Tessera
Folgen

The Shoestring

@theshoestring.bsky.social

Independent news for western Massachusetts. We are funded by readers like you! https://theshoestring.org/

147 Posts406 Follower30 Folgt
The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · yesterday

Emails @jongerhardson.bsky.social obtained show that for more than two years, Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s office routinely sent ICE agents the personal information of people held in its custody. It has discontinued the practice after the PROTECT Act took effect, but it's continuing a partnership with HSI:

Records: Hampden sheriff’s office regularly shared data with ICE

An attorney for the department said it has discontinued the practice after the PROTECT Act took effect last month, but that it will continue its partnership with Homeland Security Investigations.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 6d ago

Voters will decide next month whether employees at CPCS — the state agency for public defenders and the social workers who support them — can collectively bargain. The Shoestring's divina cordeiro speaks to the workers at the center of Question 2:

Question 2 could give public defenders the right to unionize

Committee for Public Counsel Services employees say they can better help guarantee the public’s Sixth Amendment right to legal representation if allowed to collectively bargain.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 2w ago

After the Daily Hampshire Gazette drew ire for publishing transphobic rhetoric, a reader created a petition calling on the newspaper to create a hate speech policy. Staff writer divina cordeiro brings us another installment of The Shoestring’s media criticism column "See Something Say Something":

Queer Gazette readers have had enough discourse, thank you

See Something, Say Something #25: Petitioners call on the Daily Hampshire Gazette to curb the transphobic rhetoric in its opinion pages

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 3w ago

Campaigners behind Question 7 argue relaxing minimum lot size requirements across Massachusetts will ease the state's housing crisis. Others are not so convinced. Our latest election coverage, by Dylan Vrins: theshoestring.org/2026/09/25/c...

Can Question 7’s zoning reform ease the housing crisis in Mass.?

The ballot initiative would allow single-family homes to be built on residential lots as small as 5,000 square feet. Developers and some progressive groups say that will help first-time buyers. But ot...

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 4w ago

The Shoestring & other news publishers are suing OpenAI and Microsoft for uncompensated use of published material to build products like ChatGPT. The suit seeks damages for the use of our journalism to build up some of the largest companies in the world. Brian Zayatz on our decision to fight back:

The Shoestring, other news publishers sue OpenAI and Microsoft

The plaintiffs have amassed evidence of specific use of published material to train flagship products like ChatGPT.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · last mo.

As the region's college students head back to class, Anna Carpinelli reports on the push for stronger PILOT agreements between the Five Colleges and their host communities. theshoestring.org/2026/09/11/a...

As budget woes linger in Hampshire County, some look to the colleges

The Five Colleges’ tax-exempt property holdings can be a sore spot when municipal budget season rolls around. Some residents and officials think the time is right to push for greater contributions fro...

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · last mo.

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the city of Northampton over its resolution to divest from companies tied to human rights abuses in Israel and Palestine. But both the plaintiffs' representation and intervenors in the suit say the fight continues: theshoestring.org/2026/09/10/j...

Judge rejects challenge to Northampton’s Israel-divestment resolution

The ruling is likely to have implications for other communities, like Easthampton, that are considering similar measures.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · last mo.

Thinning hospital staff by day, Baystate CEO Peter Banko has apparently been waxing poetic by night, crafting lines like “You will have to fire your Spongebob.” In our latest, Will Meyer read and reviewed Banko’s book on how to fire people, and still feel good about yourself, so we don’t have to:

BOOK REVIEW: Baystate Health CEO’s guide on how to fire people

Peter Banko lands on such insights as “You will have to fire your Spongebob” as workers argue the healthcare company’s staffing shortages endanger patients.

theshoestring.org

Western Mass Politics & Insight@wmasspi.com · last mo.

READ: Our editor-in-chief @mszafranski.bsky.social spoke to @dustyc123.bsky.social at @theshoestring.bsky.social about this week's results as part of their overview of what happened in Western Mass this past Tuesday. #mapoli theshoestring.org/2026/09/03/w...

Western Massachusetts incumbents sweep primary elections

Incumbency topped fundraising and political alignment as the best predictor of success for local Democrats on Tuesday, despite a leftward swing seen elsewhere in the country.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · last mo.

In the latest edition of our media criticism column, Chris Faraone notices some strange bedfellows at the Boston Globe's Tech Innovation Summit. Originally published at @binjdotnews.bsky.social: theshoestring.org/2026/09/04/c...

Chicopee police, the Boston Globe, and a surveillance tech company walk onto a panel…

See Something, Say Something #24: Axon representatives appeared alongside Chicopee's acting police chief at the Globe's

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · last mo.

For Democrats statewide, it wasn't fundraising totals or political alignment that predicted success on Tuesday's primary, but incumbency. In our primary election recap, Dusty Christensen breaks down what this means for western Mass: theshoestring.org/2026/09/03/w...

