Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is at odds with teachers unions and superintendents over literacy and MCAS testing. Healey is seeking legislative authority to update literacy curriculums, citing a decline in reading scores, while the unions criticize the "one-size-fits-all approach." She also opposes a ballot question to eliminate MCAS as a graduation requirement, emphasizing the need to assess student performance.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey plans to pardon hundreds of thousands of individuals with prior misdemeanor convictions for simple marijuana possession, following President Biden's lead in pardoning such convictions. The pardons, if approved by the Governor's Council, will be automatic and aim to remove barriers to housing and employment, particularly for communities of color disproportionately affected by marijuana-related arrests. The move is seen as a significant step in criminal justice reform and promoting racial equity in the state.
Governor Maura Healey has demanded that Steward Health Care transfer ownership of its hospitals in Massachusetts, citing the company's lack of financial transparency and failure to maintain staffing and supply levels necessary for patient safety. Healey's letter to Steward's CEO also referenced the company's ongoing legal battle over financial disclosure. Steward Health Care operates several hospitals in Massachusetts, and Healey's ultimatum comes amid concerns about the company's financial troubles and its impact on patient care.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is set to announce emergency budget cuts totaling around $375 million due to six months of lower-than-projected revenues, with $769 million less than the year-to-date benchmark as of December 2023. The cuts, authorized under Section 9C of the state constitution, are expected to target locally earmarked funds, potentially resulting in 50% cuts to community programs and needs. The Governor's office has yet to comment on the matter.
Boston's Logan Airport has become an unintended refuge for migrants seeking shelter, with families staying there for months due to the state's emergency shelter system reaching its limit. Massport, the agency that operates the airport, has stated that it is not an appropriate place for migrants to stay. Governor Maura Healey has been focused on job placement to help immigrants pay for their own housing and alleviate the burden on the shelter system. With winter approaching, the situation highlights the need for additional shelter options and support for migrants in Massachusetts.
Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts has announced that work authorization clinics will be held next month for migrants living in the state. The Department of Homeland Security will partner with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to expedite work authorization for newly arriving migrants. Massachusetts has experienced an increase in migrant families, leading to nearly full shelter capacity. The clinics aim to help families secure work opportunities and move out of emergency shelters into more stable housing options. The Biden administration has already taken steps to streamline the work authorization process for migrants from certain countries.
The Massachusetts National Guard has been deployed as "rapid response teams" to assist with the state's overwhelmed migrant shelters, as Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency due to the strain on the shelter system. Currently, over 6,000 migrant families are in emergency shelters across the state. The National Guard members will coordinate access to meals, medical care, and transportation in hotels and motels without service providers. The state has been scrambling to find housing, including using Joint Base Cape Cod as a temporary shelter. Governor Healey has called on the federal government for more funding and assistance, urging Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to address immigration laws and provide additional financial aid. Boston has received a $1.9 million grant from FEMA to support migrants with shelter and transportation.
The Massachusetts National Guard has been activated by Governor Maura Healey to provide services at emergency shelter hotels across the state due to a rise in migrant families. Up to 250 National Guard members will assist with food, transportation, medical care, and enrolling children in local schools. Currently, there are over 6,000 families, including pregnant women and children, staying in emergency shelters, with many of them being from Haiti. Governor Healey is working to secure more federal funding to support these families and streamline the process for migrants to find work legally.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared a state of emergency due to a surge of migrants seeking shelter in the state. The number of families in the emergency shelter system has increased by 80% compared to last year. Governor Healey has appealed to the federal government for assistance in removing barriers and expediting work authorizations for migrants, as well as funding new shelters. Massachusetts is the only state with a "right-to-shelter" law, guaranteeing homeless families access to emergency shelter. Some officials and candidates have called for the repeal of this law, citing strain on resources and potential safety risks.
Governor Maura Healey has appointed Patrick Lavin, a consultant who worked on a 2019 report about the MBTA’s safety procedures, as MassDOT’s chief safety officer. Lavin, who has previously served as safety chief for the transit system in Washington, D.C., and a safety director for New York City Transit, will report to T general manager Phillip Eng and Secretary of Transportation Gina Fiandaca. The new role was created to improve safety for riders and workers across all modes of transportation. Lavin's appointment comes at a time when the MBTA has been plagued by safety incidents and service cuts.
