Back on the Road Again: The Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus Tour

Gateway Cities Journal

After 18 months confined to the home office, we jumped at the chance to join the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus on their South Coast tour. In Attleboro, Fall River, and New Bedford, we listened in on firsthand accounts of valiant efforts to help residents through the pandemic.

What’s really behind the population increase in Gateway Cities?

Gateway Cities Journal

Gateway Cities are seeing strength in some neighborhoods and market segments, while others continue to present very real concerns. Whatever the case may be, it is imperative to better understand recent growth trends and develop clear-eyed strategy in response.

A Make or Break Moment for Gateway City Renewal

Gateway Cities Journal

With all the eye-popping numbers flying around in relation to the stimulus bills, federal budget, and infrastructure deal, you might think our transportation woes are solved. But down in the trenches, Massachusetts communities still lack many of the basic tools used around the country to control their own destiny.

Gateway Cities battle the digital divide

Gateway Cities Journal

At this point last summer, Gateway City educators were furiously at work trying to ensure that all students would have computers and reliable internet service when school resumed in the fall. Their herculean efforts demonstrated that we can temporarily narrow the divide, but a lot of work remains to find durable solutions to this multifaceted problem.

Advancing low-income fares beyond Boston

The Gateway Cities Journal

Since 2017, the FMCB has been pushing hard on the agency to provide discounts to low-income riders. In one of their final votes, they choose to instruct agency staff to prepare scenarios for a pilot program. On the one hand, this last-ditch effort makes sense. However, from the Gateway City perspective, the board’s actions are disappointing and a bit perplexing.

Budget Update: What Gateway Cities Need to Know

The Gateway Cities Journal

This week the FY 2022 budget moves to the Senate for debate. MassINC is tracking several amendments that are critically important for Gateway Cities, including funding for Early College expansion, neighborhood stabilization, small business assistance, and Regional Transit Authorities.

Regional Transit Authorities Win Funding Victory in House Budget

The Gateway Cities Journal

Public transportation service for over half the state’s population — the half not served by the MBTA — won a precedent-setting victory last week during the House budget debate. As Jim Kolesar from Berkshire Interfaith Organizing says, “Full funding for the RTAs, including our Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, seems the minimum that we should be

Who Will Rescue the Student Opportunity Act?

The Gateway Cities Journal

The problem in a nutshell: The Legislature hasn’t provided certainty that the state will make good on its promise to deliver the funds in equal increments over the law’s seven-year phase-in period. Lacking confidence that they will see these scheduled increases in Chapter 70 aid, school districts have been hesitant to develop plans to deploy the new funds strategically.

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