That way those workers will provide better service and have positive attitudes while working.

Think of the jobs that tipping can now be done in like retail stores, cashiers, fast food restaurants, receptionists, office workers or white collar workers that have to sell a service, interns, etc

Customers can then give gratuity to them and then those workers can make way above minimum wage.

https://www.masslive.com/politics/2024/10/mass-us-senate-candidates-warren-deaton-meet-in-fiery-debate-five-takeaways.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=redditsocial&utm_campaign=redditor

Hey everyone,

I just built a new tool called the BallotBot in hopes of making pre-election research for casuals in Massachusetts like myself much faster and easier. Any feedback on it would be much appreciated. It's pretty rudimentary today, but if you are curious here are some thoughts on potential auxiliary applications.

Thanks,
Chris @ Stump

Me

From an ad for a GOP state Senate candidate’s reception.

With top officials in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, Galvin, the secretary of state, will serve as acting governor until Friday. https://www.masslive.com/politics/2024/08/thats-acting-gov-bill-galvin-to-you.html

What races do you think that state reps will lost next month?

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_2024_ballot_measures

Short version of each

1. Authorize auditor to audit state legislature.
2. Remove MCAS score required for graduation.
3. Unionizing and collective bargaining for transportation network drivers.
4. Regulated access to psychedelics.
5. Increase the minimum wage of tipped employees slowly till it matches state minimum wage.

All of these seem to be fairly reasonable and I would assume all will pass but what is your take on them? Do any of you have a strong perspective on any of them?

More than 2,000 people died of opioid overdoses statewide last year, a top Democrat said. [https://www.masslive.com/politics/2024/07/mass-senate-passes-sweeping-bill-fighting-opioids-crisis-approves-safe-injection-sites.html

Written from a Worcester perspective, but lots of good background info on 21 class action suits accusing real estate companies of collusion to fix rent prices. The former Worcester City Manager is executive vice president at one of the companies, WinnCompanies.

https://thisweekinworcester.com/ex-city-managers-firm-rent-fixing-realpage/

Hello all,

I'm working on a project to make it faster and easier for voters to learn about the candidates on their ballot. I'm starting with nearby contested elections in Suffolk county. Would love any feedback that you are willing to provide.

• Find my Districts

• Supreme Judicial Clerk of Courts

• Governor's Council - 4th District

• Clerk of Civil Courts

• State Senate - 1st District

• State Senate - 3rd District

• State Representative - 6th District

• State Representative - 8th District

• State Representative - 9th District

All information is sourced from candidate websites, social media profiles, and campaign finance filings. Unfortunately, many of the candidates currently have a light digital footprint. Hoping that as we move closer to election day much more information will be available.

Hey everyone! I’m a BU undergrad working on a project to inform Boston residents about our local government by creating and distributing a weekly newsletter summarizing Boston City Council meetings. This week was a pretty quiet week, with some money allocated to mental health training for our early childhood educators, discussions on creating a new protected parkland, support for veterans, and an upcoming hearing about removing restrictions on dispensaries around the city. The current budget proposed last month is still in committee and should be voted on in a short while.

If anyone is interested in a quick digestible update on Boston's city government I have included my newsletter and the link to get free weekly information about local issues important to life in Boston. Previous suggestions have been super helpful so any and all feedback is appreciated!

Passed Legislation:

• Resolution in support of H.R. 6452, the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act in Congress. (0875)
• Designating the Putnam Nail Factory / George Lawley & Son Shipyard at 12-12R Ericsson Street as a landmark. (0755)

New Spending Authorized:

• $100,000 state grant to fund the Office of Early Childhood’s mental health training program for early childhood educators. (0281)

Committee-Specific Legislation Still in Committee

Committee on Ways and Means

• The FY25 Operating Budget, including department-specific appropriations, school department spending, and post-employment benefits remains in the committee being discussed.
• Capital grant fund credited apparitions remains in the committee.
• All revenue orders and bills, including loan orders and lease-purchase agreements for FY25 and beyond, remain in the committee.

Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency, and Parks

• Order to take land at 0 Dale Street in Hyde Park through eminent domain to become a permanently protected parkland. (0868)
• Hearing to discuss the creation of a Parks Administration position for Boston Common, Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Copley Square and Christopher Columbus Park. (0873)

Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation

• Hearing to discuss removing the half-mile buffer between cannabis dispensaries. (0871)

Appointments:

• Jeffrey Hawkins and Jonathan Lavine as members of the Boston Library Board of Trustees.

Resources:

• The city council meeting video and minutes for this week's meeting can be found here.
• Use this link to access the city council calendar with meeting agenda and minutes.
• To find information about who your Council Member is, use this link to look up your address.
• To get more details about any bill or resolution, use this link to search by number or topic. 
• If you have any questions you would like answered by the city council or any feedback on this newsletter, please email us at info@purplely.org.
• Sign up here to receive this letter after every city council meeting.

https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/negro-election-day-festival-could-be-cancelled-2024-nodx?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0pwEFNCN7_YmFxGCQsm2_S3gPFKj0zOdf2beTNYWk3izPxaiQODw_oRAk_aem_AYiH5iDBFp17sG0XkZPv_VCV1I937PyMpUXf2G3pumqtlzJbaK7alOqIl5IgHFycd0s1M5KiEyfpykjS-EQyLfoT

Apparently, according to one of the creepier city councilors in Salem, the Salem Police Department is installing speakers in parts of town to deliver messages. Perhaps a public announcement each day when the bells toll 13 o’clock?