Van Faasen earned the pay he received

Since the Globe has now printed several letters ranting about the $16.4 million compensation package Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts offered CEO Bill Van Faasen upon his retirement, it's only right you finally print at least one pointing out why Mr. Van Faasen was so highly valued by Blue Cross and its board ("Blue Cross gave chairman $16.4m in retirement pay," Nov. 16).

Mr. Van Faasen adopted an ailing, self-absorbed dinosaur of a company in Blue Cross and brought it back from the brink of extinction, turning it into a responsive, member-centric organization that gets top satisfaction scores from the members and clients it serves. Over my years as a consultant to Blue Cross, I repeatedly saw Mr. Van Faasen take steps that dramatically improved members' influence over their own care, reduce operating expenses while helping revitalize the neighborhood where it is now located, and consistently support a broad range of healthcare and social causes throughout the state. In addition, Mr. Van Faasen has long been an outspoken proponent of expanding access to healthcare.

Mr. Van Faasen brought incredible strength, ingenuity, and long- term growth to Blue Cross - improving both its bottom line and its regional impact. He wasn't just handed this package, he earned it.

Greg Robertson
Quincy

Your article ("Sox tickets sell like hotcakes," Nov. 24) illustrates why I cannot go to a Red Sox game unless I stumble upon a season ticket holder who wants to give away his tickets at face value. And what is the chance of that now? When you add in parking and food to the tickets, I might as well save for a vacation. It's crazy. When will this end for the Red Sox? Maybe only when the team isn't doing well for a prolonged period of time.

Norm Blumberg
Stoughton

There are people of all circumstances who are concerned about the proposed 30-story tower on Exeter Street and increase in size at 888 Boylston St. ("Trouble in paradise," Nov. 23). Whether you are a visitor, business person, or resident of the Back Bay, it is inevitable that you have been stuck in traffic on Boylston Street and Exeter Street.

Currently Exeter Street (located between Boylston and Huntington streets), for all due purposes, is one lane. There is double parking for the Lenox Hotel, occasional trailers for movie production, and traffic for the Marriott Courtyard. Across the street, is the Prudential garage, which is constantly backed up on to Exeter, and Shaw's loading dock is located next door to the garage. This is all within just one short city block - a critical exit from the city to the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Add 30 stories of new residents, the opening of the Mandarin, and an 11-story office building, and no surprise, you will have gridlock. This is not about the "rich at Trinity."

Maura A. Burke
Boston

Insurance agencies in this state are adding companies and company access to their offerings in preparation for the 2008 car insurance changes ("Navigating the mass confusion of auto insurance deregulation," Nov. 25).

The changes evolving in the Massachusetts car insurance marketplace will present both opportunities and challenges for businesses and consumers alike.

Colleen A. Herlihy
CIC, Herlihy Insurance Group, Worcester

Kudos to Robert Gavin for highlighting the results of a MassINC study showing Massachusetts is second to last in job creation ("Job growth study: Mass. next to last," Nov. 28). This trend reflects, in part, the challenges that small businesses face in trying to grow in the face of a harsh state and local regulatory environment.

Stephen J. Adams
Regional advocate, US Small Business Administration, Boston

Letters intended for publication should include the writer's name, address, and daytime phone number. All letters are subject to editing. E-mail letters to business@globe.com; fax to 617-929-3183; or mail to Business Letters, The Boston Globe, P.O. Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819.