Howie Carr Exposes Corruption in MassDOT's Masspike Service Plaza Deal
The Massachusetts government is notorious for its corruption, and a recent deal involving the state's MassPike service plazas is no exception. The process of selecting a company to run 18 service plazas on the MassPike and other state roads has been marred by questionable dealings and favoritism.
Global Partners of Waltham, a local company with 90 years of experience in Massachusetts, offered the state $1.5 billion, guaranteed. In contrast, Applegreed, a foreign company with a bid between $623 and $994 million, is being considered despite questionable terms and a lack of guarantees.
MassDOT's selection committee, led by Scott Bosworth, has been accused of favoring the less expensive but lower-bid option, despite KPMG's financial expert stating that Applegreed's terms do not meet MassDOT's stated goal of sustaining and potentially increasing revenue over the lease term.
The Smoking Gun: 185 Texts Between Bosworth and Applegreed Sponsors
Senators are holding a hearing on Wednesday to address the billion-dollar rip-off, with allegations of favoritism and corruption centered around Bosworth's interactions with Suffolk Construction, led by local billionaire John Fish.
Bosworth, who makes $242,050 per year from his job at the MBTA and owns a company called Fort Hill, has been accused of violating state ethics laws by having secret conversations with Fish and other sponsors. These communications include heart emojis, thumbs up, flexing arms, and praying hands.
The Deal: A Billion-Dollar Heist
Applegreed's bid may seem paltry compared to Global Partners' offer, but the real issue is the influence of Bosworth and his connections. Fish personally sent 21 texts directly to Bosworth, who responded 15 times, and Bosworth was offered a "gratuity" in exchange for his support.
Bosworth's relationship with Fish is concerning, as Fort Hill is listed as a subcontractor on the Suffolk-constructed Everett casino project. It appears that this lucrative connection should have been disclosed to avoid any conflict of interest.
The Senators Weigh In
As MassDOT seems to be reevaluating its decision, questions are being raised about the true nature of the deal and whether it is a "tip of the iceberg" for corruption within the state's highest levels.
Senators will have the opportunity to ask tough questions next week, including:
- Mr. Bosworth, what does 'got it done' mean? And what's up with all the heart emojis?
- Broph, why'd you need to have a 'quick gut check' with Boz?
The Fallout: Howie Carr Exposes Corruption
Global Partners is demanding more information from MassDOT, and the real question now is whether this billion-dollar deal was ever truly on the level. As always, we'll be keeping a close eye on this developing story.
Pre-order Howie's new book, "Mass Corruption: Vol. 1 The Cops," at howiecarrshow.com.