Massachusetts authorities is a kleptocracy, everyone understands that.
However even by sordid Bay State requirements, the continued technique of choosing an organization to run 18 service plazas on the MassPike and different state roads is astonishingly ripe, let’s assume.
A neighborhood firm, World Companions of Waltham, supplied the state $1.5 billion, assured.
A overseas firm, Applegreed, er Applegreen, supplied between $623 and $994 million, possibly, not assured.
Maura Healey’s hacks at MassDOT are attempting to rubber-stamp the deal that may pay the state no less than $600 million much less, and doubtless nearer to $900 million much less.
MassDOT had a monetary knowledgeable, KPMG, research the competing proposals. Their verdict: Applegreed’s phrases “don’t appear to fulfill MassDOT’s said aim of sustaining and doubtlessly growing the income supply over the lease time period.”
However in Massachusetts, it’s who you realize, and what they’ll do for you. On this case, Applegreed cunningly employed as its basic contractor Suffolk Development, run by native uber-wired billionaire John Fish.
World Companions, which has been in enterprise right here for 90 years, is screaming foul in regards to the state planning to take the clearly inferior bid. It’s so outrageous that the Senate Put up 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 varied 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 forwards and backwards between Suffolk/Applegreed and the patsy working the choice committee, a State Home hack lifer named Scott Bosworth.
Bosworth makes $242,050 a yr 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 buddies at Suffolk a textual content about that too.)
As a part of the bidding course of Bosworth was presupposed to haven’t any third-party conversations with both of the 2 bidders or their surrogates.
Bosworth didn’t observe the foundations. World Companions obtained (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, no less than 20 with thumbs up, and nonetheless extra with flexing arms and a handful of preying, er praying palms.
As an illustration, 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: “Received it executed”
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 verify.”
What does that imply? Brophy, a former Ireland Pub bartender who turned an enforcer for Mumbles Menino (whose cop son additionally obtained loads of “work” at Suffolk) provides 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 crucial,” says Broph (for that’s how Bosworth cozily refers to his patron), “however I hope you possibly can be part of me subsequent Thursday for a drink… You’ll know the complete 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 possibility to have a neighborhood beer,” Broph gushes to Boz, “with buddies.”
You recognize what buddies are for? To get you one thing, like possibly a gentle 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 massive deal. The pinnacle of Applegreed conceded final week that possibly some “scorers” (plural) did some dangerous issues, however so what?
Fish personally despatched 21 texts on to Bosworth, and Bosworth responded 15 occasions. Bosworth is completely groveling to Fish, a man with a protracted historical past of signing hacks like Bosworth off the waiver wire.
Bosworth to Fish April 4: “SPECTACULAR! Your staff is improbable. Have a calming weekend. Thanks! Scott.”
Fish to Bosworth March 27: “Can I name you later?”
Bosworth: “Anytime. Thanks.”
Listed here are a number of of Fish’s texts to the determined 60-year-old Bosworth:
“Scott, I can’t thanks sufficient on your help right this moment. 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 embrace 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 monitor 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. Considered one of their subcontractors, based on state paperwork, was… Fort Hill. For “visitors engineering.”
Appears that very profitable connection to his buddy John Fish ought to have no 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,” based on 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 cellphone calls.
MassDOT appears to be getting chilly ft about this historic heist, as properly 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 possibly, what, $10 million from the feds after which tried to destroy the data to cowl their tracks.
This $900 million deal makes Troop E’s depredations appear like robbing the tip jar.
World 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 ‘obtained it executed’ imply? And what’s up with all the guts emojis?”
“Broph, why’d it’s essential have a ‘fast intestine verify’ with Boz?”
All the time keep in mind the Massachusetts guidelines:
Nothing on the extent. The whole lot 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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