For those who missed last month's front-page Boston Globe story about Lisa Wong, there is an exciting race for who will be the next mayor of Fitchburg going on. Lisa is one of two candidates who made it through the preliminary to run … [Read more...]
NOT The Real Story
I am in receipt of the latest mailer from the Marzilli campaign-directed to Burlington residents, lamenting about the people who have to leave Burlington due to affordability. As a former long, long time resident of Arlington I can tell you … [Read more...]
Bubble bubble toil and trouble: The “perfect housing storm”
In the wake of recent news about skyrocketing foreclosures in Massachusetts, 'BUR had an ominous interview with housing scholar Barry Bluestone this morning. Bluestone calls our current situation "the perfect housing storm" -- and thinks … [Read more...]
Immigrant impact on the US housing market
One of the many things missing from the right's discussion of immigration is the tremendous, quiet presence of immigrants (legal and not) in the American economy. Particularly in the current housing downturn, it's telling to see the … [Read more...]
Who is Dan O’Connell and why does he make so much sense?
Dan O'Connell, Governor Patrick's Secretary of Housing and Economic Affairs, is featured in an interview in the Sunday Globe business section. In the interview, O'Connell speaks with a common sense about housing policy that has been … [Read more...]
Interview with Barney Frank on Saint Kermit
Saint Kermit is Massachusetts' premier progressive political podcast. Each week the patron saint of green brings the progressive community compelling political disscussion, interviews with important figures from the fields of politics … [Read more...]
Flyover country
Joe Battenfeld of Fox25 had a nice segment, flying over the mansions of the candidates in a helicopter: Healey's in Beverly and in Vermont;Gabrieli's on the North Shore (to go along with the Louisburg Square townhouse)Taj Deval in the … [Read more...]
How to help address the housing crisis – and how not to
Two interesting articles in the Globe's business pages today about two different real estate developers. One of them is trying to make Massachusetts an easier place for non-wealthy people to live. The other is trying to, well, … [Read more...]
Deval Patrick’s plan on housing
Timed for Citizen's Housing and Planning Association's (CHAPA) gubernatorial candidates' housing forum going on right now at Faneuil Hall, the Patrick campaign is releasing its housing plan. We've received a copy, which you can look at here … [Read more...]
Taxes: Pennies vs. dollars
With the possible exception of food, in each of these, there is a huge role for the state. And the state may be in a position to invest in such a way that you end up with more money in your pocket than if it did nothing. In other words, … [Read more...]