Think Boston has fiscal problems? They’re nothing compared to what’s happening in Chicago, my long-ago stomping grounds. The city of Chicago’s projected budget deficit: $982 million. … The cause: unfunded pension liabilities. As in $35 billion in unfunded liabilities, in addition to tens of billions of dollars in various other debts. … As Andrew Biggs puts it at the NYT: “The word bankruptcy has been hanging over Chicago like a storm cloud about to burst.”
Month: December 2024
-
At least we’re not Chicago …
-
A Charlie Baker comeback? Not likely
Re a Charlie Baker comeback (WCVB and Globe): I’ll believe it when I see it. First, I think he likes making the big private-sector bucks (though I doubt he enjoys his current NCAA gig as much as he claims). Second, he’s a state government and executive branch/hands-on type of guy, not a U.S. Senate blowhard attending countless committee hearings and issuing press releases about dramatic letters he’s written to evil cabinet members, etc. etc. … And then there’s Ed Markey. Is Baker really going to be the latest pol to underestimate him? I do see some theoretical attractions of Baker possibly making a U.S. Senate bid, including Markey being 80 on election day 2026. But Baker himself would be 70 years old in 2026, so … I do think Baker would be a great fit for president of a local college. Let’s fan that rumor instead. You heard it here first!
-
The MAGA Civil War over H-1B Visas: It’s about race as well as jobs
The H-1B Visa program is actually the model of how the U.S. should handle immigration, with its annual set quotas and emphasis on profession-specific jobs, as opposed to the chaotic flood of illegal migrants across the southern border. But the very limited and organized H-1B program still isn’t enough for some MAGA types who are now revealing themselves as opponents of most all forms of immigration. At the Free Press, Joe Nocera has a good summary of the “MAGA Civil War” over immigration, a war now pitting Steve Bannon vs Elon Musk. Locally, the Globe is getting into the debate as well. …
But this isn’t just about jobs and work visas, as Rupa Subramanya makes clear, also at the Free Press. There’s a clear racial component at play. Before pronouncing ‘Aha! A typical leftist response,’ keep in mind Subramanya is a harsh critic of both the ‘Woke Left and Nativist Right’ when it comes to racially categorizing human beings. It’s not a both-sides-ism view. It’s a real problem. In this specific H-1B case, we happen to be seeing the right’s old-fashioned nativist sentiments oozing out of the argumentative crevices.
-
Remembering Jimmy Carter – and how he whupped Ted Kennedy’s ass in 1980
I usually associate Jimmy Carter with the historic Egypt-Israel peace treaty that Carter famously brokered in 1979. But leave it to Jon Keller to recall something many in deep-blue Massachusetts would prefer to forget: how Jimmy ‘I’ll Whup His Ass’ Carter whupped Ted Kennedy in the Democratic presidential primaries in 1980. … And he really did whup Kennedy, who totally underestimated Carter and overestimated his own appeal. … In other local coverage of the death of Jimmy Carter, from the Globe’s James Pindell: “How Jimmy Carter remade a New England institution and altered American politics in the process.” … And from NBC Boston: “Jimmy Carter’s unique connection to Mass., and how he sparked the craft beer industry.”
-
‘The Sudbury Fight: A Decisive Native American Victory in King Philip’s War’
After reading Daniel Mandell’s history of King Philip’s War (a definite thumbs-up recommendation), I was alerted to this great video about the rather bloody battle fought during the war in Sudbury, my hometown. In fact, I once lived on the very hill where the fight took place nearly 350 years ago. … The video was produced by local filmmaker and fellow history buff Andrew Rakich, a native of Wayland (which used to be part of Sudbury). Check out his website. He’s produced a lot of excellent work.
-
HB Weekend Review: Private dorms … ‘Unfair hit job’ … Moderna strikes again. … Jerod Mayo Firing Watch
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST:
New model for building and operating college dorms: contracting it out to private firms — B&T
Banker & Tradesman’s Steve Adams has an interesting piece on the fits-and-starts growth of so-called “private student housing,” in which higher-ed institutes team up with private developers to build and operate student dorms. … One concern of neighbors: “They are afraid it’s going to be ‘Animal House’ and they won’t be adequately managed and supervised.” … UMass-Boston and Northeastern have pioneered the trend in Boston. Among others, Tufts University is now proposing a similar dorm project in Medford. See story below.
‘Medford Mayor Objects to Tufts Dorm’ – B&T
It’s not the ‘private student housing’ model that bugs the mayor. It’s the height and size of the proposed Tufts dorm project. … Ten stories ? She has a point. They also look ugly.
