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Will's campaign
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Latest 50 Comments from Voters (with links to posts)
On 2/17/12, LindaHuebner
said about Coyotes on the Loose: The MSPCA's Living With Wildlife program promotes peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife in Massachusetts' communities through humane, long-term, and cost-effective resolutions of human-animal conflicts. We've been hearing more about coyotes near Boston recently, and we've got a lot of information online at: http://www.mspca.org/programs/wildlife-resources/species-information/coyote/. It is not difficult to co-exist with coyotes; people in less urban areas of the state have been succeeded in doing so for decades and more urban dwellers can do so, too. Coyotes are not true predators like the grizzlies and mountain lions mentioned above; they are opportunistic scavengers. They're seen closer to Boston because they can find what they need - food, water, shelter - and they have adapted to living in a human-dominated landscape. Residents need to realize this and behave accordingly by making their homes/yards less inviting to coyotes, and by hazing them when they behave inappropriately, which will reduce conflicts. On 2/17/12, Spencer Robinson
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I agree with Paul Looney. Allow some of the free market forces to work. I'm a T rider and believe upping the cost of my LinkPass (Scenario 1 Fare Increase) from $59 to $80 is still a good deal...if they kill routes 78 & 76 I'll be walking a little more...Will, I for one would like my elected representative to be focused on what the MBTA management could be doing better. Am I correct that 10% of wages is OT(30 million)? Most businesses would try and come in at 5% or lower. What is the status pension/health reform for T employees? Allowing employees to receive pension/health after 20 years regardless of age is not sustainable. Lastly, I'm in the parking business...everyone pays to park including Senior Management. Everyone riding the T should pay...that means T employees and our elected officials... On 2/16/12, Paul Looney
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Where were all these people when Gas hit $4 a gallon and when the Tolls were being raised? They were laughing at Car owners and now they want non MBTA users to share the burden of a poorly run State entity. This is a problem that should be worked out by management and the MBTA users but there shouldn't be cost shifting to non users as the security hand off would be. It should be a mix of elimination of inefficient lines, major reform inside the MBTA, and fare increases. Will the T lose riders... Yes but many will come back when they see the massive cost of Car ownership. On 2/15/12, DeeWhite
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Good stuff ("counter-proposal") from the MBTA Advisory Board to address the immediate funding/service crisis and to kick-start the necessary "adult conversation":
http://www.mbtaadvisoryboard.org/reports/advisory-board-counter-proposal/ On 2/14/12, JohnRobotham
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: While much of the press about the commuter rail focuses on eliminating weekend trains, the cuts go beyond that. I understand that one proposal will reduce the number of outbound morning commuter rail trains to a single train. Miss that train, and you either drive or don't get to work or school. Similar cuts are being proposed for the evening commute. With no options, people will go back to driving. A cycle of service reductions leading to reduced revenue from regular commuters becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fare increases (combined with cost controls on the operating budget) are the better alternative, with some of the protections you and others are proposing for low income and elderly residents. On 2/14/12, BernadetteBrooten
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Please do add the weekend commuter rail to the letter. It's vital.
I would also recommend that you initiate hearings on why the MBTA is in such deep financial trouble. I have learned from persons who work for the MBTA that there may be serious problems of mismanagement.
I would support a gasoline tax.
Thank you for this excellent initiative and for your support of public transportation. You, along with my fellow citizens who have posted here, make a compelling case. On 2/14/12, Rich Carlson
said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Thanks Will - as always, appreciate the response.
re
-rich On 2/13/12, LizAllison
said about Transitional Services Legislation: Will,
The posted discussion does not indicate how these services are to be financed. Is it expected that the local school district will be responsible for compensating teachers and counselors for their additional training?
Liz On 2/13/12, JoanneKaye
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thank you for your letter on the MBTA cutbacks. This is a big issue for so many people.
Regarding your first comment about the bus route 351 elimination: please note that riders use this bus to get to and from their jobs at companies like Mitre Corporation.
The 351 has limited runs in the morning and late afternoon only. These employees have no other means of commuting as they do not drive or own cars. It will mean that these productive employees will need to seek other employment possibly out of state where there is reliable public transportation. This bus runs only on weekdays and the riders would definitely pay a premium fare as well as accept elimination of some of the run times. That is preferable to lose of work.
It would logically seem a good investment, as others have mentioned, to make public transportation a strength rather than an impediment to growth. On 2/13/12, DorothyBarr
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thank you for your support on this. I am a strong supporter of public transportation for all the reasons you mention, and consider it a disgrace that this country is so far behind others in regard to supporting a reliable transport system available to all.
When I moved to Cambridge almost five years ago, the availability of buses and the T was a major draw, and since I gave up my car almost a year ago I depend on the MBTA to get around. I'd be willing to pay more, but any cutbacks in service would seriously impact my professional and personal life. On 2/13/12, Paul Schlichtman
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Hello, Senator Brownsberger:
(Wow. That sounds good!)
The T is the economic engine of the Boston metropolitan area. Good public transportation is a lifeline for an urban area.
Eliminating service will hurt the economy, hurt the economic viability of the region (especially the part of Massachusetts that is inside of 128). We should stop the abandonment of T service, and additional revenue dedicated to transit is a sound investment in our communities.
That said, we really need to take a look at the structure of the bus service and how it ties into the rail lines. The T could do so much more to provide a more strategic and more efficient service that will attract riders.
My first example is the connection to bus lines at T stops. The buses all run independent of the trains; if you leave a red line train at Harvard, you can walk up to the busway and see the taillights of your bus. You can be lucky and arrive at the platform just before the bus arrives. However, the schedules are not coordinated. If the average rider can look at a smartphone and find the location of any bus in the system, why can't the T talk between buses and trains to sync the schedules?
The second example is the design of the bus routes. The T runs a bus from Central Square to North Waltham. The bus route terminates about a half-mile from Route 2. If you are in North Waltham and want to get to the Red Line, you need to take an hour-long ride through Waltham, Watertown, and Cambridge to get to Central Square. Why? Why not extend the route toward Alewife, so folks in Waltham have two options and two directions that will get them to a Red Line stop?
The third example also involves Waltham. A 128-regional business organization runs a bus to the Waltham business area from Alewife - but it's not part of the MBTA system. Why not? Wouldn't it make more sense to have all the bus service in one system? Why are we paying for the L'Express in Lexington, which doesn't connect to the frequent bus service in Arlington Heights? Wouldn't the Lexington service be more valuable if you could transfer to a bus in Arlington Heights? Similarly, I work in Lowell (a block from the transportation center) and live in Arlington Center. 100 years ago I could have commuted by streetcar or rail. Now there's a MBTA bus to Burlington, and an LRTA bus from Burlington to Lowell. Why split the routes? Because there are two operating authorities? We should get rid of all the barriers between operating agencies, paint all the buses the same color, and make this a real statewide system.
Pour some money into transit - it's a worthy investment. But let's make it a system.. On 2/13/12, DonnaSouthwell
said about FY2013 Statement of Budget Priorities: Thanks for including civil legal aid -- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp.(MLAC) -- on your priority list. People are often surprised to learn that the right to an attorney applies only to criminal cases. For example, the low-income woman whose ex is suing for custody of their children may have to go to court alone while the ex is represented by a lawyer, creating a serious power imbalance. MLAC-funded programs, like Greater Boston Legal Services, provide assistance when possible, but they are limited by tight budgets, a situation that has gotten drastically worse in the past four years. That's mainly thanks to a 78% drop in funding from what was MLAC's largest funding source, the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts Program. In short, legal aid programs are in desperate need of more state funding this year, and I appreciate you're recognizing that! On 2/13/12, AnneMarieLambert
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thanks, Will, this is a vital issue. We can't put the burden of the Big Dig debt on bus commuters in your district.
In your letter, it might be helpful to mention all the new developments planned in Cambridge, especially in the Alewife area. These will no doubt further increase bus ridership and/or road congestion.
As Belmont continues work to revitalize Belmont Center and improve the parking situation there, rising demand for the bus and train service there can be expected for that reason also.
While commuters are the driving need for these bus routes, it is also worth noting the social benefit of young people gaining independence from parental taxi services by taking public transportation. When my daughter took her first solo trips from Belmont to Boston's Community Boating in middle school, I was biting my nails, but knew the safe bus and subway route was giving her invaluable lessons on her path to young adulthood.
Anne-Marie On 2/13/12, JimGreiner
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Hi, Will,
I support a gas tax increase on numerous grounds, not the least of which is the additional revenue for the T. Re fair increases, I happen to have the luxury of being able to afford them. I strongly suggest that to the extent possible, the burden of fair increases be imposed on persons with the ability to pay. Obviously, one cannot require an income tax return to ride the bus, but I like the idea in your letter of exempting the elderly and the disabled from any increases.
Thanks very much. On 2/13/12, LauraBagnall
said about Transitional Services Legislation: This is a fabulous bill, and I am very grateful for it to have been enacted. However, the bill only works if there are services for the young adults to be transitioned to. The next huge gap to plug is the lack of services for adults on the autism spectrum. We have the Department of Mental Retardation for adults with cognitive disabilities and the Department of Mental Health for adults with mental illness. However, for adults with autism who are of average intelligence and do not have a mental illness (which is a large part of the population), they fall through the cracks. (For "crack" read "gaping hole").
