Author: Abby DeRigo
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To Protect and Serve? Police Militarization from "Urban Shield" Has Boston Residents Worried
Faneuil Hall was full of tourists, the smell of food and the sound of a street performer drumming on buckets. A circus tent was set up just outside City Hall Plaza, the sounds of the announcer and the cheering audience filling the typically empty plaza. No one – not the tourists, not the street performers,…
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Infrastructure Inequality: The Battle to Fix the Long Island Bridge
Outside of Woods-Mullen Shelter, just down the street from Boston Medical Center, sits a large, cage-like structure. A fence runs down the middle, creating two chain-link hallways. On a windy Boston afternoon, people in hoodies, sweatpants, ball caps and shades gather there, some huddled together, others standing and talking or smoking, many clinging to the…
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Five Questions with Gubenatorial Candidate Joe Avellone
BOSTON, Mass.—On Wednesday, April 9, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Avellone released his jobs and economic development plan. The plan focuses on using the state education system to attract modern industries (like life sciences and smart manufacturing) and creating a pro-small business environment. Avellone, currently the Corporate Senior Vice President of biotech company PAREXEL International, spoke…
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Debate Over Prescription Drug Addiction as Governor Declares Public Health Emergency
BOSTON, Mass.—On Thursday, 27 March 2014, Governor Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in Massachusetts in response to the growing rate of opioid addiction. The declaration provides Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett with emergency powers. She will work with the Public Health Council to take several actions to combat addiction and improve…
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Sequester Cuts into Massachusetts Homeless Programs
BOSTON, Mass.—In a press release on July 10, the Patrick Administration’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced its plans for $4 million in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds it received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to combat homelessness in the commonwealth. According to the release, roughly $1.4 million…
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Foreclosure King or Homeless Advocate?
Bank of American and the United Way Partner on Youth Homelessness Summit BOSTON, Mass.—The United Way, partnered with Bank of America, held the Boston Youth Homelessness Summit on Thursday, June 20. The audience included members from prominent organizations like Youth on Fire and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, alongside a few private companies. The summit was…