Massachusetts – Everett Leader Herald

Sports betting began Tuesday in Massachusetts; Encore leads way

Special to Leader Herald

Five months after legalization, the first three brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in Massachusetts opened Tuesday. Sportsbooks at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park took their first bets at 10 a.m., and each location featured a Boston sports celebrity as part of its opening day ceremony.

Massachusetts lawmakers approved legal sports betting on Aug. 1, 2022, and 10 days later, outgoing Governor Charlie Baker made it law. Tuesday marked the start of multiple launches in the state, as live digital wagering is set for early March and two more physical sportsbooks, one each at the Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs horse-racing facilities, are expected later in 2023.

The new law allows for five retail locations and up to 15 digital platforms. Every major operator will be in the state, including Boston-based DraftKings and rival FanDuel, both of which have initial approval for standalone digital betting licenses.

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Former Senate President Tom Birmingham dead at 73

By Josh Resnek

Twenty-five years ago, when Everett was a far different place than it is today, I wrote a cover story in the Improper Bostonian Magazine about Senate President Tom Birmingham.

He represented much of Everett during the 1990’s. He was no stranger here.

His appearance at the then heralded St. Patrick’s Day roasts at the Bon Saisson are the stuff of legend – and today – the stuff only of anecdotes of those who can remember that time now so long ago.

Birmingham died last week following a long illness.

He was 73, and arguably, about the only intellectual to hold the office of Senate President in its long history.

Here’s how the piece began:

Lilly Navarro hugs her young son tightly in her arms in the time-warn living room of her top floor apartment in a dilapidated wooden three decker at 125 Essex Street in Chelsea. It is a hot summer day in July. The temperature inside is about 80 degrees.

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Everett’s Pension Funding Headed in The Right Direction in 2021

By Josh Resnek

A report issued by the state’s pension funding overseer, PERAC, reveals that 2021 was a signature year for Everett’s investment returns and funding ratio.

The PERAC report details the important particulars about Everett’s pension liabilities, its income, and it’s payouts.

In 2021, Everett’s unfunded liability came in at $105 million with $18.1 million being paid toward eliminating it in 2022.

The unfunded liability has been declining dramatically during the past decade.

Unless something dramatic happens to the national economy, Everett should be fully funded for its pension requirements in 2030, according to PERAC.

In 2021, the pension fund had a market value of $265 million with a 20.35% return on invested capital.

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Where Do They Stand?

Our Beacon Hill delegation has been unheard and unseen regarding the debate about public school overcrowding here.

Protest as they are sure to do about the above statement, they seem to be watching from a faraway place as the future of public school education hangs in the balance.

Make no mistake – overcrowding of our public schools isn’t just an Everett issue, it is at its very core, a state house issue.

Many cities are suffering from the same problems afflicting Everett in the public schools.

Our state house delegation should be out in the forefront of this fight – but they aren’t. If they are, they are keeping their efforts a best kept secret.

We suppose they will line up with the mayor to suggest that trailers for the kids is the best possible option.

Again, this would be a crime with the Pope John facility available.

At the very least, their voices being heard would mean something to residents here.

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For Millions, Dreaming Is Good But Winning $$$$ Is Elusive

By Josh Resnek

There are two places in Everett where I feel good about purchasing Scratch Tickets.

The Tobacco Shop in North Everett next to the Dunkin Donuts is one.

**The writer purchasing two $30 Scratch Tickets on Labor Day.** (Photo by Joe Resnek)

The corner store in Everett Square is the other.

That being said, and really, it is more than most of our readers need to know, I had a yen to win $15 million on Labor Day while driving around the city taking photographs with my son.

We were working.

I had this feeling, a wonderful feeling, that I was going to win $15 million.

Mind you, I didn’t want to win $500, $5,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $1 million.

I was anticipating $15 million.

Everyone else was off Monday, presumably enjoying the holiday.

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