I don't think the fine made it into the final bill. There is no fine should someone decide to still access the app via a VPN.
Political Discussion
- Thread starter David A.
- Start date
Massachusetts push to make more housing available and help with the affordability issue is causing a lot of outrage. In 2024, Massachusetts was number 5 for most people leaving the state. The biggest factor, affordability of housing.
Since the 90's there has been little to no new developments of affordable housing. Only single family homes or ultra luxury apartments. And this all comes down to zoning and the fact that in MA it takes a super majority to approve zoning changes at the town/city level according to state law. And to change that requirement also requires a super majority to change. Thus the vocal minority has blocked any meaningful change.
A work around, which started with our previous governor Charley Baker was an initiative within the MBTA district. Any community which is served by the MBTA is required to meet a certain goal set by the state for new developments. Apartments, town houses and so on. Any city that does not meet these goals will see state cut funding for MBTA services for their community leaving it up to the town/city or residence to incur the higher costs after the subsidies were cut.
They employed this tactic because they can't legislate communities to increase development and the fact that they couldn't change the super majority requirement. Believe it or not, but most of the Boston suburbs are zoned as single family homes only. Building of town houses or apartment buildings are not allowed and never get approved. Even in the communities that do allow apartment buildings and town houses, only ultra luxury projects get approved if zoning gets involved, because NIMBY block these types of developments each and every time with the same concerns of crime, change and community dynamics and property value loses.
Thus, it comes no surprise that several communities failed to push through any housing developments per the MBTA Community requirement. Zoning boards continued to reject any changes being short by just 1 or so vote of having the numbers needing to pass.
Fast forward to this year, and the state is trying some new tricks. For example, any community not in compliance will not see grants from the state for public safety. Fire and police and what not. Fire chiefs are outraged saying they depend on the money to get new equipment each year. People who live in these communities are outraged at the state and think the state has stepped out of line. They are also concerned about illegals and crime increasing in their communities due to police departments not getting state grants.
What does everyone here think about all this? And is the state in the wrong for the cuts they have made?
Since the 90's there has been little to no new developments of affordable housing. Only single family homes or ultra luxury apartments. And this all comes down to zoning and the fact that in MA it takes a super majority to approve zoning changes at the town/city level according to state law. And to change that requirement also requires a super majority to change. Thus the vocal minority has blocked any meaningful change.
A work around, which started with our previous governor Charley Baker was an initiative within the MBTA district. Any community which is served by the MBTA is required to meet a certain goal set by the state for new developments. Apartments, town houses and so on. Any city that does not meet these goals will see state cut funding for MBTA services for their community leaving it up to the town/city or residence to incur the higher costs after the subsidies were cut.
They employed this tactic because they can't legislate communities to increase development and the fact that they couldn't change the super majority requirement. Believe it or not, but most of the Boston suburbs are zoned as single family homes only. Building of town houses or apartment buildings are not allowed and never get approved. Even in the communities that do allow apartment buildings and town houses, only ultra luxury projects get approved if zoning gets involved, because NIMBY block these types of developments each and every time with the same concerns of crime, change and community dynamics and property value loses.
Thus, it comes no surprise that several communities failed to push through any housing developments per the MBTA Community requirement. Zoning boards continued to reject any changes being short by just 1 or so vote of having the numbers needing to pass.
Fast forward to this year, and the state is trying some new tricks. For example, any community not in compliance will not see grants from the state for public safety. Fire and police and what not. Fire chiefs are outraged saying they depend on the money to get new equipment each year. People who live in these communities are outraged at the state and think the state has stepped out of line. They are also concerned about illegals and crime increasing in their communities due to police departments not getting state grants.
What does everyone here think about all this? And is the state in the wrong for the cuts they have made?
TenderLovingKiller®
Well-Known Member
It did…
“Under the law, Google and Apple must stop allowing new downloads of TikTok – with potential fines of $5,000 per user if they don’t comply.”
Looming TikTok ban poses financial nightmare for Google, Apple — and other American tech firms with ties to China’s ByteDance
A looming ban on TikTok set to take effect on Sunday presents a multibillion-dollar headache for app store operators Apple and Google.
nypost.com
The fine isn’t for the user it’s for Apple and Google the government would see how many times it’s been downloaded or updated and fine the companies $5,000 a pop. There are something like 170,000,000 TikTok users in the US. Thats a lot of potential fines.
It did…
“Under the law, Google and Apple must stop allowing new downloads of TikTok – with potential fines of $5,000 per user if they don’t comply.”
Looming TikTok ban poses financial nightmare for Google, Apple — and other American tech firms with ties to China’s ByteDance
A looming ban on TikTok set to take effect on Sunday presents a multibillion-dollar headache for app store operators Apple and Google.
The fine isn’t for the user it’s for Apple and Google the government would see how many times it’s been downloaded or updated and fine the companies $5,000 a pop. There are something like 170,000,000 TikTok users in the US. Thats a lot of potential fines.
Ah, I thought you were talking about the fine that was proposed for the user in an earlier version of the law.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Which is probably why Apple has a block on the app in the works.
TenderLovingKiller®
Well-Known Member
Yup. They know better than to trust Trump.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
Sadly, there are too many who aren't that smart.
My neighbors across the street are still flying their dump 2024 flag.
The Denmarkian Wonder
Well-Known Member
Probably can’t afford a 2025 flag because eggs and bullets are so expensive. But as soon as trump puts those tariffs in place, there’s gonna be flags, signs, tapestries all over the house.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
I guess hell is freezing over on Monday?