Category Archives: Government activism

Massachusetts on-line assessment databases are a bit too accessible

While engaged recently in a discussion with a parent at our children’s school whom I felt was being overly paranoid about sharing her home address with other parents, I googled her name, suspecting that I would be able to illustrate to her that the information she was trying to protect was already available on-line. I… Read More: Massachusetts on-line assessment databases are a bit too accessible »

It’s hard to take seriously a City Council candidate with no working Web site

One of the candidates for the at-large seat in the upcoming Boston City Council election is Matthew Geary. Given that he’s a 22-year-old college student and an honest-to-goodness Socialist, it’s hard to take him seriously, and the odds of him winning the election are approaching zero. But he makes it even harder to take him… Read More: It’s hard to take seriously a City Council candidate with… »

Boston Public Schools attendance policy is discriminatory

The Boston Public Schools attendance policy states that absences due to religious holidays are excused. See page 14 of the 2007-2008 Guide to the Boston Public Schools. This is not surprising, since it would be blatantly and obviously unconstitutional for a public school to treat absences due to religious holidays as unexcused absences. Unfortunately, despite… Read More: Boston Public Schools attendance policy is discriminatory »

“Paying attention” to Boston Elections too early? Shame on you!

I previously asked why the ballot information for the upcoming Boston city elections hasn’t been posted, and why there are signs up for a September 11 election in Allson about which there’s no information on the Boston Election department’s Web site. I sent these questions to the Boston Elections department. Here is how they responded,… Read More: “Paying attention” to Boston Elections too early? Shame on you! »

Boston City Council elections should use preferential voting

As noted at Universal Hub, the Boston City Council submitted a home-rule petition over the summer, asking the State Legislature to allow them to dispense with a preliminary election which would have winnowed the field of at-large candidates from nine down to eight. The legislature agreed, and Governor Patrick signed the legislation. When I first… Read More: Boston City Council elections should use preferential voting »