Category: Boston,

State Police troopers had quota system for tickets, officials allege

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Boston,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Federal prosecutors say troopers from a troubled State Police unit had a quota system for issuing tickets to motorists, a practice that state courts have deemed unconstitutional and agency officials have repeatedly denied exists.

Members of the now-disbanded Troop E were expected to issue at least eight citations during their shifts under a specialized overtime program, which dozens of troopers allegedly abused to collect fraudulent overtime, according to prosecutors.

…“Repeated failures to meet this quota often resulted in a trooper being blocked from receiving such overtime opportunities.”

…Criminal justice and legal experts told the Globe that quotas are unconstitutional in Massachusetts, citing a landmark 2005 state appellate court decision regarding Newton police.

“The Appeals Court was very, very clear that nobody should be making the decision to issue a ticket but the cop out there on a case-by-case basis,” said Boston-based attorney Peter Elikann. “Any kind of quota would interfere with the police officer’s judgment.”

Officials at the US Attorney’s and Massachusetts Attorney General’s offices declined to comment. Each cited their ongoing probes into overtime abuse.

State Police officials have repeatedly denied that any quota system exists. 

…Those troopers — roughly one-third of Troop E’s members — are accused of bilking taxpayers out of tens of thousands of dollars in 2016 alone, submitting bogus traffic citations, filing for no-show shifts, and taking steps to hide their allegedly illegal activity.

State Police troopers had quota system for tickets, officials allege – The Boston Globe

“In his 32 years in policing, Kyes said he has never come across a department with [a ticket quota].”  <—– Ahem, Cough. Liar. Bold-faced lies like this is why officers of the law have zero credibility. Someone who point out to this gentleman that outside of the court system a lie told by an officer in uniform is not magically converted into and treated as truth.

If Rosa Parks rode a bus in Boston today, she’d see nearly the same segregation she fought

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Infrastructure and Transportation,, Money, Class, and Poverty,, Race,Leave a comment

If Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Boston today, she wouldn’t see black and white sections; she’d see a dysfunctional system that is disproportionately failing the low-income people — largely people of color and immigrants — whose livelihoods depend on it.

…Even though white and minority riders use the bus system in roughly equal numbers, differences in reliability and frequency of service on routes that serve mostly black and mostly white riders effectively steal more than a week and a half of work [from riders who are not white]— 3 percent of a person’s annual productivity, skimmed right off the top.

…“These studies are replicated around the nation. It’s one of the greatest transportation injustices,” said Julian Agyeman, a professor of urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University.

…Only 19 of the T’s 176 bus routes offer frequent, all-day service. And 63 percent of area residents are not served by any of those 19 routes, which mostly run along major corridors and feed big job centers like Longwood or Kendall Square.

If Rosa Parks rode a bus in Boston today, she’d see nearly the same segregation she fought – The Boston Globe

sigh…

Boston Public Schools to boot older students from high school

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Schools,Leave a comment

School district officials this year are taking a hard-line approach in enforcing a two-decade-old policy that calls for ejecting students from school on their 22nd birthday — an edict they had routinely ignored in the past if overage students were on track to graduate.

The reversal is causing an uproar among students and teachers, who argue strict adherence is creating an unnecessary barrier for students — many of whom have already overcome steep odds — to earn a diploma, go to college, and build a better life for themselves in America.

In a school system that has been trying for years to boost graduation rates, even knocking on dropouts’ doors to lure them back to class, teachers say rigid enforcement of the age limit just a few months before commencement is nonsensical.

…A big issue at the time was that students were not told of the policy before they enrolled. This year, instead of amending the policy as teachers and administrators had hoped, the School Department informed students about the policy during registration. Students nearing the age of 22 were given the choice of enrolling — under the condition they wouldn’t be able to finish — or entering a part-time adult program.

BPS to boot older students from high school – The Boston Globe

sigh…

Dodgers Pitching Coach Wants Mean Red Sox Fans To Be Nicer To His Pitchers

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt wanted the fans at Fenway Park to stop taunting his pitcher. Whining about it in public after a resounding 8-4 loss was probably not the best way to silence Red Sox fans before Game 2 of the World Series.

…A reporter for WBZ (CBS Boston) stated:

Goodness gracious! People watching a baseball player at a baseball game! The horror. That’s quite the complaint from someone who has been in baseball for four decades.

the joy of sox: Dodgers Pitching Coach Wants Mean Red Sox Fans To Be Nicer To His Pitchers

Losah.

Rick Honeycutt whines about Fenway faithful taunting Clayton Kershaw

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

The 6-foot-4 left-hander, whose once-blistering fastball has been reduced to 90 mph slop, was mocked with chants of “Keeer-shaaww, Keer-shaaww” as he tried to navigate out of jams in the first and third frames.

…“Brutal. Pretty brutal,” Honeycutt said. “What I don’t understand is why baseball allows it. You’ve got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.”

That is an amazing quote that embodies how overmatched the Dodgers appeared to be Tuesday. Honeycutt has been around Major League Baseball for four decades, and he’s whining about the crowd being too close to his pitchers in the bullpen? Talk about a loser’s lament.

Rick Honeycutt complains about Fenway Park crowd taunting Clayton Kershaw | WEEI

What, did he expect opposing fans to gush all over themselves ad give out participation trophies to his pitchers?

