Latest news with #KimDriscoll
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State House Spotlight: Weed, housing, and ICE
BOSTON (WWLP) – This week at the State House in Boston, lawmakers' duties spanned from regulating weed to creating more housing to learning more about ICE operations. The House of Representatives passed a major marijuana bill, changing the structure of the Cannabis Control Commission, regulating and taxing convenience store hemp products, and more. Should Massachusetts keep religious exemptions to vaccine mandates? The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a new housing initiative this week, turning unused state land into 3,500 new housing units. 'If you are a city or town that's had state properties languishing for years, underutilized, now you're going to have a chance to do something about that,' said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 'Not only providing new housing that's going to serve your community and serve the commonwealth, but also create new tax revenues.' ICE announced that it made nearly 1,500 arrests during May. They say their focus is on illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes and drug offenses. 'These are defendants who didn't simply cross a border, they crossed a line and jeopardized the safety of Massachusetts communities,' said U.S. Attorney Leah Foley. This announcement comes just days after a Milford high schooler with no criminal record was detained. He has since been released on bail. The governor once again spoke out against the Trump Administration. This week, they decided to shutter Job Corps centers that provide job training and housing to at-risk youth. In western Massachusetts, over 300 students and 170 employees would be affected by the Job Corps closure, which has been temporarily delayed by a New York judge. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Map shows where state-owned land in Massachusetts could be developed for new housing
Land that's owned by the state could soon become spots for new housing in Massachusetts. Over the past year, a team has worked to find state-owned sites that could be developed. "In total, we've identified more than three dozen sites covering about 450 acres of land that can be used to build several thousand homes," Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said that in additional to affordable housing, there will also be new middle-income housing, "for the folks who are working hard, don't need or qualify for a subsidy, but can't afford some of the housing prices that we're seeing in communities, places that used to be affordable." State-owned land in Massachusetts that could be developed for housing. Click here for an interactive map showing state-owned land that's being developed for housing. There are more than 1,500 housing units on state land in the pipeline right now. Among the sites being developed are the former Boston State Hospital campus in Mattapan, the old Veterans home in Chelsea and a site near the Roxbury Crossing MBTA station. The former Department of Unemployment Assistance building in Brockton and the South Campus at Salem State University are also being turned into housing. Over the next six months, Healey said developers will submit proposals that will transform vacant buildings in Lowell and Fitchburg, as well as sites at Bridgewater State University and Middlesex Community College. In total, 17 more sites will be made available to developers over the next year. Other sites being eyed for housing development include the now-closed MCI Concord prison and the old Lowell Superior Courthouse building.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Healey plans to add 3,500 housing units to Mass.
BOSTON (WWLP) – Governor Healey announced a statewide plan to boost housing in Massachusetts that will utilize previously-unused state-owned land as new housing sites. The Bay State released its first-ever inventory of state-owned surplus land that can be used for state housing, and they found several dozen sites that will support around 3,500 housing units. The state is planning to partner with developers to get these properties ready for residents as soon as possible. 'If you are a city or town that's had state properties languishing for years, underutilized, now you're going to have a chance to do something about that,' said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 'Not only providing new housing that's going to serve your community and serve the commonwealth, but also create new tax revenues.' Developers will make bids to develop these sites, and the Healey-Driscoll administration says more sites will be made available as soon as this summer. Here in western Massachusetts, at least one site–at the former Monson Developmental Center Campus–is expected to be turned into housing. The governor says affordable housing is becoming increasingly crucial as young professionals and families move away from Massachusetts in favor of more affordable neighbors. 'I talk to so many families, young families starting out, couples without kids, who are just dying to buy a home here but haven't found one in their price point and this will be a game changer,' said Governor Healey. So far, 1,500 units are under construction at sites across the state, and 17 more sites are expected to be made available over the next year. In all, 450 acres of state land are being made available for housing development, but the timeline for completed housing units is not yet clear. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Easthampton recognized as 'climate leader community'
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Easthampton has been officially recognized as a 'Climate Leader Community' by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). The city joins an inaugural group of just 19 municipalities across the Commonwealth to receive the designation. Springfield public schools receive HVAC upgrades as summer approaches The recognition was announced at a ceremony in Watertown on May 2, where Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll presented awards to representatives from the selected communities. The honor acknowledges Easthampton's commitment to sustainability and long-term climate resilience, building on its previous designation as a Green Community, which it has held since 2010. To qualify for Climate Leader status, Easthampton submitted a municipal decarbonization roadmap—a strategic plan to guide the city toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Key strategies outlined in Easthampton's roadmap include: Transitioning the city's vehicle fleet to electric models, Electrifying municipal buildings and improving energy efficiency, Engaging residents, businesses, and institutions to support sustainability efforts, Integrating climate resilience into municipal operations with a focus on equity and environmental justice. With this certification, Easthampton becomes eligible for up to $1.15 million in state funding to support local climate and energy initiatives. The grants may be used for projects such as solar energy installations, clean heating technologies, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and other green infrastructure upgrades. The Climate Leader Community program aims to accelerate climate action across Massachusetts by supporting municipalities that are leading the way in reducing emissions and building sustainable systems. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State House Spotlight: budget prep and policy priorities
BOSTON (WWLP) – State officials continued to push out policy dealing with spending taxpayer dollars this week and worked to establish session priorities. Early this week, the Senate unveiled its fiscal year 2026 budget plan, and the Senate also passed a $1.3 billion supplemental budget using millionaire's tax collections to fund regional transportation. 'Robust public transportation in Fitchburg and Southbridge, and Springfield means a possibility of more housing production and easing density in Boston,' said Senator Robyn Kennedy during the supplemental budget debate. The Healey Administration announced a set of policy initiatives to make Massachusetts better for older adults. Their priorities include dementia-friendly policies and ensuring older adults can age in their own homes. 'Aging in place is a heck of a lot better than needing any alternative, I know, so it's important for us to do the work and make sure everyone sees themselves through this effort,' Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said at the announcement. The commission on combating antisemitism held a hearing focusing on increasing hate crimes, and a western Massachusetts senator expressed his commitment to fighting back. 'This special commission will not hesitate to follow and confront antisemitism wherever it rears its vile and repugnant head, whether it's from the left or the right,' Westfield Senator John Velis said. This commission meeting comes in the same week as the state announces a partnership with an Israeli medical innovation center. Attention at the State House will soon turn to Senate budget debate, as the final budget deadline looms in July. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
