Politics, ideas, & civic life in MA. CommonWealth Beacon's in-depth coverage is a primary news & information source for policymakers, civic leaders & citizens.
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The Supreme Judicial Court again upheld the MBTA Communities law this month. The court deemed the law, aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis, is a matter of serious public interest that “falls squarely” within the Legislature’s authority. buff.ly/PODG8f2
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In Central Massachusetts, the communities with the highest poverty rates have some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the state. What — if anything — can this tell us about overall health in the region?
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CommonWealth Beacon is hosting a discussion on the connection between civic participation and wellbeing on Tuesday, October 6, at the College of the Holy Cross. Register for this free event: buff.ly/mOnkC3Q
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#OPINION Like the Red Sox season, Massachusetts health care has seen its share of ups and downs this year. Much like the Sox's postseason prospects, whether lawmakers can secure tangible wins on health care affordability now hangs in the balance. buff.ly/d15cAE3
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The largest request to pull more water out of the Quabbin comes as the towns surrounding Massachusetts's main source of drinking water are pushing for increased state support and a say in what happens to the watershed. buff.ly/Y1eEu8y
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A recent audit of the state's unemployment agency finds that out-of-work residents were subject to hour-long wait times, delayed payments, and poor access to in-person support. Massachusetts could lose federal funding because of it. buff.ly/bX3wjHz
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Statewide turnout in the September primary was nearly 23% — the highest it’s been in a midterm election year since 2006. But in some of the state’s most disadvantaged and diverse urban communities, voter turnout still lags behind state and county levels. buff.ly/2LGYFyb
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A 2025 survey of statewide wealth by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found a median family net wealth of $374,000. The data painted a picture of disparities, especially racial: Black families reported a median net wealth of $7,800 and White families $549,200.
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On The Codcast, Sharon Stone-Chandler, president and CEO of ABCD, discusses her reactions to the report, and what she’s seeing from the families the organization serves. The new episode drops Monday. Listen at the link or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/X34AvjI
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While most cities and towns have complied with the MBTA Communities law, a few dozen holdouts were awaiting final ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court. But the court last Friday rejected claims that the housing law was an “impermissible unfunded mandate.” buff.ly/PODG8f2
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The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is looking to draw an additional 20 million gallons of water every day from the Quabbin Reservoir. The proposal comes as the agency faces scrutiny over its management of the watershed. buff.ly/Y1eEu8y
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Heading into an election season in which “affordability” is the defining issue, a majority of Bay Staters agree that Mass. is a better place to live than most other states and, simultaneously, that it remains too expensive, according to new polling data. buff.ly/iORhfEb
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Ahead of the November election, civic organizations are struggling to solve consistently low voter turnout in Massachusetts's most disadvantaged and diverse urban communities, where residents often face the greatest barriers to civic participation. buff.ly/RX03unM
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On Tuesday, October 6, CWB reporter Hallie Claflin will be in Worcester to discuss the connection between civic participation and wellbeing with @masscdcs's Elana Brochin and Partners in Democracy's Jerren Chang.
You can register for this free event here: eventbrite.com/e/voting-like…
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Tenant-right-to-purchase laws have existed in Massachusetts since the 1980s. But new legislation currently under negotiation would target tenants in large rental buildings – those who advocates say are most at risk of displacement. buff.ly/Fqpq8p6
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#OPINION Massachusetts’s political parties have been losing members since the state adopted automatic voter registration. Unless lawmakers step in, the system could lead to the death of political parties in the state as we know them. buff.ly/p4ACmi1
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The AFL-CIO has joined a group of unlikely bedfellows in opposing ballot Question 3, which would scrap the existing Democratic and Republican primary elections and replace them with a single all-party primary.
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Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch explains the decision on this week's episode of The Codcast. buff.ly/CE4Rqqb
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A survey of Massachusetts residents builds on a well-established theme: The state has some of the highest incomes in the country, but with the costs for basics like housing and utilities growing at a much faster pace, many families are feeling the pinch. buff.ly/iORhfEb
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As Massachusetts’s Gateway Cities work to develop housing that solves a shortage, builds up the middle class, and revitalizes their communities, they’re grappling with pro-development and pro-affordability ideals that often seem to be at odds. buff.ly/RqLsKe5
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