Mission Hill City Councilor Mike Ross is among several elected officials who are currently begging the State House for the right to stop trash trucks from emptying Dumpsters at midnight. State reps from the Berkshires will have a say in it.
How can government possibly be this silly? Because of the state’s archaic “home rule” system.
In most states, home rules means that cities are free to set their own policies and taxes as long as they don’t conflict with state law. But in Massachusetts, it means that cities have to get the state legislature’s permission for even the most mundane changes. The home does not, in fact, rule.
Boston obviously should be able to regulate trash collection. The current home rule policy should be on its way to the garbage dump as well.