Gateway City Institute Fellows meet for first time in Lowell

Policy Center
Jun 5, 2013 Policy Center

The half-day session, held at the United Teen Equality Center, on May 29th, included presentations and a working lunch focused on the policy priorities of the small to mid-size cities outside of the Boston metropolitan area, known as Gateways for their historic role as gateways to the middle class. Adam Baacke, Assistant City Manager

Layoff threats, uncertainty about local aid loom over school budget process in Gateway Cities

Policy Center
Jun 5, 2013 Policy Center

INCSpot will be providing updates as Gateway Cities go through the process of approving school budgets for the next fiscal year. Here are some recent developments that illustrate the challenges of funding schools during a time of escalating costs and revenue uncertainties. —The most contentious budget process may be in New Bedford, where the school

Dropout danger leads to backlash against frequent school suspensions

Policy Center
Jun 3, 2013 Policy Center

NPR reports on a backlash against suspending high-school students and possibly putting them “on the fast track to falling behind, dropping out, and going to jail.” Opponents cite a study released in April, which highlighted the Worcester school district, that suggests the disciplinary measure is disproportionately used against “children of color and students from other

Mass. House votes to curb practice of trying 17-year-olds as adults

Policy Center
Jun 3, 2013 Policy Center

The state House of Representatives voted unanimously last week to largely end the practice of trying 17-year-olds in adult criminal court, prompted in part by a federal law requiring younger inmates to be housed separately from adult prisoners so they are at less risk of sexual assault. Bill H1432 would bring Massachusetts in line with

US Census: Gateway Cities growing, but not as fast as Boston

Policy Center
May 28, 2013 Policy Center

With the sole exception of New Bedford, every large or mid-sized city in Massachusetts grew at least slightly from 2010 to 2012, according to new population estimates of cities with at least 50,000 people released last week. But none added people as quickly as Boston. The Census Bureau estimates that the Hub rose by 3.1

Burying the Lead?

Policy Center
May 21, 2013 Policy Center

To a striking degree, conventional wisdom holds that the future belongs to large, agglomerating cities with “thick labor markets” that support high-tech innovation. It is an article of faith advanced by influential urban economists Richard Florida and Edward Glaeser, who call for nurturing the “megaregions” that have emerged victorious from post-1970s global market restructuring. Labor

New Bedford follows Pittsburgh’s lead, turns to residents to beautify vacant lots

Policy Center
May 21, 2013 Policy Center

New Zedford mayor Jon Mitchell this week announced a “Side Yard Program,” encouraging homeowners to put city-owned vacant lots to good use — an initiative that has proven successful in cities such as Pittsburgh. The New Bedford program will allow residents to buy vacant lots that abut their properties at discounted costs. “We’ve developed a

Kids in San Francisco get head start in financial skills

Policy Center
May 17, 2013 Policy Center

One way to strengthen Gateway Cities is to help families build assets that provide long-term economic stability. In Massachusetts, the Midas Collaborative provides financial education to low-income families and also operates matching-fund programs to encourage long-range saving. As Governing magazine reports, the city of San Francisco is going further by making financial skills part of its

Demonstrating the Transformative Redevelopment potential of Creative Placemaking through photography

Policy Center
May 15, 2013 Policy Center

Artists can play a major role in transformative redevelopment because they see space through a different lens, imagining authentic new uses for buildings that increase neighborhood vitality, and draw new investment to abutting properties. Help us demonstrate the opportunities that creative placemakers can unlock in your community. Send along examples of cultural projects that have been

New Grant offers help for vacant properties in the Gateway Cities

Policy Center
May 14, 2013 Policy Center

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office recently launched a grant program that aims to help communities with high levels of distressed and vacant properties revitalize properties for residential use. The grant, called the “Distressed Properties Identification and Revitalization Grant” will accept applications from Gateway Cities and other municipalties that have high rates of distressed properties. Individual applicant

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