O’Brien resigns amid scandal
Probation chief says he has been made a scapegoat
Rather than being scapegoated, the comments below lead one to believe that O'Brien was inadequately qualified for his position beyond being a successful lackey, providing jobs for the well-connected to curry favor --
If O’Brien’s demise lay in fixing jobs for political insiders, it was a skill he learned early. In fact, that practice may have begun on the day in 1998 when he became the state’s seventh commissioner of probation.
In 1984, when his predecessor was appointed, the top job at probation required a master’s degree or doctorate. O’Brien has a sociology degree from Boston College.
Ware found evidence that the late John J. Irwin Jr., the chief justice for administration and management in 1998, “made the qualifications for commissioner less rigorous so that O’Brien would qualify.’’
Irwin was an early and important influence on O’Brien’s rise to power at the Probation Department. He tapped O’Brien to be his key aide as legislative liaison for the Administrative Office of the Trial Court.
They both attended Boston College, and Irwin’s interest in O’Brien’s career would prove to be seminal. When Irwin showed up on Beacon Hill, lobbying on behalf of the Trial Court and its budget, O’Brien was his shadow.
That led to lasting and fruitful relationships in the Legislature, such as those with former House speaker Thomas M. Finneran and Representative Thomas M. Petrolati. O’Brien parlayed those connections to boost his budget and deflect challenges from judges, union chiefs, and other public safety officials who chafed at his secretive and pugnacious style.
Republicans weigh in --
Bruce Tarr, who will become the Senate minority leader next week, called O’Brien’s resignation “a positive development.’’
“But I think it would be a mistake to think that we don’t have serious reforms yet to make,’’ Tarr said. “The conditions that allowed the improprieties to happen are still in place, despite the fact that a key player is leaving.’’
House minority leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., Republican of North Reading, called the departure of O’Brien “long overdue, however an appropriate way to usher in the New Year.’’
“It is my hope that this will be the first step in the long, difficult process of cleaning up what is known to be a very corrupt Probation Department,’’ Jones said.
The actions of Republicans will define their sincerity.
Previously offered: Wait until you see the patronage Gambling brings!
The media, including the Boston Globe, remained silent as closed door meetings were conducted with the Gambling Industry to compose flawed legislation that was presented shortly before floor debates.
Posted here: Mushroom Farming Flourishes on Beacon Hill
(Mushroom Farming is what it is: Grown in the dark and fed a diet of manure. And it's flourishing on Beacon Hill.)
Kathi-Anne Reinstein, a Revere Democrat who
organized the SECRET CLOSED DOOR briefing,
told the News Service the session was closed
TO THE PUBLIC so state reps would
"feel comfortable to ask any questions without
having any type of criticism'' and surely at the
request of gambling interests who can make
undisputed wild promises that are unsubstantiated
and never be held accountable.
So why did DeLeo close the caucus to
the public and the press? What is he trying
to hide?
The most likely answer is that keeping
serious discussions secret is the default
setting on Beacon Hill. When in doubt,
lock everyone out.
The practice of having its most important
debates behind closed doors, and the
arrogance that practice reflects, has
everything to do with the Legislature’s
lack of credibility with the public. It may
be unfair, even inaccurate, to assume
corruption thrives behind locked doors
in the Statehouse, but DeLeo and his
colleagues only feed that notion with their
actions.
The media, including the Boston Globe, remained silent when 'public hearings' were conducted that failed to include gambling opponents, or at best, limited their time, or placed opponents last on the agenda, after the media cycle, effectively silencing them.
The problem goes far deeper than the Probation Dept. and needs to be probed.
The problem defines an attitude of leadership on Beacon Hill that believes it is immune from transparency and blessed with Divine Insight.
It's easy to ignore things like:
"There's evidence out that shows the cost for every dollar these casinos bring in costs the taxpayers about 2.1 dollars in social costs. It's a dangerous thing."
when your mind is already made up, with the assistance of gambling lobbyists.
By shutting me out of those sham meetings, you have convinced me you're hiding something. It's time to ask "what?"
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