Suffolk University wants to build dorms but advocates for the adjacent murder victims' garden want the status quo, peace and quiet. Now the state has greased the skids for Suffolk by offering to erase a million dollar debt for the garden if the advocates go along with the new construction.

The garden advocates smell a rat.

“We’re confused as to why any debt forgiveness offer from the state is tied in to a mitigation package for a private entity,” said Mary Lou Schaalman, co-chairwoman of the Garden of Peace Board. “If the state has that ability, it should happen anyway, since the Garden of Peace sits on public property and serves a public good.”

Really, it's no mystery. Suffolk pays to get what they want, the state makes a profit, so much so that they can erase the million dollar debt, and the garden of peace get their debt wiped out.

Sounds to me like deal-making at its best.