Massachusetts authorities is a kleptocracy, everyone understands that.
However even by sordid Bay State requirements, the continued strategy of choosing an organization to run 18 service plazas on the MassPike and different state roads is astonishingly ripe, let’s consider.
A neighborhood firm, International Companions of Waltham, supplied the state $1.5 billion, assured.
A overseas firm, Applegreed, er Applegreen, supplied between $623 and $994 million, perhaps, not assured.
Maura Healey’s hacks at MassDOT try to rubber-stamp the deal that may pay the state not less than $600 million much less, and doubtless nearer to $900 million much less.
MassDOT had a monetary skilled, KPMG, research the competing proposals. Their verdict: Applegreed’s phrases “don’t appear to fulfill MassDOT’s acknowledged aim of sustaining and probably rising the income supply over the lease time period.”
However in Massachusetts, it’s who you understand, and what they will do for you. On this case, Applegreed cunningly employed as its common contractor Suffolk Building, run by native uber-wired billionaire John Fish.
International Companions, which has been in enterprise right here for 90 years, is screaming foul concerning the state planning to take the clearly inferior bid. It’s so outrageous that the Senate Submit Audit and Oversight Committee is holding a listening to on the billion-dollar rip-off Wednesday.
The smoking gun is 185 texts between the top of the “choice committee” and numerous well-heeled greedheads at Applegreed and Suffolk.
To show the purpose, the legislators ought to blow up all of the texts on poster boards that went backwards and forwards between Suffolk/Applegreed and the patsy working the choice committee, a State Home hack lifer named Scott Bosworth.
Bosworth makes $242,050 a 12 months from the MBTA and has a mansion on Martha’s Winery. In fact he does. His spouse works for what he calls “Looney Tunes” within the City of Milton. (He despatched his friends at Suffolk a textual content about that too.)
As a part of the bidding course of Bosworth was presupposed to don’t have any third-party conversations with both of the 2 bidders or their surrogates.
Bosworth didn’t comply with the foundations. International Companions acquired (a few of) his texts and listed here are the numbers:
Texts between Bosworth and the native bidders that supplied $1.5 billion: zero.
Texts between Bosworth and the overseas firm with the $600-million bid: 185.
Not solely that, however the forbidden texts between Bosworth and the Applegreed-Suffolk mob are festooned with emojis, together with six coronary heart emojis, not less than 20 with thumbs up, and nonetheless extra with flexing arms and a handful of preying, er praying arms.
As an example, after the Applegreed’s bid is rubber-stamped by the DOT, Bosworth texts Suffolk’s Pat Lucey, whom Fish describes as his “surrogate son.”
Bosworth: “Obtained it completed”
To which Fish’s “son” responds with a coronary heart emoji.
However this deal was completely on the extent!
On March 11, one other of Suffolk’s fixers, an ex-Metropolis Corridor hack named Pat Brophy, texts Bosworth that he wants to speak to him.
“Only a fast intestine test.”
What does that imply? Brophy, a former Ireland Pub bartender who turned an enforcer for Mumbles Menino (whose cop son additionally acquired loads of “work” at Suffolk) gives Boz a ticket to a $100-a-head time in Dorchester for a neighborhood hack metropolis councilor, John Fitzgerald, son of the late crooked Rep. Kevin Fitzgerald, the notorious bag-lady ripper-offer.
Birds of a feather…
“No donation mandatory,” says Broph (for that’s how Bosworth cozily refers to his patron), “however I hope you may be part of me subsequent Thursday for a drink… You’ll know all the room.”
In fact Boz will! They’re all hacks. By the best way, was that free ticket a “gratuity” as outlined by state ethics legal guidelines?
“Simply a chance to have a neighborhood beer,” Broph gushes to Boz, “with pals.”
You understand what pals are for? To get you one thing, like perhaps a comfortable job, after you get one thing for them.
MassDOT’s most up-to-date protection of those moral breaches is that “even when” there was some chicanery, it’s no large deal. The top of Applegreed conceded final week that perhaps some “scorers” (plural) did some unhealthy issues, however so what?
Fish personally despatched 21 texts on to Bosworth, and Bosworth responded 15 occasions. Bosworth is totally groveling to Fish, a man with an extended historical past of signing hacks like Bosworth off the waiver wire.
Bosworth to Fish April 4: “SPECTACULAR! Your group is implausible. Have a calming weekend. Thanks! Scott.”
Fish to Bosworth March 27: “Can I name you later?”
Bosworth: “Anytime. Thanks.”
Listed here are a couple of of Fish’s texts to the determined 60-year-old Bosworth:
“Scott, I can’t thanks sufficient in your assist as we speak. You’re a true pal… Get pleasure from your trip… Get pleasure from your night.”
To which Bosworth responds: “You too. Thanks.”
Earlier than the “choice course of” started, Bosworth needed to signal paperwork saying that he had no conflicts of curiosity, which might presumably embody monetary dealings with any of the events, together with Suffolk.
Fascinating, as a result of Bosworth has an organization referred to as “Fort Hill.” They’re into, uh, transportation. On the web site of MIT, the place he’s an assistant observe coach, Boz is listed as “the proprietor of Fort Hill Firms.”
On the Everett on line casino building in 2016, Suffolk was after all the overall contractor. Certainly one of their subcontractors, in accordance with state paperwork, was… Fort Hill. For “visitors engineering.”
Appears that very profitable connection to his buddy John Fish ought to have not less than been talked about, proper? And Fort Hill is listed in these 2016 paperwork as a veteran-owned enterprise.
Actually, did Bosworth serve within the army? In spite of everything, he’s “the proprietor of Fort Hill,” in accordance with his most up-to-date MIT bio.
That was one of many many questions I had for Boz, however he didn’t return any of my telephone calls.
MassDOT appears to be getting chilly ft about this historic heist, as effectively they may. The feds are already crawling everywhere in the MBTA.
As for the Pike, keep in mind the State Police’s Troop E? They stole perhaps, what, $10 million from the feds after which tried to destroy the information to cowl their tracks.
This $900 million deal makes Troop E’s depredations seem like robbing the tip jar.
International Companions is demanding extra texts from the choice committee. Are you able to say, tip of the iceberg?
Questions for the senators subsequent week and the G males afterward:
“Mr. Bosworth, what does ‘acquired it completed’ imply? And what’s up with all the center emojis?”
“Broph, why’d it’s worthwhile to have a ‘fast intestine test’ with Boz?”
At all times keep in mind the Massachusetts guidelines:
Nothing on the extent. All the things is a deal. No deal too small.
Pre-order Howie’s new e-book, “Mass Corruption: Vol. 1 The Cops” at howiecarrshow.com.
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