Dodgers pitching coach says bullpens at Fenway Park are “brutal”

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Dodgers pitching coach says bullpens at Fenway Park are “brutal” | SI.com

Weh, weh, weh….
So you’re not hard and grown enough to can’t take it?
So called professionals can’t do their job  when actual fans support their team?
Why don’t you folks take your soft asses back to the left coast then, princess? Leave pro sports to the actual adults.

The Real Story – Kathrine Switzer – Marathon Woman

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Chick Stuff,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Everyone was cursing, most loudly Arnie, the mild-mannered sweetheart, who proclaimed he was going to Kill That Jock Semple Who Should Know Better Being a Runner Himself! Tom really looked as if steam was coming out of his ears; he was still in full bombastic mode, and each curse of his was accompanied by another jab or a challenging look over his shoulder. John looked bewildered. I felt puke-ish, afraid that we’d seriously hurt this guy Jock Semple, and maybe we should stop and get it sorted out. But it was clear Jock was some kind of official—in fact, he turned out to be the race manager—and he was out of control. Now he’s hurt, we’re in trouble, and we’re going to get arrested. That was how scared I felt, as well as deeply humiliated, and for just a tiny moment, I wondered if I should step off the course. I did not want to mess up this prestigious race. But the thought was only a flicker. I knew if I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the capability to run 26-plus miles. If I quit, everybody would say it was a publicity stunt. If I quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward. If I quit, I’d never run Boston. If I quit, Jock Semple and all those like him would win. My fear and humiliation turned to anger.

The Real Story – Kathrine Switzer – Marathon Woman

A true f’ing shero.

One of the Strongest Progressives in Congress Is Facing a Primary Challenger Invoking Identity and Change.

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,Leave a comment

“Congressman Mike Capuano has been a fine, progressive member of Congress, but having an experienced progressive like Ayanna Pressley on the ballot is an unmissable opportunity for Massachusetts to both ensure a leading woman of color represents its only majority-minority district and add the voice of just one person of color to New England’s currently all-white congressional delegation,” said Jim Dean, chair for Democracy for America, in a statement.

…Capuano suggested in a one debate that his identity was less important than his track record of working on behalf of a diverse community. “There is a majority of no one in this district,” said Capuano. “No race, no ethnicity, no religion, nothing. So anybody who sits in this seat has to be able to work with people that don’t look like them, people that don’t think like them, people that don’t worship like them — and has to be able to bring people together.”

One of the Strongest Progressives in Congress Is Facing a Primary Challenger Invoking Identity and Change. Will She Unseat Him?

hmmm

Fox and Friends Book the Wrong Guest

On By peanutgallerynhIn Boston,, Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,, Race,Leave a comment

“Fox and Friends First” hosts …thought they were talking to Ann Kirkpatrick — a Democratic congressional candidate from Arizona they believed would speak in favor of the policies of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

…Schmitt and Mele kicked off the conversation on live television by asking L’Italien — believing she was Kirkpatrick — “why you do support ICE?”

…“Good morning, I’m actually here to speak directly to Donald Trump. I feel that what’s happening at the border is wrong,” said L’Italien, who is running for the Third Congressional District seat in the US House of Representatives. “I believe that separating kids from their parents is illegal and inhumane.”
L’Italien went on to identify herself, making it clear that the hosts weren’t speaking to Kirkpatrick, before continuing her message.

In response to questions about whether he had deceived the Fox show, [L’Italien’s campaign] told the Globe: “We showed the exact same commitment to truth, fairness, and accuracy that Fox News always has.”

…Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick, the guest Fox had hoped to have on air, distanced herself from the station’s narrative, and said in a tweet that she is opposed to Trump’s immigration policies.

“This morning, Fox News and other outlets put out false reports on my position on ICE, without a single word from me,” she said.

Error or deception? Mass. congressional candidate hoodwinks Fox News show – The Boston Globe

More hidden Mass State Police pay surfaces. This time? Millions in perks

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Boston,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Troop F is locked in public battle with Boston police over who patrols — and thus earns lucrative overtime and detail shifts — in the Seaport District. Troop E is at the center of an overtime scandal, in which at least 30 troopers allegedly put in for shifts they didn’t work. Meanwhile, there have been a handful of other controversies and major turnover in the top ranks.

…Under fire for failing to disclose pay data, state officials last week quietly released new State Police figures, revealing more than $3.4 million in additional payouts over four years.

Most, if not all, of the money appears tied to a single, generous perk: Troop F members got a $40 per diem for driving their own cars to work.

Troopers cashed in on the opportunity, earning up to $13,000 each year in per diems alone, and adding to salaries that included five- and six-figure overtime payouts.

…For State Police, the commuting perk is just one of a handful of benefits outlined in the State Police Association of Massachusetts contract, which covers most employees.

For example, staffers earn $75 a week if they commute at least 75 miles each way to work. They get a monthly $62.50 clothing stipend if they wear “civilian clothing” 10 days or more each month. And employees who work a five-day workweek get an extra 17 days off per year, in order to be fair to those who work four days on duty, then get two days off.

More hidden Mass State Police pay surfaces. This time: millions in perks – The Boston Globe

hmmm