MAPC
Smart Growth & Regional Collaboration
The Government Affairs team works to promote smart growth goals at the local, regional, state, and federal levels.
MAPC actively promotes its legislative agenda by working with members of the Legislature on a number of key initiatives. MAPC's priorities come from a variety of policy areas, with a focus on sustainable development initiatives and municipal relief measures to help cities and towns continue to provide quality services with efficiency.
The team works in collaboration with the MAPC Legislative Committee to develop action items and to advocate on behalf of the members of our regional community. The Committee includes municipal leaders from cities and towns in the MAPC region as well as members of advocacy organizations we work with closely.
Questions?
For more information about MAPC's legislative and budget priorities or the MAPC Legislative Committee, contact Government Affairs Director Lizzi Weyant at 617-933-0703 or eweyant@mapc.org.
Recent News
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Accessible, frequent, and fast public transit gets people to their destinations without contributing to traffic. Connected, well-maintained, and extensive roads, trails, bike lanes, and sidewalks encourage active transportation, health, and recreation. Making our entire transportation system safe, comfortable, and accessible for users of all ages, abilities, income, and travel modes leads to healthier and stronger communities.
Access to market rate and affordable housing is one of the most pressing topics discussed across our region. If we do not address our present and looming housing crisis, we will lose our economic competitiveness. At the same time, we are eager for cities and towns to achieve a series of modern zoning and permitting tools that can help them plan for the future in a proactive manner and to mitigate the legitimate impacts of growth.
Massachusetts is a leader in clean energy - a win not only for our state's economy but also for our planet - and our cities and towns are at the front lines of that effort. In order to lessen the magnitude and impacts of climate change, we must cut carbon emissions by phasing out fossil fuels, switching to low- or zero-carbon energy sources, and increasing energy efficiency.
MAPC was deeply involved in the development of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan, which was adopted in December 2015. Looking ahead to this legislative session, we want to support those legislative priorities that will help to facilitate access to healthy foods (particularly for underserved communities) and make other advancements in public health for all of the people of the Commonwealth
The Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) is a coalition of the 13 Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) throughout the Commonwealth, including MAPC, that aims to strengthen regionalization and municipal collaboration throughout Massachusetts. MARPA meets monthly at MAPC’s Boston offices and hosts an annual conference at varying locations around the state. For more information, contact a member of MAPC’s Government Affairs staff. www.massmarpa.org
The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance (MSGA) promotes healthy and diverse communities, protects critical environmental resources and working landscapes, advocates for housing and transportation choices, and supports equitable community development and urban reinvestment. MAPC is a member of MSGA. For more, visit ma-smartgrowth.org.
Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) is a diverse coalition of organizations working together to create safe, convenient, and affordable transportation for everyone. T4MA, of which MAPC is a member, advocates for transportation funds to be spent fairly and responsibly, for transportation decisions that are transparent and accountable, and to ensure that our transportation network has sufficient resources to meet tomorrow’s needs all throughout the Commonwealth. For more, visit www.t4ma.org.
The Metropolitan Mayors Coalition (MMC) is a group of cities in towns in the urban core of Metro Boston whose leaders gather to exchange information and create solutions for common problems. The municipal officials in this group represent more than 1.4 million constituents, and represent Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Melrose, Medford, Newton, Quincy, Revere, Somerville and Winthrop. MAPC facilitates and staff the work of the MMC.
The North Shore Coalition is a group of 18 cities and towns on the North Shore, facilitated by MAPC staff. The Coalition is a voluntary forum where municipal leaders share information and solutions to common problems particular to the North Shore region. The municipal officials in this group represent nearly 400,000 residents from Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester-by-the-sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham.
Membership
Chair
Keith Bergman
Gubernatorial Appointees
Robert Cohen
Sam Wong

Advocates
David Bryant, MA Association of Community Development Corporations
Larry Field, MA Smart Growth Alliance
Kurt Gaertner, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Eugenia Gibbons, Mass Energy Consumers Alliance
Nancy Goodman, Environmental League of MA
James Sutherland, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Maddie Ribble, Massachusetts Public Health Association
Jenn Ryan, The Trustees of Reservations
Tom Ryan, A Better City
Eric Shupin, Citizens' Housing and Planning Association
Charlie Ticostsky, Transportation for MA
Meeting Schedule
All meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at MAPC’s offices, 60 Temple Place in Boston.
Subregions
Charlie Aspinwall, TRIC
Richard Canale, MAGIC
Michelle Ciccolo, MAGIC
Buzz Constable, MAGIC
Jen Constable, SSC
Eileen Gibbs, MWRC
Lou Gitto, TRIC
Katie King, ICC
Steve Magoon, ICC
Steve Olanoff, TRIC
Grace Shepard, SWAP
Brian Szekely, NSPC
Paul Yorkis, SWAP
MAPC | Government Affairs Team
National Coalitions
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides advocacy, education, research, and training for the nation’s regional development organizations. The association and its members promote regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions to strengthen the economic competitiveness and quality of life across America’s local communities. For more, visit nado.org.
The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) serves as the national voice for regionalism by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues. NARC’s member organizations are composed of multiple local governments that work together to serve American communities large and small and urban and rural. For more, visit narc.org.
Transportation for America (T4A) is an alliance of elected, business and civic leaders from communities across the country, united to ensure that states and the federal government step up to invest in smart, homegrown, locally-driven transportation solutions. These are the investments that hold the key to our future economic prosperity. For more, visit t4america.org.
Smart Growth America advocates for people who want to live and work in great neighborhoods. Smart Growth America believes smart growth solutions support thriving businesses and jobs, provide more options for how people get around and make it more affordable to live near work and the grocery store. Smart Growth America works with communities to fight sprawl and save money. For more, visit smartgrowthamerica.org.