UPDATED 9:04PM: The Massachusetts Senate adopted Sen. Lesser’s amendment. The rail study will go to the House-Senate conference committee. State Senator Eric Lesser’s East-West rail study appeared ready to leave the station last year. It survived House-Senate negotiations and passed both chambers. But then, in
On Monday afternoon the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority proposed ending weekend commuter rail service and certain services for disabled riders. Ostensibly, the “saved” money would be put toward maintenance, which the system desperately needs. However, such a dramatic step would cripple attempts to build out mass
In these tumultuous times, robust debate grounded in well-researched writing and opinions could not be more important. People are segmenting themselves off from each other via geography and media, frustrating our ability to solve problems. While WMassP&I has tried to provide sharp and fact-based news,
The operation of the Springfield Police Department is perhaps the civil rights issue of the moment in the City of Homes. The reporting on the actions of Detective Gregg Bigda had already shaken City Hall, the Hampden County Hall of Justice and Pearl Street, the
An article I recently read in The New York Times Magazine profiled Miri Regev, the Israeli Minister of Culture & Sport. It described her attempts to direct cultural spending away from the traditional artistic elite—principally based in Tel Aviv—in the context of both her right-wing
Election Day brings a regular swig of direct democracy here in Massachusetts. Four ballot questions are on the statewide ballot with an additional question in cities like Holyoke and Springfield. Below, we offer our view on a few of the referenda this year. Question 1:
It is arguably the most competitive election in the Pioneer Valley, but it has not been like the national election. Apocalyptic, dark ads are not carpet-bombing television. Debates are not soaked in tension and wrath and indeed, are a bit dry. The 1st Hampden &
There are, on our regional ballots this year a number of competitive races. Not all are created equally. Some of these races include candidates of third parties and in still-quite Democratic Hampden County others are not such that fuller, separate explanations of our opinions are
America. What does it mean? For all the hullabaloo about a “change” election, the 2016 presidential contest is really question of what exactly this country is. Ultimately, this is what at stake between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democrat, and real estate tycoon
Springfield has long suffered from a staggering small “d” democratic deficit. Turnout is hopelessly low, especially so in municipal elections. Many things, socioeconomics to name one, are responsible, but one way out is better engaging the public. The process to replace Calvin McFadden, who resigned