Daily Update 9/23: Governor Patrick's Letter to the Hyatt
Governor’s Daily Update
Schools, Jobs, and Civic Engagement
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Today: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
- Governor Deval Patrick today announced that he will direct all state employees to stop doing official business with Hyatt unless the company rehires the housekeeping staff it fired from Boston-area hotels on August 31. In a letter to CEO Mark Hoplamazian sent yesterday, the Governor again expressed his concern for the impacted workers, called the company’s treatment of its long-term employees “substandard” and said that he plans to meet with a group of affected workers this week to better understand the circumstances surrounding their discharge. Read the Governor’s full letter here, and learn more here.
- Today, Lt. Governor Murray announced that the Commonwealth’s comprehensive multi-year rail transportation agreement with CSX Transportation (CSXT), the national freight carrier serving Massachusetts, has been finalized. “Consistent with our commitment to improve transportation service throughout the Commonwealth, we have done more to deliver on the South Coast rail project than any other administration," said Governor Patrick. “This is a critical milestone, and I thank Lieutenant Governor Murray for his leadership, and Senator Kerry, Congressman McGovern, and CSXT leaders for all coming to the table and staying there until we could get a deal that works.” Learn more here.
In the Press:
- U.S. Senate Interim Appointment – Yesterday, state Senators passed the bill allowing Governor Patrick to appoint an interim Senator before the special election in January. The final bill could reach the Governor’s desk as soon as today. The Governor appreciates the support voiced in the Senate today and the action taken by the House last week to ensure Massachusetts has full representation in the Congress. The Governor looks forward to final action on the bill.
- Read more in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the Associated Press, the Republican, Bloomberg, the Patriot Ledger, the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, and the Worcester Telegram.
- Charter Schools – Responding to concerns expressed from the community in Gloucester, Governor Patrick has urged the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to reconsider its decision on the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School: “Rather than defending that process and leaving the community feeling unheard and disrespected, it would seem the better course for everyone just to start over,” the Governor said in a letter to the board. The board will schedule a public meeting in Gloucester to provide an important, meaningful opportunity for the community and to listen to concerns of opponents and proponents.
- Read more in the Boston Globe and the Worcester Telegram.
- Watch Paul Reville address these concerns on YouTube.
This Week:
