even in massachusetts, the bluest of blue states, labor unions are on the defensive. Union membership keeps slipping. High unemployment plagues unions in the private sector, while public-sector unions are […]
Back to the trenches
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Going to Carolina
Now that New Hampshire is one for the history books, it’s time to see how that Nikki Haley endorsement pays off for Mitt Romney. On paper, Haley is just the […]
Posted inEconomy
William Earon’s behind-the-scenes role
william earon is one of those behind-the-scenes guys who makes the movie business run in Massachusetts. His company, Coastal Capital Advisors LLC, invests in some movie projects, loans money to […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Lawrence mayor, paper call temporary truce
mayor william lantigua’s successful appeal for the state to run the Lawrence Public Schools brought about another big development: the mayor sat down to talk with an Eagle-Tribune reporter who […]
Posted inPolitics
Two brothers, two sets of political viewpoints
Rep.Vinny deMacedo, left, a Republican from Plymouth, and his brother Donald Macedo, a UMass Boston professor. Photo by Yawu Miller. contrasting experiences can give rise to sharply contrasting political views. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Exodus of employees slows courts, raises safety concerns
droves of employees are leaving the state’s court system, slowing down the delivery of justice and raising safety concerns inside courtrooms. To cope with budget cutbacks, court officials imposed a […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Debt crunch
It is the height of the Occupy movement last fall, and some 200 demonstrators are marching into Boston’s Financial District chanting slogans such as, “If we don’t get no jobs, […]
Posted inEconomy
Historical roadblock
The proposed site of the Meditech office park development. Photo by J. Cappuccio. Peace summits are preceded by battles. And as far as Beacon Hill turf battles go, the […]
Posted inPolitics
Holyoke hope
THE BIGGEST DOUBTS Alex Morse, the newly-elected mayor of Holyoke, had to overcome were whether voters would think someone who was barely out of college could possibly be ready to […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Freeloading
Wollaston Yacht Club in Quincy. Photo by Michael Manning.The 114-year-old Wollaston Yacht Club is a bit rundown these days, but its location has considerable appeal. Right on Wollaston Beach […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
State checkbook
In December, state Treasurer Steven Grossman followed through on his campaign promise to put the state’s checkbook online at www.mass.gov/opencheckbook. After some fits and starts, the site is up and […]
Posted inPolitics
An outside-the-Beltway strategy
most washington advocacy groups are based in Washington on the theory that it’s easier to influence the federal government from the capital itself. But Free Press, an up-and-coming advocacy group […]
Posted inPolitics
Campaign not much of a contest
two years ago, we had stories showing the Bay State was dead last in the country for the number of contested races for the Legislature, with less than 17 percent […]
Posted inUncategorized
Take my wife…please
CommonWealth is a pretty serious publication, one that’s not known for its sense of humor. But recently we tried our hand at comedy, hosting a 15th anniversary celebration called “Serious […]
Posted inEconomy
Zipping down the information superhighway
the state and federal governments are spending more than $100 million to bring wired broadband access to the 5 percent of Massachusetts residents who don’t have it and can’t get […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Smart on crime
several of the nation’s most conservative, tough-on-crime states are spearheading a growing reform movement that’s cutting both crime and prison costs. The dramatic changes taking place in Texas, Mississippi, South […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Too little too late for Murray?
Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray is telling supporters not to believe “false rumors and wild speculation” about his pre-dawn automobile crash in early November. The problem for Murray is, it’s tough […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Study takes measure of Boston poverty
A study released last month by The Boston Foundation delivered grim news about the state of racial inequality in the Hub, depicting alarmingly high levels of poverty within black and […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download, Transportation
Patrick’s transportation strategy
The Patrick administration’s transportation strategy seems to be working. First came the tease, then the hammer, and now the talk — by others — of new taxes or tolls is […]
Posted inPolitics
Murray: No calls, texts during 42-minute ride
Dear Friends, I want to thank all of you who have expressed your concern and support for me, my wife Tammy and our family, since my serious car accident in […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Camelot comeback?
There’s nothing like the Kennedy name to change the dynamics of a political contest in Massachusetts, especially at a time when the name is missing from congressional roll calls for […]
Posted inThe Back Story, Transportation
The T’s naming rights deal
The company hired to sell the naming rights for MBTA assets will pocket 12 percent of whatever revenue it brings in. The T’s contract with IMG Worldwide Inc., best known […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Render unto the Globe
When I was a co-op student at the Globe’s State House bureau a couple decades back, the paper’s political editor at the time asked me to write a story about […]