Friday, December 4, 2015
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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan
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Today: Guv goes to Plainridge
But not to gamble. Gov. Baker will deliver remarks at the shiny new Plainridge Park Casino at the United Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Lunch, , 301 Washington Street (Rte. 1), Plainville, 1:00pm.
The Labor Guild of Boston, an agency of the Archdiocese of Boston, hosts its annual Cushing-Gavin Awards dinner, a celebration of the labor management community, Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza, Boston, 6:00pm.
Daily News front page stirs controversy
In case you missed the New York Daily News' front page in the wake of the San Bernardino killings, the image is here, via MassLive: http://bit.ly/1QYn5iH
Beacon Hill needs its own little CBO
Charlie Baker is a data guy, and proud of it. The Legislature often lacks data, especially on the cost of proposed legislation. That's why a bill to create a Massachusetts version of the Congressional Budget Office makes so much sense.
Sen. Jamie Eldridge wants to create a fiscal office, in part because "One of my great frustrations in advocating for different pieces of legislation was that it was very easy for House Ways and Means or Senate Ways and Means to come back and say, 'that bill is too expensive' but really without a truly independent analysis to see if that's the case," he told Colin Young at the State House News Service.
He said he thinks it could be funded at $500,000 or less per year.
Of course, a state budget office would not only tell legislators that dreaming big may not cost that much money. It could also warn that that new regulations would kill jobs. For example, the CBO not too long ago noted that President Obama's proposal to raise the minimum wage to just over $10 would cost approximately 500,000 jobs. What's the impact in Massachusetts as the minimum wage moves to $11 in 2017? Nobody knows. In any case, why be only one of only seven states without a fiscal office? Here's more on Eldridge's proposal from SHNS: http://bit.ly/1XEbUjj(paywall)
MASSterList op-ed: Residents ask, Who does the BRA work for?
The authors of this op-ed, who live in the West End and the North End, say the BRA is not listening to residents' objections about large projects in their neighborhoods. "...The proposed projects are too massive, with a height and density inappropriate for the neighborhood; the developments would increase traffic in areas already burdened with gridlock; and the projects are moving forward despite the community's litany of serious concerns." http://bit.ly/1RqKHvJ
Walsh visits Wayfair, gets nudge on housing
Mayor Marty Walsh visited one of the fastest-growing companies in Boston, online retailer Wayfair, whose stock is soaring along with its local employee head count. What's on their minds? Housing."Most of what you see being built in Boston is the luxury, high-end housing. Housing most of us cannot afford," said one engineer in Globe reporter Megan Woolhouse's very interesting story on a high-flyer that is adding another 500 jobs to the 2,000 it already has in Boston.http://bit.ly/1TpaMJY
At the Elkeys, it's a bipartisan (or is it 'tri-partisan'?) celebration
Democrats and Republicans celebrated political wins together Thursday night at the ElKey -- a donkey-elephant chimera -- awards atop the Omni Parker House. Bill Weld was on hand to accept an award on behalf of Paul Cellucci. "It never would have worked out the way it did if Paul and I hadn't gotten together," said Weld. He said, "People knew they had a straight-shooter whose word was good who was in Suite 360. They didn't know that about me when we started out. All they knew was I was a prosecutor. They weren't so sure about that." Frank Bellotti, who was AG from 1975-87, among other things, said, "I'd like to be remembered for the fact that I could work with Republicans, accomplish great things with them, and still be fiercely a Democrat."
As United Independent Party founder Evan Falchuk noted at the party, the event was actually "tri-partisan." The awards honored a great range of political activities. Here's a few jotted down by a reporter who was not entirely focused on the ceremony the whole time: Fundraiser of the year - ML Ganley, for Coakley/Joe Kennedy/Tolman; communications director - Tim Buckley, for Baker; field director - Steve Moore, for Goldberg; media consultant - Will Keyser, for Baker; pollster - David Paleologos, of Suffolk U.; political operative - Roger Lau, for the Democrats Coordinated Campaign; and policy director - Elizabeth Mahoney, for Baker. -Andy Metzger, SHNS.
Rare map recovered by sharp-eyed BPL employee
Noticing a rare map for sale in an antique dealer's catalog that looked just like one that was stolen from the Boston Public Library, the BPL's map curator Ronald Grim was able to prove it was indeed the library's, and had it returned. The map, by explorer Samuel de Champlain circa 1612, depicts the New England coast and parts of Canada and was on sale for $285,000. Shelley Murphy of the Globe has more details here on Grim's detective work. http://bit.ly/1NupAH2
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