Monthly Archives: September 2015

MOULTON ANNOUNCES NEW EFFORT TO HELP END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced new federal funding to support low-income veterans in northeast Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a total of $4,157,453 in grants to three Massachusetts organizations dedicated to preventing veteran homelessness, including the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, the Lynn Housing Authority Development Group, and the Vietnam Veterans Workshop.

Mayor Walsh Releases Report Exploring the Creation of Additional Neighborhood Innovation Districts

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released a report that explores the possibility of building on the successes and lessons learned from the Seaport Innovation District and creating more Neighborhood Innovation Districts in Boston to empower the city's entrepreneurial talent. The report was created by the Neighborhood Innovation District Committee, a group of community members, entrepreneurs, thought-leaders and public servants who were appointed by the Mayor to hold public meetings and discuss the benefits and challenges found in the creation of more Neighborhood Innovation Districts

Senator Markey Joins UN Ambassador Samantha Power at UN General Assembly for Address of...

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Kenneth Hackett, Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller and Deputy Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations Michele Sison, at the UN General Assembly address of His Holiness Pope Francis. Senator Markey is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ranking member of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee

Town Manager remembered for passion for affordable housing

Musante died Sunday after an ambulance responded to his home for a medical emergency at 8:45 a.m. The son of former Northampton Mayor David Musante, John Musante came to Amherst as finance director in in 2004 and was named town manager in 2010. He had previously been finance director of Northampton, as well as budget director and chief of staff for New Bedford and the town manager in Lenox

McGovern Announces $2.7 Million for Worcester Airport

Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), announced $2.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Worcester Regional Airport, helping to support its continued success. The funding will support the construction of a partial parallel taxiway to Runway 11/29 in order to reduce the need to back taxi on the runway. This grant will provide funding for phase 1 of a 2 phase project. This phase includes construction of an approximately 3,500 foot haul road.

REALTOR® Association Pushes for Passage of Copper Theft Prevention Bill on Beacon Hill

Massachusetts REALTORS® were on Beacon Hill today to testify on behalf of H.226 An Act regulating secondary metals dealings. While the foreclosure crisis has passed and the market is healthy, the problem of copper theft from vacant and occupied homes continues to be a problem that hurts neighborhoods their home values.

Mayor Walsh Joins Compact of Mayors Committed to Climate Action

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the Compact of Mayors, fortifying Boston's commitment to climate action and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a global scale. The Compact unites cities with a common goal to drive climate action, building on Boston's continued commitment through its existing Climate Action Plan.

Markey, Booker Call on FERC to Strengthen Standards to Protect Electricity Grid from Damaging...

Last week, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with concerns about the adequacy of a proposed reliability standard for keeping the electric grid safe from solar storms when they hit Earth (referred to as geomagnetic disturbances, or GMD), which have the potential to cause widespread blackouts and serious damage to the grid.

Governor Baker Announces Affordable Housing Development Awards

Governor Charlie Baker and Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay announced awards for the 2015 competition to fund affordable rental housing development, renovation, and preservation in the Commonwealth. The funding advances the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to ensuring access to quality, affordable housing.

McGovern Hosts Congressional Youth Leaders to Discuss Climate Change and Renewable Energy in Massachusetts

Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) hosted the second of a series of meetings with his 2015 Congressional Youth Cabinet at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in Westborough. The event included a presentation about, and tour of, the new Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife net zero field office and a roundtable discussion on the effects of climate change and the possibilities presented by renewable energy sources

Massachusetts Home Buyers Did Not Slow Down as Pending Homes Sales Up Significantly in...

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that very strong buyer activity in August pushed pending home sales up over 40 percent from the same month last year. REALTORS® showed growing confidence in the market again in August as the REALTOR® Market Confidence Index was up over 20 percent from August 2014. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that “boomerang buyers” are not as active in Massachusetts

Former Roxse Homes Workers Charged with Taking Bribes

Two former Roxse Homes employees were arrested today on charges that they conspired to rent apartments at the housing development in Roxbury to individuals who were not qualified for those apartments, in exchange for cash bribes

A Modular Prefab Home is a Practical Option for New Homebuyers

The popularity of prefab housing is gaining fast traction among today’s savvy and environmentally aware consumers. Referred to as “modular construction” by the industry, modular house construction is an inherently “green” process. It uses fewer materials and produces less waste because the process relies on computer aided design and precise equipment.

WARREN, MARKEY, KEATING, KENNEDY ANNOUNCE $400K IN FEDERAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE GRANTS FOR FALL RIVER

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward J. Markey, Congressman Bill Keating (MA-9) and Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-4) today announced that Steppingstone Incorporated, a substance abuse treatment center in Fall River, will receive $400,000 in federal grants. The funding will support Project Reentering Offenders Achieving Recovery (ROAR), a collaborative effort between Steppingstone Inc. and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office to provide treatment and training for male offenders with a history of substance abuse

CONEG Takes Action On Opioid Abuse, National Surface Transportation Legislation, and Low Income Home...

The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), under the leadership of Chair Governor Dannel P. Malloy (CT) and Vice-chair Governor Charlie Baker (MA) took action on three fronts issuing letters regarding the opioid epidemic, national surface transportation legislation, and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Recent

AG Healey Secures $2 Million in Restitution for 20,000 Massachusetts Homeowners...

One of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers will pay $2 million in restitution to resolve allegations that it violated state law and committed unfair and deceptive practices by charging Massachusetts homeowners for unnecessary fees and overpriced force-placed insurance policies, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today