Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

OK, it’s late on a friday, and a hurricane is bearing down on us, and no one wants to hear about traffic safety, but here goes anyway. Who’s already got the safest roads in the world? Guess  what… WE DO! [The original, more confusing graph has been removed (8/28/2011 ..RC] (US State with the lowest [...]

You may have read about the recent Massachusetts legal cases involving parking and traffic ticket defense costs.  The current system imposes onerous charges simply to defend one’s self in court, and the NMA assisted in two cases to challenge the constitutionality of that system. In one of those cases, Vincent Gillespie was required to pay [...]

  Complex system requires complex changes Consumer involvement needed, perhaps through tiered plans Standardization and transparency in price and quality reporting needed Coordinated care, medical homes, bundled payments—all mean rewarding value and outcomes rather than services IT is critical A slow transition is needed     In June, the Department of Healthcare Finance and Policy [...]

Hi Will – as an intellectual Property worker (software engineer/designer) married to a consulting artist (Powerpoint/photoshop specialist) I’d like to call to your attention the following article and urge you to support reform of this well-meaning-but-misguided piece of legislation. I’m guessing that a fair amount of your constituents fall into the “independent consultant” definition — this potentially [...]

Steve Kerins needs a kidney donation. Please consider attending this fund-raising and awareness-raising event on his behalf.

Join the festivities as the Housing Corporation of Arlington celebrates 25 years of service to the Town of Arlington.  

Thank you very much to State Representative Brownsberger for allowing us to post this to his website.  It is very much appreciated. Families affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma are collaborating with Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MCC) to produce by this fall a Massachusetts-specific SBS Commemorative Quilt to honor the children in our state who [...]

Hi Will — I will be honest with you, the front page Globe article on the lights in the new central artery/harbor tunnels scared the bejezus out of me. Not so much because of the thousand-pounds of lights hanging precariously over my head every time I go to the airport, but moreso the final comment of the [...]

Hi Will – just a note to let you know that I support the bill, filed by Rep. John Binienda, of Worcester,  that would exempt small brewers from the laws protecting wholesalers in MA. The law was written at a time when there were only two or three brewers in the market. Since that time, [...]

The matter of alimony is almost invariably a highly emotional and contentious issue for all parties involved, however the current state of Massachusetts alimony laws is rather antiquated and leaves much to be desired. A new bill currently making its way through the Massachusetts legislature with a large amount of momentum would radically reform these [...]

  The Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2012 Budget is currently in conference committee; the House and Senate working on negotiations over its final draft. Recently, the Senate passed its own version of the Fair Employment and Security amendment, Section 122.   Much of this amendment, particularly sections 1-7, regards the implementation of the Homeland Security created [...]

Analysis of the Attorney General’s report: Examination of Health Care Cost Trends and Cost Drivers Pursuant to G.L. c. 118G, § 61?2(b) Report for Annual Public Hearing June 22, 2011   Wide disparities in healthcare payments exist that are not due to variations in quality Simply changing to global payments does not reduce costs More [...]

  Press Release For Immediate Release   Jim Scott Benefit Concert, Belmont, July 2   “Singing For the Tree Tops,” a benefit concert July 2nd to preserve the Uplands Silver Maple Forest, will feature renowned folksinger and composer, Jim Scott.  This Fourth of July holiday weekend event will celebrate our unique forest on the Belmont/Cambridge [...]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1841754107/Cambridge-City-Council-wants-cities-to-purchase-Belmont-Uplands#axzz1Ot7Kd0RA ‘Flood Plain Forest and Floodway Development Forum VIDEO TO SHOW IN CAMBRIDGE IN JUNE. Your program is scheduled to run on our channels according to the times below.  Please note that these times are subject to change: Wed, 6/15/2011 8:00 AM, Channel 10 Sun, 6/19/2011 3:00 PM, Channel 10 Mon, 6/20/2011 7:00 AM, Channel [...]

Hearing was the first of several Bill would change healthcare payments and organizations Everyone “pro” cost control, but some details at issue Providers concerned with over-regulation, lack of flexibility Others want public-option, public wellness provisions Committee concerned with cost estimates and funding     The joint committee on healthcare finance held its first hearing regarding [...]

Join your North Cambridge neighbors for an ice cream social at Sleeper Park (corner of Cedar and Dudley Streets) on Saturday June 11th at 3 pm (rain date: Sunday June 12th at 3 pm) for free ice cream and a chance to meet with your neighbors and talk about what great things you would like [...]

Dear Will – it was nice getting to meet you at Town Day – also great to get a chance to discuss the library. Unfortunately, I’m writing on another topic — like many Belmonters, I commute out to 128 on a daily basis. In my case I head North in the morning and south in [...]

Will, Do you know anything about the wooden walkway on the footpath next to the Alewife Brook? It is next to Cross St near the Parkway. It has been sitting there unfinished for a while. It only needs about 6 feet; does someone need to light a fire under someone to get it done? It [...]

This is a set of thoughts for builders seeking to become more green oriented. The thoughts may also be helpful for homeowners thinking about green projects.

Will, Interesting article here, partly on recents trends in union-busting, but also on public employee pensions.  Proposes, in the final paragraphs, that perhaps pensions should be put to a vote, just like bonds. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/mayjune_2011/features/the_fallacy_of_union_busting029139.php I’m not certain this would work well, because the public tends to have anti-Keynesian impulses (“I’m cutting back, so should the [...]