Monday, September 25: Massachusetts Housing
At long last, the folks governing the state of Massachusetts have decided to get serious about helping unhoused people. State housing officials announced on Friday that they are launching a “90-day push” to cut down on the number of vacancies in state public housing by the end of this year. Hopefully this means fewer people freezing to death in the streets this winter.
The initiative comes after an investigation by WBUR and ProPublica found that nearly 2,300 of 41,500 state-funded apartments were vacant at the end of July, some for months or even years, despite the ongoing extreme affordable housing shortage. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey went so far as to declare a state of emergency to try and improve the state’s homeless crisis. Massachusetts is one of only four states that provides state-subsidized public housing, with about 184,000 people on a waitlist for the units.
You’d think that if almost 200,000 people are standing in line for housing, they’re eventually at least being served or advised. But for years Massachusetts has simply allowed public housing applicants to languish on this wait list. Hopefully this 90-day initiative is just the start.
Side Items
Writer’s Strike Wrapping Up: The Hollywood strike that’s been running for almost five months appears close to reaching a conclusion, as a tentative deal has been reached between unionized screenwriters and the studios, streaming services and production companies that typically hire them. In order for the strike to conclude, two successful votes must take place. First, the boards of the WGA’s eastern and western branches must both approve the deal. Then the 11,500 workers/union members must vote for approval. God willing we’ll have Young Sheldon back on the air in a matter of weeks
French Get Wise and Get Lost: After decades of exploitation and corruption, the French have finally taken a hint and abandoned their African outposts in Niger. French leader Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday that France would end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country as a result of the recent coup. To their credit, Niger’s junta released a statement in response to the French announcement, saying, “Imperialist and neo-colonialist forces are no longer welcome on our national territory. The new era of cooperation, based on mutual respect and sovereignty is already underway.” I like what I’m hearing so far, tell me more
Canadian Nazi Lovers: Ukraine’s President Zelensky was received in Canada this weekend, ostensibly to continue asking for financial support for the war effort. He addressed the Canadian parliament and after his speech, Anthony Rota, the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, decided to pay tribute to another man from Ukraine. Yaroslav Hunka, a 98 year old resident of Ottowa, was honored as, “A Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.” There’s just one slight historical inaccuracy here though, considering the Russians were a part of the so-called Allied powers. Battling against the Russians would kinda make Yaroslav Hunka a literal Nazi. This guy served in World War II as a member of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, but that won’t stop the Canadians (and Zelensky) from giving him a standing ovation