The Healey administration says it “mistakenly informed” faculties that it will not be distributing funding for a pupil monetary literacy program due to their cities’ resistance to the controversial MBTA zoning legislation.
“Wachusett Regional High School and South Shore Vocational Technical were mistakenly informed that they were not eligible for Credit for Life grant awards,” a spokesperson for the state Workplace of Shopper Affairs and Business Regulation has advised the Herald.
“This error has been corrected,” the spokesperson added, “and the schools are now eligible. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
This comes after the colleges obtained notices from the state concerning the funding loss final week, which appeared to proceed the Healey administration’s follow of withholding grants to communities resisting compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.
State Sen. Peter Durant, whose central Massachusetts district contains Wachusett Regional, sounded the alarm earlier than Thanksgiving concerning the discover. The Republican urged the Healey administration to revive the $3,200 grant.
Wachusett Regional Excessive Faculty serves greater than 1,750 college students in Worcester County from Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling. Durant argued that the five-community district was being unfairly punished due to Holden’s “policy dispute with the administration.”
Holden has resisted the legislation, with residents within the city of practically 20,000 capturing down a multi-family zoning bylaw at a city assembly final spring. Durant indicated that the neighborhood is about to vote on a brand new proposal in February
Durant is expressing reduction that Wachusett Regional will finally obtain the grant funding for the coed monetary literacy program.
“I am so glad to know that cooler heads have prevailed and the students of the district won’t be denied the opportunity to learn financial life skills,” Durant mentioned in a press release on social media on Thursday.
“It is so important to speak out when we see situations we feel are unjust,” he added, “as this was, especially when young people are impacted.”
When requested for a replica of any communication the state despatched to Wachusett Regional and South Shore Vocational Tech in Hanover relating to the funding restoration, the spokesperson mentioned the Workplace of Shopper Affairs and Business Regulation known as the colleges.
Beneath the act, which then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed into legislation in 2021, 177 municipalities throughout Higher Boston will need to have at the least one zoning district the place multifamily housing is permitted as of proper.
As of Nov. 20, 118 cities and cities are in compliance, whereas 11 communities have been deemed “non-compliant” as they missed earlier deadlines to submit district compliance functions.
Gov. Maura Healey advised state lawmakers final March that she couldn’t “commit” that her administration would “refrain from withholding funding” from cities and cities not in compliance with the legislation.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve is utilizing the MBTA Communities Act as a sticking level in his marketing campaign, vowing to “repeal” the legislation on his “first day as governor.”
“This was no mistake,” Shortsleeve mentioned in a press release concerning the grant funding being restored. “The MBTA Communities Act is specifically designed to punish communities, and that’s what Maura Healey intended to do.”
“In this case, she just couldn’t endure the public criticism,” the enterprise capitalist and former MBTA chief administrator added. “The effective efforts of Sen. Durant to call attention to this travesty and rally opposition should serve as a model for all communities who are being abused by this terrible law.”
Workers Picture By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald
Mass. Gov. Candidate Brian Shortsleeve, left, is endorsed by state senator Peter Durant. (Workers Picture By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
