It is disappointing to see Governor Deval Patrick's first term get off to such a rough start. After an uproar over the Democrat's opulent spending on office furniture, a suspicious telephone call during which Patrick offered himself as a character reference for a company subject to Massachusetts state regulation, and the announcement of his wife's worsening depression, the new executive is now facing charges of putting the welfare of administration insiders before that of the Commonwealth.
Somerville and Cambridge lawmakers, in addition to community advocates, have reacted with outrage and surprise to a House Bill that Patrick filed last Wednesday which challenges a ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts. Patrick's bill expedites a development project known as NorthPoint which would eventually span the jurisdictions of Cambridge, Charlestown and Somerville, but the governor would do well to listen to concerns of area constituents before speeding ahead with construction.
The SJC, along with legislators and citizens, are rightly concerned that the NorthPoint project could pose significant environmental and safety concerns. The proposed building area is on a former tideland, and a planned move of the Lechmere T station would place a 6- to 8-lane highway between Cambridge citizens and public transportation, according to Jamie Chisholm, an aide to Cambridge Vice Mayor and Democrat Tim Toomey.
And then there is the concern that two current members of the Patrick administration were formerly involved in the NorthPoint project. Gregory Bialecki, now the state permitting chief, used to work as the lead attorney for NorthPoint, and Dan O'Connell, the housing and economic development director on the governor's staff, formerly helped lead the NorthPoint team for the Spaulding & Slye Colliers real estate company.
Patrick's bill would absolve developers of accountability for public safety. Where is the best interest of citizens in this sort of governing? Deval Patrick's rash actions in this case appear to be heavily influenced by personal connections. If he does not realize how shady his push for this project appears, Patrick should take a crash course in public relations.
With the apprehension of community members and the whiff of an insider deal in the air, there seems to be no reason for Patrick to rush ahead with development. In fact, we urge the governor to slow down, listen to citizens' complaints, and walk quickly away from yet another burgeoning gaffe.
The NorthPoint development, after all, seems like a great project. Office, retail, lab, housing and park space are all planned out for a desolate 45 acres of old rail yards and industrial space. What could ruin this blueprint is Patrick's overzealous and slightly suspicious challenge of the courts.
The state could sink billions of dollars into NorthPoint. Legislators and citizens have a right to know that the money will be spent carefully and on an investment which will satisfy the largest sector of the population.
Unfortunately, Deval Patrick has had quite a few disappointments in his three-month-young administration. He needs to prove to Massachusetts citizens that they did not make a mistake in entrusting the governor's office to a man with modest political experience. Listening to the citizens of the state would be a good place to start.
