It is important to keep in mind the adage: “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” I say this because the Globe’s attacks against Marty Walsh are most telling on the most hypocritical grounds of all, his lack of diversity representation in his hiring practices.
I say that because if you are a major newspaper in a city and you are going to go after its mayor about the number of his staff who are minorities it would be wise to look at your own plant first. See the Globe starting to criticize Walsh’s hiring practices I wanted to get a feel for the diversity in its hiring. Since it is a private company there is no way I can file a freedom of information request to learn this.
So I went to the Globe sites on the internet to see what I could learn. I located the pictures or drawings of 16 of its columnists and contributors. Of that group only one appears to be a person of color. That’s around 6%. You’d think that a newspaper that was going to hold the mayor’s toes to the fire over his diversity hiring actions would be doing better than less than ten percent minorities among its opinion makers in a city that is supposed to be have a minority population exceeding fifty percent minority.
Despite its failure in this area the Globe has a “do what I say and not as I do” attitude. We’re not supposed to look at it but only at those it points it finger at. Now the paper is pointing toward Mayor Marty Walsh.
Recently an article by Lawrence Harmon, a Globe columnist noted that 53% of Boston are “people of color” as opposed to people of no color or whites. He said only 11 of Walsh’s 43 initial cabinet members and department heads were people of color (26%). Of the 189 positions filled from January to May, 129 or 68% were by people of color. But that’s not enough for Mr. Harmon he complains about other things such as the positions held and the pathways to higher positions and the like.
I have to smile at Harmon’s article. Only a month ago he was praising Walsh but apparently got the word that’s no longer the way to go. I wonder if he doesn’t see the irony in his demanding the City of Boston’s workforce reflect the population when he works for the city’s newspaper that is far from doing that.
Now what amazed me about all this is a recent article where Mayor Walsh seems to be put on the hot seat by the Globe reporters. He finds himself having to explain each disparitity in hiring of minorities or women. Each explanation he gives is cross-checked by the reporters and where they can they suggest it is not true. The article has charts showing the staff does not properly reflect the city’s population. What is most strange is the people who are most interested in making sure people of color and women have equal opportunities are all satisfied with the progress Walsh is making.
It is only the Globe that is the trouble maker. The people involved are not making this into an issue. That this is the case shows that the Globe is out to get Walsh..
If Walsh wants a failed mayorship he is well on the way to having it by kowtowing to Globe reporters. It appears the reporters are roaming throughout City Hall and examining who is sitting where and demanding that Walsh is explaining who is doing what.
Walsh must understand the city is up for grabs: he must run it his way or the Globe’s way. He must also understand he will never please many of the people at that paper. They will never like him because of who he is and where he comes from.
Other indicia of the Globe putting the squeeze on Walsh is an article by Meghan Irons that ends: “he has choked off public commentary and raised legitimate questions about his own motives.” Another Globe writer wonders: “Can he deliver on diversity? Can he stand up to unions? Can he develop a real vision for Boston’s future?” Then there is an article criticizing Walsh for the money he received for his transition parties. The Globe had to walk softly on that one because another company owned by its owner John W. Henry was one of the big contributors.
Speaking of Henry, perhaps it is he who will save Marty Walsh from the attempt by the Globe’s staff to undermine him before he has a chance to do the job he is capable of doing. Henry’s wife Linda Pizzuti heads up the Boston Globe Foundation which had big input into Walsh’s full page letter in the Globe thanking the teachers. If Walsh is getting support from Henry who is wise enough to give him his head without hitting him with heavy handed harrowing harrassment and second guessing then things may turn out all right. But without support from the owner, Walsh is going to be in for a hard time.
