I am an ordinance; I speak for the trees

Also: Electric Bluebikes hit the road; Paul Revere-founded woodworker group makes history [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 21, 2023 ☀️Sunny, with a high near 35. Good Morning Boston, Happy [winter]( The solstice officially arrives tonight and the MBTA shuttle buses have already [gone into hibernation]( (at least for two weeks). But this newsletter isn't hibernating quite yet. To the news: - The electric Bluebike rollout has begun: The Boston-area bikeshare system added [its first 50 electric bikes]( to the fleet yesterday — and another 700 are expected to hit the streets over the coming months in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville and Everett. Stacy Thompson, the head of transit advocacy group Livable Streets, told WBUR's John Bender the expansion will make Bluebikes more inclusive: "If you're intimidated by a hill, if the length of a ride feels a little scary, an e-bike will be able to help those folks out." - Rules of the road: While e-bikes are allowed in bike lanes and shared paths, they are not allowed on sidewalks. The system will also use [Lyft's electric-assist bicycle]( which provides a battery-powered boost when riders pedal hard, up to a max of 18 mph. (You can read more about the e-bikes' specs [here]( - At what cost: The e-bikes will be a little more expensive than a regular Bluebike. For most riders, it will cost 25 cents-a-minute, in addition to the usual charges, like the $3.13 to unlock a bike. But if you pay for [a monthly or annual Bluebikes membership]( the cost is a dime-a-minute (with no unlock fee). Those in Bluebikes' [low-income program]( can use them for seven cents-a-minute. - How do I find an e-bike? According to Bluebikes, the best way is to use their mobile app, which will display [a little "bolt" under the bike's icon]( to show there's one available at a station. - FYI: Could Massachusetts follow [Colorado's lead]( and bar former president Donald Trump from the state's March 5 primary ballot? Secretary of State Bill Galvin is [planning to put Trump on the ballot]( but his office expects a new challenge could be on the way in the Bay State. - Last week, the Boston Herald [reported]( that labor lawyer and former attorney general candidate Shannon Liss-Riordan is trying to recruit prominent local Republicans and Democrats to join a legal fight to ban Trump from the Massachusetts ballot. Some legal scholars say a section of the 14th Amendment that prohibits anyone "engaged in insurrection" from elected office should apply to Trump, due to his role in the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol. While several states have rejected such challenges, Colorado's Supreme Court became the first to agree on Wednesday. - What's next: Trump's campaign plans to appeal the Colorado ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. [Click here for more]( on what's next in the process and how legal experts think it will unfold. - FWIW: Galvin previously suggested the "best way" opponents of Trump should block the ex-president from office "[is to vote]( - Meanwhile: Another presidential ballot controversy is playing out in Massachusetts. Both of President Joe Biden's primary challengers — [Marianne Williamson]( and [Dean Phillips]( — are up in arms about the Massachusetts Democratic Party's decision to submit only Biden's name for the state's March 5 primary ballot. - What's next: Phillips and Williamson can still get on the March 5 ballot if they submit 2,500 signatures this week (Williamson will not, according to Politico). Or, Galvin unilaterally can add them if he decides they've gotten enough national media attention to deserve a spot. The deadline for that decision is Jan. 5. - PSA: About 50,000 Massachusetts residents just became eligible for ConnectorCare, the state's subsidized health insurance program. The state [expanded its income limits this year]( just as [thousands are losing health coverage]( through MassHealth. - The deets: Thanks to [the pilot expansion]( individuals making at most $72,000 a year or a family of four bringing in $150,000 or less will be able to enroll in the 2024 plans, which offer "$0 or low monthly premiums, low out-of-pocket costs and no deductibles." - The deadline: Sign up by this Saturday if you want a plan that starts on Jan. 1, 2024. [Open enrollment]( will continue now through Jan. 23 P.S.— 2023 has been a year of MBTA struggles. But could 2024 be the year of T-riumph? Radio Boston will have MBTA General Manager Phil Eng live on the show today to discuss at 11 a.m. If you have questions, send them in through [the Radio Boston text club](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [A new Boston law protects trees on public land but not private]( Boston has its first tree ordinance. These rules govern when trees can be trimmed or removed from city-owned parks, the land around schools, libraries and public housing. The ordinance does not apply to trees on private property, which is half or more of Boston’s tree canopy. [Read more.]