With 20% of precincts reporting statewide, Question 3, which would uphold a state law guaranteeing the right of transgender people against discrimination in public places, is passing by a 2-1 margin. In Boston, it is passing by an even higher margin. Read more.
And want a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision giving corporations free reign in political funding, but are very meh on the nursing-ratio question, WBUR reports.
Outside the State House.
About 250 demonstrators - split between BPS and college students - marched from the Common to the State House and City Hall today to urge Gov. Baker and Mayor Walsh to formally declare sanctuaries for not just undocumented immigrants but other minority groups, including lesbians, gays and transgender people as we move into the Trump era. Read more.
Um, what?
Yesterday, the Globe ran a story about the charter-expansion results in Boston with the headline: In Boston, charter vote reflected racial divide.
Yeah, because black people voted overwhelmingly against the expansion of charter schools. Unfortunately for whoever wrote the headline, the map the Globe ran right under that headline shows that white people voted overwhelmingly against charter expansion as well: Read more.
Highest #YesOn2MA vote: W5,P5: one of wealthiest zips. Highest #NoOn2: poor comms of color. pic.twitter.com/lX4i0PR9xX
— Heshan is #NoOn2 (@wheresmyporsche) November 13, 2016
The Globe reports the Moody's rating service is warning that passage of Question 2, which would increase the number of charter schools in Massachusetts, could hurt Boston's credit rating. WBUR reports the Yes on 2 people stuck Obama's picture on a flyer even though the president has taken no position on the question (unlike Bernie Sanders).
The Boston School Committee voted unanimously tonight to urge a no vote on Question 2, which would expand the number of charter schools in Massachusetts.
Boston school officials first began pondering a no vote in July out of concern over the impact of the loss in state aid that could come if students move to new charter schools.
William Brownsberger (D-2nd Suffolk and Middlesex, which includes Allston/Brighton and the Fenway), writes today he will vote no on Question 2, which would allow for more charter schools in the state, in part because he fears Boston's unique makeup could lead to a destabilization of its public-school system if the measure passed. Read more.
The Herald reports on the donation by Paul Sagan, chairman of the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and a venture capitalist.
One Massachusetts is a group seeking a "No" vote on all three of this year's ballot questions, which would cut the sales tax in general, repeal the sales tax on booze in particular and eliminate a state requirement that communities ensure a certain percentage of their homes are "affordable." The group's Harmony Blakeway makes the case that "No" votes would actually be saying:
Channel 5 is projecting:
Here's a guide to the 3 referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday, with pro's con's articulated by the experts who are supporting and opposing the measures. It's surprisingly concise.
Q1 Would reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.65 percent for the tax year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2009, and would eliminate the tax beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2010.
Q2 Would replace the criminal penalties for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana with a system of civil penalties, and would exclude information from the state's criminal record system.
Question 2 would let a candidate for statewide office run on the ticket of more than one party. Question summary and pro/con statements.
Jesse Kanson-Benanav explains in detail why he supports the measure:
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