MASSterList: Healey’s holiday cheers | The next Barney Frank? | Snow scofflaws

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 12/23/2016 Healey’s holiday cheers | The next Barney Frank? | Snow scofflaws

Happening Today

High school chorale   Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Chorale performs at the State House, Grand Staircase, 12:30 p.m.

Gas infrastructure   Boston Mayor Walsh joins city councilor Matt O'Malley and Clean Water Action’s Joel Wool for the signing of an ordinance designed to coordinate with gas companies the maintenance and replacement of leaking gas infrastructure, Eagle Room, 5th floor, Boston City Hall, 1 p.m.

Cahill guest hosts ‘NightSide’   Former state Treasurer Tim Cahill guest hosts "NightSide,” WBZ NewsRadio 1030, 8 p.m.

Public comments deadline   Public comments are due today for the following: Department of Children and Families’ regulations on the department's governing principles and mission; the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s regulations dealing with criminal offender record checks that have been replaced by a rule covering all health and human services agencies; MassHealth’s proposed regulations to update provisions related to provider eligibility requirements and covered services. Today's News   Holiday cheer for Dems: Healey may be reconsidering guv run   She may be saying no, no, no. But the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld sees hints, hints, hints that Attorney General Maura Healey may be reconsidering her decision not to run for governor in 2018. If she does change her mind, many Dems would welcome it, though not necessarily Newton’s Setti Walsh.  Boston Herald     Baker has his New Year’s eye on selling off more state properties   Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday was touting his administration’s “Open for Business” initiative to sell off surplus state property for private development to spur more jobs, housing, revenues and other benefits, reports Michael Jonas at CommonWealth. At MassLive, Shira Schoenberg takes a look at what’s already been accomplished under the program, while the Herald’s Jordan Graham takes a look at what could (or couldn’t) happen at an attractive state-owned site on Kneeland Street in Boston.     Joy to the World: Christians, atheists go at it over Nativity scene   State Rep. James Lyons’s Nativity scene at the State House has caused the predictable stir over the issue of separation of church and state, with Christians defending the Nativity and atheists criticizing it. Take your pick of coverage: New Boston Post or Boston Globe or MassLive or WWLP or Boston Herald.     Snow scofflaws beware: Failure to shovel sidewalks could lead to big fines   Before breaking for the holiday weekend, lawmakers delivered a present to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk yesterday: A bill that would increase fines to as high as $1,500 for failure to shovel snow from sidewalks in the city of Boston, the Herald is reporting. The mayor’s office requested the legislation, ultimately filed by Rep. Dan Hunt of Dorchester, following the snowmageddon of 2015. Backers cite some rather extreme examples of poor sidewalk snow etiquette two years ago, granted, but they sure seem to be responding with extreme remedies. Boston Herald Mayor Walsh’s Dan Koh: The next Barney Frank?   In the third of three profiles on Mayor Marty Walsh’s key advisors, the Globe today, via Andrew Ryan, takes a look at chief of staff Dan Koh, who’s upfront about his ambitions to one day run for office (any office, within reason). If he’s successful, he’d be following in the footsteps of the last mayoral chief of staff to carve out his own political identity and career: Barney Frank, as Ryan notes. The mayor appears to be encouraging Koh’s ambitions, something we can never imagine the late Mayor Tom Menino ever doing, it should be noted. Boston Globe     Chang-Diaz: ‘I’ve never been actually made nauseous by the handiwork of government—until yesterday’   From MassLive: “A Boston state senator said Thursday that she was ‘made nauseous by the handiwork of government’ after watching a criminal justice working group ignore pleas by black and Latino activists to expand the scope of their work. The comments by state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Boston Democrat, were made on her website  in response to Wednesday's meeting of the Council of State Governments Justice Center task force.” Meawhile,CommonWealth magazine has more on how activists disrupted the task-force meeting when it became apparent members were not going to address state sentencing laws and prison incarceration rates.      