Wednesday, December 9, 2015
By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan
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Today: Gaming Commission to interview exec director finalists
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will meet in downtown Boston (101 Federal Street, 12th fl.) and among its agenda items are public interviews of the two finalists (Ed Bedrosian and Charles LaBoy) for the executive director position. 10:30 am. For background on the finalists, see this MassLive story: http://bit.ly/1Qvkyeo
Also today: Exploring the Green Line Extension cost conundrum
What to do about a transportation project that's estimated to be $1 billion, or 50 percent over budget? Both the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board and the MassDOT Board of Directors meet explore options for the Green Line Extension, which would connect Union Square, Ball Square and other parts of Somerville and Medford to Boston via light rail.
It is doubtful the T has found anything close to $1 billion in savings in trying to shave costs since projected overruns were revealed earlier this year. Among the questions: Can the state borrow more than $1 billion to complete the project? (Originally, the federal government was going to pick up $1 billion of the costs, and the state would fund the rest.) Should the state start from scratch and rebid the project? And how much can be saved by scaling back plans? Already the plan for public art has been scratched, eliminating about $1 million. The Control Board will provide a report to the MassDOT board and the Control Board will meet on its own at 2:30 pm. The action will be at the MassDOT Board Room, 10 Park Plaza, Boston.
Eldridge rides for free -- and there's no tally on free rides
The Department of Transportation tells the Herald's Erin Smith it cannot quantify how many commuter rail passengers are getting free rides each day, as riders, including one state senator, say trains are often so crowded that agents cannot effectively collect fares. Sen. Jamie Eldridge says he rode for free recently, along with many of his fellow passengers. "I can say that over half the people in my car didn't pay their fare or show their monthly card because there wasn't enough staff. That's a problem because that's money that should be going to the MBTA and I'm happy to pay it." http://bit.ly/1NFQegc
Analyst: Cuts to T service aren't very cost-effective
As the T scrambles to reduce costs, various cuts under consideration, such as weekend train service and less used bus lines, wouldn't yield as much savings as reported, says Tony Dutzik, a policy analyst with the Frontier Group. "If you are truly looking to solve the MBTA's serious financial problems, therefore, marginal cuts to transit service simply aren't going to get you very far, while potentially inflicting a lot of pain and reducing the perceived value of the MBTA to riders." http://bit.ly/1NbbQ2B
Pioneer study: Health care costs threaten American families
The cost for health care, even for those with insurance, threatens to gobble up the average American's paycheck as health costs run far ahead of wage gains. In 10 years, the average US family will be paying 20 percent of its income to health care. The study calculates a 6 percent annual increase in health care-related costs, compared to a 2 percent increase in pay. http://bit.ly/1Nhkk68
Walsh, Wynn hold "productive" meeting
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and casino mogul Steve Wynn met face-to-face Tuesday for the first time since a judge tossed out the city's lawsuit aimed at halting Wynn's plan for an Everett resort but emerged without an agreement, the Globe reports. A Wynn spokesman called the meeting "helpful and productive" while Walsh tells the paper the two sides have identified "common agreements and common goals. We've had some very productive meetings as of late and we'll see what happens." http://bit.ly/1NLDujV
In other gambling coverage, the flagging revenue at Plainridge does not have Tim Wilmott, CEO of Penn National Gaming, overly concerned, reports Globe columnist Shirley Leung. One news nugget here: Expect revenue to get worse before it gets better, as the winter months are coming.http://bit.ly/1jNMr4l
Questions raised about Trump's state director
Dean Cavaretta, Donald Trump's choice to lead his presidential campaign in Massachusetts is a four-time loser in races for the legislature, the Globe reports, and may not have played the role Trump claims he did in the successful Baker-Polito gubernatorial campaign. Joshua Miller reports that while Trump's press release said Cavaretta served as special projects director in the Baker-Polito campaign, several sources say he served only briefly during the campaign, working as a driver for Polito before being let go. Cavaretta says he left that campaign on "amicable terms." http://bit.ly/1TAxnDy
Also concerning Trump, here's easily the best headline of the day: "Jeff Bezos offers to launch Donald Trump into space" http://bit.ly/1M26RNC
Blue Hills hunt tally: 64 deer, 2 arrests
The final tally from the controversial four-day controlled deer hunt at the Blue Hills Reservation is in, the Globe reports, with 64 animals in total killed and two protestors arrested, the Globe reports. http://bit.ly/1YYefmm
Meehan looks ahead in Dartmouth
UMass President Marty Meehan will visit the Dartmouth campus today to discuss the leadership change in the wake of Chancellor Divina Grossman's impending departure, the Fall River Herald News reports. Meehan will meet with the campus' faculty senate and take input from the public on the search for a successor. http://bit.ly/1OhDZ5L
State Police delay barracks closing
State Police officials say they will delay by eight weeks the closing of its barracks in Brookfield, the Telegram reports. Some Central Mass. lawmakers are pushing for a longer delay to allow time for a study the move, but the state police now say the barracks will be closed on Feb. 7. http://bit.ly/1XVwETT
Sunday OT targeted in House bill
Soon, Sunday overtime pay will reach $16.50 per hour, one of the reasons a state rep has filed a bill to eliminate time and a half on Sundays for retail workers. "It's not about taking money out of people's pockets," Rep. Mathew Muratore, a Plymouth Republican elected last year, explained to the State House News Service's Katie Lannan. "It's not looking at taking away. It's looking at changing a law from 32 years ago." http://bit.ly/1XVICNp (paywall)
Boston's 'most powerful 30-year-old' speaks
Dan Koh, Chief of staff to Mayor Marty Walsh, sat down for a Q&A with Boston.com's Hillary Sargent, on basically, being young and powerful. On the plight of being only 30, he says: "I think the natural knock on a young person in a job like this is: that he or she doesn't have the experience to make the right decision, or that he or she compensates for that by being arrogant and throwing weight around in a way that's not collaborative. The thing I was most scared and most cognizant of was coming in and waving around HBS cases that I read, and saying 'You need to do this. I read it in a textbook.'"http://bit.ly/1M27I0F
The MASSterList political gift guide
Below are a handful of ideas (some of which may be deemed politically incorrect) for holiday gifts. We put out a call for gift suggestions, and early next week we'll do part 2 of our gift guide. Send your suggestions to gdonnelly@massterlist.com.
The soundtrack from "Hamilton," the smash hit hip-hop musical on Broadway about the seminal American:
Make America Great Again hat (would you be caught wearing one?):
Hillary tee shirt:
Obama 2016 bumper sticker:
Disappearing civil liberties mug:
Marty Walsh signed baseball. Found on eBay:
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Mayor Walsh, casino developer Steve Wynn reach no agreements in 'helpful meeting' - The Boston Globe
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