Western Massachusetts incumbents sweep primary elections

Incumbency topped fundraising and political alignment as the best predictor of success for local Democrats on Tuesday, despite a leftward swing seen elsewhere in the country.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In the next installment of our primary election coverage, we turn to Hampden County, where longtime incumbent state Rep. Angelo Puppolo faces a challenge from educator and activist Michael Lachenmeyer. By Brian Zayatz: theshoestring.org/2026/08/28/l...

Longtime Rep. Angelo Puppolo faces challenge from the left in Michael Lachenmeyer

Voters will decide in the Sept. 1 primary whether they'll opt for Lachenmeyer's progressive vision or stick with Puppolo's decades of experience.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Tara Jacobs has built a progressive reputation for herself in her time on the Governor's Council. On Sept. 1, she faces a rematch with former Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton in "the most important race no one's heard of". By Dylan Vrins: theshoestring.org/2026/08/19/w...

Who will represent western Massachusetts on the influential Governor’s Council?

Tara Jacobs, a progressive who has made her mark on the Governor's Council over the last four years, faces a rematch from Michael Fenton, Springfield's former City Council President.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Across the country, a movement is growing around the demand to kick automated license plate readers out of town. In part two of their series, reporters divina cordeiro and Dusty Christensen spoke to the western Massachusetts residents who are resisting the controversial surveillance technology.

“Get the Flock Out”: Western Massachusetts residents push back against automated license plate readers

In Massachusetts and across the country, a movement is growing around the demand to kick Flock — and other license plate readers — out of town.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Shoestring obtained data from two western Massachusetts police departments' Flock automated license plate readers. The records show at least 15 police departments in the region have used the devices this year. The Shoestring's divina cordeiro and Dusty Christensen investigate:

Automated license plate readers Flock to western Massachusetts

At least 15 police departments in the Connecticut River Valley have used the company Flock Safety’s controversial surveillance tech, records show. But it’s not the only company selling them to local p...

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

As the Trump Administration ratchets up pressure on Cuba and U.S.-based solidarity activists, organizers in western Mass are keeping the material needs of islanders at the center of their actions. By R. Nicholas: theshoestring.org/2026/07/31/o...

Organizers respond to escalating federal aggression towards Cuba

As the Trump administration’s trade embargo against Cuba ramps up, local organizers spoke to The Shoestring about their solidarity efforts.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Despite initial fanfare, officials now say there are no formal plans for the massive sports complex. But the city’s been busy, and some have united in resistance against a developer with close ties to the mayor. Our latest from Melissa Karen Sances, with an original illustration by Charles Forsman.

Bump, set, spike: Will Holyoke residents block developer’s proposed sports complex?

Despite much initial fanfare, residents have been told that there are no formal plans for the project. But the city’s been busy, and some Holyokers have united in resistance against a developer with c...

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Our new series "The Brady Bunch" digs into the police misconduct records — known as Brady disclosures — that @andrewqmr.bsky.social won in a years-long transparency lawsuit against the Northwestern DA. Read the first installment here: theshoestring.org/2026/07/23/r...

Records allege Granby cop sexually harassed women, paid subordinates to do his schoolwork

Misconduct records for Gary Poehler, who has agreed to permanently leave law enforcement, also allege he used his truck to intimidate an officer who filed a complaint against him. The documents were a...

theshoestring.org

Andrew Quemere@andrewqmr.bsky.social · 3mo ago

NEW collab w/ @theshoestring.bsky.social: A retired Granby police lieutenant entered into an agreement to never again work in law enforcement after he allegedly paid subordinates to complete his college coursework for him and made sexually explicit comments in front of subordinates. #Massachusetts

Records allege Granby cop sexually harassed women, paid subordinates to do his schoolwork

Misconduct records for Gary Poehler, who has agreed to permanently leave law enforcement, also allege he used his truck to intimidate an officer who filed a complaint against him. The documents were a...

massdump.ghost.io

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Last month, Massachusetts’ highest court tossed out a rent-control ballot measure, delivering a defeat to tenants who had poured their energy into the campaign. But organized renters say the setback won’t stop their work fighting against climbing rents. Our latest: theshoestring.org/2026/07/16/d...

Despite rent control defeat, tenants continue organizing

Last month, Massachusetts' highest court tossed out a rent-control ballot measure. But tenant organizers say the setback won't stop their work fighting against climbing rents.

theshoestring.org

The Shoestring@theshoestring.bsky.social · 4mo ago

As healthcare providers preemptively roll back gender-affirming care for minors, transgender youth and their families are left scrambling for care. The first story in a two-part series by divina cordeiro follows their stories: theshoestring.org/2026/06/24/w...

Who cares for trans youth?

As healthcare providers cease gender-affirming care for minors, families are left scrambling. In part one of this series, The Shoestring shares their stories.

theshoestring.org