Universal Hub - city council

Boston Herald: We'd be much obliged if the Boston City Council would just go die now

adamg — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:42:57 +0000

The Herald takes a dim view of everything the Boston City Council has ever proposed, or something. Yeah, Steve Murphy's idea to stop roofies with sippy-cup lids was completely nuts, but that was three years ago, not this "season," as the Herald implies. How dare Rob Consalvo "take inspiration from Governing magazine." What a maroon! And Michael Flaherty's idea for buying snow-melting machines sure was "offbeat." Just ask Baltimore (and never mind Flaherty couldn't have proposed it this "season," given that he's no longer on the council).

At least they're trying. When's the last time a Herald reporter actually showed up at a Council meeting?

City councilors praise Liberty Mutual expansion but tear into CEO; some residents object to tax break

adamg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:42:42 +0000

Ramshackle Salvation Army building: To become sparkly new corporate headquarters?

Boston city councilors today generally backed a proposed city/state deal to grant Liberty Mutual 20 years' of tax breaks to build a new headquarters in the Back Bay, but said the insurer's CEO really should take his foot out of his mouth and stop comparing Boston to Venezuela (assuming the Herald quoted him accurately, which councilors Feeney and Linehan doubted). Residents, however, objected to giving a very profitable company money for building on a "blighted" property. The company itself said it has no plans to move out of Boston no matter what happens - but might not expand without the tax break.

How to improve Boston City Council Communications http://www.ttctranscriptions.com/

the zak — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:47:48 +0000

Here's an example of a service that would improve Boston City Council Communications
http://www.ttctranscriptions.com/

City to look at helping small stores buy security cameras

adamg — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:33:45 +0000

Recent fatal shootings at Boston convenience stores shows the city needs to help small businesses equip themselves with security cameras, Boston city councilors said today.

City Council President Mike Ross noted that the alleged killer of a Jamaica Plain clerk was captured relatively quickly because of surveillance cameras. In contrast, a Dorchester store at which another clerk was killed had no cameras.

"Many of these store owners don't hve the resources to pay for some of the things they should have in their stores," Ross said.

"I think it's a very important step at providing a sense of security for businesses that are under a tremendous amount of (financial) pressure," Councilor Chuck Turner (Roxbury), said, adding, however, some neighborhoods also need more cops walking the beat.

City councilors to Patrick: Don't cut moviemaking tax credit

adamg — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:14:42 +0000

Boston city councilors said today that Gov. Patrick's plan to cut the amount of money available to companies that make movies in Massachusetts would harm a nascent industry in the state.

City Councilor John Tobin (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain), who submitted a call for a hearing on the financial impact of the change, compared moviemaking to the Red Sox. Sure, David Ortiz and other players make "an obscene amount of money," but they're also responsible for hiring large numbers of local residents.

The tax credit "puts men and women from the city of Boston, and from around the Commonwealth, to work," Tobin said.

Councilor Bill Linehan, (South Boston, South End) said, if anything, the state should be looking at expanding the credit to bring more jobs here.

Tobin's proposal for a hearing.

City Council President Mike Ross names council committee chairs

adamg — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:12:45 +0000

The list follows. Anybody notice anything interesting, besides the fact that indicted (but still innocent) Chuck Turner doesn't chair anything? Also, note the new Committee on Women and Healthy Communities, which is described as focusing on improving the lives of "girls, women, and others" (hmm, does that leave anybody out?).

Giuliani poses with candidate in the North End

adamg — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:57:34 +0000

Doug Bennett reports he was jogging through the North End today when he spotted a crowd on Hanover Street and before he knew it, there he was posing for a photo with Rudy Giuliani, shortly before Giuliani crossed the street to stoke up a cigar. And, yes, Bennett is a candidate. He tells Universal Hub exclusively he's already getting ready to knock on more doors in 2011, when he plans to run again for an at-large seat on the Boston city council.

Maureen Feeney: Professional Pooh bear

adamg — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Mike Ball, who actually attended yesterday's City Council vote on term limits (I couldn't take another day of those alleged seats in the council chambers and so watched the procedings from our comfy couch on Comcast Channel 51), didn't think much of Maureen Feeney's performance as chair of the committee on government operations - which had bottled up the term-limits issue for months:

... She clearly found the subject distasteful. She repeatedly reduced the issues to sing-song platitudes. In many ways, she is the Pooh of the body, a bear of very little brain. ...

Not that he found much to love in the other councilors who voted against term limits, including Sal LaMattina, who wanted to put it up to a referendum:

... I really hadn't been paying enough attention to the abstracts. Of course, we are in the territory of MassResistance, the Mass Family Institute and the Christian Civic League of Maine. Let the people vote is the call. It is the perfect way to pass the buck and pretend you are being true to the roots of our nation and commonwealth. Treat each important idea as though it were a town meeting discussion and you don't have to be a leader or be responsible for any resulting decision and its effects. ...

Tom Menino can serve until he dies

adamg — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:52:40 +0000

The City Council today rejected a proposed limit on how long somebody can serve as mayor.

While backers of the measure, sponsored by at-large Councilor Sam Yoon, said it would reinvigorate the political process and prevent the abuses of incumbency, opponents said it was insulting to tell voters they could not vote for the candidate of their choice as often as they want.

Against: Ciommo, Consalvo, Feeney, LaMattina, Linehan, Murphy, Yancey.
For: Connolly, Flaherty, Ross, Tobin, Turner, Yoon.

The council voted 8-5 to reject a proposal by at-large Councilor John Connolly to limit city councilors as well; Ross, who voted for mayoral term limits, voted against.

Comments from councilors before the vote:

A real clown at City Council term-limits hearing

adamg — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:42:33 +0000

Not a city councilor

Shortly before the city council began its hearing this morning on whether to limit Boston mayors to two terms in office, this clown walked in. He listened quietly to councilors and residents discuss the issue for about an hour, then left - before I could ask him what his deal was.