On January 15, President Trump announced a “great healthcare plan” that seemed to have three components. It would formalize his push for pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices, send funds to individuals to help pay their insurance premiums and mandate price transparency for any hospital or other provider who participates in Medicare.

            Will this do any good? Given the sparsity of details, analyzing this “plan” is analyzing air, but probably not much.

            Going back to President Nixon, U.S. presidents have decried the high cost of medical care. In 1971 Nixon pronounced health costs as a crisis when healthcare consumed 7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 1992 President Clinton said that “healthcare costs are increasing at unsustainable rates.”

            Well, here we are in 2026, and healthcare now consumes 18% of the U.S. GDP, roughly double the cost in peer-countries.

            In 2025, the average premium for a family plan was $26,993 – roughly 40% of the average worker’s salary. Even though much of this cost is borne by the employer (for those lucky enough to work for a company that offers health insurance), workers contributed an average of $6850 towards the cost.

            Moreover, as insurance costs have skyrocketed, employers have tried to slow this by offering plans with high co-pays and deductibles, meaning that out-of-pocket costs have risen dramatically.

            Keeping drug costs down is a start, but drug costs make up only 9-10% of healthcare spending.

            When it costs $27,000, sending people $2000 to buy health insurance would not allow most lower income people to come anywhere near being able to afford it.

            We have had mandated price transparency in law since 2021, and hospitals have proven very adept at making prices visible only to those with a PhD in computer science.

            Yes, we MUST make healthcare affordable to all Americans, but this will require bold steps, with some pain for those currently getting rich off our dysfunctional, administration-burdened system, not “a concept of a plan.”

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

            Following the 40th Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Day this past Monday, The Wanderer and the Tri-Town Against Racism discussed the organization’s upcoming events and goals for the first half of this year.

            We spoke with Rhonda Baptiste, vice president of TTAR. Baptiste explained the organization’s mission is the same as it was when it began: “to create an anti-racist environment in the Tri-Town.” TTAR was founded in early 2020, just before the murder of George Floyd. She said, “It was created by a group of moms whose children, whose families were experiencing some pretty horrific things in the community. Not just at school.” She went on, referring to shared experiences among many in the community. “It can be very isolating when you think you’re the only one or your kid thinks they’re the only one experiencing this.” She stated their goal was to bring together those who have been through said experiences. “It’s a way to network, support, and come together.”

            One of the organization’s first initiatives was the Little Free Diverse Libraries, with the group committing to the national Read in Color initiative. The focus of that project is highlighted by TTAR. According to the organization’s website, “less than 25% of children’s books depict non-white characters. We believe everyone should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book.” There is currently one of these Little Free Diverse Libraries in each of the Tri-Town’s three municipalities.

            Speaking on personal experiences, Baptiste said, “my kid could never find books at his library in his elementary school in Rochester where the characters looked like him, or the families looked like ours.” At that time, separate from the Little Libraries, Baptiste’s son Kelsey Robertson raised almost $3,000 to buy books for the library “so that kids would have representation,” she said, adding, “if someone thinks it’s not important, it probably means they’re pretty well represented in media.” Robertson, only 10 years old at the time, was recognized with The Wanderer’s 2020 Keel Award for the Town of Rochester.

            In recent events, TTAR on January 20 closed submissions for their 2026 Black History Month Creative Expressions Contest. Submitted artwork was by junior high and high school students and will be showcased in Mattapoisett Library’s Community Room throughout the month of February, which is Black History Month. Winners and cash prizes will be announced at the event reception on Saturday, February 7 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

            In the coming months, Baptiste mentioned story walks in Mattapoisett and Marion that are in the works for February. Also in February, TTAR will host story hours in Marion and Rochester. There will be a larger community event in April, though she didn’t share the exact details on that as of yet. April will also see the organization launch a new art series, where participants will learn of notable historical figures through crafting activities like quilting.

            Baptiste moved on to announce the big summer event, which will be held on Juneteenth. It will likely, as was the case with previous years, be held at the Little Free Diverse Library near Ned’s Point in Mattapoisett. There will be traditional Juneteenth snacks like red velvet cupcakes, rhubarb pie, and strawberry soda. There will be games, books, discussion, and a keynote speaker. Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day the last American slaves were liberated in Galveston, Texas.

            Aside from events, Baptiste also spoke on a newly launched scholarship fund for the late Lisa Regan Durr. Durr was a regular volunteer to Mattapoisett, with TTAR saying she played an “instrumental role in the early formation of TTAR.” Last year, they established the Lisa Regan Durr Scholarship Fund to honor Durr’s memory and to award funds to “a student of color attending school in the Tri-Town who embodies the values she championed such as her passion for volunteerism.”

            Baptiste also said TTAR is looking for a college student who may be interested in partnering with the organization, primarily for work on their social media platforms/outreach and would serve as an intern. Any interested party can reach out on the organization’s website at tritownagainstracism.org or send an email to info@tritownagainstracism.org.

A Talk with Tri-Town Against Racism

By Sam Bishop

Chief Richard B. Nighelli was sworn in Wednesday as the President of the Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association (SMPCA).

            Chief Nighelli, who served last year as the Association’s Sergeant at Arms, now takes the helm for 2026, succeeding Aquinnah Police Chief Randhi Belain.

            He was sworn in Wednesday morning by Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz during the January Regular Meeting of the SMPCA.

            The Association represents police chiefs from communities across southeastern Massachusetts and provides a forum for leadership development, professional standards, policy discussion and regional collaboration.

            Chief Nighelli has served the Town of Marion since 2003, when he joined the department as a patrol officer after beginning his career with the Nantucket Police Department in 2002.

            He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007, Lieutenant in 2018 and was appointed Chief of Police in January 2021.

            “I am grateful for the trust placed in me by my fellow Chiefs,” said Chief Nighelli. “Police chiefs do not lead in isolation. While we serve different communities, we face many of the same challenges. This Association gives us a unified voice and the opportunity to share information, discuss best practices and learn from one another about what is working and what is not. That exchange strengthens our departments and, most importantly, benefits the communities we serve.”

            Chief Nighelli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Western New England University. From 2004 to 2019, he served as a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT Team, deploying to numerous critical incidents, including the response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

            In addition to his role with the Marion Police Department, Chief Nighelli serves as the Town’s Emergency Management Director. He is a member of the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) Public Safety Council and the Executive Board of the Plymouth County Outreach program. In 2025, he served as President of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police Association.