AS A GROUP, the 11 district attorneys in Massachusetts are not big spenders when it comes to dining out or traveling on the state’s dime. But within the group, there […]
Colman M. Herman
Posted inPolitics
Healey: Governor not subject to public records law
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEYÂ ruled on Friday that the office of the governor is not subject to the Massachusetts public records law, confirming the long-standing position of Gov. Charlie Baker […]
Posted inTransportation
After 11 months, unpaid tolls hit $32m
DRIVERS WITHOUT E-ZPASS transponders racked up $32 million in unpaid tolls and late fees during the first 11 months of all-electronic tolling on all toll roads in Massachusetts. The $32 […]
Posted inUncategorized
State: Wellesley can ignore public records request
THE STATE’S SUPERVISOR OF PUBLIC RECORDS for the first time has allowed a governmental entity to ignore a citizen’s bid for documents because the request was a form of harassment […]
Posted inPolitics
Diversity data gaps
EVERY YEAR, THE governor’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity publishes a detailed report on the diversity of the workforce at each of the executive branch secretariats, now numbering nine. […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Does web browsing leave a public record?
THE STATE’S SUPERVISOR of public records says a state employee’s web browsing history is a public record, and has asked Attorney General Maura Healey to order the Baker administration to […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Walsh plays hardball at Quincy Market
BOSTON MAYOR MARTY WALSH is trying to play hardball with the company that owns the lease on Faneuil Hall Marketplace. City officials and heavily redacted emails obtained under the Public […]
Posted inUncategorized
Public records harassment tough sell
WELLESLEY RESIDENT RONALD ALEXANDER seems to be exactly the sort of guy lawmakers had in mind when they included a harassment provision in the new Public Records Law. Alexander has […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Authorities offer financial help to state
Gov. Charlie Baker is asking some of the state’s independent authorities for help in balancing the fiscal 2017 budget, but it appears only three have stepped forward. The Massachusetts Development […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Tracking assisted living ‘incidents’
Massachusetts assisted living facilities reported 305 cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving residents in 2015 – and half of the reports were filed late. Reports are supposed to be […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker public records stance referred to Healey
THE STATE’S SUPERVISOR OF PUBLIC RECORDS said Gov. Charlie Baker failed to comply with an administrative order to produce documents and referred the matter to Attorney General Maura Healey for […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Baker’s ‘streamlined’ diversity disclosures
Gov. Charlie Baker is doing slightly better than his predecessor in recruiting blacks, Hispanics, and Asians to work in the executive branch, but the way his administration goes about presenting […]
Posted inUncategorized
Nickeled and dimed
THE TOWN OF Dartmouth is certainly a stickler for the rules, unwilling to forego a nickel copying fee for a document disclosing a legal settlement involving hundreds of thousands of […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
MassHousing conflict?
THE STATE’S CONFLICT of interest law seems pretty straightforward. A public official may not participate in any matter in which she or a member of her immediate family has a […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Baker’s record on records
Over the past two years, Gov. Charlie Baker has responded to 33 requests for public records by either withholding the information in its entirety or releasing it in redacted form. […]
Posted inTransportation
Is there room for nostalgia at the T?
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL MANNING THE MBTA RECENTLY DECIDED to replace all the cars on the Red Line rather than just a portion of them. The agency’s chief operating officer, Jeffrey […]
Posted inThe Back Story
MassHousing paid settlements to terminated workers
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency terminated three employees earlier this year and cushioned the blow by paying them a total of $144,552, according to records […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Politics
Dysfunctional DCR tries to be smarter landlord
Photographs by Michael Manning THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES Regatta is a major draw for Massachusetts. Attracting more than 11,000 athletes and tens of thousands of spectators from all over […]
Posted inEducation
Pharmacy school pays chief well
CHARLES MONAHAN JR. makes $1.3 million a year in total compensation, more than all but one of his presidential peers at other colleges in Greater Boston. Monahan does not work […]
Posted inEconomy
Sandwich shop struggling on Boston Common
THE EARL OF SANDWICH is struggling financially at its Boston Common restaurant location, with losses mounting and revenues declining. The city of Boston hasn’t taken a hit—rental payments to the […]
Posted inEconomy
Boston garage sale stirs worries
THE CITY OF Boston used to sell off rundown municipal garages for development all the time by itself, but it’s taking a different tack with the old Winthrop Square Garage, […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Rent Faneuil Hall for $500 a day
The city of Boston is renting out historical Faneuil Hall at bargain-basement rates of $250 to $500 a day, a fraction of what function halls elsewhere around town charge. Democratic […]
Posted inUncategorized
A choreographed hiring process
The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency selected new executive director Timothy Sullivan in a matter of minutes in January, and internal documents obtained through a public records request show just how […]
Posted inEconomy
Unpaid internships – hard work, questionable legality
BOSTON-BASED ARGOPOINT placed an ad on Craigslist in February seeking a marketing intern of whom a lot seems to be expected. The ad specified nine required qualifications, including a strong […]