Land conservation limbo in Mass.

Also: Boston's latest pot shop debate; hundreds of Havard students walk out of commencement [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 24, 2024 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 84. Good Morning Boston, The unofficial start of summer is upon us, as you can tell by [this weekend's weather forecast]( and the, uh, [return of sharks](. Stay away from those seals and let's get to the news: - Buffer battle: A proposal to do away with a rule that ostensibly requires recreational marijuana dispensaries in Boston to be at least a half-mile away from each other has sparked debate among city councilors. As WBUR's Simón Rios reports, the Boston Planning & Development Agency is pushing for zoning changes that repeal the buffer zone. But in doing so, the agency has also united members of the Council's more moderate and liberal wings in opposition. - The case for repealing the buffer: The BPDA says the zoning rule is preventing Boston from reaching the 50 pot shops the city is required to permit. (That number is based on[a state law]( that says local zoning must allow at least 20% as many pot shops as there are liquor stores.) Right now, Boston has around 30 adult-use pot shops; the BPDA says getting to 50 is "[not possible]( with the current mandate. - The case for keeping it: The buffer rule — which was[originally approved by the City Council back in 2016]( — was intended to keep pot shops from clustering in certain neighborhoods. According to City Councilor Ed Flynn, it serves as a "safeguard for the community voice and against potential negative impacts on quality of life issues." Meanwhile, Councilor Julia Mejia argued it also protects dispensaries. "The entire business right now is down," she said this week. "Just imagine spending millions of dollars and then someone else opens up and right next to you." - Reality check: Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal has[already repeatedly waived]( the buffer rule for existing shops. "A lot of approved dispensaries who have sought and gotten variances have gotten stuck in lengthy litigation for long periods of time," said City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who supports getting rid of the buffer. Durkan noted potential pot shops would still have to go through a lengthy permit and community outreach process. - What's next: The BPDA aims to get final approval from the city's Zoning Commission this July. While councilors can't directly block the change, they can try to rally opposition. Flynn has proposed a hearing on the subject, and is[encouraging residents]( to speak out before[the public comment period]( ends next Friday. - At long last: You'll be able to tap your phone or credit card to pay MBTA bus and subway fares starting this summer, thanks to the rollout of the T's new "automated fare collection" system. [MBTA officials announced the launch yesterday]( following [years of delay]( and [budget overruns](. It's the type of technology that's been in use for years in cities like London and New York City. "It will make it easier to access our system," General Manager Phil Eng said. - What to expect: Riders have probably noticed the new fare readers already mounted — in testing phase — on some buses and subway gates. Those will turn on for public use sometime this summer, meaning you'll be able to pay your fare directly with a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet like Apple Pay and Google Pay — no CharlieCard or ticket required. (The Mattapan Trolley won't initially be included, but T officials say they'll begin work to install readers at those stations this fall.) - What's next: Coming in 2025, the T will add additional features, like a "mobile CharlieCard" and app for your phone. In 2026, they'll expand the system to the commuter rail and ferries. - On Beacon Hill: The Massachusetts Senate passed its own budget proposal for the coming fiscal year late last night, after 14 hours of debate, over 400 amendments and [one fire alarm](. The $58 billion dollar bill includes some big ideas, like [universally free community college]( and [fare-free regional buses](. - Now what? Members of the House and Senate will need to negotiate a compromise to send to Gov. Maura Healey when they return after the Memorial Day break. The new fiscal year starts on July 1 (but you know [how Beacon Hill feels about that deadline](. P.S.— Boston honor roll students got to play this game at Fenway park this week. Do you know what it is? Take our [Boston News Quiz]( and test your knowledge of this week's stories. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters (Editor's note: This newsletter will be off Monday for Memorial Day. See you on Tuesday!)  The Rundown [‘Hope I’m going to live that long’: Land conservation program leaves applicants in limbo]( In Massachusetts, preserving more forests, fields and wetlands is a critical way the state plans to slow climate change. But a popular land conservation program leaves many property owners in limbo. They apply, spend $5,000-$15,000 on surveys, appraisals and legal fees and then wait. "I might die before this is done," said one applicant. [Read more.]( [‘Hope I’m going to live that long’: Land conservation program leaves applicants in limbo]( In Massachusetts, preserving more forests, fields and wetlands is a critical way the state plans to slow climate change. But a popular land conservation program leaves many property owners in limbo. They apply, spend $5,000-$15,000 on surveys, appraisals and legal fees and then wait. "I might die before this is done," said one applicant. [Read more.]