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How should Massachusetts spend the nine billion dollars?
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This is the Radio Boston rundown for November 18. Tiziana Dearing is our host.
- On Monday, President Biden signed the infrastructure bill into law, which means Massachusetts is set to receive around nine billion dollars in federal investments. With such a large influx of money, how can the state make sure we maximize this opportunity and spend it in the right ways? And are there unforeseen challenges that can arise when trying to spend that amount of money efficiently and effectively? Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick joins us to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of such a significant influx of federal money.
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wasted no time in pushing one of her policy priorities forward, asking the City Council to approve 8-million dollars to make three bus lines totally free to ride for the next two years. Mayor Wu selected the three routes in an effort to help communities hardest-hit by the pandemic. We take listener calls and discuss the push to make public transit free with Mela Bush Miles, director of transit-oriented development and the T Riders Union at Alternatives for Environment and Community, and Brian Kane, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board.
- In the second part of our series on viral memes with local ties, we explore the subject of the "Scumbag Steve" meme, Blake Boston of Millis, Massachusetts. WBUR podcast Endless Thread co-hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson caught up with Boston and his mother, who took the infamous picture, and join us to share what they learned.
This program aired on November 18, 2021.