While I have focused in my previous analysis on the systemic downsides of creating recall elections in Longmeadow, including the unpredictable downsides of making long term changes for short term political advantage, the case against the recall can also be made in purely political strategic terms that should be compelling to the present supporters of…
Can Eugene McCain, Dark Money Slots Parlor Impresario Turned Weed Dealer, Snooker Small Towns Rubes?
On December 27 the Globe’s Stephanie Ebbert wrote a fascinating piece about dark money practitioner Eugene McCain’s conversion from front for suspect gambling interests to upright small town weed dealer. What could go wrong, right Holyoke and Lee? To boil down Ms. Ebbert’s story, McCain is seeking pot licenses to operate in Lee and Holyoke…
Longmeadow’s STM Showdown: When You Fight Fire with Fire in Politics Everyone Gets Burned
This is the fifth recent post related to the controversy over the Longmeadow School Superintendent’s contract. To read the previous four, go here, here, here, and here. Longmeadow residents will meet in a Special Town Meeting (STM) this Thursday to decide the fate of a citizen petition calling for an amendment to the Town Charter…
Naming Rights: How Should the Media Describe Dark Money Groups?
One coverage issue the local media should be reconsidering is how to describe dark and gray money political advocacy groups – operations like Democrats for Education Reform, Massachusetts Parents United, Stand for Children, and the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. The number one issue citizens should know in considering the positions of such groups is, who is…
Massachusetts, We Are NOT #1 in Education
Charlie Baker, Deval Patrick, and Mitt Romney certainly have their differences, but extolling the virtues of public education in Massachusetts is not one of them. Understandably, each took great pride during their administrations in sharing with constituents, potential businesses, and the nation that “We’re #1!” in education. After all, US News & World Report says…
Hard Lessons: Longmeadow’s Education Pros Confront the School Committee
Last night the Longmeadow School Committee held a public discussion with the School Department’s entire 10-member administrative team that proved to me that the political firestorm ignited by the School Committee’s 4-3 vote not to renew the Superintendent’s contract has exacerbated a serious problem that is far bigger than the Superintendent. For my analysis of…
Emailgate Longmeadow Style: The Battle Over the Superintendent’s Fate Gets Uglier
The anger and frustration sparked by the Longmeadow School Committee’s controversial 4-3 vote against renewing the contract of the current Superintendent of Schools (which I previously wrote about HERE and HERE) flared up again this week with the public release of an email sent to the Chair of the School Committee from a town resident…
A Place for Adaptation in the Green New Deal
For the first time in nearly a decade, climate change has seemingly reemerged as a key component of the Democratic agenda thanks in large part to progressive newcomers’ promotion of the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal outlines a series of sweeping policy goals to combat the effects of climate change, including a vast…
MassFiscal Injects Voter Suppression into the Race for GOP Chair
“Never let a disgraceful idea die a quiet death” must be on the masthead over at the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance because it is ramping up its shameful voter suppression campaign. It poses this question for candidates for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party: will they bow to MassFiscal’s campaign to intimidate minorities or stand tall…
Who are the Special Interests Here?
While the 2016 statewide ballot question to expand charter schools failed to pass, the battle over charter schools continues to rage on in Massachusetts. Down here on the Southcoast, the Alma Del Mar Charter school in New Bedford is seeking to expand by adding two new schools and over 1,100 new charter school seats. The…