There was tough talk aplenty in Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
And it was all built on a strange paradox. Menino isn’t asking the city’s teachers’ union for unprecedented concessions in spite of the fact that he can’t possibly afford to pay for radical modifications to the teachers’ contract. He’s going to war with the union precisely because a budget in shambles has given him the opening to do so.
Menino made clear this morning that Superintendent Carol Johnson’s plan to close nine school buildings wasn’t the end of his tussle with the schools, but the beginning. He reiterated support for redrawing the city’s school assignment map, and called for lengthening the school day, giving administrators greater staffing flexibility, and introducing performance-based compensation.
The school system faces a $63 million deficit next year, he said, and closing schools would only cut that deficit by $20 million. Without offering specifics, he said “the gap will grow to $90 million if we don’t make smart decisions.”
After the speech, the mayor told an audience member, “We’re still in the on-deck circle” in negotiations with the union. But the mayor also made clear that the city isn’t in a position to pay teachers more for working a longer school day, or for giving up staffing leverage, or for subjecting themselves to a new performance evaluation regime.
In fact, Menino offered up merit pay as an alternative to a broad-based pay increase. “We don’t have the money for pay raises,” he said, “so we’re going to change the way we compensate teachers.”
— PAUL MCMORROW
Health care
After a federal judge in Virginia finds a national health care mandate unconstitutional, the Herald foresees increased legal wrangling over the Massachusetts mandate the federal statute is based on. The law’s ultimate fate likely won’t be decided for some time, after several more rounds of litigation – just in time, perhaps, to give Mitt Romney heartburn in the 2012 presidential primaries.
Boston Globe reporter Patricia Wen appears on Radio Boston to talk about her series on troubling spending patterns with the federal government’s Supplemental Security Income program. The last installment in her three-part series appeared today.
BEACON HILL
The $2 billion state budget gap that Gov. Deval Patrick kept not wanting to talk about during the campaign will soon become the thing that leaders on Beacon Hill will spend a lot of time talking about, reports the Globe.
A Globe editorial questions Gov. Deval Patrick‘s decision to sack film office director Nick Paleologos, given the success he’s had boosting the film industry here.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound may have broken federal tax law in airing a radio ad critical of Gov. Deval Patrick‘s support of the Cape Wind project, says the Globe. The Alliance recently joined Associated Industries of Massachusetts in asking the Supreme Judicial Court to reexamine the offshore project’s above-market rates.
There’s no convenient way to recharge electric cars, WBUR reports.
A group of Springfield residents appear before City Council to demand the revocation of a special permit for a proposed biomass plant.
Rich Lowry writes in the National Review about the problems with subsidizing ethanol.
PROBATION
Suspended probation department commissioner John O’Brien is not stepping down willingly, but efforts to appeal his likely formal dismissal would seem to face long odds since they would bring him in front of judges who have been among those most critical of the patronage practices in the department.
HOUSING
The National Journal reports that a Congressional oversight panel has delivered a scathing report on the Obama administration‘s performance in quelling home foreclosures.
Education
North Andover ’s school superintendent compromises on school start times, moving the beginning of high school back 20 instead of 35 minutes. The Eagle-Tribune reports the compromise reflects concerns raised by working parents.
An English High School student is facing expulsion after hitting and bloodying the face of a vice principal who was escorting the student to the principal’s office, the Item reports.
The Harvard School Committee votes to keep schools open on religious holidays, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
A Springfield Republican editorial lauds a new effort by Springfield elementary school teachers who visit parents and students in their homes. The goal of the home visit program is to encourage deeper parental involvement in the education of their children.
West Bridgewater residents vote to look into the feasibility of renovating West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School.
Quincy’s board of library trustees taps Brockton’s library director to head the city’s system, the Patriot Ledger reports.
Municipal Affairs
A North Adams Transcript editorial points out that the three selectmen who oppose a meals tax in Adams supported a tax on hotel accommodations and other lodgings.
An East Bridgewater group is seeking a temporary tax hike to build a new senior center in the town, reports the Brockton Enterprise.
The Brockton Enterprise reports that the food service company Sysco is scouting out Plympton as a possible site for a new industrial park.
Bridgewater gets its first female police sergeant.
Jack Spillane laments this year’s lack of holiday lights in downtown New Bedford, and discovers that it is a sign of tough economic times. (Registration required).
TRANSPORTATION
The New Bedford Standard Times editorial page praises a design competition that will help decide on the look of a new train station for the South Coast Rail Project. (Registration required).
Historic treasures
The Salem News reports that one of the 119 original editions of John James Audubon’s Birds of America sold at auction in London for $11.5 million, demonstrating the value of an identical book owned by the Peabody Institute Library. CommonWealth, in its spring issue, reported that the state also owns a copy, but it is rarely seen because officials don’t have enough money to exhibit it. The state copy was purchased in 1833 for $800.
Public sector unions
Wisconsin Gov.-elect Scott Walker, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, says he’s considering abolishing or weakening public sector unions to reduce employee benefits costs and address a deficit.
National Politics
Nevermind: Despite speculation to the contrary, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele decides to fight for his job.
The Wall Street Journal looks at the problems with temporary tax codes, which go far beyond the current scuffle over Bush-era income tax rates.
The Journal and New York Times publish obituaries for diplomat Richard Holbrooke.
NORTH KOREAN CULTURE DESK
Eric Clapton fans in the North Korean politburo have requested a special concert as a “show of good will.” Wikileaks via Talking Points Memo.