Massachusetts
Editorial: Mass. caught in migrant crisis cycle
Massachusetts, and Boston in particular, is in a state of perpetual triage when it comes to the influx of migrants.
The sense of urgency started with the initial landing of 50 migrants on Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 and the securing of shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod. From then, it’s been a cycle of finding space (using hotel and motel rooms, college dorms and emergency shelters), seeing those spots fill up, and repurposing other spaces to house the growing number of migrants and homeless Bay Staters.
It’s always a crisis, and the ship of state keeps springing leaks. Migrant families had to bunk down at Logan Airport when the state shelter system hit its cap, until a new temporary solution was found with the takeover of the Melnea Cass recreational shelter in Roxbury.
The running tab on all this care and shelter is astronomical.
One problem in being in a constant state of overwhelm is the inability to plot an end game, to ask the question “and then what” as each new crisis is averted.
The migrant overflow shelter at the Cass center is already nearing its 400-person capacity, Mayor Michelle Wu told Java with Jimmy Wednesday.
The mayor said that putting up people at the Cass is temporary, as it displaces programs for those in the neighborhood. And the neighbors, as expected, aren’t happy about it. A visit by Gov. Maura Healey and Wu was met with shouts of “Shame on Wu” and “Shame on Healey.”
Healey, as the Herald reported, said in a news conference “We are here today because we really don’t have a choice. As you know, families continue to come into this country, continue to come into Massachusetts.”
The Cass will stop being used as a shelter by May 31, according to administration officials.
And then what?
There are city-owned buildings that could be utilized, and if they are, they, too, are likely to reach capacity.
And then what?
There are efforts to fast-track work authorizations and housing to give people in shelters more stable footing, but there are undoubtedly more people ready to replace them.
Are leaders hoping that migrants, once they’ve secured jobs, will realize just how expensive it is to live in Massachusetts and make for less-expensive states, as many residents have done?
Or are they hoping for a Hail Mary from President Biden in which the borders are closed and the brakes slammed on illegal immigration? In an election year that has some promise, but the risk of ticking off the progressives who are all for open borders may prove too great.
Healey and Wu will keep plugging up the leaks and continue to find and repurpose buildings into places where families can at least sleep and wash up. They will keep pleading for money, from the legislature and the feds. It may come, it may not.
“And then what?” is a question residents and taxpayers will continue to ask as cities and towns contort their budgets to pay for Biden’s folly.
Healey and Wu could accomplish a lot with an end run – by ceasing Boston’s sanctuary city status and repealing the right to shelter law. If the feds aren’t coming up with a solution, they must.
The alternative is a permanent state of temporary measures.
Massachusetts
Mass. weather: Slippery Monday morning commute to follow freezing rain Sunday night
Massachusetts residents returning to work on Monday should watch out for slick roads following a bout of freezing rain Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter weather advisory is set to go into effect in all of Massachusetts aside from the South Coast, South Shore, Cape and Islands from 7 p.m. Sunday night to 6 a.m. Monday morning.
Freezing rain, then rain is expected during this time, and as much as two-tenths of an inch of ice could accumulate in communities north of I-90, according to the weather service. Drivers should prepare for slippery roads, but sidewalks, driveways and outdoor stairs and steps could also be dangerous.
Freezing rain is predicted to begin around 7 p.m. in Western Massachusetts and spread eastward, reaching the opposite end of the state by 10 p.m., according to the weather service. Overnight lows in the high 20s and low 30s are expected.
The freezing rain is predicted to switch over to a mix of rain and freezing rain and then to just rain between midnight and 6 a.m., according to the weather service. Communities in the southern parts of Massachusetts are expected to experience the shift earlier in the night, and the South Coast, South Shore, Cape and Islands are predicted to see only rain.
Monday is expected to be rainy and windy with some patchy fog, according to the weather service. Daily high temperatures are predicted to reach the high 40s and low 50s.
The rain is expected to cease between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday in most Massachusetts communities, according to the weather service. The latter half of Monday is predicted to be windy, with gusts up to 40 mph.
Overnight lows in the low to mid 20s are expected Monday night, according to the weather service. Partly sunny skies and strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph are predicted for Tuesday.
Daily high temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high 20s in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Overnight lows in the high teens and low 20s are predicted for Tuesday night.
