By Bob Katzen
“These projects are a direct result of the governor’s tax relief bill. Our vacancy rate is at an all-time low, and these awards will create much needed multi-family housing across our state.”
—Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus announcing $27 million in Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) awards to create 547 total new units in 11 Gateway Cities across the Bay State.
“Access to affordable, high-quality early education and child care is essential. By actively engaging with the needs and challenges of families and providers, we can develop transformative policies that empower our workforce, drive economic growth and ensure a brighter future for our children. Together, we will create an early education system that benefits every resident of Massachusetts.”
— Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao announcing the Healey Administration will be holding a series of listening sessions across the state in July and August to inform the Early Education and Child Care Task Force’s recommendations and broader strategy to ensure accessible and affordable high-quality childcare for all families. For a list of locations and dates and/or to register to attend these sessions or provide input go to: Mass.gov/ChildCareTaskForce
“Once again, Massachusetts taxes punish success. While there is only one NBA Championship team, there are many businesses and high-income earners making the same decision as the owner of the Celtics. If Massachusetts ever wants to be economically competitive again, it must eliminate the income surtax and estate tax. These two taxes punish success and today is another great example of its economic harm.”
—Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, reacting to news reports that Wye Grousbeck announced that he will be selling his majority interest in the Boston Celtics for “estate and family planning considerations.”
“Almost seven out of ten Massachusetts students are eating school lunch, which means over half a million students are getting nutritious meals. We were proud to make universal free school meals permanent with the Legislature, and the combination of state and federal funding means that breakfasts and lunches are available to all students to help them stay healthy and succeed in school.”
—Gov. Maura Healey releasing data from the first year of state-funded universal free school meals, showing major increases in student participation compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.