Jan
27
Governor Patrick’s Budget Message on Housing Authorities
January 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Governor Patrick proposed a series of reforms to public housing authorities through his budget proposal that was submitted this week. Obviously the uproar over Chelsea has brought heightened scrutiny to how Housing Authorities conduct business in Massachusetts. The Patrick Administration is also looking at possible consolidations between smaller Housing Authorities. Good public policy? What do you think?
In the FY 2013 budget, the Patrick-Murray Administration proposes a series of reforms to address the governance structure, financial transparency and management of the state’s public housing portfolio.
There are roughly 80,000 public housing units in Massachusetts, of which 50,000 are state funded. This public housing is the largest source of affordable housing for extremely low-income residents across the state. Many of the units are more than 60 years old. The combination of age and a lack of investment by prior Administrations has left much of the portfolio at risk of being uninhabitable.
Since 2007, the Patrick-Murray Administration has invested nearly $400 M in capital improvements to the public housing portfolio in an effort to preserve public housing for those who need it most. The Administration has also increased operating subsidies to help maintain housing and will propose another modest increase in this budget.
As the Administration increases funding for public housing, it is also proposing a number of reforms to improve the management and increase efficiency and transparency of local housing authorities to ensure that we are meeting the goal of housing for low-income families.
Financial and Reporting Reforms
There are 242 Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) in Massachusetts. Each LHA is an independent authority, overseen by a Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for oversight of the finances and operations of the LHA. Most LHAs are funded by a combination of state, federal and local funding.
The proposed reforms recognize that while the state provides funding to LHAs, it does not directly manage or oversee the authorities’ finances. These reforms focus on increasing transparency, setting standards in line with those of other independent authorities and reviewing the rules and penalties for non-compliance.
Enhanced Reporting and Financial Reforms
Governor Patrick will file legislation to eliminate compensation, where it exists, for LHA board members.
Effective immediately via administrative action, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will:
Require LHAs with state public housing to provide DHCD with the top five salaries of the highest-paid management staff;
Set a maximum salary for LHA Executive Directors;
Require LHA board members to certify Executive Director salaries and detailed benefits every year when budgets are submitted. Boards also would be required to match payroll documents to actual expenditures;
Cap annual salary increases at a level consistent with comparable municipal employees.
Prohibit state subsidies from being utilized for Executive Directors’ buyouts that are above and beyond what a state employee would be eligible for;Require reports to confirm monthly meetings occur and to confirm the attendance of board members;
Make ethics and other training in best practices from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), in collaboration with DHCD, mandatory for public housing employees and board members and required to receive state funding;Require more detailed auditing procedures including verifying director compensation and salary schedule, and work with the State Auditor to review and potentially revise their auditing process;
Require year-end Financial Certification that would require Executive Directors to present year-end financials to their respective Boards. Boards and Executive Directors would then jointly certify and submit statements to DHCD. Currently LHA Executive Directors and Fee Accountants complete and submit a form to DHCD certifying year-end financials;Re-examine delegated Authority for Procurement to allow authority for purchases, where they already exist, to continue to be delegated from the Board to the Executive Director, but that purchases above certain thresholds be required to be approved by the Board; and
Deem any LHA which does not comply with all of DHCD’s existing and enhanced reporting requirements a LHA “Not in Good Standing” with the Department. Make any LHA “Not in Good Standing” ineligible to receive state funding until current on all reporting.
Review the Rules
A comprehensive review of existing regulations, contracts and agreements that help DHCD manage the LHAs should be the final phase and should reflect all decisions and changes made regarding the actions presented above.
Changes in Governance and Management
Governor Patrick recognizes the importance of public housing in Massachusetts and has increased funding for public housing throughout his term. However, in light of recent events, he believes that reforms should be considered that will improve the accountability of housing authorities to the local, state and federal funders as well as to the residents, including whether to regionalize or otherwise consolidate oversight into fewer separate authorities. To this end, Governor Patrick will sign an Executive Order establishing a Commission on Housing Authority Governance Reform. The Commission will confer with public housing stakeholders in Massachusetts and in other states, and develop, within 60 days, recommendations to the Governor for ways to strengthen housing authority oversight.
