Co-President-elect Musk slams Massachusetts

It’s déjà vu all over again with local officials, this time led by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Trump officials once again battling over immigration, sanctuary cities, deportations, ICE arrests, non-local-cooperation etc. etc. It’s as if the Biden years never existed and we’re back where we left off in 2020. … But this time we now have Elon Musk blasting Massachusetts pols’ policies, saying we’re protecting child rapists, blah, blah, blah. … He sure is acting like a co-president these days

Musk Downfall Watch 

Speaking of the co-president, how long can Elon Musk last with a political master who doesn’t like sharing the limelight with others? I loved these lines from the NYT’s Maureen Dowd: “The first time that self-described “first buddy” Elon is on a magazine cover described as a younger, taller, better looking “co-president,” it will be over. Elon is probably already on thin ice because, like Trump, he has been getting standing ovations when he enters the Mar-a-Lago dining room.” … So the Musk Downfall Watch begins. 

Resistance exhaustion

They’re only now realizing that the “protests, petitions, hashtag campaigns or other tools of mass dissent” didn’t work in the first term. … 

Economic development, Massachusetts style

Gov. Maura Healey yesterday signed the $4 billion state economic development package that served as this year’s legislative Christmas Tree bill, stuffed with all sorts of goodies for favored interests, such as Ticketmaster and BlueHub Capital and trade unions etc. etc..

Western Mass.’s multibillion-dollar data center win

OK, I’ve been a little too cynical (though not that cynical) about some of the items in the giant economic development bill. In fact, there were some very good measures in in the legislation. Among them: a provision clearing the way for a massive new data-center project in Westfield, just west of Springfield, as the Globe’s Jon Chesto reports. … The tax incentives have been talked about since last spring.

Jettisoning MSNBC and Chrome

Here’s some more business news of general interest: Comcast is splitting off its cable channel holdings, such as its MSNBC, CNBC and the USA networks, and it could lead to MSNBC having to change its name. … The Drudge Report ran a hilarious photo of Rachel Maddow allegedly looking shocked by the spin-off news. … Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department wants to force Google to jettison its popular Chrome browser as part of any anti-trust settlement. … I assume Google is going to try to run out the Biden-administration clock, awaiting possible rescue by the incoming Trump administration.

‘The political mystery of Josh Kraft’

During the U.S. Senate race in 1962, Edward McCormack Jr. famously said that if Ted Kennedy’s last name was Moore, not Kennedy, his candidacy “would be a joke.” … I was thinking of that line while reading Joan Vennochi’s column on the political mystery of Josh Kraft, who’s the son of you-know-who and who’s considering a run for mayor. … 

Herring Pond Wampanoags win state recognition

No sooner do I finish reading this book on King Philip’s War than I read that Gov. Healey has signed an executive order granting the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe official state recognition, as WBUR reports. … It’s sort of hundreds of years late, but it’s deserved. … Btw: I liked the King Philip’s book by Daniel Mandell. It was a quick, informative read. The Wampanoags figured heavily in the war – and thus the book.

Frontline and NOVA writers vote to authorize strike

I love both shows. So this definitely caught my attention: PBS writers, including those at the locally produced NOVA and Frontline programs, are threatening to go on strike, the Globe reports.

Teacher strikes: Raise the fines!

Speaking of strikes, the Globe has an editorial this morning pointing out something we’ve also pointed out (see ‘Aren’t teacher strikes supposed to be illegal?’): the court fines slapped on teacher unions for holding illegal strikes are obviously not working. The fines need to be raised if they’re going to be truly effective in upholding current low. 

Condemned buildings trend?

First we learn, via Scott Van Voorhis, that severe structural problems have forced residents to move out of the 80-unit Riverview Condominiums in Cambridge. … Next we learn, via B&T’s Steve Adams, that an auction has been scheduled for two condemned residential high-rises in Revere. … A trend? Maybe. But the Revere woes sound more like a management problem than a structural problem. … Yes, the Revere buildings were actually condemned in August, but I only learned of the public-health action via Steve’s article.