Comcast told the City Council today it could begin wiring the Mission Main project by April.

City Council President Michael Ross (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, and Mission Hill) plans a hearing on exclusive contracts Boston's second-ranked cable company has with many apartment-building owners to provide cable service. In a statement, he says:

By law, residents can choose which cable provider offers them the best service for the best price. However, for many Bostonians this choice has been taken away from them as RCN has entered into long-term contracts that limit renters’ rights to choose a provider in the marketplace. Many of these subscribers are disabled, elderly, or low-income residents who rely on cable TV for entertainment and information. We must ensure that telecommunications companies are not gouging these subscribers to line their own pockets.

Amy Derjue, late of Boston Magazine, is now City Councilor Mike Ross's communications director, Boston Magazine reports.

Hmm, if Ross runs for mayor against John Tobin (hey, it could happen), we'd have blog wars: She'd be competing with blogger Steve Garfield, who put together Tobin's campaign site.

Here (3.8M PDF file).

The report, by councilors Michael Ross, Bill Linehan and Sal LaMattina, calls for some major changes to the Common, including:

• An ornamental fence along Tremont to delineate the park and keep Tremont Street pedestrians off the grass while keeping it open to sunbathers;
• A "Grand Entrance" to the park at a rebuilt visitors center;
• a low-cost cafe on the site of either the old men's room or parks maintenance building; a dedicated dog run;
• A permanent carousel at the Frog Pond
• Permanent underground facilities for storing equipment needed for events at the bandstand.

In addition, the report calls for increased maintenance (everything from sidewalk to the Soliders and Sailors Monument are in poor shape) and efforts to help the homeless who congregate on the Common find permanent housing. To pay for it, the councilors propose a betterment fund paid for by neighboring landowners and gradually increasing the amount of money now raised by Boys and Girls Club kiosks on the Common dedicated to the Common.

Some initial comments by Kevin McCrea.

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. ...

Update: With boston.com now sporadically available, I see that the councilor is only proposing PE for middle and high schools. That eliminates my first objection, since I was talking about elementary schools, but the second two still hold.

Wednesday dawned with the dashing city councilor about to become a laughingstock. Then, well, you know.

But watch your back, Mr. Ross. Amy has her eye on you:

None of this means I'm forgetting about you, Michael Ross, Boston City Councilor, and your parking violations. For shame!

City Councilor Michael Ross has his own MySpace page, where we learn he is a Sagittarius, he enjoys mountain biking and he's single. He uses his blog for more serious writings, such as explaining why he supports the Cape Wind project and why he thinks Boston is still a racist city.