You’d be hard-pressed to find another state law and initiative that has been botched the way the rollout of the casino gambling law has been. From voters negating lawmakers’ intent by rejecting casinos in their midst to a headless Gaming Commission making decisions on the most important license in the state, the process may loosely […]
CommonWealth Staff
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Previews of Probation attractions
The opening statements of the prosecutors and defense attorneys in the federal corruption trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two of his top aides offered a tantalizing preview of coming attractions. Assistant US Attorney Fred Wyshak laid out his theory that O’Brien was operating a criminal enterprise that swapped jobs and promotions for […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Boston’s inspectional disservice
The recent Globe Spotlight Team series “Shadow Campus” painted a devastating and detailed picture of the scummy world of Boston’s apartment rental market catering to the thousands of college students who pour into the city each year. From rat-infested apartments with mold growing on the walls to illegal units crammed dangerously into basements or other […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
State GOP getting rolled by its own boulder
Kirsten Hughes must, at times, feel like King Sisyphus. Though Hughes, the chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, has never been accused of being deceitful like the Corinthian ruler of Greek mythology, she must have done something to be tasked with pushing an enormous boulder up Beacon Hill, only to watch it roll back down, […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Beacon Hill’s oyster runaround
Richard Cook is a fisherman who wants to build an oyster farm in Mashpee. His farm is in danger, not because he can’t get the right permits, which he can, but because he’s unwittingly stumbled into a legislative street fight. Cook’s oyster farm is up against a familiar Beacon Hill cocktail: wealthy people with powerful […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Colleges forced to confront sexual assaults
At the end of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an unidentified Mass.gov contractor tweeted, “Sexual assault is always avoidable.” After a torrent of criticism, Gov. Deval Patrick labeled the message a “dumb mistake” and Geoff Kula, the director of Mass.gov, quickly apologized. Yet the tweet reflects a common misperception: The blame for rape or sexual […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Baker camp warming to idea of primary face-off with Fisher
Back in March, former governor Bill Weld was arguing that Charlie Baker, the onetime Weld aide and presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee, had nothing to fear in a potential Republican primary matchup against Mark Fisher. Now, it looks like Weld will get the chance to prove himself right. The Globe reports today that officials within the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The GOP’s demographic challenge
Republicans nationally have been licking their chops over the prospects of midterm election gains, with doubts about the Affordable Care Act the lead card the GOP will play in many races. But however bright the short-term outlook for the party might be, without a major reworking of Republican positions and platform planks the long-term picture […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Lantigua takes on Devers
The colorful and controversial William Lantigua made it official: He intends to run for his old House seat representing Lawrence as an independent. He still has to submit 150 voter signatures by Tuesday, but that shouldn’t be a big hurdle for a man who has been a fixture in Lawrence politics as mayor and state […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
For Walsh, two strikes on transparency
Marty Walsh was elected Boston’s first new mayor in 20 years on a platform that included a vow to increase transparency in City Hall. But on two important issues that have surfaced early in his tenure, Walsh is proving to be far less transparent than Tom Menino. The most recent issue centers on diversity in […]