Regressive opacity

Massachusetts carries a lot of pride in being a progressive leader among the States. However, our state legislature is among the least transparent in the country; power in the State House is concentrated in its leadership, and with one party in control, there’s a lack of accountability.

This is compounded by a constituency that’s afraid to rock the boat during a time of national political crisis—and understandably so. There’s more to lose than there is to gain by shaking the foundations of Massachusetts politics right now.

Poised for change

The timing of upcoming political appointments is interesting; Michelle Wu’s re-election as Boston’s mayor may foster a critical shift in momentum for civic activism, and could be a perfect time to start asking harder questions and force the conversation upward.

Over the next few months, I’ll be scheduling meetings with political organizers, local representatives, and anyone willing to talk about the culture inside the State House. I’ll be documenting how far up the chain this opacity goes, what it would take to change it, and who the players are.

If you’ve hit the same wall, or want to break it, feel free to reach me at contact@dismantl.org.