.
POLITICS AND POLICY:
Healey calls Globe’s Steward Spotlight story an ‘unfair hit job’ and ‘pretty outrageous’ – MassterList
I missed this pre-Christmas piece by Jon Keller. … As Jon notes, you don’t often see Healey openly angry, or ‘wicked pissed,’ as he also puts it.
‘Boston on track this year for historic low murder count’ – WBUR
You won’t be hearing about this on Fox News, which has a vested business-model interest in portraying blue coastal cities as crime-ridden hell holes. …
‘Finding a home in a new land: How one Haitian migrants family defied the odds of secured a home of their own in Boston’ – Globe
This is a wonderful, inspiring story about one Haitian immigrant family’s journey to make it to America. … I must admit: I was bothered a bit by the public dollars involved, via the temporary housing and permanent subsidized housing, and how the word is out among immigrants at the border that Boston is a “place that would provide food and shelter and eventually a home.” But that’s a complaint that should be aimed at our lawmakers who set spending policies, not immigrants. … Gov. Healey is aware of the problem, fyi. ….
.
BUSINESS:
‘The year’s hottest Massachusetts stock? GE is in the name, and AI is the game’ – Globe
I never would have guessed, especially after the firm’s wind-blade fiasco earlier this year. … The Globe’s Jon Chesto has more on GE Vernova’s post-spinoff success
Coming in 2025: A cancer vaccine co-developed by Moderna? – Economist
In an Economist piece headlined ‘Cancer vaccines will have a pivotal moment in 2025,’ Natasha Loder writes of potentially historic FDA action next year regarding a ‘personalized vaccine,’ using mRNA technology, to treat melanoma, co-developed by Merck and Cambridge’s very own Moderna. … Yes, the same Moderna that famously developed the COVID vaccine. … Economist piece via John Ellis’s excellent News Item.
‘Who Will Take Over Samuel Adams After the King of Craft Beer? His Wife’ – WSJ
I kind of assumed this would be the case. But I guess Jim Koch wanted to make it official since Boston Beer is publicly traded. … The BBJ and the Globe have more on the Kochs’ succession plan.
‘Elon Musk hates Wikipedia, because of course he does’ – Media Nation
Dan Kennedy reports on Elon Musk’s latest obsession: Wikipedia. … I regularly make small contributions to Wikipedia. I made another one after reading Dan’s post. If you’re interested in doing the same, Dan has a donation link. … Btw: Dan also has a link to a USA Today piece on retired journalism professor Michelle Johnson’s journey to learn more about her Southern roots. I haven’t read it yet, but it looks good.
.
GENERAL NEWS:
‘Musk Doubles Down on Support for German Far-Right Party’ — NYT
Speaking of Musk, a friend emailed me the above story with the note: “Does Musk understand Germany history? Is the world’s richest person a neo-Nazi?” … Unfortunately, I think he does understand German history — and that’s why he supports them.
‘The year in Storrowing: 2024’ — Universal Hub
UH’s Adam Gaffin has own year-in-review piece. … Some of the headlines are typically hilarious.
‘North Korean troops experience mass casualties on Ukraine front’ – Yahoo News
The battle-hardened Ukrainian troops are apparently mauling North Korean troops in the Kursk region. … Still, all is not good for Ukraine in Kursk, AP reports.
.
SPORTS:
The Jerod Mayo Firing Watch
Local sports writers are showing no mercy after the Pats’ horrible drubbing yesterday. … Globe’s Chad Fin: “After leaving Drake Maye in the game, maybe Patriots coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t deserve a second year.” … Herald’s Andrew Callahan: “If Mike Vrabel wants the Patriots’ job, Robert Kraft should give it to him.” … MassLive’s Karen Guregian: “Hard to see Jerod Mayo recovering from the latest fiasco.” … My personal preference: Brian Flores. The Bears could have their eyes on him.
-
HB Week in Review: Lexington & Concord funding. … AI’s boom towns … New CCC director. … Apple Jacks creator, RIP
Note: I’m experimenting with various formats and subject lines for Hub Blog. The latest experiment: A week-in-review post, rather than trying to keep up with news every day or every other day, etc. Let me know what you think (jayfitzmedia@gmail). All content/format ideas are more than welcome. Thanks! — J.F.
