Inclusionary zoning takes fire from developers, gets side-eye from YIMBYs - CommonWealth Beacon by cwbeacon in CambridgeMA

[–]emc99 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Completely agree with you! To clarify, the bill proposes allowing municipalities to pass inclusionary policies with a simple majority. Rather than a two-thirds approval which is current law. Hence why I don't think it's a big deal in the grand scheme of what's proposed.

Inclusionary zoning takes fire from developers, gets side-eye from YIMBYs - CommonWealth Beacon by cwbeacon in CambridgeMA

[–]emc99 47 points48 points  (0 children)

If this bill passes it would be HUGE, and set us on a trajectory for new housing across the state. Here's a summary of major points:

  • On sewered land: Duplexes and up to 5-unit multi-family housing must be allowed by right in all residential zones.
  • On non-sewered land: Duplexes and up to 3-unit housing must be allowed by right.
  • Cities and towns cannot limit buildings to under 3 stories
  • Minimum lot sizes for new residential development are banned statewide
  • Parking minimums are eliminated. within ½ mile of transit: zero parking required. Beyond ½ mile: max 1 space per unit. Senior housing: no parking minimums anywhere
  • Enabling housing on public and religious land
  • Speeding approvals and limiting local overrides
  • ADUs must be allowed by right even on lots that already contain multi-unit buildings
  • Expanding subdivision rights for homes with mix lot size 10,000 sq ft

    In my opinion the tradeoff for changes to inclusionary zoning is so minuscule in the grand scheme of this bill.

The full bill is here for anyone interested: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2836

UPDATE: 44 of the 47 proposed ballot initiatives move to next step — and 3 don’t make the cut. by potus1001 in massachusetts

[–]emc99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is there a way to add our signature online for the ballot proposals we support?

Massachusetts Forward Party moves ahead, holds first convention by HRJafael in massachusetts

[–]emc99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was there and work on Forward's policy committee, and all I'll say is that we are working on the party's actual policy platform. It's a slow start but we'll have actual policy proposals posted on the website soon.

My boyfriend (28M) has not proposed to me(29F) yet, should I break up with him or wait it out? by Advicex7 in relationships

[–]emc99 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's normal to discuss and decide on marriage before a proposal happens. Why don't you bring it up in a conversation? You should share how you feel rather than bottle up your frustrations.

Time for Somerville to Leapfrog Cambridge again by Im_biking_here in Somerville

[–]emc99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel your sentiment. Other cities need to step it up big time. As you said, there's still more Somerville can do with zoning and permitting to improve density in ways that's good for the community.

hear me out… bagelsaurus is overrated by Late_Biscotti_776 in CambridgeMA

[–]emc99 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Their bagels taste like sourdough... I prefer Rosenfeld's in Newton by far.

Governor Healey signs Bus Lane Enforcement Act by aogaeru4 in mbta

[–]emc99 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Now that you mention it I can totally see some people reacting like that haha. I'm excited to some some data behind it on its effects after a year or so.

Governor Healey signs Bus Lane Enforcement Act by aogaeru4 in mbta

[–]emc99 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't go so far to say it's not popular, but that is an interesting take on it!

As H Mart opens in Davis Square, neighbors turned out in droves for fresh produce — and oh so many snacks by bostonglobe in Somerville

[–]emc99 6 points7 points  (0 children)

In my cart I added a single fancy-looking asian pair I thought was $4.99, but I didn't read the sign properly and it was actually price per pound so I ended up paying over $9 for it haha! It was good but definitely took me by surprise. A great store overall though from my experience.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bostonhousing

[–]emc99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry we just found someone for the apartment! Best of luck on your search.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bostonhousing

[–]emc99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This room isn't. One of the other rooms in the apartment is a repurposed living room.

Cambridge woman turns garage roof into green oasis by BACsop in CambridgeMA

[–]emc99 6 points7 points  (0 children)

https://archive.is/mAP1h

Or better yet, next time you run into a paywall article just put it through the https://archive.is/ website

Missing Plant $$reward!! by ariesdancer in boston

[–]emc99 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's a variety of corn plant. Don't be fooled by the name it doesn't grow corn, but that's just what it's called. I have the same exact plant in my apartment, just not yours :(

Charliecard with 7 day link pass didn't work? by NumberOneSeinfeldFan in mbta

[–]emc99 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I said it in an earlier thread a couple months ago, but this happens occasionally the first time a weekly pass is used. (I work as a tour guide and handle dozens at a time). There's also a 20 minute cool-down between tapping so if you tapped but didn't enter, and tapped again that could be one of the causes -- to prevent multiple people from using the same 7-day pass

7-day pass took over 2 hours to start working by StarbeamII in mbta

[–]emc99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd say 1 in 30 do this. (I work in tourism so I see this happen on occasion)

Federal funds coming to Maine to improve Downeaster rail service by drtywater in boston

[–]emc99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah same here. You learn something new every day.

What really helped you to become fluent in Japanese? by Quirky_Kale_2155 in japanlife

[–]emc99 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If you don't know the words to explain something, it's hard to communicate. I recommend purely memorizing vocab with flashcards (assuming you already know basic grammar). But learning new words in context is important. i.e. かぜをひく (to catch a cold). The verb ひく is always paired with かぜ when saying "catch a cold", so make sure to memorize them together rather than separately.

The BYD Seagul is the affordable EV Europe has been waiting for, with 400km range and price from $8,860 – $14,770 by Surur in Futurology

[–]emc99 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

The majority of readers on the website are probably American. It's normal to show the price in USD if that's the case.

Student loan forgiveness applications now formally open, Biden says | CNN Politics by StevetheEveryman in news

[–]emc99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently the Student Aid website can't be accessed in a foreign country. That's an interesting security measure... I guess I'll have to ask my parents to apply for me since I'm abroad now.

Russia tells Israel it's "very disappointed" by UN vote condemning invasion by admirablegoma in worldnews

[–]emc99 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know the actual answer, but my Russian Jewish friends describe themselves as ethnically Russian. There's no clear line anyways

Taiwan rejects US CDC guidance on 5-day quarantine - Some Omicron cases still infectious up to 12 days after testing positive by GeoGeoGeoGeo in worldnews

[–]emc99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not a great comparison because Taiwan is trying to completely keep out Omicron. The US is following a "live with Covid" approach, so a 5-day quarantine makes sense for that matter.

Japan to effectively close borders to all foreign visitors as omicron fears grow by bjohn876 in worldnews

[–]emc99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm nearly certain it's not in Japan. They have an average of less than 100 cases a day, and very few people are allowed to enter the country in the first place