By Bob Katzen
“Partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the cornerstone of effective public safety. This funding is an investment in the enduring success of strong partnerships. Through this grant program, we provide public safety with essential resources to enhance community engagement and deliver evidence-based programs.”
—Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on awarding a $1.9 million grant to support statewide strategies for violence prevention and enhance community-based partnerships.
“We are incredibly excited about this program, which will make a difference in the lives of residents across the state and provide greater affordability, opportunity, and access to all MBTA service for residents as they travel throughout the week. This underscores the bold vision and commitment of the Healey-Driscoll Administration to deliver equitable, reliable and resilient transportation in a big way.”
— Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt on the MBTA’s announcement of several fare change proposals, including the introduction of a reduced fare program for riders with low income, that aim to improve equity, increase ridership and simplify fare rules,
“Climbing rents have propelled cost burdens to staggering new heights. In 2022, half of all U.S. renters were cost burdened. The number of renter households spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities rose by 2 million in just three years to a record high of 22.4 million. Among these renters, 12.1 million had severe burdens, paying over half of their income for housing — also an all-time high. And while rental markets are finally cooling, evictions have risen, the country is seeing the highest homelessness counts on record and the need for rental assistance is greater than ever.”
—From “America’s Rental Housing 2024,” a new report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
“Overall, the story of criminal justice reform in Massachusetts since 2018 is largely positive. This research finds crime and incarceration have fallen, and we have significantly expanded services for many. Our challenge now is to continue with a focus on reducing the large racial and ethnic disparities in our prison populations with housing, treatment and restorative justice practices.”
—Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation, on its new report “Criminal Justice Reform in Massachusetts: A Five-Year Progress Assessment.”