Wednesday, September 30, 2015
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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan
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Today's calendar
Among items on a jam-packed political calendar:
- Gov. Baker attends the campaign launch of the Safe Homes Coalition, a San Diego-based nonprofit with a mission of reducing overdose deaths, 10:30am, Grand Staircase.
- The Transportation Committee conducts an oversight hearing on the MBTA, 10:00am, Room B-1.
- Centro Presente sponsors a panel discussion and briefing on the structural reasons why Central Americans are immigrating to the United States without complete or proper documents. Sen. Jamie Eldridge will offer opening remarks, Room 222, 10:00am.
To access the State House News Service's comprehensive political schedule, SHNS subscribers can go to: http://bit.ly/1LiRLcR
The new front in casino war: City's Wynn lawsuit bombshell will reverberate
So much for this budding friendship. The scuttlebutt was Mayor Martin Walsh and casino mogul Steve Wynn were warming up to each other, in a part because the city's suit against the Gaming Commission seemed to be losing steam. Now, however, the city filed a suit Monday against Wynn that challenges the recent issuance of a critical state environmental permit, opening a new legal front against the Wynn casino in Everett. The new lawsuit questions the decision of Matthew Beaton, secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, in granting the permit, according to today's report in the Globe: "Wynn 'failed to disclose the full extent of the serious environmental impacts' and 'failed to demonstrate that all feasible measures have been taken to avoid or minimize those impacts,' according to the lawsuit. In layman's terms, the suit reopens the basic question of what was everybody thinking in approving a casino in a extremely congested area that lacks basic public transportation. And it puts a dent in the relationship between City Hall and the Baker administration, as the suit inevitably will put the state on the spot to defend its permitting decision. Globe reporters Sean Murphy and Jon Chesto have more on the suit here: http://bit.ly/1O0Qdmv
More on Wynn's permit: Salvucci says state 'makes a mockery' of environmental laws
With exquisite timing, the Globe has an op-ed from Fred Salvucci, former Transportation Secretary, skewering the decision of the state's office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to approve an environmental permit that allows Wynn Resorts to begin building its $1.7 billion casino. But unlike the city (see above) Salvucci blames the Gaming Commission and the state for getting things backwards. And Salvucci does not mince words. "Wynn's proponents say it's unreasonable to expect Wynn to 'solve' an existing transportation problem. But this begs the question: Why propose a major traffic generator in such a problematic location, and why is the Gaming Commission supporting such an irresponsible decision? http://bit.ly/1KJXqp0
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Mass. Transit: The future of transportation -- a MASSterList/State House News Service event:
Join us for a panel discussion featuring Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, Charlie Chieppo, principal of Chieppo Strategies, and Rick Dimino, CEO of A Better City, on the vision for transportation in Massachusetts. It will be held Oct. 13, 7:30-9:30am at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education center, 10 Winter Place, Boston. More details and registration here: http://bit.ly/1KADgeC
The energy conflict: Price v. local renewables
Gov. Baker testified before a packed hearing of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy yesterday, a marathon session lasting over seven hours. In essence, Baker is trying to meet environmental goals for reducing emissions as economically as he can, which puts him at odds with environmentalists who want to foster a thriving environment for home-grown clean energy, as CommonWealth Magazine's Bruce Mohl explains. http://bit.ly/1L37mLC
Jenna Bush Hager in town -- the purpose is under embargo
Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of the 43rd president of the United States, will attend an event this morning at a Dorchester middle school with Superintendent Tommy Chang and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. The point of the visit is subject to a 10:00am embargo, but MASSterList readers can be apprised of certain facts. In addition to being the daughter of George Bush, who served as president from 2001-2009, Hager is a former schoolteacher, NBC "Today" correspondent, and spokeswoman for the Propane Education & Research Council. Boston Public Schools has sought out ways to reduce school transportation fuel costs as well as well as obtain classroom supplies. "Propane is the leading alternative fuel for school buses. More than 7,000 propane buses are on the road in 45 states and more than 500,000 students ride a propane bus to school each day," according to the research council. While employing the publicity arm of the propane industry might not fly with every every news outlet, NBC also once had Chelsea Clinton on payroll. On Thursday in Dorchester, Walsh will play host to Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the presidency along with Hager's uncle John Ellis Bush. -Andy Metzger, SHNS
