The Codcast

It was one thing when Sydney Chaffee was named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Now she's been named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year, with announcement of the winner due in April.

The Codcast sat down with Chaffee and asked what she thinks makes for great teaching. The two top ingredients, she says, are a passion for what you're teaching (she says she has that in abundance for the interdisciplinary study of history and English that is her focus) and building relationships with students to see them "as whole people," gain their trust, and motivate them to take risks. I'm "really trying to fire them up," she says.

The press has been giving Gov. Charlie Baker a lot of advice on how he should deal with President Trump, so we thought we might as well get into the act.

This week's Codcast features the CommonWealth staff kicking around what's at stake for Baker as the nation's preoccupation with Trump intensifies. Does Baker need to become more emotional and less of a technocrat? Can someone differ with Trump without going all-in with visceral statements of condemnation? And are Baker's would-be Democratic rivals going to make him pay for failing to attend rallies and marches where Trump is pilloried.

The press has been giving Gov. Charlie Baker a lot of advice on how he should deal with President Trump, so we thought we might as well get into the act.

This week's Codcast features the CommonWealth staff kicking around what's at stake for Baker as the nation's preoccupation with Trump intensifies. Does Baker need to become more emotional and less of a technocrat? Can someone differ with Trump without going all-in with visceral statements of condemnation? And are Baker's would-be Democratic rivals going to make him pay for failing to attend rallies and marches where Trump is pilloried.

Sen. William Brownsberger has been a supporter of the pay raises and one of the few willing to speak out in justifying the hikes. He joined us on The Codcast to offer his insight and defend why the time is never right but it is the right thing to do. Brownsberger said the quickness with which the bill made its way through the process was because "it's not rocket science," that what you see is what you get.

But he also said he understand the anger and frustration from voters over the issue and pointed out that while the entire measure is immune from repeal by initiative petition because of the inclusion of judges, it doesn't prevent an effort from targeting lawmakers pay alone at the ballot box.

In this week's Codcast, Jackson rips Walsh for his focus on a financially reckless Olympic bid, the ill-fated IndyCar race, and for squandering nearly $3 million in an unsuccessful legal fight against the Wynn casino in Everett. All of that has happened, says Jackson, while the city's schools have struggled to maintain programs for students and a yawning income and housing affordability gap threatens to displace long-time residents from their neighborhoods.

Sears and Macy's, two iconic names in retailing, recently announced they plan to close hundreds of stores resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs around the country. Both have targeted for closure a handful of stores at struggling malls in Massachusetts.

David Harris, associate managing editor of the Boston Business Journal, and Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, joined us on The Codcast to talk about the impact of the changes and what they bode for the state's economy moving forward.

At CommonWealth, we try to give you a little more in-depth coverage of the issues but don’t always have the time to apply what we know to an analysis of where we think things will go. So as an end-of-year Codcast, Bruce Mohl, Michael Jonas, and I decided to offer a little added value insight into some areas we’ve written extensively about.

It's almost Alice through the Looking Glass. An emerging industry leader that legally operates tax-free is asking - no, imploring - lawmakers to slap a levy on its business. That's exactly what Airbnb, the web-based app that pairs up travelers with people looking to cash in on a spare room or three in their private homes, is asking the Massachusetts Legislature to do.

Will Burns, the director of policy for Airbnb, says it's a matter of fundamental fairness, but taking off his corporate hat, he admits the effort is to legitimize the technology as an accepted commercial entity.

Lynn Weissman, the co-president of the Friends of the Community Path, joins us on The Codcast to explain why she thinks the MBTA’s decision to truncate the path is bad policy. The Somerville activist also would like to see the latest path design modified to allow more community access to the trail, which runs below grade.

Did you hear? Legal marijuana for adult recreational use is coming to Massachusetts. It may be soon, it may be later, but make no mistake, it’s on its way.

Scott Moskol, a partner at the venerable Boston law firm Burns & Levinson LLP, joined The Codcast to talk about the budding industry. Scott has been traveling around the country and become familiar with the laws of the 29 states that have legalized some form of medical marijuana and is boning up on the laws in the seven states that have legalized commercial pot.