Boston

Police: Murder investigation led to massive real-estate fraud ring

adamg — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:51:04 -0400

Two lawyers and a number of mortgage-company employees were indicted today on charges they scammed mortgage companies out of $10.6 million on Boston-area properties (press release from the US Attorney's office).

Thug cop gets 26 years

adamg — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:12:04 -0400

Kiko Pulido sentenced today in federal court, after pleading guilty last fall to being the ringleader of a coke-distribution and protection ring.

Commissioner Ed Davis's statement:

Today's sentencing of Roberto Pulido closes a sad chapter for the Boston Police Department. Our department is comprised of officers who find Pulido's actions despicable and the punishment fitting. The resilience of our agency is evident in the great work being done officers every day resulting in across the board reductions in crime statistics. The Boston Police pledge to work closely with the community to earn their trust and repair the damage done by this incident.

Police have said investigations continue.

Tenants would get to stay in foreclosed units under city-council measure

adamg — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:08:26 -0400

Councilor Mike Ross reports the council passed a home-rule petition yesterday:

... When a foreclosure occurs on a rental property, this bill gives the renter the right to stay in their home, so long as they continue to pay the rent they were paying prior to foreclosure, and assuming they remain a tenant in good standing. This situation remains until one of two things happen:

1. The lender sells the foreclosed property to a new landlord or owner, who has the right to select their own tenants if they so choose; or

2. The lender still owns the property upon arrival of the law's sunset clause, which is two years from passage (with the possibility of a third year extension if approved by the council and mayor).

The lender is required to notify the tenants of the foreclosure, so the tenant doesn't continue to pay rent to the old owner - something which we have seen happen quite frequently. ...

The proposal needs approval of the state Legislature and the governor to become law. Ross says some 2,000 apartments in Boston have been affected by foreclosure over the past year and that he expects that number to rise, with Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester and Hyde Park being hit hardest.

Glad to be alive

jpfromjp — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:16:33 -0400

My friend took the time to share it with his friends, and so I am taking the time to share it with you! The following is a copy of his post.

Hello friends,

Late Tuesday afternoon I was riding my bike and was hit by a cab. I was in the bike lane, going 20-25 mph when out of nowhere the cabbie took a hard left, cut me off and I hit him head-on. It happened so fast I didn't have time to brake, swerve or yell. The only thought I had was "#%^&, I'm dead!"

Scratch That: Senator Kerry Speaks at Ward 5 Democratic Committee Meeting Tonight

rossoduck — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:56:43 -0400

-- Just learned that Senator Kerry cannot make it tonight...

Senator John Kerry is speaking at the Boston Ward 5 Democrat Committee meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at LIR in Boston. The public is invited to attend.

Considering that Senator Kerry is up for re-election this November, I hope we see him more at events like this.

What The %$@$#!

Suldog — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:46:10 -0400

What a disgrace! Come on, you Massholes! Let's try harder! Maybe next year we won't finish second...

(I'm talking to YOU, anon - Step It Up!)

Miami Voted Worst City For Road Rage

People who need convincing to stay in Boston

adamg — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:17:54 -0400

Blogging Barbie (yep), who normally takes the B line, is a bit shook up by this morning's derailment/fire in Brighton:

... I've truly loved Boston for the past three years. But in a way, I wonder if that derailed car is a metaphor for my life here, right now. As I drove to my interview this morning (don't get excited, just a temp position), I watched that trolley car being dragged from the wreckage, its charred and broken remains, being pulled along as its tired wheels screamed in discord.

I can't help but wonder ... is that my relationship with this city? ...

Michael Femia asks for help:

I'm having one of my occasional "maybe I should move out of Boston" spells. This spring's weather broke my spirit, the local sports scene has nowhere to go but down, I've looked at apartment costs in other cities which break my heart, and...I don't know...I just feel like maybe life will be a little different (read: better) somewhere else.

So convince me why I should or shouldn't go, and if I go, where I should go. ...

Boston to get another TV drama series?

adamg — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:26:00 -0400

With Donnie Wahlberg, to boot, playing a war hero turned DEA agent, Joel Brown reports.

Sea monsters roaming the streets of Boston at night

Brett — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:26:31 -0400

I live on a thoroughfare, and recently I'm often woken up by a noise that made me think the apartment is getting attacked by a sea monster.

Turns out Boston Police have been equipping their cruisers with "The Rumbler", which is an amplifier and subwoofer designed purposefully to make everything within a few hundred feet shake; if you're inside, it sounds like a very deep and disturbing "whoop". Despite being for use at "clearing busy intersections", BPD seems to be happily employing it on deserted roads in the middle of the night.

Bike notes

adamg — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:16:16 -0400

Mike Ball is all in favor of bicycling, but says Mayor Menino needs to stop dressing like a grumpy Care Bear:

... That's doubly unfortunate in that he was doing something vaguely athletic and he was quite jolly at the time. ...

Don Martelli writes the photo of the biking mayor reminds him a bit of that infamous video of Mike Dukakis in a tank.

Mike Mennonno, normally an inveterate bike rider, is thinking of taking the T to work:

... Because the problem with encouraging more bicycle commuting before you've got adequate infrastructure in place for it is it may end up having the opposite of the intended effect. Add to that that there are plenty of Massholes among the ranks of cyclists, too, and Bike Week in Boston is a recipe for anarchy. ...

Oh, yeah, Masshole cyclists.

Casey reports on her first bicycle commute:

... When a Prius passed me, I laughed. "You think you're green? Ha!" ...

Adam Pieniazek reports Bike Week news, including:

... Yesterday I was biking through Cambridge and Somerville, via Hampshire and Beacon Street and noticed a new feature on the Beacon Street/Somerville side of the trip. Bike lanes! ...