Massachusetts
Getting to yes on housing in Massachusetts – The Boston Globe
Over the next decade, state housing officials estimate that Massachusetts will need another 222,000 homes. These homes are necessary to attract young professionals, to prevent families with young children from leaving, to empty the homeless shelters, and to let seniors age in their communities.
More housing is also needed to mitigate climbing prices that are hurting not only lower-income residents, but even those who are solidly middle class. The median price of a single-family home in Massachusetts this year, as of November, was an astonishing $640,000, according to The Warren Group.
Zillow ranked Greater Boston as the fifth most expensive rental market in the country, with average rent hovering just under $3,000 a month, according to the Boston Foundation’s 2025 Housing Report Card.
But if Massachusetts is to build the housing our residents need, it will take a conscious effort to simplify the building process.
In editorials this year, the Globe has focused on specific deregulatory steps that would help cut red tape and make it easier for the state to build its way out of the housing shortage.
One aspect of this is being open to changing rules that may have made perfect sense at one point, but haven’t kept up with changing circumstances. For example, advances in fire safety technology made some of the rules regarding stairwell requirements and building height obsolete. Changing these rules to account for modern technology could make it financially feasible to build bigger buildings.
There are also well-intended rules that have had unintended consequences — like disability accessibility codes that apply more stringently in communities with lower property values than in wealthier towns.
But the biggest thing that needs to change is harder to write into law. Communities need to move from a default “no” on housing to a default “yes.”
That problem is especially hard to tackle because, officially, it doesn’t exist. There is no specific regulation saying that certain Massachusetts towns don’t want housing. But actions speak louder, and more honestly, than words.
The presumption that new housing is bad — and the burden is on developers to prove it isn’t — is implicit in many of regulations adopted across the region and in the way developers are frequently treated like unwelcome interlopers. Communities too often use approval processes to impose unreasonable requirements or arduous review processes on builders who want to create the multifamily housing the state needs.
One solution is for the state to set clear ground rules for what authority cities and towns have — and don’t have — when it comes to housing approval.
For example, the state has its own environmental standards for septic systems, but they are a minimum, not a maximum. If policy makers were to forbid towns from imposing stricter standards without proving they are environmentally necessary, it would prevent municipal officials from using overly strict rules to block denser housing. Similarly, the Legislature could impose guardrails on what municipal planning officials can consider as part of the site plan review process and how long reviews can take.
When a planning or zoning board rejects or reduces the size of an apartment project, or imposes unreasonable and costly conditions, that directly undermines the public good. They should be expected to explain why their actions were truly necessary.
After all, no housing decision occurs in a vacuum. Even allowing high-end development serves the public: If people who can afford million-dollar condos have plenty to choose from, they won’t outbid less-wealthy families for more modest housing.
Many individual regulations came from a noble instinct. Shoddy construction is dangerous; communities should make sure it’s safe. Fire safety is important. New buildings can disturb animal habitats and degrade the environment. Ensuring that people with disabilities can access housing units and public spaces is vital. There is value in soliciting public input.
But these regulations have proven too easy to co-opt as tools to stop development, rather than improve it. Often, communities have a fear of change.
Regulations that pose obstacles to housing must be expected to pass a stringent test to prove that they are actually necessary and not just convenient pretexts for NIMBYism. Policy makers must fully consider the trade-offs, because while each new housing regulation may seem minor, they add up.
Massachusetts is a great place to live. We should be seeking ways to let more people live here, not closing the gate behind us.
Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.
Massachusetts
Seven Saturday high school sports takeaways, including a 350th win, a 1,000th point, and a goal record – The Boston Globe
Roundups: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey
Top 20 rankings: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey
League standings: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey
▪ Tewksbury’s Tyler Bourgea made significant history in the second period of an 8-0 win over East Catholic (Conn.) when he potted his second goal of the game and 66th of his career, surpassing Ryan Petty’s program record of 65, which had stood since 2015.
Bourgea, a senior captain, owns a career line of 66-77—143, 4 points shy of Petty’s school record of 147.
“He’s a very humble kid,” Tewksbury coach Derek Doherty said. “He just wants to win. He was happy he broke the record, but he said it’s more important we win hockey games. It’s a sign of a good person and a good player.”
▪ Blue Hills senior Tyler Anderson entered Saturday’s game against Blackstone-Millville needing 9 points to reach 1,000 for his career. It took him just one quarter; he finished with 18 points to secure a 74-57 first-round win in the Spartan Holiday Classic.
