In this week's Reporter: White, school assignment, casinos and more
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A quick rundown of the politics and policy in this week's Reporter:
-- “We would go down to City Hall frequently and we were on the same wave-length pretty much all the time,” former Senate President William Bulger recalls of the late Kevin White. “It was, how do we get through this and have everything intact at the end of the effort. There was a maturity and trust for the other person. He was always very kind to me in his public utterances.”
-- Wherein Steven Roth of Vornado Realty Trust gets called a "jackass from Manhattan."
-- Chuck Turner's revenge? Mike Deehan previews Turner's lawsuit against the City Council. The Supreme Judicial Court hears the arguments next week.
-- Revamping of the school assignment plan is just beginning, but here's a look at what's changed since last time and what people are looking for. Read more
Former Patrick aide leaving UMass, headed to private sector
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A year after rejoining UMass Boston, a former top aide to Gov. Deval Patrick is on the move again. Effective Feb. 10, Arthur Bernard, vice chancellor for government relations and public affairs, is headed to the private sector.
He'll be joining up with a former boss, Robert Travaglini at Travaglini, Eisenberg and Kiley LLC, a government relations firm. Travaglini served as state Senate president, and for four years Bernard was his chief of staff. Read more
Former Mayor Kevin White dies at 82
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Mayor Thomas Menino's office broke the news tonight that former Mayor Kevin White has died. He was 82.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the White family tonight," Menino said in a statement. "Mayor Kevin White was a great friend and a great leader who left a lasting mark of hope and inspiration on the City of Boston. He will be sorely missed.”
U.S. Sen. John Kerry released his own statement: Read more
LaMattina considering run for register of Suffolk and County Probate Court
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Councillor Sal LaMattina of East Boston is weighing a run for register for the Suffolk Probate and Family Court.
LaMattina told the Reporter he is talking with constituents to "see if this is the right move."
He said he loves being a councillor, but he would be able to work with -- and help -- families in the register post. LaMattina was elected to the City Council in 2006. He worked at the Crossroads Family Shelter between 1985 and 1987, according to his biography on the City Council's website. Read more
Less than 24 hours after Gov. Patrick's state of the commonwealth...
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...This crossed the State House News Service wire:
Less than two years after it won overwhelming passage in the House and Senate, a bill intended to streamline the permitting process for land-based wind turbines was buried in study Tuesday by a legislative committee, likely denying the Patrick administration a long-held priority in its effort to increase renewable energy production.
Voting rights coalition proposes its own City Council redistricting map
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A coalition of voting rights advocates are pushing map redrawing the boundaries of City Council districts, which could result in revamped Dorchester districts and two incumbents potentially pitted against one another.
A City Council committee, headed by District 2 Councillor Bill Linehan, is working on approving a map. Growing populations in downtown Boston and northern neighborhoods mean the lines have to be redrawn in order to equalize the population numbers. For example, Dorchester’s District 3 needs to pick up residents, while District 2 must shed residents. Read more
Expect more silliness like this in the Senate race
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This may be lost on Boston.com readers, who are being inundated this morning with an onslaught of articles on the New England Patriots, but U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) and his presumed Democratic opponent in November, Elizabeth Warren, signed a pledge to “deter” third parties from advertising during their face-off. Read more
BNN: City councillors respond to Menino's state of the city address
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Chris Lovett sat down with Councillors At-Large Felix Arroyo and John Connolly after Mayor Thomas Menino's state of the city speech.
City Councilors on State of the City from Chris Lovett on Vimeo.
Mayor Menino's 2012 State of the City Address
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Text of the speech is available below or here as a PDF. Read more
Baker to head arts and tourism committee as Linehan retains census and economic development committees
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Councillor Frank BakerNewly-elected City Councillor Frank Baker (District 3) was handed the chair of the Arts, Film and Tourism Committee as City Councillor Charles Yancey (District 4) was slid out of the chairmanship of the Post Audit and Oversight Committee, Read more
Murphy: Casino issue now headed for economic development committee
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City Council President Stephen Murphy appears to be changing course on the 13-member body’s approach to the issue of siting a casino in Boston.
In an appearance on Chris Lovett’s Boston Neighborhood News (BNN) show, Murphy said he would announce on Wednesday he is referring the question of siting a casino to the Committee on Economic Development, chaired by District 2 Councillor Bill Linehan of South Boston. Murphy acknowledged that is different from what he announced at the first City Council meeting of the year, when he said he would set up a special committee to study gambling, with District Councillor Sal LaMattina of East Boston as its chair. Read more
Casting call goes out for political play, "Murph"
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A casting call has been posted for the Boston-themed political drama written by a Dorchester playwright.
Mike Deehan interviewed Catherine O'Neill for the Reporter last year about her play, "Murph," set on "the eve of the Clinton administration," and focused on Boston's political scene and state Rep. Kevin Murphy (not to be confused with the real-life state representative from Lowell). Local theater production company Argos Productions is putting the play together. Read more
Boston politics in the year ahead
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Boston is, in many ways, a small town, where the same question comes up no matter what watering hole you're in. One of those questions is whether the city's longtime mayor will run again in 2013.
