Horns are bad, CitiStat's just a fancy-shmancy name and other campaign notes

The Jamaica Plain Gazette highlights this week's debate among at-large council candidates on park and open-space issues in the city. Somebody asked Felix Arroyo what "Asian Longhorned Beetles" meant to him; he replied he had no idea, but figured anything with horns was probably bad. The tree-felling beetles have yet to hit Boston, although people are starting to look for them, just in case.

At a get-together this morning for the Neighbors for Neighbors networking site, Tom Menino pooh-poohed Floontalk about fancy-shmancy systems like CitiStats and 311, because the Mayor's Hotline already does all that, what with the hotline number (quick, what is it?) and a tracking system in place so residents can follow the progress of their complaints, both by phone and online. He says the hotline has handled more than 200,000 citizen complaints and requests.

"Some cities come up with fancy names for [these things]. We don't have fancy names for them. We just have services," he said. Take that, Somerville!

The Dorchester Reporter's Lit Drop reports three former at-large candidates - Ego Ezedi, Hiep Nguyen and Jean-Claude Sanon - are backing incumbent at-large Councilor John Connolly.

Michael Pahre reports the Ward 21 Democratic Committee this week endorsed incumbent Allston/Brighton district Councilor Mark Ciommo and at-large candidates John Connolly, Ayanna Pressley and Tito Jackson.

If you missed this week's debate between Ciommo and second-time opponent Alex Selvig, BNN has a report.