As Mayor Thomas Menino prepares for life after the throne, his crown could become somewhat tarnished as the piñata that is the Boston Redevelopment Authority continues to take a near-daily beating, with all roads leading back to Hizzoner.
Since late summer, there have been stories of favored developers and Menino insiders getting approval for projects while other outsiders have waited months, even years, to get a shovel in the ground. Then yesterday, the Boston Globe ran a huge enterprise piece that shows not only are friends of Tom getting the green light with breakneck speed, they’re also getting millions of dollars in relief in tax and linkage payments that other developers have to pay in full.
On top of that, the piece, written by Sean P. Murphy, documented that the BRA has used many of the fees intended for affordable housing and to fund some of the city’s homeless programs on salaries, conferences, and other areas not related to affordable housing.
The Globe report showed the BRA’s board to be fairly toothless, rubber-stamping project after project placed before them with nary a contrary word spoken or allowed.
“A more engaged board would serve the city well,” said former BRA head John Palmieri. “A larger, more representative board of seven or nine members that included civic leaders, senior executives of the financial services and business community, and council representation, would … encourage the kind of healthy debate that improves the decision-making process.”
That the BRA is an autonomous behemoth is news to few. Over the last couple years, CommonWealth has taken a look at some of the BRA’s actions, including a perpetual fee on condos that is the gift that keeps on giving to the agency as well as the little known Boston Local Development Corp., the BRA creation which doles out loans to select corporations and nonprofits.
The authority seems to be tone-deaf to all the criticism, approving a multitude of high-profile, high-dollar projects just weeks before the transition to the new Walsh administration. Of the BRA’s hastily-scheduled January 2 board meeting, the Boston Herald says, “Nothing good can come of this.”
It was fashionable during the preliminary and general election to berate the BRA, with now Mayor-elect Marty Walsh promising to dismantle the beast and open access to the public and all developers, music, no doubt, to the ears of folks such as Don Chiofaro.
But Walsh, a former labor leader who covets the jobs that development brings, has walked back his campaign rhetoric, saying he’ll bide his time before revamping the agency.
“”If there’s going to be changes they are going to be well thought out and it’s going to be a collaboration with the business community to make sure that people feel comfortable,” he said. “There’s no way that I want to discourage development.”
It looks like those who hailed the demise of the BRA had best put their hopes on hold. But that won’t stop the dirt being dug for projects from hitting Menino on his way out the door.
–JACK SULLIVAN
BEACON HILL
The state Department of Transitional Assistance can’t find thousands of food stamp recipients, prompting a stern letter from the USDA.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan is coming under fire for renovating his office and other administration offices while the construction of two new handicapped-accessible bathrooms and other safety-related upgrades to City Hall languish.
Wareham selectmen have voted to freeze discretionary spending and implement other austerity measures to appease the Department of Revenue, which is not satisfied with the town’s fiscal structure.
The Boston City Council takes the first step toward seizing control from the state of the distribution of liquor licenses in Boston on a 12-1 vote. (The move toward self-determination was apparently too much for Southie councilor — and would-be council president — Bill Linehan, the lone dissenting voice.)
CASINOS
Springfield businessman Paul Picknelly, a minority owner of the MGM Springfield, will do very well if MGM gets the western Massachusetts license.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
The Globe‘s Noah Bierman talks to a feisty Elizabeth Warren about her first year in office.
Slate looks at Rep. Darrell Issa‘s busy fishing boat, and finds it empty.
ELECTIONS
Kimberly Atkins argues that the White House will find no Obamacare backup from terrified Democratic lawmakers in 2014.
Peter Gelzinis unloads on Scott Brown: “Now, he’s taking that vacant smile and beguiling indecision across the border where all our old, white and angry tax refugees have fled.”
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
Using Massachusetts as its prime example, Time explains why casinos are becoming like landfills to many communities — wanted but not located anywhere near them. That doesn’t hold true for Fall River, apparently, where Mayor Will Flanagan is eager to host a casino and where Foxwoods, after being rebuffed by Milford voters (see Time reference above), apparently has now set its sights.
Boston doesn’t rank among the cities where renters pay a high percentage of their income in rent, but Springfield comes in at No. 64 on the list, where nearly two-thirds of the population pays more than 38 percent of their gross income in rent, Governing reports.
Shoppers heading to brick and mortar stores in Massachusetts this holiday season got a little more assurance as state officials report more than 99 percent of retailers are in compliance with pricing laws.
EDUCATION
Alcohol and drug abuse has risen dramatically at Curry College in Milton, though school officials are downplaying the numbers they report to the federal government.
HEALTH CARE
A pilot study at Boston Medical Center has dramatically cut the number of patient monitors sounding on a unit, potentially providing a national model for addressing a problem known as “alarm fatigue” that is blamed for dozen of patient deaths in the country each year.
The New Republic‘s Jonathan Cohn explains why fears are overblown of an insurance market “death spiral” should healthier, younger people not sign up for coverage under Obamacare in quite as large numbers as their share of the adult population.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll tells the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce a proposed natural gas-fired power plant in her town is needed both by her community and the region. Marblehead is the home of the plant’s biggest opponent, Rep. Lori Ehrlich, the Salem News reports.
Ever wonder what happens to dried out Christmas trees in Provincetown? Some of them go to New Bedford.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
A serial drunk driver from Medford keeps avoiding jail time despite violations of his probation conditions, the Salem News reports.
Roberta Blute, a former state Senate candidate and the ex-wife of former US representative Peter Blute signs a plea agreement in a federal tax evasion case, the Telegram & Gazette reports.
Former House Speaker Sal DiMasi petitions the Supreme Court for a new trial.
The Foxy Lady strip club in Brockton is busted for peddling counterfeit wares — shirts with unlicensed sports logos on them, not the dancers’ enhancements.
PASSINGS
Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Rodriguez, 19, of Fairhaven, killed in action in Afghanistan earlier this month, is remembered.
The Download will be on holiday hiatus beginning Tuesday, Dec. 24, and returning Thursday, Jan. 2.
