By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan
06/25/2016Tardy backlash | ‘Necessity defense’ | Who’s Richie Neal? |
Happening Today
Gov. Charlie Baker joins Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner George Peterson and MWRA Executive Director Fred Laskey at an event for a fish hatchery pipeline, McLaughlin Fish Hatchery, 90 East St., Belchertown, 2 p.m.
Push for high court nominee and immigration reform
U.S. Senator Edward Markey joins Felix Arroyo, chief of Boston Health and Human Services, Alejandra St. Guillen, director of Boston's Office for Immigrant Advancement, and immigration advocates to discuss the need to move forward on Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court and for comprehensive immigration reform, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Center, 105 Chauncy St., Suite 901, Boston, 11:45 a.m.
Tsongas radio interview
U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas is a scheduled guest on Boston Public Radio with co-hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, WGBH FM 89.7, 12 p.m.
Today's News
Boston Latin School controversy: Where was the backlash before yesterday’s backlash?
Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston School Superintendent Tommy Chang yesterday were hit with intense backlash from angry Boston Latin School faculty members, who say Walsh and Chang effectively threw two school administrators -- headmaster Lynn Mooney Teta and assistant headmaster Malcolm Flynn -- under the political bus amidst reports they mishandled racial unrest at the school, reports WGBH’s Isaiah Thompson. The faculty is demanding that Walsh not accept the resignations of Teta and Flynn.
In its print edition this morning, a Globe editorial hammered the mayor for not defending school officials enough: “Mayor Walsh, through his politically expedient refusal to stand up for Boston Latin School headmaster Lynn Mooney Teta, has allowed an entirely preventable crisis to engulf the crown jewel of the Boston Public Schools. It’s not too late to undo the damage, but Walsh needs to recognize quickly that his past avowals of support for the school have been insufficient. (Fyi: We couldn’t find the Globe’s editorial online as of early this morning, so no link, sorry.) Others are voicing similar criticisms about Walsh and Chang.
But here are our questions: Where was the backlash against Walsh and Chang before yesterday’s backlash? Why did it take so long for this loud and furious “pushback” by faculty members, pundits and others? Here’s a thought or two: Maybe people were afraid to speak out before now. Maybe people didn’t want to risk being accused of being soft on racism. Maybe they hoped it would all blow away and things would settle down on their own. Maybe more people – including us -- should have spoken out sooner that events were spiraling out of control at Boston Latin and that Teta was being unfairly criticized? WGBH
SJC: Homeless have a right to trespass under extreme conditions
In a unanimous decision, the state’s Supreme Judicial court has ruled that homeless people arrested for trespassing can challenge the criminal charges on the grounds they would face life-threatening danger if they stayed outside during extremely harsh weather, the Globe’s Laura Crimaldi reports. The decision is being hailed as a landmark ruling for the rights and safety of the homeless. In effect, the court is allowing the homeless to invoke “necessity defense’’ when trying to convince a judge or jury to acquit them of criminal trespassing charges, Crimaldi reports. It doesn’t guarantee that they will prevail by invoking “necessity defense.” Boston Globe
Google Fiber may not be the Internet-service godsend many think
Google Fiber’s planned purchase of Webpass, a San Francisco internet service provider that already serves Boston, Miami and Chicago, has local techie types – and many average consumers – excited that Boston could be next in line to get Google’s super-fast Internet service.
But BostInno’s Pierson Butler is throwing a little cold water on those lofty hopes. As he notes: “Webpass is known for their high speed connections up to 1Gps, which matches the speed of Google Fiber. Only, Webpass offers rates of either $550 per year or $65 per month for the service, which is less than Google charges. Google Fiber went on record saying that Webpass' pricing and branding will remain the same after the purchase. This means that the service will be just as fast and cheaper for businesses, apartment buildings and condos in the Boston area.”
How much are you willing to bet Webpass’ current lower rates don’t last? BostInno
And about GE’s expanded HQ in Boston: Don’t get too excited about additional jobs
News that General Electric plans to build a larger-than-expected headquarters in Boston’s Fort Point area initially raised hopes that the giant conglomerate might be moving more employees to the Hub than originally expected. But the Globe’s Jon Chesto reports the extra space – more than 100,000 square feet – is for “startups, events, and community uses.” That’s still good news. It means GE is making a bigger commitment to Boston than planned. But it doesn’t necessarily translate into more high-paying corporate jobs – at least not yet. Boston Globe
Neal? Richard Neal? Who’s he?