Federal judge dismisses suit by taxi owners against Boston over Uber rules   A federal judge yesterday tossed a suit by the Boston Taxi Owners Association against the city of Boston, saying a recently passed state law stripped the city of powers to regulate ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft, reports Adam Gaffin at Universal Hub. As a result, US District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton ruled that the suit against the city is now effectively moot because of the state action, Gaffin writes. Universal Hub MBTA Annual report is now available   Here’s a link to the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board’s second annual report, issued last week, for your perusal. Because we know you want to sit down by a fire this holiday weekend and read it from cyber cover to cover. (Actually, it is kind of interesting, for transit policy wonks and others concerned about the T.) MBTA     Gee, why is T parking revenue suddenly on the rise?   Here’s something the T’s annual report won’t be able to explain: The MBTA is likely to bring in an additional $2 million in revenue from parking at T stations this year over last, though it’s still not clear whether it’s because potential theft suddenly ceased once it became known the AG’s office was looking into possible skullduggery, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth Magazine reports.  CommonWealth     Worcester line seen improving   More on the T front: Commuter trains have run on time more often on the Worcester and Framingham commuter rail line since September, posting a nearly 50 percent increase in on-time performance, Melissa Hanson of MassLive reports. Keolis, the private operator of the T’s commuter rail system, formed a working group to focus on the Worcester line after an earlier report found it to be the worst-performing commuter corridor. In addition to overall performance improvements, Keolis says 100 percent of morning trains have run on schedule over the past two months.  MassLive No Christmas card for Howie this year   Howie Carr is very sad that Ralph DeMasi, 80, arrested last week for a 1991 murder, won’t be sending Howie a Christmas card this year. Howie also explains how the relationship between DeMasi and Whitey Bulger is a little more complicated than portrayed by the media. Does this mean the two aren’t really pen pals? We’re shocked. Boston Herald     Punter’s Pub: Another dive bites the dust   It appears we’ll be, sooner or later, updating our list of Gone But Not Forgotten Bars and Nightclubs to include one of the original, incomparable dive bars of diver bars, Punter’s Pub. As the Globe reports, Northeastern University has paid $5.3 million for the property on Huntington Ave that houses the well-known watering hole, beloved (or not so beloved) by so many Northeastern alum. The fate of Punter’s Pub has not been disclosed. Boston Globe     Foreclosure crisis lingers in Worcester   Foreclosure starts may be on the decrease statewide, but the numbers continue to climb in Worcester, with the city taking on the unwanted mantle of being the state’s foreclosure capital, Tom Matthews reports in Worcester Magazine. Matthews cites RealyTrac.com data showing that one of every 834 homeowners in the city of seven hills is in danger of losing their home.  Worcester Magazine     Report lauds Gloucester’s ‘Angel ‘program   The Gloucester police program that diverts opioid addicts into treatment programs has helped 376 people since it launched and is more effective at getting patients help than hospital-based programs, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, as cited by the Gloucester Times. According to the Times’ Ray Lamont, the report also praises the leadership of Police Chief Leonard Campanello, who was fired by the city’s mayor before striking an agreement to retire in the New Year.  Gloucester Times Great Barrington pledges protection to undocumented   With a population of just over 7,000, the town of Great Barrington may be too small to declare itself a ‘sanctuary city’ but the community’s board of selectmen has adopted a resolution affirming the community’s commitment to all residents, including undocumented immigrants, Eoin Higgins reports in the Berkshire Eagle. Berkshire Eagle     RIP, Thomas F. Galvin   Our condolences to Secretary of State William Galvin, whose father, Thomas F. Galvin, died this past weekend “in his 100th year.” The funeral and mass for Thomas F. Galvin, a World War II veteran, were held yesterday. More details atSHNS (pay wall). Here’s the Legacy obituary.     Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah   We’d like to wish all our MASSterList readers Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and happy holidays in general. We’ll be returning first thing Monday morning, though with an abbreviated edition of MASSterList. Have a joyous weekend. See you Monday.     Sunday public affairs TV   Keller at Large, WBZ-TV Channel 4, 8:30 a.m. Guests Christin Tebaldi, director of clinical business development and director of psychiatric emergency services at McLean Hospital, and “Meg G,” a 27-year-old nanny who suffers from borderline personality disorder, discuss McLean’s “Deconstructing Stigma” campaign.   