The Urban Mechanic gladly pays the tunnel tolls to get to Belle Isle Seafood in East Boston, adds:

... While locals may not give much thought to the ignorance of their fellow Hubsters on the mainland, any half-serious, self-respecting foodie in Boston should pay serious attention to this neighborhood. Seriously! ...

Lawyers for former state senator Dianne Wilkerson today asked a federal judge to either dismiss all the extortion charges against her or move her trial to another state.

In a motion filed in US District Court in Boston, the lawyers said the US Attorney's office made it impossible for her to get an impartial jury by handing the media not just a detailed FBI affidavit but the now infamous and "outrageous" photo of her allegedly stuffing a bribe into her bra. Attached to the motion was 150 pages of copies of Globe and Herald news articles and columns about the allegations related to an alleged liquor-license scheme and plans for a parcel of land in Roxbury.

Her lawyers noted that Wilkerson was marched in handcuffs to court, which they contrasted with the treatment given indicted state representatives Tom Finneran and Sal DiMasi. DiMasi, they wrote, was given the courtesy of an advance call to his lawyer so that he could appear in court without running a press gauntlet. Even disgraced Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci was given more privacy during procedings than Wilkerson, they wrote.

In a separate motion, Wilkerson also asked to be tried separately from City Councilor Chuck Turner, arguing that the two are really charged with separate crimes - even though the same "cooperating witness" is alleged to have given both money.

Motions filed today:
Motion to dismiss or change venue.
Motion to try her separately from Turner.

NOTE: I first heard about Wilkerson's motion to dismiss or change venue via a tweet from the State House News Service. I used the court system's online docketing site to download the motions.

Take a look at what's on the slab at Boston Dynamics in Waltham (the robot wears tennis shoes!):

Via Benjamin Spear.

Seeking paid people to work the phones, cover poll sites and distribute literature for Election Day. $10/hour (if I were you, I'd insist on the money up front).