Jan
26
Mayors Nutter and Gray on Urban Challenges
January 26, 2012 | 1 Comment
Mayors Michael Nutter of Philadelphia and Vincent Gray of Washington talking about some of the major issues facing American cities. Discussion did turn to the presidential race, and Newt Gingrich’s description of Barack Obama as the “food stamp President”. Mayor Nutter called that comment “some of the more ignorant commentary that’s out there.” Obviously our cities have big problems. Does the Congress have any solutions?
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Jan
25
Mike Murphy on Gingrich, Romney
January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Self described partially defrocked Republican consultant Mike Murphy zipping out some clever one liners on Meet the Press Sunday about the contest between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The humor does not take away from the essential truth he is selling, which is that Newt Gingrich could not win a single “swing” state in the general election against the President. Great stuff from Murphy!
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Jan
25
Newt Surges in FLA
January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Newt Gingrich has surged to a five point lead in the latest PPP FLA poll. While a five point lead is certainly not a death knell for Mitt Romney it is a major change from the large lead Romney held in the state as early as two weeks ago. Gingrich is at 38%, Romney 33%, Santorum 13%, and Ron Paul at 10%. With Santorum on the ropes, lacking both money and support, the question now is when will he exit, and what impact would such an exit have. Public Policy shows that Santorum voters favor Gingrich by a 50% to 23% margin, potentially allowing Gingrich to further solidify his lead over Romney if Santorum exits. The pressure will build on Santorum, who is indicating that he is in this for the long haul. But that is what Rick Perry said a week before he got out too.
Romney is aware of the stakes here, pouring millions into statewide media. And with Gingrich receiving another $5 million from Sheldon Adelson the return fire is guaranteed. The air wars are getting pretty nasty, and there is more to come.
Jan
24
Weekly Podcast From WCAP
January 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment
A lively morning discussion with Ted Panos at WCAP, who had a great interview with Senator Scott Brown, who was coming to Methuen that morning. We talked about the Senate race, the campaign finance issues around Rep. Paul Adams, Lt Governor Tim Murray, whether local officials have been requested to release their tax information, and of course the first in what we hope will be many anonymous letters to Ted. (purporting to out me because I am eligible to receive a state pension). Some attorneys have nothing better to do than send anonymous letters.
As far as the pension issue goes the letter was prompted by my advocating for pension reform, which I do without regard to how it might impact any future pension I may be eligible for. It is a clever tactic to divert attention away from the need for fundamental reform to a system that is not sustainable as currently constituted.
Looking forward to next Friday’s radio appearance on WCAP, 980 on the am dial, where everyone gets it. Tune in at 8:10 a.m.
WCAP Jan 20, 2011 by Bill Manzi
Jan
23
Local Aid Discussion at MMA
January 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment
This years MMA Conference featured Lt. Governor Tim Murray standing in for Governor Patrick and delivering the first news on local aid for the upcoming fiscal year. The Governor intends to level fund unrestricted local aid at $865 million, which is good news for communities. The Governor is holding aside an additional $65 million, which would be distributed to localities if the FY12 budget ends in surplus. Lt. Governor Murray also announced a hike in Chapter 70 School Aid to $4.1 billion, an increase of $145 million, and a Chapter 90 (Roads) allocation of $200 million. Difficult to believe that a level funded local aid account would actually be considered good news, but in light of the economy it really is considered just that. The Governor gives his State of the State speech tonight, and will unveil his budget on Wednesday. Of course more to come.
