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Critical Mass produces investigative reports primarily on issues of transparency and accountability in government in Massachusetts.

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Maya Shaffer is an award winning investigative journalist working with BINJ and Dig Boston. She is a member of the New England Society of Professional Journalists Speakers Bureau. Her main focus is Public Records Law and Police matters in the state of Massachusetts.

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The Department of Mental Health quietly removes half of the references to a Nazi  from their website while not responding to my request for comment
Nov 26, 2024
The Department of Mental Health quietly removes half of the references to a Nazi  from their website while not responding to my request for comment
Nov 26, 2024

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health now displays 50% less references to a Nazi on their FAQs page where they discourage people with autism from applying.

Nov 26, 2024
Mass Disaster Sunshine and Foilies
Mar 24, 2022
Mass Disaster Sunshine and Foilies
Mar 24, 2022

Our reporting on the ongoing transparency disaster in Massachusetts from last year won one of this year’s Foilies, an award given be the EFF for outstandingly poor transparency.

Mar 24, 2022
News Notes: An Independent’s letter to the “Blue no matter who” crew
Feb 20, 2020
News Notes: An Independent’s letter to the “Blue no matter who” crew
Feb 20, 2020

If the point of “Blue no matter who” is to defeat Trump in the general at all costs then the only criteria you should use to vote in the primary is “who is the most electable candidate”. That means it’s time to embrace Bernie Sanders and get excited that he brings enthusiasm and support from independents with him.

Feb 20, 2020
News Notes: 2020 opinion The Republicans granted the Democrats a stay of execution
Feb 13, 2020
News Notes: 2020 opinion The Republicans granted the Democrats a stay of execution
Feb 13, 2020

It's bewildering to watch the Democrats place their head on the executioner's block only to be granted a stay of execution by Mitch McConnell.

Feb 13, 2020
News Notes: Cambridge Police Don’t have a Records Access Officer
Jan 15, 2020
News Notes: Cambridge Police Don’t have a Records Access Officer
Jan 15, 2020

Why bother follow the law when you’re a police department? Cambridge Police Department doesn’t have a Records Access Officer despite being required by law to have one.

Jan 15, 2020
News Notes the Harvard kids aren’t alright
Dec 2, 2019
News Notes the Harvard kids aren’t alright
Dec 2, 2019
Dec 2, 2019
News Notes the Northwestern District Attorney's Office agrees to comply with the records law
Nov 11, 2019
News Notes the Northwestern District Attorney's Office agrees to comply with the records law
Nov 11, 2019

After some discussion with Crit.news the DA’s office has agreed to fix their website to bring it into compliance with the records law

Nov 11, 2019
News Notes The Boston Police were collaborating with the people running internment camps 
Nov 6, 2019
News Notes The Boston Police were collaborating with the people running internment camps 
Nov 6, 2019

A year and a half later it turns out the premise of my award winner piece was proven correct… the Boston police were quietly assisting ICE in the shadows made by our state’s terrible public records law

Nov 6, 2019
News Notes- testimony about Boston's proposed mask ban
Nov 3, 2019
News Notes- testimony about Boston's proposed mask ban
Nov 3, 2019

My written testimony on Boston’s proposal to ban masks at protests

Nov 3, 2019
News Notes: The Chicopee Police are destroying public records
Oct 30, 2019
News Notes: The Chicopee Police are destroying public records
Oct 30, 2019

Michael Wilk, the Chicopee Police Department’s Public Information Officer who runs the department’s social media accounts, has been destroying public records. I have referred this apparent crime to the Secretary Galvin’s Office.

Oct 30, 2019

 

 
 
 

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