Left In Lowell

Meehan appears to be in hot water, with both public support, and the Attorney General of Massachusetts.

…more than 500 union tradesmen formed a moving rally from the Tsongas Arena to the steps of City Hall Wednesday, accusing UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan of bypassing the competitive bidding laws in its plan to lease a new dorm.
[…]
State Attorney General Martha Coakley says the contract with Brasi Development Corp. violates the law.

How anyone could undertake a major project like building a dorm, in a public university using public money, and not expect to go through the correct bidding process is beyond me. Does Meehan really believe he’s above such rules? Who could have possibly advised him this was a correct course of action?

As to the Lowell Superior Court judge who overturned Coakley’s ruling on this…the word “Lowell” is in the guy’s title…it makes one wonder…anyone know who the judge was in this case, and if there’s any untoward connection there? Did that ruling seem to skirt outside the law, or did that judge really have a good reason for overturning Coakley? Inquiring minds.

This needs to get outside of Lowell jurisdiction, where no appearance of conflict of interest exists, and kudos on Coakley for going for the appeal.