If I have been Maura Healey, I might not need anybody to know the place I lived, both.
Who wants indignant protestors outdoors your Roslindale dwelling, like Boston Mayor Michelle Wu places up with, and even breaking into your Swampscott home, which occurred to Gov. Charlie Baker.
Protestors breaking the legislation have been arrested at each places.
The days when protestors show solely outdoors of City Hall or the State House the place there may be safety are lengthy gone.
During these turbulent instances, protesters haven’t any qualms about demonstrating outdoors the houses of public officers, together with the houses of members of the U.S Supreme Court.
The query arises within the wake of a Boston Globe story that reported that whereas Healey, the incoming Democrat governor, mentioned she lived in Boston, she truly “quietly” moved to an condo in Cambridge, which no person knew about.
Healey, 50 and twice elected lawyer normal, beforehand lived in a shared rental in Charlestown however moved to the South End after breaking apart along with her longtime companion. Healey is overtly homosexual and protecting of her privateness.
However, given the instances we stay in, Healey, upon assuming the governor’s workplace, could doubtless be subjected to protestors and demonstrations wherever she lives, similar to Wu and Baker.
While Healey could have technically damaged the legislation by not informing marketing campaign officers of her precise residence, it’s no massive deal, particularly if the violation was unintentional—or executed for causes of safety
Besides, new governors have been identified to stumble now and again upon assuming workplace.
Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick got here beneath fireplace in 2007 when the newly elected governor lavished $27,000 in taxpayer funds on new furnishings, together with $12,000 for damask curtains for the governor’s workplace.
He additionally took warmth for leasing a $46,000 Cadillac when his predecessor. Gov, Mitt Romney made do with outdated furnishings and a Ford Crown Vic.
Reimbursements have been made and all was quickly straightened out and 4 years later Patrick was re-elected, defeating Republican Charlie Baker, who was making his first run for governor.
Governors want safety. And Maura Healey in all probability wants extra safety than your common governor on condition that she is the primary lady elected governor in Massachusetts who additionally occurs to be single and homosexual.
And not like most different states, Massachusetts has no mansion the place a governor and his household are assured a protected place to stay in a constructing owned by the state.
In lieu of an official residence, the Massachusetts governor will get a housing allowance of $65,000.
An answer to each the governor’s housing scenario and the issue of safety is to create an official residence for the governor positioned contained in the State House.
It could be just like the residence part the President has within the White House. It is the place presidents have lived since President John Adams
The State House is probably the most safe public constructing within the state. It additionally has area to spare. A residence there would give Healey each safety and privateness.
No governor has ever lived within the State House, nor has anybody else, though a homeless reporter did secretly take up residence for some time.
John Hancock, the primary governor of Massachusetts, got here the closest since he lived subsequent door in a home lengthy since torn down.
While the unique and stylish portion of the State House, constructed by Charles Bulfinch in 1798, and different architectural additions, are exempt from any building, there isn’t a cause a 5 – 6 room residence couldn’t be carved out in different components of the constructing.
There is loads of empty and unused area within the huge extension that was added in 1895 or the east and west wings that have been connected in 1917.
Renovations within the non-Bulfinch a part of the constructing are frequent. Walls have been torn all the way down to increase workplace area for legislators that usually stay empty.
Also empty is the big fourth flooring press room that after housed 35 reporters (myself included) or the empty paperwork room throughout the corridor that now comprises no paperwork since issues went digital.
She might even have my desk.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”