Lawrence school receiver cuts central office staff by 30%

Savings go to schools

By Michael Jonas Elementary and Secondary Education 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

Two years ago, when Jeff Riley was put in charge of Lawrence’s failing school system under a new state law, he made a surprising declaration for someone who had just been handed broad authority over virtually every aspect of the district’s operation: He was not planning to use those powers as a state-appointed “receiver” to(...)

Health Care/ Politics

Leading the fight against e-cigarettes

For Susan Liss, the former top lobbyist for Massachusetts in the capital, the battle is personal

By Shawn Zeller National Politics 8 Comments Jan 15, 2014

When Susan Liss became the top lobbyist for Massachusetts in Washington in 2006, she had a million things to juggle, from the rollout of the state’s new health care law to the search for federal funds. But it was a tough personal time for such a big assignment: Her husband, Jeffrey Liss, a partner with(...)

Politics

The blue-red color divide in Massachusetts

Politically, Massachusetts is now 3 regions

By Steve Koczela Demographics, Elections 1 Comment Jan 15, 2014

On a national political map, Massachusetts is reliably blue, a Democratic stronghold. The congressional delegation is all Democrat, the State House is overwhelmingly Democrat, and every constitutional officer is a Democrat. While Republicans occasionally break through (Scott Brown’s US Senate victory in 2010 or the string of Republican governors elected from 1990 through 2002), the(...)

Economy/ Environment/ Transportation

Pumped over gas tax

By Jack Sullivan Energy, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

When the Massachusetts Legislature voted last year to raise the gas tax by 3 cents to 26.5 cents per gallon and allow the tax to rise automatically in future years by the rate of inflation, the idea was to find a way to ensure enough revenue to cover the state’s transportation maintenance and infrastructure costs(...)

Criminal Justice/ Politics

Clearing the cops

Do district attorneys rubber-stamp police use of deadly force?

By Jack Sullivan Civil and Constitutional Rights, Ethics and Open Government 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

FROM THE TINY TOWN of Colrain at the Vermont border to the siren-pierced streets of Boston, state and local police have shot and killed 73 people across Massachusetts over the last 12 years. The deadliest year was 2013, when 12 people were killed. Every completed killing investigation found the police were justified in using deadly(...)

Health Care

Healing health care

Do Bob Master and Rushika Fernandopulle have the cure for what ails American medicine?

By Michael Jonas 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

Through the fall, and on into winter, health care was everywhere in the news, with one story after another about problems with various aspects of the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. The one that seemed to capture all the woes with fitting digital-age symbolism was the virtual meltdown of the Obamacare website, the main(...)

Education

The change agent

With a bold plan to revamp the teacher hiring process, Boston’s interim school superintendent is doing a lot more than just keeping the seat warm

By Bruce Mohl Elementary and Secondary Education 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

John McDonough is the interim superintendent of the Boston Public Schools. He’s the anonymous guy who is supposed to keep the school bureaucracy at 26 Court Street running smoothly until Boston’s new mayor, Marty Walsh, can orchestrate the hiring of a new superintendent. McDonough looks the part. He’s got thinning white hair and is nearing(...)

Uncategorized

Public defender blues

The taxpayer tab for indigent defense keeps rising, but the lawyers who do the work are among the lowest paid in the country

By Gabrielle Gurley 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

Malden District Court is 50 shades of grim. The defendants in the packed courtroom—men and women, some young, most not—appear somber, resigned, or just plain petrified. The female judge whispers to attorneys. No one seems to know where the Spanish interpreter is, so the Portuguese interpreter does double duty. The court clerk yells out names(...)

Criminal Justice/ Politics

How the data were gathered

By Jack Sullivan Civil and Constitutional Rights, Ethics and Open Government 0 Comments Jan 15, 2014

It wasn’t easy assembling the data for this report. No one agency or office compiles a comprehensive list of instances when police use deadly force, so CommonWealth gathered the information from the state’s district attorneys, the State Police, state and federal court records, and the state Department of Public Health, which tracks all shooting injuries(...)

Economy

BRA lawyers don’t do eminent domain

By Colman M. Herman Growth and Development, Urban Affairs 1 Comment Jan 15, 2014

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has eight attorneys on staff, but apparently none of them are qualified to do eminent domain work. Records indicate the agency farms out the eminent domain work to James Masterman of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, who bills the BRA $385 an hour. On two cases, the agency paid the(...)