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Bill Linehan

Two city councilors think it's time to build a movie studio in Boston

City Councilors Steve Murphy (at large) and Bill Linehan (South Boston, South End), plan a hearing to explore how to build a movie studio in Boston. Local movie production companies, the Mass. Convention Center, the Mayor's Film Bureau and the state Film Office would also be asked to participate.

A private company is currently building a movie and TV production complex in Plymouth.

City councilors: Silver Line tunnel under the Common is a stupid idea

On Switchback, Bill picks up on something in that recently released proposal for improving Boston Common: That city councilors Mike Ross, Bill Linehan and Sal LaMattina really wish the MBTA would stop with all this nonsense about putting a Silver Line tunnel under the park. They write:

The Silverline project will rip up the entire stretch of the Common along Charles Street for up to 10 years, for the staging area for heavy equipment. It will snarl traffic as they close a lane for the construction of a new tunnel, and it will make an entire stretch of the Common nearly unusable during that time. All of this will be done for the purpose of putting in bus transit that is unnecessary, when tunnels already exist for light rail, and when it is nearly universally agreed that the bus system as set up does not work, and is not nearly as effective or efficient as light rail.

The Silverline Project is a mistake. The plans in place will disturb sacred grounds, such as the historic graveyard. Unused light rail tunnels already exist below ground, and the MBTA, with its multimillion dollar deficit, should be looking at ways it can build a system around what is there, and ensuring that we have opportunities to become a greener, more efficient city while not tearing up our precious parks system during the construction.

Ed. note: The T has a multi-billion dollar deficit.

Ross Report on the Boston Common

Hi. My name is Reuben, and I am Boston City Councilor Mike Ross's Chief of Staff.

Mike and I have read with interest the writings regarding the Boston Common on these pages. We are energized to see so many people who are as interested in the future of the Common as we are.

At Boston Daily, Mike has posted his Ross Report on the topic. We are excited about a number of the proposals that we'll have in this report, and wanted to clear up a few misconceptions.

Read more

South Boston dominance of District 2 at an end?

Chris Lovett runs the numbers on yesterday's preliminary city-council election in District 2. He notes that the candidate who got the most votes in South Boston (Ed Flynn) won't be in the May final, while Bill Linehan, who will be, was the winner in Chinatown's largest precinct. Linehan will face off against the South End's Susan Passoni. Whoever wins will have to run again in this fall's regular council election.