Wednesday, January 6, 2016
By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan
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Today: December tax revenue to help point the way on cuts
The looming midyear budget gap is expected to get clearer definition after revenue figures for December arrive today. The governor has all but promised to wield the budget ax. If this sounds familiar, it is because the Baker administration officials faced a budget shortfall a year ago as soon as they took office. This one is will be much smaller, although an exact figure hasn't been pinpointed yet.
Also today: Bill could help find money for the Green Line extension
The Transportation Committee will hear a bill by Rep. William Straus that would establish a process for local real estate growth to finance transportation investments. Straus has suggested the bill (H 3877) could be used to help finance the Green Line Extension and the South Coast Rail. The hearing will be in room A-2 at 10 am.
The Transportation Committee also will weigh bicycle safety bills, the State House News Service's Andy Metzger reports this morning. "The bills sponsored by Rep. Dan Hunt, of Dorchester, and Sen. William Brownsberger, of Belmont, would require side-guards and blind-spot mirrors on trucks of a certain size registered in Massachusetts." http://bit.ly/1JXbd9o (pay wall)
Commuter train derailment: No cold comfort
Let's not think of it as an omen. After a commuter rail train traveling north rolled off the tracks at 4 am yesterday just north of the Andover station, federal authority arrived on the scene. Only two personnel were on the train, and they were unhurt. The cold weather may have caused a rail to break, and transportation officials, including Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, were defensive after this first test of cold weather yield less that stellar results. "I don't want people to think because we had these unfortunate disruptions today that it means that the winter preparations are not going to result in a better commute," she said. More here from the Globe's Laura Crimaldi: http://bit.ly/1kKuap3
And the broken rail phenomenon was alleged to have spread to the Red Line, putting some riders on shuttle buses on the Ashmont line and leading to midday delays. The sudden drop in temperature may be behind the rail problems, writes Adam Vaccaro of Boston.com. http://bit.ly/1VHX7j2
Is the T Baker's Iraq?
For some perspective on the political consequences of "owning" a broken transportation system, we turn to the Herald's Howie Carr, who notes that reality is setting in for Baker and the T. "If the T is Iraq, commuter rail is Anbar province. Baghdad/10 Park keeps installing new generals -- Keolis is the current company -- and for a while, everything is okay. Ramadi is recaptured, there are no disasters on the Fitchburg line for a few months. But eventually, things fall apart, er, 'fail.'" Howie extends the metaphor here:http://bit.ly/1S3IYgS
John Henry addresses readers; will reporters deliver again?
The Boston Globe publisher, seeing his newspaper reeling from a delivery debacle, penned an open letter that went online last evening, apologizing, explaining the rational for the switch in vendors, and saying that help is on the way. The Globe will soon be bringing back the previous delivery vendor, Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, to share in the delivery process, effective Jan. 11. That means there will be another Sunday with a short-staffed ACI, and leaves open the question whether Globe employees will be called upon again to deliver. The new deal is detailed in this story: http://bit.ly/1Z7S151
From Shirley Leung's column on the Globe's delivery woes: "Behind the Globe delivery debacle is an inconvenient truth: As much as we think of ourselves as a digital-first, multimedia organization, we are an old-line manufacturer that relies on a hub-and-spoke distribution model for a product that still generates most of our revenue." http://bit.ly/1O4R4Sx
Charter school bill in the Senate may remain a nonstarter
Doubts about the Senate having interest in considering legislation that would lift the cap on charters schools grew yesterday after Senate President Stan Rosenberg said it was "very much an uphill battle." Great Schools Massachusetts, the pro-charter group that is pushing for a ballot referendum, pushed back on Rosenberg's assertion that his district was against adding more charter schools, Matt Murphy of the State House News Service reports. http://bit.ly/22KsCxt
New restaurant for Hilltop site?
A New Hampshire restaurant took to social media, suggesting it may be create an establishment at the site of the former Hilltop Steak House.
Some T pass prices could rise 20 percent
The Globe's Nicole Dungca breaks down the details of the MBTA's Fiscal Control Board's fare-hike proposals and finds that some fares will drop by as much as 20 percent and others -- including some bus-only passes that are heavily used by low-income riders -- increase by the same amount. http://bit.ly/1S3E2c6
Everett grabs Wynn land, gives it right back
The city of Everett began land-taking proceedings on a parcel owed by Wynn Resorts after a $168 tax bill was sent to the prior owners of the property by mistake, the Herald's Jack Encarnacao reports. The city announced its intentions to seize the 3.4 acre parcel that Wynn bought last year for $8 million in November, but now says the taxes are paid in full. http://bit.ly/1Z4XNim
Baker expects energy, budget battles
Gov. Baker expects battles with the legislature over what are expected to be deep budget cuts for the coming fiscal year and his plan to help replace energy production being lost by the closing the Pilgrim Station nuclear plant with hydro power, the Gloucester Times reports. http://bit.ly/1mBsKPC
Boston magazine trims staff
The parent company of Boston Magazine has cut three editorial positions at the monthly as part of a larger restructuring, the Boston Business Journal reports. Senior Editor S.I. Rosenbaum was among those fired in the cuts, which come just days after the departure of Editor Carly Carioli. http://bit.ly/1PJVvTv
The Globe's Jon Chesto has even more details on the Boston mag situation here: http://bit.ly/1RhxJBS
Judge makes bingo hall ban permanent
A Federal judge has strengthened his ruling banning the Wampanoag tribe of Aquinnah from opening a bingo hall on Martha's Vineyard, the Cape Cod Times reports. Judge Dennis Saylor IV signed a permanent injunction against the facility at the request of Attorney General Maura Healey and attorneys for the town of Aquinnah. The tribe is still expected to appeal the ruling to a higher court. http://bit.ly/1kLgLgt
Cronin to head Boston Public Market
Well-known lawyer Cheryl Cronin, active in Democratic circles, will be the new CEO of the recently opened indoor food market, Boston Public Market, taking over for founder Liz Morningstar. The Globe's Megan Woolhouse has more here.
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