Matt, this comment is related to earlier debates about writing letters to judges. John Connolly’s anonymous letter on Boston Police Stationary falsely accusing (not in his mind, in Judge Wolfe’s mind, the fact finder) some police officers of conducting illegal wiretapping. Remember how both of us thought the letter absurd and understood why the judge was furious, but I thought is was just a misguided exercise in FREE SPEECH, and you thought like Wolfe it veered into criminality, obstructing justice, tying up the Court’s time needlessly? Well, I just want to share with you how the Federal Appeals court in Boston handled the letter I wrote to Retired SCOTUS Justice Souter (sitting on an appeal of a Connolly-related issue: actually the appeal was the recusal of that Judge who refused to recuse himself when conflicts of interest were glaring, but Souter as background went into matters relating to John Connolly and Souter incorrectly wrote that Connolly had been convicted of taking bribes (false; only one count of transmitting a bribe,; acquitted of three other bribe-related charges (the ring (Martprap
s B.S.) aand: the $1,000 and the $5,000 Morris says Connolly gave him via Whitey Bulger). Well let’s compare Wolfe’s making a mountain out of a molehill with the Court’s April 24, 2013, response to my letter to a federal judge in Bostonia Federal Court: “Dear Mr. Connolly: this will acknowledge your letter dated 4-5-2013, addressed to Justice Souter. Please note (1) that all correspondence must be directed to the clerk’s office, rather than to a particular judge. (citing FRAP) Further, please be advised that the court cannot accept motions and other correspondence filed by non-parties to an action. Sincerely /s/ Margaret Carter, Clerk.” Well, if THE COURT cannot accept “correspondence filed by non-parties” why did Judge Wolfe accept Connolly’s letter and allow it to be admitted into evidence and used against him?
Dear Author, I read the recent book The Trial of Whitey Bulger and this is what I got the most of out of it. Pat Nee seems to be someone that was spoken about often IN THE TRIAL AND AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE VICTIMS outside of the trial. The FBI and its program of protecting top informants is really something. Pat Nee lives today as a free man and he was all over the trial with Kevin Weeks and Steve Flemi. I have no more words than that. It is mindboggling to know that the job of the federal government at times becomes being the PROTECTOR of a known criminal. Anyways regards to you
Norwood Born and Matt: This is what most of us are railing against mostly: the FEDs jumping in bed with GANGSTERS; protecting them, using them against us or allowing them to continue to prey on us. Then the FEDs put the GANGSTERS and SERIAL KILLERs on the witness stand and ask us—the ordinary citizen – – – to believe the GANGSTERS and to trust the FEDS. Who’s going to trust Bureaucrats who’ve partnered with GANGSTERS?
Norwood:
Yes Nee was part and parcel of the whole plot. He took John McIntyre to the house to be murdered. He buried the bodies. He was given a pass as was Howie Winter who there is evidence he set up and was involved in murdering six people Gerry Angiulo wanted murdered.
Matt, I met Marty Walsh some years back as I was sitting in a car on Savin Hill AVenue talking with one of my favorite all time persons who truly lives to help others: Danny Ryan. After we exchanged greetings and Walsh drove away, Danny said, “That guy is one of the best young guys I know.’ wALSH IS 20-25 YEARS OUR JUNIOR.
2. WALSH HAS HELPED MANY PEOPLE I KNOW IN SAVIE, SOUTHIE AND ELSEWHERE.
3. I LIKE WALSH AND WISH HIM WELL.
4. THE NEGATIVES: Under relentless pressure from the Globe, he changed hi mind and refused to allow the people of Massachusetts to vote on the Gay Marriage issue. He doesn’t understand the debate. He also backs the Globe’s call for a boycott of the St. Pat’s Day Parade. Again he hasn’t read and perused the book From Trial Court to the Supreme Court; Anatomy of a Free Speech Case, by Paul Joseph Walkowski and William M. CONNOLLY; he does the Globe’s bidding on the Gay Marriage and Marching Gays issues.
5. there’s other distressing signs he’s a sell out to the Globe and to the left wing of the Democratic party. But knowing he has good character and is very well like and admired by Danny Ryan, i’ll give him some time; MAYBE TWO YEARS, before I make a final decision on him as a decision maker, an independent thinker, and a thinking-man’s Mayor; time will tell.
6. OF COURSE, THE RACIST, ANTI-CATHOLIC BIGOTS AT THE GLOBE WOULD JUMP WITH JOY TO HELP TAKE DOWN ANOTHER IRISH-CATHOLIC AND DRIVE EM OUT OF OFFICE. IF MARTY TOWS THE GLOBE’S LINE,, HE’LL BE A DISASTER AS MAYOR AND THEN POSSIBLY GOVERNOR OR CONGRESSMAN OR SENATOR. IF, INSTEAD, HE CLINGS TO HIS ANCIENT IRISH, CATHOLIC HERITAGE AND STANDS UP AGAINST THE RACISTS AND BIGOTS AND BACKSTABBERS AND LIARS AT THE GLOBE, THEN HE MIGHT BECOME A REAL MAN, AND NOT THE LEFTIES’ LACKEY.
Do as I say, not as I do.