Sincerely,
Laura Bagnall On 2/13/12, carolagate
said about Notice of Discussion on Sentencing Reform: I hope the reform discussion includes mandatory minimums and juvenile life without parole. On 2/13/12, DeborahTheodore
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Dear Mr. Brownsberger,
"During difficult economic times, public transportation needs to be supported, not reduced."
This is why you're our guy, thank you! There are many ways to structure fare increases during hard times, including passes for people on unemployment or other state and federal benefits, as well as for the elderly, disabled, and in-school. Also, peak hour fares for working commuters, etc. The consensus seems to be that given a choice between NO SERVICE and a fair and modest increase in fares, we choose the latter.
Thank you for representing the people so well on this issue. On 2/13/12, NinaDuncan
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I am also concerned about the idea of stopping the commuter rail weekend service. This is a vital service for people commuting back and forth from the city to out-lying communities. It is an affordable transportation for those of limited income, especially students, who nay not even own cars. I have often used the Fitchburg Line to visit friends who live further out and for going into the areas close to North station. It is best for all in this crowded area if people don't bring their cars with them. The Providence Line is a vital means of transportation for my daughter who does not own a car and uses the line to get into Boston on the weekends when she works at the Aquarium.
During difficult economic times, public transportation needs to be supported, not reduced. On 2/13/12, ShirleyKressel
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I thank you for your attention to this crucial matter, and I offer a few suggestions.
I appreciate your recognition of specific travel routes that are especially important to your constituents. It is implied but not spelled out that the businesses, institutions, and individuals at their destinations will also suffer, and those impacts will affect far more people across the region. Moreover, we are all related environmentally; increased air pollution is a harm we will all share. It is important to emphasize that damaging the transit web will hurt us all, not only specific transit users.
I support a gas tax as a legitimate revenue increase and as an incentive toward use of renewable energy. But the transit system should not be put on a narrow diet again; the idea of a “dedicated funding stream” for a critical service is not appropriate, whether that stream is the general sales tax or a specific sales tax on gas. It is not dependable. We should fund the lifeline of our social and economic activity from our core general fund, where its needs can always be publicly vetted and appropriately met. That is the way to achieve financial stability for the long term.
Finally, re limiting gas tax use to the T region, I believe that transportation for the major metropolitan area of the state should not be viewed as a local funding responsibility. Every part of the state benefits directly or indirectly from good public transportation here, and every municipality should be encouraged to enhance its mass transit as part of the overall web of connections. Further, our government model is to collect taxes uniformly and distribute them as needed; we may need the T more than do western residents, but our pooled money also goes to things they need and we don’t. I caution against a public policy promoting self-funding public services, turning every service catchment area into a sort of Business Improvement District, “every tub on its own bottom,” so to speak. This narrowing of interests is contrary to a broad and generous concept of the commons – a concept that has already been gravely compromised by trends toward privatization, segregation, etc. We are, and should be, a commonwealth.
Rather than agree to harmful fare increases as a band-aid, we should demand that the state immediately take over the Big Dig debt unfairly placed on the MBTA. This would instantly solve most of the shortfall problem, and it would be only fair. This debt shift was a cover-up for political incompetence and corruption. Why should transit riders be singled out for punishment, while the politicians escape accountability at the hands of the general taxpaying electorate?
There is also a long-term solution to the overall problem. If we ended the state’s corporate welfare boondoggles, we could make ours the best transit system in the nation. Let’s do what needs to be done, not just what’s most easily done. We can force riders to pay more with the flick of a pen; they are helpless. We can even raise the gas tax relatively easily, by promising everyone they’d keep their own revenues. But what we need to do is right the wrongs of the bigger system, so we don’t keep pitting our public service needs against each other every year while Fidelity, Raytheon, Liberty Mutual, Fallon Development, Vertex Pharma, the film industry, etc., quietly siphon off our money. WHY DO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LET THIS GO ON?
Please make your next letter about that, and address it to your colleagues and the Governor. On 2/13/12, AnnScott
said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Don't forget the elimination of the Green Line "E" train on weekends, making trips to Symphony, Jordan Hall, the BU Theatre, the Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts much more difficult, and on days when families make use of leisure time to visit these cultural monuments. The #39 bus, which does parallel the T for a bit, doesn't cut it. For someone traveling from Cambridge, for instance, there will be a need to take three separate modes of transportation, and to stand in the cold for unreliable buses.
I also don't think that you cite the unfairness of the proposed fare increases, with its heaviest burden on seniors (175%, 100% proposed increases) and students.
Thanks for your effort,
Ann Scott On 2/12/12, Joshua Alper
said about Coyotes on the Loose: Am surprised at Mr. Maguaranis' assumption that I'm seeking a lethal control method, though would not rule it out. I'd very much like to know what is meant by "hazing"; the elements of the proposed Coyote Management Plan; what comprises "positive feedback"; and what steps individuals ought to take to protect themselves and their pets both around their neighborhoods at night, or in the woods.
The Town website recommends that we turn on the lights and look around our yards before letting dogs out at night, and keep cats indoors at all times - - am not sure that such adaptation by humans (not coyotes) constitutes coexistence.
Josh Alper On 2/12/12, John Maguranis
said about Coyotes on the Loose: Although Mr. Alper didn't offer any solutions, I'm guessing he's leaning towards some sort of lethal control method. Most people don't realize that coyotes respond to lethal methods by ramping up their litters and litter sizes. Decades of research prove that killing coyotes only produces more coyotes in the long term. We will never get rid of coyotes by any lethal means, so the best thing we can do is to learn how to peacefully coexist with them.
I've been selected to represent Project Coyote (projectcoyote.org) in Massachusetts. I am currently writing a "Coyote Management Plan" for the Town of Belmont, which as you probably know, has been coexisting with coyotes for almost ten years. Education is the key element and coexistence is attainable; we've been doing it in Belmont. Part of the plan consists of trained "hazers". It is true that waving you arms, yelling and the other recommendations we've been hearing about are losing their effectiveness. Coyotes are intelligent animals, but proper hazing has, and does work.
I would love the opportunity to speak with you in depth about this plan and maybe, in time, develop a state-wide plan. Before anything can be done, understanding these creatures, how they breed, how the play in the ecology role, and the benefits of having them must be understood. I have been educating Massachusetts citizens for 10 years and have only had positive feedback from all (over 100) of the presentations I've given.
Best Always,
John On 2/11/12, JohnRobertPowers
said about Governor Patricks 30 Million dollar double dip!: http://bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1400234
Check it out! On 2/10/12, AnneJohnson
said about Governor Patricks 30 Million dollar double dip!: Mr. Powers, thank you for your post.
The line-item does not appear in the Governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013, and with the federal program already in place, there are no plans to add it to the state budget.
The federal government does subsidize very basic service on two phone programs, Lifeline (cell phone service) and Linked-up (wired phone service). Safe Link, a private company, runs these programs, which are offered to low-income individuals. The federal government does not pay for the phones themselves, but the subsidy comes from a fund of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which all telecommunications companies pay into. The fund also provides money to assist schools and libraries in connecting to the internet. On January 31, 2012, the FCC announced a plan to overhaul the Lifeline service to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. You can find more information at the following website: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/lifeline-and-link-affordable-telephone-service-income-eligible-consumers.
Anne Johnson, Committee Counsel and Policy Advisor
Office of State Senator William N. Brownsberger On 2/08/12, Rich Carlson
said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Will - just curious, seems this has been introduced three times that I know over the last 20 years or so and never seems to get actioned, does anyone have any justification or reason why it's a bad idea? There was no testimony given (by anyone) that was not favorable to the bill, and yet the committee, with no explanation decided to take no action. It seems like it's incumbent upon us, as the governed, to justify ideas, but there's no quid-pro-quo for the government to explain why a decision is made.
I think that's wrong.
There should be transparency in Government. If this was a contractor or a service organization spending $2m per year of public money in what some deemed a frivolous manner, you know there'd be someone from the Hill talking about more transparency in their dealings (see http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/downtown/2012/02/greenway_conservancy_adopts_tr.html)
Why can't we expect the same from our own legislators?
I'd propose the introduction of a system that required a summary and a justification for both passage or denial of all bills.
Honestly, I put in a lot of time and effort as have others, only to be told "we know better than you...But we're not gonna tell you what we know, or how we know it. Just move along now" It's very frustrating and does not engender trust or confidence that the government is here to serve us - feels more like the other way around.
More transparency would help.
Would it be more effort than the current system?
Yes.
Good management and informed decisions and personal responsibility take more effort.
Is our state government willing to put out that much effort? SO far, I'd say the answer is no.
Will, this is not intended as a personal criticism -- In my dealings with you I've seen your commitment to transparent, professional practices and policies backed by understanding of the issues. I wish I could say that of the rest of our legislators.
