For too many years citizen's have had to pay the cost in utilities, phone repairs, road repairs, construction sites, and any number of others who work in or on streets. Only off-duty policemen could be used. Naturally, whoever was doing the work has no choice but to pass that expense on to the consumer. For the most part there are union contracts set up with the towns who feel unable to change these.
In August, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts decided it was unnecessary and said by October citizen employees could be hired. The program will start with state projects only, to avoid conflict with agreements cities and towns have with contractors. Today the off-duty police of many towns stopped traffic in a protest in Woburn, probably rattling the two traffic flaggers so that both, at each end, allowed traffic to start through, causing a traffic jam for a bit.
Can it be that a currently less popular Governor than was expected is actually making a change for the better? There is a hope that the plan will save the state taxpayers millions of dollars in the next few years. We all know that it is the tip of an iceberg on the waste in the State funds. If we can reduce nepotism, hire only people qualified for the job they get (that includes you, too, Caribou Sarah), stop theft and no-shows, life might improve for most of us. Well, ALL hope is not dead yet!
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