COVID-19 Transparency – A Step Backwards

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Massachusetts has unfortunately taken the backwards step of ending its longstanding daily reporting of something basic and important: the virus’s cumulative impact on various age groups.

HHS COVID Funding Tracker

As of July, the Feds have distributed $86.7 billion to medical providers, of which $2.3 billion came to Massachusetts. Pioneer’s new HHS COVID-19 Funding app shows who and how much, from the $1 sent to American Current Care of Massachusetts, to the $418,034,675 sent to the MA Department of Public Health. We also break down the distribution by city or town.

A Time to Build

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The MBTA is taking advantage of anemic low ridership from the…

One UMass System, Different Reopening Plans

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One UMass System, Different Reopening Plans On March 11, UMass…

Open Letter to MassDOT Board Regarding I-90 Allston Multimodal Project

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Read Pioneer's Open Letter to MassDOT on the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project, Boston, MA National Environmental Policy Act Review Scoping Report: All At-Grade Option and 8-lane Turnpike – Throat Area

It's Time for the MBTA to Actively Engage Riders to Understand Their Commuting Plans

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The MBTA should conduct a survey of mTicket app users regarding their future plans. Some may never work in offices again. Some will certainly do some workdays in the office and some at home. Others will be in offices and back to business as usual at some point. Using their responses, the T can calculate ridership and determine projected revenue.

WILL YOU COMMUTE TO WORK WHEN THE COVID-19 CRISIS IS OVER?

How will you look at commuting in the future? This survey will ask over 30,000 people how their attitudes and habits will change. Please be part of our work to understand the changing world around us.

Mapping COVID-19 in Massachusetts Cities & Towns

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Kudos to he Massachusetts Department of Public Health for posting the count and rate (per 100,000) of confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Massachusetts by City/Town.

Transparency Needed at Long-term Care Facilities

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The anxiety of having a parent in a nursing home under the constant…

Sunshine Week 2020 – When Government Transparency Is More Important Than Ever

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COVID-19 has overshadowed what was supposed to be Sunshine Week, but vigilance on behalf of open government is even more crucial during times like these, when the public has limited access. But government transparency is important at all times. Each year during Sunshine Week, Pioneer reviews some of its recent work to increase public accountability in Massachusetts government.

MassDOT’s West Station design plans fall one track short

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In 2014, MassDOT proposed the construction of West Station, a…

Open Letter to MA Governor Charlie Baker Regarding Boston Commuters from Points West

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In an Open Letter to the Massachusetts Governor, Pioneer Institutes presents its concerns about the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project, and its impact on those who will be most affected during the project’s construction

Pioneer Institute’s Government Transparency Resolutions 2020

As we do each January, Pioneer shares the resolutions it hopes state leaders will adopt to bring government actions into better focus and invigorate our democracy with heightened public engagement.

VIDEO: Reduce Carbon Emissions with Perq!

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In the final video of a new three-part animated series, Pioneer Institute explores how the MBTA's commuter benefit program called Perq saves you money, lowers your tax burden, and shortens your commute - all while helping the planet.

VIDEO: Attract & Retain Top Employees Through Perq!

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In part two of a new three-part animated video series, Pioneer…

MassAnalysis: Highest income towns per capita within average debt range or higher

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Understanding debt limits Municipalities issue debt to fund…

Signs of Growth in Several Gateway Cities

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It’s safe to say that Boston is the economic hub of Massachusetts…

How Do Massachusetts’s State Pensions Compare with Their Peers?

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For those who have kept up with Pioneer’s work on pensions,…

No Clear Correlation Between Fare Revenue and Ridership

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In recent weeks, many MBTA riders have expressed frustration…

The Chancellor at this University Makes about 18.5 Times what an Average Employee at this Same University Makes… 

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According to MassOpenBooks, the average annual pay for UMass…

Did Justice Prevail? Questions Surrounding Correctional Officers and Budgetary Allocation within the Suffolk County Sheriff Department and Others

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According to MassOpenBooks 2018 statistics, the Suffolk County…

MassOpenBooks: A Look at the Highest Paid Private Vendors in 2018

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In 2018, quasi-public Massachusetts agencies made a total of…

MassOpenBooks: A Look at Annual Pension Trends

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In 2018, the Commonwealth provided $5.2 Billion in pension benefits…

A Follow-up on Pension Systems with the Highest Growth Rates in Unfunded Liability

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As Pioneer has previously discussed, Massachusetts continues…

MassPensions: Three Highest Growth Rates in Unfunded Pension Liability

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It’s no secret that Massachusetts’s public pension systems…

MassPensions: Highest Reductions in Unfunded Liabilities

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Despite the overall dismal performance of Massachusetts’s public…

MassOpenBooks: The Top Overtime Earners in 2018

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According to state law, most Massachusetts employees are entitled…

MassOpenBooks: A Look at Departments with the Highest Average Pay

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Ever wonder which public departments in Massachusetts pay their…

MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns

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Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns—a constellation of communities…