#mapol — Public Fediverse posts

Fight for the Future has some good ideas here:
https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2026-05-05-fight-for-the-future-releases-draft-of-proposed-social-media-legislation-that-protects-all-kids-from-big-tech/

#MAPol #MAPoli #privacy #AgeVerification

More information on Cambridge's upcoming #ShotSpotter vote and actions you can take is available from the #StopShotSpotter coalition here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xh3yfo9bPVAKtYTJjMwvV1rg9q-tBwsgUtGsO3VJKZs/edit?tab=t.0

#surveillance #privacy #CambridgeMA #MAPol #MAPoli

Things you can do to help end the use of #ShotSpotter in #CambridgeMA

* Attend the City Council Meeting on May 11th either in person (at 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge or over zoom https://cambridgema.zoom.us/s/97895847144)

* Send emails to the Cambridge City Council ([email protected])

* Sign up for public comment (https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/CityCouncil/PublicCommentSignUpForm)

#privacy #surveillance #MAPol #MAPoli

Big news! Following last week's Public Safety meeting on #ShotSpotter, Cambridge City Council will be meeting on Monday May 11th to vote on a policy order to end the City’s use of ShotSpotter microphones and remove the devices from Cambridge neighborhoods.

#CambridgeMA #surveillance #privacy #MAPol #MAPoli

For anyone interested in a more complete update on the #Somerville #bodycameras deliberations, one of my collaborators put together this document summarizing ways to support our organizing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSLHo6CD3P8L-EGbsr7pqxXf0CaU1A-XhsXV95ES43uPehjHgTpnwEORUTq_H_87V3nw2cEwSTgSMnY/pub

#surveillance #SomervilleMA #MAPol #MAPoli

Last night the #Somerville Legislative Matters Committee decided to hold the #bodycameras proposal in committee rather than voting to approve it.

It's not clear what the next steps will be (stay tuned), but for now they are not moving forward on the proposal for body cameras without civilian oversight.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote or called in to council to express concern about the city's proposal!

#MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

Tomorrow, @CambridgeMA is holding a Public Safety hearing about #ShotSpotter, a surveillance technology that claims to be able to identify gunshots but in fact has a very high error rate. ShotSpotter operates by installing (often hidden) microphones in (often black and brown) neighborhoods.

There's information here about signing up to give testimony:
https://www.theblackresponsecambridge.com/events/sign-up-for-public-comment-shotspotter-hearing-happening-tomorrow-april-29

#surveillance #MAPol #MAPoli

If you'd like to stay informed of community organizing efforts regarding the City of Somerville's pursuit of Body Worn Cameras for Police, please fill out this form:
https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/VzpeBEc1duRVTYgevX3BuF4CcDWxqAmS6J+YP9zykh8/

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #bodycameras #MAPol #MAPoli

#Somerville residents, please reach out to your City Councilors before then to let them know that you don't want the police to have body cameras without clear policies protecting transparency and civilian privacy.

There's an action toolkit with a template email here:
https://cryptpad.fr/doc/#/2/doc/view/w78L6SmN-wdylLDVU0vfus9uUmeu5lRWo+ETzKPtG80/

(EDIT: link updated to correct some minor copyediting errors in the email template)

#SomervilleMA #MAPol #surveillance

Update on the #Somerville Body Worn Cameras discussion: the Finance Committee has deferred voting on whether to approve budgeting for the cameras.

There's a bit of context here:
https://csindie.com/body-worn-cameras-for-somerville-police-come-with-an-annual-cost-near-a-half-million-dollars/

(NOTE: the date for the upcoming Legislative Matters meeting is April 21, *not* the date listed in the article.)

#MAPol #MAPoli #surveillance #privacy

You can also use the call tool here:
https://www.stoponlineidchecks.org/MA

#MAPol #MAPoli #AgeVerification #privacy #surveillance

I just had a good phone conversation with a staffer at Massachusetts Senator Pat Jehlen's office, and she affirmed that all the advocacy against age verification is being heard. #Massachusetts residents, if you have bandwidth, please keep pushing on this.

You can look up your state senator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

#MAPol #MAPoli #surveillance #privacy #AgeVerification

P.S. If you're not in District 9, you can go to <https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/city-boston-polling-locations> to find your district and find out who will be on your ballot tomorrow. I encourage you to research the candidates and decide whom you're voting for before you go to vote.
#politics #MAPol #BosPoli #Boston #BostonMA

#Boston election Nov. 4 2025: District 9 endorsements

Vote for #MichelleWu, #LizBreadon, #HenrySantana, #MarvinMathelier, #RuthzeeLouijeune, and #JuliaMejia!
#politics #MAPol #BosPoli #BostonMA
https://blog.kamens.us/2025/11/03/boston-election-nov-4-2025-district-9-endorsements/

There's no question that #EdMarkey needs to go. He has displayed no leadership in the fight against Trump. He embodies the kind of politics that render Democrats ineffective against fascism.
But #SethMoulton is not who we need to replace Markey <https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/rep-seth-moulton-massachusetts-senate-race-ed-markey-rcna237732>. We don't need "leaders" willing to throw trans people or anyone else under the bus <https://archive.ph/vHNoA>, "leaders" who think tacking further to the right is a winning strategy.
#politics #USPol #MAPol

I was so happy to hear that #MichelleWu would be running on the ballot unopposed in November that I let out a great big Wu-hoo!
I'm very much in favor of incumbents defending their positions against worthy challengers, but (a) Wu already did that in the preliminary election and (b) IMO there were no worthy challengers this year. I'd rather see her running unopposed then running against someone shitty.
#politics #USPol #MAPol #BosPoli #Boston #BostonMA
https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-mayor-wu-unopposed-november-election/68007633

Rümeysa Öztürk is BACK HOME in Massachusetts!

Live: Rümeysa Öztürk press conference at Logan, Sen Markey speaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrHq1xKtdEM

#RümeysaÖztürk #MAPol #Somerpol #SOmerpoli #USpol #SomervilleMA #boston #massachusetts #tufts #

Oh, look, it's the government using eminent domain for what it's actually supposed to be used for, the common good.
#politics #MAPol #BosPoli #Boston #BrightonMA #LizBreadon #EminentDomain #healthcare