By Bob Katzen

“Things are different than they were the last time I was here. Last time I was here, we had money. I could be a hero.”
—House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) at the beginning of his speech to members of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

“Now, I understand that the idea of a transfer fee is a cause for concern for some of you, but if you believe that the issue of housing affordability is a genuine crisis, then we must explore all options that have the potential to make a real difference. I look forward to having continued conversations with members, and with the business community, on how we can bolster the development of more affordable housing, while ensuring that Massachusetts remains competitive.”
—House Speaker Mariano commenting on being open to a local-option real estate transfer tax to boost the affordable housing supply.

“The speaker is the latest politician floating the idea of further tax hikes that will only exacerbate the problem it is trying to fix. If the speaker is concerned with the cost of housing, he should provide property tax relief. If the speaker wants to help make Massachusetts more economically competitive, he needs to change his mindset away from harmful tax hikes and spending sprees and look to what the top two destinations for people leaving Massachusetts—Florida and New Hampshire—are doing, namely cutting taxes to attract taxpayers.”
—Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, on Mariano’s openness to a local-option real estate transfer tax.

“It is my great pleasure to donate these men’s and women’s suits and dress clothes on behalf of the residents of Norfolk County. I hope that by partnering with the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity, we can help to eliminate some of the barriers for young job seekers, empowering them to present themselves confidently in interviews.”
—Norfolk County Register of Deeds William O’Donnell announcing the success of an initiative to help individuals just starting out on the road to finding a job, noting the high price of a suit can be an insurmountable obstacle, and it can represent a missed opportunity.

“While alarming, today’s warning issued by the Department of Public Health is not a surprise. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already contaminated public water systems in 96 cities and towns in Massachusetts. These chemicals are incredibly harmful, increasing the risk of cancers, liver disease and more.”
—Deirdre Cummings, MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director, reacting to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health advisory urging consumers not to consume Simpson Spring products until further notice, after PFAS contamination exceeding drinking water standards was found in water bottled distributed by the company.