Following last night’s release of the Suffolk poll, you may have read this morning about how Patrick is increasing his lead, or Baker is slipping, or some other story about […]
Polls suggest little change in gov race
Posted inEducation, The Download
School segregation report tells us what we knew
By Michael Jonas To borrow from a certain sage of the ’60s, you don’t need a demographer to know the racial breakdown of Boston and Springfield area schools. But a […]
Posted inEconomy
Chiofaro proposes smaller towers
Boston developer Don Chiofaro unveiled a new, smaller design for his Harbor Garage redevelopment project today, but the $1 billion project was quickly dismissed by city officials and the proposed […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC denies bid to quash subpoena
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today denied a motion by a high-ranking House lawmaker to quash an independent counsel’s subpoena in connection with an investigation into patronage at the state’s […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC hears arguments on Petrolati subpoena
The attorney for Rep. Thomas Petrolati said there has been no decision on whether his client will testify under oath if the Supreme Judicial Court rejects his bid to quash […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Murphy’s creative writing
By Michael Jonas Let’s hope Boston City Councilor Steve Murphy would bring a more straightforward approach to managing the state’s books than he does with his creative bending of press […]
Posted inPolitics
Petrolati renews bid to quash subpoena
Rep. Thomas Petrolati today renewed his efforts to quash a subpoena issued by the independent counsel investigating patronage at the Probation Department, saying it raises “delicate separation of powers and […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Back Story
Gordon defends Cape Wind
It’s taken 10 years, but Jim Gordon, the president of Cape Wind, says the 130-turbine offshore wind project is about to clear its final regulatory hurdle. A supremely confident Gordon […]
Posted inThe Back Story, Uncategorized
Fore your eyes only
A nonprofit arm of the city of Boston is continuing to lose money operating two municipal golf courses.In the past, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and other city officials have insisted […]
Posted inPolitics
Parks commissioner says golf courses doing well
The Back Story article pertaining to the City of Boston’s two golf courses does not give an accurate picture of the city’s decision to operate the courses itself or the […]
Posted inPolitics
Gubernatorial debate not very informative
The first televised debate of the governor’s race was a triumph of sound bites over substance. The format of the debate on WBZ-TV (Channel 4) was designed to get the […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
CW’s Jack Sullivan on Radio Boston
CommonWealth magazine’s senior investigative reporter Jack Sullivan joined host Sacha Pfeiffer on WBUR’s Radio Boston today to discuss Sullivan’s cover story in the summer issue, “Overexposed.” Their discussion focused on the prevalence […]
Posted inPolitics
Rep. Petrolati, Ware in probation standoff
The court-ordered probe into patronage practices at the state’s Probation Department has spawned a tense legal standoff over a subpoena issued to a top House leader and raised fears of […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service, The Download
Senate Republicans blow back on wind siting bill
Gabrielle Gurley Wind siting reform legislation continues to go nowhere fast. At the end of the formal legislative sessions at the end of July, a group of House members from […]
Posted inUncategorized
Pa. firm may be part of Winn probe
The Pennsylvania-based administrator of a program that helps Boston businesses lower their gas and electric utility bills appears to be one of three conduits through which a Boston development executive […]
Posted inHealth Care
Audit finds medical imaging waste
The state auditor today called on the Legislature to adopt the federal ban on physicians referring patients to medical imaging facilities in which the doctors have a financial self-interest.The report from […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
State probes likely on Winn-financed donations
The federal investigation of illegal campaign contributions to four Massachusetts congressmen arranged by a top executive at WinnCompanies is likely to trigger probes by state officials into similar donations made […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
SJC sides with Cape Wind
The Supreme Judicial Court delivered the coup de grace to Cape Wind opponents in their efforts to halt permitting of the controversial Nantucket Wind farm project. In a 4-2 decision, […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC rules against probation applicant
The state’s highest court today ruled that the chief justice for administration and management acted appropriately in rejecting the hiring of a probation officer who failed to disclose on his […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Herald: Dog bites man
By Michael Jonas We have officially entered the silly season in campaign coverage, at least over on Wingo Way. <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; […]
Posted inPolitics
Calls for access to ethics forms grow louder
The Boston Globe today weighed in on the frustration in dealing with the State Ethics Commission and all its hurdles. It is a drum we have been beating since last […]
Posted inEnvironment
A big bet strategy
Read the other candidates’ statements: Treasurer Tim Cahill, Gov. Deval Patrick, Dr. Jill Stein. Let me just start by saying that we live in unprecedented times in Massachusetts. There are […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment
Hurts our economic competitiveness
For the other candidates’ statements, click here: Charlie Baker, Gov. Deval Patrick, Dr. Jill Stein. My feeling is that the Cape Wind project is the perfect example to the wrong […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment
Good environmentally, economically, and symbolically
Read the other candidates’ statements: Charlie Baker, Treasurer Tim Cahill, Dr. Jill Stein. I have from the outset acknowledged that there are thoughtful views on both sides of the Cape […]