From secret hiring practices to a revolving door of political appointees, the Mass Parole Board is a “black hole,” and “lives are at risk.” In the spring of 2021, Ms. Smith, whose name has been changed for this article, heard from a friend that there was a vacancy on the Massachusetts Parole Board. Board member […]
BATTLE: SGARS
Poisons used by Mass municipalities are killing more than just the rats they’re targeting. In practice, their controversial tactics may actually protect the rodent population. It was a sunny Friday morning in late July of this year when Jodi Sylvester, a wildlife photographer from central Massachusetts, drove into the Boston area to check in on a pair of […]
HOW THE COMMONWEALTH CONTINUES DRIFT AWAY FROM TRANSPARENCY
This is what happens when you try asking the second largest city in Mass and state officials to adhere to basic public records laws Across Massachusetts, today is actually tomorrow. Except in Worcester, where it’s already the day after tomorrow. But if that would make it the weekend, then it’s the following Monday instead, […]
MORE TICKETS, MORE TOWS, MORE FEES
Boston aims to beef up parking enforcement. We took a deep dive into the request for proposal to forecast their highly profitable plans. Boston officials are looking to upgrade the city’s massive parking enforcement management system, which brings in $60 million a year through more than a million parking tickets and thousands of boots and […]
CHAIN REACTION
Coffee shop workers organize, inspire others Labor organizing in the Boston area has gotten a hip makeover. Two local coffee shop chains, Pavement & Darwin’s Ltd., have had their employees vote to form unions. These baristas have been the unlikely stars of the progressive left in Boston this past summer: The media exploded after the […]