EXTRA...

DAs join to cut grass; House leader fined for Cape home payments; Cape Wind won for Larkosh

Quote of the Day:  Cape Win(d)s

"Larkosh’s (above) support of Cape Wind – he was the only candidate to support the offshore energy project – as well as his endorsement by state representative Matt Patrick and a union affiliated with the Steamship Authority, were also key factors in the race." Tom Madden in the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror.

Majority leader pays $30,000 settlement
Used political funds to pay for Cape home

House majority leader John Rogers has paid $30,000 to settle a state investigation that found that money from his political account was used to make payments on a Cape Cod vacation home he partially owned

The Office of Campaign and Political Finance determined that $96,300 from the Norwood Democrat's political account went to a close adviser, who used the money in part to make payments on the house they jointly owned.
The agency said it decided against stronger action because Rogers's political adviser, Thomas Drummey, had legitimately earned payments from the Rogers campaign for substantial political work.

Even so, according to the settlement agreement, it determined that Drummey used campaign money to make 22 monthly mortgage payments on the East Falmouth house he owns with Rogers....  Globe.
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Area law enforcement say 'no' to marijuana decriminalization
Bristol County DA Sutter joins O'Keefe to decry noxious weed

Make no mistake about it: law enforcement officials in Southeastern Massachusetts are strongly against decriminalizing smaller amounts of marijuana.

"The message this sends to our teens and young adults is that smoking marijuana is not a big deal, when it is."
                              - Mr. Sutter

"Question 2 ignores the extreme effects drug legalization would have in Massachusetts," said Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe, who is leading the statewide charge against the November ballot initiative.

In a Thursday press conference on the steps of New Bedford Superior Court, Mr. O'Keefe was joined by a coterie of public officials that included Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter as well as mayors, police chiefs, prosecutors, sheriffs, and business leaders from SouthCoast and Cape Cod.

Speaking at a podium with a prominently displayed "Vote No on 2" sign, several speakers warned that crime would increase and a dangerous message sent, especially to youths, if voters approve the initiative - which would create civil instead of criminal penalties for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana.

One ounce of marijuana has a street value of $600 and equates to approximately 60 individual sales, officials said.  "The message this sends to our teens and young adults is that smoking marijuana is not a big deal, when it is," said Mr. Sutter, adding the measure will "incontrovertibly" lead to more drug usage...Standard-Times.