Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

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  • Former DiMasi [Deputy — corrected] Chief of Staff [- and Communications Director] David Guarino gives a brief budget-week preview from his new digs at MS&L. News hits Friday @ 5pm, he says.
  • via David G., watch for Terry Murray's speech Wed. @ the Boston Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps some tea leaves as to transport reform are to be had.
  • From SHNS, nice brief explanation of the differences between the House and Senate versions of the transport bill vis-a-vis the MBTA:

    Gov. Deval Patrick wanted an agency, the Senate crafted a freestanding authority, and the bill the House will likely vote on April 7 forges a sort of hybrid, granting the administration tremendous sway over the new agency, entitled the Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Authority, but under tightly defined board appointment guidelines.

    “Tremendous sway” is important.

  • And here, eury13 outlines how the House's structure might put the T in a stronger position for funds vs. car-roads.
  • Mixed feelings in Medford over the Green Line extension. Unsurprisingly, the folks who actually would want to go into Boston are psyched; the folks who have been there for a long time without needing the T are not psyched. Me? I'm psyched, though I actually do hope Hillside does not become the next Davis. I tend to doubt it would, but when you change how you get to a neighborhood, there's the possibility that you change who's in the neighborhood, too.
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  2. That’s what I’ve heard critics say, too. It’s hard to reply to that without knowing what that means specifically. There are lots of T stops throughout the region that look nothing like Davis Square. Most of Hillside is zoned residential except along Boston Ave. Maybe you mean that the demographic mix will change. Frankly that’s been happening throughout this part of Medford for years. Maybe that, more than anything is what upsets people the most, the influx of younger and more urban-oriented people.

    • Medford Hillside won’t become Davis.  Davis is in Somerville, and somewhat close to Medford, so it’s no surprise people think of it first when thinking about the impact of a new subway stop.  But the Red Line is a lot different from the Green Line — just look at the trains.  More importantly, look at the stops.  The Green Line stops all over residential neighborhoods in Brookline, Newton, Allston, Brighton, etc., and those neighbrhoods have hardly been transformed.  The Green Line moves fewer people, and has a much smaller impact.  Still, for transportation-starved Somerville and Medford, it will have a wonderful impact on air quality, quality of life, etc. And it will make the region more competitive by helping people get to and from work faster.

  3. Thanks for the props Charlie and BMG. But small correction – I was not Chief of Staff to the Speaker. I was one of two deputy chiefs of staff, I was also communications director.

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