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Category: Politics

  • MA State Election 2010 – Ballot Question #3

    MA State Election 2010 – Ballot Question #3

    Massachusetts 2010 Ballot Question #3 - Rollback MA Sales Tax to 3 Percent
    In November, Ballot Question #3 will ask Massachusetts voters to decide if the state should rollback the (MA) Sales Tax to 3% or leave it 6.25%.

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The question of whether or not the State of Massachusetts should rollback the MA Sales Tax to 3% is sure to bring voters to the polls this November — even if the task of deciding which candidates are the least objectionable has some disgusted with the “partisan politics as usual” races.

    Question #3 seems harsh to some and more than fair to others.

    The facts: Before 1966 there was no sales tax in Massachusetts. Facing a near $200 Million revenue shortfall,  then Governor John Volpe, (a Republican who went on the become Nixon’s Secretary of Transportation when he left office in MA), passed a bi-partisan supported emergency regulation by which the legislature imposed a [temporary] 3% sales tax, (it seems its never hard to get politicians to compromise and cooperate when it comes to raising taxes — no matter how many campaign pledges they make, and regardless of (more…)

  • 2010 Mass Mudlinging Open

    2010 Mass Mudlinging Open

    Ballot Box
    If you don't vote, you can't complain!

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Its that time again folks, when Massachusetts politics heat up even more than usual and just about anything goes.

    Yes, it’s election time for the Massachusetts Governor, Treasurer, State Reps and few other other hot seats.

    On top the contested races, and likely to get more people out to vote are three ballot questions, two of which have a lot of people talking.

    Rather than “report”, I figured I just open up a with “Ready, Aim, Fire!”… and let you post ANYTHING related to any political race or ballot question that directly or indirectly affects Framingham, MA residents.

    Ready… aim… fire!

  • Framingham, MA – FY2011 Cherry Sheet

    Framingham, MA – FY2011 Cherry Sheet

    [graphic] FY2011 Framingham, MA Cherry Sheet - State Aid figures.
    Will state aid will pay for state mandates?
    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Each year the Massachusetts Commissioner of Revenue produces “estimates” of how much state aid each city and town will get for the upcoming fiscal year, (along with any assessments which reduce aid payment from the state).

    Known as the “cherry sheet” for the color of paper it was originally printed on, the state now publishes these state aid estimates online.

    Below is an HTML version of the cherry sheet for Framingham for fiscal Year 2011, (it was published by the state on July 1, 2010).

    The first page lists estimated receipts, (state aid to be paid to Framingham); (more…)

  • What is the 40B Law?

    What is the 40B Law?

    [Illustration] 40B crumbling
    What is 40B?
    FRAMINGHAM, MA – For residents and local planning and zoning officials in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts, the battle is on for affordable housing.

    More than the battle to buy, rent or obtain affordable housing, the battle over “What really is affordable housing?” and how much of it should be built, along with where, when, why and how it should be built — and “On who’s terms?” are what is in dispute.

    Neither side is saying affordable housing is bad.  In fact both sides appear to be advocating responsible development of affordable housing in Massachusetts.

    So, what is 40B ?…

    Officially known as “The Regional Planning Law“, Massachusetts General Law, (M.G.L.), Chapter 40B contains (more…)

  • MA Gov Candidates on Emily Rooney Show

    MA Gov Candidates on Emily Rooney Show

    screen capture - Emily Rooney, WGBH 2010 Mass Decision segment intro
    Emily Rooney / WGBH "2010 Mass Decision" segments with the four gubernatorial candidates.

    BOSTON, MA – Between June 1st and July 7th Emily Rooney sat and talked with the four candidates running in the 2010 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race.

    Rooney who hosts the PBS nightly news program Greater Boston is a seasoned reporter, editor and on-air personality with decades of experience in Massachusetts politics.

    Video clips of each segment appear below in the order they aired.

    This round of interviews appear somewhat informal — a “talk show” atmosphere, with not very hard questions — something that will likely change as the political season heats up heading towards November.

    Democratic Governor Duval Patrick lead off the series and was given (more…)

  • 2010 MA Governor Candidates

    2010 MA Governor Candidates

    PHOTO - Candidates in the 2010 Mass. Gubernatorial Race
    Candidates in the 2010 Mass. Gubernatorial Race

    MASSACHUSETTS – On November 2, 2010, the people of Massachusetts will elect their next Governor. Four candidates have made it onto the ballot; Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, Jill Stein and Tim Cahill.

    The table below provides additional information about the candidates and their Lieutenant Governor hopeful running mates. We have also provided political party affiliation, links to campaign websites, as well as each candidate’s respective state and national party websites, (for those who are (more…)

  • Cape Winds Approved by Federal Government

    Cape Winds Approved by Federal Government

    BOSTON, MA – In a televised press conference today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Obama administration had approved the Cape Winds project which could result in 130 electricity generating win turbines being placed in Nantucket Sound off the shores of Cape Cod.

    The project which has been debated for almost a decade draws a lot of criticism from Cape residents and even from some environmentalists who believe the project will detract from the natural marine beauty of the coastal area. (more…)

  • Framingham On-street Parking Changes

    Framingham On-street Parking Changes

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – New parking regulations based on findings and recommendations by the Framingham Traffic and Roadway Safety Committee, (TRSC), and approved by the Framingham Board of Selectman have significant implications for those who want to, or need to park “on street” in Framingham.

    Photo of Framingham's new odd/even parking signs, (April 2010)
    Framingham's new parking signs take a bit of reading. This one is at motorist eye-level at the intersection where Speen Street meets Old Connecticut Path.

    Placement of new signs, and the removal of other signs has cleared up confusion about where and when you can park, (and caused confusion in others areas).

    The major points of the new parking regulations are;

    • Overnight on-street parking [of passenger cars] is now allowed, (so long as parking is not prohibited by other parking regulations). Effective January 1, 2010
    • On-street parking is now regulated by a year-round odd/even system.  (Parking is allowed on even numbered side of street in even number years, odd numbered side in odd number years). Effective May 1, 2010.
    • The (2) hour on-street parking restriction is being eliminated townwide; but, in two “zones”, (the Framingham Center/State College area, and the Downtown Framingham / Hospital area), there will now be a  (3) hour parking limit from 6AM to 6PM, (Monday through Friday).  Effective May 1, 2010.

    These new regulations are the outcome of several public meetings where input from residents, from Town departments, as well as input from business owners and other (more…)

  • Obama in Framingham – April Fools?

    Obama in Framingham – April Fools?

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Ok, it was April 1st, and someone posted the following on their FaceBook wall; “Obama Lands at Marlborough Airport”. Now this is something that would seem strange even if it wasn’t April Fools Day.

    Several “hahaha” replies quickly follow and accusations of, “very funny, April Fools, huh?” start to fly. One friend comments that it wasn’t even possible, claiming the President’s aircraft only land at military air bases.  The original poster followed with details. (more…)

  • League of Women Voters Candidates Forum on FPAC TV

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Become a more informed voter! The League of Women Voters is holding a Candidates Forum featuring four candidates who are running for the two available Framingham Board of Selectmen seats.

    The forum is scheduled to appears on (more…)