Friday, November 6, 2015
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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan
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Today: Getting more women into politics
There's a big confab today at Boston College Law School featuring some big names on the theme of obstacles to women in politics. Rep. Katherine Clark, former Gov. Jane Swift and former lieutenant governors Kerry Healey and Evelyn Murphy will take part in a panel on the barriers to women in Massachusetts politics. The event is part of the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy's Distinguished Public Policy Series. Elisabeth Medvedow, executive director of the Center, will moderate; Boston College Law School, Stuart House, Room 315, 885 Centre St., Newton, 3:30pm.
Public records reform: Will it be for real?
A handful of stories by the Globe's Todd Wallack earlier this year exposed the state's public records law for what it is: flagrantly out of date, ignored, and abused by bureaucracies that hid under provisions that allowed them to charge through the nose for records and drag their feet without consequences for their actions. Wallack's reporting was journalism at its best, and catalyzed the Legislature, led by Rep. Peter Kocot, to reform the public records law.
But not everyone is behind the proposed reform, particularly the Massachusetts Municipal Association, whose members are on the receiving end for many of the records requests. They're calling it an unfunded mandate. The fear among reform advocates is that a compromise will make a new law essentially meaningless. Very important to any reform is a provision is some for of penalty for bureaucracies that don't play by the rules -- Kocot's bill allows for those who sue for records and prevail to recover court costs. As a Globe editorial today points out, Massachusetts is one of only three states that don't allow citizens to recover costs when they successfully sue for records. Here's today's editorial: http://bit.ly/1keEHJW
Hingham spends $40,000 to investigate anonymous letter
It's stranger than fiction. In advance of picking a new police chief, three Hingham selectmen received an anonymous letter criticizing the work histories of two of the internal finalists. In response, the town, rather than investigating the allegations, hired a private detective agency to find out who sent the letter, eventually piling up a tab of $40,000. The letter's author (a DPW employee) eventually confessed -- and his bureaucratic fate has yet to be determined. Thank you to CommonWealth Magazine's Bruce Mohl for bringing us this bizarre small-town tale. http://bit.ly/1Nghyxa
Mass Gaming Commission to meet with fantasy sports
As part of its review of fantasy sports, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will meet with fantasy sports companies, MassLive reports. The commission has been tasked with assessing if fantasy sports should be regulated. http://bit.ly/1MfEHQx
Who will be the next Convention Center boss?
The Convention Center board is weighing three finalists, and it seems to come down to a choice between a candidate Marty Walsh wants and one favored by Republicans. Globe columnist Shirley Leung writes that BC's Tom Keady, who heads government relations, is Walsh's choice. David Gibbon, the former GM at Taj Boston, is favored by GOP types. http://bit.ly/1OsIwYz
'Ben Carson believes Joseph built Egypt's pyramids to store grain'
That's the headline. And it's not an Onion story. After BuzzFeed found a 17-year-old video of Ben Carson making this claim at a commencement speech, the presidential candidate backed it up this week. But it is promising to be yet another remark that will only bolster his popularity in the GOP. Here's a Washington Post story via BostonGlobe.com: http://bit.ly/1Hwjm3o
Fed's Rosengren visits State House for Working Cities Challenge
The Great Hall was jammed packed yesterday to recognize the finalists for a Working Cities Challenge grant program, drawing the Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren and Gov. Charlie Baker to make remarks about the potential of the program. The ten cities -- Brockton, Haverhill, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Revere, Salem, Springfield, and Worcester -- were awarded $15,000 grants to work on programs to improve the lives of lower-income people in the commonwealth's smaller cities. These cities now take the money and work on plans to compete for money for bigger programs.
Glass issues at Government T station
More T woes. The 40-foot glass wall at the new Government Center T station have to be taken down and reinstalled after it was discovered that they fog up. The good news: The work will not cost extra money and the opening of the station is still on schedule. The Globe's Nicole Dungca has more: http://bit.ly/1L0Av5k
Marzilli's excellent probation adventures
NECN investigates why former Sen. James Marzilli has been allowed to leave the country on five occasions in the past four years, while serving probation after pleading guilty in 2011 to sexually harassing four women. Marzilli has traveled for pleasure and to teach civics in Burma, where his behavior apparently turned bizarre, NECN reports. His requests for travel have been denied by the probation department but approved by a judge on appeal each time. http://bit.ly/1XTRWxI
Brockton casino backers: We can be first
The backers of a proposed Brockton casino tried to convince the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Thursday to approve their request for a license, saying they are in a position to build and open their casino ahead of the two resorts already licensed, the Globe reports. The MGC is not expected to decide until early 2016 whether to move forward on the Brockton proposal or to wait to see what happens with a possible tribal casino in Taunton. http://bit.ly/1iHnpmR
More pols sniffing around Wolf seat
One day after Sen. Daniel Wolf confirmed he won't seek re-election next year, the field for the Cape and Islands was already growing, the Cape Cod Times reports. Retired Air Force General Anthony Schiavi, a Harwich Republican, said he was in, while Barnstable Town Council member and onetime candidate James Crocker Jr. said he is "very interested in throwing my hat in the ring." Others tell the paper they are mulling a run as well. http://bit.ly/1HfD2NW
DA's back Baker on opioids
With legislative action looming, Gov. Charlie Baker picked up more support for his plan to battle the opioids crisis, with the state's district attorneys backing his controversial proposal to allow doctors to hospitalize addicts involuntarily and to limit distribution of opioid painkillers to a 72-hour supply, MassLive reports. http://bit.ly/1KZR6Gr
Rivera recall effort on hold again
Critics of Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera will have to cool their heels again after a superior court judge put a stop on their latest effort to recall him from office, the Eagle-Tribune reports. The judge said Rivera must be given an opportunity to challenge the 300-plus voter affidavits filed to launch the recall -- the same decision he reached in an earlier recall effort. http://bit.ly/1kylXEC
Sunday public affairs shows
WCVB Channel 5
This week's guest: DCF Commissioner Linda Spears. Moderated by NewsCenter 5 Anchor Ed Harding and State House reporter Janet Wu.
WCVB Channel 5, CityLine, 12:00pm
Guests: Bay State Banner founder Melvin Miller discusses the paper's 50th anniversary, along with filmmaker Tracy Strain, who created a documentary for the paper's milestone anniversary. Karen Holmes Ward is the host.
NECN, This Week In Business, 12:30pm and 8pm
Mark Perrone, CEO of the Grand Prix of Boston brings us up to date on the weekend of road races and the new deadlines imposed by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. Plus, Jessie Banhazl, the CEO of Green City Growers, the company responsible for the Fenway Farms garden, talks about their efforts to spread urban gardening.
NECN, CEO Corner, Sunday 8:30pm
Strike a comfortable pose and hear about the business of yoga with David Lipsius, CEO of the Kriaplu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA.
Today's day: Just so you know: Today is National Nachos Day. http://bit.ly/1HwzK3I
REMEMBER: To send your tips to me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com. Op-eds and other commentary invited for publication on Massterlist.
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