BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Anti-foreclosure activists rallied at the Statehouse on Wednesday and testified in support of four proposed laws that would protect Massachusetts homeowners against foreclosure and eviction. Organized by the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending, a statewide coalition, the rally drew about 100 supporters from some of the state’s hardest-hit communities in advance of a packed public hearing before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

If passed, the four laws would force banks to enter into loan-modification negotiations with homeowners and produce valid legal title to homes before foreclosing. The laws would also permit court oversight of foreclosure actions, and allow former homeowners to remain in foreclosed homes until the property is sold to new owners who intend it as a primary residence.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Over 30 people - mainly residents of housing subsidized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and tenant organizations in the Save Our Homes Coalition - held a protest at the Bank of America on Cambridge St. on Saturday "to urge Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry to tax the wealthy and big corporations"to prevent cuts to HUD that would displace thousands of Massachusetts tenants if enacted."

Advocates pointed to recent reports by US Uncut - a new organization inspired by London-based UK Uncut - that point out that major corporations like Bank of America, Verizon and Citigroup currently pay no federal taxes and even get tax refunds because of reporting losses in the US while “parking” profits overseas where they are not subject to federal taxes.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Over 30 water advocates and allies attended a hearing convened by Catarina de Albuquerque, the United Nations Independent Expert on the right to water and sanitation, on Friday, Feb. 25th. De Albuquerque was in Boston as part of a mission "to examine the way in which the human right to water and sanitation is being realized in the United States" in the wake of the United Nation recognition of the right to water and sanitation last year by the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights council. The independent expert visited California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, DC between Feb. 22nd and March 4th.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Employees of community access cable stations, members of cable advisory boards, representatives from business associations and elected officials from across Massachusetts attended a Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy hearing at the State House Wednesday to offer testimony opposing legislation filed on behalf of Verizon that opponents said would weaken the ability of towns and cities to negotiate fair cable franchising licenses.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Members of the Massachusetts Paid Leave Coalition rallied in Nurses Hall at the State House on Thursday in support of An Act Establishing Paid Sick Days (HD 1726 and SD 624). If passed, the bill would guarantee workers a minimum of 7 paid sick days annually for their own health needs or those of their family members.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - On Tuesday, Centro Presente of Somerville, the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing of Boston, Organization Maya K'iche of New Bedford and several other immigrant, community and religious organizations held a press conference on the State House steps to announce the start of a "Walk in Solidarity with the Undocumented" from Boston to New Bedford by Maine-based photojournalist Jim Harney.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Over 100 people from several area community organizations and unions gathered at the State House Steps on Wednesday to rally in support of House Bill 5004 "An Act to Improve Certain Criminal Justice Matters" (the CORI Reform Bill) which would reform the Criminal Offender Records Information system to make it easier for former criminals to get jobs in Massachusetts.

BOSTON/Beacon Hill - Suffolk University contract janitors with ABM/One Source celebrated a union contract victory with a short rally on Tuesday in front of the Suffolk Law School.