Results tagged “saldimasi”

• The arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. has sparked a media frenzy. The Cambridge police union defended the officer involved in the incident, while Herald columnist Peter Gelzinis accused Gates of "exploiting" this incident for a vague reason about a PBS special. Yvonne Abraham criticized Cambridge police in the Globe by actually using the word "dunderheaded," which may be accurate but is rarely used in public discourse. Gates is considering legal action and wants an apology. WCVB's Liz Brunner interviewed Gates on Tuesday and he explained his perspective on what happened, said the police report was fabricated and reiterated his call for an apology.

What's a guy gotta do to get in the State House these days? Apparently have about as many friends as you have Twitter followers. The official results of today's election to replace DiMasi show that 2190 of Aaron Michlewitz's pals elected him to the third district seat. Just 2747 people out of 28,646 registered voters cast ballots in the special election. If that kind of turnout keeps up, we kind of feel like we might have enough friends to give this politics stuff a go.

Yes, it's true. Deborah DiMasi, the wife of ex-House Speaker Sal DiMasi, actually had a TV show that was canceled by NECN to avoid any conflict of interest as the network covers the ongoing criminal case against her husband. DiMasi was indicted on Tuesday on several corruption charges. Other people apparently knew about the show, which apparently began in May of 2008 and was called "Open Book Club". In June of 2008, the Globe raised the potential ethical ramifications of the show, cohosted by DiMasi and Christy Scott Cashman.

• Harvard will endow a LGBT chair, possibly the first of its kind. [Globe]
• Beth Israel will honor Rep. Barney Frank and Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons at the 16th Annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Achievement Awards. [Cambridge Chronicle]
• Sal might get up to 20 years in prison. [Herald]

His allegedly creepy ways have caught up to him! Sal DiMasi, former Speaker of the House in Massachusetts, was indicted today for his role in landing a lucrative state contract for Cognos software. He was charged with conspiracy, honest services mail fraud, aiding and abetting, and honest services wire fraud. If the charges hold up in court, we'll be happy to see justice served, proving politicans aren't beyond the reach of the laws they help create.

Former Sal DiMasi adviser Daniel Toscano will receive immunity in exchange for his testimony on activities connected to DiMasi. Toscano is expected to testify about the actions of Richard Vitale, DiMasi's former accountant, and lobbyist Richard McDonough, among others. Anonymous sources suggest that Toscano wasn't squeaky clean himself, freely giving out raises and jobs and helping promote legislature while assisting the former speaker, but at least now he has immunity. DiMasi resigned from the house this January amid speculation that he received payments from lobbyists.

Does approving and building casinos guarantee new revenue? No. Ask Rhode Island.

• John Updike died. Bid him adieu. [NYT]
• Sal sank. Bid him good riddance. [Globe]
• Babies know best... even about careers. [Harvard Business]

Perhaps motivated by Dianne Wilkerson's weak defense of her money accumulation, House Speaker Sal DiMasi has announced that he will resign from the Legislature effective Tuesday (or tomorrow, according to the Herald). DiMasi had denied rumors about his resignation last Friday, and maintains that he now steps down with his head "held high." Right, because there's always good reason to resign if you've done nothing wrong. The Globe names possible successors Robert A. DeLeo and John Rogers, who's had a scandal of his own already. Wouldn't want to give power to anyone too pure. Update: DiMasi's resignation letter.

Sal DiMasi's accountant, Richard Vitale, has been indicted on charges of campaign finance and lobbying violations, a result of cozying up to ticket brokers seeking deregulation. A Suffolk County jury indicted Vitale this afternoon. Martin Weinberg is representing Vitale and affirms no wrongdoing. Vitale received $60,000 from the Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers. There have also been allegations of payments to Vitale's company by Cognos, a software company that obtained a state contract in 2007.

House Speaker Sal DiMasi, already caught up in a scandal over payments made to him and his staffers from a software company that obtained a state contract, has been painted a liar by the brush of the internet. DiMasi had previously claimed to have no knowledge of the contract, but the Globe has obtained emails from former Education Commissioner David Driscoll suggesting that DiMasi approved of the arrangement with software company Cognos. Driscoll's now the one in denial, claiming never to have met Cognos salesman Joseph Lally, whom he references in emails, nor to know why he had said that Cognos ranked higher than it actually did in comparison to other software vendors bidding on the contract. If only emails could jog memories.

Sal DiMasi failed to provide records requested by the State Ethics Committee, which has since filed a motion to force DiMasi's compliance. The requested documents likely relate to payments to DiMasi and cohorts from parties seeking to influence government contracts and legislation. The high-ranked House member apparently has not yet been caught on tape taking money from Cognos and other sources. DiMasi's accountant, Richard Vitale, must have other ways to hide the loot.

--Why does Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray have all this money in his coffers? Might the Herald be right in wondering if Deval Patrick will take a post in a potential Obama cabinet? [Boston Herald]

--The Herald followed up on the story that New England Patriot Nick Kaczur allegedly turned informant after getting busted with oxy. They stated the obvious--being an informant can put one in a dangerous position. [Boston Herald]

--So NOW Sal DiMasi wants to strike a deal on gambling? Guess we've learned one thing during the recent DiMasi stories. What happens in the State House stays in the State House. [Boston Herald]

--Sacre bleu! Beamer drivers like finding items at the town dump! [Boston Globe]

--Manholes are demanding attention! Two workers were injured in an explosion today in Quincy. [WBZ]

--Mayor Menino hops on a bike in honor of Bike Week. [Boston Globe]

As the reign of Sal DiMasi as house speaker appears to be in peril, Governor Deval Patrick isn't laughing at his nemesis. He's going out there and reviving the issue of bringing casinos to Massachusetts, which DiMasi squashed so recently. This morning, he brought up the issue again in front of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce.

--House speaker Sal DiMasi has put the Ethics Committee to the task of investigating the alleged threat against Rep. Jennifer Callahan. The words "State House" and "Ethics Committee" sound funny when put together, don't they? [Boston Globe]

If House speaker Sal DiMasi really wants to prove he is up to the task of managing this state and fend off those who want his crown, then he better crack down on the shenanigans at the State House. All ethical shadiness aside, yesterday a state rep said that another rep threatened her during the budget debate. Rep. Jennifer Callahan was behind a nurse staffing amendment, which apparently didn't please the other lawmaker:

Remember how we said yesterday that House speaker Sal DiMasi's free ride might be ending? Well, it came to a screeching halt, just as he was named the 2nd most powerful person in Boston. The Herald came out with a summary of potentially shady dealings in which those with ties to DiMasi benefitted.

--Boston is a city that plays fast and loose with traffic laws, but the city needs money, so that's about to stop. The City Council is considering increasing fines for jaywalking and actually enforcing the rules. [WCVB]

--Thanks to the recession we're not in, teens will have fewer summer jobs. And bored teens sometimes become restless teens whom no one wants in their yards. [Boston Globe]

Despite evidence to the contrary, we know that the State House is bigger than two men, more than just a turf battle between Governor Deval Patrick and Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi. For example: it also includes Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas Petrolati.

We feel an illogical sense of pride when our local politicians are covered in the national media. It validates our process somehow. Not to get carried away, but maybe one of these years a Massachusetts leader will even run for President! Perchance to dream.