Regards,
Rich On 2/07/12, PatriotsFan
said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Just checking in to see if there was an update on this hearing? On 2/06/12, EllenMass
said about Three Strikes Update: Hi Everyone,
We're writing from the Coalition for Effective Public Safety and passing along information that we hope will be useful to you.
First of all, from the Blackstonian website, Feb. 2 , http://blackstonian.com/news/2012/02/blackstonian-3-strikes-edition-hits-the-streets-in-boston-and-throughout-ma/
"Yesterday the Blackstonian began distributing tens of thousands of copies of a special edition focusing on the proposed “3 Strikes” Habitual Offender Legislation. This special edition features commentary from, Prof. Charles Ogletree (Harvard), Prof. James Jennings (Tufts), NAACP / NEAC, ACLU of Mass, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), Coalition for Effective Public Safety (CEPS), Ben Thompson (CJPC), Sen. Will Brownsberger, Hon. Nancy Gertner, Former MA Corrections Comissioner Kathleen Dennehy, Aaron Tanaka of the Boston Workers Alliance (BWA), Prison Legal Services (PLS)...." Lois Ahrens also has a major piece in this newspaper, entitled "A Reckless, Cruel and Costly Path for Massachusetts."
And you can also download the newspaper or read it online. Congratulations to Jamarhl Crawford for the timely publication of this special three-strikes publication which he is distributing throughout the state. He can be reached at blackstonian@verizon.net.
Secondly, attached is a recent article by the Editorial Board of the Massachusetts Lawyer's Weekly (MLW) which appeared recently in Lawyer's Weekly. This article points out what Massachusetts will face if we don't oppose mandatory post-release parole supervision: "inevitable net-widening" and higher rates of re-incarceration, not for new crimes but for parole violations. Plus news articles have been appearing all across the state in print, on radio and TV -- in Fall River, Worcester, Springfield and Lowell as well as in the Boston media. ***Don't forget: we want to encourage you to support good articles and correct media errors by writing Letters to the Editor! Call in or send an email to a radio station or TV station etc. You can also make comments on the website in many cases. It's clear that our message is getting around the state, so please help out, write responses, pass these emails along, and get others to participate.
And to that end, we are attaching several recent Prisoners' Legal Services' Fact Sheets. Make appointments with your senators and reps NOW.
1. The CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS RIGHT AWAY fact sheet (do not give to a legislator) will be useful to you.
2. The other fact sheets (particularly the "Crimes to Remove," "Bill Comparison Chart-Meaning," and the "Costs Table S.2080" ) should be read before you go to meetings, and you can hand them out to your legislators.
3. Most of us are: advocating for seriously limiting the number of crimes eligible for a third strike, supporting ending mandatory minimums for those convicted of drug offenses, insisting that Subsection B should read "3 years," aiming for no mandatory post-release supervision (see Lawyer's Weekly and Lois Ahrens' article in Blackstonian for why) and reducing school zones from 1000ft to 100 ft. But if you are not comfortable with those positions, you have the Fact Sheets to help you advocate for specific changes in the bills.
Third: The February Forum dates (More will be coming on this later in the week). Please try to attend!
WORCESTER - Wednesday, Feb. 15, 5:30-7:30pm at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, 5 Spaulding Street,
Worcester, MA 01603 (btw. Lovell St. & Beaver Brook Parkway, off Maywood St.& Park Ave.) Call EPOCA for transportation options. Contact Steve O'Neill steve@exprisoners.org
LOWELL -- Thursday, Feb 16, 7-9pm at Middlesex Community College, Federal Bldg, Assembly Room, 50
Kearney Square, Lowell MA 01852. Contact: Jean Trounstine jean@trounstine.com
SPRINGFIELD -- Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6pm, Rebecca M. Johnson School, 55 Catherine Street, Springfield
MA 01109-3505 Contact Jamarhl Crawford, blackstonian@verizon.net ; Steve O'Neill steve@exprisoners.org; or Lois Ahrens, lois@realcostofprisons.org
Activities coming up on this subject.
Ellen On 2/06/12, EllenMass
said about Three Strikes Update: Thank you Will Brownsberger for voting no on this bill.
Stopping the 3 strikes law is one of the things i've been spending a little time on.
I hope you continue to work on this important cause for proper criminal codes in the Commonwealth. it's really important--All but 4 white and all Black and Latino legislators, voted yes as did all senators in the first round of this legislation in Dec. There are efforts being made to scale down the crimes that will, otherwise, land people in prison forever.
Ellen Mass On 2/05/12, fredhapgood
said about Boston Globe Story on MBTA Debt: It would be useful if someone could make a stab at measuring just how scary scary is. What would a stable, sustainable T budget, one that covered what needed to be covered, look like? If the budget projection you link to on your website has a figure in it for maintenance I would appreciate having it pointed out to me. I can't find it myself. On 2/04/12, MarkKaepplein
said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Will, with 2x drug overdose deaths as traffic deaths and more deaths from dirty hands in hospitals than traffic deaths, reason implies that law enforcement should stop wasting resources writing speeding tickets and buying laser speed guns? They would save more lives by monitoring hand washing in hospitals, checking scripts, and getting reports from the DEA and other LE. Likewise, intersection and bus cameras seem like a huge waste of money, especially when they don't catch bicyclists who are the ones most often running red lights.
I've had a number of sport/exercise related knee injuries and laws inducing doctor paranoia have been the biggest problem I've experienced, not addiction despite having taken 300 Percocets, often with alcohol for enhancement, over a few months recovering from my last open surgery. For an earlier arthroscopic surgery when much younger, my parents were given only 3 Percocets on day surgery discharge with instructions on the bottle to take 1 every 4 hours and NEVER EVER with alcohol. My mother, thus would not give me any, and I couldn't go get it. So, I was in excruciating pain after the local anesthetic in my knee wore off and swelling continued (they didn't ice my knee in the recovery room while waiting for my nausea to stop). After a sleepless night, my father was finally able to spend hours getting and filling for me another script - in person because the law doesn't allow calling in vital scripts like these. On hindsight, him being given my schedule 1 script by a pharmacist must have broken some laws.
I've never smoked cigarettes, but understand nicotine is far more addictive than opiates where under 10% of the population may be susceptible to addiction. I see that this bill only makes the problem worse, not better. Also, because the DEA communicates poorly with other government law enforcement, the solution is putting more burden on the private sector to bridge the communication gaps? With the ever more obscene prices of medications at pharmacies, legislators want to make them even more expensive?
The bill could be written for the 21st century and encourage secure electronic prescription delivery from the doctor's computer to the pharmacy, with all the various government agencies getting carbon copied (by the pharmacy upon receipt). A doctor I have uses this amazing new technology on his desktop computer, and there might even be an iPad or iPhone app for that! Isn't this better than hand delivered pieces of (secure) paper? On 2/04/12, SueBass
said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Like Christopher Pearson, I have been denied pain medication when I needed it by a physician who was afraid of the old drug laws. Fortunately, my long-time internist knew I wasn't a drug abuser and prescribed me some. I do worry that this change will make the situation for patients even worse. On 2/04/12, CRAIG SLATIN
said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: In Lowell, the Health Department has done tireless work around this issue. The city has one of the higher rates of deaths from opioid overdoses in the state (prescription drugs). Several years ago they were surprised to find that most of these victims are adults - often white, English-speaking, building trades workers who were badly injured on the job. When their workers' compensation benefits ran out they could not longer afford the pain medication, but even though the comp system said they had completed their recovery, they had not. So, the health department discovered that what can happen is that these men learn that they can get the drugs on the street. Then, something happens and they overdose.
So, although teenage substance abusers are using these prescription drugs, which is problematic, we should not assume that this problem is only about substance abuse. It also represents failures in our healthcare and health insurance systems. As we shift more of the costs of healthcare spending onto those in need of healthcare services - in order to control costs to the payers (as was done by the legislature this past year by removing the right of municipal workers' unions to negotiate their health insurance benefits - a cost-shifting measure)we establish the basis upon which these other problems will build. On 2/04/12, ChristopherPearson
said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Hi Will-
While I agree that prescription drug abuse seems to have increased in the last decade, I fear that one of the side effects of legislation like this can have a detrimental effect on legitimate doctor/patient relationships. What happens is Doctors become fearful of prescribing pain medications, and hence you are left in many instances with needlessly suffering patients. Let me share one anecdote from my own personal experience:
About 2 years ago, I had major oral surgery (specifically, my gums were cut open to prep for dental implants.) As the novocaine began wearing off, I was in quite a bit of discomfort, but the oral surgeon refused to give me anything stronger than Ibuprofen. I complained to her, to no avail. When I left the dentist's office, I went straight to see my primary care physician to see if she would prescribe me enough pain medication to get through a 24-hour period, however, she was away, and the nurse practitioner covering for her also refused to prescribe me pain medication, also out of fear of the laws. Several hours later, I was actually reduced to holding a small, "medicinal" amount of whiskey in my mouth to numb the throbbing in my gums from the surgery. Later, at about 2AM that night, I was awoken by the pain, and wound up having to go to the ER (Mt. Auburn Hospital) where the physician who saw me there had sympathy for my situation after I described what had happen, and prescribed me 6 tablets of a common narcotic pain reliever to get me through the majority of the post-operative pain. Bottom line, that day was a waste of time, money (ER costs), and I think highlights what legislators should be aware of when they put forth laws like this. I wound up filing a formal complaint to the Mass. Board of licensure for Dentists.
