Anyone who has been around for more than a few decades knows that American voters have two glaring health problems — they experience severe memory loss and are badly near-sighted. These ailments are exacerbated by the fact that over the past 50 years, the news cycle has gone from days or weeks (pre-cable and internet) down to literally just moments via social media and 24/7 cable news.

For example, in February, Gov. Charlie Baker was touted as one of the most beloved governors in the U.S. Then in March, as the top news story in the Bay State became the roughshod rollout of the state’s vaccination program, voters forgot how much they loved Baker and his approval rating took a sharp dive. Now, In April, as the news of a buggy vaccination appointment website fades into amnesia, Baker’s approval rating is pretty much back where it was.

As a country, we forgot the lessons learned during the 1918 pandemic. And we lacked foresight. We were too busy worrying about a toilet paper shortage coming in a week to see that the world was about to change for decades to come.

Thankfully, however, there is a silver lining. Americas’ vision and memory seem to be improving as a direct result of the pandemic. We’re becoming more farsighted. We’re waking up to problems we’ve all but ignored for decades. We’re now addressing issue sets like human rights, greenhouse gas emissions, and a crumbling infrastructure (not to mention a crumbling middle class) -- and we’re doing it with more energy and fervor than we’ve seen in over a half a century.

Signs that our memory and vision are improving here in the Commonwealth include the launch of two landmark pieces of legislation — a climate bill aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and a transportation bond bill that will bring about big changes to the state’s transportation infrastructure and job market for decades to come.

These actions may be a reaction to the pandemic, but it’s widely agreed that they are paramount to the future of our communities. It may not matter how they came to be, just that they got done.

Let’s unpack this week’s news:

Politics

Democrat Wins DeLeo’s Seat, Sen. Chang-Diaz Teases Run For Gov.

After a low-turnout special election, it looks like Jeffrey Turco will be taking the seat left vacant by the departure of former Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo. The news media’s spin on the story is that the Massachusetts attorney — a Democrat — voted for Donald Trump in 2016. We would link you to a full report, but that’s pretty much the gist of the media’s take on this story.

In other Mass political news, it looks like Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz might be running for governor of Massachusetts next year. The media spin on this story is that she has been one of the more vociferous critics of Gov. Charlie Baker’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, we know a little bit more about Chang-Diaz. She was the first Latina to win a seat in the Massachusetts Senate in 2008 and is currently chair of two joint committees in the House: the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion; and the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy.

Former state Sen. Ben Downing was the first Democrat to formally announce a run for governor. Attorney General Maura Healey’s name is also being tossed around as a possible candidate. Baker, himself has yet to say whether he will run for a third term in 2022.

WBUR has summed up the current state of affairs on the marathon race for Mass. governor in their report titled, “It's 'Maybe' Season In The Mass. Governor's Race.”

More Politics

Business

According to a report by The Boston Globe, it is commonplace for hospital chiefs in Boston to work as directors of publicly traded companies. What’s not commonplace, they say, is the large sums of money they’re being paid:

Laurie Glimcher, MD. President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Annual hospital compensation: $1.8 million
Company: GlaxoSmithKline, $180,000; Analog Devices, $139,145*
Peter Slavin, MD. President of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Annual hospital compensation: $2.4 million
Company: Amwell, $475,003
Sandra Fenwick. Former CEO of Boston Children's Hospital (retired March 31)
Annual hospital compensation: $2.7 million
Company: Teladoc Health, $1,058,250*
Kevin Churchwell, MD. CEO of Boston Children's Hospital.
Annual hospital compensation: $1.6 million
Company: Cyclerion Therapeutics, $141,253*
Elizabeth Nabel, MD. Former President of Brigham and Women's Hospital. (stepped down March 1).
Annual hospital compensation: $2.4 million
Company: Medtronic, $385,054; Moderna, $487,500
Kate Walsh. President and CEO of Boston Medical Center.
Annual hospital compensation: $2.6 million
Company: Beam Therapeutics, $817,500
Michael Tarnoff, MD. Interim President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center.
Annual hospital compensation: $1.1 million
Company: AngioDynamics, $37,726*

* Partial salary because they joined the board after the start of the year.

Critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest that might distract from hospital priorities. For example, the Globe claims that Dr. Nabel attended between 30 and 40 committee meetings called by the two boards on which he sat in 2019.

