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Oped: Better Government

American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
July 28, 2015

COMMENTARY: More is needed to fix the MBTA

Read this op-ed in The Patriot Ledger, the Brockton Enterprise, the Fall River Herald News, the Taunton Gazette, the Salem News, the Gloucester Times, and The MetroWest Daily News. The budget lawmakers sent to Gov. Charlie Baker includes important new powers to...
American Citizenship, Transportation
July 6, 2015

Boston Business Journal ViewPoint: MBTA reform spotlights arbitration issues

As the General Court deliberates on the budget and reforms at the state’s largest transit authority, please allow us to share key findings from the Institute’s review of 3,600 pages of Superior Court documents associated with the 2010-2014 MBTA interest arbitration process....
American Citizenship
April 23, 2015

Connaughton, Sivolella: Challenging the Legislature's Secrecy

By Mary Z. Connaughton and John Sivolella Guest Columnists This article originally appeard in the Milford Daily News. Read it in its entirety. Posted Apr. 19, 2015 at 7:13 AM There is a lot of justifiable talk about the need for government...
American Citizenship, Transportation
February 19, 2015

Pioneer in the News (February 2015): Fixing the MBTA

Boston Business Journal op-ed: ViewPoint: What will save the T? A state-appointed financial control board would be a start BNN News: What it will take to get the MBTA on Track CBS Boston: Free Commuter Rail Rides Frustrate Monthly Pass Holders Boston Herald: Carr: Break out...
American Citizenship
November 7, 2014

Boston Herald: Let’s put more light in sunshine law

By J. Patrick Brown and Mary Connaughton. This op-ed originally appeared in the Boston Herald on Oct. 30, 2014. As election day fast approaches, the fever pitch of coverage is a not-so-gentle reminder that it is our civic duty to learn as much...
American Citizenship, Opportunity
June 10, 2014

Boston Herald: New convention center math

This article was published in the Boston Herald on June 9, 2014. Author: Charles Chieppo Rarely is state government’s dysfunction on display more than in the waning days of a legislative session. This time around, exhibit A is the rush to approve...
American Citizenship
June 6, 2014

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Avoid fate of the Land of Lincoln

This op-ed appeared in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on June 5, 2014. Illinois is often considered a basket case when it comes to obligations for public pensions and retiree health care liabilities, but really how far is Massachusetts from a similar status?...
American Citizenship, Opportunity
April 11, 2014

WGBH News Commentary: Does Expanding The Convention Center Make Economic Sense?

By CHARLES CHIEPPO Date: April 10, 2014 Reasonable people can disagree about the wisdom of doubling the size of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC). But two things are indisputable: The expansion would not, as the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) claims,...
American Citizenship, Opportunity
April 11, 2014

Boston Herald: Atanasov: T’s ‘private’ pension board veers off track

Friday, April 11, 2014 Iliya Atanasov The MBTA Retirement Fund’s management has been aggressively spending taxpayers’ and retirees’ money to fend off attempts by the media and the Legislature to shine a light on its books. And the reason is becoming all...
American Citizenship
November 14, 2013

Boston Herald: State often keeps public in dark

Massachusetts performs dismally when it comes to government openness. Pending legislation filed by state Rep. Peter Kocot (D-Northampton) could begin to change that.