The Shoestring

Easthampton Tenants Union is racking up wins Citywide tenants unions are rare. But they’re starting to pop up nationwide, including in Easthampton, where neighbors are building power by fighting for cheaper rent, building maintenance, and more.

Your weekend read: Easthampton Tenants Union is racking up wins. By Dusty Christensen: theshoestring.org/2026/03/07/e...

Local officials come out against rent control Landlords and developers are organizing to oppose a grassroots ballot measure for statewide rent control, and they’re counting on elected officials to help them spread the word.

With eight months left until Mass voters may decide at the ballot box to implement rent control statewide, some local officials are picking sides. By Jonathan Gerhardson: theshoestring.org/2026/03/03/l...

Local officials come out against rent control Landlords and developers are organizing to oppose a grassroots ballot measure for statewide rent control, and they’re counting on elected officials to help them spread the word.

New from me for @theshoestring.bsky.social

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Internet outage exposes frayed equipment, relationships in Greenfield Earlier this month, the internet went dark for customers of Greenfield's GCET. The resulting mess revealed broader power struggles between the municipally owned internet provider and city officials.

Internet outage exposes frayed equipment, relationships in Greenfield — by Jonathan Gerhardson and in collaboration with the Montague Reporter. theshoestring.org/2026/02/26/i...

“Shame on Velis” campaign highlights senator’s role in controversial commission Local organizers argue the state's commission on antisemitism will chill free speech around Israel and Palestine in the state's public schools.

Signs of the times: local organizers argue a state commission on antisemitism, co-chaired by Westfield Democrat John Velis, could chill free speech around Israel and Palestine in public schools. By Colin Weinstein: theshoestring.org/2026/02/21/s...

State considers relaxing hunting regulations Reducing deer populations could have public health and ecological benefits for Mass, but not everyone agrees boosting the annual harvest will help.

Officials and advocates argue relaxing hunting regulations could boost food security and improve public health and local ecology — but not everyone is convinced the changes will be effective. By Dylan Vrins:
theshoestring.org/2026/02/20/s...

Northwestern Assistant DA convicts Worcester ICE protester

The Northwestern DA’s office successfully convicted Etel Haxhiaj, a rapid responder to a Worcester ICE raid, of assault on a police officer. Haxhiaj declined a plea offer that would have required her to sign an apology letter. “I chose the truth,” she said. @billshaner.bsky.social reports:

Holyoke City Council’s new liberal supermajority looks forward After an electoral shakeup, the council has already set a different tone in both legislation and decorum. Can they keep it up?

In our latest deep-dive, divina cordeiro digs into the ambitions of Holyoke City Council's new liberal supermajority, and the hurdles they'll have to clear to stay as productive as they were in their first session: theshoestring.org/2026/02/13/h...

Hampden DA wiretaps suspects far more than other prosecutors, records show Disclosures show that from 2021 to 2024, Anthony Gulluni’s office submitted 83 wiretap applications to judges. That's almost as much as every other DA and the attorney general combined.

Good article by @theshoestring.bsky.social, but it ignores the primary injustice of these wiretaps, which is that I have to go through the voluminous evidence that they produce & figure out what to do with it. 😁

Millions in opioid settlement funds are still sitting idle in Mass municipalities The state tried to withhold information on how cities and towns are spending opioid remediation dollars. From non-spenders to funding of police, here’s what the data shows.

From @binjdotnews.bsky.social: Millions in opioid settlement funds are still sitting idle in Mass municipalities. By Jonathan Gerhardson: theshoestring.org/2026/02/12/m...

I followed @theshoestring.bsky.social because I'm from WMass, but their work is crucial for all of MA, even the whole country. Deeply reported important stories from a part of the country that deserves journalism this good.

Fuck ICE and the Northwestern DA. Solidarity w/ @etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social.

Opinion: Letter from Venezuela A Venezuelan-American living in western Mass writes from Caracas to share his perspective on U.S. intervention in South America.

Western Mass local Hector Figarella writes from Caracas on the aftermath of the U.S. military's kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, and the long history of U.S. imperialism in Venezuela: theshoestring.org/2026/02/07/o...

TY to the homies at @theshoestring.bsky.social for getting this important story in front of a western ma audience (and letting me dust off my ‘proper newsman’ voice lol still got it)Trial starts feb 10!!

Northwestern DA to prosecute Worcester ICE protesters After pledging to prosecute illegal ICE activity in his district, David Sullivan is moving forward with assault charges brought by Worcester police against two civilian rapid responders.

Northwestern DA David Sullivan promised to prosecute hypothetical criminal activity by ICE in his district. But among his office's current caseload are assault charges against two Worcester rapid responders to an ICE raid in that city. By @billshaner.bsky.social: theshoestring.org/2026/02/03/n...

