WHITHER WORCESTER? • BROADCAST NEWS • TAKING THE PUBLIC’S PULSE CommonWealthCommonWealthPOLITICS, IDEAS, AND CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTORSCONNECTORS PEOPLE WHO PUT TOGETHER THE PUZZLE OF CIVIC LIFE FALL 2004 $5.00 HANCOCK SCHOOL-FUNDING CASE: THREE ESSAYS ON EQUITY & REFORM Housing prices in the 495/MetroWest region are soaring. This makes Rhode Island. That’s bad for them and bad for their employers. it difficult for young families to move here, even if they grew up in home@last is a new initiative to raise awareness about the benefits the towns. It’s also hard for teachers, police officers and firefighters affordable housing can bring to the towns in the 495/MetroWest who work here to afford a home. Other employees in the area region. To learn more, call 617-742-0820 for our free brochure. often have to travel from as far away as New Hampshire and Or visit us on the web at www.chapa.org/home-at-last. home@ last Let’s make housing affordable home@last is a collaboration between the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership Inc. and the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts AA ChanceChance toto AchieveAchieve Their Dreams This year, more than 720 non-traditional adult learners who face barriers to academic success will have an opportunity to earn a college degree. Through the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project, GED graduates and adult diploma recipi- ents can enroll at one of 25 participating adult learning centers located across New England to take free college preparation courses and receive educational and career planning counseling.They leave the pro- gram with improved academic and study skills, such as writing basic research papers and taking effective notes. Best of all, they can register at one of 30 colleges and universities that partner with the program. Each year, the Project exceeds its goals: 60 percent complete the program; and 75 percent of these graduates go on to college. By linking Adult Basic Education to post-secondary education,the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project gives non-traditional adult learners a chance to enrich their own and their families’ lives. To learn more, contact Jessica Spohn, Project Director, New England Literacy Resource Center, at (617) 482-9485, ext. 513, or through e-mail at [email protected]. (The Project is funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation through the LiFELiNE initiative.) 1250 Hancock Street, Suite 205N • Quincy, MA 02169-4331 Tel. 781-348-4200 • Fax 781-348-4299 FALL 2004 CommonWealth 1 CommonWealth MassINC editor chairmen of the board Robert Keough Gloria Cordes Larson associate editors Peter Meade Michael Jonas, Robert David Sullivan board of directors art director Joseph D. Alviani Harold Hestnes Heather Kramer Hartshorn Ian Bowles Joanne Jaxtimer Trusted by the Andrew J. Calamare Jeffrey Jones design consultant working press since 1910 Heather P. Campion Tripp Jones Ken Silvia Kathleen Casavant Elaine Kamarck contributing writers Neil Chayet R.J. Lyman Mary Carey, Christopher Daly, Vincent Cipolla Paul Mattera Richard A. Hogarty, John E. 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Letters to the editor accepted by e-mail John Donato at [email protected]. The views expressed events and administrative manager FREE TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION in this publication are those of the authors Colleen Lynch and not necessarily those of MassINC's assistant outreach director To subscribe, or for more directors, advisors, or staff. Emily Wood information, call 781.899.9304 controller/it director The mission of MassINC is to develop a David Martin public agenda for Massachusetts that rennie center for education research promotes the growth and vitality of the mid- & policy dle class. We envision a growing, dynamic S. Paul Reville, Director The State House, Room 458 middle class as the cornerstone of a new Jennifer Candon, Assistant Director Boston, MA 02133 commonwealth in which every citizen can Celine Toomey Coggins, Research Director live the American Dream. 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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 National Grid nationalgridus.com FALL 2004 CommonWealth 3 It’s easy to put a smile on a member’s face when there’s already one on your own. Everyday, our employees make us one of the “Best Places to Work” in Boston. And we’d like to thank each and every one of them for their hard work, dedication and passion for putting our members first. ®Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 4 CommonWealth FALL 2004 contents Volume 9, Number 5 DEPARTMENTS 6 CORRESPONDENCE 9 INQUIRIES Democrats and Republicans try to set the bar for this fall’s legislative elections; Romney downplays job turnover and jousts with legislators 45 68 37 over economic development; munic- ipal governments use college intern- ships to snag future employees 17 WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK ARTICLES Republican congressional candidates try to get noticed by Bay State 45 WHITHER WORCESTER? 75 SYMPOSIUM: voters—and by their own party Following one development THE HANCOCK CASE By Shawn Zeller disappointment after another, Three viewpoints on the argument Worcester may be ready to that the state is still failing to spend 21 PERSPECTIVE embrace a “strong mayor” form enough to ensure equal education Massachusetts is a global leader in of government By Norma Shapiro, Robert M. innovation, but not in civic matters By Steven Jones-D’Agostino Costrell, and Mark Roosevelt By Kevin C. Peterson 54 THE CONNECTORS 93 THE BOOK CASE 26 STATE OF THE STATES People who know people are Jane Jacobs says that