Friday, November 20, 2015
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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan
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Today: National Adoption Day events; protest in support of Syrian refugees
Senate President Rosenberg and Mayor Marty Walsh speak at National Adoption Day events. Rosenberg will be at the Juvenile Court in Hadley, Mass, while Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at the Edward Brooke Courthouse, both at 9:30.
Attorney General Maura Healey, fresh from announcing proposed regulations for fantasy sports, joins hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for the monthly "Ask the AG" radio segment on Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM, 12:30.
Local activists are expected to protest Gov. Baker's stance on accepting Syrian refugees, State House, 6:30 pm. The State House News Service's Michael Norton has details on the planned protest, along with the Massachusetts delegation's vote on the US House's measure to tighten screening on Syrian refugees. http://bit.ly/217ZZJR (paywall)
The MBTA and the tragedy of being broke
Massachusetts has a world-class economy and a second-class public transportation system. It's an open question how long those two facts can reasonably coexist.
World-class cities shouldn't shut down their subway lines at 12:30. New York, for example operates 24/7. The MBTA, wallowing in debt and operating losses, seems ready to declare its experiment in extending hours to 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays a failure. It may be an economic necessity, given the $240 million projected operating loss for the current fiscal year. But the T owes the public at least one thing before it drops the ax: A full demographic profile of the late-night customers. They likely are office cleaners, restaurant workers, security guards - people who can't afford to take an Uber ride home. There will be an economic impact by cutting the service - poor people will feel it.
After writing this last night, I woke up to find Globe columnist Shirley Leung's persuasive argument for, at minimum, modifying and protecting some form of late-night service. "You can't do the simple math and just conclude that the numbers don't add up on late-night service," Leung writes. Perhaps the T can partner with startups like Bridj and Uber to reduce costs, and use dynamic pricing for late-night service, she suggests. Just dumping the service without first exploring alternatives would indeed be a disservice. http://bit.ly/1MYGJUF
Meanwhile, the Baker administration would appear to be engaged in an ongoing economic campaign against artists. That is perhaps an exaggeration, but Gov. Baker earlier this month vetoed the "Percent for Art" program that carved out a half of one percent of the cost of public construction projects for public art. Now, as Nicole Dungca of the Globe reports, the T cancelled a string of public art projects for the Green Line Extension, about $1.9 million put aside for eight projects at the stations along the route. The sad part is, the T has another $998 million to cut in the GLX budget. In one of the richest cities in the world, with million-dollar condos sprouting up everywhere, the T is dead broke. It's a tragedy because the region keeps growing beyond the capacity of its public transportation system.
AG's fantasy sports rules emerge, and they're comprehensive
Attorney General Maura Healey proposed a set of regulations for fantasy sports yesterday, a slew of new rules that may prevent some abuses in this alleged game of skill. The extensive nature of these regulations would lead one to believe that the Attorney General was regulating a full-fledged gambling operation perilous to the innocent and those prone to addiction. In fact, one of the proposals is to compel fantasy sports companies to create "beginner-only" contests, and there's a proposal for a deposit limit of $1,000, unless a player can prove he's a high roller. Dan Adams of the Globe has more details here: http://bit.ly/1Hb4IDX
Baker v. Moulton?
The battle of words between Charlie Baker and Congressman Seth Moulton over Syrian refugees could be a preview of a 2018 gubernatorial race, writes CommonWealth Magazine's Jack Sullivan. "There's no one else on the statewide stage right now that pundits see as a legitimate contender to take on a popular Republican governor and Moulton is as bright a rising star as Democrats could want." http://bit.ly/1QwuJQY
Baker isn't a 'data guy' when it comes to the refugee issue
So writes the Globe's Alan Wirzbicki, noting there's a certain logic missing in zeroing in on Syrian refugees as a risk factor. "...Following the national GOP herd, on the basis of a passport that could turn out to be ISIS propaganda? That's not just mean-spirited, and reminiscent of the old Baker - it's also the opposite of fact-driven." http://bit.ly/1QxZvsK
What are the best-educated cities and towns in Mass?
The Boston Business Journal combs through US Census data to determine which communities have the highest percentage of residents with advanced degrees. In first place, Brookline. See more here: http://bit.ly/1I3qwfL
BPD documents confirm cell-phone tracking tech
Documents released by the Boston Police Department after two protracted public records battles show the department has been using controversial real-time mobile-phone tracking technology since signing a non-disclosure agreement with the FBI in 2013, the New England Center for Investigative Reporting's Shawn Musgrave reports via WGBH's website. Privacy advocates hailed the disclosure, which the department fought for months, saying any disclosure would disrupt their ability to conduct investigations. http://bit.ly/1lylgvP
DOT goes high-tech in new lab
The MetroWest Daily News takes a look at the Department of Transportation's new research and materials lab under construction off the MassPike in Hopkinton, a $28.5 million high-tech facility that will replace an existing lab in South Boston. http://bit.ly/1NGM97x
Quincy: America's most patriotic city?
A resolution that would urge Congress to declare Quincy the country's most patriotic city is gaining support locally, the Patriot Ledger reports. Rep. Bruce Ayers, who sponsored the resolution, admits he has been the subject of some good-natured ribbing from colleagues as a result of the move as well. http://bit.ly/1I3hPC2
Housing Authority will try to recoup overpayments
The Brockton Housing Authority will try to recover $30,000 worth of overpayments made to a former executive director, the Enterprise reports. The payments, which the paper said were the results of a "backroom deal" to buy back unused vacation days, were made in fiscal year 2012. Complicating the recovery efforts: Both the recipient of the payments, Richard Sergi, and the person who cut the check - without authorization from the agency's board of directors - have since died.http://bit.ly/1NGN47K
Why Boston gets that Christmas tree from Canada
Every holiday season, Boston receives a huge Christmas tree arrives from Nova Scotia. As it turns out, it's a thank-you for Boston's help following a massive explosion nearly 100 years ago. Nik DeCosta-Klipa of Boston.com has the full story here: http://bit.ly/1lyrUSO
Sunday public affairs TV
WBZ-TV, "Keller at Large," 8:30 am. Guest: Ed Davis, WBZ security analyst and former Boston Police Commissioner, discussing local security issues after Paris and the refugee debate.
NECN, "DC Dialogue" 10 am. Suffolk University Pollster David Paleologos on the Paris attacks and their impact on Presidential politics; HHS Regional Director Rachel Kaprielian on opioid crisis, ACA Open Enrollment and medical marijuana; Jim Brett, CEO of The New England Council on the new House Speaker.
WCVB-TV, "On the Record," 11 am. This week's guest: Brian Shortsleeve, the MBTA's chief administrator. Moderated by NewsCenter 5 anchor Ed Harding and State House reporter Janet Wu.
NECN, "This Week in Business" 12:30 pm and 8 pm. Topics: Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst talks about a robust outlook for the holiday season and this year's retail trends; EClinical Works CEO Girish Navani on his company and their planned hiring of 1,000 employees in Massachusetts; plus, Maura Healey's recommendations on Draft Kings and online fantasy sports.
WCVB-TV, "CityLine," hosted by Karen Holmes Ward, noon. Topics: Native American Fashion Now, Sybil Haydel Morial, and the Mass League of Community Health Centers.
NECN, "CEO Corner", 8:30 pm
Guests: Massachusetts Restaurant industry with Bob Luz, head of the Mass Restaurant Association; Charlie Noyes, President of the Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub; and Jeffrey Gates, Partner in the Aquitaine Group.
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