Boston's very rich and not so famous
The perennial names are back on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in the world. Bill Gates topped the list at $76 billion, and locally the Johnsons -- Fidelity CEO Abby and her father, recently retired patriarch Ned -- are one and two on the list at $14.2 billion and $7.8 billion. The Globe's Jack Newsham has the rundown here: http://bit.ly/1LjJftY
Boston's well-off and politically connected
Every year the Boston Business Journal's research team digs out the filings on the pay of business association heads whose work inevitably intersects with Beacon Hill. It's not easy work, but it pays well, averaging $370,000, according to the BBJ. A slideshow of the top earners from various business groups is here: http://bit.ly/1iKRK4m
And some state workers doing quite well, too
More than 600 state workers are on track to take home more in salary than Gov. Charlie Baker (about $151,000), the Boston Business Journal reports, including 57 who will earn more than $200,000. The figures don't include UMass employees, but does include 43 employees from the state police and 23 in the state's appeals court network. The Baker administration tells the BBJ it is working to better align salaries.
MGM referendum narrowly misses deadline
An effort by Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton to put a non-binding referendum before voters asking if they support the changes MGM has unveiled to its downtown resort casino proposal missed the ballot deadline by an hour, MassLive reports. The casino operator has removed a high-rise hotel tower from its plans and wants to move some market-rate housing off the casino site, changes that require the approval of the city council, the mayor and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. http://bit.ly/1O7qTNh
Walsh's school building bill: $1 billion
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh launched a master planning process for the city's school buildings and says the long-term project may cost more than $1 billion, the Globe reports. Some two-thirds of school facilities were built before World War II and half have not seen significant updates and Walsh says some schools will likely have to be closed as part of the plan. "It's going to be controversial in some ways," Walsh said. http://bit.ly/1LOEAiD
What other cities ponied up for Grand Prix
As Seaport residents cry foul over the process that led to the city welcoming Grand Prix racing to South Boston starting next year, the Herald reports that other cities have had to dig into public coffers to make the race happen. The Herald says San Jose officials subsidized a race to the tune $4 million and that in Baltimore, overtime and other costs ran up a $1.4 million tab over three years. http://bit.ly/1L3Lpfu
Warren letter leads to think tank resignation
Brookings Institution senior economic fellow Robert Litan resigned after being blasted in a letter from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren for not disclosing apparent conflicts of interest, Boston.com reports. Litan had testified before the Senate on proposed legislation that would require financial advisers to disclose their own conflicts and said he resigned because the appearance of conflict had "created discomfort" at the think tank. http://bit.ly/1KKCmi9
Weymouth candidates stake competing SouthField claims
In the race for mayor in Weymouth, both candidates say they've helped revive the massive SouthField development project, and both may be right, according to the Patriot Ledger. Incumbent Susan Kay says she spent weeks working with developers to get the project re-started, while State Sen. Robert Hedlund is credited with helping to usher time-sensitive bills on SouthField through the legislature, the paper reports. http://bit.ly/1LjIpxn
Hangover treatment co. to the rescue
Is this a sign that Boston is becoming a party town on par with New York? A company that that house calls to help cure hangovers is coming to Boston next month. IV Doc, which already operates in New York, LA and Las Vegas, is setting up shop here. Health care workers come to homes or offices to"hook people up to special IV drips -- or 'cocktails' -- that are packed with vitamins, minerals, or medicine," the Globe's Steve Annear reports.http://bit.ly/1OFW6Hx
Chew on this: Apparently, mankind has been chewing gum (well, originally it was bark tar) for 5,000 years. So it's only appropriate that there be a National Chewing Gum Day, celebrated today. http://bit.ly/1L3OJal
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.
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