the government secretly paid for the Boston Symphony Orchestra to promote American cultural enlightenment There is not much to see or do in Abilene, Kansas. Pulling into a local 24-hour gas station in a bug-splattered pickup earlier this year, I probably fit the profile of the typical visitor. For

JONATHAN RILEY October 25, 2022

JUDGMENT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

Photo of Gloriann Moroney at Governor’s Council, Oct. 12, 2022 by Lisa Berland, Parole Watch Parole Board Chair Gloriann Moroney’s contentious hearing to become a judge Another Parole Board chair with a prosecutorial background is vying to be a judge. This time, it’s Gloriann Moroney, whose hearing before the Governor’s

JEAN TROUNSTINE October 17, 2022

AFTER THE STRIKE

How Did Comm Ave Starbucks Workers Make Out After 2 Months Of Striking? We Asked Them … “Seeing the outpouring of support from people all over the Boston area has renewed a lot of our faith in the community.” Magnus, who asked that we not share his real name for

JOSH HALPERN October 3, 2022

PAYING TO PLAY

How Rideshare and Delivery Companies Raised $43 Million and Bought Influence In Mass What can $43 million buy? If you’re an alliance of rideshare giants and delivery app companies, it can buy millions of dollars in TV ads, high-powered consultants, and campaign workers who cross over with your biggest opponent.

DAN ATKINSON September 29, 2022

UNFARE?

Transit advocates question costly MBTA study to determine new fare structures As the MBTA prepares to launch a massive study of its fare policies—paying private contractors nearly $1 million to recommend potential changes—transit advocates are questioning why the outgoing Baker administration is setting goals for the T and are urging

DAN ATKINSON September 14, 2022

US2 EXPANDS ITS UNION SQUARE FOOTPRINT

Two new lab buildings being designed on McGrath Highway at Medford Street (Somerville Wire) – US2, the developer currently leading the 17-acre building project in the heart of Union Square, recently purchased another property on the edge of the square, and is proposing to build nearly a million gross square

LINDA PINKOW September 13, 2022

“THIS IS ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR”

Photo via Rayla Campbell for Massachusetts Mass GOP candidate questioned by cop about book she calls kiddie porn Rayla Campbell, the Republican candidate for Massachusetts secretary of the commonwealth, found herself in an awkward position at a Back the Blue rally on August 15—she had to explain to one of

ANDREW QUEMERE August 24, 2022