Massachusetts transparency headlines
This article is a list of transparency related news from Massachusetts.
Massachusetts think tank reveals new transparency websites 2011-08-31 13:58:03
MassOpenBooks.org is an online tool where visitors can get data on state disbursements, state employees’ salaries and retiree pensions.
The site is sponsored by the Shamie Center for Better Government at Pioneer Institute.
It's a reference and discussion for people to find out what state employees’ make, who is getting what kind of pension and payments made by government agencies to businesses and people. It will be possible to obtain data from specific people or departments, or make comparisons.
The data used in this website are public records obtained from the State Comptroller’s Office and the State Retirement Board.[1]
MassReportCards.org is a tool for district and school ratings that allows superintendents, parents and students see how their school ranks in the state.
It allows people to compare schools with other schools from across Massachusetts and rate them oneself.
It was designed for parents seeking better educational choices for their children, teachers and administrators who want to know how their school stacks up, researchers looking for hard data, and every citizen watching their tax dollars.[2]
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Closed session on Rojas records blocked 2010-11-24 11:54:49
"A closed-door meeting last night between city councilors and City Manager Michael V. O’Brien, to discuss the Telegram & Gazette’s legal efforts to force the Police Department to release details about misconduct investigations involving Officer Mark A. Rojas, was scuttled after District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller used a procedural measure to temporarily block her colleagues from meeting in executive session.
Lawyers for the newspaper are scheduled to go to court Jan. 15 to ask Superior Court Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder to order the release of four case files involving Officer Rojas and to list specific exemptions to the state public records law for any redactions made by police officials."
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Yoon says city records should be an open book 2010-11-24 11:39:34
"In the wake of bribery indictments against state Senator Diane Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner, Councilor at Large Sam Yoon says the city can no longer do business as usual or allow the public perception to linger that deals are brokered over restaurant lunches or in clandestine meetings away from the public eye.
Last month, Yoon introduced a resolution before the council urging Boston to post important details about the activities and composition of various committees, boards, and commissions on the city's website.
The measure, which is not binding, passed unanimously on Dec. 17."
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High Costs Make Open Records Seem Closed 2010-11-24 09:18:28
Last month Barry Rafkind, the volunteer editor of a Somerville news blog, sent a detailed request to city officials for information about parking tickets and the city’s responses to citizen complaints.
Somerville officials told Somerville Voices they would provide the information for more than $200,000 for officials to review the documents, delete personal information, and print them out.
“I guess they expect me to go away now,’’ said Rafkind, 28, of Somerville Voices. “Those are prohibitive costs that no one could afford to pay. They’re making no effort to respond to my request with good will.’’
Rafkind’s request was unusually broad, as he asked for all of the city’s electronic data on parking tickets, appeals, and towing contracts, among other items. According to average citizens and professional reporters, public agencies have increasingly flouted the state’s public records law by delaying records or by charging large fees.[3]
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Wilkerson, Turner arraigned 2010-11-24 09:11:12
Former Massachusetts State Senator Dianne Wilkerson answered "not guilty" to 23 new corruption charges stemming from her alleged acceptance of $23,500 in bribes in 2007 and 2008, according to Wilkerson reluctantly resigned her seat following her indictment by a Boston Grand Jury last month. The new charges allege the corruption may go back as far as 2002. The case stems from Wilkerson allegedly accepting cash payments in exchange for helping a nightclub obtain a liquor license and for helping a developer in Roxbury. [4]
If convicted, Wilkerson faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the 32 charges against her. Wilkerson did not comment before leaving the courthouse.
New indictment filed against former Massachusetts speaker of the house 2009-10-16 10:27:27
The new indictment claims that DiMasi extorted his friends who owned a property management company, Genesis Management LLC. According to the indictment, the owners of Genesis founded the company in 2006 with the expectation that DiMasi would help their company secure government contracts. As a long-serving and well-connected state politican, DiMasi could use his political influence in order to help push through legislation that would secure government contracts. In exchange for helping the company, DiMasi was to receive a share of the company's profits[5].
The indictment cites e-mails as evidence that DiMasi was involved in extortion. In e-mails concerning Genesis start-up in 2006, the company owners described how profits would be divided and how the owners, as well as DiMasi, would benefit from the company[6].
The indictment, moreover, alleges that DiMasi ordered an unnamed official to help secure government contracts for Genesis[7].
As a specific example of DiMasi helping Genesis secure contracts, the indictment discusses the details of a contract that put Genesis in charge of managing the Transportation Building, which is a government-owned building in Boston, MA. Shortly after Genesis was founded in 2006, it won the contract over another property management company that had been managing the Transportation Building since 1992. Genesis received millions of dollars from this contract[8].
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Massachusetts state senator arrested for accepting bribes 2009-08-04 13:08:17
The arrest is the latest in a series of troubles for Wilkerson. She was recorded on audio and video taking bribes in exchange for helping a proposed nightclub to attain a liquor license. The Senator is also alleged to have taken payments from another undercover officer who posed as a businessman trying to develop property. During a 17 month investigation, she took 8 payments which ranged from $500 to $10,000.[9]
The week before her arrest, the state Bar Counsel filed a complaint against her, alleging Wilkerson lied under oath in an attempt to overturn her nephew's involuntary manslaughter conviction. Over the years she has served as a public official, she has also been accused of failing to document donations and reimbursements, failing to pay federal income tax, and failing to properly report consulting fees.
Massachusetts Senator indicted for extortion 2009-08-04 13:08:16
Wilkerson has said that she'll resign as soon as possible, but has not given indication of when that will happen. If she hangs on to her office until her term expires in January, she would qualify for an additional year of credit for her state pension, which would boost her annual payment by almost $2,000, according to an online state pension calculator.[10]
Mass. state senator indicted, resigns seat 2009-08-04 13:08:09
Along with the eight counts, the indictment also seeks the forfeiture of over $23,000 in payments Wilkerson received from undercover agents and a cooperating witness during the investigation. The indictment renewed calls for the senator to resign her post.
Free on a $50,000 unsecured bond, Wilkerson faces the possibility of up to 20 years in jail, 3 years supervised release and fines of $250,000 for each of the eight counts if she is convicted.[11]
House speaker cites "legislative immunity" to keep papers secret 2009-08-04 12:58:59
Suspicion first turned toward DiMasi when it was reported that several of his close friends and associates had received substantial payments from firms who were doing business with the state or companies who had an interest in legislation that was pending.
One of these allegations had to do with $13 million that was appropriated to purchase new computer software, which is said to be the subject of an investigation by the state Ethics Commission. However, it can not be confirmed as state law prohibits any public acknowledgment of investigations that have been launched or concluded without any charges made.[12]
References
- ↑ MassOpenBooks
- ↑ MassReportCards website
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedart - ↑ Boston Herald, Dianne Wilkerson please not guilty to 23 new fraud charges, May 6, 2009
- ↑ Boston Globe, Case against DiMasi grows
- ↑ Boston Globe, Case against DiMasi grows
- ↑ Boston Globe, Case against DiMasi grows
- ↑ Boston Globe, Case against DiMasi grows
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAP - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedGlobe - ↑ Associated Press, Mass. state senator indicted on extortion charges, November 19, 2008
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedEN
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