Spare Change News

Category: Political

  • PATRICK PLANS CAP ON HOUSING AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE PAY, OTHER REFORMS

    By Matt Murphy STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 21, 2012. On the heels of revelations that the former Chelsea Housing Authority executive director concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary from the state, Gov. Deval Patrick will propose in his budget next week to impose new reporting and auditing requirements on…

  • If You Don't Demand Change then It Never Will Be

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News Many people today don’t stand up for human rights or civil rights because they don’t feel that they will be heard. The truth of the matter is that if you don’t vote for a candidate or a particular issue and if you don’t demand change, then it never will be,…

  • Healthy Eating Habits and Locally Grown Foods

    Robert Sondak Spare Change News In an effort to promote healthy eating habits and Massachusetts-grown produce, Governor Deval Patrick launched a free online monthly newsletter called “ChopChop”. This newsletter was created in partnership with “ChopChop” magazine, a national quarterly publication that focuses on bringing parents and children together to prepare meals. “We are committed to…

  • Editorial: From MLK to Occupy

    “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Looking back on the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. (http://www.kinginstitute.info/), we see that many of his primary…

  • Occupy The Dream

    Nakia Hill Spare Change News Harry B. Rutherford, Jr. lives in Columbus, South Carolina, where he has his own dental practice serving his community. On January 16, when the nation celebrates the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by taking a day off of work to reflect, attend an event in his honor, like…

  • DESPITE RISE IN TAX RECEIPTS, STATE’S FIXED COSTS MEAN MORE SPENDING CUTS

    By Kyle Cheney STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 12, 2012 Massachusetts residents should brace for another year of program cuts and elimination of services, Gov. Deval Patrick’s top budget adviser warned Thursday, citing the growth of budget-busting accounts that he said will be the target of a new round of reforms. Even…

  • SENATE GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO BILL AIDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

    By Colleen Quinn STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 9, 2012….Domestic violence victims would be guaranteed leave from their jobs under legislation that received initial approval in Senate Monday and has the backing of two major employer groups. The law would require Massachusetts employers with more than 50 employees to give up to…

  • PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES 21% DECREASE IN VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

    STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE BOSTON – Thursday, January 5, 2012 – The Patrick Murray Administration today joined officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness to announce a new report showing homelessness among veterans in Massachusetts has dropped 21 percent since January 2011, nearly twice…

  • MBTA OUTLINES STEEP FARE HIKES, PREDICTS SERVICE REDUCTIONS

    By Matt Murphy STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 3, 2012….The MBTA over the next several months will consider a mix of sharp fare increases and service reductions that would eliminate some bus routes, cancel weekend commuter rail service and spike the cost of a subway ride to $2.40 in order close the…

  • Editorial: An affront to civil liberties

    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 has passed, much to the anger of those who found out about it while it was working its way through Congress. For those who don’t know, the big commotion over this bill sprouted from a provision, now known as Section 1031, which authorized the indefinite detainment…