More Business

Energy

It looks like hospital presidents and CEOs aren’t the only ones being accused of being overvalued. The organization that oversees New England’s power grid is being scrutinized by consumer advocates who claim that executive salaries at the agency are sky-high.

According to a 2019 tax filing made public by the nonprofit, ISO New England CEO Gordon van Welie was paid a total of $2,305,770 while Executive VP and COO Vamsi Chadalavada earned $1,746,314. Four other employees made more than $800,000, and 38 people, including eight of the nonprofit’s board members, made more than $100,000 that year.

ISO New England is responsible for balancing supply and demand, pricing electricity, maintaining the system, and implementing any changes the grid system needs. The non-profit is funded largely by fees off the top of residents’ electricity bills. It received $194 million in 2019. A statement from ISO NE says the non-profit takes just over a dollar a month from the average ratepayer in fees.

The statement reads in part:

“Our board and leadership roles require a considerable time commitment and expertise in markets, power system operations, information security and more. Our compensation levels are reviewed by outside firms annually to ensure that the company stays competitive and within reasonable ranges when compared to similarly situated companies. Competition for these leaders is significant.”

But David Tuerck, head of the conservative Beacon Hill Institute, had this to say about that:

“ISO New England claims it ‘maintains a culture of cost accountability and transparency in its service to the region.’ They might add, ‘except when it comes to paying their staff lavishly.’”

It’s not the first time the group has come under scrutiny. Last fall, Gov. Charlie Baker joined with the governors of Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut in calling for a “modernization” effort. In the letter, the governors accused ISO of having “a governance structure that is not transparent to the states and customers it serves, with a mission that is not responsive to States’ legal mandates and policy priorities.”

The Boston Herald has a report on this story.

More Energy News

Transportation

Boston To Offer Free Public Transportation Under Pilot Program

The City of Boston is undertaking a pilot program offering free public transportation for up to 1,000 employees who work in five of the city's Main Street districts. Pilot participants will receive a pre-loaded Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) pass with $60. The city will also offer free passes for unlimited rides through the Bluebikes bike-share program.

According to acting Mayor Kim Janey, the pilot is intended to support a sustainable and equitable recovery from the pandemic. "We have to lift up workers and make sure they have access to reliable transportation. That is essential to an economic recovery that is equitable," she said during a press conference.

Read all about it at Cities-Today.com.

In similar news, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey has refiled legislation intended to boost support for free public transportation. In a written statement, co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said the bill would invest “heavily in our public transit systems so that states and localities can offer safe, high-quality, and fare-free rides to all to ensure everyone” can access jobs, food and essential services.”

AP has more on this story.

More Transportation News

Real Estate

Suffolk County judge Brian Davis has dealt a major blow to developers of a long-planned skyscraper on the edge of Boston Harbor. Davis threw out Boston zoning rules that would have allowed the 600-foot tower to be developed by Don Chiofaro at the site of the Boston Harbor Garage.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the Conservation Law Foundation and residents of the Harbor Towers condominium complex. Davis ruled that Baker administration officials overstepped their authority when they approved the plan to develop 42 acres along the downtown waterfront.

The 29-page ruling also calls into question similar plans being considered by developers along the Massachusetts coast.

Read all about it at the Boston Globe.

More Real Estate

Cannabis

New York Legalizes Adult Recreational Use of Marijuana

New York has officially become the 16th state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act into law just one day after it was passed by legislators.

The bill expands the state's existing medical marijuana program and sets up a licensing and taxation system for recreational sales to adults 21 and older

Cuomo said in a statement:

"For too long the prohibition of cannabis disproportionately targets communities of color with harsh prison sentences and after years of hard work, this landmark legislation provides justice for long-marginalized communities, embraces a new industry that will grow the economy, and establishes substantial safety guards for the public. New York has a storied history of being the progressive capital of the nation, and this important legislation will once again carry on that legacy."

Interestingly, unlike all other states with legal cannabis, a provision in the bill permits marijuana to be smoked in public. According to Paul Armentano, deputy director of the pro-legalization group NORML, no other states allow public use.

This is important news for the Mass. cannabis industry as it is sure to cut into sales, especially in the eastern part of the state that borders upstate New York. On the other hand, it gives Mass.-based cannabis companies such as Curaleaf — the world’s biggest cannabis company — an opportunity to expand New York operations.

NBC New York has an extensive report on this story.

The Massachusetts Memory Loss