Stop fighting open-meeting lawsuits you're going to to lose anyway. Kevin McCrea, one of the plaintiffs in the latest open-meeting lawsuit, which the city, yes, basically lost, discusses the case and the $50,000 to $100,000 the city has had to spend on it so far:

... Of course, they have rejected all of our olive branches to stop the litigation and try and craft a progressive, country leading open meeting policy that would really include the public.

And they wonder why only 11 percent or so voted in the election.

Terry Klein has a copy of the decision and some analysis of a case in which the council was accused of illegally barring the public from at least 10 meetings over a two-year period (including one on a tularemia outbreak at a BU lab). Although the court sent some issues back to a lower court for final disposition, the justices are clearly getting a little tired of the Boston City Council, in a decision that starts:

The city council of Boston finds itself, not for the first time, on the losing end of a determination that it has improperly excluded the public from its deliberations. ...

City Councilor John Tobin thinks it would increase voter turnout; doesn't seem too concerned about observant Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses Seventh-Day Adventists.

The Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods wonders what happens when City Hall moves to South Boston - where will all the large events the city wants to move to the plaza from the Common go? And given how many of those events have been political in nature, what does Councilor Michael Ross, who represents Beacon Hil and the Back Bay have against democracy?

... For some reason, the discussion seems to have turned from protecting the green to raking in the green, and Councilor Ross opined that "cafés, restaurants, and other commercial ventures might be a good replacement for large-scale events." Of course! Commerce is pretty much the same as democratic assembly, except for the doorman in front and the bill at the end. Customers are citizens -- even better, right? Sure keeps out the poor and homeless, and good riddance, I say! The public realm is no place for 'em! And Ross responded to Tom Kershaw's complaint that he can't make enough money on Common land with his skating business on our Frog Pond, and would now like a liquor license for a night club. The alcohol prohibition on the Common, Ross offered, should be reconsidered. ...

Who knows why Dave Wedge at the Herald decided to call up Councilor LaMattina's address on Google Maps, but the world is a richer place for it:

Dear Google: Your Street View addresses are still wacky. When I typed in LaMattina's address, and put Little Orange Guy right on the arrow, I still had to "drive" a couple doors down to find what Wedge found.

My $5 offer for a naked person on Google Street View still stands.

At the time, it was like "oh, that's interesting," in an "I will forget this in 30 seconds" sort of way. But as Michael Pahre notes, the fact that Sam Yoon (yes, our Sam Yoon) was named to the Democratic National Committee's Rule Committee in January now has some national implications: His committee has to decide what to do about Florida and Michigan.

Feeney posts about her May 3 Boston Civic Summit at the convention center.

Boston Civic Summit Web site (not much there yet).

a.
What are the names of the streets
that border each of the Boston City Council Districts?...

b.
What maps show the names of the streets
that border each of the Boston City Council Districts?...

It appears names of streets are not included at
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/pdfs/approved_planBmap.pdf

The city council is considering an ordinance (proposed by councilor Michael Ross, who represents a student-heavy district) that would prohibit more than four students from living in an apartment. Michael Pahre provides background on the issue. The Allston Civic Association will discuss the issue at a meeting tonight, starting at 6 p.m. at the Honan Allston Library, 300 North Harvard St.

Michael Pahre takes note of newbie at-large city councilor John Connolly (best known in West Roxbury and Roslindale) and his quick learning of the BC expansion issue and wonders if it might already be time to add him to the list of possible candidates for mayor next year:

We'll watch those fund-raising numbers carefully over the next six months to see how well he replenishes his warchest.