MASSterList: Pike retiree transponder perk shot down | Luxury rental market wobbles | A Deflategate 180?

 

Friday, September 4, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan

The action today: Brady liberation aftermath is a gloat-fest   As it is the Friday before Labor Day, there's not a lot to do but gloat about Judge Richard Berman's decision to vacate the NFL's four-game suspension of No. 12. The nation's leading legal (sports) reporter, Ben Volin of the Globe, boils down the case quite succinctly: "One significant misstep [by the NFL] would have been enough to vacate the suspension. Instead, Berman found three: that Brady had no notice of his penalties, that the NFL did not make league executive Jeffrey Pash available to testify at the hearing, and that the NFL didn't share some of its attorney notes with the NFL Players Association." http://bit.ly/1N7kjo3 The Globe's Dan Shaughnessy wins the 180 award, today urging the Patriots' brass to seek complete vindication - go to court to get back the fine money and the draft choices. Of course, it was only a month ago that Shaughnessy wrote his infamous "Deal with it - Tom Brady and the Patriots are cheaters" column. Today, the Globe's marquee sports columnist simply marinates in the jubilation. If he still thinks Brady is a cheater, he doesn't say so.   In late July Shaughnessy wrote: "No matter what happens now, the hard-earned accomplishments of Brady and the Patriots are tarnished." And a little later in the column, "The Patriots and Brady believe they can escape on a legal loophole, like a criminal who goes free because the cops made a procedural error." Today he writes: "It's another championship day for Brady, Bill Belichick, Bob and Jon Kraft, and The Wells Report In Context. Judge Berman has validated and vindicated Brady, while thoroughly spanking Goodell and the NFL's punishing process." As is often the case, the reader comments point out the about-face. http://bit.ly/1NdG7js Of course, the Twitterverse wasted no time celebrating the decision. Here is one of the more creative reactions... Baker savors Brady's liberation Gov. Baker never got on the wrong side of the Brady matter. Hours after the Brady decision came out, Baker greeted the Springfield baker whose wares were wagered during the Pats successful postseason. Stepping onto the hot gravel of a lot that is slated to become a railcar assembly center, one of the first people Baker encountered was Dino Facente, of Koffee Kup. "Big day today for all of us Patriots fans," Baker told Facente in greeting. On stage at the event, Baker said he would declare Thursday Tom Brady Day in Massachusetts, though he later clarified he was joking. Facente's Boston cream pie cupcakes were put up by Baker along with cake from Montilio's Baking Company in Brockton against Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's shredded pork ahead of the Pats-Colts AFC Championship game. "We've won every single bet that we've had," Facente told Massterlist. While the Springfield baker never had to make cupcakes in defeat, he noted that some of Baker's postseason agreements with other governors required an exchange of gifts no matter the outcome on the field. -Andy Metzger, SHNS.   DOT takes away free transponders from 600 Pike retirees It was just a perk -- seemingly a tradition -- that former Mass. Pike workers would get to travel for free on Massachusetts toll roads, tunnels and bridges. Thanks to the Globe nosing around, roughly 600 Pike retirees will lose the benefit later this month. Andrea Estes reports the Department of Transportation "inadvertently continued a practice that should have ended in 2009, when the Turnpike Authority was merged into the state Transportation Department." It would be great to see a follow-up with the exact amount the DOT gave away -- it easily could be several million dollars.http://bit.ly/1NeCVnK   Luxury rental market softens Could Boston developers endlessly build luxury apartments that fetch, say, $5,000 per month for a two-bedroom unit? The answer is obviously not, although don't tell developers there are only so many people who can afford those kind of rents. The Globe's Tim Logan reports that high-end rents are softening as landlords look to lure tenants with concessions at various projects around the core of the luxury rental market. Some 2,200 rent units have opened this year alone, Logan reports, and another 2,600 are under construction. http://bit.ly/1JGJxHB   The GLX v. the nation: a cost comparison Boston magazine's Garrett Quinn does some revealing reporting on rail projects across the country -- from Seattle to LA to San Francisco -- and finds that estimated costs generally are much cheaper than the Green Line Extension. A 6.1-mile project in L.A. is online to be four times cheaper per mile than the GLX. Very interesting reading. http://bit.ly/1UrbLy0   DCF report on Hardwick boy to be released today Gov. Baker said yesterday he will release a report by the Department of Children and Families on the case of the 7-year-old Hardwick boy who's in a coma following alleged abuse by his father, MassLive reports. "There are things we need to do in the Worcester region but also statewide with respect to oversight and supervision at DCF." http://bit.ly/1L8xYqp Baker: Let the voters decide on pot  Although he remains opposed to the entire notion of legalizing marijuana, Gov. Charlie Baker says he'd rather leave it up to voters than have the legislature act on the issue. In a meeting with editors of MassLive and The Republican, Baker said legalization "is the type of thing that giving voters a chance to opine on is good idea." http://bit.ly/1Kv4QiM   Mayor won't allow pipeline survey  Weymouth Mayor Susan Kay has rejected a request from Spectra Energy to survey town properties for a proposed natural gas