The City Council today unanimously approved a formal request to the MBTA to make its Friday and Saturday late-night service permanent.
Councilors Josh Zakim (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Mission Hill) and Michelle Wu (at large), who proposed the motion, acknowledged that keeping the service running will require what Zakim called "very creative and thoughtful" ways to pay for it, including possibly a surcharge for the service.
With parking-lot fees around Fenway Park continuing to rise, out-of-towners increasingly see a $40 fine for parking in resident-only spots in the Fenway as a bargain.
City Councilor Josh Zakim (Fenway, Mission Hill, Back Bay, Beacon Hill) wants to put a stop to that - by increasing the fine for parking in a resident-only space on the streets around the ballpark to $100.
Zakim said it's unfair that Fenway residents with parking permits have to compete for spaces with out of towners in for a game.
The council agreed today to send Zakim's idea to a committee for a hearing.
City Councilor Josh Zakim (Mission Hill, Fenway, Back Bay, Beacon Hill) thinks Boston voters should get a voice on the proposed 2024 Boston Olympics, especially since they could require the city to make "significant financial and operational commitments" to the games.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, Zakim will propose four specific - and non-binding - ballot questions for this November's ballot:
1. Should Boston host the 2024 Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games (the "Games")? YES/NO
2. If Boston were to host the 2024 Olympics, should the City commit any public money to support the games? YES/NO
City councilors said today they're not going to stand for being disrespected by the Zoning Board of Appeals. So they're calling a hearing.
Councilors Steve Murphy (at large) and Councilor Josh Zakim (Fenway, Mission Hill, Back Bay, Beacon Hill) say they were infuriated and aghast at a Sept. 23 zoning hearing on a project on Hereford Street. The two councilors and Mayor Walsh asked the board to defer any action on the proposal, in part because not all nearby residents had been notified of the hearing. Murphy said the board acknowledged the requests and yet still voted 5-2 to approve the work.
The City Council today passed an ordinance requiring local colleges to develop medical plans for dealing with athletes who are hit in the head during sporting events.
The measure, proposed by Councilor Josh Zakim (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Mission Hill), will require colleges to have a doctor trained in head injuries on duty during football, hockey and men's lacrosse.
City Councilors Michelle Wu (at large) and Josh Zakim (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Mission Hill) want to create an independent commission to consider future raises for city councilors.
The two plan to ask for consideration of their plan this afternoon, at the same meeting at which councilors will consider raising their salaries 29%, an amount Council President Bill Linehan proposed and said was fair, and that's that.
The City Council today approved a "trust act" under which Boston Police would be barred from holding people on "civil detainer" requests from ICE.
The measure now goes to Mayor Walsh, who has said he would sign it.
Councilor Sal LaMattina (North End, Charlestown, East Boston) said the measure would prove welcome relief to many people in his district who today do not report crimes for fear of being held for ICE
"My poor residents are getting robbed, they're getting assaulted, they're getting beaten and raped, and they don't report it," for fear of being turned over to the federal government, he said.
BostInno reports on Anwar Faisal's appearance before a City Council committee yesterday, notes Faisal and his lawyer know how to look up Councilor Josh Zakim's campaign contributions.
The City Council agreed today to hold a hearing on how to regulate Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing services.
Councilors Bill Linehan - who proposed the hearing - and Steve Murphy said it was time for regulation to protect public safety and out of fairness to existing medallion owners, who are subject to scrutiny by the police hackney division.
The City Council voted unanimously today to issue a formal summons to landlord Anwar Faisal to appear at a hearing on Aug. 13, or risk possible arrest.
Faisal has declined past requests to appear voluntarily at council hearings on his rental practices. City Councilor Josh Zakim, who is particularly concerned about Faisal's dealings with Northeastern University, submitted the request for a summons.
At-large Councilor Steve Murphy said he will brook no dissing of the council. "If that means we should bring in Mr. Anwar Faisal in irons, then we should do that," he said.
City councilors began work today on a zoning change that would allow art galleries to open in areas such as Newbury Street, where, technically, they are currently prohibited.
City Councilor Josh Zakim (Back Bay) said he was amazed to learn recently that ISD rejected a request by Pucker Gallery, 171 Newbury St., to move to 240 Newbury St. because of the prohibition.
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
