Keller @ Large: Marty Walsh, Expensive Date
BOSTON (CBS) - After a year in office I have found nothing to dislike about likeable Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. And in his first State of the City speech Tuesday night, Walsh appeared to say all the right things.
Diversity in city hiring? Check.
Improved bond rating? Check.
Smoother-than-normal labor relations, technological innovation in city services and communication with citizens, a new app that lets you pay for parking with your smartphone?
Check, check and check.
And plans for the future? Walsh has plenty of them, big ones: thousands of new housing units, new schools, main street makeovers. And of course, the big enchilada, the Summer Olympics, complete with submarine rides in the Charles River and a monorail down the middle of Blue Hill Avenue.
OK, I made up those last two items, but if Marty can dream big, why can't I?
But all kidding aside, there were a few little items missing from the mayor's speech that ought to give Boston taxpayers pause.
For starters, how about the multi-billion dollar city liability for retiree public-worker benefits, the second largest debt of its kind in the country? Not a word about that.
And Walsh said nothing about how all his admirable-but-expensive plans for the city will be paid for.
Perhaps, along with likeable guy, we should attach another description to this mayor – expensive date.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
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