Brians Beat

It's been an extreme burden on consumers and retailers since 2009. That's when the Massachusetts Legislature forced their will on us, again. This time with a 25% hike in the sales tax. According to the Department of Revenue, the state was rewarded with $6...

I spoke with the former President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association regarding President Trump's travel ban executive order. First, I admit believing the Supreme Court handed the President a resounding victory by lifting the injunction...

It's bad enough Beacon Hill lawmakers are quibbling over legal marijuana, the budget and Planned Parenthood funding. The Commonwealth is hundreds of millions of dollars in red ink, and what do several Reps. and Senators propose, a single payer, taxpayer supported, Medicare for all system...

The rat-tat-tat of gunfire rings again in New Bedford. A brazen broad daylight barrage of bullets as children are walking home from school. Police won't say if they know who the gunslingers are, but there is one, unintended victim. A 60 year old man, sitting in his home, catches a stray bullet in the neck...

Massachusetts law is today muddier than the Charles River. Juvenile Court Judge Lawrence Moniz has ruled that Michelle Carter is guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Conrad Roy III. Roy smoked himself in a cloudy pool of carbon monoxide on the evening of July 13, 2014 ...

Absolutely unbelievable. The President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association pushed her agenda on Brian's Beat. Barbara Madeloni and the MTA are holding a rally Saturday on Boston Common. There's common ground between the two of us, albeit for differing reasons...

Brian vents about three different events that all occurred within the 5 minutes that he was waiting for the bus. He was nearly hit by a woman who was texting while driving. Another car drove the wrong way despite TWO "do not enter" signs. And a police cruiser with lights but no siren missed a pedestrian by a hair...

He's the long time Executive Director of the Realtor Association of Southeastern Massachusetts, formerly known as the Southeastern Mass Association of Realtors. As an exclusive to Brian's Beat, Paul Chasse announced he's a candidate for Ward 5 New Bedford City Council...

I have no real dog in this political fight. I do have a good friend in it. And, unless there's something seriously flawed with the friend or friendship, I stick with the friend. As Tip O'Neill stated, "all politics is local." Perception or reality, people vote who they know...

They stand on circular black poles protruding upright through the cement sidewalk. The city of New Bedford is quenching its thirst for more money by adding additional parking meters in the downtown area. You'll find several being erected behind the YMCA building along School and Water Streets...