▪ At the MSTCA Boston Winter Challenge, junior Amar Skeete broke the Catholic Memorial school record in the long jump, leaping 23 feet, 10.5 inches, besting both the indoor and outdoor marks and surpassing his previous career best by a full foot. He is among the top 10 in the nation for the event.
▪ With a 9-0 victory over Westwood, Canton boys’ hockey coach Brian Shuman won his 350th career game behind the bench. Shuman, a Catholic Memorial graduate who played at Bowdoin, is in his 21st season and has led Canton to four state titles (’10, ‘19, ‘20, ‘23), plus two more final appearances, including a loss to Billerica last March.
Cam Dematos, Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake — The junior peppered the net with three goals and an assist in an 11-1 boys’ hockey victory over Nantucket.
Caleb Haynes, Brookline — The junior went full beast mode, piling up 38 points, 10 assists, and 7 steals in an 87-56 win over Portsmouth (N.H.) in the BABC Holiday Classic.
Kingston Maxwell, Abington — The senior powered a 91-67 boys’ basketball win over Nantucket with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Thomas Fish, Danvers — A hat trick and an assist from the senior powered a 9-0 boys’ hockey win over Triton.
Lucey Jean, Hopkinton — The day’s lone four-goal performance belonged to the senior, who was the engine of a 5-1 girls’ hockey win over Wellesley/Lincoln-Sudbury.
▪ Sophomore Aniyjha Morales sank the winning shot at the buzzer as Assabet Valley topped Tahanto, 54-52, to repeat as Assabet Holiday Classic champions in Marlborough.
▪ Third-ranked Methuen/Tewksbury girls’ hockey trailed, 1-0, in the third period before sisters Sammy and Lauren Ryan each delivered a goal and a 2-1 win over Winchester at O’Brien Arena.
▪ Concord-Carlisle emerged from a shootout with Acton-Boxborough to advance to the final of the Battle Road Classic at Hayden Rink.
▪ Hanover rode three goals from MVP Ryan Kisiel, a junior, to the Michael Giordano Christmas Classic title at Murphy Memorial Rink in South Boston. It’s the second tournament win for Hanover this season, following the Jim Gormley Cup at Gallo Arena on Dec. 13.
▪ Senior Jacoby Patterson collected MVP honors with two goals and an assist as Shawsheen won the Lions Tournament with a 3-2 victory over host Chelmsford.
▪ Brothers Luke and Matt Dickson teamed up to give Medfield a championship at the Cape Ann Savings Bank Tournament with a 2-1 win over Gloucester. Both brothers had a goal and an assist, and Luke was named MVP.
▪ St. John’s Prep won the Pete Frates Winter Classic with a clinching goal from senior Christian Coleman, giving the second-ranked Eagles a 3-2 win over No. 3 Pope Francis at Essex Sports Center.
“We play in honor of Pete and Pete’s family, it’s important for us to give our best effort,” St. John’s Prep coach Kristian Hanson said after his team captured its third title in the event, which dates to 2015.
▪ It took a shootout, but Hudson claimed the Mark Bushnoe Tournament title after tying Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley, 4-4. Junior Timmy O’Malley earned MVP honors with a goal and two assists. at the Wallace Civic Center.
▪ Boston Latin left no doubt in the final of the Michael Giordano Christmas Classic, besting Westford 5-0 after junior Angela Wells got things going with two goals and an assist.
Wellesley has a new boys’ lacrosse coach and he’s no stranger to the Raiders’ sidelines. Dave Wainwright, the school’s girls’ soccer coach, will also take over the boys’ lacrosse program from Jim Connolly, who stepped down after eight seasons.
Wainwright began coaching Wellesley girls’ soccer in 2024, a year after winning a second state title with Natick. He also coached boys’ lacrosse at Needham since 2003, winning a state title in his first season. Wainwright is an elementary teacher in the Needham district.
Wellesley went 11-10 last season, falling in the second round of the Division 1 tournament to eventual champion St. John’s Prep.