I write this to make you, and other lawmakers, aware of what can happen when these laws are enacted. I understand you want to help curb the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, but it shouldn't come at the cost of causing legitimate sufferers of pain to be denied adequate medical care. Be aware that you may be opening the door to malpractice suits for underprescribing for pain because good, honest doctor's are living in fear of byzantine laws.
Thanks for your time, and hope you will consider the points I have outlined here. On 2/03/12, AbigailSmith
said about MBTA Financial Condition: It would be a huge difficulty for me if the #78 bus route was cut out or even substantially diminished. This has been my life line to Harvard Sq. and a prime reason why I moved to Belmont. I would be fine with increased fares, (which are likely in any case) but to cut the service during the week, and/or to eliminate this bus route on weekends, would prove to be a huge burden to the people who live in the #78 area, especially older, retired, or disabled people who depend on the bus to get back and forth into Harvard Square (and then beyond) during non-rush hour times. On 2/02/12, DavidChase
said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Will, three comments/questions:
Are services for opiate addicts widely available? I recall reading that there were alternatives to methadone (buprenorphine, I'm pretty sure) that were better in many ways, but that was difficulty in licensing enough doctors to prescribe to enough people to cover the need.
I'm a little concerned about people who need opiates for pain; will they be able to get what they need? Cases like that of Richard Paey in Florida would be good to avoid (I met his wife; my Dad is active in attempting to reform drug laws down there).
As always, I'm a little concerned about the blanket discussion of "drugs". Some illegal drugs are relatively harmless (compared to both opiates, and even to legal drugs like alcohol). If we treated them less aggressively in the legal code and enforcement, we'd save money, with little or not social harm. Portugal has apparently done relatively well with blanket decriminalization; some of the money saved on enforcement and prison could instead be directed to treatment. On 2/02/12, DanaHarrington
said about MBTA Financial Condition: It's shocking the Warrent Committee Chairperson would serve a softball advocating benefit cuts. Is it possible their benefits were offered in lieu of compensation? Even more surprising is that Will's policies are being driven by the business backed Mass Taxpayer's foundation. I suppose if you're raking in half a million a year, health insurance cost don't matter much. On 1/31/12, ScottWalker
said about MBTA Financial Condition: Another vote here for an adequate, dedicated revenue stream for the MBTA. In addition to raising the gas tax, some solution to the T's debt structure should be found that takes the Big Dig debts off the T's balance sheet. Those financial obligations should not be competing against transit service quality. They should be the state's obligation as a whole. As a small measure, how about ending the ridiculous "sales tax holiday" every August? I suggest this as someone who until recently ran a retail store. The holiday just shifts people's purchase dates around - it doesn't create any business, and it saps funds from the MBTA. On 1/26/12, MarkPaolillo
said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Congatulations Will. Fascinating stories about your backgroud and family. I look forward to work with you as our State Senator. On 1/25/12, AdriaanMLanni
said about Why are Belmont residents ineligible for some Mass Save programs?: Thanks, Will and Helen, for the helpful info.
I understand why towns with a muni electric co. would have separate programs for electric upgrades, but I'm not sure why the Mass Save HEAT loan is not available to National Grid customers who live in Belmont. This is a 0-interest loan for 7 years of up to $25k for energy upgrades like solar water heaters, heat on demand water, and high-efficiency heating systems. Several of my neighbors have said they would have made an upgrade if they had access to a HEAT loan. If this program were available to Belmont residents I think we would see a significant reduction in our town's carbon footprint. Is there anything that can be done about this?
Also, I called BMLD, and they do do audits and have an appliance rebate program, but it would be nice if they also replaced all the light bulbs with compact fluorescents the way Mass Save does in other towns. (BMLD will give you one free light bulb each month if you pay your bill in person; this seems like a program designed to insure as little participation as possible).
Thanks!
Adriaan On 1/25/12, sarahgbell
said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: I love the stories of your family.
And thanks so much Will for all the thoughtful work you have done for so many.
I am so proud that Cambridge could help boost you to the State Senate.
Hope to see you at a farmer's market sometime this summer.
Sarah, North Cambridge. On 1/25/12, PeterPapesch
said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Heartfelt congratulations. I knew a little about your background, but had to wait until your inauguration to learn the full richness of your background. Your constituents, of which I gladly am now one, will be well-served!
Peter On 1/25/12, DavidPowelstock
said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Congratulations, Will. Keep up the terrific work!
David On 1/25/12, EllenMass
said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Thanks Will for sharing this. I did not know so much about your personal life and family and it is nice to see you recognizing friends. You certainly have me as a friend in Cambridge and we have been through much. Hope you'll come to the concert Feb. 4. We have an award for you. Ellen On 1/24/12, Helen Golding
said about Why are Belmont residents ineligible for some Mass Save programs?: Adriaan -- I suspect that this relates to the fact that the companies that participate in Mass Save are all investor-owned utilities (in Belmont, we get electricity from the Belmont Municipal Light Department)[see Mass Save website for a list of sponsoring companies). National Grid, which provides natural gas service in Belmont, does participate in Mass Save. You might want to contact BMLD to find out if they have anything comparable to the programs you were interested in. Another source of information is the Mass. Department of Energy Resources. On 1/24/12, AaronWeber
said about MBTA Financial Condition: Every time this comes up on the Boston Globe, the comment section fills with rage against unions and taxes, and occasionally with rage against eastern MA. So, I think it's going to be politically difficult to get money into the T.
But the T needs more money. It has a maintenance backlog that absolutely cannot be denied.
Boston needs more transit. More service. Longer hours. To more distant locations. I know Arlington was afraid of poor people taking the train to Arlington Center, but seriously: Ridership is up. Everybody wants this service. Why is it so hard to fund it sufficiently? Especially a "Maintenance Backlog stimulus" of some kind? On 1/23/12, AdriaanMLanni
said about MBTA Financial Condition: I'd like to add another plea for the 74, which I use to commute, and which was a major factor in my choosing to buy a house in Belmont.
Will, would a campaign to get as many Emails to the MBTA as possiible pleading for the 74 make a difference? I have sent in a comment, but many of the Belmont folks I've talked to about this, including bus riders, hadn't heard about the proposed cut to the 74. If comments would be helpful, is there any way to get the word out to Cambridge and Belmont residents to send in an email? On 1/23/12, JamesDensmore
said about MBTA Financial Condition: Although I’m not a daily rider of the 501 bus, cutting that service will have a big impact on traffic and ridership on other services, particularly the 57 bus. Based on the latest figures I can find there are nearly 1,800 daily boardings on the 501. If the service is cut, those riders will end up in cars or on the already crowded 57 bus though Newton and Brighton. I do ride the 503 from Brighton several times a week, and although the daily boardings are less than 500 (due to less service as buses are generally full), a similar affect will be felt. The same goes for the 64 bus with over 1,200 daily boardings. Assuming those riders remain in the area, that’s a lot for the remaining infrastructure to handle, and will leave those who can’t afford other options in the dark.
As you correctly point out, the financials are more favorable to the 501 and 64 but I believe as many services should be saved as possible. I support a fare increase that is accompanied by other long term changes, such as debt reduction and the addition of new revenue sources, in the interest of keeping existing services running.
Thank you for your support on this issue. On 1/23/12, HelenSoussou
said about MBTA Financial Condition: I have to get this off of my chest: It makes no common sense that just after your customer base increases you decide to raise prices and cut service.
Like other writers, I believe that the T is a critically valuable service to the larger Boston community, for business,individual and environmental needs--and for all economic classes of people, but especially for those who cannot afford cars and have no other way to get to work. I liked the person's comment about the Walk-to-School program at the Wellington too. That helps health, environment, education and family pocketbooks. We really need to build the support base so that people can take pride in the MBTA and give it as much respect as the highway system which is not expected to support itself.
That said, work needs to continue in improving management and reducing costs. We should aim to be among the nation's best metro systems, not the most decaying one. I am for a gas tax and probably any other reasonable fiscal change to help the T. Will spoke about a small gas tax. Think about it, gas prices are always making small ups and downs. A small tax increase is not much in the larger picture. We really need a large gas tax increase, but if a small one is more realistic, at least that is something. It would be great if we could get the Big Debt off of the MBTA budget. Keep the ideas coming!
Helen Soussou On 1/23/12, HelenSoussou
said about Three Strikes Update: Thank you for this update on what we can expect for the bill in the coming months. It was interesting to watch the video with the governor's comments as well. Let us know when it is time to make calls or otherwise show support.
Thanks,
Helen Soussou On 1/23/12, fredhapgood
said about Virtual Education Bill Moving: I would like to call your attention to the story in today's (Monday's) New York Times
titled "Sharing a Screen, if Not a Classroom". http://nyti.ms/zsw1DD
The Khan Academy is quite a remarkable site. Easy to see how technologies like this
might change education radically.
