Oct 11, 2017

Carlos Rafael’s Fish Fraud Leads to Forfeiture of Vessels, Permits

“Mr. Rafael’s crimes put the health of our fisheries directly in harm’s way, and today’s order helps ensure that he pays a price for that corruption,” said CLF attorney Megan Herzog. “Though this amounts to just a small slice of Mr. Rafael’s assets, it sends a signal that anyone who crosses the line will be held criminally accountable. By reinvesting proceeds associated with this case into stronger monitoring and redistributing Mr. Rafael’s forfeited quota among the fishermen harmed by his egregious crimes, we can begin to turn the page on this dark chapter in New England’s fisheries.”

Oct 06, 2017

City Park Land Constitutionally Protected, says Massachusetts Supreme Court

In a decision with significant implications for open space planning and protection across Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that municipal parklands are protected by the state’s Constitution as long as the land has been dedicated and used as a public park. The open space at issue was the Cross Street Playground in Westfield,… Continue reading City Park Land Constitutionally Protected, says Massachusetts Supreme Court

Sep 25, 2017

Myths About Self-Driving Cars Debunked: Part 1

Self-driving cars feel like the stuff of science fiction. Given the speed at which self-driving cars are joining conventional vehicles on the road, it’s important to address some myths about them. Only by getting at what’s really happening right now can we make sensible plans for how self-driving cars can be safely and sensibly integrated into New England’s transportation network.

Self-driving cars
Sep 25, 2017

Myths About Self-Driving Cars Debunked: Part 2

Self-driving cars are no longer a dream of the future, but are here now. While we’re still in the early stages of testing and adoption, it’s expected that we will see a major proliferation of self-driving cars here in the States soon. That means we need to plan for them now ­– and what a proliferation of self-driving cars will mean for our roadways, our environment, and our daily lives.

Autonomous vehicles
Aug 28, 2017

CLF Brings Shell to Court for Neglect of Providence River, Community

“This weekend, we saw thousands of homes destroyed, streets flooded and families displaced by Hurricane Harvey,” said CLF president Bradley Campbell. “We can’t wait around for the next natural disaster to inundate our communities. Shell’s facility sits on the banks of the Providence River, poised to spew toxic chemicals into our waters and our neighborhoods with no adequate safeguards in place. If the loss of life and damage from storms like Hurricane Harvey aren’t enough of a wake-up call, then legal action is needed to protect the public.”