Blue Mass Group

Cross Posted from MassChange

First off, let me say this: I am not an expert on education issues or on school funding issues.  Rather, my thoughts on this issue are formed in the context of race relations, fairness and fostering innovation.

Here at BMG, there has been a lot of discussion about charter schools in this thread from last week and this thread from today.  Pablo, a poster over at BMG, appears to be an expert in this field and knows far more about it than I.  Read his stuff because he throws actual numbers around and knows what he’s talking about.

But here’s my question: if we expand charter schools, won’t the most underserved communities benefit?  More bluntly: won’t black and latino children living in Boston and other cities have more educational opportunities than they otherwise would?  Isn’t it racist NOT to offer those communities new and innovative educational outlets after they have been systematically ignored, denied and oppressed for a century?  Don’t we want to give not just hope but real opportunity, real chances for success?

We’re not making as much scratch as we used to: Though it is now nearly five years since the end of the 2001 recession, Massachusetts continues to struggle economically. Despite gains since the end of 2003, employment in Massachusetts is still lower today than at either the beginning or the end of that recession; indeed, the Commonwealth is one of only six states for which this is the case. Perhaps even worse, wages in Massachusetts, after adjusting for inflation, have dropped across the labor force over the last few years. In particular, the median hourly wage – that is, the wage earned by the typical Massachusetts worker – fell close to 5 percent between 2003 and 2005, the largest decline in the country during that period and the largest two-year decline in Massachusetts in at least twenty-five years. Thanks to the Herald for the steer. Well, but we must be doing something right, since median incomes are down only just a little, compared to the rest of the country: Well, that certainly is a relief!

Kerry Healey has a new ad out featuring Ron Bersani, the grandfather of drunk-driving victim Melanie Powell, the namesake of Melanie’s Law. It’s a good spot. Bersani, who has been visible with the campaign since the beginning, speaks simply and with dignity in support of Kerry Healey with regard to Melanie’s Bill, which was indeed obstructed by some serious legislative clowning by certain members of the legislature who shall remain namel — Ah, what the hell, it was O’Flaherty. Eugene O’Flaherty of Chelsea, if you must know. Then he hid in Portugal with some other reps. But I digress … So anyhoo, there’s a Healey-vs.-lege narrative going on in the ad. For this case especially, that’s not bad strategy, but the problem is that although she did indeed speak up, I’ll bet no one remembers Kerry Healey from the whole contretemps. I’ll bet that this is the first that most people have heard that Kerry Healey had a significant role in passing that or any other law. It feels a little like Forrest Gump: Wow, she was there, too? (And at the Big Dig when Mitt was wielding the mighty magic marker! And at the health care signing! And with [...]

Note (by David): the Boston Magazine “poll” is a totally unscientific internet question in which any respondent can vote as often as he/she likes.  BMG recommends use for entertainment purposes only! Who will you vote for in the Democratic primary? Total Votes: 11065 Chris Gabrieli  64% (7095) Deval Patrick  33% (3706) Tom Reilly  2% (197) None of the above  1% (67)

To the Dunderheads who stuck Deval Patrick signs around the Bourne Rotary, next time don’t stick the signs on the grass inside the Rotary.  The inside circle is state land. Aside from the fact that on the Cape unmanned signs stuck by the side of the road are viewed as little more than litter, whoever stuck the signs in the rotary is violating campaign law.

From discussions here over the last few days, it looks like neither of the candidates running for Secretary of State has a lot of support.  I probably will vote for Bonifaz because Galvin does not seem to think voters matter given his “reluctance” to debate.  (By the way, I love the chicken and the clucking sounds.)  Bonifaz has a great background in voters’ rights, but he seems way too focused on just that one issue.  I really wish there was another candidate.  (Sorry, I will not vote for Green Party candidate.)  I cannnot believe that there is no one else in Massachusetts running for this office.  It is so important to good government and to protecting the general public. Can anyone suggest a write-in candidate?  I know Cam Kerry was going to run and then dropped out when Galvin decided to run again. 

The results are in and should be posted in the Lowell Sun tomorrow. I spoke with the paper last night and it looks as though the momentum continues for Gabrieli in this latest poll. 43%  Chris Gabrieli 38% Deval Patrick 19% Tom Reilly

If you’ll forgive me, I’m going to repeat much of what I’ve said in comments previously on the tax issues.  To wit:

In the eagerness to enact good policy, a number of activists are willing to embrace bad politics, particularly on the issue of income taxes. 

  In a year of national and statewide trends favorable to Democrats, it stuns me that leftist activists are touting an extreme stance on the issue that Republicans enjoy their greatest advantage.  This strikes me not as a “best plan“, but rather a way to once again blow the election.  Taxes are Democrats’ Achilles Heel in every election, and settling on an extreme position on this issue gives up a lot of ground right up front. 

And before we go further, dismiss any silly idea that we’re pretty much guaranteed to win against Healey.  Sure, her ratings are poor right now, but as David pointed out, O’Brien had a 12 point lead over Romney in October 2002.

Second in an occasional series of posts on candidates challenging Democratic incumbents in the legislature. Deirdre Healy, a lawyer, long-time environmentalist, and long-time Worcester resident, is challenging incumbent Senator Harriette Chandler in the Sept. 19 primary for the First Worcester District.  Healy is one of only two primary challengers to incumbent Senators whose names will be appearing on the ballot (Dianne Wilkerson, of course, also faces challengers in an all-sticker primary).  She has focused her campaign heavily on energy and environmental issues – as good a focus as any, IMHO.  Here are her answers to the questions we emailed her: What are the issues that are most important to you? The CENTRAL issue facing Massachusetts is our energy supply! A clean renewable energy source for Massachusetts residents is a must. Using wind/solar farms (preferably brightfields), microgeneration with solar panels, and small turbines on people’s homes should be the norm. I believe that tackling our energy issues will be the starting point for most other important issues – from our health, our quality of life, economic development, jobs and cost savings. When ISO-NE is warning of potential power outages starting next year, it’s crucial to conserve and encourage fuel efficiency. In [...]

Rather than calling for a potentially harmful reduction in the very reasonable income tax, Deval Patrick has called for local aid increases conditioned on better planning, including cuts to property taxes and local fees.  His proposal may not be so sexy as a fraction of a percent dropped from income taxes, but it presents far less of a gamble and is potentially far more effective.  At the least Patrick is guaranteeing that cities and towns are getting the dollars they need and not consistently voting for budget overrides just to stay open for business.

Then again, property tax cuts may actually be sexy, because they allow for tangible reductions in the exorbitant cost of Massachusetts living, and would help to bring in businesses and residents.  A 5% income tax rate – pretty average among most states – that drains the treasury and/or only happens gradually doesn’t have the draw of a coordinated effort to lower cost of living and doing business town by town.