( [Hundreds of students walk out of Harvard commencement]( Hundreds of students — joined by some faculty — walked out of Harvard’s graduation ceremony Thursday, in a show of support for 13 students denied timely diplomas because of their participation in a pro-Palestinian encampment. [Read more.]( [Hundreds of students walk out of Harvard commencement]( Hundreds of students — joined by some faculty — walked out of Harvard’s graduation ceremony Thursday, in a show of support for 13 students denied timely diplomas because of their participation in a pro-Palestinian encampment. [Read more.]( [Mass. joins monopoly lawsuit against Live Nation]( Andrea Campbell is among the group of 30 state attorneys general and the Department of Justice that filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster on Thursday. Live Nation owns the House of Blues Boston, MGM Music Hall Fenway, Leader Bank Pavilion and Xfinity Center in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [Mass. joins monopoly lawsuit against Live Nation]( Andrea Campbell is among the group of 30 state attorneys general and the Department of Justice that filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster on Thursday. Live Nation owns the House of Blues Boston, MGM Music Hall Fenway, Leader Bank Pavilion and Xfinity Center in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( ['Extraordinary' Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2024]( Forecasters are predicting an “above-normal” number of Atlantic hurricanes this year, with 17-25 named storms and up to seven major hurricanes, meaning storms with sustained wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or faster. It’s the biggest number of storms ever forecast by NOAA at the start of a hurricane season. [Read more.]( ['Extraordinary' Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2024]( Forecasters are predicting an “above-normal” number of Atlantic hurricanes this year, with 17-25 named storms and up to seven major hurricanes, meaning storms with sustained wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or faster. It’s the biggest number of storms ever forecast by NOAA at the start of a hurricane season. [Read more.]( [Defense highlights internet search for hypothermia in Karen Read murder trial]( A lawyer for Karen Read, the woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, says a key prosecution witness conducted an incriminating internet search hours before the body was discovered. The allegations are part of the defense's larger claim that state and local law enforcement officials framed Read and allowed the real killer to go free. [Read more.]( [Defense highlights internet search for hypothermia in Karen Read murder trial]( A lawyer for Karen Read, the woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, says a key prosecution witness conducted an incriminating internet search hours before the body was discovered. The allegations are part of the defense's larger claim that state and local law enforcement officials framed Read and allowed the real killer to go free. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Boston Calling [kicks off today]( over at Harvard’s Athletic Complex. You can [check out the full lineup here]( and the [day-by-day schedule on the event website](. WBUR also recently hosted several of the local performers for a preview at CitySpace — which you can [watch on our YouTube page](. (Festival tips from WBUR’s Andrea Shea: Bring sunscreen and wear closed-toed shoes.) - Psst: Not going to Boston Calling? [Tickets]( for The Killers' surprise pop-up concert Saturday at Paradise Rock Club go on sale today at 10 a.m. - Dr. Jim O’Connell, the president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, [spoke to our Cognoscenti team]( about the relationship between listening and providing care, the ubiquity of death in his work, loneliness and how he thinks about his own legacy. - Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers considered quitting music entirely in 2021. Instead, she took a detour to Harvard Divinity School, where she studied public gatherings and the ethics of power in pop culture. Check out [the highlights of Rogers' interview with NPR's Fresh Air]( where Rogers talks about this and her new album "Don't Forget Me." - [A lawsuit in Florida]( against The Hershey Company argues the packaging on its Olympics-themed Reese's Peanut Butter cups misled customers. What We're Reading 📚 - 13 Mass. municipalities and 1 university use ShotSpotter. Critics wonder: Is it worth it? ([GBH News]( - Postcards and laundromat visits: The Texas Tribune audience team experiments with IRL distribution ([Nieman Lab]( - Not Your Childhood Library ([The New Yorker](  Tell Me Something Good [Murph's hot dog stand, where the franks come with a side of sass]( Mike “Murph” Murphy has been drawing loyal customers to his roadside trailer in central Massachusetts for 20 years. [Read more.]( [Murph's hot dog stand, where the franks come with a side of sass]( Mike “Murph” Murphy has been drawing loyal customers to his roadside trailer in central Massachusetts for 20 years. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common looks at [the connection between climate change and allergies, and what you can do to mitigate your symptoms](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [A late-May, New England pastime.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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