The Recorder surveyed people in Shelburne Falls and nearly all of them had no clue who their Congressman was or who the heck Richard Neal is, aka U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, the long-time Springfield Democrat whose district only recently has included Shelburne Falls and other rural parts of western Massachusetts. And of those who do know him, including some Democrats, many are ripping into Neal for a variety of reasons, according to the story. A highly critical editorial in the Recorder says Neal is “viewed as AWOL” in many parts of his district.
The Recorder
Auditor Suzanne Bump and Attorney General Maura Healey’s office are lending their support to workers pushing for a legislative crackdown on employers who effectively steal money from employees by not following overtime, minimum wage and other labor laws, reports Katie Lannan at State House News Service. Workers gathered on the State House steps yesterday to tell stories about employers who issued them bad checks or refused to pay them for months, requiring legal action on their part to get their wages. Bump did not speak during the rally, but joined the demonstrators in chanting "Sí, se puede," a Spanish phrase that translates approximately to "Yes, we can." Healey’s office, which handles wage complaints, said the attorney general supports the bill. SHNS (pay wall)
Baker files bill that would toughen penalties for assaulting police
After the recent fatal shooting of an Auburn police officer, the Baker administration is pushing new legislations that would increase an assault of a police officer from a misdemeanor offense to a felony and require judges to sentence someone found guilty of causing "serious bodily injury to a police officer" to at least one year in prison, reports SHNS’s Katie Lannan at the Telegram. State Rep. Paul Frost of Auburn has filed similar legislation that has already attracted 50 co-sponsors in the Legislature, with six more planning to sign on, a Frost aide said yesterday. The Telegram
In the wake of the Orlando massacre, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo has hauled out of the legislative moth balls a bill aimed at denying state gun licenses to anyone on a terrorist watch list or no-fly list, reports the Associated Press in the Herald. The bill was previously languishing in further-study limbo when DeLeo decided to revive it after the June 12 mass shooting that left 49 people dead in Orlando. Boston Herald
Former Sen. Knapik to oversee Baker’s western office
Gov. Charlie Baker has tapped former Sen. Michael Knapik to run his Springfield office, Shira Schoenberg reports at MassLive. A Republican, Knapik spent 22 years in the legislature, 18 of them in the Senate. The governor’s satellite office has operated on limited hours and it’s not clear if that will change immediately. MassLive
Cape community college faculty outraged by president’s pay raise
A board of trustees' recommendation that Cape Cod Community College president John Cox receive the maximum pay increase allowed is angering the college’s faculty and staff, a majority of whom have signed a petition for a vote of no confidence in Cox, reports Geoff Spillane at the Cape Cod Times. “Talk about a dis and slap in the face to the faculty,” said Michael Bejtlich, coordinator of the business administration program and a co-author of the petition. “For the board to give (Cox) an outstanding evaluation and the maximum merit pay raise is an extraordinarily callous move.” Cape Cod Times
For sale: (Part of) a state hospital
The town of Westborough has put a portion of the former Westborough State Hospital on the market for potential private redevelopment, Michelle Williams of MassLive reports. The town recently tweaked its zoning to encourage age-restricted housing and other development styles that would minimize the impact on the town’s schools. The town has also carved out part of the property for future uses of its own and for permanent conservation. Developers have until July 11 to submit their proposals. MassLive
Is the Lynnway preventing Lynn’s rebirth?
The redevelopment of 300 acres of waterfront property in Lynn is being hampered by the presence of The Lynnway, which cuts off the downtown from the docks, Thomas Grillo reports in the Lynn Item. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission prepared a 102-page study of the issue and has recommendations that cost as little as $7 million and as much as $20 million for a complete redevelopment to turn the Lynnway and the Carrol Parkway into pedestrian- and bike-friendly roadways. Lynn Item
Dizzy’s Great Escape, Day III: Dizzy lured and captured by love
The drama is over. Dizzy the monkey, who escaped Springfield’s Forest Park Zoo and eluded capture for more than two action-packed days, is back in captivity after he couldn’t resist the allure of his mate, Mitzy, reports Lucas Ropek at MassLive. Dizzy was hit with a tranquilizer dart after he descended the trees to be near Mitzy, who was deliberately allowed to roam outside her zoo enclosure in order to lure Dizzy closer. The plan worked. Dizzy couldn’t resist. "He and Mitzy are very happy!" Meghan Rothschild, a board member for the Forest Park Zoological Association, said late yesterday. "He's still sleepy but will be just fine.” MassLive
Today's Headlines
Metro
Massachusetts
Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment