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What's the deal with Angelo Scaccia?
By adamg on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 5:21pm
Seems like the only time you ever hear of this guy, the august state rep from Hyde Park (and my small sliver of Roslindale) is when he manages to grind the legislature to a halt over some issue that doesn't involve his district at all (anybody remember how he tied up the disposition of the old Boston State Hospital for years?). This time: A liquor license for some supermarket in Westwood.
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Comments
As if it's any business of
As if it's any business of the fsckwits in the state legislature who sells booze where, provided that all the taxes are paid. California's screwed up in about a million ways, but at least they get their liquor laws right.
Rep. Scaccia...
... (as part of the BPL board) has fought the good fight on BPL leadership issues. Also pretty good on disability issues in the legislature. Also good on constituent services.
Rep. Scaccia
I can't tell you about the liquor license but I can tell you he was, IMO, on the wrong side of all of the Marriage Equality votes, voting to deny the rights of marriage to same-sex couples.
He's pretty conservative....
...on marriage-related issues.
No denying that.
Commend Rep Scaccia on this issue
I am glad he is holding this up. The selectmen in Westwood wrote this article in such a way that it is completely unethical. However, the town passed it by a margin of 38 votes because they are desperate for development and tax revenues. The town sold out existing businesses and gave an unfair competitive advantage to a business not even in Massachusetts yet. Rep. McMurtry and Sen. Walsh pushed it through. MONEY MONEY MONEY. Hold it up Rep Scaccia until it proves equal for all.
Scaccia was involved in a hairy ethical situation
involving tobacco lobbyists that never got much publicity and was apparently never resolved. He's apparently a committed homophobe, having joined the three or four democratic legislators who opposed repeal of the archaic 1913 marriage law. I'm not such a big fan of the guy, and would welcome a fresh face to the political fray should one ever emerge from the mean streets of Hyde Park or Rozzie.
Not just "some supermarket"...it's Wegmans!
It's not just "some supermarket"...it's Wegmans! I grew up in upstate NY and have been waiting for years for Wegmans to expand into MA. I had come to terms that mediocre grocery stores are a way in life in MA, but I was so excited to hear they are finally making the move...looks like those hopes might be stomped.
It would also bring great jobs to the area...Wegmans is consistently ranked one of the top companies to work for each year.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompani...
I realize I sound incredibly biased, but seriously, would people around here form Facebook groups called "I Heart Shaw's" or "Stop & Shop Fan Club"? They do for "Weggies"...
Market Basket fan club exists
See this earlier UHub post for links.
Wegmans Debate
Most people don't have a problem with Wegmans it is how the town went about getting this article passed. The article was to grant 1 license to a facility over 100,000 sq ft in a certain area. Basically the snobs on one side of town (including the 3 selectmen) do not want liquor near them but hey, put it in a massive development on the other side of town. The residents near Westwood Station just want equal treatment for all.
Let's not forget
That Roche Bros. is involved - they want their own Westwood liquor license, but don't want to transfer one of the three the state lets them have from another store.
At least, that's what I read in the story I linked to. I don't live in Westwood, drive through it from time to time, get on Amtrak there every once in awhile. I find the Westwood Station project interesting because it's so huge and all and is an example of transit-based building, but it won't be directly affecting my life at all.
That's what puzzles me about Scaccia's involvement - it's not like he represents the place. Imagine if McMurtry started holding up some Roche Bros. project in West Roxbury. Why does Scaccia care so much about Westwood all of a sudden? Oh, did I mention Roche Bros. is involved? :-).
I think this is why
I think I see the logic to the zoning issue. Westwood has always been a dry town (I believe it still is). So now this huge retail/transit/etc. development is going up in some corner of the town that townies never drive thru, and I mean never. Kind of like putting a dump right on the border of the next town. Why not allow a liquor license there? It seems to go along with all the other stuff they plan on putting there. Hell, put a strip joint there, it's practically in Dedham. ;-)
As for Roche Bros, I don't see much teeth to their argument (and I like RB). They already have their 3 licenses in the state - would they transfer one to the Islington store? Doubt it. I'm not sure what they're looking for.
No. WAY!
Oh man, now I am going to have to try and justify the logic of going all the way out to Westwood for my groceries.
I had a Wegman's next door to my college housing in Rochester, NY. I never knew how good I had it until I left.
wegmans in west roxbury
Maybe the rally cry should be to put Wegmans in WR on the VFW parkway. Imagine the traffic on VFW then? But at least the Weggies would be happy - the 'bury weggies.
I could agree
I could agree to this..but only if they carry the Boston Phoenix inside the doors. Hehe.
You underestimate the fierce loyalty of WR to Roche Bros.
And how overserved that area is with supermarkets right now, but in any case:
There used to be a Stop & Shop right on the VFW Parkway (more or less across from the Home Depot), which closed when the chain opened its mega-mega-mega-store just over the Dedham line. They could put it there. Or they could put it down by the Dedham line - there's plenty of commercial space one could probably assemble fairly easily, on either side of the road.
But you know where it would be REALLY cool? There's this huge underutilized piece of land right off the Neponset Valley Parkway in Readville (yep, the old Stop & Shop warehouse complex). I bet Mr. Scaccia would have no problems putting a supermarket right there :-).
But 'Bury Weggies. What a great name!
Two words
Omni Foods
WR Loyalty to RB
Definitely a strong loyalty there which is why I am surprised Sen. Walsh did not support RB since she also represents Westwood. NOPE. She dropped the ball on this one. BIG TIME.