Latest news with #MBTA
Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
How should Mass. lawmakers spend the money from the state's millionaires tax? We asked around.
Write to us at . To subscribe, . TODAY'S STARTING POINT Call it the $1.3 billion question: How should Massachusetts spend the extra money that its so-called millionaires tax raised? First, some background. In 2022, Massachusetts voters approved a 4 percent surtax on annual income over $1 million. The constitutional amendment that created it requires that the money go to transportation and education initiatives. Last fiscal year alone, the tax raised more than $2.4 billion, or about $1.3 billion beyond what officials budgeted. This year, revenue has again The amendment left the Legislature with a lot of leeway to decide which initiatives to fund, and lawmakers have been Advertisement This week, lawmakers Advertisement More for the T The Legislature's compromise proposal would give $535 million to the MBTA. But some argue that the T, which has languished with insufficient funding and a backlog of repair work for decades, could use more. Amy Sutherland, a Charlestown resident and Starting Point reader, framed it this way: 'Making the T work at a 21st century level would solve traffic, economic, social, and climate problems in Boston and the surrounding metro area,' she wrote in an email. Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Mass, a liberal advocacy group, suggests using some millionaires tax revenue to expand efforts to make MBTA buses and trains free to ride. Other transportation needs The MBTA isn't the only transit service in the state that could use money. There are also Another possibility, Wilson said, could be to expand so-called Advertisement The federal funding gap But paying for transportation needs alone would leave little for other challenges — including ones that didn't exist when voters first approved the millionaires tax, like the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal funding to states. The administration has moved to 'Resources should be allocated to protect the schools impacted by these attacks,' Dominic Copeland and Davian Pagan of the Massachusetts Communities Action Network, a faith-based organizing collective, wrote. Jessica Tang leads the state branch of the American Teachers Association, which supported passage of the amendment. Tang said that $690 million — about half the Legislature's compromise proposal — could support low-income students and students with disabilities, as well as cover the Medicaid reimbursements that schools use to provide speech therapy, nursing, and more. The administration is also pushing legislation in Congress that would cut federal student aid, which helps low-income What's next? There's no shortage of ideas about what to do with the money, but the debate over the millionaires tax may be unfolding on borrowed time. Some business leaders remain staunchly opposed, arguing that the tax is a drag on the economy and will cause wealthier residents to leave the state. Research groups that support the tax recently reported that Advertisement Even if it stays in effect, it's unclear how much the tax will raise in the future. The surtax is tied to inflation, which means its income threshold has risen. In effect, the millionaires tax may Still, any repeal effort would likely take years. And for now, the tax continues to bear fruit, raising more than state officials expected. Wilson, of Transportation for Massachusetts, sees a long list of possibilities. 'There are a lot of needs across the state,' he wrote. 🧩 9 Across: 83° POINTS OF INTEREST A black bear chewed on a garbage container in Wolcott, Conn., back in 2006. Steven Valenti/Associated Press Boston and New England What do we do now? The Karen Read retrial may be over, Beth Teitell writes, but Filthy animals: Rats in Boston are spreading leptospirosis, Struggle to survive: Amid tough tariffs and harsh immigration policies, Connecticut bears: Encounters with humans are happening so frequently that some lawmakers want to start a bear-hunting season. ( Vermont visitors: Tourism businesses in the north are feeling the impact of Trump's rhetoric against Canada as Quebecers start to boycott US travel. ( Trump administration Iran options: President Trump's announcement that he could take up to two weeks to decide whether to attack Iran not only buys him time, it also gives him several new military and covert options. ( The Tok isn't really Tiking: Trump delayed the ban on TikTok by another 90 days. The new deadline for a sale is Sept. 17. ( Silent treatment: Trump honored Juneteenth in each of his first four years as president. But yesterday, he said nothing about the holiday. Instead, he complained on Truth Social that there are 'too many non-working holidays in America.' ( The Nation and the World Israel and Iran: The countries Social Security rush: Worsening finances and claims of fraud are prompting nervous recipients to take their retirement payments earlier than planned. Adding insult to injury: NFL widows who struggled to care for ex-players who had the devastating degenerative brain disease CTE say a new study is insulting and dismissive of their experience. ( Rout: The Indiana Pacers rolled to an easy Game 6 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, forcing a Game 7 Sunday night. ( VIEWPOINTS The Globe's Opinion pages featured two different takes on Israel's war with Iran. Matthew Levitt, director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, made the case that Ankit Panda, the Stanton senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Nicole Grajewski, a fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, warned that the US Meanwhile, the Globe's editorial board weighed in on the Karen Read verdict, Advertisement BESIDE THE POINT By Teresa Hanafin 💘 Blind date: He's a data analyst whose family immigrated; she's a teacher who used to work in immigration law. 📖 Contradictions: Jen Hamilton, a nurse with 4.2 million followers on TikTok, picked up her Bible a couple of weeks ago and 🦁 The next 'White Lotus': Travel writer Christopher Muther tried to have a non-working vacation. But when he entered the Mahali Mzuri 📺 Top TV picks: From 'The Better Sister' to 'Forever,' here are Chris Vognar's 💦 A watery escape: Of the Charles River's 80-mile journey from Hopkinton to Boston Harbor, the last 6 miles are a pure delight. Here are 🧒 Keeping kids busy: Here's a sample of 🌮 Keeping kids fed: And after all that excitement, Kara Baskin suggests some stress-free and delicious Advertisement Thanks for reading Starting Point. This newsletter was edited by ❓ Have a question for the team? Email us at ✍🏼 If someone sent you this newsletter, you can 📬 Delivered Monday through Friday. Ian Prasad Philbrick can be reached at
CBS News
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Major Mass Pike traffic delays near Boston anticipated again for 2nd weekend of lane closures
Major traffic delays are anticipated near Boston again this weekend as a second round of lane closures is scheduled to accommodate construction work on the Mass Pike in Newton and Weston, Massachusetts. There will only be one lane open in each direction between exits 123 and 125, near the I-95 interchange. Crews are finishing the demolition of a highway bridge that goes over the MBTA railroad. It's part of a $400 million project to repair of fix eight bridges in the state. MassDOT is once again telling drivers to avoid that part of the Mass Pike all weekend if possible. A map of lane closures on the Mass Pike this weekend. MassDOT When are the Mass Pike lane closures? Lanes will be closed starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 20 until 5 a.m. on Monday, June 23. "Drivers traveling through the affected areas should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution," the agency said in a statement. It's possible that the delays could extend into the Monday morning commute. Mass Pike traffic Before the first round of construction between May 30 and June 2, highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver warned that there could be delays of up to three hours on the Mass Pike if drivers didn't follow the recommendation to stay away. Typically, that part of the Mass Pike sees about 100,000 cars on an average weekend day. A MassDOT spokesperson that during the first weekend closure, there was a roughly 30% to 36% decrease in traffic volume. Wait times on the Mass Pike peaked at one hour. There will also be impacts felt by MBTA riders. The Commuter Rail on the Framingham/Worcester Line will be shut down between South Station and Framingham to accommodate the work, as will the Amtrak train between Boston and Albany. Shuttle buses will be offered instead during the weekend.
Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
The millionaire's tax giveth ...
MONEY TALKS — Massachusetts' 'millionaires tax' has been boosting the state's bottom line, but some of the state's top Democrats aren't rushing to defend it. Gov. Maura Healey and House and Senate budget writers have leaned on the 4 percent surtax on incomes above $1 million to fuel new spending in the past couple years. So, it came as a surprise when Healey seemed to say she wouldn't step in to stop efforts to repeal the law. The governor tempered those comments the following day, pointing to 'transformational' investments her administration has made in education and transportation as a result of the levy. She's not the only one still wary about what the tax — backed by voters in 2022 — will mean for Massachusetts down the road. House Budget Chief Aaron Michlewitz told reporters Monday he still believes it's 'too early' to tell. 'We've got a long way to go before we kind of get to that conclusion of if this is working or not, or how this is affecting our long-term sustainability in the economy,' the Boston Democrat said Monday. So far, the tax has been a boon for Massachusetts. The House and Senate struck a deal Monday on a supplemental budget funded by more than $1.3 billion in surplus surtax revenue that would, among other things, deliver more than $500 million to the MBTA, including infusing its reserves with $300 million. Andrew Farnitano, a spokesperson for Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition that helped pass the ballot question, called it an 'unqualified success that's serving as a model for other states that want to invest in quality public services with a fairer tax system.' But Healey hit on a common concern last week — that wealthy residents looking for greener pastures — i.e. lower taxes — could start moving out of Massachusetts. Keeping the future of the tax open-ended is the safe way to go, Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, told Playbook. 'We've seen what's happened over the last two years, but we don't have a long track record here,' Howegate said, 'whether it's in terms of revenues or whether it's in terms of larger impact, and I think it's appropriate for folks to say that we're going to continue to monitor those things closely.' GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The Boston Globe has more on what made it into the supplemental surtax compromise. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey speaks at the BIO International Convention at 9 a.m. and kicks things off at the conference's Massachusetts Pavilion at 10:20 a.m. in Boston Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speak at an event remembering the Battle of Bunker Hill at 3:15 p.m. in Charlestown. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll delivers remarks at the Lawrence Partnership's Annual Meeting at 11 a.m. in Lawrence, speaks at the BIO International Convention at 1:15 p.m. and attends an event hosted by Survivors Say at 5 p.m. in Boston. Auditor Diana DiZoglio is the keynote speaker at the Wakefield Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner at 5 p.m. in Wakefield. Rep. Stephen Lynch holds a press conference with Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney and Maine Rep. Jared Golden to talk about revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry at 11:30 a.m. in Boston. Wu hosts a coffee hour in South Boston at 10 a.m. and is on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' at 1 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ DATELINE BEACON HILL OH, CANADA — Northeastern governors and leaders from six Canadian provinces met in Boston Monday under the looming specter of a trade war between the long-time allies. The group of governors — Janet Mills of Maine, Kathy Hochul of New York, Phil Scott of Vermont and Dan McKee of Rhode Island — highlighted their states' reliance on trade and tourism from Canada. And Canadian premiers opened up about their frustration with the White House. 'The rhetoric that we've been hearing out of the president is unfortunate,' said Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario. 'Leaders around the world that I've talked to are dumbfounded. … [They've] said 'I can't believe the president is going after your country.' And we're in disbelief, too.' But as the meeting closed, they acknowledged there's not much they can do to circumvent the tariffs that President Donald Trump is threatening to impose on America's northern neighbor. 'We're limited as individual provinces and states, to a certain extent, around some of this,' Gov. Maura Healey said, when asked by reporter what tangibles might emerge from the meeting 'But I think we're going to commit to work on ways to ensure a better flow of trade, a sustained flow of activity that will mitigate against some of the disruption to the supply chain that we've seen.' One concrete item that did come out of the meeting Monday: Healey's latest fundraising appeal. COLUMN — Sleepless in Boston: Governors and Canadian premiers share their pain by Jonathan Martin, POLITICO. — Embattled schools chief Pedro Martinez to lead Massachusetts education by John Hilliard, The Boston Globe: 'Pedro Martinez, tapped this spring to become state's next education commissioner, has encountered his fair share of controversy as a schools leader who has battled elected leaders in Nevada, Texas, and Illinois. And as he takes charge in Massachusetts July 1, Martinez said he won't back down if he thinks he's acting in the best interests of students.' — Legislature seeks more funds for safety-net hospitals by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'Tucked into a $533 million supplemental budget set to be taken up by the state Senate Wednesday is a proposal calling for another $174 million for 'financially strained' acute care hospitals.' — In face of Trump, Mass. Legislature has passed few bills amid tension and infighting by Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: 'After a session marked by public finger-pointing and backlogged lawmaking, Massachusetts Democratic leaders this year promised a Legislature that would be more efficient, vowed more transparency, and committed to fighting President Trump's agenda. But so far, there's been a lot of fighting amongst themselves. In recent weeks, Democratic leaders have jabbed at each other in press releases. They've argued about who is, and is not, attending hearings. And they have yet to even agree on rules governing their own operations, let alone on much actual legislation as state-level Democrats fashion themselves as bulwarks against Trump's administration.' THE RACE FOR CITY HALL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK—Former Easthampton City Councilor Daniel Rist and Easthampton School Committee Member Linda Markee are endorsing Lindsi Sekula in her bid for mayor in Easthampton, per her campaign. 'As someone who served for nearly three decades on the City Council, I care deeply about Easthampton's future — and I believe Lindsi Sekula is the right choice to lead us forward,' Rist, Easthampton's longest-serving city councilor, said in a statement. 'Lindsi knows how City Hall works because she's been doing the work. Her years of experience, steady leadership, and deep commitment to our community make her uniquely qualified to be our next Mayor.' — Josh Kraft again blasts Wu over White Stadium, claiming costs have skyrocketed by Eve Zuckoff, WBUR: 'Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft again blasted Mayor Michelle Wu's handling of the White Stadium renovation project on Monday, saying costs have spiraled. But he didn't provide on-the-record evidence to back up his claim. Speaking in front of the Franklin Park stadium's crumbling facade, Kraft said the city was now on the hook for $172 million to cover its portion of the rebuild. That's far higher than the $91 million Wu's office estimated in December, or the $50 million price tag announced when the Boston Planning and Development Agency approved permits for the plan in July 2024. … A spokesperson for the city did not confirm Kraft's figure or provide an updated project cost estimate. But the city did provide a document that appears to show the cost still stands at $90.1 million.' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — As ICE ramps up arrests, Plymouth sheriff's office shuttles men from jail to Hanscom airport by Todd Wallack, WBUR: 'On a recent Saturday morning, sheriff's deputies from Plymouth County escorted 76 men from the jail onto a bus and several vans. All were being held for the federal government, on alleged immigration violations. Their destination: Hanscom Field, an airport in Bedford used mainly for corporate jets, charters and other private planes. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office has been making a lot of these van trips, according to interviews and records obtained by WBUR — delivering hundreds of people to federal agents at Hanscom, where they're flown to states with larger detention centers, often far from Massachusetts.' DAY IN COURT — Massachusetts scientists have lost billions in federal funds. Now they have their day in court. by Craig LeMoult, GBH News. RELATED — Judge accuses Trump administration of discrimination against minorities by Kyle Cheney and Danny Nguyen, POLITICO: 'A federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan on Monday accused the Trump administration of 'appalling' and 'palpably clear' discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ+ Americans. … [U.S. District Judge William] Young's sweeping rebuke during a court hearing was a reference to two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that led the National Institutes of Health to rescind funding for research related to racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people.' FROM THE DELEGATION — Neal sounds off on Trump policies at regional event in Holyoke to discuss housing crisis by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'U.S. Rep. Richard Neal on Monday attacked President Donald Trump's proposed budget bill as well as efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to remake Social Security, while also criticizing the promotion of inflammatory rhetoric on social media as opposed to regular dialogue.' — Representatives Seth Moulton, Ayanna Pressley hold town halls opposing Trump by Anjali Huynh and Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: 'Representatives Seth Moulton and Ayanna Pressley, at separate town halls in Massachusetts 25 miles apart, heavily criticized a swath of actions President Trump has ordered, from mass immigration raids to sweeping funding cuts, while acknowledging left-leaning voters urging their Democratic representatives to do more to resist his administration.' — Auchincloss probes possible conflicts of interest for top RFK advisers by Tal Kopan, The Boston Globe. FROM THE 413 — Amherst advocates decry budget freeze for community responders by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'With the Town Council presented a budget from Town Manager Paul Bockelman that freezes funding for two of the eight full-time responders, and eliminating a grant-funded program implementation manager, members of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee are criticizing the spending plan, especially at a time when fear is gripping already marginalized communities in town due to ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.' — Barrett casts lone no vote on MCLA arts center commendation by Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle: 'Rep. John Barrett III hopes he's wrong. But he's still not convinced. On Thursday, the North Adams Democrat cast the lone dissenting vote as the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Board of Trustees commended the MCLA Foundation for securing a multimillion-dollar gift to fund the planned Campagna Kleefeld Center for Creativity in the Arts.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Attleboro city council hears arguments on proposed ban on rodenticides by Rhianwen Watkins, The Sun Chronicle: 'Rat poison has risen to the forefront of local and state politics recently, as studies have shown it poses significant harm to wildlife. Several birds of prey, foxes, bobcats, and even household pets are at risk of secondary poisoning from rodenticides and many, especially predatory birds across the state, have died over the years as a result.' — North Andover schools to bring back some staff by Angelina Berube, The Eagle-Tribune: 'The school district plans to reinstate about a dozen positions next school year which were part of budget cuts as it makes use of various funds, including the $1 million extra approved by Town Meeting voters for the fiscal year 2026 budget. Superintendent Pamela Lathrop provided the staffing update to the School Committee at its meeting on Thursday.' — Who wants to be on the New Bedford School Committee? by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light. — Candidates pull nomination papers for Lowell City Council, School Committee seats by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH WEDDING BELLS — Alex Demou, director of legislative and trustee relations at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, married Tina Ascolillo, vice president at Rasky Partners, in Newport, Rhode Island, on June 5. The couple met working as staffers on Beacon Hill. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga, state Rep. Aaron Saunders and Maxwell Nunes.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Mass. lawmakers reach deal to seed MBTA with $535 million from ‘millionaires' surtax spending package
