The Daily Free Press
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Year xliii. Volume lxxxiv. Issue XXXII
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Thursday, March 21, 2013 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
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www.dailyfreepress.com
John Connolly kicks off mayoral campaign SMG alumnus Pardee donates $7 mil. to BU By Margaret Waterman Daily Free Press Staff
City Councilor At-Large John Connolly kicked off his campaign for Boston mayor Wednesday night at the Omni Parker Hotel. By Zoe Roos Daily Free Press Staff
City Councilor-at-large John Connolly officially launched his Boston mayoral campaign Wednesday night at the Omni Parker hotel to a crowd of nearly 400 supporters. Connolly, who is running against incumbent Boston mayor Thomas Menino, promised a campaign that would bring change and new energy to the Boston economy and Boston Public Schools. Greg Selkoe, founder and CEO of Karmaloop, a company he created while living in Jamaica Plain was first to introduce Connolly. He said Connolly offered a fresh take for the city and a new source of support for Boston entrepreneurs. “A new era in Boston in starting right here
with our next mayor of Boston, John Connolly,” he said. “He wants to bring a bright new future to Boston. That means real support of entrepreneurs. That means reaching out to entrepreneurs and tech leaders, which John plans to do.” A former student of Connolly’s spoke briefly before Connolly’ wife, Meg Connolly, took the stage to introduce her husband. “The qualities that make John a great candidate for mayor are the same qualities that make him a good friend and a good man,” Mrs. Connolly said. “John’s belief in the promise of new ideas and his faith in everyone’s potential will allow this city to tap into a wealth of talent an ability.” When Connolly took the podium, he gave a speech that outlined his plans to revitalize the
ZOE ROOS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Boston economy, open city hall to the public and usher in a new era of innovation. “This campaign is about Boston’s future and a need for new ideas, new energy and new leadership,” he said. “We should have a completely transparent city government focused on inclusive approach to problem solving. We should have a city government that nurtures, fosters and taps into all of our advantages.” Connolly said he plans to revitalize and reform the Boston Public School system, which has been the cornerstone of his campaign. “I will take a no-nonsense approach when it comes to our schools,” he said. “I’ll create a culture of accountability in our school department that it is sorely missing today. I will cre-
Connolly, see page 2
In order to continue the progress of his eponymous center, School of Management alumnus Frederick Pardee announced a donation of $7 million to the Campaign for Boston University Wednesday, BU officials said. Director of Planned Giving Glenn Vivian said Pardee’s donation will be put toward furthering the work done at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the LongerRange Future. “One of Fred’s greatest interests is in human progress, and he created the Pardee Center some years ago at BU,” Vivian said. “His latest gift is really in support of the work that’s being done there … We’re terribly excited to have received his generous gift.” Originally from Bolton, Pardee currently resides in southern California in the Los Angeles area. He graduated from SMG in 1954 and obtained a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Management the same year. Vivian said since Pardee received financial support from BU, he understands the importance of giving back to the community. “He feels he’s been lucky enough to be able to do just that,” Vivian said. “His experience at BU was so impactful to his life and his success that he is just supportive at a high level. He feels that he has the ability to give back and he is pleased to have the ability to do so.” Pardee’s donation brings his total contribution to BU near $20 million, said BU spokesman Colin Riley. “His total contribution is in the top 10 [of all BU donors] when you look at all of his contributions,” Riley said. “His most recent contribution dovetails very nicely with the establishment of the Pardee Center.” The Pardee Center was founded in 2000 to facilitate intellectual inquiry related to human
Pardee, see page 2
MGM Resorts files paperwork for proposed casino in Springfield
COURTESY OF MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts International finished the paperwork for an environmental review for a proposed downtown Boston casino Saturday. MGM Springfield would be in the South End. By Mike Torruella Daily Free Press Staff
MGM Resorts International announced Friday it has filed the required paperwork in order to begin environmental review for a proposed casino in Springfield. “A complete ENF [Environmental Notification Form] is required under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act for a development that meets or exceeds certain
thresholds. The size, scope and location of the MGM Springfield proposal triggers the review,” according to a statement from MGM Friday. Carole Brennan, spokeswoman for MGM, said they have been planning the project for several months. “MGM has been working extensively on this development since we announced this in August of 2012 and we have worked
on this particular project for many months prior to that,” she said. MGM has to file copies of the ENF with eight local communities that will be impacted by the new casino, including Springfield, Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, West Springfield and Wilbraham, according to the release. MGM Springfield is the first applicant in western Massachusetts to undertake the step of filing an ENF and is expected to cost $800 million and cover 14.5 acres in downtown Springfield, according to the release. Elaine Driscoll, director of communications at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said in an email that MGM Springfield is one of four applicants seeking a resort casino license in western Massachusetts after the government passed the Gaming Act in 2011. “[The casinos] include: MGM Springfield, Penn National (Springfield), Mohegan Sun (Palmer) and Hard Rock (West Springfield),” she said. “The Gaming Act was signed with a priority on economic development, increased revenue to the Commonwealth and job creation.” Driscoll said developing gaming facilities that enhance tourism but handle environmental issues in the area is important for companies looking to expand to Massachusetts.
“Environmental issues and other mitigation concerns such as traffic and public safety will be key elements of the evaluation criteria for licenses,” she said. “All applicants will be expected to address mitigation concerns in a comprehensive manner.” George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, said the review process that each company must go through when applying for a license is rigorous. “Every development project has to go through an environmental review, you have to file site plans and go through approvals at the local level,” he said. “Depending on whether you impact state roads or state lands, you have to go through an EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] process.” Bachrach said the paperwork is beneficial to addressing the environmental needs of the area being developed. “We want to make sure that if there is preexisting contamination, that the new owner cleans it up,” he said. “We don’t want contaminants going into the water supply if the new owner builds on the soil.” MGM expects a positive outcome from the environmental review process, Brennan said. “The review process will take many months,” Brennan said. “The Environmental Notification Form is just the first step, and provides an outline of anticipated permits and impacts.”