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On 2/17/12, LindaHuebner said about Coyotes on the Loose: The MSPCA's Living With Wildlife program promotes peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife in Massachusetts' communities through humane, long-term, and cost-effective resolutions of human-animal conflicts. We've been hearing more about coyotes near Boston recently, and we've got a lot of information online at: http://www.mspca.org/programs/wildlife-resources/species-information/coyote/. It is not difficult to co-exist with coyotes; people in less urban areas of the state have been succeeded in doing so for decades and more urban dwellers can do so, too. Coyotes are not true predators like the grizzlies and mountain lions mentioned above; they are opportunistic scavengers. They're seen closer to Boston because they can find what they need - food, water, shelter - and they have adapted to living in a human-dominated landscape. Residents need to realize this and behave accordingly by making their homes/yards less inviting to coyotes, and by hazing them when they behave inappropriately, which will reduce conflicts.
On 2/17/12, Spencer Robinson said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I agree with Paul Looney. Allow some of the free market forces to work. I'm a T rider and believe upping the cost of my LinkPass (Scenario 1 Fare Increase) from $59 to $80 is still a good deal...if they kill routes 78 & 76 I'll be walking a little more...Will, I for one would like my elected representative to be focused on what the MBTA management could be doing better. Am I correct that 10% of wages is OT(30 million)? Most businesses would try and come in at 5% or lower. What is the status pension/health reform for T employees? Allowing employees to receive pension/health after 20 years regardless of age is not sustainable. Lastly, I'm in the parking business...everyone pays to park including Senior Management. Everyone riding the T should pay...that means T employees and our elected officials...
On 2/16/12, Paul Looney said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Where were all these people when Gas hit $4 a gallon and when the Tolls were being raised? They were laughing at Car owners and now they want non MBTA users to share the burden of a poorly run State entity. This is a problem that should be worked out by management and the MBTA users but there shouldn't be cost shifting to non users as the security hand off would be. It should be a mix of elimination of inefficient lines, major reform inside the MBTA, and fare increases. Will the T lose riders... Yes but many will come back when they see the massive cost of Car ownership.
On 2/15/12, DeeWhite said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Good stuff ("counter-proposal") from the MBTA Advisory Board to address the immediate funding/service crisis and to kick-start the necessary "adult conversation": http://www.mbtaadvisoryboard.org/reports/advisory-board-counter-proposal/
On 2/14/12, JohnRobotham said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: While much of the press about the commuter rail focuses on eliminating weekend trains, the cuts go beyond that. I understand that one proposal will reduce the number of outbound morning commuter rail trains to a single train. Miss that train, and you either drive or don't get to work or school. Similar cuts are being proposed for the evening commute. With no options, people will go back to driving. A cycle of service reductions leading to reduced revenue from regular commuters becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fare increases (combined with cost controls on the operating budget) are the better alternative, with some of the protections you and others are proposing for low income and elderly residents.
On 2/14/12, BernadetteBrooten said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Please do add the weekend commuter rail to the letter. It's vital. I would also recommend that you initiate hearings on why the MBTA is in such deep financial trouble. I have learned from persons who work for the MBTA that there may be serious problems of mismanagement. I would support a gasoline tax. Thank you for this excellent initiative and for your support of public transportation. You, along with my fellow citizens who have posted here, make a compelling case.
On 2/14/12, Rich Carlson said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Thanks Will - as always, appreciate the response. re -rich
On 2/13/12, LizAllison said about Transitional Services Legislation: Will, The posted discussion does not indicate how these services are to be financed. Is it expected that the local school district will be responsible for compensating teachers and counselors for their additional training? Liz
On 2/13/12, JoanneKaye said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thank you for your letter on the MBTA cutbacks. This is a big issue for so many people. Regarding your first comment about the bus route 351 elimination: please note that riders use this bus to get to and from their jobs at companies like Mitre Corporation. The 351 has limited runs in the morning and late afternoon only. These employees have no other means of commuting as they do not drive or own cars. It will mean that these productive employees will need to seek other employment possibly out of state where there is reliable public transportation. This bus runs only on weekdays and the riders would definitely pay a premium fare as well as accept elimination of some of the run times. That is preferable to lose of work. It would logically seem a good investment, as others have mentioned, to make public transportation a strength rather than an impediment to growth.
On 2/13/12, DorothyBarr said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thank you for your support on this. I am a strong supporter of public transportation for all the reasons you mention, and consider it a disgrace that this country is so far behind others in regard to supporting a reliable transport system available to all. When I moved to Cambridge almost five years ago, the availability of buses and the T was a major draw, and since I gave up my car almost a year ago I depend on the MBTA to get around. I'd be willing to pay more, but any cutbacks in service would seriously impact my professional and personal life.
On 2/13/12, Paul Schlichtman said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Hello, Senator Brownsberger: (Wow. That sounds good!) The T is the economic engine of the Boston metropolitan area. Good public transportation is a lifeline for an urban area. Eliminating service will hurt the economy, hurt the economic viability of the region (especially the part of Massachusetts that is inside of 128). We should stop the abandonment of T service, and additional revenue dedicated to transit is a sound investment in our communities. That said, we really need to take a look at the structure of the bus service and how it ties into the rail lines. The T could do so much more to provide a more strategic and more efficient service that will attract riders. My first example is the connection to bus lines at T stops. The buses all run independent of the trains; if you leave a red line train at Harvard, you can walk up to the busway and see the taillights of your bus. You can be lucky and arrive at the platform just before the bus arrives. However, the schedules are not coordinated. If the average rider can look at a smartphone and find the location of any bus in the system, why can't the T talk between buses and trains to sync the schedules? The second example is the design of the bus routes. The T runs a bus from Central Square to North Waltham. The bus route terminates about a half-mile from Route 2. If you are in North Waltham and want to get to the Red Line, you need to take an hour-long ride through Waltham, Watertown, and Cambridge to get to Central Square. Why? Why not extend the route toward Alewife, so folks in Waltham have two options and two directions that will get them to a Red Line stop? The third example also involves Waltham. A 128-regional business organization runs a bus to the Waltham business area from Alewife - but it's not part of the MBTA system. Why not? Wouldn't it make more sense to have all the bus service in one system? Why are we paying for the L'Express in Lexington, which doesn't connect to the frequent bus service in Arlington Heights? Wouldn't the Lexington service be more valuable if you could transfer to a bus in Arlington Heights? Similarly, I work in Lowell (a block from the transportation center) and live in Arlington Center. 100 years ago I could have commuted by streetcar or rail. Now there's a MBTA bus to Burlington, and an LRTA bus from Burlington to Lowell. Why split the routes? Because there are two operating authorities? We should get rid of all the barriers between operating agencies, paint all the buses the same color, and make this a real statewide system. Pour some money into transit - it's a worthy investment. But let's make it a system..
On 2/13/12, DonnaSouthwell said about FY2013 Statement of Budget Priorities: Thanks for including civil legal aid -- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp.(MLAC) -- on your priority list. People are often surprised to learn that the right to an attorney applies only to criminal cases. For example, the low-income woman whose ex is suing for custody of their children may have to go to court alone while the ex is represented by a lawyer, creating a serious power imbalance. MLAC-funded programs, like Greater Boston Legal Services, provide assistance when possible, but they are limited by tight budgets, a situation that has gotten drastically worse in the past four years. That's mainly thanks to a 78% drop in funding from what was MLAC's largest funding source, the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts Program. In short, legal aid programs are in desperate need of more state funding this year, and I appreciate you're recognizing that!
On 2/13/12, AnneMarieLambert said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Thanks, Will, this is a vital issue. We can't put the burden of the Big Dig debt on bus commuters in your district. In your letter, it might be helpful to mention all the new developments planned in Cambridge, especially in the Alewife area. These will no doubt further increase bus ridership and/or road congestion. As Belmont continues work to revitalize Belmont Center and improve the parking situation there, rising demand for the bus and train service there can be expected for that reason also. While commuters are the driving need for these bus routes, it is also worth noting the social benefit of young people gaining independence from parental taxi services by taking public transportation. When my daughter took her first solo trips from Belmont to Boston's Community Boating in middle school, I was biting my nails, but knew the safe bus and subway route was giving her invaluable lessons on her path to young adulthood. Anne-Marie
On 2/13/12, JimGreiner said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Hi, Will, I support a gas tax increase on numerous grounds, not the least of which is the additional revenue for the T. Re fair increases, I happen to have the luxury of being able to afford them. I strongly suggest that to the extent possible, the burden of fair increases be imposed on persons with the ability to pay. Obviously, one cannot require an income tax return to ride the bus, but I like the idea in your letter of exempting the elderly and the disabled from any increases. Thanks very much.