The bill also would set aside $248 million to help cover The bill largely spends surplus revenue that the state collected from the surtax on annual income exceeding roughly $1 million. The revenue is constitutionally mandated to go toward transportation and education initiatives, though the agreement released Monday tips more toward transportation ($716 million in funding) than education ($593.5 million), according to lawmakers. Advertisement Legislators could shuttle the bill to Governor Maura Healey's desk as early as Wednesday, when both chambers have formal sessions scheduled. In a joint statement, state Representative Aaron Michlewitz and state Senator Michael Rodrigues, the chambers' respective budget chiefs, said the agreement 'makes critically important investments in education and transportation in the face of continued uncertainty.' Advertisement The MBTA's own spending plans already lean heavily on state largesse. The agency's board of directors last week The T's approved budget calls for hiring more than 1,000 positions to increase the agency's headcount to 8,030 employees. The T is also seeking some cost-cutting measures, such as reducing overtime costs, The MBTA has faced long-standing The T has also struggled with drawing back riders. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, fare revenue covered about To address this, the Legislature offered vastly different visions. The surtax spending bill the Senate passed last month would have dedicated $370 million to the MBTA, including $200 million to replenish the agency's budget reserve. The House, on other hand, sought far more, setting aside nearly $800 million for the T, most of which — $700 million — was tabbed for the agency's reserve and deficiency funds. Advertisement The bill released Monday falls in the middle. It would dedicate $300 million for the T's spending reserve, plus offer $175 million for workforce and safety funding. Another $40 million would go toward infrastructure upgrades, and $20 million would help fund the MBTA's low-income fare program. The gap between the chamber's plans for the T was even wider when combined with their annual state budget proposals, with the House seeking about $1.4 billion for the T between the two bills and the Senate $820 million. How Monday's deal would affect what the agency receives in the annual state budget plan is unclear. The chamber's leaders are still negotiating the details of that roughly $61.5 billion bill, which is designed to cover the fiscal year that starts July 1. Both chambers also included an array of earmarks in their surtax spending bills, ranging from Legislators had yet to release the full text of the final version Monday afternoon. The surplus surtax bill is, by design, supplemental, offering lawmakers a huge windfall to fund priorities that they perhaps wouldn't have been able to otherwise through the regular budget process. Still, the Legislature is likely to find itself in a similar position next year, too. Entering May, the voter-approved surtax had already Advertisement That type of financial cushion is welcome. President Trump has withheld or cut Companies have also Matt Stout can be reached at
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Boston Globe
Return of Blue Line interrupted by signal issues; train service suspended
'The MBTA apologizes to riders affected by these temporary service changes,' the transit agency said in a statement. 'Stemming from the earlier Blue Line work, corrective signal repair work near Maverick needs to take place, which came to light as service resumed Monday morning. The MBTA is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.' Advertisement The MBTA first reported delays on the eastbound Blue Line due to a signal problem at Maverick Station in a No fares will be collected along the entire Blue Line and the East Boston Ferry for the rest of the day, the MBTA said. Today, Blue Line service resumed after a 9-day diversion for infrastructure upgrades. When restoring the system overnight, our signals did not function as intended, causing significant delays to morning service. Fares will not be collected on Blue Line & East Boston ferry today. — MBTA (@MBTA) Shuttle buses will run between Airport station and Government Center, the MBTA said. Airport station will be open only in the outbound direction, and the buses will not be available at Bowdoin, Aquarium, and State stations, the MBTA said. Shuttle buses will run between Haymarket and Government Center for inbound passengers connecting to the Orange and Green lines. Advertisement The East Boston Ferry, which typically shuts down during midday, will run all day with approximately 17-minute headways, the MBTA said. The last ride from East Boston is at 7:30 p.m. and the last from Long Wharf is 7:45 p.m., the MBTA said. On social media, the MBTA said officials believed regular service was ready to resume Monday after last week's closure and 'prematurely' released the majority of shuttle buses used during the shutdown and removed signs directing riders. 'We should have identified & responded sooner & regret these missteps,' The MBTA said it has deployed extra staff to assist riders during the disruptions. Nick Stoico can be reached at