line, calling it premature, the Patriot Ledger reports. Kay argues that because a proposed compressor station needed to make the pipeline possible has not yet won Federal approval, doing the survey now would be "contrary to the town's best interests." http://bit.ly/1JGAvdI   Baker urges Pilgrim owners to address shutdowns After push back from lawmakers and activists, Gov. Charlie Baker took a tougher stance on the troubled Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, the Cape Cod Times reports. A day after Baker said he believed the plant is safe and was letting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission "take the lead," the governor wrote to its operators and urged them to take corrective actions to address the unplanned shutdowns that have plagued the plant since 2013. http://bit.ly/1LZnq2O   North-South Rail Link explained  With former governors Bill Weld and Mike Dukakis due to climb Beacon Hill next week to pitch their North-South Rail Link push to the current holder of the corner office, CommonWealth Magazine Editor Bruce Mohl seeks to answer some questions about the project. Mohl explains how it would be different from the Big Dig -- the tunnel would be built by boring underground, not digging an open trench -- how new rail cars on order wouldn't be usable in the tunnel and how better connecting the North-South rail lines and the subway could help commuters and businesses across the state.  http://bit.ly/1LZu356  Dot voters in precinct mixup  Some 200 Dorchester voters are correctly back in District 4, one of just two that will see a City Council race this fall, according to the Dorchester Reporter. A resident's sleuthing discovered the city had incorrectly assigned the voters to a nearby precinct, which incorrectly placed them in the no-contest District 3. http://bit.ly/1Ur3CcV   Commentary of the week, based on reader comment reaction:   John Sununu, Monday, Boston Globe, on the President Obama and the Koch Bros. "Charles Koch is no Ben Franklin. But he has a right to speak, write, and purchase advertising that espouses his views. If the president can't accept -- and champion -- that concept, he's running afoul of 240 years of American history."   Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe, Tuesday, on NESN and Don Orsillo "Game after game, Orsillo continues to deliver the story of the 2015 Red Sox with no acknowledgment that he has been fired by the team. He is killing them with class."   Jeff Jacoby, Wednesday, Boston Globe, on biking in Boston "Busy thoroughfares aren't meant for cyclists. They are meant for the cars, trucks, and buses that transport the vast majority of people moving through the nation's cities."   Sunday public affairs shows:   On the Record, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 11am: This week's guest: Congressman Mike Capuano. On The Record is moderated by NewsCenter 5 Anchor Ed Harding and features State House Reporter Janet Wu. This Week in Business, NECN, 12:30pm and 8pm: Guest: Steve Tolman, President MA AFL-CIO. Wide range of topics: August jobs report, President Obama in Boston on Monday, Brady and CBA take, Minimum wage/protests, labor presidential endorsement. Most recent headlines from the State House News Service: Chinese Railcar Company Putting Down Roots In Springfield Baker On Brady Ruling: "I'm Glad It's Over"  Umass Agrees To Pay Faculty, Staff Retroactive Wages  In Letter, Rosenberg Urges Passage Of Federal Equality Act  Mass. 4Th In Solar Installations, But Advocates Warn Of Slowdown  Activist Press Baker On Pilgrim Problems  As Apple Season Arrives, Baker Gives The Fruit Its Own Month Bars With History Of Over-Serving Targeted This Weekend  Healey Taking More Time To Find New Gaming Commissioner  Small Biz Able To Tap Into Federal $$ For Overseas Promotion  Work On Drug Lab Case Could Help Vault Prosecutor To Parole Board  Shroud Of Secrecy Lifts On Search For State's Life Sciences Chief How to reach me and MASSterList Nothing makes me happier than comments, tips, suggestions. Also, opinion articles also will be considered. Please don't hesitate to weigh in on what we're missing and where we should look. Reach me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com or on Twitter @geodonnelly. TODAY'S TOP STORIES National headlines  Senator Warren attends opening for new Brockton health center Jeb Bush rips Donald Trump bash of bilingual stumping Biden buzz has a beehive in Boston - The Boston Globe State headlines  Gov. Charlie Baker: Legalizing marijuana should be decided by the voters, not the Legislature Rising costs, changing payments driving hospital mergers - The Boston Globe Ballot question could spur vote on Suffolk Downs casino - again - The Boston Globe Toll-free driving to end soon for turnpike retirees after questions about transponder giveaway - The Boston Globe Electeds React to Tom Brady's Deflategate Win State approves sales at Brockton medical marijuana facility Governor takes different tack on Pilgrim downgrade - News - capecodtimes.com - Hyannis, MA Children's Rights, national watchdog group, asks Baker administration for Department of Children and Families reports Local headlines  No challengers so far in Braintree election Quincy's Ward 3 candidates make their pitches to voters Quincy mayor puts planning director on paid leave amidst bullying allegations Weymouth mayor says no to survey work for natural gas pipeline Richardson's lawyer to ask judge to toss cruelty charges in Dracut Ballot mix-up revealed: 200 voters assigned to wrong Lower Mills precinct | Dorchester Reporter Framingham school enrollment outpacing expectations, budget Worcester candidate: Ron O'Clair chronicles urban ills in City Council bid In a slow season, 3 interesting city races - The Boston Globe High end housing market cooling off - The Boston Globe