Governor Tries To Limit Public's Right To Challenge Development

In an effort to limit "frivolous lawsuits," the governor of Masschusetts is proposing to limit the public's right to challenge select waterfront developments, leaving stakeholders wary.

August 23, 2003, 9am PDT | Connie Chung

Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts returned a measure to the state legislature, regarding an amendment to a budget bill "that would have limited the public's right to challenge developments under the state's Public Waterfront Act....Because the measure was written broadly, environmentalists feared it would set a dangerous precedent. Rather than sign the measure, Romney sent it back to the Legislature, with added language that limits the protections to projects with certain existing development agreements; those include Massport parcels in East Boston and South Boston." While the Governor's intentions are to limit "frivolous lawsuits," many, including tugboat operators and boat operators in East Boston "remain concerned that, if the measure stands, they will have no legal recourse."

Thanks to Connie Chung

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Romney says he will OK bill if it includes East Boston project

Published on Friday, August 22, 2003 in The Boston Globe