Author: Sarah Betancourt
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Climate Crisis: 400,000 March in New York to Urge Action from World Leaders
On September 21, over 400,000 people marched through Manhattan demanding global action against climate change. The People’s Climate March was planned as a response to the United Nations (UN) Climate Summit on September 23 and became the largest climate march to date. Thousands of other activists around the world also took actions in solidarity with…
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Six-State Environmental Agreement Leaves State Bill in Shambles, Causes Resignations
BOSTON, Mass.—Almost a month after three members of Governor Patrick’s environmental advisory committee resigned, protesting policies in the Clean Energy Resources Bill, Governor Patrick has pledged to further assess the problems behind the embattled bill. In July, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) filed appeals in Massachusetts regarding the withholding of documents on the development of…
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Safe Access Law Follows Buffer Zone Repeal
BOSTON, Mass.—On 26 June 2014, the Supreme Court’s decition in McCullen v. Coakley struck down Massachusetts’ 2007 buffer zone law as unconstitutional, angering millions of abortion advocates. In response, Governor Deval Patrick signed a new bill, “An Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities,”to take the place of the…
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Boston Joins International Climate Leadership Group
BOSTON, Mass.— Mayor Martin Walsh recently announced that Boston will join the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), an invitation-only global network of cities working to prepare for and prevent climate change. He also announced the creation of the 2014 Climate Action Plan Steering Committee, which will direct and update Boston’s 2007 Climate Action Plan,…
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Energy Efficiency Bill Gains Traction on Beacon Hill
BOSTON, Mass.—The state legislature’s Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight has favorably reported out a bill filed by Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) that aims to increase energy efficiency in state buildings. The bill measures the energy implications of all resources used. Increased interest in energy efficiency and carbon reduction plans in the Hub…
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Shackled at Birth: Massachusetts’ Mistreatment of Pregnant Prisoners
A month after Governor Patrick signed a 90-day ban prohibiting the practice of shackling pregnant inmates in jails and prisons, the Massachusetts House and Senate have moved forward in passing S.2012, the Anti-Shackling bill. It still awaited the governor’s approval and signature as of press time. Corrections officials are already banned from shackling pregnant inmates…
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Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh in on Environmental Tax Reform
The race for governor is heating up as candidates begin to announce their platforms on issues important to Massachusetts voters. Environmental issues—particularly fossil fuel divestment and Boston’s carbon reduction, both of which SPARE CHANGE NEWS has previously reported on—have dominated part of the conversation as caucuses have begun across the state. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe…
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Ten-City Initiative a Step toward Solving Air Pollution
BOSTON, Mass.—Mayor Martin J. Walsh recently announced that Boston will join the City Energy Project (CEP), a new venture with the Institute for Market Transformation, National Resources Defense Council, and ten cities (including Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Houston, Kansas City, and others), to reduce energy usage and curb greenhouse gas emissions used by their cities’…
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Raise Up Massachusetts Takes the Minimum Wage Fight to a New Level
BOSTON, Mass.—Massachusetts Treasurer Steve Grossman spoke to a crowd of 200 at a recent rally for an increased minimum wage and earned sick time. “This morning, a million people in the commonwealth woke up and didn’t have a single day of earned sick time. Some of my friends in the business community say, ‘We can’t…
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New Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein Hopes To Make Progress On Housing the Homeless
BOSTON, Mass.—When you think of the homeless, you often think of the familiar faces of men and women panhandling in Central Square, or selling SPARE CHANGE NEWS at Park Street. They sit outside of Bank of America on Mass. Ave. or under the eaves of the Harvard T station as many of us walk past.…