INTRO TEXT the websites of federal, state, and municipal agencies and officials can serve as pipelines to the public, allowing citizens and government officials to interact in a convenient, cost-effective manner. But here in Massachusetts, these pipelines often flow in one direction, with citizen email inquiries either ignored or answered in haphazard fashion by government […]
Colman M. Herman
Posted inPolitics
Email exchanges reveal Wilkerson’s tenacity
the federal affidavits filed in conjunction with the bribery investigation of former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson reveal how relentless she could be in pursuing policies and projects of interest to her alleged benefactors. Nowhere is that more evident than in her dealings over the years with Gov. Deval Patrick and his staff, according to emails […]
Posted inPolitics
Rep Cabral to push public records bill
A key state lawmaker says he plans to push legislation this session addressing weaknesses in the state’s Public Records Law — and there appear to be plenty of them. Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford, the House chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, says he is drafting a bill that […]
Posted inPolitics
Paper tiger
INTRO TEXT A law designed to shine a bright light on the inner workings of state and local government in Massachusetts is instead leaving much of the bureaucracy in shadows, if not total darkness. A seven-month investigation by CommonWealth revealed that public officials at all levels of government frequently game the Massachusetts Public Records Law, […]