Hitting the brakes

Also: Brockton battles "fentanyl everywhere"; feds fault the T's "lax safety culture" [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 16, 2022 🌤️ Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Good Morning Boston, It's another great day to go for a walk. And guess what — we now have the [Walking City Trail]( a 25-mile urban hiking trail plotted through Boston by WBUR contributor Miles Howard, connecting many of the city's green spaces. Take [an early look at the trail here](. But first, the news: - Those sounds you hear are the brakes screeching on plans for East-West rail in Massachusetts. According to State House News Service, House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters Wednesday that legislation to create a new state agency to oversee the effort to extend regular passenger rail service west of Worcester would be "very premature," signaling that Legislature leaders may not be on board with making the project happen as quickly as some would like. Mariano's comments come after Gov. Charlie Baker [announced earlier this spring]( that his administration officially agreed to pursue East-West rail, hopefully using federal infrastructure funds. - The catch: State lawmakers need to create a new transit agency (sorta like the MBTA) to oversee the multi-billion dollar project in order for it to move forward. And despite a proposal from Baker, lawmakers have [declined to include such an agency]( in the current transportation bill moving through the State House. - Why? Mariano said Wednesday that they want to collect more information on the project — including its overall costs and how much the feds would kick in — before moving forward. - What is moving forward on Beacon Hill? The House is planning to vote on a mental health bill today, after the Senate [passed their version of the legislation]( last fall. WBUR's Steve Brown reports that the House's version is intended to complement and combine with the Senate bill, which would require insurance companies to cover mental health care in the same way they cover medical and surgical care. - The House bill proposes to do that, too. However, Mariano says it also focuses on investing in youth mental health care, noting that suicide is [a leading cause of death]( among 10- to 14-year-olds. Brown reports the House and Senate are hoping to iron out the differences between the two bills and pass it amid the logjam of other legislation before the end of the formal session in 45 days. - There's a lot to look forward to (and a lot of potential for letdown) for sports fans of all stripes in Boston today. Here's a quick rundown: - 7 a.m.: The first round of the U.S. Open tees off at The Country Club in Brookline. While Tiger Woods isn't playing, there's [no shortage of controversy around who is](. - 5 p.m.: We'll find out if Foxborough's Gillette Stadium will host World Cup matches in 2026, as FIFA announces the sites of the soccer tournament being held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. - 6 p.m.: Boston holds its annual Donna Summer Dance Party at Copley Square — and yes, we're counting dancing as a sport! - 9 p.m.: The Celtics fight to fend off elimination in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden. We're hoping they force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors back in San Francisco. P.S.— We've been getting a lot of feedback on [this week's series on the cost of child care in Massachusetts]( — and apparently a lot of you can relate. "I paid more than college tuition," one WBUR follower told us. Check out reporter Carrie Jung's [Twitter thread chronicling what we've heard from WBUR listeners and readers]( — and don't hesitate to reply to this email and share your experience on her thread as well. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [With ‘fentanyl everywhere’ and Black deaths soaring, advocates in Brockton test ways to save lives]( Armed with a $1.6 million in federal funds, advocates in Brockton set out to reduce overdose deaths by 40%. Then COVID hit, and the crisis spiraled, with fentanyl lacing drugs like crack and cocaine. Their work could become a model for what works— or doesn’t — to save lives. [Read more.]( [With ‘fentanyl everywhere’ and Black deaths soaring, advocates in Brockton test ways to save lives]( Armed with a $1.6 million in federal funds, advocates in Brockton set out to reduce overdose deaths by 40%. Then COVID hit, and the crisis spiraled, with fentanyl lacing drugs like crack and cocaine. Their work could become a model for what works— or doesn’t — to save lives. [Read more.]( [How child care can build kids' brains, one interaction at a time]( The most rapid brain development happens in the first five years of life, and evidence suggests back-and-forth interactions between children and their caregivers play a pivotal role. [Read more.]( [How child care can build kids' brains, one interaction at a time]( The most rapid brain development happens in the first five years of life, and evidence suggests back-and-forth interactions between children and their caregivers play a pivotal role. [Read more.]( [The Jan. 6 committee is meeting Thursday. Here's what to expect]( The panel's third meeting this month will focus on how former President Trump pressured former Vice President Mike Pence not to count lawful electoral votes. The hearing starts at 1 p.m. ET. [Read more.]( [The Jan. 6 committee is meeting Thursday. Here's what to expect]( The panel's third meeting this month will focus on how former President Trump pressured former Vice President Mike Pence not to count lawful electoral votes. The hearing starts at 1 p.m. ET. [Read more.]( [Feds fault T's 'lax safety culture' and state's lack of robust oversight]( The Federal Transit Administration is calling out the MBTA for a "lax safety culture" following a series of train-car mishaps, injuries and deaths that landed the agency on the federal radar. [Read more.]( [Feds fault T's 'lax safety culture' and state's lack of robust oversight]( The Federal Transit Administration is calling out the MBTA for a "lax safety culture" following a series of train-car mishaps, injuries and deaths that landed the agency on the federal radar. [Read more.]( [Ukraine finds itself outnumbered as Russia advances in the Donbas]( U.S. Gen. Mark Milley says Ukraine faces a shortfall of weapons and troops while battling Russia's latest offensive. [Read more.]( [Ukraine finds itself outnumbered as Russia advances in the Donbas]( U.S. Gen. Mark Milley says Ukraine faces a shortfall of weapons and troops while battling Russia's latest offensive. [Read more.]