This Week in Business, NECN, 11 a.m. A repeat of a recent show in which the Boston Globe’s Shirley Leung and the BBJ’s Doug Bank review the top local business stories of 2016. CEO Corner, NECN, 11:30 a.m. A repeat of an earlier show featuring JIm Koch, founder and chairman of Boston Beer Company. CityLine, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 12 p.m. With host Karen Holmes Ward, this week’s focus: An encore presentation of “Take it to the Streets: Brockton.”   Today's Headlines   Metro   Is ‘Boston Winter’ the best thing to happen to City Hall plaza? - Boston Globe Northeastern purchases Punter’s Pub building for $5.3 million - Boston Globe Watch Dan Koh run— but for what? - Boston Globe   Massachusetts   Mass. Attorney General concerned with rise in hate crimes - Fox25 T parking revenue up 22 percent - CommonWealth Magazine Baker misses key problem with Electoral College - CommonWealth Magazine Sales of state-owned property to create 1500 units of housing and $413 million in revenue - MassLive Pioneer Valley cities and towns to get help with ‘murkiness’ of new law regulation marijuana sales - MassLive Keolis says Worcester Commuter Rail trains arriving on time rises by 50 percent after student drop in performance - MassLive Betting money on Maura Healey - Boston Herald State study: Food waste ban helps economy, but composting not addressed - Telegram & Gazette New report enthusiastically praises angel program - Gloucester Times FEMA eases up on flood zoning for Quincy - Patriot Ledger Cape prosecutor nominated as judge - Cape Cod Times Great Barrington reaffirms commitment to undocumented citizens - Berkshire Eagle Worcester’s woes: Foreclosures on the rise - Worcester Magazine Carmen Ortiz: Triumphs, Controversies, And The Lingering Impact Of Aaron Swartz - WGBH Lowell native Lewandowski not joining Trump team - Lowell Sun New Bedford named state’s most creative community - Standard-Times   Nation   Will ‘drain the swamp’ be Trump’s first broken promise - Politico Trump says U.S. should expand nuclear capability - New York Times Facing criticism, Eric Trump will stop actively fundraising for his foundation - WGBH

MASSterList: Marty’s mounting woes | 'All Things Considered' is doomed | Barney versus Bernie

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 06/03/2016 Marty’s mounting woes | 'All Things Considered' is doomed | Barney versus Bernie Happening Today   Matt Damon to speak at MIT   Actor and filmmaker Matt Damon, who starred as a genius MIT janitor in "Good Will Hunting," will be the commencement speaker at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Killian Court, Cambridge, 10 a.m.     Pride flag raising   Boston officials and state Auditor Suzanne Bump will gather to raise the rainbow flag over City Hall in a Boston Pride Month kickoff event, City Hall Plaza, Boston, 11 a.m.     Governor to sign public records bill   Gov. Charlie Baker signs into law the new “Act to improve public records,” office of governor, State House Room 360, 12 p.m.     Tom Brady, Baker to help Best Buddies Football Challenge   Gov. Baker attends the Best Buddies Tom Brady Football Challenge, a fundraiser for the nonprofit dedicated to helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities; Pats quarterback Tom Brady will be among those at the event, Harvard Stadium, 79 N. Harvard St., Allston, 5:30 p.m. Today's News   Marty’s mounting union woes   Mayor Marty Walsh, whose administration is the target of a fed probe into alleged strong-arm tactics used by union and city officials to secure lucrative labor contracts, can’t catch a break these days. The latest “drip, drip, drip” emanating from City Hall: A top Walsh adviser kept advocating for his former bosses at the AFL-CIO even after he assumed a plum City Hall post, reports Jack Encarnacao of the Herald, citing the latest batch of released emails.  Meanwhile, Kenneth Brissette, Walsh’s former tourism chief who was indicted for allegedly pressuring music festival organizers to hire union labor, prepared “talking points” for Walsh for a meeting with IndyCar executives that lauded local promoters for hiring key Walsh campaign aides and promised to “expeditiously” secure city permits and licenses, the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld writes.   It always seems to come back to hirings and city permits.     