Spitzer named his new head of the state Dept. of Transportation, Astrid Glynn.
Glynn, who will be paid $136,000 a year, has got more than 20 years of transportation related experience, including oversight of Amtrak, commuter rails, and freight rails, highways and ferries in Massachusetts.
Most recently she was director of Capital Planning for the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
But, back in 1983 she served as general counsel and spokeswoman for the Boston Shipping Association.
After the Soviet Union shot down Korean Air Lines flight 007 in Sept. 1983, the local Boston longshoreman refused to unload any Russian ships – including one full of Russian vodka.
According to an AP account of September 28, 1983 it was Glynn’s job to help encourage them to go back to work:
Astrid Glynn, a lawyer for the shipping association, said the work stoppage would cause irreparable harm to both shippers and the New England economy as a whole.
"This vessel is scheduled to come to Boston once a month," Ms. Glynn said. "If it isn't unloaded, it won't come back. Turning away a vessel a month is not something the Port of Boston can afford."
the New England economy as a whole.
-- Chuck Bennett
