With contributions from a range of community voices, Seizing the Moment presents concrete ideas for building back better from the pandemic. Some propose ideas in bills already filed with the Legislature, while others are still taking shape and may need refinement before moving forward. There's also some productive tension across proposals, giving readers an opportunity to weigh them against each other. Ultimately, though, they share a common goal – foregrounding justice and equity and ensuring that our region is more resilient when the next crisis hits.
Public Transit: Transform Streets with Dual Side Door Buses
By Julia Wallerce and Ari Ofsevit, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Regional Rail: Transform Transit to Support Equity
By Jarred Johnson, TransitMatters, and Luc Schuster, Boston Indicators
Traffic: Bend the Rush-Hour Curve with Congestion Pricing
By Chris Dempsey, Transportation for Massachusetts
Housing: Get the Rulemaking Right on New MBTA Upzoning Law
By Luc Schuster, Boston Indicators, and Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Abundant Housing Massachusetts
Affordable Housing: Convert and Acquire Buildings COVID Has Made Available
By Nicholas Kelly, Research Consultant, and Soni Gupta, Neighborhoods & Housing at TBF
Job Quality: Eliminate the Subminimum Wage for Tipped Workers
By Jéssica Oliveira, Matahari Workers Center
Job Training: Fund Rapid Reemployment for a Just and Equitable Recovery
By Kathie Mainzer, Workforce Solutions Group; Tonja Mettlach, Massachusetts Workforce Association, and Anne Calef, Boston Indicators
Business Equity: Eliminate Racial Disparities in Government Contracting
By Segun Idowu, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and Trevor Mattos, Boston Indicators
Unemployment: Make Unemployment Insurance Equitable for the Long Haul
By Marie-Frances Rivera and Phineas Baxandall, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Child Care: A Big Investment Today for an Equitable Economy Tomorrow
By Titus DosRemedios and Marisa Fear, Strategies for Children
Food Insecurity: Make School Breakfast and Lunch Free for All
By Erin McAleer, Project Bread
Governance: Launch Regional Governance for Six City Cluster by the Mystic River
By Amy Dain, Dain Research
Governance: Enhance Public Health Infrastructure through Regionalization and Shared Services
By Lizzi Weyant, Mark Fine, and Barry Keppard, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Kristina Kimani, Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA)
Food Insecurity: Use Guaranteed Income to Support Vulnerable Residents
By Jill Shah and Ross Wilson, Shah Family Foundation
Philanthropy: Make Grantmaking More Responsive and Community-Informed
By Elizabeth Pauley, Education to Career, The Boston Foundation