r/Marblehead

Is anyone here following the state environmental bond bill (S.3064, the "Mass Ready Act")?

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

https://preview.redd.it/tlpckota561h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a69797960bcc98840c6a1c49e456acce343a90f

Hey r/SalemMA!

I’m Bethany Andres-Beck ( u/beth4ma ), I use any/all pronouns, and I'm a software engineer and democratic socialist who challenged Seth Moulton before it became an open primary. I am also the only candidate in the race who has worked on AI before, and I will focus on regulating it for everyday people before it gets too big to fail. 

Here is how AI affects us here in r/Massachusetts and what I’m planning to do about it:

• Data centers are draining resources.
  • We need a moratorium on AI data center construction.
  • We also need to demand that any future data centers use renewable energy, meet environmental standards, and do not increase local energy costs.
• AI surveillance, with devices like Flock cameras, is appearing on our streets.
  • I will support local efforts to ban Flock cameras to stop tech companies and ICE from spying on Americans.
• Big tech wants to use AI and robots to replace workers while boosting their profits. 
  • I will work to tax companies that replace workers with AI. This would encourage companies to keep workers.
  • If companies still do layoffs, a robot tax would make up for lost payroll revenue.
• Companies want more information on you so they can sell it to advertisers.
  • I will work to stop companies from spying on Americans with invasive age verification on social media under the guise of “protecting children."

 

We see money being funneled in our country to AI autonomous weapons instead of healthcare and housing. Technology affects us all, and we need people in Congress who don’t just take the word of tech CEOs about it. I've spent my career helping people build complex systems that actually work FOR us. 

For some more quick facts, I’m:

• Progressive
• A Democratic Socialist
• Anti-ICE
• Anti-genocide (including in Israel)
• Someone who’s opposed all wars of aggression, from Afghanistan and Iraq to today in Iran.
• Unitarian-Universalist 
• A tenor
• A proud citizen of Middleton
  • Serving on our Affordable Housing Trust and Democratic Committee
• Never going to take AIPAC or corporate money

 

Feel free to read more about me on bethfordemocracy.com, and follow me on my socials @ beth4ma (Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok) or Bethany Andres-Beck (Facebook, Youtube)

On Sunday, May 17th, at 4pm-6pm EST, I’ll be answering questions below.