BETTING THE FARM What really happened in Middleborough POLITICS, IDEAS & CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL MELTDOWN Tough choices for cities and towns Boston’s top cop The no-news generation PLUS – Political imposters FALL 2007 $5.00 Focusing on the Future Delivering energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly. National Grid meets the energy delivery needs of approximately 3.4 million customers in the northeastern U.S. through our delivery companies in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. We also transmit electricity across 9,000 miles of high-voltage circuits in New England and New York and are at the forefront of improving electricity markets for the benefit of customers. At National Grid, we’re focusing on the future. NYSE Symbol: NGG nationalgrid.com nationalgr d The healthier you are the better .we feel. Nothing affects our collective quality of life quite like our health. Which is why Blue Cross Blue Shield is working hard to improve the health of not just our members, but also the broader community. Through initiatives like Jump Up & Go, which focuses on childhood obesity, to supporting Mayor Menino’s initiative to address racial disparities in healthcare, we’ve found that real progress can be made when we work together as a community. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. FALL 2007 CommonWealth 1 CommonWealth acting editor Michael Jonas [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 124 managing editor Robert David Sullivan [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 121 staff writer/issuesource.org coordinator Gabrielle Gurley [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 142 art director Heather Hartshorn contributing writers Mary Carey, Christopher Daly, Dave Denison, Ray Hainer, Richard A. Hogarty, James V. Horrigan, Dan Kennedy, Jeffrey Klineman, Neil Miller, Mark Murphy, Laura Pappano, Robert Preer, REALtalk is a lively series about Phil Primack, B.J. Roche, Ralph Whitehead Jr., Katharine Whittemore what young professionals and washington correspondent Shawn Zeller working adults can do to make a proofreader Jessica Murphy editorial advisors Mickey Edwards, Ed Fouhy, Alex S. Jones, living, raise a family, and build Mary Jo Meisner, Ellen Ruppel Shell, Alan Wolfe publisher Gregory Torres stronger communities for us all. [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 103 Join in the discussion and become sponsorship and advertising Rob Zaccardi [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 101 one of the more than 1,000 circulation Emily Wood [email protected] | 617.742.6800 ext. 109 participants involved in RealTalk. intern Jon MacMillan For information about upcoming RealTalk programs—including our > Full contents, as well as online exclusives, are available at www.massinc.org networking events—log on to www.massinc.org. CommonWealth (ISSN pending) is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC), 18 Tremont St., Suite 1120, Boston, MA 02108. Telephone: 617-742-6800 ext. 109, fax: 617-589-0929. Volume 12, Number 4, Fall 2007. Third Class postage paid at Holliston, MA. To subscribe to CommonWealth, become a Friend of MassINC for $50 per PRESENTED BY: year and receive discounts on MassINC research reports and invitations to MassINC and ONEin3 Boston and MassINC forums and events. 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MassINC’s work is published for educational purposes and should not be construed as an attempt to influence any election or legislative action. 2 CommonWealth FALL 2007 The CITIZENS’CIRCLE MassINC’s Citizens’ Circle brings together people who care about the future of Massachusetts. The generosity of our Citizens’ Circle members has a powerful impact on every aspect of our work. We are pleased to extend significant benefits, including invitations to our private Newsmaker series, to those who join with a minimum annual contribution of $1,000. Anonymous (6) Gerard F. Doherty Dennis J. Kearney Randy Peeler Tom & Marsha Alperin Roger D. Donoghue Michael B. Keating, Esq. Hilary Pennington & Joseph D. Alviani & Tim Duncan Dennis M. Kelleher Brian Bosworth Elizabeth Bell Stengel William & Laura Eaton William E. Kelly Finley H. Perry, Jr. Joel B. Alvord Philip J. Edmundson Tom Kershaw Daniel A. Phillips Carol & Howard Anderson Susan & William Elsbree Julie & Mitchell Kertzman Diana C. 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DeWolfe Joseph O’Donnell For information on joining The Citizens’ Circle, contact MassINC at (617) 742-6800 ext. 101 FALL 2007 CommonWealth 3 chairmen of the board Gloria Cordes Larson Peter Meade board of directors Gregory Torres, ex officio Tripp Jones David Begelfer Elaine Kamarck INSURANCE INVESTMENTS RETIREMENT Andrew J. Calamare R.J. Lyman Heather P. Campion Paul Mattera Neil Chayet Kristen McCormack Geri Denterlein Melvin B. Miller Mark Erlich Hilary C. Pennington David H. Feinberg Deirdre Phillips Robert B. Fraser Michael E. Porter C. Jeffrey Grogan Mark E. Robinson Steve Grossman Charles S. Rodgers Raymond Hammond Alan D. Solomont Harold Hestnes Celia Wcislo John Hancock JHAD512 Joanne Jaxtimer David C. Weinstein Jeffrey Jones 2007 © honorary Mitchell Kertzman, founding chairman John C. Rennie, in memoriam president Gregory Torres vice president John Schneider director of program development Katherine S. McHugh director of strategic partnerships Rob Zaccardi director of communications Michael McWilliams research director Dana Ansel programs & policy associate Eric McLean-Shinaman outreach manager Emily Wood director of finance & administration David Martin office manager & development assistant Caitlin Schwager It ’s simply part of who we are. > For information about upcoming MassINC events, transcripts of past events, and an archive of Working for the community. Supporting a wide range of current and past MassINC research reports, visit local and regional educational, cultural and charitable our Web site at www.massinc.org. A complete programs. And, ensuring that those most in need will version of our 2007 report Reconnecting always have a dream, and a Massachusetts Gateway Cities: Lessons Learned promise, for the future. and an