Jury: Conley’s DA office didn’t discriminate against former prosecutor   Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley has already experienced the public embarrassment of being hauled into court to defend his office against charges it discriminated against a former prosecutor, who claims she was paid less than her male counterparts. But at least Conley won’t be facing total humiliation and defeat: A federal grand jury yesterday unanimously rejected Christina Corda’s claims that her termination from Conley’s office was based on her complaints of pay discrimination, the Globe’s Milton Valencia reports. During trial testimony, Conley countered that Corda was fired after she launched into an “alcohol-fueled, expletive-laden outburst at a supervisor during a going-away party for a colleague,” as Valencia summarizes it. Boston Globe NPR’s 'All Things Considered' is doomed   If Boston is anything, it’s definitely a public-radio town. So pay attention all you NPR devotees: Slate’s Steve Lickteig, who used to executive produce ‘Weekend All Things Considered,’ thinks shows like ‘Morning Edition,’ ‘All Things Considered’ and other “curated magazine shows,” including those on ESPN’s SportsCenter, are effectively doomed, thanks to new on-demand technologies and changing listening habits: “The audience for those shows is aging and declining, and news of all kinds is available at a pace that was unthinkable even 10 years ago. And as (Keith) Olbermann pointed out, the desire for the ‘leisurely, well-done’ show is very much on the wane. There’s almost nothing more leisurely and well-done than an NPR news magazine.” Slate     Gloucester marks anniversary of ‘Angel’ program for addicts   On the one-year anniversary of the launch of its nationally lauded Angel Initiative program, which diverts addicts away from the criminal justice system and toward treatment, the city of Gloucester says it has helped 450 people in that time, Jessica Bartlett of the Boston Business Journal reports. Since the launch, 120 departments in other cities nationwide have followed Gloucester’s lead and Gloucester handles 20 to 30 cases monthly, down from 60 a month at the program’s peak. BBJ     And New Bedford develops unique approach toward panhandlers   Three New Bedford organizations—including the city’s police union and the local chamber of commerce—have signed onto a plan to hire panhandlers to carry sign boards for pay, Curt Brown of the Standard-Times reports. Among other things, the New Bedford Police Union will use the approach to promote an upcoming family festival. While the jobs are not high-paying, Mayor Jon Mitchell says they could be a step in the right direction: “Working for pay is better than begging for money.” Standard-Times Barney versus Bernie   How did we miss this one? Rachelle Cohen of the Herald yesterday chronicled the latest in the ongoing feud between former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who has dredged up decades-old grudges against Frank. From Cohen: “Oh what a delicious little squabble has developed in the lead-up to the Democratic National Convention.” Boston Herald     UMass workers have banked 1 million days of unused sick time   Employees at the University of Massachusetts have accumulated nearly 1 million days of unused sick time that they can cash in after they retire, reports Craig Douglas of the Boston Business Journal. Put another way: That’s the equivalent of 3,606 years’ worth of unused sick time. Yes, we’re talking millenniums. BBJ     Meanwhile, UMass Boston eyes adjunct prof cuts to balance budget   The University of Massachusetts Boston is trying to plug a budget deficit by informing about 400 adjunct professors that their contracts may not be renewed this autumn, reports the Globe’s Laura Krantz. Some complain the university is targeting its lowest-paid teaching staff as a way to save money. We have a suggestion: How about looking at the university’s unused sick-time and other benefits for full-time administrative workers who don’t teach? Just an idea that pops to mind. Boston Globe Inspector General slams $500,000 buyback claim   And, yes, here's one more public-employee buyback item: Inspector General Glenn Cuhna says a retiring South Hadley Electric Light Department employee’s claim that he is entitled to nearly $500,000 in unused vacation and sick time pay would represent “a waste of public funds,” Bob McGovern of the Herald reports. Cunha estimates Wayne Doerpholz is entitled to sell back $15,000 worth of vacation time—not the $223,000 he has requested—and none of the $247,000 worth of untapped sick pay he is seeking. Boston Herald     Cities defend water testing procedures after report by U.K. media outlet   Officials in Boston, Springfield and Worcester all moved to assuage public concerns after a report from the Guardian listed them among 33 U.S. cities that employed testing methods similar to those used in Flint, Michigan, where widespread lead contamination was covered up for years, Nik DeCosta-Klipa of Boston.com reports. An MWRA spokesperson said that agency has always followed EPA testing guidelines.  In Springfield, meanwhile, the executive director of the city’s water and sewer commission tells MassLive’s Peter Goonan that the the Guardian article was “alarmist and misleading. Springfield is nothing like Flint,” said Joshua Schimmel.  