On 2/13/12, LauraBagnall said about Transitional Services Legislation: This is a fabulous bill, and I am very grateful for it to have been enacted. However, the bill only works if there are services for the young adults to be transitioned to. The next huge gap to plug is the lack of services for adults on the autism spectrum. We have the Department of Mental Retardation for adults with cognitive disabilities and the Department of Mental Health for adults with mental illness. However, for adults with autism who are of average intelligence and do not have a mental illness (which is a large part of the population), they fall through the cracks. (For "crack" read "gaping hole"). Sincerely, Laura Bagnall
On 2/13/12, carolagate said about Notice of Discussion on Sentencing Reform: I hope the reform discussion includes mandatory minimums and juvenile life without parole.
On 2/13/12, DeborahTheodore said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Dear Mr. Brownsberger, "During difficult economic times, public transportation needs to be supported, not reduced." This is why you're our guy, thank you! There are many ways to structure fare increases during hard times, including passes for people on unemployment or other state and federal benefits, as well as for the elderly, disabled, and in-school. Also, peak hour fares for working commuters, etc. The consensus seems to be that given a choice between NO SERVICE and a fair and modest increase in fares, we choose the latter. Thank you for representing the people so well on this issue.
On 2/13/12, NinaDuncan said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I am also concerned about the idea of stopping the commuter rail weekend service. This is a vital service for people commuting back and forth from the city to out-lying communities. It is an affordable transportation for those of limited income, especially students, who nay not even own cars. I have often used the Fitchburg Line to visit friends who live further out and for going into the areas close to North station. It is best for all in this crowded area if people don't bring their cars with them. The Providence Line is a vital means of transportation for my daughter who does not own a car and uses the line to get into Boston on the weekends when she works at the Aquarium. During difficult economic times, public transportation needs to be supported, not reduced.
On 2/13/12, ShirleyKressel said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: I thank you for your attention to this crucial matter, and I offer a few suggestions. I appreciate your recognition of specific travel routes that are especially important to your constituents. It is implied but not spelled out that the businesses, institutions, and individuals at their destinations will also suffer, and those impacts will affect far more people across the region. Moreover, we are all related environmentally; increased air pollution is a harm we will all share. It is important to emphasize that damaging the transit web will hurt us all, not only specific transit users. I support a gas tax as a legitimate revenue increase and as an incentive toward use of renewable energy. But the transit system should not be put on a narrow diet again; the idea of a “dedicated funding stream” for a critical service is not appropriate, whether that stream is the general sales tax or a specific sales tax on gas. It is not dependable. We should fund the lifeline of our social and economic activity from our core general fund, where its needs can always be publicly vetted and appropriately met. That is the way to achieve financial stability for the long term. Finally, re limiting gas tax use to the T region, I believe that transportation for the major metropolitan area of the state should not be viewed as a local funding responsibility. Every part of the state benefits directly or indirectly from good public transportation here, and every municipality should be encouraged to enhance its mass transit as part of the overall web of connections. Further, our government model is to collect taxes uniformly and distribute them as needed; we may need the T more than do western residents, but our pooled money also goes to things they need and we don’t. I caution against a public policy promoting self-funding public services, turning every service catchment area into a sort of Business Improvement District, “every tub on its own bottom,” so to speak. This narrowing of interests is contrary to a broad and generous concept of the commons – a concept that has already been gravely compromised by trends toward privatization, segregation, etc. We are, and should be, a commonwealth. Rather than agree to harmful fare increases as a band-aid, we should demand that the state immediately take over the Big Dig debt unfairly placed on the MBTA. This would instantly solve most of the shortfall problem, and it would be only fair. This debt shift was a cover-up for political incompetence and corruption. Why should transit riders be singled out for punishment, while the politicians escape accountability at the hands of the general taxpaying electorate? There is also a long-term solution to the overall problem. If we ended the state’s corporate welfare boondoggles, we could make ours the best transit system in the nation. Let’s do what needs to be done, not just what’s most easily done. We can force riders to pay more with the flick of a pen; they are helpless. We can even raise the gas tax relatively easily, by promising everyone they’d keep their own revenues. But what we need to do is right the wrongs of the bigger system, so we don’t keep pitting our public service needs against each other every year while Fidelity, Raytheon, Liberty Mutual, Fallon Development, Vertex Pharma, the film industry, etc., quietly siphon off our money. WHY DO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LET THIS GO ON? Please make your next letter about that, and address it to your colleagues and the Governor.
On 2/13/12, AnnScott said about DRAFT Letter to the MBTA: Don't forget the elimination of the Green Line "E" train on weekends, making trips to Symphony, Jordan Hall, the BU Theatre, the Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts much more difficult, and on days when families make use of leisure time to visit these cultural monuments. The #39 bus, which does parallel the T for a bit, doesn't cut it. For someone traveling from Cambridge, for instance, there will be a need to take three separate modes of transportation, and to stand in the cold for unreliable buses. I also don't think that you cite the unfairness of the proposed fare increases, with its heaviest burden on seniors (175%, 100% proposed increases) and students. Thanks for your effort, Ann Scott
On 2/12/12, Joshua Alper said about Coyotes on the Loose: Am surprised at Mr. Maguaranis' assumption that I'm seeking a lethal control method, though would not rule it out. I'd very much like to know what is meant by "hazing"; the elements of the proposed Coyote Management Plan; what comprises "positive feedback"; and what steps individuals ought to take to protect themselves and their pets both around their neighborhoods at night, or in the woods. The Town website recommends that we turn on the lights and look around our yards before letting dogs out at night, and keep cats indoors at all times - - am not sure that such adaptation by humans (not coyotes) constitutes coexistence. Josh Alper
On 2/12/12, John Maguranis said about Coyotes on the Loose: Although Mr. Alper didn't offer any solutions, I'm guessing he's leaning towards some sort of lethal control method. Most people don't realize that coyotes respond to lethal methods by ramping up their litters and litter sizes. Decades of research prove that killing coyotes only produces more coyotes in the long term. We will never get rid of coyotes by any lethal means, so the best thing we can do is to learn how to peacefully coexist with them. I've been selected to represent Project Coyote (projectcoyote.org) in Massachusetts. I am currently writing a "Coyote Management Plan" for the Town of Belmont, which as you probably know, has been coexisting with coyotes for almost ten years. Education is the key element and coexistence is attainable; we've been doing it in Belmont. Part of the plan consists of trained "hazers". It is true that waving you arms, yelling and the other recommendations we've been hearing about are losing their effectiveness. Coyotes are intelligent animals, but proper hazing has, and does work. I would love the opportunity to speak with you in depth about this plan and maybe, in time, develop a state-wide plan. Before anything can be done, understanding these creatures, how they breed, how the play in the ecology role, and the benefits of having them must be understood. I have been educating Massachusetts citizens for 10 years and have only had positive feedback from all (over 100) of the presentations I've given. Best Always, John
On 2/11/12, JohnRobertPowers said about Governor Patricks 30 Million dollar double dip!: http://bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1400234 Check it out!
On 2/10/12, AnneJohnson said about Governor Patricks 30 Million dollar double dip!: Mr. Powers, thank you for your post. The line-item does not appear in the Governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013, and with the federal program already in place, there are no plans to add it to the state budget. The federal government does subsidize very basic service on two phone programs, Lifeline (cell phone service) and Linked-up (wired phone service). Safe Link, a private company, runs these programs, which are offered to low-income individuals. The federal government does not pay for the phones themselves, but the subsidy comes from a fund of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which all telecommunications companies pay into. The fund also provides money to assist schools and libraries in connecting to the internet. On January 31, 2012, the FCC announced a plan to overhaul the Lifeline service to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. You can find more information at the following website: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/lifeline-and-link-affordable-telephone-service-income-eligible-consumers. Anne Johnson, Committee Counsel and Policy Advisor Office of State Senator William N. Brownsberger
On 2/08/12, Rich Carlson said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Will - just curious, seems this has been introduced three times that I know over the last 20 years or so and never seems to get actioned, does anyone have any justification or reason why it's a bad idea? There was no testimony given (by anyone) that was not favorable to the bill, and yet the committee, with no explanation decided to take no action. It seems like it's incumbent upon us, as the governed, to justify ideas, but there's no quid-pro-quo for the government to explain why a decision is made. I think that's wrong. There should be transparency in Government. If this was a contractor or a service organization spending $2m per year of public money in what some deemed a frivolous manner, you know there'd be someone from the Hill talking about more transparency in their dealings (see http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/downtown/2012/02/greenway_conservancy_adopts_tr.html) Why can't we expect the same from our own legislators? I'd propose the introduction of a system that required a summary and a justification for both passage or denial of all bills. Honestly, I put in a lot of time and effort as have others, only to be told "we know better than you...But we're not gonna tell you what we know, or how we know it. Just move along now" It's very frustrating and does not engender trust or confidence that the government is here to serve us - feels more like the other way around. More transparency would help. Would it be more effort than the current system? Yes. Good management and informed decisions and personal responsibility take more effort. Is our state government willing to put out that much effort? SO far, I'd say the answer is no. Will, this is not intended as a personal criticism -- In my dealings with you I've seen your commitment to transparent, professional practices and policies backed by understanding of the issues. I wish I could say that of the rest of our legislators. Regards, Rich
On 2/07/12, PatriotsFan said about How to save $2m+ per year from the state budget: Just checking in to see if there was an update on this hearing?
