Deval Patrick

State of emergency at noon; T shuts at 3:30 p.m.

adamg — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:14:33 +0000

Gov. Patrick's holding off on shutting roads, though.

Patrick tax plan DOA, but it's a start

adamg — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:52:42 +0000

The Outraged Liberal ponders the governor's plan to increase the income tax but cut the sales tax:

As a practical matter, the proposal was dead on arrival. But it will no doubt launch a loud and raucous debate about the quality of life and services in Massachusetts and our neighbors. That alone would be debate worth having -- and may have been an underlying goal of Deval's Dream Speech.

Time for an increase in the state income tax?

adamg — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:25:04 +0000

The Globe reports Gov. Patrick will propose an increase in the income-tax rate to pay for improvements to our transportation and education systems, in his state-of-the-state address tonight.

Is $10 billion enough?

adamg — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:15:54 +0000

The Globe reports on a proposal by state officials to spend an extra $10 billion over the next decade to keep our roads and public-transit systems from collapsing. Naturally, we're talking new taxes to pay for it all.

Read the plan yourself.

Highlights of Governor Patrick's press conference

riggssm — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:04:04 +0000

Maybe Adam blew away. Anyways, here's highlights from the press conference Governor Patrick just gave at MEMA headquarters.

Governor Patrick has asked all schools across the Commonwealth to close (especially along coastal communities).
All state non-essential employees are to stay home
Encouraged private employers to close
HOV lane on SE Xway will be reserved for emergency providers tomorrow
MBTA will be operating normal service (as they're able ...)
200 National Guard are here now, with additional 800 expected by morning.
Evacuation decisions are town by town, block by block (based on topography).
Fall River, Newbury, Weymouth have voluntary evacuation centers
at 1830 MEMA director will speak again with Governor Patrick

Emergency, emergency, everybody to get from street!

adamg — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:56:17 +0000

Gov. Patrick declared a state of emergency in advance of Sandy's arrival sometime tomorrow. If something can be tied down, tie it down or bring it inside - including Halloween decorations. Stock up on emergency supplies and first-aid stuff, get cash (in case ATMs go down) and brace and hunker down like nobody's business.

In Boston, police Supt. William Evans urged everybody to stay home and stay off the roads once the storm hits, both so drivers stay safe and so they keep from blocking police, fire and EMT crews racing to emergencies through roads that could already be blocked by downed wires and trees.

Patrick slashes at Romney, urges Dems to grow a spine

adamg — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:35:03 +0000

Complete text of Deval Patrick's speech at the Democratic convention:

Mitt Romney talks a lot about all the things he's fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn't one of them.

Uber wins: State clears road for online-based livery service

adamg — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:38:49 +0000

The state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, which oversees the now infamous standards division, said today the division will issue an operating certificate to Uber now that it has learned a national standards body is evaluating GPS-based metering systems like the one Uber uses.

The office's statement came just a couple of hours after Gov. Patrick's spokesman vowed to get Uber back in the state's good graces, a couple weeks after the division had ruled Uber's GPS system illegal - following a sting operation set up by the city of Cambridge.

Patrick says he'll veto 'Stand Your Ground' bill if it gets to him

adamg — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:28:32 +0000

Associated Press reports.

Failed Cambridge rail line as metaphor for state inaction on MBTA financial crisis

adamg — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:23:06 +0000

Remember when the state bought an old CSX freight line through Cambridge and dumped some money into repairs and then announced, oopsies, it wasn't going to be running commuter trains to North Station over it after all? Cambridge Day does:

Despite being based only across the river in Boston, the administration doesn’t seem to understand mass transit or Cambridge much at all.

Maybe there was a problem on the Mattapan Line

adamg — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:19:57 +0000

Several hundred people, including Mayor Menino, attended an MBTA service cut/fare hike meeting at the BPL in Copley Square tonight. Michael Ratty snapped a photo of one of the people wondering where Gov. Patrick was.

Patrick finally breaks silence on Thomas affair

adamg — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:30 +0000

Expresses his sadness over Tim Thomas. At least now you know.

Governor signs casino/slots bill and, naturally, somebody promptly sues

adamg — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:46:04 +0000

The Globe reports a developer upset the law gives preference for a casino in the southeastern part of the state barely waited for Deval Patrick's signature to dry before filing a federal lawsuit.

Not so fast with that Copley Place skyscraper, bubs

adamg — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:02:06 +0000

The Globe reports a planned 47-story addition to Copley Place has critics roiling.

Judiciary v. Patrick

adamg — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:09:02 +0000

On Red Mass. Group, David Whelan wonders why state judges only launched their protest against cuts in their budget the day after the governor signed the budget:

The problem isn't so much that the courts will close, but I find it disturbing (and confusing) that the "state's top judges" and the Patrick administration are having this discussion a day after the budget was signed.

Joint statement by Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland and Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan