Former Big Dig official appointed to top transportation post

I can't imagine a worse choice. Aloisi is the embodiment of everything that is wrong about insider, patronage politics. Despite the snow, Deval, we took note of this. You are now one of them.

The sheep of this state deserve what they get. The politicians that keep getting elected are idiots and should not be in office. The one thing on their mind is how to get more money out of the pockets of taxpayers. When will they get the idea that they have to STOP spending not keep looking for more money.

I thought Deval wanted to get rid of all the "Insiders."

Will just add it to the list of his lies.

This guy is a scumbag - check him out. Nice timing on the appointment Deval.

How is that possible???????????

That's like putting Joe Kennedy Sr as head of the SEC! His legislature is bankrupting this state, now he's being handed the keys to the store?

Is this appointment part of Deval Patrick's "Project: Promise Change?"
The promise and practice of bringing new faces into government has failed.
Ho- Ho Hummm. Looks like business as usual.

Poor selection.

The Governor of change is running the State like it has always been run. I am not surprised that he waited for Friday afternoon. This is business as usual. Shame on us for putting Deval in office.

Awful, just awful choice. This guy was the architect of the Pike's "Stayin' Alive" strategy that floated massive new bonds when the Pike was scheduled to go free.

Repeat after me: Tolls are bad. They apply absolutely the wrong incentives to efficiency in highway management, specifically:
1. Unlike free roads, toll collection requires massive investments in land, infrastructure and people just so they can be used for their intended purpose.
2. The ignored flaw is that toll plazas constrain the ability to optimize the (public) asset with enough interchanges... There are four logical interchanges between Auburn and Sturbridge for me, but those choices do not exist because of tolls.
3. Tolls self-perpetuate due to patronage and political access to revenue streams (If anyone can come up with a WORSE idea than giving the Pike control of the Big Dig, I'm all ears).

Amorello -- I mean Aloisi -- just means more of the same into perpetuity. As my practical wife points out, my kids' kids will be paying tolls on the Mass Pike -- no matter how illogical that whole concept is. Hard to argue with that prediction. Still, we're all familiar with the term "necessary evil" --- this is an unnecessary evil. Logic should prevent that, but logic doesn't enter into it where the Mass Pike is concerned.

Well it's obvious that the Globe is upset that they can't run a prime-time story on this. They even devoted a "breaking news" headline to this to story in retaliation (I think we all know that this story wouldn't normally warrant a "breaking news" headline). Sorry, Globe, but please grow up. How about just reporting the facts? It's unfortunate how the Globe is becoming just as negative as the majority of people who comment in these forums.

And there's a bit of irony that the Globe is complaining about people being distracted by the snowstorm. If the media didn't routinely devote 24/7 coverage to a few inches of snow, maybe people would focus on more substantive news.

This is typical of one party rule. Deval has been emboldened by the defeat of ballot question 1. How else can one explain this blatant hypocrisy...getting elected on bucking the insider mentality only to hire the poster child of big dig insiders.

what does mike dukakis think about this? I'm worried here...Deval's opening the door for the republicans which is the last thing we need.

By appointing such a shady character to this position, in the midst of the biggegst corruption expose this state has ever seen, our governor is showing us that he is either incredibly stupid, incredibly corrupt, or both.

Yes We Can - announce typical Mass political patronage appointments on a Friday afternoon during a snowstorm!

Let's PULL the wolf into the hen's house...I think this is only the beginning!

CHANGE!

Please... I'm also sure that Aloisi will be keeping all of B. Cohen's sr. staff... so what really changes??? NOTHING. I'l only be impressed (potentially) if Aloisi cleans house completely.. deputies, sr. mgmt, and even the pseudo-management positions (like PR, chief of staff, and other general butt kissers who don't do much) etc. All must go!!! They are all a bunch of hacks

That's like putting Parsons Brinckerhoff in charge of all construction projects. Folks, I'm afraid our lovely governor has made a terrible choice in Aloisi. So much for Deval's big changes. Instead the more it changes the more it stays the same.

A key player in the tumultuous history of the Big Dig - what a great choice for transportation secretary.