On 2/06/12, EllenMass said about Three Strikes Update: Hi Everyone, We're writing from the Coalition for Effective Public Safety and passing along information that we hope will be useful to you. First of all, from the Blackstonian website, Feb. 2 , http://blackstonian.com/news/2012/02/blackstonian-3-strikes-edition-hits-the-streets-in-boston-and-throughout-ma/ "Yesterday the Blackstonian began distributing tens of thousands of copies of a special edition focusing on the proposed “3 Strikes” Habitual Offender Legislation. This special edition features commentary from, Prof. Charles Ogletree (Harvard), Prof. James Jennings (Tufts), NAACP / NEAC, ACLU of Mass, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), Coalition for Effective Public Safety (CEPS), Ben Thompson (CJPC), Sen. Will Brownsberger, Hon. Nancy Gertner, Former MA Corrections Comissioner Kathleen Dennehy, Aaron Tanaka of the Boston Workers Alliance (BWA), Prison Legal Services (PLS)...." Lois Ahrens also has a major piece in this newspaper, entitled "A Reckless, Cruel and Costly Path for Massachusetts." And you can also download the newspaper or read it online. Congratulations to Jamarhl Crawford for the timely publication of this special three-strikes publication which he is distributing throughout the state. He can be reached at blackstonian@verizon.net. Secondly, attached is a recent article by the Editorial Board of the Massachusetts Lawyer's Weekly (MLW) which appeared recently in Lawyer's Weekly. This article points out what Massachusetts will face if we don't oppose mandatory post-release parole supervision: "inevitable net-widening" and higher rates of re-incarceration, not for new crimes but for parole violations. Plus news articles have been appearing all across the state in print, on radio and TV -- in Fall River, Worcester, Springfield and Lowell as well as in the Boston media. ***Don't forget: we want to encourage you to support good articles and correct media errors by writing Letters to the Editor! Call in or send an email to a radio station or TV station etc. You can also make comments on the website in many cases. It's clear that our message is getting around the state, so please help out, write responses, pass these emails along, and get others to participate. And to that end, we are attaching several recent Prisoners' Legal Services' Fact Sheets. Make appointments with your senators and reps NOW. 1. The CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS RIGHT AWAY fact sheet (do not give to a legislator) will be useful to you. 2. The other fact sheets (particularly the "Crimes to Remove," "Bill Comparison Chart-Meaning," and the "Costs Table S.2080" ) should be read before you go to meetings, and you can hand them out to your legislators. 3. Most of us are: advocating for seriously limiting the number of crimes eligible for a third strike, supporting ending mandatory minimums for those convicted of drug offenses, insisting that Subsection B should read "3 years," aiming for no mandatory post-release supervision (see Lawyer's Weekly and Lois Ahrens' article in Blackstonian for why) and reducing school zones from 1000ft to 100 ft. But if you are not comfortable with those positions, you have the Fact Sheets to help you advocate for specific changes in the bills. Third: The February Forum dates (More will be coming on this later in the week). Please try to attend! WORCESTER - Wednesday, Feb. 15, 5:30-7:30pm at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, 5 Spaulding Street, Worcester, MA 01603 (btw. Lovell St. & Beaver Brook Parkway, off Maywood St.& Park Ave.) Call EPOCA for transportation options. Contact Steve O'Neill steve@exprisoners.org LOWELL -- Thursday, Feb 16, 7-9pm at Middlesex Community College, Federal Bldg, Assembly Room, 50 Kearney Square, Lowell MA 01852. Contact: Jean Trounstine jean@trounstine.com SPRINGFIELD -- Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6pm, Rebecca M. Johnson School, 55 Catherine Street, Springfield MA 01109-3505 Contact Jamarhl Crawford, blackstonian@verizon.net ; Steve O'Neill steve@exprisoners.org; or Lois Ahrens, lois@realcostofprisons.org Activities coming up on this subject. Ellen
On 2/06/12, EllenMass said about Three Strikes Update: Thank you Will Brownsberger for voting no on this bill. Stopping the 3 strikes law is one of the things i've been spending a little time on. I hope you continue to work on this important cause for proper criminal codes in the Commonwealth. it's really important--All but 4 white and all Black and Latino legislators, voted yes as did all senators in the first round of this legislation in Dec. There are efforts being made to scale down the crimes that will, otherwise, land people in prison forever. Ellen Mass
On 2/05/12, fredhapgood said about Boston Globe Story on MBTA Debt: It would be useful if someone could make a stab at measuring just how scary scary is. What would a stable, sustainable T budget, one that covered what needed to be covered, look like? If the budget projection you link to on your website has a figure in it for maintenance I would appreciate having it pointed out to me. I can't find it myself.
On 2/04/12, MarkKaepplein said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Will, with 2x drug overdose deaths as traffic deaths and more deaths from dirty hands in hospitals than traffic deaths, reason implies that law enforcement should stop wasting resources writing speeding tickets and buying laser speed guns? They would save more lives by monitoring hand washing in hospitals, checking scripts, and getting reports from the DEA and other LE. Likewise, intersection and bus cameras seem like a huge waste of money, especially when they don't catch bicyclists who are the ones most often running red lights. I've had a number of sport/exercise related knee injuries and laws inducing doctor paranoia have been the biggest problem I've experienced, not addiction despite having taken 300 Percocets, often with alcohol for enhancement, over a few months recovering from my last open surgery. For an earlier arthroscopic surgery when much younger, my parents were given only 3 Percocets on day surgery discharge with instructions on the bottle to take 1 every 4 hours and NEVER EVER with alcohol. My mother, thus would not give me any, and I couldn't go get it. So, I was in excruciating pain after the local anesthetic in my knee wore off and swelling continued (they didn't ice my knee in the recovery room while waiting for my nausea to stop). After a sleepless night, my father was finally able to spend hours getting and filling for me another script - in person because the law doesn't allow calling in vital scripts like these. On hindsight, him being given my schedule 1 script by a pharmacist must have broken some laws. I've never smoked cigarettes, but understand nicotine is far more addictive than opiates where under 10% of the population may be susceptible to addiction. I see that this bill only makes the problem worse, not better. Also, because the DEA communicates poorly with other government law enforcement, the solution is putting more burden on the private sector to bridge the communication gaps? With the ever more obscene prices of medications at pharmacies, legislators want to make them even more expensive? The bill could be written for the 21st century and encourage secure electronic prescription delivery from the doctor's computer to the pharmacy, with all the various government agencies getting carbon copied (by the pharmacy upon receipt). A doctor I have uses this amazing new technology on his desktop computer, and there might even be an iPad or iPhone app for that! Isn't this better than hand delivered pieces of (secure) paper?
On 2/04/12, SueBass said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Like Christopher Pearson, I have been denied pain medication when I needed it by a physician who was afraid of the old drug laws. Fortunately, my long-time internist knew I wasn't a drug abuser and prescribed me some. I do worry that this change will make the situation for patients even worse.
On 2/04/12, CRAIG SLATIN said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: In Lowell, the Health Department has done tireless work around this issue. The city has one of the higher rates of deaths from opioid overdoses in the state (prescription drugs). Several years ago they were surprised to find that most of these victims are adults - often white, English-speaking, building trades workers who were badly injured on the job. When their workers' compensation benefits ran out they could not longer afford the pain medication, but even though the comp system said they had completed their recovery, they had not. So, the health department discovered that what can happen is that these men learn that they can get the drugs on the street. Then, something happens and they overdose. So, although teenage substance abusers are using these prescription drugs, which is problematic, we should not assume that this problem is only about substance abuse. It also represents failures in our healthcare and health insurance systems. As we shift more of the costs of healthcare spending onto those in need of healthcare services - in order to control costs to the payers (as was done by the legislature this past year by removing the right of municipal workers' unions to negotiate their health insurance benefits - a cost-shifting measure)we establish the basis upon which these other problems will build.
On 2/04/12, ChristopherPearson said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Hi Will- While I agree that prescription drug abuse seems to have increased in the last decade, I fear that one of the side effects of legislation like this can have a detrimental effect on legitimate doctor/patient relationships. What happens is Doctors become fearful of prescribing pain medications, and hence you are left in many instances with needlessly suffering patients. Let me share one anecdote from my own personal experience: About 2 years ago, I had major oral surgery (specifically, my gums were cut open to prep for dental implants.) As the novocaine began wearing off, I was in quite a bit of discomfort, but the oral surgeon refused to give me anything stronger than Ibuprofen. I complained to her, to no avail. When I left the dentist's office, I went straight to see my primary care physician to see if she would prescribe me enough pain medication to get through a 24-hour period, however, she was away, and the nurse practitioner covering for her also refused to prescribe me pain medication, also out of fear of the laws. Several hours later, I was actually reduced to holding a small, "medicinal" amount of whiskey in my mouth to numb the throbbing in my gums from the surgery. Later, at about 2AM that night, I was awoken by the pain, and wound up having to go to the ER (Mt. Auburn Hospital) where the physician who saw me there had sympathy for my situation after I described what had happen, and prescribed me 6 tablets of a common narcotic pain reliever to get me through the majority of the post-operative pain. Bottom line, that day was a waste of time, money (ER costs), and I think highlights what legislators should be aware of when they put forth laws like this. I wound up filing a formal complaint to the Mass. Board of licensure for Dentists. I write this to make you, and other lawmakers, aware of what can happen when these laws are enacted. I understand you want to help curb the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, but it shouldn't come at the cost of causing legitimate sufferers of pain to be denied adequate medical care. Be aware that you may be opening the door to malpractice suits for underprescribing for pain because good, honest doctor's are living in fear of byzantine laws. Thanks for your time, and hope you will consider the points I have outlined here.