Caleb Haynes, Brookline, 38
Rolky Brea-Arias, St. Mary’s, 28
Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan, 28
Yhan Medina, Quincy, 28
Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 27
Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 25
Jacob Klass, Beverly, 25
Burke Lombardi, Nantucket, 25
Grant Neal, Lynnfield, 25
Charlie Poehler, Burlington, 25
Aboubakar Nimaka, Malden Catholic, 24
Tyler Staiti, Abington, 23
Abby Broderick, Medfield, 22
Matty Gray, Burlington, 21
Gabe Keskinides, Tewksbury, 21
Julian Ortega, Southeastern, 21
Sofia Wightman Kraus, Hopkinton, 21
Cason Faulk, Bridgewater-Raynham, 20
Jiai Gonzalez, Blue Hills, 20
Gwen Jones, Beverly, 20
Rolky Brea-Arias, St. Mary’s, 23
Katie McMahon, Natick, 16
Colin Cyr, Apponequet, 13
Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 11
Aboubakar Nimaka, Malden Catholic, 11
Andrew Braganca, Beverly, 8
Sophie Gallivan, North Reading, 8
Henry Svirutnas, Apponequet, 8
Elyza Wagner, Apponequet, 8
Dom Torres, Beverly, 6
Caleb Haynes, Brookline, 10
Duke Cherry, Malden Catholic, 7
Henry Svirutnas, Apponequet, 6
Dom Torres, Beverly, 6
Abby Broderick, Medfield, 5
Ryan Levesque, Apponequet, 5
Cece Levrault, Apponequet, 5
Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 5
Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 4
Colin McKay, Apponequet, 4
Elyza Wagner, Apponequet, 4
Denai Williams, Natick, 4
Naya Annigeri, Medfield, 8
Caleb Haynes, Brookline, 7
Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 5
Denai Williams, Natick, 5
Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 4
Dom Torres, Beverly, 4
Lucey Jean, Hopkinton/Dover-Sherborn, 4
Leah Carlson, Medfield, 3
Michael Cortis, Medway, 3
Jason Drake, Medway, 3
Thomas Fish, Danvers, 3
Ryan Kisiel, Hanover, 3
Matthew McGinty, St. John’s (S), 3
Kody Pokraka, Falmouth, 3
Jackson Ballard, BC High, 2
Nick Beltramini, Whitman-Hanson, 2
Tyler Bourgea, Tewksbury, 2
Matthew Breda, Nauset, 2
Mia Cataruzolo, Milton, 2
Garrett Consigli, Medway, 2
Cam Dematos, Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 2
Emma Doucette, St. Mary’s, 2
Ryan Elrick, Canton, 2
Hunter Fucci, Waltham, 2
Brooke Hanley, Duxbury, 2
Chase Harmon, Notre Dame (Hingham), 2
Sean Keenan, BC High, 2
Adam Kornbau, Framingham, 2
Brogan Laverdiere, Norton, 2
Bryan Li, Acton-Boxborough, 2
Cam McKenna, Hingham, 2
Brendan McCarthy, Hingham, 2
Addison Nee, Pembroke, 2
Emma Nee, Pembroke, 2
Jacoby Patterson, Shawsheen, 2
Colin Rogers, Latin Academy, 2
Zoe Sullivan, Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 2
Gabby Sundstrom, Duxbury, 2
Maeve Turner, Falmouth, 2
Colin Walsh, Framingham, 2
Angela Wells, Boston Latin, 2
Charlotte Woodford, HPNA, 2
Teddy Shuman, Canton, 4
Max Ryan, BC High, 3
Aoife Bourke, Boston Latin, 2
Michael Conners, Walpole, 2
Coleman Donovan, Latin Academy, 2
Emma Doucette, St. Mary’s, 2
James Gordon, Burlington, 2
Mia Kmiec, HPNA, 2
Adam Kornbau, Framingham, 2
Tyler McHugh, Essex Tech, 2
Phoebe Niese, Boston Latin, 2
Timmy O’Malley, Hudson, 2
Joe Pumphret, Winthrop, 2
Caroline Shearer, Falmouth, 2
Jamie Vallarelli, Taunton, 2
Colin Walsh, Framingham, 2
Nick Denino, Lynn, 52
Jakob Johed, Newton South, 33
Nico Santosuosso, Masconomet, 33
Sydney Foster, Central Catholic, 32
Axel Rydberg, Marlborough, 32
Sophia Luoni, Natick, 28
Ryan Christensen, Whitman-Hanson, 26
Garo Gebeyan, Waltham, 25
Tenley Simmons, Bishop Stang, 19
Luke Pellerin, Taunton, 18
Evan Morey, Danvers, 16
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
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