Fighting Corporate Welfare, In All Its Guises

We are concerned, deeeeeeply concerned, about the allegations concerning improprieties in the valuation of land under the new Yankee Stadium. Improprieties that may have given the Yankees the ability to skirt IRS regulations in issuing bonds to build the new stadium. We look forward to a thorough investigation.

Add comment September 18th, 2008

On the Brain Drain and Reville

A reader makes the point that if S. Paul Reville is arguing that there are many Horace Mann Charters available, then he is making an argument against his own attempt to start a new line of readiness schools. The reader asks:

If districts were going to take up the new [readiness] schools challenge, why haven’t more explored or attempted Horace Mann schools? When we study all of the reasons why district’s haven’t pursued them, why does anyone think that readiness schools will fare any better?

Great point. No one in the administration has ever answered this, nor has anyone explained why the administration did not simply push for more Horace Mann schools. Secretary Reville, look back in the side mirror. The wheel has come off the axle… The education reform bus is veering off the road.

Add comment September 18th, 2008

Brain Drain - Is Reville Serious?

After the Ideas Section piece in the Globe on Sunday by Jim Peyser, and the editorial by the Globe on Monday, the Governor is feeling pretty isolated on charters. Barack Obama is for them. Mayors in New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, Newark, and many other cities are for them. Democrats are coming around on this issue because they know that for city school districts, they are not willing to wait another 5 years, and certainly not another generation for change.

S. Paul Reville, Massachusetts Secretary of Education, is not for charters; and with the pace at which we have seen change under his leadership, he seems to be willing to wait for change. Certainly his statements that if Readiness Schools do not work that then and only then would they push charters, and that he is willing to consider a moratorium on charters reveal his true sentiments. Similarly, he has come out for pilots, saying they are proven, whereas he believes charters are not. We support pilots because they have done well; but we also support charters because they have done even better. Not a data guy, that S. Paul Reville.

How about this statement, which he knows is a misrepresentation, from WBUR’s report today on the Brain Drain, which has led many talented charter folks to opt for calmer waters:

But when you look at the facts we have only slightly more than half of the possible number charters that are available have been utilized thus far.

Nice sleight of hand. There are caps on the percentage of a district’s budget that can go to charters, on the number of students in a district that can go to charters, and more. Caps will prevent major charter school growth in our major urban districts, where students need them the most. Can anyone take the Secretary seriously at this point?

Monica Brady-Myerov notes correctly that:

While there is space for more charter schools in suburban districts, it’s in the urban areas where there’s more demand, and they are at or near the cap. The debate over the cap on charter schools has come back into focus because Governor Deval Patrick did not include lifting it in his 10 year education plan.

Add comment September 18th, 2008

Howie Carr Assignment Desk

Will he be able to resist writing about the 1,290 voters from the Fourth Middlesex District who decided to spend their valuable time on Tuesday voting for Jim Marzilli? I think not.

Add comment September 17th, 2008

Can you forge the Governor’s signature and get away with it?

Kelly Timilty, occasional attendee at Governor’s Council meetings, stands accused of doing just that. Multiple media reports allege that she sent out a mailer with a picture of her and the Governor, which included a letter of endorsement over the Governor’s signature (Globe article and mailer copy is here).

The Patrick campaigns states that this was not authorized. Now, I’ve seen numerous mix-ups in the past where campaigns have erroneously added another politician’s name to a list of endorsees. But this seems to rise to something far greater and more deliberate. She’s being accused of forging (or at least appropriating) the sitting Governor’s signature.

To add to the intrigue, the Globe quotes a remorseful father of the candidate:

But her father, Joseph Timility, a former state senator and Boston city councilor, said putting the governor’s signature onto the postcard was “a terrible error.”

“It was a terrible mistake, an error which we apologize for,” he said. “I can’t say strongly enough that the signature on that document is an error and a mistake. For that we will apologize to the governor.”

While State House News (sorry, subscription required) quotes the unrepentant brother of the candidate:

Asked about the allegations, Greg Timilty said the governor “fully endorsed” his sister and was aware that the campaign was going to use the picture of them together in a mailing, with several pictures getting taken at the time. “No mix-up, it was pretty clear,” he said. “I was under the assumption he was fully aware that he was endorsing.” He added: “This is news to me on Election Day and poor timing. But that’s our statement.”

Add comment September 17th, 2008

Watch this space

Greg Bialecki, Undersecretary for Business Development, has taken on the monumental task of reforming zoning. He pulled together an all-star task force that has been meeting for almost two years. I’ve blogged about his effort before.

Word is that he’s now circulating a draft bill internally with the administration, and that he’ll release it for public review later this week. Watch this space for comments.

Add comment September 16th, 2008

Immobile HOT Lanes Right Under Our Noses

Know what HOT lanes are? They are high occupancy toll lanes that generate toll revenues alongside free (and frequently more congested) lanes. Critics call them ‘Lexus Lanes’ but at least one recent study suggests they are more equitable across income brackets than other funding approaches.

Given our risk aversion here in MA, I’m skeptical that we will try the concept out anytime soon (despite having some great potential, given the dearth of ridership on our HOV lanes).

So, I was interested to hear a radio ad for Massport’s Parking Passport Gold program. How is this program any different from a HOT lane (beyond the fact that it’s for parking, wiseguy).

Add comment September 15th, 2008

Metro Portion of Turnpike on Negative Credit Watch

Missed this last week — Fitch Ratings put the Metro portion of the Mass Turnpike on negative credit watch, citing the financial and fiscal pressures their finances are under. It’s not unexpected, but not a good sign.

Add comment September 15th, 2008

Breaking News — EOT Projects Police Detail Savings

I think I’ve got a scoop here. Careful inspection of the EOT website reveals a freshly posted analysis of potential savings from reform of police details — $5.7m to $7.2m this fiscal year and expected to rise in future years, as spending increases.

Add comment September 11th, 2008

Another winner from the GSE mess

I noted earlier that Obama’s campaign avoided some unpleasantness but kicking Jim Johnson (former Fannie Mae CEO) off the VP vetting team.

Another man with exquisite timing is Eugene McQuade, the former President and CFO of Fleet Bank (then briefly President of Bank of America after the merger). He was slated to be the CEO of Freddie Mac in 2007, when he abruptly left the bank and eventually ended up at Merrill Lynch.

Given that Dick Syron, the departing CEO of Freddie Mac (and former CEO of local powerhouse Thermo Electron, is suffering from pretty rough criticism right now, Mr. McQuade’s timing looks pretty good.

Add comment September 11th, 2008