Deval Patrick, due to all his stumbles both silly and serious in his first few months as governor has seemed to be a man without an agenda. I believe that are 2 pressing issues that he needs to focus on in the next year. First, is making Massachusetts the leading state in the country in terms of energy efficiency and clean energy. He successfully helped the Cape Wind Farm Project get state approval. (Read more about that here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/03/31/cape_wind_moves_on_to_federal_review/?page=full) Now he needs to actively lobby for federal approval to get the project started as soon as possible. Cambridge recently announced a plan with pragmatic workable business model that you can read more about here: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/03/29/cambridge_sets_70m_energy_initiative/?page=full This plan is a great idea and a good start. Deval needs to get out front and try to get other communities in the area to become part of the plan.
 Second, Deval needs to spear head a campaign to stop the senseless gang violence that is plaguing Boston and other communities. He needs to personally visit the hardest hit communities and talk with community leaders, parents, and the teens in the gangs themselves. A lot of the shooting seem to be occurring during after hours house parties. Maybe the state can work with the cities to create a tip off hotline to let the authorities know where these after hours parties will occur so they can be monitored before things get out of hand. More programs like B.E.L.L. Boston where the resource of the hundreds of thousand of college age kids in the area can be tapped as tutors and mentors for teens in the area should also be enacted.