CommonWealth’s Spring 2018 issue is out!

Read the rundown

Here’s a rundown of what’s in our spring print issue, which is in the mail and available online.

You may have heard something about infighting in Fall River between wunderkind Mayor Jasiel Correia and the city’s political establishment. Now get a sense of what’s really going on. Ted Siefer portrays a mayor who isn’t letting an FBI investigation hold him back as he battles the city’s own economic development agency, the Fall River Office of Economic Development.

There’s a major flaw with the state’s film tax credit – the benefits in terms of location shoots flow primarily to the Greater Boston area while the rest of the state ends up with either nothing or next to nothing.

Jack Sullivan reports on municipal efforts to deal with stormwater pollution – and the new stormwater fees some cities and towns are starting to collect to deal with the problem.

We talk to three of the youngish Turks at the MBTA who were brought in to transform a transit agency known for its “insular and slow-moving bureaucracy.” We also look at how the T updates its route maps as new lines are added or stations are shut down for repairs. (Hint: It’s not as simple as just printing a new map.)

The Lottery promises winners of its second-chance games merchandise worth $548, but the value of the items doesn’t add up to anywhere near that amount. What gives?

US Rep. Katherine Clark seems to be in a good spot heading into the midterm elections. She’ll do well if the Democrats retake the House, and maybe even if they don’t.

We talk to Lucio Perez, who has taken sanctuary in First Congregational Church in Amherst to avoid being deported. We interview Amy Blanchette, one of the many Massachusetts residents who find state colleges and universities out of reach financially. We test the willingness of state lawmakers to voluntarily hand over public records. (I won’t keep you in suspense – there’s no willingness.) And we learn about a speaker series at Bunker Hill Community College that inspires students, but isn’t cheap to put on.

And here’s a rundown of the commentary in this issue:

Renee Loth reviews Jim Aloisi’s book about Massport.

Mark Erlich, the former leader of the Carpenters Union, analyzes the downside of the gig economy.

Edward M. Murphy explains an important lesson Democrats need to learn from Donald Trump.

And John E. McDonough introduces an upstart’s effort to reshape MassHealth.

Finally, we are in the midst of an important conversation here about whether to continue printing quarterly issues of CommonWealth or move all our efforts online to the magazine’s website. We’re eager to hear your thoughts, and my editor’s note in the new issue invites print and online readers to weigh in.

 

Thanks,

Bruce Mohl, Editor