One less ballot question to worry about

Also: Child care is a problem for employers now, too; seven albums to put on your summer playlist [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 15, 2022 🌤️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Good Morning Boston, Did you catch last night's [strawberry supermoon]( in peak form? Well, WBUR photographer Jesse Costa did. Check out [his photo of the extra-large-looking moon above the Zakim Bridge]( (And don't hesitate to share any of your photos as well.) Now to the news: - Massachusetts voters won't be asked to decide a labyrinthine (and likely [quite expensive]( debate over new economy labor policy this fall after all. The state's Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday [struck down a prospective statewide ballot question]( proposing to reclassify gig workers like Uber and Lyft drivers, ruling that, basically, the initiative violated rules against packing too much stuff into a single question. - The question — which was backed by app-based ride-hailing and delivery giants as well as [some drivers]( sought to [create a new category of worker under the state's labor laws]( treating drivers as independent contractors with certain levels of pay and benefits. - However, labor advocates argued that those minimum levels fell short of the pay and benefits that drivers should be — but aren't — getting already. That's because they say app-based drivers fail to meet the state's three-part test to be an independent contractor — and should thus be treated as an employee. In fact, Attorney General Maura Healey has been suing Uber and Lyft to try to force them to provide the wage and benefits that are required for designated employees (which the companies have argued would cripple their business model). - What ultimately did the ballot question in: it wasn't this particular debate over worker classification. Rather, the court said it was a separate provision in the question that would have given companies a legal shield against lawsuits from people injured by a driver. Justice Scott Kafker ruled the proposal went "beyond defining the relationship between app-based drivers and network companies," violating the rules against including unrelated policies in one question. - What's next: Healey's lawsuit against Uber and Lyft is still ongoing and could have big ramifications for drivers. But don't hold your breath for a decision; the case is still in the discovery phase. - Coming up: The Boston City Council is slated to consider a proposal today that would have the city [formally apologize for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade](. But there's more than just saying sorry. - The [resolution]( — filed by City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson — also calls for removing "anti-Black" symbols in Boston, education about slavery's impacts on the city and policies aimed at rectifying the harms of structural racism. Anderson also co-sponsored [a February proposal]( to create a commission to look at how some form of reparations could work in Boston (though that legislation is still pending before the Council). - Don't call it a crash: Green Line service is back to normal this morning after two trains "[unintentionally coupled]( as the MBTA described it, at a slow speed late last night between Government Center and Park Street stations. Passengers were forced to [evacuate through the tunnel](. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. - The incident comes after Green Line trolleys [collided in a nearby area]( less than two weeks ago. Federal officials are also [planning to hold a press conference this morning]( to announce actions following their investigation into safety on the MBTA. - Forget to bring sunscreen? Boston and Worcester are partnering with skin cancer prevention group Impact Melanoma to set up more than two dozen free sunscreen dispensers in publics spaces in each of the cities ahead of [what's expected to be another hot summer](. - Impact Melanoma executive director told WBUR's Dave Faneuf that the dispensers will be located at places like Boston Common, Rose Kennedy Greenway and Jamaica Pond. Worcester will similarly have them at [parks and public housing facilities](. P.S.— Yes, it's Wednesday, but NPR's Science Friday team is coming to WBUR CitySpace tonight to [host Cephalopod Movie Night](. You'll hear from marine biology experts, watch short science documentaries and even have to chance to meet an actual live octopus at the event! [Get your tentacles on tickets]( for the cephalo-bration here. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Child care is a problem for employers, too. Now more of them want solutions]( “I don’t think that employers see it so much as their responsibility, as much as they see it as their enlightened self-interest because they desperately need workers,” says Tom Weber, who leads the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education. [Read more.]( [Child care is a problem for employers, too. Now more of them want solutions]( “I don’t think that employers see it so much as their responsibility, as much as they see it as their enlightened self-interest because they desperately need workers,” says Tom Weber, who leads the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education. [Read more.]( [BU study finds local land boards dominated by homeowners in Massachusetts]( BU researchers found most of the people on local zoning and planning boards in major Mass. cities are homeowners, even though most of the voters there are renters. [Read more.]( [BU study finds local land boards dominated by homeowners in Massachusetts]( BU researchers found most of the people on local zoning and planning boards in major Mass. cities are homeowners, even though most of the voters there are renters. [Read more.]( [Biden is under pressure on gas prices. So he's putting pressure on oil companies]( President Biden says he wants the biggest refiners to do more to increase gasoline supply and lower prices. He says he's ready to use emergency powers to boost capacity — but he didn't give details. [Read more.]( [Biden is under pressure on gas prices. So he's putting pressure on oil companies]( President Biden says he wants the biggest refiners to do more to increase gasoline supply and lower prices. He says he's ready to use emergency powers to boost capacity — but he didn't give details. [Read more.]( [Mass. board declines to rule whether quickie home inspections are legal]( Despite home inspectors urging the board that oversees them to clarify the legality of controversial mini inspections, the board has decided to wait until someone lodges a complaint. [Read more.]( [Mass. board declines to rule whether quickie home inspections are legal]( Despite home inspectors urging the board that oversees them to clarify the legality of controversial mini inspections, the board has decided to wait until someone lodges a complaint. [Read more.]( [McConnell says he'll support a gun reform bill if it matches the proposed framework]( A bill would include incentives for states to pass red-flag laws, funding for school safety and mental health resources, expanded background checks and more. [Read more.]( [McConnell says he'll support a gun reform bill if it matches the proposed framework]( A bill would include incentives for states to pass red-flag laws, funding for school safety and mental health resources, expanded background checks and more. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Read about one Massachusetts woman's [struggle to afford child care while working in education]( — in comic strip form. - Move over, Harry Styles — here are [seven albums WBUR's arts and culture recommends putting on your summer playlist]( from thorny alternative rock, to jazz-tinged R&B, to crunchy future soul. - NPR's Life Kit has [six tips to help you overcome fears about flying](. - Smith College President Kathleen McCartney [writes in this commentary about how to live with uncertainty]( something that will continue on well beyond the pandemic.  What We're Reading 📚 - “Prove to the World You’ve Lost Your Son” ([Slate]( - Indigenous Agroforestry Dying of Thirst Amid a Sea of Avocados in Mexico ([Civil Eats]( - How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own ([The New York Times](  Tell Me Something Good [This Mass. historical tour is among the best in the world, according to Tripadvisor users (Boston.com)]( Only two cultural and historical tours in the U.S. are among the best on the planet — and one is apparently in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [This Mass. historical tour is among the best in the world, according to Tripadvisor users (Boston.com)]( Only two cultural and historical tours in the U.S. are among the best on the planet — and one is apparently in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( Before you go: When your town has [too many Market Baskets](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.