Time to update state’s appliance standards

Energy efficiency makes economic and environmental sense

By Robert Rio and Charlie Harak Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Energy, Environment 0 Comments May 12, 2018

MASSACHUSETTS HAS MADE great strides in reducing electric and gas usage through state policies and our nationally recognized energy efficiency programs. These programs have provided billions of dollars in rebates to thousands of residential and business customers for investments in boiler upgrades, motor replacements and lighting changes. But there is more to be done, particularly(...)

The Download

The Codcast: Subsidizing congestion

By CommonWealth Staff Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Transportation, Urban Affairs 0 Comments Oct 27, 2017

Everyone knows about traffic congestion in Boston. It’s why we’re often late for meetings. It’s why sightseeing firms are paring back their tours because the tourists are spending too much time sitting in traffic. And it’s why many Boston officials are worried Amazon will take a pass on the city — traffic is just too(...)

The Download

The bidding war for Amazon

By CommonWealth Staff Amazon, Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs 1 Comment Oct 24, 2017

Massachusetts chose not to specify what tax breaks it would offer Amazon if the tech giant located its second headquarters here, but other states and cities appear to be raising the bar pretty high. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie offered up to $7 billion in tax credits if Amazon put its headquarters in Newark. Chicago(...)

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The Codcast: Buying booze the modern way

By CommonWealth Staff Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, State Government 2 Comments Oct 13, 2017

Since the end of Prohibition in 1933, the alcohol industry has been regulated by states, some with a heavy hand, others with a light touch. Over the years, as social mores and consumer demands changed, so have some of the laws. Massachusetts, where Blue Laws ruled and buying booze on a Sunday is a 21st(...)

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For Mass., high stakes in health debate

By CommonWealth Staff Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Health Care, Massachusetts politics 0 Comments Sep 19, 2017

Efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act gained some momentum this week as Republicans put forward legislation that would put the brakes on federal health care spending in a way that would disproportionately impact blue states such as Massachusetts, New York, and California. The legislation, filed by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill(...)

The Back Story/ Transportation

MBTA rolls out new transit ambassadors

Use of private contractor expected to save $4m a year

By Natasha Ishak and Bruce Mohl Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs, MBTA 0 Comments Sep 7, 2017

THE MBTA IS STARTING to ramp up its new transit ambassador program, its latest bid to improve service using private contractors. Transit ambassadors, wearing bright red shirts emblazoned with the T logo and the words “Questions? Ask Me!” on the back, help riders with any problems they may have. The new ambassadors, who work(...)

The Download

What’s Amazon up to?

By CommonWealth Staff Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs, Donald Trump, Growth and Development, Housing, Legal marijuana, Massachusetts politics, MBTA, Urban Affairs 0 Comments Aug 29, 2017

Amazon slashed the prices of a handful of items at its just-acquired Whole Foods chain, a move that garnered loads of publicity but shed little light on the online retailing giant’s long-term supermarket plans. Prices for organic butter, milk, bananas, eggs, almond butter, baby kale, apples, and responsibly farmed salmon all fell. The price cuts(...)

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NYC subway system looks to Boston

By CommonWealth Staff Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs, Immigration, Massachusetts Legislature, MBTA, Robert DeLeo, Taxes and Budget Issues, Transportation, Urban Affairs 0 Comments Aug 7, 2017

In case you missed it, the New York City subway system is in crisis mode, and officials in the Big Apple are looking to Boston for some answers. At the end of June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, ordered a turnaround plan for the subway system, and pledged(...)

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4 takeaways from sales tax moves

By CommonWealth Staff Charlie Baker, Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs, Elections, Employment, Housing, Media and Journalism, Municipal Government, National Politics, Taxes and Budget Issues, Urban Affairs 0 Comments Aug 3, 2017

You could actually see an industry in transition on Wednesday. Amazon held a giant job fair at nearly a dozen of its US warehouses, including the one in Fall River, as the company sought to fill 50,000 empty positions across the country. At the same time, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts announced it was mounting(...)

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MassHealth votes represent major shift

By CommonWealth Staff Civil and Constitutional Rights, Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Current Affairs, Donald Trump, Elections, Healthcare, Legal marijuana, Massachusetts Legislature, State Government 2 Comments Jul 27, 2017

The Legislature’s rejection of Gov. Charlie Baker’s MassHealth savings initiatives represents a big political shift on Beacon Hill. In the past, Democratic lawmakers have largely ceded the nitty gritty of budget balancing to Baker, but Wednesday’s votes suggest they are willing to take a political stand that requires them to step up and find savings(...)


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Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs

Energy efficiency makes economic and environmental sense

Use of private contractor expected to save $4m a year

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