What the hell was House Speaker Ron Mariano pondering final evening when he went to Holbrook for a fundraiser for an overweight, greed-crazed native hack Democrat named Daniel Lee?
I perceive, Mariano’s spent his complete political profession on the State House surrounded by dodgy pols so crooked that they want a corkscrew to get into their trousers within the morning.
But actually, in his political dotage at age 76, shouldn’t the Speaker– or somebody round him – have had sense sufficient to inform him that he shouldn’t go right down to Lucky’s 777 to fete one of many sleazier native hacks on the present political scene?
Look on the invitation – Mariano’s identify is on the prime. He was the draw, for apparent causes. He’s the second strongest particular person in state authorities. He controls the cash.
The identify Dan Lee could not ring a bell — with the collapse of native newspapers, municipal politicians don’t get practically as a lot scrutiny as they used to. Most get none in any respect.
Lee is a selectman within the city of Holbrook, operating for re-election. And he’s an actual piece of labor. Channel 5 took him down a couple of pegs in 2021, and the headlines sum up the best way the scandal developed:
“Landlord says top town official used COVID eviction ban to avoid paying rent.”
“Holbrook town official agrees to pay thousands in back rent.”
“Bid to oust Holbrook selectman over use of eviction moratorium protection.”
And in fact the ultimate inevitable information, since that is Massachusetts: “Holbrook politicians reinstate controversial head of Select Board.”
And now after making an attempt to beat his aged landlady out of $1,275 a month in hire, Lee is operating for re-election. And the hackerama is behind him 100%.
Of course Mr. and Mrs. Lee each had hack jobs at Town Hall. He’s within the city Department of Public Works, making about $62,000 a 12 months.
His spouse is Brenda Lee, however not the “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Brenda Lee. No, this Brenda Lee is rockin’ across the hackerama tree. She used to work at Town Hall, however final 12 months Ron Mariano employed her on the State House for $57,240 a 12 months.
Another nationwide search!
Despite making six figures, as quickly because the hire “moratorium” kicked in, the Lees signed kinds claiming they didn’t must pay hire due to the Panic. That 12 months they made $109,430.50 from the Town.
Their landlady, 79-year-old Michaele Rodgers, informed Channel 5 in 2021, “They don’t have any souls, or hearts, because they’re taking advantage of us, they really are…. He said, ‘I don’t have to pay anymore. I’ve got proof that I don’t have to pay because I qualify for aid.’”
Less than a 12 months after they stopped paying hire, the Lees moved into a brand new dwelling value $443,000. They personal that dwelling, along with a cottage on Sebago Lake in Casco ME.
Selectman Lee didn’t return calls positioned yesterday to each the DPW yard and Town Hall in Holbrook. On social media, Mrs. Rodgers’ daughter says her mother and father are nonetheless owed hundreds by the Democrat energy couple.
I all the time used to affiliate Holbrook with Andy Card, the previous state rep who later served as George W. Bush’s chief of employees throughout 9/11. Kind of staid, straight-laced and swamp Yankee.
But when Dorchester started emptying out within the 1970’s, everybody who couldn’t afford to purchase in Milton, Quincy or Braintree ended up in Holbrook. It stuffed up with toothless tigers who nonetheless remembered the place they had been the evening Spike O’Toole stepped out of the Bulldog on Savin Hill Ave and right into a hail of Winter Hill gang bullets again in 1973.
Now Holbrook is the reply to the query, the place did Dorchester go?
It’s type of a cross between Peyton Place and the Dukes of Hazard. I imply, simply have a look at Daniel Lee. He used to virtually stay on the Golden Pacific, however he had an issue or two there – you’ll be able to take a look at the police reviews on YouTube. Now he holds his, uh, workplace hours at Donahue’s Pub.
In that method, he’s just like the second identify on the invite checklist – Rep. Mark Cusack, of neighboring Braintree. Cusack has two district places of work in Braintree – on the Brew House and on the Southside Tavern close to the mall.
You could recall Cusack (his identify rhymes with hack) for a well-known post-midnight date he loved within the House chambers again in 2011 with Diana DiZoglio, the long run $229,377-a-year state auditor.
Holbrook’s in Norfolk County, so you’ll be able to type of perceive Mariano and Cusack heading down there final evening and holding their nostril to spend a while with Deadbeat Dan Lee et al.
But what about these payroll patriots from Brockton? Why had been they on the visitor checklist?
I couldn’t determine that out till one other barfly from the Golden Pacific stuffed me in.
The city administrator of Holbrook is Greg Hanley, and he simply occurs to be a… Plymouth County commissioner. If you’re a metropolis pol in Brockton, it doesn’t damage to do a favor for one of many county commissioners.
Again, although, why would Mariano need to be related to such a motley assortment of B- and C-list hacks, particularly as he approaches the checkout counter?
Maybe hanging out with such a loathsome crew final evening was merely an train in nostalgia – or ought to I say nostalgie de la boue, which is outlined as a want for low-life expertise and degradation, which definitely describes politics in Holbrook.
Remember, Mariano served underneath three audio system who had been convicted of felonies and was placed on the trail to his personal speakership by an unindicted coconspirator.
And Mariano’s personal inheritor obvious is Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, one-time consigliere to the crime syndicate run by ex-Speaker Sal DiMasi (Bureau of Prisons #27371-038).
So I’m positive an exquisite time was had by all final evening at Lucky’s 777. If you had been indicted, you had been invited.
The solely bon vivant lacking was Spike O’Toole, and that was solely as a result of he was arrange by Eddie Connors on Savin Hill Avenue on that chilly December evening earlier than he may flee to Holbrook and get a job with everyone else at Town Hall.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”