Tuesday, December 15, 2015
By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan
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Today: Screening of new documentary of heroin epidemic on the Cape
Gov. Baker has invited lawmakers to a screening of a new HBO documentary focusing on eight young heroin addicts on the Cape. Titled"Heroin: Cape Cod, USA," the film is by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Steve Okazaki. The film will be shown at the Revere Hotel, Boston, 6:30 pm. Here's a trailer for the film:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxpGYyHOtvc
MBTA holds a public meeting to discuss progress in complying with a 2006 settlement with the Boston Center for Independent Living and several plaintiffs, in which the T committed to undertaking major improvements to equipment, facilities and services to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities, 1 pm, 10 Park Plaza, Boston.
Senate President Stanley Rosenberg sits down with Boston Globe reporter Joshua Miller for a Q&A at Suffolk University, 20 Somerset St., Boston, 5:30 pm.
The Republican presidential candidates debate tonight on CNN in Las Vegas. The debate of the leading candidates, as measured in various polls, will begin at 8:30 pm. The second-tier candidates will debate beginning at 6 pm.
Rattling the tin cup at the T (and then passing the hat)
Yesterday's transportation meetings yielded more Spartan talk from officials about the Green Line Extension in what seems like a calculated strategy to squeeze contractors, developers, and municipalities. Yes, cancelling the whole thing is still on the table.
Here's Secretary of Transportation Pollack yesterday on the financial doubts expressed by the Fiscal Control Board and MassDOT board: "They're basically saying it's a good investment for the Commonwealth at $1 billion, but it's not a good investment at more than that amount of Commonwealth dollars." Given that the Commonwealth is already committed to over $750 million in sunk costs, it's hard to imagine the state's transportation investment not exceeding $1 billion. The question is by how much.
But first they're passing a hat around the room. "I keep hearing that you guys are going to put some skin in the game, and we're looking for that," revealed DOT board member Russell Gittlen, referring to beneficiaries of the GLX.
With exquisite timing, "Greater Boston" host Jim Braude had Congressman Mike Capuano, who played a role in getting a $1 billion commitment from the feds for the project, on the program last night, and he says he's "confident something will happen" with the GLX. "I have no problems with the state taking a breather, taking a step back, regrouping, and then moving forward." Here's more of the Capuano interview, which covers a variety of matters, including Donald Trump. http://bit.ly/1NmISwM
Meet the Ghost Train heroes
The two MBTA employees, whose quick thinking during Thursday's runaway train incident helped avoid a catastrophe, were recognized at the Governor's Office yesterday. The two operations center workers, Mark McNeill, 60, of Rockland, and Ainsley "Lee" Saunders, 49, of Saugus, were praised by Gov. Baker for making a "series of strategic decisions, executed them perfectly, and turned what could have been a far more dangerous circumstance into something that ... did not lead to any sort of significant, even minor, disaster." More from MassLive's Gintautus Dumcius here:http://bit.ly/1Z93BJz
Late-night service, RIP?
The MBTA is edging ever closer to eliminating late-night service in what will amount to a clear defeat for low-wage workers who need the T get home after working at restaurants, hotels and the like. It would save upwards of $14 million, reports the Globe's Nicole Dungca, and the T control board suggested the T look into partnerships with ride-sharing services.http://bit.ly/1TMja6t
Why Twin River is smoking Plainridge
State officials have again cut the projected revenue for Plainridge Park Casino, reducing original expectations by 40 percent. That adds up to a $50 million miss in tax revenues for the state. The slot parlor is getting smoked, literally, by Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI. Not only does Twin River have more than three times the number of slot machines, it also allows smoking at half of its machines, reports the Globe's Sean Murphy. No smoking is allowed in Plainridge. http://bit.ly/1Rl6SnQ
Homeowner resistance another pipeline obstacle
Energy giant Kinder Morgan faces an ongoing battle to gain regulatory approval for its $5 billion, 421-mile project but it also faces intense grassroots opposition - in the literal sense - from landowners who won't let workers on their land to lay the groundwork for the project, reports Christian Wade, State House Bureau Chief for Community Newspaper Holdings. "It's been a real headache for Kinder Morgan," Katy Eiseman, who heads the Massachusetts Pipeline Awareness Network, told Wade. "They've been forced to spend millions of dollars just to convince homeowners to grant access to their land." More than half of the affected homeowners in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have denied the company access. http://bit.ly/1m0yH7P
Revenge of the turkeys
To our knowledge, there is no part of the civil service exam that tests a postal worker's ability to deal with nattering, angry turkeys. But a Falmouth letter carrier has it figured out. This video, that has gone viral, displays his skill at keeping the pursuing turkeys a step away. The Globe's Steve Annear explains: http://bit.ly/1SXtRDf
Rosenberg fiance eyes Senate seat
Bryon Hefner, who is engaged to be married to Sen. President Stan Rosenberg, is considering a run for a soon-to-be vacant senate seat, a move the Globe's Frank Phillips says could put Rosenberg in an "awkward political position." Hefner, 28, told Politico's Lauren Dezenski yesterday he is eyeing the seat to be vacated by Anthony Petruccelli. Last year, Hefner resigned his position at Regan Communications, the Globe notes, after that firm bragged about its connections to the Senate, and created a kerfuffle when he described former Sen. President Therese Murray as a "witch" on social media. (And last night, Rep. Jay Livingstone, who represents Beacon Hill, announced he would join the race.) http://bit.ly/1I6kil0
Some cry foul over E-Z Pass mandate
As the Mass Turnpike prepares to move to all-electronic tolling by October of 2016, commuters who do not purchase E-Z Pass transponders will face a yet-undetermined surcharge, the Herald reports. Drivers who choose to pay by having their license plate photos takes by the toll booths rather than using the technology will be charged a fee to covert the extra administrative costs. Critics of the plan include Rep. Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman), who said the mandate amounts to "taking a convenience and forcing it on people who may not want that sort of privacy intrusion." http://bit.ly/1Qq7XdV
Galvin to reveal ballot order
Secretary of State William Galvin is expected to reveal the order in which candidates will appear on the Presidential primary ballots next March and the order in which names appear can affect the vote, WBUR reports. A stack of research papers conclude that whose name appears first on a ballot matters "by enough to make a meaningful difference, or even tip the balance in a tight race." http://wbur.fm/1m3nUd0
Worcester will pilot college savings plan
Treasurer Deb Goldberg traveled to Worcester Monday to announce the launch of a college savings program that uses private funds to seed savings accounts for kindergarten students, the Telegram reports. The pilot will launch next year, with every kindergarten student in the Worcester school system receiving a college-savings plan with an initial $50 investment. Goldberg notes that students with college savings accounts are seven times more likely to attend college than those who do not. http://bit.ly/1J8HMAC
Warren lands on Post's "Pinocchio" list
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren earned a dubious year-end honor, earning "four Pinocchios" from a Washington Post writer for a speech she gave in April, Boston.com reports. Post Political writer Glenn Kessler cited Warren in his Fact Checker blog for a speech she gave that misconstrued data on automobile dealer markups. http://bit.ly/1TMk0jx
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