Beginning Monday, the Globewill join with distributor ACIMedia in a partnership de-signed to bring fewer subscrib-er complaints and better cus-tomer service. A2.

A Chicago police officer shotand killed two black peoplewhile responding to a domesticdisturbance call. Nation, A6.

Shoppers flooded Massachu-setts stores as post-holidaysales beckoned.Metro, B1.

The Islamic State released amessage purportedly from itsleader claiming the group is un-fazed by airstrikes.World, A2.

How will the MBTA balance itsbudget? A news graphic looksat some solutions.Metro, B1.

Sunday: Some rain, still warm.High 56-61. Low 29-34.

Monday:Windy and cold.High 34-39. Low 26-31.

High tide: 12:04 a.m., 12:13 p.m.

Sunrise: 7:12 Sunset: 4:18

Complete report, B13.

Spring it on us

fghijklD e c e m b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

V O L . 2 8 8 , N O . 1 8 0

*Suggested retail price

$3.50$4.00 outside Greater Boston

$5.00 in Florida

By Todd WallackGLOBE STAFF

It was probably the largest test ever conduct-ed of how cities and towns in the state respond torequests for government records from averagecitizens.

And Massachusetts failed.A solid majority — 58% — of the Common-

wealth’s 351 municipalities did not respond with-in the 10-day limit set by state law when they re-ceived a written request for two records that arealmost universally considered to be public.

Nearly a quarter took more than 40 days ornever responded at all to one of the requests sentby a Northeastern University journalism class inpartnership with the Globe and WCVB-TV.

And more than a dozen outright refused toprovide the documents — reports showing howmuch municipal workers earned last year and“use of force” policies describing when police offi-cers can use their weapons — for legally dubiousreasons, such as protecting the privacy of publicemployees.

Others created obstacles to obtaining the in-RECORDS, Page A13

By Sean P. MurphyGLOBE STAFF

PLAINVILLE — The band capped offa cover of a hit 1970s rock tune witha stylish guitar flourish, but nobodyclapped, not one of the nine peopleglued to video poker screens at the

bar, nor any of two dozen others arrayed inones and twos at the nearby slot machines.

“Anyone for blackjack?” a woman’s voicecalled out, while the smiling likeness of a

comely dealer looked out from the giant high-resolution screen of a gambling machine, insearch of customers. But on this recent Thurs-day night at Plainridge Park Casino, none ap-proached.

It was a far cry from the opening in June,when more than 10,000 people paradedthrough the state’s first casino, and Plain-ridge’s video blackjack dealers had all the cus-tomers they could handle.

Those now-lonely virtual dealers epito-

mize an apparent miscalculation made by theplanners of Plainridge, who figured a smallishslots parlor would be enough to lure Massa-chusetts customers away from a larger casinowith more offerings just over the border inRhode Island. Massachusetts residents inter-viewed recently at Twin River Casino in Lin-coln, R.I., said they found Plainridge toosmall, too focused on slot machines, or toostingy.

PLAINRIDGE, Page A13

By Michael KranishGLOBE STAFF

NEW YORK — Morris Pearl, a for-mer managing director of the world’slargest investment company, walked

out of his three-bedroom Park Ave-nue co-op on a recent rainy morningand headed to a Beaux Arts-style

members-only club.He fit the scene seam-l e s s l y, g r e e t e d b ysmartly dressed at-

tendants who knew him well.Yet, as Pearl settled into a corner

table, he was deeply troubled. For thepast three decades, he had worked ata Who’s Who of Wall Street firms andmade his fortune.

When he started, he believed thatthe world of high finance he’d joinedwas part of a virtuous circle, greatlyenriching those at the top but alsohelping those of all incomes by en-

abling growth, industry, and jobs.But he has come to have doubts.

On this morning, as it happened, agroup that he heads called PatrioticMillionaires helped unveil the lateststartling report on income inequality.It said the gap had grown even great-er, with America’s 20 wealthiest peo-ple owning as much as the bottom152 million.

The report underscored Pearl’s

fear that the compact between MainStreet and Wall Street, which helpeddraw him here, had unraveled.

Many Wall Streeters, himself in-cluded, had become fabulouslywealthy, and that didn’t bother him,but he was troubled at how incomehad stagnated for tens of millions ofaverage Americans.

The question he asked himself thisINEQUALITY, Page A14

Heroin and other opioids have devastated Massachusetts families,

killing an estimated 1,200 people last year and undoing the lives of countless more.

But, often, the toll remains largely unseen until tragedy strikes.

A LIFE UNRAVELINGOver the past year, the Globe spent time with an East Boston heroin addict as she struggled through

recovery and the prospect of losing her children to the state. Nearly every keymoment was witnessed by aGlobe reporter or photographer. Brave, broken, loving, at a loss, this is Raquel and her story. Pages A8­11

STORY BY KATIE JOHNSTON | PHOTOS BY JESSICA RINALDI | GLOBE STAFF

From the ranks of the richest, a call for income equalityAn insider blames a changingWall Street for country’s stagnation

divided

nation

Last in a series of occasional arti-cles on issues that polarize the Ameri-can electorate.

The Globe’s critics give their 10 choicesof 2015’s best work in movies, music,television, art, theater, and dance.SundayArts, N.

THE YEARIN ARTS

Most localitiesin state fail teston records law58% do not reply in timeto request for documents

‘A slots parlor — that just doesn’t cut it anymore.’RICHARD MCGOWAN, Boston College professor and gambling specialist

As crowds dwindle, Plainridge casino no longer a safe bet