Around New England

War on Gas-Powered Cars Needed To Combat Climate Change, Environmentalists Say

War on Gas-Powered Cars Needed To Combat Climate Change, Environmentalists Say

Matthew McDonald

Targeting motors that burn fuel and replacing them with electricity-powered mass transit, electric cars, and bikepaths are among the goals of a coalition seeking to fight climate change.

The coalition, called Our Transportation Future, anticipates government-mandated caps on emissions under a framework called the Transportation and Climate Initiative. The initiative includes 12 states — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia — plus Washington D.C., the nation's capital.

An official of the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization, praised the new framework.

"We are in a climate crisis and burning motor fuels is the largest source of climate-disrupting pollution regionally and nationally. Now is a time for states to make bold and transformative investments, particularly with and for communities overburdened by pollution and under-resourced for clean transportation opportunities, including setting a strong cap on pollution, expanding access to zero-emission vehicles, providing electric mass transit as an alternative to driving, and investing in safe walking and biking paths to revitalize neighborhoods," said Mark Kresowik, deputy director of the Sierra Club's Eastern Region, in a written statement Tuesday, October 1.

Supporters of the new framework consider Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, an ally.

Around New England

Indicted Fall River Mayor To Try Third-Party Write-In Straw To Save Re-Election Bid

Matthew McDonald

Jasiel Correia II, the indicted Fall River mayor who federal prosecutors say bilked investors in his private company before he was mayor and shook down marijuana companies for bribes as mayor, is planning to use a third-party write-in candidate to try to win re-election in November, according to a leaked audio recording of a campaign meeting reported by the Fall River Herald News.

Correia barely made the general election ballot in a distant second place behind frontrunner Paul Coogan, who got three times as many votes as he did in the primary election September 17. Under normal circumstances, the primary result means Correia has little chance of winning in November.

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