OA Senior Vice President Ann Murphy with Governor Charlie Baker

As with any new administration, Governor Charlie Baker's team will bring energy, a fresh perspective and a sense of urgency to accomplish campaign promises. Massachusetts State House observers have been closely following the first month of the Baker Administration, analyzing Cabinet and key staff appointments to decipher the policy priorities of the new Governor.

The Baker Administration announced that they have frozen most new procurements and will be evaluating recently enacted policies by the prior administration. Looking forward, there are a number of pressing issues that will be the subject of debate in the months to come. The addition of Secretary of Education James Peyser, a vocal proponent of charter schools, may support efforts to lift the Charter School Cap.

Massachusetts has been at the forefront of health care reform but costs for state programs continue to grow and were a significant driver of the FY15 budget gap. As a former executive at Harvard Pilgrim, we expect this spending to be a top priority for Governor Baker. Additionally, given Secretary of Health and Human Services Mary Lou Sudders' background in behavioral health integration, coupled with the Commonwealth's longstanding opiate crisis, make health care a front-burner issue for Governor Baker. To that end, the Governor and Attorney General Maura Healey will form task forces to identify further strategies to stem the tide of addiction in Massachusetts.

With electricity rates rising this winter and an energy bill failing to pass last legislative session, the Legislature and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matt Beaton are actively evaluating energy policy. Several proposed natural gas pipelines, as well as Cape Wind and other renewable energy sources will all be part of the focus as leaders evaluate Massachusetts' energy future, while attempting to curb escalating costs for ratepayers.

The conflict between cab companies and "upstart" Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar has been the subject of debate in cities and states around the world. In his last days in office, Governor Patrick issued draft regulations regarding TNCs, but those rules face an uncertain future with Governor Baker. How the Baker Administration handles TNC policies will have a dramatic impact on the taxi industry and may be an indicator of how the Commonwealth addresses many of these new and "disruptive" technologies.

With significant personnel turnover across state government, the agencies and departments that set policies for a wide range of industries will soon better reflect the views of Governor Baker. These changes make for both a rapidly changing political environment and an opportunity to accomplish goals for your organization.

Every day, across America, those who suffer from critical and chronic illnesses are being forced to make the dire decision of whether to choose between food and medicine.  

Read their latest piece here  on the Huffington Post about the dire decision that thousands of patients are faced with each day - paying for food or medicine - and the effect this has not only on patient recovery, but also on readmission rates and healthcare costs.

The cost of living in Massachusetts continues to rise, challenging the vibrant diversity of the region's neighborhoods and communities. Thus, Governor Baker's decision to appoint Chrystal Kornegay to become the Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development was a welcome signal of his commitment to support the Commonwealth's strong community development sector. Kornegay, a passionate advocate with more than twenty years of experience, builds upon her strong track record, first as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Urban Edge, Inc., and now as the new leader of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD works to improve cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the Commonwealth through the development of affordable housing and by providing financial supports to other community-based programs that ease the burden for low income families. DHCD is responsible for key initiatives to sustain public housing, produce and preserve supportive housing, reduce homelessness, and attract an innovative workforce through the promotion of housing across the state.

Kornegay comes directly from the community development world, bringing hands-on experience as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Urban Edge, and will now extend her expertise across the whole state as DHCD chief. Urban Edge is among the most experienced community development corporations (CDC) in Massachusetts, with a mission to develop and sustain stable, healthy, and diverse communities in Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. After working in its real estate development department for several years, Kornegay became president of the organization and, in 2011, she successfully led Urban Edge through financial challenges brought on by the Great Recession. With a brand new five-year strategic plan in place, she leaves Urban Edge strong, healthy and with clear priorities and a plan for growth. Urban Edge, which has supported low- and moderate-income families for over forty years, has developed more than 1,200 units of affordable housing and is currently in the process of revitalizing the Jackson Square neighborhood of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury.

Joseph Kriesberg, the President of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), expressed his confidence for Kornegay's promotion in a statement about the appointments of Nan Pham, the Secretary for Economic Development and Kornegay, "We are very proud of what Chrystal and Nam achieved during their years leading CDCs in the City of Boston and excited about what they will achieve in their new positions." Along with her unparalleled skills, Kornegay brings hope to Massachusetts-a place where everyone deserves a quality home.