( Election Season 🗳️ The child care conundrum As part of WBUR's [special series this week on the cost of child care]( we wanted to give newsletter subscribers an exclusive look at how the candidates running for governor in Massachusetts say they would address the vexing issue: The problem Child care in Massachusetts is expensive! According to one estimate, the [average cost]( of infant care is over $20,000 a year, while preschool typically runs families over $15,000 a kid. That’s more than tuition at many in-state public universities — and simply unaffordable for many. For a Bay State family making the state's median income, sending just one kid to child care would consume over 20% of what they bring home. The reason is structural. Child care doesn’t get close to the same public funding as K-12 schools. And in Massachusetts, there are rules requiring smaller teacher-to-kid ratios than other in states. So as a special state commission’s [report this year]( explained, the business model relies on high fees for families and low wages for teachers. COVID also exacerbated problems the industry already had retaining workers, leading to the closure of hundreds of programs. According to a state report last month, there are roughly 8% fewer child care programs than before the pandemic began. All in all, the lack of affordable options creates a multi-billion-dollar drag on the state's economy, according to [estimates by the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation](. That's due to parents dropping out of work to care for their kids, reduced productivity for businesses and forgone state tax revenue. What are we going to do about it? Both of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates want to devote a lot more public funding to the child care system. But they disagree slightly on the scope of the transformation. (The two Republican candidates have not put forward plans and declined to comment.) Attorney General Maura Healey: Last month, Healey announced her support for what's called the “[Common Start]( legislation, which aims to make child care free for lower-income families and cap costs for everyone else at 7% of their household income. The legislation would do this by offering subsidies to families, as well as direct-to-provider funding to help centers cover operating costs and increase staff salaries. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz: Chang-Díaz also supports the Common Start bill, but wants to go further. Last summer, she [released a plan]( that effectively proposed extending the K-12 public funding model to provide free preschool for all 3- and 4- year-olds. Her plan would direct the funding to child care centers, family care providers and school-based programs, as long as they meet minimum standards. The debate: Chang-Díaz's campaign contends her proposal is a "common sense program that every progressive should support." Several states — [Florida, Oklahoma and Vermont]( — already provide free, publicly funded preschool to all residents, regardless of income. And other states have "universal" programs that enroll some but not all of their preschool-aged kids. However, Healey's team argues the Common Start bill is no small potatoes. A campaign spokesperson noted it would make preschool free for families making up to 50% of the state’s median income ($62,668 for a family of four or $42,614 for a single parent with one child) and “more affordable" for everyone else. At what cost? The Common Start bill alone would require hundreds of millions of dollars in immediate funding. Proponents say it would ultimately require an additional $2 billion a year, phased in through annual funding increases in the hundreds of millions of dollars (similar to the [recent education funding reform bill](. Healey’s campaign says she’d look to the state’s current multi-billion-dollar budget surplus and federal aid to fund the initiative, as well as continue advocating for Congress to pass “billions” for child care. Chang-Díaz's single-payer preschool proposal would cost even more. For funding, she [has also pointed to federal sources]( as well as this year’s [millionaire’s tax ballot question]( and other “progressive revenue streams like closing corporate tax loopholes." What now? It's possible that by the time a new governor takes office, Massachusetts will have already taken a big step on the issue. Last month, State House leaders released [a bill]( that would essentially create the framework for something close to the Common Start bill — calling for a boost in funding for child care providers and subsidies for lower-income families. How far the bill actually goes depends on how much money is allocated for it. But if fully implemented, a family of four making up to $111,564 a year would be eligible for subsidies, though the exact amount of aid would be left up to the state. Healey told me in a statement that the bill is "an important step." However, her focus remains on building toward the full Common Start bill to cap costs for even more families and "finally fix our early education and care system.” Chang-Díaz also commended the legislation for its "many good components" and said she would be "glad to vote for it." However, she added that it "falls short of delivering child care for every family in Massachusetts" and pledged to fight for a plan that includes "universal preschool" as governor. "Our economy needs and parents are ready for bold solutions," she said.  Anything Else? - Here are [five things to do to celebrate Juneteenth this weekend]( from a special night at Somerville's Bow Market to a block party in Nubian Square to a free open house at the MFA. - Rev. Laura Everett [writes in this commentary]( that — win or lose — this Celtics team has represented the best of Boston. - It's beach read season! WBUR contributor Christian Burno [suggests six books to flip through in the sun]( as part of our summer arts guide. - More strawberry moon photos? Oh yeah. Check out [some of the stunning images]( from Massachusetts to Maine to Marseille. Tell Me Something Good [A lost spiritual jazz record made in Boston resurfaces]( In the late 1970s, trumpeter Milt Ward brought a hand-picked band into a local studio and cut a cosmos jazz record he hoped would elevate his career. Over the ensuing decades, the album has become a cult classic and is finally getting a proper reissue. [Read more.]( [A lost spiritual jazz record made in Boston resurfaces]( In the late 1970s, trumpeter Milt Ward brought a hand-picked band into a local studio and cut a cosmos jazz record he hoped would elevate his career. Over the ensuing decades, the album has become a cult classic and is finally getting a proper reissue. [Read more.]( Before you go: Boston's newest meteorologist is [a little slow](. 😎 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? 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