| Study: A sea wall to protect Seaport is simply not worth it |
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| From Greg Ryan at the BBJ: “A much-anticipated new report on how best to protect the Seaport District and other Boston neighborhoods from the effects of climate change finds that the cost to build a massive, multibillion-dollar wall in Boston Harbor is not worth the benefits. Instead, it finds that the city of Boston and other coastal cities and towns should focus on more localized projects to counteract the flooding and higher sea levels wrought by global warming.” Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine has more on the UMass-Boston study.
| Hey, Ben: Do a little more research before launching a TV series on Boston |
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| The Bay State’s very own Ben Affleck is launching a new Showtime series called ‘City on a Hill,’ and, yes, it’s another gritty-gangster portrayal of Boston, apparently. But Gintautas Dumcius at MassLIve calls out Affleck et gang for weaving into the series a “fictional account of what was called the ‘Boston Miracle’” – which, as Dumcius notes, had nothing to do with Charlestown bank robbers and everything to do with street-gang warfare in the predominantly black neighborhoods of Roxbury, Mattapan and Dorchester. They’re going at it over at Universal Hub. |
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| Local recycling problem is actually a nationwide problem |
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| Many local recycling programs in Massachusetts are hurting due to recent policy changes in China, where all sorts of recycled materials used to be regularly shipped, as WGBH’s Stephanie Leydon reported earlier this week. But the New York Times reports the problem is hitting communities across the country, especially those on the west coast. The Times piece does note one Westborough company that’s now stuck with 6,000 tons of paper and cardboard at its facility. |
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| Report: Admissions to UMass-Amherst easier for out-of-state students than local residents |
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| The Pioneer Institute scored a direct hit on this one. From Michael Jonas at CommonWealth magazine: “The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been so aggressive in recruiting out-of-state students that it’s now easier for those students to gain admission than it is for in-state students, according to a report released on Tuesday. The analysis, conducted by Boston-based Pioneer Institute, says out-of-state students admitted to UMass Amherst have lower average high school GPAs and SAT scores than in-state students, a finding that calls into question whether the university is fulfilling its mission to Massachusetts residents.” Here’s the full study by the institute. |
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| Italian-Americans seek restoration of ‘Columbus Day’ over ‘Indigenous Peoples Day’ |
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| Sure, he was a flawed hero. But he was their flawed hero – and they want him back. Mary Serreze at MassLive reports how some Pittsfield Italian-Americans want the restoration of ‘Columbus Day’ over ‘Indigenous Peoples Day.’ |
| Are Democrats blowing it nationwide? |
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| File this one under: “Never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” The Globe’s Liz Goodwin reports that national Democrats are struggling to find a unified message heading into the fall mid-term elections.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports House Democrats are scrambling to avoid disaster in California, where too many Dems are running in the state’s “top two” open primary system and the crowded field may allow Republicans to win both spots on general election ballots. Last but not least, Joe Scarborough at the Washington Post is warning that a re-energized Republican base is rallying around President Trump. |
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| Fear not: Seth to the rescue … or perhaps someone else |
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| Michael Tackett of the New York Times singles out U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton as one of three young Democrats with military combat experience who may be on the front lines to determine the future of the Democratic party. Moulton, Jason Kander of Missouri and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg—all still in their 30s— offer a stark contrast to the dominant faces in the party, many of whom are in their 60s and 70s, the NYT notes, and some pundits think one of the three may be destined to “light a spark” under younger voters in 2020. |
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