Patrick and noise with a side of burger
By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor
Plenty of stuff is on my mind this week.
I was glad to see the Great River Bridge project was deemed important enough for Governor Patrick to make the trip to the Whip City. This long over-due renovation to the Western Massachusetts infrastructure means a lot to Westfield and to anyone who does business in the city.
After the officials at the groundbreaking tossed the ceremonial dirt, the assembled media got their usual five or so minute availability. After the television crews asked their questions I always let the TV folks go first I asked Patrick a question as his p.r. guy was trying to edge him away.
I think Patrick was surprised because my question didn't have anything to do with gay marriage or Springfield's Finance Control Board. Instead I asked about the reaction to his proposal on life sciences.
Most people may not be aware that Patrick made an announcement on May 8 concerning a plan that he believes will help propel the Bay State into a global leader in the life sciences and biotech industries.
This subject should be of particular interest to Western Massachusetts residents as our area is a prime region for this kind of economic development. There are research films already operating here and the University of Massachusetts and Baystate Medical Center are continuing their valuable collaboration.
The plan includes a 10-year, $1 billion investment package that will both enhance the state's assets in the fields of medicine and science and fill gaps in federal funding to ensure the state's ability to support life science progress from the idea stage through the production stage. According to the press release I received, the strategy brings together industry, academic research hospitals, and public and private colleges and universities to coordinate these efforts, spur new research, strengthen investments, create new jobs and produce new therapies for a better quality of life.
Sounds good to me, but does it sound good to the men and women of the General Court?
Patrick told me, "The reaction has been wonderfully positive both inside and outside the state."
He added the legislation that would make this possible is "definitely moving forward."
This would be good news for all of us.
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As usual, Heather Brandon's blog over at www.valleyadvocate.com is a great read and Heather wrote an especially heart-felt posting on how her family's Mother's Day was affected by neighbors who believe everyone in their neighborhood wanted to hear their music.
I wouldn't move away from Springfield because of its perceived lack of safety. I wouldn't move away because of the trash fee. If anything would cause me to move it would be the quality of life issues such as my neighbor whose dog barked until about 1 a.m. last night or the passersby who drop their trash on my yard. The idiots on the next street who play their music so loud my wife and I can't hear the TV are another reason to see a realtor.
What makes it worse is there is no recourse. Sometimes you call the police and someone comes and sometimes they don't. I know that calls are prioritized and that a shooting or a drug bust takes precedent over my ability to sleep.
There has to be some law enforcement model somewhere that can enable residents to work with the police and other city departments on quality of life issues. As far as we have gone in Springfield and boy, under Charles Ryan we've come a long way we still have quite a journey.
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People have been buzzing that Mitt Romney looked so presidential at the second Republican debate last week. Do you think people were watching with the sound turned off?
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Finally, some puzzling evidence: I went to a Burger King the other day for the first time in many years and noticed as I was dispensing my own soda there were recommendations posted on the soda machine.
Just like you would ask the wine steward at a good restaurant to suggest a wine to go along with your meal, Burger King now suggests which soda to go with which sandwich. I never knew that Dr. Pepper went better with one mass-produced burger than another.
That's what I love about life you learn something new everyday.
The opinions expressed here are only those of the author.
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