PACKAGE DEAL:
If the Telegram & Gazette is going to end up in local hands as has been widely speculated, it’s first going to have to pass through someone else’s ownership. At least, that’s the indication from the New York Times Company and potential bidders for the Boston Globe. Word is the Times Co. is looking to sell the papers as a package, including their combined $59 million in pension liabilities – $8 million of which falls on the T&G. One potential bidder for the Globe told the paper last week that his group would most likely resell the Telegram to more interested buyers.
MCGOVERN TAKES IT TO THE STREETS: The battle for funds for streetscape improvements in the Canal District has been a long, slow haul. But Congressman Jim McGovern told a group of approximately 20 Worcester business leaders on Tuesday night that he expects federal stimulus money to come through for the improvements relatively soon. And he’s not mincing words about his prediction. “I will be disappointed and surprised if streetscape money doesn’t come through,” McGovern told the Canal District Business Association meeting held at Blackstone Tap. “This is the biggest push I’ve made. If it doesn’t come through, I’ll be awfully bullshit.” McGovern added that a decision by Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration on the $7.5 million request made by the city is expected “in the next month or two.” The city submitted a 72-page proposal for “shovel-ready” projects, including sidewalks, lighting and benches for the Green and Water Street neighborhood, including cross streets.
CANDY, UNSOLVED: Seven years after her murder, there has still been no action in the Candy Scola investigation. The case remains open, with no word from the Worcester DA or the Plymouth DA, who took control of the case, on whether an indictment will ever come down. A Plymouth DA spokeswoman didn’t return a call for comment.
HOTTEST TICKET: The mayor’s race – quiet just three weeks ago – is suddenly where the action is. The latest intrigue apparently came when Councilor Gary Rosen, set to make an announcement about his mayoral intentions on Wednesday afternoon, after this paper went to press, scheduled a press conference for City Hall. But someone in City Hall didn’t approve of the political mixing with the official, and banned Rosen’s press conference from inside the building. That came a few weeks after Rosen was allegedly temporarily prohibited from handing out keys to the city by current mayor Konnie Lukes.
KUMBAYA KOUNCIL: City Manager Michael O’Brien’s annual evaluation turned into a surprising love fest on Tuesday night, with councilors saying nothing more critical than asking him to delegate more, or questioning if the city could survive without him. A visiting stranger would have thought O’Brien was a step short of FDR. The “low” score came from Councilor Rick Rushton, who gave him a 4 out of 5, calling it a “B++.” There was love from even the least likely of sources: Mayor Konnie Lukes, who famously opposed O’Brien’s candidacy and the process that saw him appointed. She said O’Brien had “exceeded my expectations.” Even Rushton, expected to be the most critical, had few concerns, mostly limited to establishing a better sense of purpose and improving communication all around. “[You have] an incredible body of work this year,” he gushed.
I LOVE YOU, MAN: It was a bit of an unexpected but welcome twist for O’Brien, who had learned the week before that his traditional evaluation forms were being tweaked to decrease the importance of the raw numbers, and increase the focus on straight narrative reviews. O’Brien was nervous heading into the evaluation, but was understandably gracious afterward, thanking everyone from his cabinet, to each individual city worker who came to the meeting. It was also a huge dichotomous split from the more depressed feeling privately expressed by many City Hall employees, who anticipate a coming round of job cuts and continued fiscal crises.
THIRD TIME’S A CHARM?: Plans to fill the ground floor of the Union Station parking garage have hit a major snag: namely, no one wants to move in. For the second straight time, the city’s Request for Proposals for retail tenants in the space garnered no bids. That lack of interest mirrors the initial proposal in early 2008, which was also met with silence. The retail space was originally heralded as a key component of the redevelopment of the garage, one that was supposed to anchor the Canal District and tie in Union Station to the neighborhood.
