Early on in my first campaign for mayor, I realized I had to be open about my recovery from alcoholism. I had been working on addiction prevention and recovery issues for my entire 16 years in the State Legislature, and…
Category: Editorials
A Possible Harbinger
The aftermath of Hurricane Florence on the Carolinas is another wakeup call for our communities. Even though many preparations were made by local officials, there was still the loss of life and millions of dollars in damage. While the wind…
The Undoing of Johnny Jingles
Quarters are a dying breed. No one carries quarters around as much as they used to in the city due to the new technology that basically has taken over the parking meters. Those who use it love it. I still…
Don’t Trash Recycling. If We All Do Our Part, We Can Make It Work
People throughout Massachusetts are committed to recycling and want to do their part to protect our environment. But we may not always be aware that some things need to stay out of our curbside recycling bins. While we may think,…
Massachusetts Needs Gov Charlie Baker
With the state primary election now concluded, the ballot for the state election in November has been set, providing voters with the opportunity to see how the candidates match up for the various offices. Many of these contests feature either…
Back to School
September is one of my favorite months. The weather is getting cooler, football is back in season, and students like yourselves are heading back to school. You might not know it, but it takes a village to prepare for the…
Hot, Hot, Hot
News reports about the hot weather and all of the records for high and highest-low temperatures that have been set this month in our region have become so commonplace that it is all-too-easy to read the headlines and move on…
Sen John McCain
In an era when cynicism and a lack of faith in our political leaders and institutions is at an all-time high — the roots of which can be traced back to the 1960s and the subsequent Watergate scandal — Sen.…
Get Out and Vote
This Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, is primary election day across the state for both national and state offices. Although primary elections in Massachusetts generally are of little or no consequence because of the overwhelming Democratic voting enrollment and…
National Grid Lock-Out of Workers Did Not Have to Happen
Imagine your employer locked you out of your job, stopped paying you and canceled health insurance for you and your family all as a way to send a message: When you get desperate enough you’ll come back with fewer benefits…