On 2/03/12, AbigailSmith said about MBTA Financial Condition: It would be a huge difficulty for me if the #78 bus route was cut out or even substantially diminished. This has been my life line to Harvard Sq. and a prime reason why I moved to Belmont. I would be fine with increased fares, (which are likely in any case) but to cut the service during the week, and/or to eliminate this bus route on weekends, would prove to be a huge burden to the people who live in the #78 area, especially older, retired, or disabled people who depend on the bus to get back and forth into Harvard Square (and then beyond) during non-rush hour times.
On 2/02/12, DavidChase said about Senate Passes Prescription Drug Legislation: Will, three comments/questions: Are services for opiate addicts widely available? I recall reading that there were alternatives to methadone (buprenorphine, I'm pretty sure) that were better in many ways, but that was difficulty in licensing enough doctors to prescribe to enough people to cover the need. I'm a little concerned about people who need opiates for pain; will they be able to get what they need? Cases like that of Richard Paey in Florida would be good to avoid (I met his wife; my Dad is active in attempting to reform drug laws down there). As always, I'm a little concerned about the blanket discussion of "drugs". Some illegal drugs are relatively harmless (compared to both opiates, and even to legal drugs like alcohol). If we treated them less aggressively in the legal code and enforcement, we'd save money, with little or not social harm. Portugal has apparently done relatively well with blanket decriminalization; some of the money saved on enforcement and prison could instead be directed to treatment.
On 2/02/12, DanaHarrington said about MBTA Financial Condition: It's shocking the Warrent Committee Chairperson would serve a softball advocating benefit cuts. Is it possible their benefits were offered in lieu of compensation? Even more surprising is that Will's policies are being driven by the business backed Mass Taxpayer's foundation. I suppose if you're raking in half a million a year, health insurance cost don't matter much.
On 1/31/12, ScottWalker said about MBTA Financial Condition: Another vote here for an adequate, dedicated revenue stream for the MBTA. In addition to raising the gas tax, some solution to the T's debt structure should be found that takes the Big Dig debts off the T's balance sheet. Those financial obligations should not be competing against transit service quality. They should be the state's obligation as a whole. As a small measure, how about ending the ridiculous "sales tax holiday" every August? I suggest this as someone who until recently ran a retail store. The holiday just shifts people's purchase dates around - it doesn't create any business, and it saps funds from the MBTA.
On 1/26/12, MarkPaolillo said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Congatulations Will. Fascinating stories about your backgroud and family. I look forward to work with you as our State Senator.
On 1/25/12, AdriaanMLanni said about Why are Belmont residents ineligible for some Mass Save programs?: Thanks, Will and Helen, for the helpful info. I understand why towns with a muni electric co. would have separate programs for electric upgrades, but I'm not sure why the Mass Save HEAT loan is not available to National Grid customers who live in Belmont. This is a 0-interest loan for 7 years of up to $25k for energy upgrades like solar water heaters, heat on demand water, and high-efficiency heating systems. Several of my neighbors have said they would have made an upgrade if they had access to a HEAT loan. If this program were available to Belmont residents I think we would see a significant reduction in our town's carbon footprint. Is there anything that can be done about this? Also, I called BMLD, and they do do audits and have an appliance rebate program, but it would be nice if they also replaced all the light bulbs with compact fluorescents the way Mass Save does in other towns. (BMLD will give you one free light bulb each month if you pay your bill in person; this seems like a program designed to insure as little participation as possible). Thanks! Adriaan
On 1/25/12, sarahgbell said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: I love the stories of your family. And thanks so much Will for all the thoughtful work you have done for so many. I am so proud that Cambridge could help boost you to the State Senate. Hope to see you at a farmer's market sometime this summer. Sarah, North Cambridge.
On 1/25/12, PeterPapesch said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Heartfelt congratulations. I knew a little about your background, but had to wait until your inauguration to learn the full richness of your background. Your constituents, of which I gladly am now one, will be well-served! Peter
On 1/25/12, DavidPowelstock said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Congratulations, Will. Keep up the terrific work! David
On 1/25/12, EllenMass said about Remarks upon taking the oath of office: Thanks Will for sharing this. I did not know so much about your personal life and family and it is nice to see you recognizing friends. You certainly have me as a friend in Cambridge and we have been through much. Hope you'll come to the concert Feb. 4. We have an award for you. Ellen
On 1/24/12, Helen Golding said about Why are Belmont residents ineligible for some Mass Save programs?: Adriaan -- I suspect that this relates to the fact that the companies that participate in Mass Save are all investor-owned utilities (in Belmont, we get electricity from the Belmont Municipal Light Department)[see Mass Save website for a list of sponsoring companies). National Grid, which provides natural gas service in Belmont, does participate in Mass Save. You might want to contact BMLD to find out if they have anything comparable to the programs you were interested in. Another source of information is the Mass. Department of Energy Resources.
On 1/24/12, AaronWeber said about MBTA Financial Condition: Every time this comes up on the Boston Globe, the comment section fills with rage against unions and taxes, and occasionally with rage against eastern MA. So, I think it's going to be politically difficult to get money into the T. But the T needs more money. It has a maintenance backlog that absolutely cannot be denied. Boston needs more transit. More service. Longer hours. To more distant locations. I know Arlington was afraid of poor people taking the train to Arlington Center, but seriously: Ridership is up. Everybody wants this service. Why is it so hard to fund it sufficiently? Especially a "Maintenance Backlog stimulus" of some kind?
On 1/23/12, AdriaanMLanni said about MBTA Financial Condition: I'd like to add another plea for the 74, which I use to commute, and which was a major factor in my choosing to buy a house in Belmont. Will, would a campaign to get as many Emails to the MBTA as possiible pleading for the 74 make a difference? I have sent in a comment, but many of the Belmont folks I've talked to about this, including bus riders, hadn't heard about the proposed cut to the 74. If comments would be helpful, is there any way to get the word out to Cambridge and Belmont residents to send in an email?
On 1/23/12, JamesDensmore said about MBTA Financial Condition: Although I’m not a daily rider of the 501 bus, cutting that service will have a big impact on traffic and ridership on other services, particularly the 57 bus. Based on the latest figures I can find there are nearly 1,800 daily boardings on the 501. If the service is cut, those riders will end up in cars or on the already crowded 57 bus though Newton and Brighton. I do ride the 503 from Brighton several times a week, and although the daily boardings are less than 500 (due to less service as buses are generally full), a similar affect will be felt. The same goes for the 64 bus with over 1,200 daily boardings. Assuming those riders remain in the area, that’s a lot for the remaining infrastructure to handle, and will leave those who can’t afford other options in the dark. As you correctly point out, the financials are more favorable to the 501 and 64 but I believe as many services should be saved as possible. I support a fare increase that is accompanied by other long term changes, such as debt reduction and the addition of new revenue sources, in the interest of keeping existing services running. Thank you for your support on this issue.
On 1/23/12, HelenSoussou said about MBTA Financial Condition: I have to get this off of my chest: It makes no common sense that just after your customer base increases you decide to raise prices and cut service. Like other writers, I believe that the T is a critically valuable service to the larger Boston community, for business,individual and environmental needs--and for all economic classes of people, but especially for those who cannot afford cars and have no other way to get to work. I liked the person's comment about the Walk-to-School program at the Wellington too. That helps health, environment, education and family pocketbooks. We really need to build the support base so that people can take pride in the MBTA and give it as much respect as the highway system which is not expected to support itself. That said, work needs to continue in improving management and reducing costs. We should aim to be among the nation's best metro systems, not the most decaying one. I am for a gas tax and probably any other reasonable fiscal change to help the T. Will spoke about a small gas tax. Think about it, gas prices are always making small ups and downs. A small tax increase is not much in the larger picture. We really need a large gas tax increase, but if a small one is more realistic, at least that is something. It would be great if we could get the Big Debt off of the MBTA budget. Keep the ideas coming! Helen Soussou
On 1/23/12, HelenSoussou said about Three Strikes Update: Thank you for this update on what we can expect for the bill in the coming months. It was interesting to watch the video with the governor's comments as well. Let us know when it is time to make calls or otherwise show support. Thanks, Helen Soussou
On 1/23/12, fredhapgood said about Virtual Education Bill Moving: I would like to call your attention to the story in today's (Monday's) New York Times titled "Sharing a Screen, if Not a Classroom". http://nyti.ms/zsw1DD The Khan Academy is quite a remarkable site. Easy to see how technologies like this might change education radically.