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Boston's Morning Newsletter
6 Mass. ballot question campaigns say they've cleared an important hurdle for 2024
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It’s Thanksgiving Eve. I’m incredibly grateful for all of you who wake up and read this newsletter each morning (and yes, also for the people who read it only occasionally, too).
Now, to the news:
A 2024 progress report: Today is a big day for the groups in Massachusetts trying to put a question on the statewide ballot next fall. Campaigns have to submit at least 74,574 signatures to local election officials in support of their proposed 2024 ballot questions. And while there are several more steps in the process (including a smaller round of signature-gathering next spring), reaching that threshold is often the biggest hurdle. A half-dozen groups are feeling pretty good about their numbers ahead of the holiday weekend. Here’s a look at who says they’ve cleared the signature requirement:
- Checking the books: After running into roadblocks with the House, Senate and attorney general, Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s battle to audit the Legislature could very well be headed to the ballot box. DiZoglio’s team announced yesterday that they collected over 100,000 signatures in support of their proposed 2024 ballot question, which would change state law to explicitly mandated audits of the Legislature.
- Psychedelics: Despite a signature snafu last week, the ballot campaign to legalize psychedelics for therapy says it has reached the threshold after all. The group Massachusetts for Mental Health Options says it is delivering over 100,000 signatures this week, in addition to signatures it had already submitted.
- Tipped minimum wage: As we noted yesterday, the campaign behind the proposed ballot question to incrementally raise the state’s tipped minimum wage up to the normal minimum wage has collected about 108,000 signatures.
- MCAS: The Massachusetts Teachers Association has collected more than 130,000 signatures for its proposed ballot question to get rid of the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement, as The Boston Globe first reported last week.
- Rideshare unionization: The union-backed effort to put a question on the 2024 ballot to allow Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize delivered their signatures to Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office today. About a dozen rideshare drivers were there to personally deliver the papers. "A regular job in the state is 40 hours," said John Garcia, an Uber and Lyft driver from Springfield. "For you to make that money, you have to work double a regular job."
- Rideshare reclassification: The industry-backed campaign to reclassify gig workers as independent contractors (and guarantee certain benefits) also has collected enough signatures, according to a spokesman. (They aren’t saying how many yet, either.)
PSA: Be careful if you’re hitting the busy roads for the holiday today. Meteorologist Danielle Noyes reports that the steady rain should continue through midday, leading to reduced visibility and puddles. (Some parts of Massachusetts even got hit with a surprising amount of snow last night.) So, remember to give yourself extra time for your trip and extra room between other cars on the road.
- In the air: Thirteen flights in and out of Logan Airport (mostly by Cape Air) have been canceled today, and nearly two dozen have been delayed, amid the wet, blustery conditions.
- Out at sea: The Steamship Authority says a few of its ferries between Hyannis and Nantucket have also been canceled today.
- Go deeper: Check out Noyes’ full forecast for Thanksgiving day and the long weekend here.
X does not mark the spot: If you’re looking for updates from Senate President Karen Spilka’s office, forget about checking X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. Spilka announced yesterday she is leaving X due to antisemitism on the platform.
- Spilka’s not the only one: A number of larger advertisers have reportedly left X over the past week, following owner Elon Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory and a report that ads were being placed alongside white nationalist posts.
Heads up: Worcester is offering free parking this Saturday at four downtown municipal lots and garages for Small Business Saturday. And a special $1 rate will be in effect for many of them for several holiday events in the city next month. Check out the details here.
P.S.— This newsletter will be off tomorrow as I roast a turkey the way science intended and root for Winston to defend his dog show title. But we’ll be back in your inboxes on Friday with a special-edition Black Friday newsletter. Have a great Thanksgiving!
This post was updated to reflect that backers of the rideshare unionization measure turned in their signatures Wednesday.
This article was originally published on November 22, 2023.
