New legislation aims to transfer development, planning authority to Jasper

I’m walking on Revere Beach outside of Boston, where the low tide has pushed the ocean far away from the shore and the wet sand is squishing up between my toes. I came here for no particular reason—just to clear my head after two frantic weeks in the city, surrounded by noise, construction, and crowds. A briny, sweet smell hangs over everything in the thick humidity of September. Warm air and wafts of cold breeze intermingle—it is T-shirt and jacket weather both at the same time. I sit in a hard plastic seat on the blue line as the car speeds smoothly forward. The blue line...