At-large Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George says she's had enough with suburban parents who try to sneak their kids into Boston public schools - and no longer just the exam schools, but even pre-school, inclusion and special-ed programs.
At-large Councilor Michael Flaherty, meanwhile, is venting similar ire against suburbanites - and even people from New Hampshire - who use "mattress addresses" to get on the civil-service lists for jobs as Boston police officers and firefighters. Read more.
Penny Cherubino happened on this scene at Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street around 11:45 a.m., reports that ten cars were hit - or damaged in a chain reaction among parked vehicles. Read more.
WCVB reports on a criminal investigating involving "overtime costs, payments to vendors and billing, missing property, and missing maintenance and inspection records" and that seven years after poor maintenance led to the death of Lt. Kevin Kelley, firetruck maintenance in Boston has, at best, not gotten any better.
Jimmy Ellis spotted this fire dog standing guard at Engine 33 on Boylston Street this morning.
City officials are looking to amend decades-old fire codes that require the use of carcinogenic flame retardants on furniture sold in Boston, saying new fire-prevention measures mean the chemicals are no longer needed. Read more.
WBZ reports now retired firefighter Fred Ellis is scheduled for arraignment later this month for a case in which the driver called 911 to report his mishap and Ellis called him back a few minutes later to order him to hire a pal's hazmat cleanup team or face arrest.
Innocent, etc.
The boot and its base before the theft. Photo by BFD.
WCVB reports somebody put some work into stealing the boot, outside Engine 33 and Ladder 15 on Boylston Street - it weighs more than 50 pounds and was bolted to the ground.
Seems people are asking the Boston Fire Department why firefighters didn't just smash up that car parked next to a hydrant at the Rutland Street fire this morning, like they did in April at an East Boston fire.
A BFD district chief formerly in charge of procurement got a vendor to buy stuff for his own personal use, including a 52-inch HD TV, a gas grill, a living-room set, an elliptical machine and gift cards for Home Depot and Lowe, according to a 10-count indictment handed down by a Suffolk County grand jury today.
BFD recruits round up chickens on Long Island. Photo by BFD.
Shelter residents and workers weren't the only ones affected by this week's shutdown of the Long Island Bridge. The Boston Fire Department reports its recruits, who train on neighboring Moon Island, were pressed into service today to rescue 17 chickens at the Boston Public Health Commission's farm on Long Island.
They walked across the bridge to help the chickens cross to the other side, although first they had to catch them:
Yes, the chickens were evasive.
A department spokesman adds:
Massive fire in an apartment building at Commonwealth Ave and Harvard Street in Allston this afternoon. Surrounding streets blocked off.
This is what happens when you leave your dog in a car with the Windows rolled up. Thanks @BostonFire @bostonpolice pic.twitter.com/X0aLt4VTXx
— Animal Rescue League (@ARLBostonRescue) July 16, 2014
Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald reports:
Called to car parked in front of 88 Beacon St. at 12:38pm with an unattended dog inside. Was called in by a Traffic Enforcement Officer. We unlocked the car using tools we carry for such things. No damage to the out of state car. Dog did not appear to be in distress. Unknown how long unattended. Animal Rescue took procession of dog.
The Globe reports on Mayor Walsh's announcement this morning that he'll be naming Joseph Finn as the next permanent head of the Boston Fire Department.
In October, 1921, Leslie Jones traveled down to West Roxbury to witness the end of an era: The replacement of the horses that had long pulled Engine 30's fire apparatus with one of those newfangled motorized vehicles.
Nine decades later, the firehouse is still in use and is still home to Engine 30 (along with Ladder 25).
Photo from the BPL Leslie Jones collection used under this Creative Common license.
The Herald reports on the new contract, quickly penned by the Walsh administration and the local firefighters union, in contrast to the Menino days, when the two sides hated each other.
The Globe reports Boston Fire Commissioner Rod Fraser is resigning next month for work in the private sector.
Incoming Mayor Marty Walsh will also get to pick a new police commissioner and a new school superintendent.
The Boston Fire Department announced today that Steve Abraira is quitting as the city's top uniformed fire chief on Friday, following an increasingly public dispute with all of his deputies on whether or not he should have shown up at certain large events, such as Boylston Street after the bombings.
Commissioner Rod Fraser has appointed Chief of Operations John Hasson, a 40-year veteran, as acting chief to replace Abraira, who came to Boston from Dallas in 2011.
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