Just started reading the 568! page #Eversource Electric Sector Modernization Plan. The highlight so far is the enormous increase in capacity required to switch from gas to heat pumps for winter heating.

This is going to be a massive and contentious issue, particularly with the #NIMBY movement.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/gmacesmp-drafteversource/download?_gl=1%2Ako8zfs%2A_ga%2ANzUwNDI5MDE3LjE2NTA5ODEyMjQ.%2A_ga_SW2TVH2WBY%2AMTY5MzkyMDE2OS4zNi4xLjE2OTM5MjM1NzQuMC4wLjA.

#Boston #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #MAPoli

Direct link to the survey for Massachusetts' new seal and motto:
https://umassboston.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cLQTE29dnADwfAy

#MAPoli #Massachusetts #stateflag

Mass. is getting a new seal and motto — and you can help decide

https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2023/09/05/massachusetts-new-seal-flag-motto-rich-barlow

#MAPoli #Massachusetts #stateflag

What the tunnel closure taught us is something transit Twitter doesn’t want to know: a “free” blue line and crushing traffic pressure to use it DID NOT get everyone to get out of their cars. Case. Closed. #mapoli
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/30/metro/officials-tour-sumner-tunnel-ahead-of-reopening/

Are you

- a resident of Boston
- a public transit rider
- someone “connected to communities of transit riders, including employees, customers, and students;”
- a person committed to “high quality, reliable, and affordable public transportation as a core strategy of economic growth, cultural vibrancy, and quality of life.”

@wutrain wants you to represent #Boston on the 9 member #MBTA board of directors.

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/wu-taking-unusual-approach-with-mbta-board-appointment-2/
#Massachusetts #MAPoli #Transit #WalkableCities #BetterBoston #GreaterBoston #GreatestBoston?

No. It's a loss for San Francisco.

"Self-driving cars are booming in San Francisco. Is it really a loss for Boston?” #boston #MaPoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/29/business/san-francisco-vs-boston-self-driving-cars/

The registration deadline for this year's preliminary municipal elections is September 2 (this Saturday)
#mapoli

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/08/29/saturday-is-the-registration-deadline-for-fall-municipal-elections

It seems fairly obvious that the Bratton contract was Fiandaca’s undoing, even if no one will say so. #MaPoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/28/metro/mass-transportation-secretary-is-stepping-down/

MassDOT Secretary Gina Fiandaca will step down in September after just 8 months on the job
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/08/28/massdot-secretary-gina-fiandaca-announces-resignation

UPDATE: At least 1.8 million views in just a few days.
Will Gov. Healey distance herself from the billionaire class and be the hero we need? Karen Spilka and Ron Mariano, what do you want your legacy to be?
#climateEmergency #mapoli

#SomervilleMA City Council is back from summer break, and had a big agenda of items for their Thursday 26 August meeting. #Somershade1 did his usual wonderful live commentary, but even fewer people can see it because, like many of the #BMX (Bluesky Meta Twitter) platforms, you have to be logged in as a user to view the content in the walled garden.
https://twitter.com/somershade1/status/1694848173997461754

We need a better commons for local political organizing.

#MAPoli

So MassGOP Chairwoman Carnevale used her party email blast list for an unscientific poll for POTUS:
Trump: 48%
Ramaswamy: 19%
DeSantis: 17%
…
The point here is that #mapoli Republican activists are no different than the rest of America. That’s why the party is dead in MA.

Will Gov. Healey distance herself from these people and be the hero we need? Karen Spilka and Ron Mariano, what do you want your legacy to be?
#climate #climateCrisis #climateEmergency #mapoli

After getting snubbed in last year's round of funding for federal grants designed to finance complex megaprojects, Massachusetts will try again, albeit with scaled-back expectations:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/08/22/massdot-tries-again-with-smaller-expectations-for-federal-megaproject-funding

Transportation might be the biggest #climate issue that cities can address. Not only would addressing #transportation equitably help us lower emissions, it would free up space for us to have healthy green parks and homes--JUST TO START!
Support different modes of getting around 🚶‍♂️ 🚍 🤸 🚴
State governments need to emphatically boost transit-oriented development. Washington also needs to get real. Divert tax $$$ away from personal yachts to building good infrastructure.
#bospoli #mapoli #uspol

What are the blockers from getting local political discourse migrated onto the fediverse?

Like, I live in #SomervilleMA - and we don't yet have any #SomervilleCityCouncil folks here yet, afaik. But most of them are relatively active still on birdsite?

We've got an election cycle coming up locally this fall, and I'm loathe to resume activity over on Twitter. #MAPoli #Somerville

@tchauhan

What do you know about the #BigDig MegaProject that ran from 1982-2007 in #Boston which gave us a bridge, a couple of tunnels, & a park, but also dropped pollution numbers downtown by double digit percentages & fixed nightmare-level traffic problems on the Central Artery of 93?

I'm not sure what the final number will be for cost, but with interest its well more than $20 billion USD?

The state will continue to pay >$100 million USD on this debt annually through 2038. Thats where your fares go, not world class service.

One can draw a direct line between the debt & service failures you see today - the #MBTA has been cutting corners for decades since they don't have sufficient funding to thrive.

Solution: fund the T absurdly well over the next 5 years.

We must hire, & retain, smart, dedicated people to manage this incredibly complex system.
We must fix root causes, not patch problems.
We must over-staff front line workers who are well compensated & do a great job providing rider-facing services.

Its an exercise for the reader how to fund this change. I don't think it should be the average low-income bus rider.

Rather, the MBTA must stop relying on rider fares & instead tax the rich/corporations/landowners.
#MAPoli #Massachusetts

Naimia Sait is running for #SomervilleCityCouncil in #SomervilleWard5.

Councilor Gómez-Mouakad announced in June that she will not seek another term for the seat.

I met Naima over the weekend, was impressed by her dedication to #Somerville, and hope you'll check out her site to keep in touch with her campaign:

https://www.naimaforsomerville.org/

#SomervilleMA #MAPoli

Struggling to learn under what exact law Governor Healey declared a migrant emergency last week, if it wasn’t the CDA. The media said she can now ignore procurement rules. How? Is this an executive order? Words at a press conference? No one knows. How can this be? #mapoli

Charlie Baker should have worked to establish a new party of normal conservatives when he was governor. It’s too late now, with the Republican right wing battling the far right wing. #MaPoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/16/metro/jim-lyons-amy-carnevale-massgop-geoff-diehl-lawsuit/