Jan
22
Snidely Whiplash Takes South Carolina
January 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Mitt Romney, looking close to invincible a couple of weeks back, has bumped into major turbulence on his way to the Republican nomination. Romney lost the South Carolina primary pretty decisively to Newt Gingrich, who appears to have rallied past Romney with red meat, dog whistles, and a real willingness to take on the “elites”, who he accuses of a half century of driving America away from America. As Joe Scarborough points out in the clip attached Newt has managed to capture the Republican politics of “grievance”, showing fire and a willingness to say and do just about anything to keep the base excited.
A look at the numbers shows the dominance of Gingrich. Overall Gingrich won 40.4% of the vote, to Romney’s 27.9%, with Rick Santorum at 17%, and Ron Paul at 13%. Gingrich won all but three of South Carolina’s counties along with some dominance in areas that have to be of concern to the Romney campaign. Chuck Todd gives a couple of those numbers in the clip. Amongst voters who considered “electability” to be the most important issue, Gingrich had 51%, to Romney’s 37%. That has to be a cold hard slap in the face to the Romney campaign, which has been built around his self touted ability to defeat Barack Obama. Among those who consider themselves “very conservative” the news was even worse, with Newt pulling 48% to Mitt’s 19%.
Some pretty good political analysis on the Romney reversal is out there, but probably none better than Mike Murphy on Meet the Press. His comment that Romney had lost his way on message and been forced into a defensive crouch is right on the mark. Romney does not play defense well, and he certainly did not play it well in South Carolina. And Murphy’s point, that his failure to adequately play that defense cast a huge doubt on Romney’s electability, is also right on the mark. It is also borne out by the numbers. I thought Howie Carr made a very salient point in today’s Herald:
This is Mitt’s problem: He comes across in these debates as a wimp. Dudley Do-Right didn’t play in South Carolina. He’s afraid of his own shadow. He’s overtrained.
The Republican primary voters have this dream of a snarling Newt disemboweling Barack Obama in the debates this fall. Talk about myths.
So Newt captures some of the crowd anger that exists within the Republican electorate. And he does it by saying and doing things that will lead him to be absolutely emulsified in the general election were he to become the Republican nominee. Mitt, on the other hand, keeps playing the game as if he is already in the general election as the nominee, and that is hurting him with Republicans, who are demanding red meat, regardless of how it will impact the nominee against the President. Again back to Murphy, who states in the clip that Newt Gingrich cannot win a single swing state in the general. He is right. The Republican right has rebelled against party regulars in some important races over the past year. They nominated Christine O’Donnell in Maryland and Sharron Angle in Nevada when neither was the strongest Republican, giving away two Senate seats. Many would now like to replay that script in the Presidential race by nominating Gingrich, or someone who is not Romney. Newt is the best chance the Democrats have of retaking the House and retaining the Senate.
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Jan
21
South Carolina Predictions-Romney Reeling
January 21, 2012 | 1 Comment
Has there ever been a more tumultous 24 hours in a Presidential race than what we just went through? From Mitt Romney flubbing the issue of releasing his tax returns to the spectacle of Newt Gingrich’s second wife alleging he sought an “open” relationship,to Rick Santorum being declared the winner of the Iowa Caucuses, this has been one wild ride. Gingrich came into South Carolina having blown a substantial lead here, watching as Romney not only overtook him but built a good sized lead of his own. But Gingrich flew into South Carolina like a hurricane, determined to go negative in a big way on Romney. Gingrich had to withstand howls of protest from the Republican establishment, many of whom demanded that he simply cede the race to Romney. But Newt blasted away, first exploiting the “Bain” issue, and now masterfully exploiting the issue of releasing tax returns. Romney’s flubbed and cleary uncomfortable responses to these questions in the last debate drew boos from the crowd. Gingrich’s response to the first question of the debate, on his second wife’s allegations, drew two standing ovations from that same crowd. Romney had a real opportunity here in South Carolina to deliver a knockout blow to Gingrich. But after tonight the Republican frontrunner will have won only one of the first three contests, and will be substantially marked up. My predictions for today in South Carolina:
1) Newt Gingrich. Not a Newt fan, but you have to give him some credit for the fight he displayed here. He has Romney reeling.
