Expand the MBTA
We all know there are problems with the T. In this video, I take us through what happened with the T, how we got to where we are now, and most importantly, how we can fix it.
The T's problems are manifold: it was saddled with debt in 2000, while simultaneously being cut off from much of state funding. It spent millions of dollars on consultants that diagnose problems we already know about. A contract for new trains went $500 million over budget, and the new trains themselves arrived late and faulty.
How do we fix this? I have a plan.
First, we focus solely on building a better T. We don't add unfocused mandates and demands to a system that needs more help. We build a focused team and cut out the consultants. We prioritize getting you from point A to point B. That's it.
Second, we fund the T. We could create a county-level government that covers all communities served by the MBTA. We could pass a two-cent sales tax that funds the T. No more fighting for funding with politicians whose constituents don't live near T stations in the State House. We give funding control to the people who ride the trains. A well-functioning MBTA will be a key driver of a strong state economy and benefits us all.
Third, we build. The Red Line to Lexington can be reality. As an engineer, I know there are ways to do this faster, cheaper, and better. We standardize the station design, we get better at construction, and we commit.
I believe in a better T. I hope after this video, you do too. It's why I've been endorsed by transit leaders, like the former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation and the former executive director of TransitMatters. And I have a record that will make it happen.
Lower Utility Costs
Your utility costs are going up. Why?
Suppliers have overcharged Basic Service customers $3.4 billion since 2015. Predatory third-party suppliers have taken another $738 million from vulnerable households. And on the delivery side, utilities earn a guaranteed 9-11% profit on every dollar they spend on infrastructure, while you foot the bill.
How do we fix this? I have a plan.
First, we change how Massachusetts buys electricity. We create an independent state purchasing entity, which Cambridge already does at the city level. We've saved residents $95 million and deliver 75% clean energy. We take that statewide.
Second, we ban third-party suppliers. Period. The legislature has tried doing this for years. As senator, I will get it done.
Third, we reform the guaranteed-profit model. Utilities should earn returns based on reliability and affordability, not on how much they spend.
Finally, let's build the alternatives. We have so many startups and companies doing groundbreaking research on clean energy. But they build their factories elsewhere. Let's make Massachusetts a place they want to stay. And while we're at it, let's stop subsidizing natural gas infrastructure that will be illegal in fifteen years.
High utility bills are solveable. I've done this work in Cambridge. I'm ready to do it for the whole state.