OF PET-PEEVE INTEREST
‘Thousands of dollars for the 250th anniversary of battles of Lexington and Concord fail to pass Legislature, frustrating organizers’ – Globe
After spending hundreds of millions on migrant housing, lawmakers balk at a $325K earmark for festivities tied to the anniversary of arguably the most significant event in the commonwealth’s history. … The larger $20 million funding package for the statewide 250th celebration also failed to pass. … Lawmakers are still passing bills as the year-end session deadline looms.
POLITICS AND POLICY
‘Holliston town administrator agrees to top job at Cannabis Control Commission’ — GBH
No one can say he wasn’t warned. …
‘New data shows Mass.’s reliance on immigrants’ — BBJ
The real news here is in the story’s lede, not its headline: “Massachusetts has added more immigrants per capita than any other state other than Florida over the last four years.” …
Best political read of the week: ‘The Democratic Brand Is in the Toilet’ — NYT
This is one of the better Dem doom-and-gloom analysis pieces out there.
‘Mayor Wu, Boston Unity Soccer Partners sign lease for White Stadium’ — Boston 25
She’s tripling down. … The stadium’s cost is now estimated at $182 million-plus? Ridiculous. … Shirley Leung has more.
‘Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘not a sanctuary state’’ – Herald
More proof she’s a pragmatic progressive, not a doctrinaire progressive. … And yet more proof of her pragmaticism, via the Globe: “In 2025, Healey plans to work with Trump administration. It wasn’t always that way” …
BUSINESS
‘A.I, the Electricians and the Boom Towns of Central Washington’ — NYT
Reminds me of the recent fracking land rush in the Dakotas. … Here’s another AI story along the same economic-impact lines: “How AI could reshape the economic geography of America”
‘Steward’s In-house insurer asking judge to force failed hospital chain to pay up’ – Globe
This is bizarre all right. But in the funny-money world of health care, it’s not unusual for an entity to serve as both medical insurer and medical provider at the same time. Examples here and here. …
‘Apple Jacks creator, MIT genetics researcher dies on Christmas eve’ – Herald
I never knew there was a single inventor. William Thilly, RIP. …
‘Developers say they will soon file plans for 750 apartments at the old Channel 56 site in Dorchester’ – Universal Hub
And B&T has more on the planned mega-development on Morrisssey Boulevard.
‘From natural gas plant to clean energy hub: Eversource buys part of Mystic site’ — Globe
Was this also partly a pre-emptive move? The site sits next to where the Kraft Group wants to build a new soccer stadium for the New England Revolution.
‘In a rare kind of deal, a local credit union plans to acquire a bank’ – BBJ
It’s a man-bites-dog story in the local banking world …
Another restaurateur jumps into big-time development … – BBJ
Eric Papachristos, owner of the popular Saloniki Greek eateries and other restaurants in the area, has plans for a major mix-used development in his hometown of Weymouth. … He may yet be the next Sal Lupoli.
‘Wall St. Is Minting Easy Money From Risky Loans. What Could Go Wrong?’ — NYT
A lot of people are starting to get nervous about this new “private credit ” investment and lending scheme designed to get around regulatory restrictions and government oversight of banks. …
-
News of note: Dems ‘In the toilet’ … Local Starbucks strike … ‘Tale of depravity’
Note: I planned to post these items yesterday, but last-minute Christmas Eve errands and adult Egg Nog took precedence. Merry Christmas!
Best read of the week: ‘The Democratic Brand Is in the Toilet’ – NYT
This is one of the better Dem doom-and-gloom analysis pieces out there.
‘Teamsters president reveals how ‘arrogant’ VP Harris lost the party, and the vote’ – Herald
Dems lost rank-and-file union members long before Harris came around, but I get the arrogance part in general.
‘Boston Starbucks workers join nationwide union strike’ – WBUR
Here’s more on the nationwide action that was scheduled to end on Christmas Eve. … I wonder how much of this is tied to the education-levels of the average Starbucks worker, many of whom appear to be college-students or college-educated workers.
‘From natural gas plant to clean energy hub: Eversource buys part of Mystic site’ – Globe
Was this also a pre-emptive move? The site sits next to where the Kraft Group wants to build a new soccer stadium for the New England Revolution.
‘In a rare kind of deal, a local credit union plans to acquire a bank’ – BBJ
It’s a man-bites-dog story in the local banking world …
‘Back Bay Office Tower Construction Approved’ – B&T
A new office tower? In this market? … They’ve pulled the building permits, so I guess it’s true.
Another restaurateur jumps into big-time development … – BBJ
Eric Papachristos, owner of the popular Saloniki Greek eateries and other restaurants in the area, has plans for a major mix-used development in his hometown of Weymouth. … He may yet be the next Sal Lupoli.
‘Massachusetts State Police trooper suspended without pay for allegedly stealing golf balls’ – Herald
Another day, another State Police trooper controversy. … He actually accused of stealing more than just golf balls, but I loved the Herald headline. … The Worcester Telegram & Gazette had the story first.
‘A shocking tale of depravity, expertly told’ – Media Nation
Dan Kennedy heaps praise on the Globe’s two-part story (here and here) on the sad case of Sandra Birchmore … Dan calls the Globe pieces “a triumph of narrative journalism.”
‘Woman arrested after driving across police station lawn’ – WCVB
You have one guess as to why.
-
News of Note: Sledding war. … ‘Not a sanctuary state’ … Pension bonus … He’s back
‘Sledding war erupts in Wellesley’ – Universal Hub
This just in, via UH: “The Swellesley Report is filing dispatches from the front lines of a war that’s erupted in normally bucolic Wellesley between people who just want to do some sledding and a gardening group that is trying to keep them off a prime hill to protect the tulips and other plantings at the bottom of the hill.” …
Electric fencing to protect tulips? … State Rep. David Linksy is getting involved. …
‘Tsarnaev remains on death row after Biden commutes dozens of other sentences’ – NBC Boston
There would have been bi-partisan, nationwide uproar if his sentence had been commuted. …
‘Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘not a sanctuary state’’ – Herald
More proof she’s a pragmatic progressive, not a doctrinaire progressive. … And yet more proof of her pragmaticism, via the Globe: “In 2025, Healey plans to work with Trump administration. It wasn’t always that way” …
‘Tariffs on Canada would be ‘devastating’ for Massachusetts economy, Healey says’ – Herald
She’s right. Canada has historically been the Bay State’s top foreign trade partner. …
‘Congress Approves Full Social Security Benefits for Public Sector Retirees’ – NYT
This could impact tens of thousands of public-sector retirees in Massachusetts. …
‘The New Climate Gold Rush: Scrubbing Carbon from the Sky’ – NYT
Let’s hope the investments work out. … Al Gore comes across as such a killjoy, btw. But I suppose he’s right carbon-capture is not the total solution.
‘Archrival Buys Alexandria Labs in Kendall Square for $250M’ – B&T
Hmm. One is bailing. One is buying. …
‘Crackdown on Private Equity in Health Care Flops in State Houses’ – Bloomberg
Massachusetts and California are among the floppers. … Outright bans are not the way to go, as Gov. Healey says. But much tougher restrictions are needed.
‘How Liberal America Came to its Senses’ – The Atlantic
I wish this was true, but I’m not sure it is true. I.e., Jonathan Chait’s pronouncement that the “period of left-wing illiberalism that began about a decade ago seems to have drawn to a close.” … I think more traditional liberals/moderate-liberals have definitely begun pushing back against the modern progressive left’s doctrinaire views of the world, but that doesn’t mean their doctrinaire views and tactics are going away.
Nick Collins: ‘Why I opposed Mayor Wu’s tax proposal’ – Globe
Is he rubbing it in or being defensive? You decide. … I think it’s a little of both, tilting toward the latter.
Bruce Mohl is back – at the Globe – and Monica Tibbits-Nutt can’t be too happy
Bruce Mohl, the recently retired long-time editor of Commonwealth Beacon, is back with an op-ed at … the Globe? Well, it is his old stomping grounds. … Anyway, he’s calling Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt the “Mac Jones of the Healey administration.” … Ouch. …
-
‘Bezos needs to grow a pair of …’
Some friends and I recently traded a few emails about how Donald Trump is cracking down on the media via the owners’ other larger business interests and government contracts. Here’s what one of the emailers had to say, harking back to the Nixon era:
“The reaction of Attorney General John Mitchell, President Richard Nixon’s attorney general, when Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein spoke with him about a (Watergate) article the paper was about to publish: ‘Katie Graham’s gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if that’s published.’
But it didn’t work out that way. Read the link. It recounts how Nixon immediately focused on the Post’s television licenses as a way to retaliate.
“You gotta love the visuals. Wow! Even more, that the Washington Post published it. Without Graham’s express permission. And she supported both decisions.
“Bezos needs to grow a pair of tits.”
Sorry for the language, but if Katherine Graham could take it, Hub Blog and Hub Blog readers can take it.
Hub Blog 