2) Mitt Romney. His race to win last week, and his super organized, button downed campaign let it slip away. My first failing grade to the Romney organization. After Santorum was declared the real winner in Iowa a loss here today will reinvigorate both Gingrich and the Republican doubters, and give the conservative wing some real hope that Romney can be stopped.
3) Ron Paul. Close call here, and essentially a coin flip. I think the Gingrich surge pushes Santorum to the bottom of the pile.
4) Rick Santorum. A pretty good last debate for Santorum, who targeted Romney quite effectively. He did pick up the win in Iowa, but I think he is losing ground to Gingrich with conservatives, and that may push him into the cellar. If he is indeed fourth he will have to reassess, as the FLA primary is an expensive proposition.
4a) Stephen Colbert. Colbert drew larger crowds over the past few days than the candidates on the ballot, and his Super Pac has taken out ads attacking him and promoting a vote for Herman Cain. Great stuff from Colbert.
Jan
19
Blood in the Gamecock Waters
January 19, 2012 | 4 Comments
The Republican race in South Carolina has begun to tighten, with the continuing assaults of Newt Gingrich beginning to slow the Mitt Romney train. Romney’s campaign has begun to slow themselves as well, with the news cycle being dominated first by the story of Romney’s effective tax rate being 15%, and now by the story that he has millions of dollars parked in investment vehicles in the Cayman Islands. It appears clear that nobody has uncovered anything illegal in the Romney revelations, but they have without question dominated the news cycle and contributed to the mini Gingrich surge. (Good thing I am waiting to make my South Carolina predictions)!
Romney has continued to display a real lack of “common touch” in his handling of this situation, showing a tin political ear whenever he appears to speak off the cuff. His comment that his roughly $350,000 in speaking fees were “not much” certainly held him up to ridicule, and rightfully so. So the Mittster had his worst week of this Presidential season, and is now facing a big debate tonight in South Carolina with Gingrich closing fast. If Newt is as effective tonight as he was in the last debate this race could be very tight.
Politico has a new poll that shows Romney still leading, but Gingrich closing. Romney stands at 37%, Gingrich at 30%, Ron Paul at 11%, Rick Santorum at 10%, and Rick Perry at 4%. Romney is hearing the footsteps. He unleashed two internet ads hitting Gingrich, but has been taking some heavy incoming himself. Should be a real good debate tonight.
Jan
17
Happy Birthday Muhammed Ali
January 17, 2012 | 1 Comment
I must wish the greatest of all time a very happy 70th birthday. Ali was and is an icon who has transcended his role as a boxer to become something very much more. He is a world wide celebrity who turned his skill in the ring into a force for change and good. You didn’t always have to agree with Ali to recognize the immense talent that he had, as a boxer and as a human being.
Ali produced some of the most electrifying moments in all of sports history, starting with his monumental upset of Sonny Liston (the bear), through his three epic battles with Smoking Joe Frazier, and his glorious upset of the heavily favored George Foreman at the Rumble in the Jungle. As a student at UMass Amherst I missed the Foreman fight, but when the result came in the entire campus erupted in joy. Ali entered the ring against Foreman with most expecting him to be clubbed into submission by the hard hitting Foreman, who had not lost up to that point, winning most of his fights by early round knockouts. Ali had other plans, employing what he later described as his “rope a dope” strategy, laying on the ropes and inviting Foreman in to flail away at him. Foreman took the invitation, but could not land a decisive blow, wearing himself down and allowing Ali to come off those ropes in the eighth and knock Foreman out. It was an amazing display, made even more amazing by the way Ali co-opted the crowd in Zaire, turning them against Foreman and leading them between rounds in the chant of “Ali, Bomaye”(Ali, Kill him). Foreman was partially beaten before he even stepped in the ring. Ali’s career is so extensive, and his boxing feats so astounding, that a simple blog posting cannot do him justice. But the day he beat Foreman Ali did indeed “shock the world”. Happy Birthday Ali!