And in Worcester, Tom Quinn of Worcester Magazine reports that the city maintains it has adhered to EPA testing procedures “word for word.” State says audio of Brewster moderator not public   The state’s supervisor of public records has ruled that an audio tape of comments made by the Brewster town moderator should not be released because they could violate the privacy of two voters the moderator allegedly insulted, KC Myers of the Cape Cod Times reports. The comments were captured after the end of a November special town meeting. Cape Cod Times     Boat traffic at issue in Somerville’s Wynn permit appeal   Attorneys for Wynn Boston Harbor and the city of Somerville sparred over how many boats will travel to and from the planned Everett casino as a hearing into the city’s appeal of the casino’s key environmental permit began, Jordan Graham of the Herald reports. Somerville’s hired expert argued that 10 percent of all the boaters in New England would try to dock at the casino, a number the casino’s lawyers called absurdly high. Boston Herald Pot patients in limbo   The legal status of more than 5,000 patients certified to receive medical marijuana is up in the air after the state suspended the medical license of the doctor who cleared them to enter the program, Kay Lazar and Felice J. Freyer of the Globe report. The Board of Registration in Medicine says Dr. John Nadolny of Canna Care Docs failed to diagnose patients with one of the conditions specified in the state’s medical marijuana laws. Boston Globe     Representative (and very proud uncle) keeps his niece’s White House dream alive   Alena Mulhern of Kingston has a modest dream: She wants to be president of the United States of America when she grows up. But the 11-year-old was born in China and adopted when she was 10 months old, so she’s not considered a natural born citizen - a constitutional qualification to run for president. Now her uncle, Rep. Josh Cutler, a Democrat from Duxbury, is stepping in to help his niece, by pushing a resolution urging Congress to enact legislation that would redefine natural born citizens to include foreign-born adopted children who meet existing conditions under the Child Citizenship Act, reports Antonio Caban of State House News Service. "We tell kids when they're little you can be anything you want to be when you grow up, and some kids want to be astronauts, cab drivers or plumbers," said Cutler. "She wants to be president, and we want to see her dreams be able to be alive." SHNS (pay wall)     Sunday public affairs TV   Keller at Large, WBZ TV Channel 4, 8:30 a.m. Gov. Charlie Baker talks about his evolution on the transgender rights bill, the state of the local economy, the “millionaire’s tax,” and his plans to push for the death penalty for cop killers. DC Dialogue, NECN, 10 a.m. Guest Thomas Glynn, Massport’s CEO, talks about TSA lines, the growth of the Cruiseport, travel warnings and helipad plans; Discover New England executive director Lori Harnois talks about the New England summer travel and tourism season; Jim Brett, New England Council CEO, weighs in on presidential politics. On the Record, WCVB Channel 5, 11 a.m. Guest: U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, Democrat from Massachusetts. This Week in Business, NECN, 11 a.m. Matt Arrants, executive vice president of the Pinnacle Advisory Group, gives an update on the Boston-Cambridge hotel and lodging industry; Burst Founder and CEO Bryant McBride on the Boston-based startup bringing user generated content to viewers and customers; Boston Business Journal editor Doug Banks discusses some of the top business stories of the week. CEO Corner, NECN 11:30 a.m. Boston restaurant bigwig Nick Varano, owner of the Varano Group, talks about his restaurants, plans for the future and how he gets all those A-listers to come his eateries. Today's Headlines   Metro   The battle to rezone Jamaica Plain isn’t over yet - Boston Globe Wynn tries to sink boat trip data on casino - Boston Herald Boston City Hall releases new diversity data - WGBH Former DEP head calls Wynn DEP permit ‘a clear outlier’ - Boston Globe Federal jury rejects discrimination complaint against Suffolk DA - Boston Globe Only 10 boat slips at Wynn casino - CommonWealth Magazine   Massachusetts   ‘Springfield is nothing like Flint’ : Water system executive denies ‘cheat’ on lead testing - MassLive Trouble for the Baker/Walsh bromance? - Boston Magazine City cites change in lead testing guidelines in response to Guardian investigation - Worcester Magazine ‘Casino lab’ in Taunton will provide hands-on training for dealers - Taunton Gazette Hire-the-panhandler movement growing in New Bedford - Standard-Times Gloucester police mark one year since launch of Angel program - WBUR Vote on Muslim cemetery in Dudley planned for next week - Telegram & Gazette State IG challenges official’s nearly $500K buyback push - Boston Herald Marijuana patients in limbo as doctor’s license is suspended - Boston Globe   Nation   Trump says judge is biased because of ‘Mexican heritage’ - Boston Globe Hillary Clinton wants you to fear a Trump presidency - Boston Globe If Elizabeth Warren is VP, Charlie Baker may play kingmaker - Boston Globe