Gateway Cities Journal: Fall Preview

Fall Preview

While we continue to wait for a conference report on the economic development bill (with Downtown Vitality funding, fingers crossed), the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute is hard at work preparing new research and organizing fall events and conversations. Here’s a quick rundown to whet the appetite:

School-centered neighborhood development

For the past year, we’ve been looking at how Massachusetts can improve schools and neighborhoods in tandem. Gateway City leaders and others with expertise on the topic shared their ideas, and we’ve assembled them into a playbook of sorts. Stay tuned for the report release and a series of forums to explore this topic in Gateway City neighborhoods across the state.

Early College and the jobs of the future

This fall we’ll have two reports on Early College. In addition to analyzing the most recent data on performance and growth, the first will outline high-level strategies to ensure that Early College programs provide pathways to careers in the state’s growing knowledge industries. To demonstrate what this looks like, an accompanying report will provide a blueprint for an Early College life sciences pathway.

The Gateway Cities Housing Monitor

This new report distills housing market trends in each community so residents, city leaders, and policymakers can make more informed decisions. We eagerly await the opportunity to share this research at the 12th Annual Gateway Cities Innovation Summit in Worcester on November 14th.

Municipal pension obligations.

Last year, we shared preliminary data on how municipal pension obligations crowd critical services and investments out of Gateway City budgets. It’s a troubling example of structural inequality, given that today’s Gateway City residents and leaders played no role in generating these burdensome expenses. We’ve taken time to learn more about the issues and how Massachusetts can equitably address them. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for this new report.

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In Other News

Housing & Economic Development

• Lt. Gov. Driscoll says lawmakers just aren’t there yet on the economic development bill.
• Gateway City mayors say we need more housing.
• Brockton Beer Company, a Black-owned brewery revitalizing the city’s downtown, will be closing.
• Lynn adds studio apartments for formerly homeless young adults.
• The largest offshore wind procurement in New England will bring more work and economic activity to New Bedford.
• Quincy city councilors vote for a resolution that asks Gov. Healey to impose stricter limits on the state’s right-to-shelter law, citing immigrants spotted sleeping outside the train station.
• With a groundbreaking last month, Salem is moving closer to opening for business as the state’s second offshore wind port.
• Brookings Metro takes stock of how the pandemic changed and didn’t change where Americans are moving. Data from Massachusetts show outmigration has been lower than some surrounding states.

Education

• Lowell Public Schools receives $15 million for heating and cooling upgrades in 23 buildings.
• The Lynn City Council approves $7.8 million for a geothermal heating and cooling system at the Pickering Middle School.
• Some Gateway Cities are starting the new school year with larger class sizes, fewer advanced courses, and tighter budgets.
• The Urban Institute looks at how society benefits from public investments in children.

Transportation

• Regional buses in Fall River and New Bedford will be free to ride thanks to funds generated through the Fair Share Amendment.
• The Worcester City Council votes to lower the city speed limit to 25 miles per hour, down from 30.
• The MBTA’s low-income fare program is now live.
• MassDOT officials say Gateway Cities could see some East-West rail service by the end of the decade.

Communities & People

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau examines the case for exempting police leaders from civil service.

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