The FY 2020 House budget released yesterday directs $1 million to MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI)-with $750,000 of that earmarked for neighborhood stabilization activities. This represents an important step forward (and a strong show of support) for a concerted effort to create a comprehensive neighborhood stabilization program for Massachusetts. With these funds, MassDevelopment could build
TOD planning takes root in the Heart of the Commonwealth
Gateways Episode 11
In this episode, we hear from Mayor Petty & Jake Sanders from the city of Worcester along with Craig Blais and Roberta Brien of the Worcester Business Development Corporation.
Accountability in the school funding debate
Gateways Episode 10
In Part II of our deep dive on local education accountability, Ben talks with Rep. Aaron Vega, author of the Promise Act, and Ed Lambert, former mayor of Fall River and current Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.
A Complex Recipe for Housing Financing
Brockton Offers Formula for Gateway Cities
Rob May, Brock- ton’s director of economic devel- opment and planning, famously offers up his seven-layer dip to any- one with a taste for the city’s downtown.
A 121B Urban Re- newal plan forms the base. Then, he mixes in 40Q District Improvement Financing, a 40R Smart Growth Overlay District, a 40V Hous-ing Development Zone and a Transformative Development District.
Ending the Cycle of Segregation
The Gateways City Journal
Gateway City leaders converged on Beacon Hill last week to plead for more education funding. The facts are undisputed: In recent years, state aid has not kept pace with rising healthcare and special education costs. Changes to the way the state counts low-income students penalized Gateway City schools that serve large numbers of immigrants. And
Ben Forman’s testimony on Gateway Cities and the Promise Act
Ben Forman submitted written testimony on the Promise Act. His remarks focus on how MassINC’s recent research on local accountability can inform the debate over whether additional funding should also come with provisions requiring additional accountability for increasing student achievement. Click here to read his written testimony.
Local education accountability with Tracy Novick
Gateways Episode 9
In this new episode of Gateways, Ben Forman visits Worcester to speak with Tracy Novick, Field Director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. With experience serving on both school committees and school councils in Worcester, Tracy is highly regarded as an outspoken thought leader on education policy. Ben chats with Tracy about MassINC's recent research on the importance of local accountability.
A third way on the school funding/accountability debate
The answer isn’t more state rules but greater local oversight
BEACON HILL LEADERS are searching for ways to provide public schools with a significant infusion of new dollars. Taking a page from Massachusetts’s landmark 1993 Education Reform Act, some have proposed attaching higher levels of accountability to any new funding. Others are not so hot on this idea. After all, they reason, the state skirted
A New Vision for Commuter Rail
The Gateway Cities Journal
The past two weeks have been exciting ones for transportation in the Commonwealth. Our legislative leadership has primed the policy pump for the Commonwealth to make bold changes to our commuter rail system. House Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Spilka stated Tuesday that “all ideas are on the table” for how to fund necessary transportation
Walking Through Worcester
Gateways Episode 8.5
Dr. Tracy Corley takes a walk through Worcester along MassINC's research director Ben Forman and Tim McGourthy, the former Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. The group walks us through the commuter rail stations, theater district, the Common, and the DCU Center, highlighting the