( [A new Boston law protects trees on public land but not private]( Boston has its first tree ordinance. These rules govern when trees can be trimmed or removed from city-owned parks, the land around schools, libraries and public housing. The ordinance does not apply to trees on private property, which is half or more of Boston’s tree canopy. [Read more.]( [Scion of woodworkers is first woman chosen for centuries-old trade group Paul Revere founded]( More than two centuries ago, silversmith Paul Revere helped start a group to boost skilled craftsmen. The Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association still exists today, but over all these years, the group has never welcomed a woman into its ranks — until now. [Read more.]( [Scion of woodworkers is first woman chosen for centuries-old trade group Paul Revere founded]( More than two centuries ago, silversmith Paul Revere helped start a group to boost skilled craftsmen. The Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association still exists today, but over all these years, the group has never welcomed a woman into its ranks — until now. [Read more.]( [Student loan forgiveness isn't dead yet, and other takeaways from 2023]( What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it's NPR afterall). [Read more.]( [Student loan forgiveness isn't dead yet, and other takeaways from 2023]( What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it's NPR afterall). [Read more.]( [Mayor Wu formally apologizes to Black men wrongly accused in 1989 murder of Carol Stuart]( Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett were wrongly named as suspects in the Oct. 23, 1989, death of Carol Stuart, whose husband, Charles Stuart, had orchestrated her killing. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued a formal apology Wednesday to both men. [Read more.]( [Mayor Wu formally apologizes to Black men wrongly accused in 1989 murder of Carol Stuart]( Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett were wrongly named as suspects in the Oct. 23, 1989, death of Carol Stuart, whose husband, Charles Stuart, had orchestrated her killing. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued a formal apology Wednesday to both men. [Read more.]( [Boston's exam schools admission policy upheld on appeal]( The plan was expressly designed to broaden access to the three public high schools and to boost racial diversity in their enrollments – and it appears to have had that effect. But the appeals court ruled that that alone doesn't make it unconstitutional. [Read more.]( [Boston's exam schools admission policy upheld on appeal]( The plan was expressly designed to broaden access to the three public high schools and to boost racial diversity in their enrollments – and it appears to have had that effect. But the appeals court ruled that that alone doesn't make it unconstitutional. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Need a last-minute gift for the book-lover in your life? Brookline Booksmith, Harvard Book Store and Papercuts [shared their bestselling titles from 2023 in this roundup](. (Or if you're shopping for a little one, here are [10 new picture books that NPR staff recommend]( - Maybe you've finished all your holiday shopping and have some spare time this weekend? [Check out our weekly list of five things to do around Boston]( including some solstice stargazing, holiday concerts and a new MFA exhibit on the women of the Black Panther Party. - Looking ahead to next weekend, Boston's First Night is on the move! Don’t go to Copley Square this year; the main stage will be at the newly-renovated City Hall Plaza with more events in the surrounding area. Here's [a complete guide to the New Year's Eve festivities](. - Steve Almond [makes the case in this commentary]( that America’s most under-appreciated Christmas gift this year is President Joe Biden’s drama-free White House.  What We're Reading 📚 - A victim of early success on solar, Mass. now lags behind ([The Boston Globe]( - Harvard Finds More Instances of ‘Duplicative Language’ in President’s Work ([The New York Times]( - Written in the Wood ([Washington Post](  🔎 Field Guide To Boston [How iconic bakeries in Boston's North End have made their beloved cannolis for generations]( Whether you like your cannoli to be traditional, a funky flavor or the Florentine variety, there are lots of choices, special touches and loads of history that go into making Boston's cannolis the cream of the crop. [Read more.]( [How iconic bakeries in Boston's North End have made their beloved cannolis for generations]( Whether you like your cannoli to be traditional, a funky flavor or the Florentine variety, there are lots of choices, special touches and loads of history that go into making Boston's cannolis the cream of the crop. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common looks back on [the year through Boston's food](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Celebrity moms — they're [just like us]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 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. 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