Don't let them deceive you.
It's not progressive to devalue the happiness and livability we have achieved.
~Gordon Baird

Our Laws & Incompetent State Government
By John T. Kolackovsky published 2/6/25

"In reality, Massachusetts is an expensive State to live in primarily due to its burdening taxes, wasteful spending and poor management all of which ultimately drives up the costs for home owners and landlords."

Our Class Action Lawsuit Against the State’s MBTA “Mandate” Law (3A)
By John T. Kolackovsky published 12/24/24

"As it is becoming obvious, many more towns and their citizens are opposing this overreach and seizure of municipalities zoning rights by the Governor, Attorney General and the state. The opposition to the state is growing despite the states’ threats of withholding grants and other grants not specified in the law."

Is Massachusetts Nothing More Than A Sleazy Car Dealership?
By John T. Kolackovsky published 12/24/24

"Sure, some towns put together a very questionable, inaccurate costs benefits analysis favoring a 3A acceptance, but they usually use unrealistic assumptions. They really do not fully examine and take into account the realistic yearly increases in expenses for the schools, town services and infrastructure expansions. Nor do they take into account the formidable pressure the State is applying to recklessly build."

Does Gloucester's Government Really Represent Its Constituents
By John T. Kolackovsky published 9/27/24

"Our country is a republic and in a republic, we vote for representatives that should stand for and fight for the wishes of their constituents. Anything less would mean a representative failed to meet the legal and moral obligation of their office."

MBTA Zoning Prompts Important Historical Questions of State Overreach
By Zenas Seppala published 11/15/24

"The state, through the office of the Attorney General, has been quite strident in telling communities that they must comply, threatening legal actions and withholding of certain grants if communities resist."

3A Constitutionality Needs Challenging
Zenas Seppala published 4/16/25

"At stake is not just how much housing is built, but who gets to decide what our neighborhoods look like. The 3A law mandates that 177 municipalities served by public transit — including Gloucester — must zone for multifamily housing near train stations.

But it does so with a sweeping, top-down approach that overrides more than a century of local control. What’s more, it imposes severe penalties on non-compliant communities."

Two reasons to vote NO on 3A
Two reasons to vote NO on 3A Reader’s Digest/GDT condensed version
Source document(s) both full and abridged for "3A Constitutionality Needs Challenging". Publication of abridged version was attempted on 4/14/25.

MBTA 3A Editorials and Articles
Compiled by Zenas Seppala and made available to the public on 4/11/2025

Listing and summary of virtually all the editorials and articles pertaining to the MBTA 3A debate published by the Gloucester Daily Times since December 2017.

Concerning the MBTA Communities Act
Mary-Louise Giuliano published 4/2/25

"Market priced units in the multi-family overlay districts will not serve to ease the burden of the approximate 40 homeless residents who seek a place to spend the afternoon at the Grace Center. Our city’s multi-family zoning overlay will not provide for the elderly, veterans or people having trouble paying exorbitant rent. Residents in the service industry, health care and local industries will not benefit from market-priced multi-family units."

Chop, Chop, Ching, Ching, Bye, Bye...
Fishtown Local by Gordon Baird published 4/1/24

"The Flippers have already landed in force. Many more are circling. They can't wait for "by right" rezoning to hit."

A Gloucester trance and a Gloucester chance
Fishtown Local by Gordon Baird published 1/12/25

"Soon, later this year, the zoning proposals will re-emerge, taking away neighbors’ rights to know what’s coming. You see, it’s “by right”, no hearing zoning that voters said they didn’t want 2 years ago. You won’t know what your new neighbor has planned until the bulldozers show up."

The City You Lose Might be Your Own
Fishtown Local by Gordon Baird published 9/18/22

"Speak up, people, write to both mayors and your council President Val Gilman — who has evolved her early opposition — and protect your wonderful city. To the state, we’re just another TOD-dler to be put to bed without a fuss. Wake up, people and start screaming! The city will be way better off without the TOD."

On Second Thought, T Zoning Proposal Needs a Redo
Charlotte Kahn published 3/28/22

Voters Must Weigh Competing Risks in MBTA Zoning Vote
John DiPiano published 4/16/25

Includes estimated infrastructure costs associated with compliance in three of the 177 municipalities that are seeking a compliance exemption from the state. Costs which all 177 municipalities will incur with compliance in varying degrees.