By Bob Katzen

“One-party government is the enemy of transparency. When one party holds the Legislature, the corner office and most local power for years, audits get delayed, records get withheld and contracts start looking like a club. That is not left versus right. That is what happens when nobody in power has to answer to a real opposition.”
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government a bill that changes the current law which requires that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children.”
Continue reading MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT (SD 2615) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate referred to the Committee on Transportation a bill that would require only a rear license plate be issued for every motor vehicle. Current law requires both a front and back plate. Continue reading REQUIRE ONLY ONE LICENSE PLATE ON VEHICLES (SD 3760) →

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By Bob Katzen

The Senate referred to the Committee on Housing legislation that would allow local cities and towns to adopt options instituting rent control. Current law prohibits the state or local communities from implementing rent control.
“I filed this legislation with Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge) to give communities the option to adopt reasonable limits on rent increases,” said Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough), the sponsor of the bill. “By exempting small property owners and recently built housing, the bill would protect tenants from steep rent hikes while allowing new housing construction to continue across Massachusetts.” Continue reading ALLOW LOCAL RENT CONTROL (SD 2669) →

By Bob Katzen

Mike Monogue, the Republican candidate for governor, proposed a suspension of the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax whenever prices climb above $4 per gallon.
“A gas tax holiday is a commonsense solution for hardworking Massachusetts families,” said Minogue. “The Legislature must put the people first and get this done. As governor, I’ll do the audit and free up millions lost to waste, fraud and abuse — allowing us to provide relief to Massachusetts families.”
Continue reading SUSPEND THE GAS TAX →

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QUESTION 2: ALLOW EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL SERVICES (CPCS) TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THEIR EMPLOYER. THE CPCS PAYS FOR ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT INDIGENT PERSONS IN CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES.

This question asks voters if they approve of a proposed law that would specify that employees of the CPCS are permitted to engage in collective bargaining with their employer. It would also require CPCS, after executing a collective bargaining agreement, to request the appropriation necessary to fund such agreement from the governor.
Continue reading BALLOT QUESTION 2 – Here is a look at Question 2: →

Property owners required to notify tenants within 48 hours of putting their residence on the market

SOMERVILLE – Finding out your home is up for sale shouldn’t come as a surprise. A new Somerville ordinance taking effect October 14, 2026, will require rental property owners to notify tenants in writing within 48 hours of putting their residence on the market.
Continue reading Somerville’s Building Sale Notice Requirement Takes Effect October 14 →