Leaks in the State House

The best quote comes from Sal DiMasi as reported by Channel 5 - "It's the balcony where all the reporters are sitting, and so, therefore, we are used to the leaks coming from the reporters in the gallery." The statement, while chuckle worthy, isn't accurate on two counts. The reporters merely report on the leaks that come from the politicians themselves and the leaks reported on today are actually from the roof and not politicians. It's been a good June for discovering leaks that weren't already there. High humidity and days and days of rain have left much of the State saturated. Dribbles coming through roofs and developments of puddles in basements have been par for the course, especially for some of the older buildings and homes in the Boston area. The leak in the State House is threatening a work of art which adorns the wall near the reporters' gallery of the chamber. One of five historic murals, all painted by Albert Herter in 1942 has started to curl and peel away from the wall. If the State is to investigate the cause of the leaks it may require removal of a significant portion of the roof and relocation of the legislature while the search is on. Perhaps the Big Apple Circus could loan us the "Big Top" and the state house and senate could hold sessions on City Hall Plaza.

Photo: Pierre Lascott shows us the murals in the State House nearly obscured by the State Cod on Flickr.