More than 200 Vineyarders with fellow Islanders from Nantucket assembled at the State House last month, demanding the passage of legislation that would help the development of workforce and affordable housing across the Island. It was an inspiring moment, a sign that Vineyarders are concerned about their future. Put so eloquently and forcefully […]
We are the unseen, unheard working class of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. We are the very backbone of the island communities, and yet our means of survival are dwindling. My name is Graysen Kirk, and I am a senior at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. I have grown up on the Island, and I […]
Three hundred people from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket traveled to Beacon Hill yesterday with a mission: save island communities from what they say is a death spiral of rising home prices and short-term rentals gobbling up year-round housing.
They called on legislators to pass a local-option fee of 2% on transfers of high-value real estate. The first $1 million of value would be exempt, and the money would support affordable housing.
Traveling in five tour buses, they pulled up in front of the State House for a day of meetings with legislators and staff, followed by a rally on the capitol steps.
Arielle Faria, co-chair of the Coalition to Create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank, led the rally.
“We have seen firsthand the devastating effects of unaffordable housing, with families being forced to leave their homes and communities due to skyrocketing rents and home prices,” she said. “But we did not let this challenge defeat us.”
One day after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi abortion ban and overturned Roe v. Wade, a half-century-old ruling, about 50 people gathered at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven to protest the rulings much like they did in May when a draft of the decision was leaked. This protest was spearheaded by Graysen Kirk […]
The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has implemented the International Baccalaureate (IB) program into its curriculum for junior and senior students to better prepare them for their future endeavors. Juniors were the first to be introduced to the IB curriculum at the Charter School. The implementation of the IB program has been a process three […]