A labor arbitrator defined Boston’s mayoral race before either candidate hoping to succeed Tom Menino had a chance to do so. The 25-percent raise for the police patrolmen’s union, now […]
Beacon Hill blues
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Katherine Clark takes the fifth
State Sen. Katherine Clark’s victory in the crowded Democratic primary field almost assuredly fast tracks her to Washington, DC, just in time to cope with the fallout from the creep […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
The color line
John Connolly jaywalked across Warren Street, hustling to avoid an old red Geo hatchback. The vehicle showed little intention of hitting the brakes, even for a mayoral finalist and his […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
The Worcester disconnect
Worcester’s downtown is full of wide open spaces where homes and offices and restaurants are supposed to go. Most haven’t appeared yet. Today’s Globe digs into the sizable disconnect between […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Pundits beware
PolitiFact, the fact-checking website of the Tampa Bay Times , is launching PunditFact, which will check the accuracy of claims made by pundits, columnists, and bloggers. “Pundits on TV and radio, […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
No surge of ‘new’ voters
In the Spring issue of CommonWealth, several months before Boston’s September mayoral preliminary election, we argued that a candidate who was able to energize the incipient swath of new voters […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
The irony of the medical device tax standoff
There are any number of contradictions and ironies in the federal budget stalemate that has shut the government down, none more than the focus on a repeal of the medical […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Miller selling NH home to pay Banner debt
Melvin Miller, the publisher of the Bay State Banner, which caters to Boston’s African-American community, is selling his stunning New Hampshire vacation home to satisfy a nearly $278,000 debt the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, State House News Service, The Download
Tsongas dives into Lawrence’s mayoral cage match
Most Massachusetts officeholders don’t want to be seen anywhere near Lawrence City Hall these days if they don’t have to be there. Members of Congress tend to stay way far […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics, State House News Service
Fact-checking Patrick’s health care article
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEGov. Deval Patrick is bullish about the 2006 health care access law, the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act, and a 2012 state law to control cost increases. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The keys to the Boston school bus driver dispute
In a wildcat strike that took Boston by surprise Tuesday morning, school bus drivers walked off the job, stranding thousands of students without a way to get to school. Officials […]
Posted inPolitics
Boston initiatives spur neighborhood pushback
Eleventh in a series Ed Logue emerged from his first year in Boston as the all-powerful director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority – a man with a clear mission to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, State House News Service
Former Medfield hospital cleanup sets precedent
A settlement to clean up a former Medfield State Hospital landfill will prod state agencies to give more careful review to remediating environmentally sensitive Commonwealth-owned sites, especially ones near rivers […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Walsh’s arbitration albatross
When the Boston police arbitration award first popped two Fridays ago, it looked like an issue that could be trouble for mayoral candidate Marty Walsh. By this weekend, there seemed […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics, State House News Service
Sen. Timilty, others shift on seatbelt law
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEThe state senator who reviews public safety bills has changed his mind about stiffening the state’s seat belt law, and plans to vote in favor of making […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
David Koch: Pariah and patron
Billionaire New Yorker David H. Koch landed in both Boston newspapers on Friday for very different reasons. The Herald ran a story on an environmental group that is calling on […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service
No new fees, taxes for convention buildout
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEWithout increases in fees or taxes or additional state funding, operators of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, already the largest building in New England, plan to […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Unions emerge as defining issue in mayor’s race
Marty Walsh is making Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham look bad. Yvonne Abraham does not like looking bad. And so, in what’s increasingly looking like a defining issue in Boston ‘s […]
Posted inPolitics
Collins and Logue: a formidable team
Tenth in a series John Collins had won an impressive, surprise victory over John Powers. It was a moment to relish, but in the long term it would become a […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Political friends – with benefits
When the Massachusetts Legislature passed its highly touted Ethics Reform Act in 2009, tucked inside was a change to the law that allows elected officials to set up funds separate […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Patrick embarrassed by government shutdown
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEA sharp-tongued Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday said he was “embarrassed” by having to explain the government shutdown to a group of visiting students from London this […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Administration OK with Mass. fracking ban
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEA top Patrick administration official says he could support a fracking ban in Massachusetts to ensure that a potential natural gas reserve in the Springfield area is […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
On a mission from God in East Boston
Another front line has opened up in the battle over an East Boston casino: Multifaith coalitions. Friends of East Boston, a group of neighborhood ministers, announced their campaign against the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Scott Brown is taken aback by politics
The sitting senator sent out a fundraising appeal, citing the specter of a potential challenge from a partisan television personality and commentator. The TV type immediately fired back, dismissing the […]