politics Archives

NOT ZERO BY 2050

Mass climate scientists, advocates say current state carbon emission target is too high to prevent catastrophe

TAYLOR BROKESH September 5, 2023

BOSTON DSA FACTION SHOULD DROP ITS CHARGES AGAINST REP. MIKE CONNOLLY

An apology would also be in order As the saying goes, “we all make mistakes.” And I think the faction of the Boston Democratic Socialists of America that has filed written charges against Rep. Mike Connolly to demand his expulsion from that chartered local of a national political organization to

JASON PRAMAS July 7, 2023

OPINION: GLX IS HERE! CELEBRATING AND LOOKING AHEAD

After decades of advocacy, I was thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Green Line Extension through my district in Somerville and Medford last week. This public works project is the result of years of hard work from countless community members, laborers, activists, and colleagues at all levels of government.

CHRISTINE P. BARBER December 28, 2022

OPINION: STATE BOARD RAISES MCAS PASSING SCORE DESPITE 1/2 LEGISLATORS’ OPPOSITION

In August, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to raise the minimum score that this year’s freshman class, and classes following, will have to attain on the MCAS test in order to graduate. And against Commissioner Riley’s recommendation, they voted to increase the passing score further for

PAT JEHLEN September 27, 2022

BACKYARD COTTAGES NOW ALLOWED ‘BY RIGHT’

Council makes it easier to create accessory dwelling units (Somerville Wire) – Carriage houses, backyard cottages, “tiny houses,” and other accessory dwelling units can now be created “by right” anywhere in a Neighborhood Residence district in Somerville. The City Council voted unanimously at their Sept. 8 meeting to enact amendments

LINDA PINKOW September 20, 2022

OPINION: TROUBLE WITH A CAPITAL T

People are furious at the state of the MBTA: the fatality, the fire, the explosion, the derailments, the injuries, the delays, the actual and proposed cuts in service, the month-long closure of the Orange and Green Line. In 2009, two reports looked at Gov. Cellucci’s 1999 Forward Funding plan, which was developed

PAT JEHLEN September 6, 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

Collage by Jason Pramas, CC-BY-SA 2.0. Mailing Junk back to Junk Mailers by Oran Viriyincy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Somerville PD Ford Police Interceptor Utility by Jason Lawrence. CC-BY 2.0.

LETTER: ARTICLE ON COUNCIL DEBATE OVER SHANNON GRANT ‘HEAVILY FAVORS SUPPORTERS’

Hi there, My name is Alessandra Seiter, and I’m a Somerville resident, a librarian, and a monthly supporter of BINJ. I’m incredibly grateful for the work y’all do in providing local news coverage (so we don’t have to rely on Twitter), and in empowering residents to report on their own

ALESSANDRA SEITER July 21, 2022

Somerville PD Ford Police Interceptor Utility by Jason Lawrence. CC-BY 2.0.

SUMMER VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM APPROVED

With shootings on the rise, councilors debate funding for annual regional policing initiative A state-funded grant that has been used for many years by the Somerville Police to combat youth violence was subjected to two heated discussions last week, before being approved by the City Council. The question was whether

LINDA PINKOW July 19, 2022

Road closure for Broadway bridge demolition March 2019. MassDOT, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

COUNCIL WANTS COPS OFF CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Final decision on using civilian flaggers to be made by Mayor Ballantyne and City staff (Somerville Wire) – The City Council has approved a resolution in favor of civilians taking control over traffic details at construction sites. “I have never really understood why traffic details are exclusively worked by police

LINDA PINKOW May 17, 2022