Local author Mo Lotman's new coffee-table book Harvard Square is an illustrated retrospective of Massachusetts's most-opinionated zip code, but in addition to chronicling the visual changes in the square over […]
A book worth a look
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Fact-checking Menino and Flaherty
By Jack Sullivan and Bruce MohlDuring an hour-long debate Thursday night between Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and City Councilor Michael Flaherty Jr. on WCVB-TV (Ch. 5), both men got their facts wrong […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, The Download
Gateways Cities leaders introduce economic development plan
Massachusetts needs to rework its tax incentive programs to create jobs, stimulate commercial development, and build market-rate housing in the state’s most economically distressed cities. That was the message from […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Can Newbury Street and Southie vote the same way without driving each other crazy?
City Councilors Mike Flaherty and Sam Yoon's alliance against incumbent Boston Mayor Tom Menino has enlivened this November's run-off election, but it will take a mighty strange geographical coalition to […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Flaherty/Yoon team-up throws Mayor-for-Life a curve
Today’s announcement that failed Boston mayoral hopeful Sam Yoon will join an unofficial ticket with finalist Michael Flaherty injects a bit of excitement into what was shaping up to be […]
Posted inPolitics
Flaherty/Yoon team-up throws the Mayor-for-Life a curve
Today’s announcement that failed Boston mayoral hopeful Sam Yoon will join an unofficial ticket with finalist Michael Flaherty injects a bit of excitement into what was shaping up to be […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Calling for reform and progress in the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities
Last week’s hearing on charter school legislation drew large crowds to Beacon Hill and demonstrated the energy surrounding the topic of education reform in Massachusetts. Another hearing of great importance […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Some states sour on film tax credits
Several of the 40 states that offer film tax credits to movie producers are having second thoughts about the generous benefits, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times says that many […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Charter schools legislation is a Gateway Cities bill
Boston is often seen as the center of the Massachusetts charter school movement, but charter school activity is equally vigorous in the state’s 11 Gateway Cities. Together they have just […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Broken MBTA ties trigger safety orders
MBTA rail inspectors are stepping up their response to the thousands of crumbling concrete ties on commuter lines, ordering engineers to throttle back for safety along the damaged tracks. It […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Mass. is Tax Foundation’s 15th least favorite state
The DC-based Tax Foundation came out with its annual State Business Tax Climate Index today, ranking Massachusetts 36th in business friendliness (down from 32nd last year). That's still better than […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Martha’s big sister
It may seem like a first, but we've been here before. Congressman Michael Capuano thinks The Woman is the one to beat in the US Senate race. The State House […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Sharing service
"Reduce overhead!" "Cut administrative costs!" It's hard to find anyone who is against cutting costs — especially in the current economy, and especially when the cuts are the vague kind […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Mission Impossible II: MBTA Crisis Management
Good afternoon, Mr. Mullan. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is plagued by many problems, among them multibillion debt, aging infrastructure, and a significant cohort of employees for whom customer service […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Loyalty and the US Senate race
Today's Herald raises two questions about the special election to replace the late US Sen. Ted Kennedy: Is Attorney General Martha Coakley too deferential toward Boston Mayor Tom Menino? And […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Boston’s mayor race “toughest” to call in the US?
Ballot Box's Josh Goodman divides all of this year's big-city mayoral races into the competitive and foregone conclusion categories, but he finds Boston's to be the most unpredictable:The toughest case […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
One Beacon’s 121A tax agreement expires
One Beacon Street's 40-year-old tax agreement with the city of Boston expires today, paving the way for the office building to be taxed on its assessed value in the coming […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
What state are we in?
Here's a news flash you don't see often in this state: Republicans in the US Senate race outnumber Democrats, 2-1. Granted, that ratio includes only candidates who have made formal […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Trick or Treat: The Revenge of Dan Grabauskas
Revenge is a dish best served cold. For the former MBTA general manager, there's probably nothing more delicious than the headline "State Transportation Secretary is resigning "Secretary of Transportation James […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Fact checking the 2d mayoral debate
During the second Boston mayoral debate Thursday night, Kevin McCrea and City Councilors Michael Flaherty Jr. and Sam Yoon traded fire with incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino. The politicians rattled off statistics and references […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The State House as cash cow
The state of Arizona, now running a $3 billion budget deficit, is planning to sell up to 32 government properties for quick cash — possibly including its House and Senate […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Turn toward politics a natural one for City Year cofounder
The newest name in the US Senate sweepstakes: Alan Khazei, cofounder of the national service organization City Year, who says he's considering entering the Democratic primary for the seat held […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Back(track) to the future
After months of insisting that deteriorating concrete ties on the Old Colony Commuter Rail line posed no safety risk or operational problems, the MBTA will begin replacing thousands of the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
US Senate race a snooze?
Dan Kennedy says that the special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat "may be over before it begins," thanks to Attorney General Martha Coakley's considerable advantages in […]