The MBTA SCAM is lengthy...requires addressing separately.
Closet Tea Bagger Baker got his wishes as he sat idly by and allowed Boston to FAIL in the SNOW!
For far too many years, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION has been an ORPHAN!
Let's be reminded of the Wealthy White Brain Fart of the Boston Olympics and that it seems no elected officials take PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
If they did, they would know PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SUCKS!
EACH AND EVERY STATE OFFICIAL AND STATE EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE MANDATED TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!
Has Tea Bagger Baker ever taken PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh publicly stated he couldn't because he had to make it on time to meetings.
Duh?
Mayor, Doesn't that tell you it SUCKS?
If you can plan your schedule around PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, it doesn't work!
FARE HIKES and CUTS IN LATE NIGHT SERVICE penalize low income folks who use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
This is a WHITE ATTACK ON THE POOR!
Thursday, January 21, 2016
By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan
|
Tonight: Baker's State of the Commonwealth
The Governor is expected to give a 20-minute address tonight in the House chamber outlining his initiatives for the year. It begins at 7:30 pm. "Baker is expected to both make note of the accomplishments of the past year, while also urging the Democrat-controlled Legislature to act in the coming months on three of his key priorities -- opioids, hydropower and charter schools," Matt Murphy of the State House News Service reported this morning. Expect Baker to highlight new initiatives, including a focus on job training.
Also today: the Senate reconvenes, hands-free driving bill set for vote
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hear from representatives of Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield and Wynn Everett Casino. Other issues include daily fantasy sports and the recent submission of the white paper, status of the tribal compact as well as the schedule for Region C, 101 Federal Street, 12th Floor, Boston, 10:00 am.
The full Senate gets back in action, holding its first formal session since Nov. 18, with bills up for consideration including a ban on driving while using handheld devices (S 2093); an emissions reduction bill; and a bill that would allow shell-on lobster claws to be processed and sold in Massachusetts (S 458) 11:00 am.
"Life After Lock-Up" conference call: Congressman John Katko (NY-24), a former federal prosecutor, and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will join a YouthBuild alum and Vanderbilt Law School professor for a press conference call to discuss the current state of the criminal justice system and proven paths to decreasing recidivism. It's at 11:00 am. Reporters interested in joining should register here to receive a call-in number and PIN.
The T's surprise $80 million liability
In the realm of the MBTA's finances, it's one step forward, two steps back. Raise fares, cut services, enhance revenue in other places, all to chip away at a large operating deficit. Then you learn the T has an $80 liability that's literally unaccounted for. This is why we now have a Fiscal Management and Control board -- and why its job is so hard. The revelation from yesterday's T meeting: About $6 million per year is being paid to 900 retired T managers (and former union members) as part of a negotiated contract. But no money was ever put aside to fund it. "...The plan was part of the agreement with unions to lure union members into management positions and pay them for overtime they may miss out on," CommonWealth magazine's Jack Sullivan reports. Wait a minute: Management negotiated an agreement with the union to give management more money when they retire. That must have been a tough negotiation. Meanwhile, riders will soon be asked to pour more money into a system that's leaking like a sieve. http://bit.ly/1P7emcl
Meanwhile, expect a barebones Green Line Extension plan to emerge later this year: "This has to be a bare minimum system in order to get to a point financially where we're making a minimum ask to third parties," Joseph Aiello, chairman of the fiscal control board, said at yesterday's meeting. See Nicole Dungca's story in the Globe for more: http://bit.ly/1T84H7a
Sen. Joyce goes on the air to discuss dry cleaning controversy
Sen. Brian Joyce defended himself on "Greater Boston" last night in the "dirty laundry" controversy on the same day the Ethics Commission released a resolution from an investigation into a separate matter involving Joyce's use of campaign funds. Joyce used campaign funds to pay for part of his son's graduation party and agreed to pay nearly $5,000 to charity to clear up the matter, the Ethic Commission announced yesterday. He now is on the hot seat for receiving free dry cleaning for over 10 years from a Randolph business after the owner offered to clean his clothes for free. Joyce says it was in exchange for legal services; the owner, who has since sold the business, claims Joyce received free dry cleaning for several years before doing any legal work for him. In the interview, Joyce denies he did anything improper, saying he couldn't discuss details because he hasn't been released from attorney-client privilege. "I have not done anything wrong," he told Jim Braude.
Rosenberg: Senate will take a shot at charter reform bill
The Senate will take on the charter school issue, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg announced yesterday, as a referendum to lift the charter school cap makes its way to the fall ballot. The Senate's focus, however, will be looking at the broader issue of charter schools, Rosenberg said, not strictly the cap."Everything will be on the table, even some things maybe that don't have directly to do with charter schools, because after all, the whole point is that every child in Massachusetts should get a quality education," Rosenberg said in the MassLive story by Gintautus Dumcius. http://bit.ly/1Pq4Gp7
The richest person in Boston owns about a quarter of Fidelity
Forbes magazine is out with its list of richest people in America's 50 largest cities, and Fidelity's Abby Johnson leads the pack in Boston. Here's a take in Boston magazine. http://bit.ly/1QgmJRV
Quote of the day: Skepticism of GE deal
"The City Council will have an opportunity to hear all of the finances behind [the General Electric incentives], but the real underlying issue is that the reason why a company like GE would come here is because of our talent, and if we don't invest in our talent and our talent pipeline, a company like GE will come and go and will not stay here." - City Councilor Tito Jackson, reacting to protesters at the mayor's State of the City address, on incentives offered to General Electric. See more in a story about growing concerns about the deal in BostInno.http://bit.ly/1ZMAS0U
Baker cool to Walsh's preschool plea
Gov. Charlie Baker was noncommittal when asked Wednesday if he agrees with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's call for more state funding for early childhood education, the Globe's Stephanie Ebbert reports. Baker will disclose how much he intends to spend on preschool when he unveils his fiscal year 2017 next week. http://bit.ly/1S6N9Yf
Bernstein's Congressional power rankings
Political reporter David Bernstein set out to rank members of the state's Congressional delegation, according to their meaningful legislative output and found that Rep. Katherine Clark stands out as the most effective lawmaker -- thanks to passage of her Protecting Our Infants bill -- followed by Rep. Stephen Lynch. Rep. Richard Neal ranks as the least effective according to Bernstein's methodology, published on the WGBH website. http://bit.ly/1ZMVN4f
|
| TODAY'S TOP STORIES |
National headlines
State headlines
Local headlines
|
No comments:
Post a Comment