Today the Massachusetts Legislature sent Governor Deval Patrick an important and long-awaited bill to guarantee minimum standards for pregnant women in jail and prison, including strict limits on shackling. Governor Patrick has ten days to sign the bill into law. He has already said he wants to...

There are well-known reasons why promoting enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) makes sense for cities, but it isn’t just about better health outcomes—it’s also about financial empowerment . Just one medical emergency can bankrupt a family and cause devastating...

I recently visited my mom for her birthday last week. She always possessed a practical, no-nonsense attitude. Mom is the personification of a hip 80 year-old, but she reminds me often that growing up during the Depression gives her the edge of realism. Her mind is as sharp as a tack, so even at her...