privatization Archives

This Company Paid Massachusetts Opioid Settlement Funds, And Has Had Millions In State Contracts Since

The consulting giant McKinsey continued its work advising Mass on healthcare and other matters after paying for “illegal and dangerous partnership with Purdue Pharma”

JACOB SCHLES September 21, 2025

SO MUCH FOR CONTRACTS

State Report Blasts MBTA Contractor Company hired to run Transit Police dispatch service under-delivered, charged extra, and kept inadequate records, according to inspector general’s report Ed. note: This article has been updated to reflect comments from IXP that were received after publication The private company hired to run the MBTA’s

DAN ATKINSON February 7, 2023

A NEW AMERICAN PROJECT

In the nationwide bipartisan blitz to privatize public housing, Boston’s giving billions worth of benefits to some of America’s largest developers, financiers, and property management firms. Politicians are applauding, but for many residents caught in the transition, their housing future is unclear BY CHRIS FARAONE with research and reporting by

CHRIS FARAONE February 1, 2022

MORE ETA, LESS WTF

This marketing company with political ties is getting paid millions to “humanize” the MBTA brand

DAN ATKINSON March 4, 2020

FLIPPING US THE BIRD

Bird’s model looks to be entirely profit-driven and completely mean-spirited. No matter how much CEO Travis VanderZanden tries to equate the unasked-for and unwanted service to “freedom.”

JASON PRAMAS July 25, 2018

TOWNIE: MASS REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES FACE MAJOR BUDGET CRISIS

Gov. Baker’s proposed cuts throw gasoline on raging policy fire February 21, 2018 BY JASON PRAMAS @JASONPRAMAS A quarter-century ago, I lived in Lawrence for a few months. Because it was the closest place to Boston that I could find a cheap apartment on short notice. Unfortunately,

JASON PRAMAS February 21, 2018

CRISIS AVERTED

MBTA bus mechanics beat back privatization… at a cost February 14, 2018 BY JASON PRAMAS @JASONPRAMAS Unionized bus mechanics represented by the International Association of Machinists Local 264 won an important victory last week when they agreed to a four-year contract with the MBTA—effectively ending a two-year

JASON PRAMAS February 14, 2018

WHEN SLOGANS REPLACE BIRTHRIGHTS

How corporate ed reform threatens democracy April 25, 2017 BY JASON PRAMAS @JASONPRAMAS Over the last couple of decades, it has become fashionable for Americans to attack our public education system. Behind these attacks is that most un-American of attitudes: elitism. This is problematic for a number of reasons — the main

JASON PRAMAS April 25, 2017

ACTION CALL: SAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITH INVEST NOW MASS

Photo of giant Charlie by Chris Faraone March 21, 2017 BY JASON PRAMAS @JASONPRAMAS Over the long four months since the election of President Donald Trump, this column has focused more on national politics than usual — with special attention to the promising wave of broadly progressive grassroots activism that has

JASON PRAMAS March 21, 2017