MassDOT's Masspike Service Plaza Shenanigans: A Deal So Sweet, It's Dripping in Heart Emojis!

Hold onto your wallets, folks, because Howie Carr is back on the trail of Beacon Hill's most perplexing mysteries, and this time, it's the Masspike service plazas that are getting the five-star, heart-emoji treatment. It seems MassDOT, in its infinite wisdom and boundless generosity, has rolled out a new deal for our beloved roadside stops – a deal so incredibly sweet, you'd think it was baked by Cupid himself, if Cupid were a high-powered lobbyist.

For years, these Masspike pit stops have been a staple for weary travelers, a place to grab a lukewarm coffee and contemplate the meaning of life amidst the whirring of tractor-trailers.

Now, under this gleaming new arrangement, it appears the terms are less about serving the public and more about serving up a veritable feast for a select few. We're talking about a multi-decade lease on prime public land, folks, with what many are calling laughably low revenue sharing for the taxpayers who actually own the property.

One has to wonder, with all due respect to the architects of this magnificent agreement, how exactly such a deal came to pass.

Was it an open, competitive bid where every potential operator had an equal shot? Or was it, as Howie Carr's eagle-eyed readers might suspect, more of a carefully orchestrated ballet involving well-placed connections, perfectly timed campaign contributions, and a generous sprinkle of that special Massachusetts magic that turns public assets into private goldmines?

While the good people of Massachusetts struggle with everything from skyrocketing tolls to crumbling infrastructure, MassDOT appears to be doling out lucrative contracts with the enthusiasm of a teenager handing out candy on Halloween.

The sheer length of this lease, combined with what insiders are whispering about the paltry sums destined for the state's coffers, makes one's head spin. It's a testament to the enduring power of certain political players that such an obvious boon for private enterprise, at public expense, can be presented with such a straight face.

So, the next time you pull into a Masspike service plaza, take a moment to appreciate the true cost of that pit stop.

Because while you're stretching your legs and reaching for your wallet, somewhere on Beacon Hill, someone's surely high-fiving over a deal so good, it truly deserves all the heart emojis. And Howie Carr, for one, isn't buying the romantic narrative.