I think that it is important to remember where the votes are as there are more votes in the major cities than the suburbs, especially in a city so heavily one party as Boston. For politicians to get elected they must appeal to the largest group of voters and show a community of interest with them. In Boston the voters may want to hear about improvements in public transportation or reduced traffic or the like that means nothing to people in Pittsfield, Greenfield, Springfield or Worcester. This was an issue in our country's early development when the fear that large states would dominate smaller states. If Massachusetts returned to county type of government items for public works and the use of taxpayer funds might improve conditions for the outside of the Boston metro area but then the people of Boston would complain that their taxes are being used to fund things that do not directly benefit them. Just as people in the outside area complain about today. So politicians realize if the vast bulk of taxes benefit the areas of the highest population that is a win for them and their campaigns.