Staff dissent as education collaborative considers hiring NPS superintendent Portia Bonner, who is leaving Northampton Public Schools after a polarizing stint as superintendent, is in negotiations to lead the Collaborative for Educational Services.

Staff dissent at the Collaborative for Educational Services has delayed the hiring of outgoing NPS Supt. Portia Bonner as the nonprofit's new executive director, according to records The Shoestring obtained. By Dan McGlynn: theshoestring.org/2026/01/27/s...

Parole in Massachusetts: Ignored, misunderstood, and misrepresented How executive indifference, an overburdened board, and a sensationalist media are failing the promise of parole in the commonwealth.

For @binjreports.bsky.social, @jeantrounstine.com reports on how Gov. Maura Healey's neglect of the parole system is slowing down access to second chances for incarcerated people in Mass. theshoestring.org/2026/01/23/p...

Cannabis cafes are headed to western Mass. But who will profit? Expanded cannabis regulations promise a head start to those harmed by the War on Drugs. That is, if they don't get tangled in red tape.

Cannabis regulations that would allow for on-site "social consumption" aim to give those harmed by the War on Drugs a leg up as new business opportunities roll out — but hurdles still remain. By Jonathan Gerhardson. theshoestring.org/2026/01/21/c...

No sprinklers installed before Holyoke fires — and none required “The Holyoke Fire Department would like to have sprinklers in all our buildings, but we are bound by the building code and the law,” said Capt. David Rex, a department spokesperson.

With two blazes leaving over 100 displaced in Holyoke last month, The Shoestring found that state law requiring the installation of sprinkler systems during apartment building renovations leaves much to be desired. By Joe Douglass: theshoestring.org/2026/01/12/n...

My latest on the Westfield Police Department's relationship with city landlords:

“Increase your profit”: Westfield police-landlord meeting draws criticism from tenants The meetings have been ongoing for years, but a recent Facebook post about them has prompted some to question the cozy relationship between police and landlords.

When Westfield police posted on Facebook on Dec. 22, the comment section filled with outrage. WPD had advertised an upcoming “landlord meeting” they're hosting, promising attendees “knowledge that will only help you increase your profit and keep problem tenants away." @dustyc123.bsky.social reports:

My latest on @andrewqmr.bsky.social's push for transparency when it comes to police misconduct disclosures:

#Massachusetts Hello, if you rent an apartment in Massachusetts and your landlord increased your rent in the past ~ 3 months and you'd be open to talking to me about this for a story I'm working on for @theshoestring.bsky.social please DM or email me jon.gerhardson@proton.me

Judge sides with journalist against Northwestern DA The top cop for Hampshire and Franklin counties must now turn over unredacted disclosures of criminal police misconduct, or appeal the case to a higher court.

For years, the Northwestern DA’s Office has declined to release the names of some local police officers accused of criminal offenses. But last week, a judge ruled in favor of journalist @andrewqmr.bsky.social, who sought to make that information public. Our latest from @dustyc123.bsky.social:

“The DA’s office has been wasting public money to keep the public in the dark, using taxpayer money to prevent taxpayers from seeing what their tax dollars are being spent on,” he said. “I think that’s very unfortunate.”

Thanks to @theshoestring.bsky.social for interviewing me about my legal victory against the Northwestern District Attorney's Office.

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We're a little over a week away from our film screening at Visions Video of the new documentary THE STRINGER, to be followed by a conversation with photojournalist Ben Brody. We hope to see you there! More info and ticket reservations here: fundrazr.com/thestringer

Why Support The Shoestring? Independent News for Western Mass

We have just over 24 hours left in our year-end campaign, and we're still short of maxing out our matching grant. Stories like today's revelatory investigation are only possible with the support of our community, and we need all the help we can get. Learn more and donate at theshoestring.org/give

Why Support The Shoestring? Independent News for Western Mass

Also, you know the deal, please donate to The Shoestring so they can continue to keep bringing you coverage such as this. theshoestring.org/give/

Please donate or they're going to make me do short form content.

Here's my personal favorite line from this story for the afternoon folks

AI Hallucination? Proposed Westfield data center appears abandoned by developers The Shoestring's investigation uncovered signs the project's developers may have abandoned it, even after local officials spent years arranging for significant tax breaks.

AI hallucination? The Shoestring’s investigation into the status of the proposed hyperscale data center in Westfield uncovered signs the project’s developers have abandoned it, even after officials spent years arranging for tax breaks. By @jongerhardson.bsky.social theshoestring.org/2025/12/30/a...

AI Hallucination? Proposed Westfield data center appears abandoned by developers The Shoestring's investigation uncovered signs the project's developers may have abandoned it, even after local officials spent years arranging for significant tax breaks.

New from me for @theshoestring.bsky.social theshoestring.org/2025/12/30/a...