Things are heating up here at MassINC — just in time to enjoy some fresh soft-serve ice cream from the newest addition to Boston Common.
From a first-hand ride on the South Coast Rail, to awards for our newsroom and a top 20 ranking for MPG, to a bevy of new reports — there’s a lot to catch up on. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to over the past two months.
EVENT RECAP
Reclaiming Vacant Property Conference
The Reclaiming Vacant Property Conference, held in Springfield on April 8 in partnership with the MassMutual Foundation, convened experts and leaders to explore innovative strategies for revitalizing distressed properties. Panel discussions — featuring insights from the Strategic Code Enforcement Management Academy (SCEMA) and Massachusetts officials — highlighted successful cross-sector models and recent state-level legal reforms, including updates to receivership and tax foreclosure laws.
Remarks from Secretary Ed Augustus underscored the importance of collaborative efforts and community-driven solutions in addressing vacancies and disinvestment. Attendees heard that sustainable property revitalization requires community engagement, effective collaboration, and strong political will. Dina Fein, one of our Greg Torres Senior Fellows, played a leadership role in organizing the conference and spoke about the new receivership law she helped enact last year.
NEW RESEARCH
Reckoning with Historic Unfunded Municipal Pension Obligations
The Policy Center’s latest report examines the long-term financial strain caused by underfunded local public pension systems in Massachusetts, especially in Gateway Cities. It offers data-driven context, highlights the inequities created by past decisions, and presents actionable policy recommendations to improve transparency, equity, and investment efficiency through state-level reforms.
NEW RESEARCH
Early College Pathways to the Jobs of the Future
The Policy Center released two new companion reports that explore how Early College programs can help meet the Commonwealth’s workforce needs – particularly in high-demand sectors like health care and life sciences. These studies show how Early College can prepare more students for college-level STEM coursework and careers in high-demand industries. Early College Life Sciences Pathways outlines how schools, colleges, state agencies, and employers can work together to strengthen the life sciences talent pipeline.
As the state develops its first Early College expansion strategy, Opening the Doors to the Jobs of the Future offers four key objectives to guide this growth – expanding access for underserved students, promoting integration, and exposing students to a range of career pathways.
Students from Gateway Cities flocked to Beacon Hill last month for Early College Day to share their many positive experiences in programs across the state. They also urged legislators to give more students access to this unique opportunity, which resonated against the chilling backdrop of looming federal cuts to education funding. Read more in a recent Gateway Cities Journal.
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Our Changing Climate: Can Massachusetts Rise to the Challenge?
During the month of April, our reporters are publishing a series of stories from across the state on some of the challenges facing Massachusetts and the solutions that may help both decrease our carbon output and mitigate the worst of the effects of rising temperatures. We’re also bringing together the statewide voices of environmental advocates, business leaders, energy experts, and municipal leadership to explore how the state charts a path forward.
Catch up on CommonWealth Beacon‘s coverage by visiting its dedicated landing page and be sure to read Jennifer Smith’s story, “Water doesn’t know property lines” which took a deep dive into how the state’s coastal communities are grappling with the tightly interrelated issues of housing and climate.
UPCOMING EVENT
The Collective Climate Challenge of Coastal Massachusetts
Join CommonWealth Beacon and WCAI on Wednesday, April 30 at Provincetown Town Hall, for a moderated conversation about what it means to live and plan responsibly on the Cape and Islands, while being clear-eyed about the long-term risks of climate change.
COMING SOON
Expanding Our Coverage with Report for America
CommonWealth Beacon is proud to serve as a host newsroom for a Report for America corps member, expanding our coverage of the state’s Gateway Cities. The reporter will focus on how major policy issues — such as housing, economic development, education, and transportation — affect residents in these small to mid-size regional cities, many of which are home to large immigrant populations. Through daily reporting and in-depth features, the corps member will cover a beat that highlights both the challenges and opportunities these cities face in promoting economic mobility and revitalizing their local economies, with a focus on the lived experiences of its residents. Interested candidates can apply here by April 23 to join our team.
ICYMI
The Ethics of Nonprofit News
MassINC CEO Joe Kriesberg spoke on a webinar hosted by What Works, a project hosted by Northeastern University’s School of Journalism, that examines the state of local news across the country. The webinar focused on ethical issues facing nonprofit news organizations and specifically their donors and board members. The session was hosted by Dan Kennedy from Northeastern University and included Josh Stearns from the Democracy Fund and Kara Meyberg Guzman from Santa Cruz Local in California. Click here to read more or watch the video.
AWARD WINNERS
CommonWealth Beacon wins multiple 2024 NENPA awards
CommonWealth Beacon was recognized for journalistic excellence by the New England Newspaper & Press Assocation, taking home multiple awards for its work, including top honors for Best Overall Website and Racial, Ethnic or Gender Issue Coverage. Reporter Bhaamati Borkhetaria won first place in the award for racial, ethnic or gender issue coverage for her story “Social equity marijuana businesses sold ‘bag of dreams,’” which documented the rough road faced by these entrepreneurs amid falling pot prices and difficulty accessing capital. In total, CommonWealth Beacon finished in the top three in a total of eight categories during the New England Better Newspaper Competition.
Lastest Codcast Episode
Managed retreat: not if, but when? (Listen)
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Kristin Uiterwyk, director of the Urban Harbors Institute at UMass Boston, and Chris Krahforst, Director of Climate Adaptation and Conservation for the town of Hull, to discuss managed retreat in Massachusetts coastal communities threatened by rising waters and shrinking sands.
TOP ARTICLES
Get original reporting and insightful commentary on Massachusetts politics, ideas, and civic life in your inbox with CommonWealth Beacon‘s digital newsletters.
NEW POLL
Massachusetts residents say state must prepare for transportation funding shortfall
A new MPG poll commissioned by Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) finds that 59 percent of residents believe the state needs a long-term transportation funding plan amid uncertainty over future federal support. The survey highlights an openness for new revenue strategies like congestion pricing and universal vehicle fees, underscoring the urgency to rethink how Massachusetts invests in its roads, bridges, and transit systems.
NEW IN COMMONWEALTH BEACON
Mass. Democrats want delegation to do more in Washington
Writing in CommonWealth Beacon, MPG’s John Gee and Rich Parr highlight the challenge facing Massachusetts electeds navigating the situation in Washington: 62 percent of Democratic voters want their representatives in Congress to oppose the Republican agenda (higher than nationally), but overall voters want to see bipartisanship.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Coming in May: Two MPG poll release events at TBF
MPG has two major survey release events in the coming weeks. The first is a survey of nonprofits in Massachusetts and how they are navigating the difficulties at the federal level. The second release covers a series of surveys, interviews and focus groups on the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). Both events will be at The Boston Foundation.
LATEST HORSE RACE EPISODE
Episode 345: Political Erosion | (Listen)
Steve and Jenn are joined by John Gee of The MassINC Polling Group to discuss new MPG polling on how Massachusetts voters are feeling about national politics right now. Then, Jenn tells us about her reporting on the intertwined climate and housing crisis on the Cape and Islands.
The MassINC Polling Group is actively seeking new business opportunities. If you’re thinking about public opinion research, from adding a single question to a statewide poll to a fully custom program of surveys and focus groups, they can help. Working with MPG is a great way to support MassINC’s mission.