POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CLARK and WARREN abroad — STATIE scrutiny — RALLY round-up

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CLARK and WARREN abroad — STATIE scrutiny — RALLY round-up

TEFLON CHARLIE BAKER OWNS THIS! ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL? 

DATELINE BEACON HILL -

- "State Police pay higher than reported, data hidden for years," by Matt Rocheleau and Todd Wallack, Boston Globe: "Revelations about an alleged overtime scam, a wave of suspensions, and hefty pay for Massachusetts State Police troopers have sparked scrutiny of the state's largest law enforcement agency. Payroll records for an entire 140-trooper State Police division - including some of the department's highest earners - have been hidden from public view and weren't filed with the state comptroller for several years, the Globe has found."

- "Nine state troopers suspended, nine more retire amid overtime probe," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Nine Massachusetts State Police troopers were suspended without pay and nine more retired this week in the midst of an internal affairs investigation into alleged theft of overtime pay, the agency announced on Friday. In all, 19 troopers were scheduled to have internal duty status hearings Friday .... The group includes members of the force that hold the rank of trooper, sergeant, and lieutenant, according to the State Police."

- "Editorial: State police must purge bad apples," by the Herald Editorial Board, Boston Herald: "The force is an embarrassment lately. The criminals they capture should dominate the headlines, not allegations of overtime padding, records shredding and questionable hires."

- "Path to extinction for North Atlantic right whales," by Doug Fraser and Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times: "''Up to 2010, you had this appallingly slow climb, then decline. Now we have a species that is clearly headed for extinction,' ; [Charles "Stormy" Mayo, senior scientist and director of the Right Whale Ecology Program at the Center for Coastal Studies] said ...Threats have largely been replaced by entanglements in fishing line and gear, which are blamed for 85 percent of right whale mortalities."


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Must Reads: The astonishing number of kids who have experienced a school shooting

Must Reads: The astonishing number of kids who have experienced a school shooting

MASSterList: ‘27,000’ | Start date? | Storm fear mongering

MASSterList: ‘27,000’ | Start date? | Storm fear mongering

TEFLON CHARLIE BAKER?

Will anything ever stick to Charlie?

Speaking of the governor, the Globe’s Shirley Leung is wondering when something will stick to “our wonk in shining armor,” aka Charlie Baker, who’s had a bad week, fending off questions about DOR patronage hires and yet more scandals at the State Police, both in addition to a recent state data breach, a bond downgrade, a $100,000 bathroom, etc. She obviously didn’t have room to mention past DCR shenanigans, botched GIC and vehicle-inspection rollouts, etc. Boston Globe Judge asks for slap on the wrist for his affair with courthouse employee   From Bob McGovern at the Herald: “An embattled western Massachusetts judge will fight for his job in front of the state’s highest court next month after admitting that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a courthouse employee. Judge Thomas Estes, previously the presiding judge at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, admitted in a filing with the Supreme Judicial Court that he had numerous sexual encounters with former specialty court clinician Tammy Cagle in his chambers and at her home.” So what’s his attorney asking for? A four-month suspension without pay, an apology letter and “other sanctions.” But he’d get to keep his job. We’re not sure this is going to pass muster in the #MeToo era. Boston Herald

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MASSterList: Underground wires? | True mensch, true facts | Attleboro carnage

MASSterList: Underground wires? | True mensch, true facts | Attleboro carnage

Duh? Governor Charlie Baker, running for re-election, has FULL FAITH....? Charlie Baker PUNTS! STOP GIVING CHARLIE BAKER A FREE PASS FOR HIS INCOMPETENCE. Wasn't this NO BID? Governor Charlie Baker is incapable of MANAGING! Sorry, Charlie! This is a NON-ANSWER. The governor, who said he believed the bathroom was installed, in part, because of the (MBTA) fiscal management control boards' hours-long meetings,   offered that the agency, overall, has been saving Massachusetts money.  So they save money elsewhere and can misspend on an unneessary bathroom?

WORTH READING IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR CHARLIE'S NON-ANSWERS:

About that $100,000 bathroom, Part III: Baker says costs not out of line

From Shannon Young at MassLive: “Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said he has ‘full faith and confidence’ in how the state's Department of Transportation handles taxpayer dollars in wake of criticism the agency has received for adding a $100,000 bathroom to its downtown Boston office.  The governor told The Republican's editorial board last week that while he understands why some may be upset by MassDOT's decision to install the restroom, he believes it was needed and that the costs associated with the project seem on par with that type of construction.”   MassLive

MASSterList: Staying safe | Body-camera politics | Fare punt

MASSterList: Staying safe | Body-camera politics | Fare punt

MBTA eyes fare hike next year, but parking fee increases could come sooner   CommonWealth Magazine’s Bruce Mohl and the Globe’s Adam Vaccaro report that the T’s oversight board is now eyeing a probable fare hike in 2019 – after this fall’s elections, it should be noted – rather than increase them later this year. But the board is still looking at ways to reduce spending and raise revenues to plug an immediate deficit – and that could mean parking-lot fee increases. The board is also looking how to raise new and additional revenues over the long-term.

Everyone has an opinion about the T …   Callie Crossley at WGBH and Renée Loth at the Globe both have some advice for the MBTA and both share this view, among other opinions: The T had better get its act together or ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft are going to eat its lunch. Btw: A union representing T workers, the Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 453, also has an opinion: It thinks Democrat Jay Gonzalez should be the next governor ultimately overseeing the transit agency. SHNS’s Michael Norton (pay wall) has more on the union endorsement. Anti-violence rally will take aim at Smith & Wesson plant   As thousands of Bay State students prepare to join Wednesday’s nationwide school walk out, a group of activists in Springfield say they’ll take their case to the gates of the Smith & Wesson facility in the city, Patrick Johnson reports at MassLive. Organizers say they’re targeting the company because of its role in manufacturing the AR-15, the assault-style weapon used in the Florida school shooting last month.  MassLive CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE MASSACHUSETTS INFORMATION