Gotta love Representative Mike Moran’s comments at a recent House budget hearing. First he took on Governor Patrick’s proposal to privatize DCR’s hockey and skating rinks. Hard to believe Gov. Patrick is picking up that doomed effort from the Romney administration – has the Governor learned nothing from the past?
Rep. Moran then took on Harvard’s free use of DCR parkland for tailgating during football games. Why doesn’t DCR keep the rinks available for the public and charge Harvard for its use of our parkland? Why does Harvard get such a good deal while the rest of us could lose public skating rinks?
In one of the few (only?) memorable moments in a budget hearing, Rep. Moran observed, “I just don’t think we should be bending over for Harvard University. And if we are going to bend over for Harvard University, what are we getting for it?” Doesn’t that conjure up some interesting images – and, he’s asking the right questions. What are we getting for it?
Yeah, it’s about time someone asked these questions. I just hope that his colleagues feel the same way. Harvard has gotten away with plenty over the years…and the legislature hasn’t really done much to reign them in. So, I hope this is the start of something resembling oversight. No more giveaways to universities with billion dollah endowments!
I dont know much about Harvard situation, but It doesnt appear Rep. Moran or Zoom know much about DCR Rinks. Half of them (old DEM rinks) have had private management since 1992. Finneran snuck in a budget amendment in 1994 preventing the MDC rinks from getting same treatment to protect his patronage cronies. Guess what….the 19 old DEM rinks way out perform the 19 old MDC rinks. Longer operating hours, more and better ice time, better maintainance, capital improvements much happier users, etc. . Rates are capped, users ice time grandfathered and no state employees laid off. After 13 years most Dem. legislators have finally figured it out and are aware of the differences and are now going to go along with Patricks (and Welds, Celluci’s , Swift’s and Romney’s) proposal. Good government shouldnt be tossed because it was proposed by one party or another. Moran needs to do some more homework on the rinks!
Talk to some hockey parents in a community other than suburban. Rates are not capped at the previous rate; some groups have been priced out of the market or forced into overtime fundraising. And let’s not forget the concessions grab – a revenue stream that used to help fund youth hockey. The privateers kept it all for themselves.
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Oh, and public skating times are not a priority for the Privateers. People who “pay big” are. I don’t think this translates into equal access for a resource that was initially public…and there’s no oversight to make sure the Privateers are living up to the letter of their contracts, or even being good neighbors. I know of another community where the Privateer wouldn’t keep up its property, or keep parking restrictions. After months of being ignored, the neighbors reached out to the Senate President. Needless to say, the issues were finally resolved.
oh really?…..what rink are you talking about. Rinks in Travs district havent been “privatized” He did have BIG issues with DCR regarding Steriti rink.
I have nieces and nephews that skate in MDC/DCR hockey rinks. There were never any DEM rinks. DEM merged with MDC to create DCR under Governor Romney and those rinks are now DCR rinks. Not in every case, certainly not in most cases, did this result in “Longer operating hours, more and better ice time, better maintenance, capital improvements and much happier users.” The facts are that DCR privatized the most profitable rinks.
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Let’s face it, Republicans don’t want the government to provide urban recreation areas like swimming pools and hockey rinks. I’ve never got why. Maybe it’s because they are thinking something like “Don’t ‘these people’ have pools in their back yards and private rinks to skate in?”
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In my eyes that line of thinking has no end. If we get rid of publicly funded areas for families, why not get rid of public transportation? For that matter we could ditch the public school system and funnel any money into charter schools for the lucky few.
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The truth is that the arguments surrounding privatization are an illustration of the fundamental difference between what it means to be a Democrat and what it means to be a Republican. I am glad Rep. Moran is pointing that out to Sec. Bowles and Governor Patrick. Rep. Moran, keep up the good fight. We need our elected officials to remind people what it truly means to be a Democrat.
FACT, DCR has not privatized any rinks. 19 DEM rinks were privatized in 1992!!!! DEM and MDC were merged in 2004. Deval Patrick now wants to privatize the remaining rinks, wich are former MDC rinks. If you care about users, Devals initiatives and good government rather than nonsensical tired liberal cliche rhetoric, check out what has happened over the last 13 years on this issue then come back to this blog!
Ruppert,
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In typical conservative fashion you’ve tried confuse the argument with semantics and you’re factually inaccurate to boot!
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Let’s not digress. Let’s stick to the real issue. The issue is “privatization.” REPUBLICAN rhetoric tells us a free market will solve all of our problems and I can’t get behind that thinking.
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Yes, I get it. Corporations (i.e. the private sector) will provide open space, affordable housing, special needs programs, clean air, a minimum wage, the weekend, a 40 hour work week, public transportation, parks, etc. etc….
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If you buy the DEMOCRATIC rhetoric you believe that government should and must play a huge role in these areas.
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That’s it. It really is that simple. Again, thank you Rep. Moran for being a DEMOCRAT and sticking to core DEMOCRATIC values.
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mmG