Given his rigorous schedule -- and that he announced he was running for reelection in 2009 eight months before the November race -- an answer does not appear to be on the horizon. (That won't stop the vortex of gossip, of course. As we put it in our preview of 2011: "Sometimes, Boston can be seen less as a shining city upon a hill and more as a rumor mill grinding away on top of a landfill.") Read more
As expected, Feeney recommended for clerkship
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Suprising no one, City Council President Stephen Murphy on Tuesday recommended the City Council vote in former Dorchester Councillor Maureen Feeney as the next city clerk.
A vote is expected Wednesday, though it's unclear whether there will be a roll call, or simply a voice vote.
A PDF of Murphy's memo to his fellow councillors is available here. Murphy also puts on a media critic hat, hitting the Boston Globe for raising questions about the process.
Globe editorial calls for city-wide referendum on casino
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A Boston Globe editorial on Sunday endorsed a city-wide referendum on an East Boston casino. Under the casino bill signed into law in November, the City Council has the power to approve such a referendum, or allow a vote to occur in the ward the casino would be located. Suffolk Downs, the East Boston race track, is putting together a proposal with Caesars. Read more
Former Glodis aide tapped as Baker chief of staff at City Hall
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Incoming City Councillor Frank Baker has tapped a Beacon Hill veteran as his chief of staff in City Hall. Amy Frigulietti, who volunteered for Baker during his District 3 campaign, worked in the state Senate as chief of staff to state Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) and as a legislative aide to Guy Glodis (D-Worcester) when he served in the Senate. Read more
Feeney one of two finalists for City Clerk
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Former City Councillor Maureen Feeney is one of two finalists a City Council committee will interview on Monday for the job of city clerk. The council’s Committee on Rules and Administration is scheduled to interview Feeney and another finalist, Natalie Carithers, on Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the Atkins Room.
The committee could vote on a finalist to recommend to the full 13-member City Council, according to a meeting notice signed by City Council President Stephen Murphy, a close Feeney ally. Read more
Baker weighs in on redistricting process, expressing interest in Polish Triangle precincts
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As the City Council weighs redrawing the boundaries of the city’s nine districts, incoming City Councillor Frank Baker said he wants District 3, which he will represent, to pick up the Polish Triangle.
The area is currently in City Councillor Bill Linehan’s District 2, which abuts District 3. Linehan is the chair of the City Council’s redistricting committee.
Population growth within Boston’s downtown and northern neighborhoods means new district lines must be drawn in order for districts to have equal populations. Dorchester’s District 3 needs to pick up residents, while District 2 must shed residents. Read more
MASSterList:: Newt's rise causes headaches for Romney camp - Coakley sues big banks - Casino plans take shape in Foxboro, Suffolk Downs, Palmer
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NEWT RISING: Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich's sudden surge in the polls is just one of the problems the Romney campaign is dealing with this week. (WCVB, Globe) They're also batting back attacks from doppelganger Jon Huntsman (PI) and they had to go visit the old folks in Maine (AP)
BANKS: I guess Martha Coakley paid one ATM fee too many and decided to sue all the banks. (WCVB)
FRIDAY FUN: If Barney Frank retires and becomes a distinguished college professor, what classes would he teach? Respond on the Twitters with #ProfBarneyCourses.
IF BRIAN LEES SAYS IT'S OK, I GUESS IT'S OK: Casinos everywhere: Foxboro, Suffolk Downs, Palmer.
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| Ex-Chelsea housing chief's son, Matthew McLaughlin, fired | Three arrests at Occupy Boston over a sink | 'Right To Repair' Proposal Will Be Left Up To Voters |
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MASSterList: Mitt's chocolate confession - Maginn wins - MBTA ready for winter - Rebuilding after tornadoes
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GATEWAY DRUG: Chocolate milk. Oh, oh, I'm sorry - HOT chocolate milk. With restrictive habits like that, it's hard to see how such a self destructive individual could ever be president. Hopefully, Mitt can get the help he needs to turn his life around and break away from lactose addiction. (PI)
TORNADOES: Six months after tornadoes whipped through Western Mass., devistated town are still rebuilding. (Republican)
WINTER COMMUTES: While not quite as bad as tornadoes, winter storms can still mean frustration for commuters and the MBTA. The Worcester T&G says transit officials expect to have it under control this year.
HE SHOULD START A BLOG TOO: So is this Scott Brown Op-Ed on Legislative inside trading in the Herald a one-time deal or did they give him his own column too?
GOP: Maginn wins. (Republican)
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| Patrick admin: No new taxes 2013, cuts | Occupy Boston seeks injunction to bar removal | Bikers want to ditch helmet law |
MITT
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Menino taps Dot author Lehane for Boston Public Library board
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Mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday will swear in author Dennis Lehane, a Dorchester native, as a member of the Boston Public Library’s board of trustees.
The swearing-in is set for 4:30 p.m. in the mayor’s City Hall office, according to Menino’s schedule. Read more
MASSterList: JPKIII looks to reupholster family carpetbag - Mitt's McDuck days - Frank says district map forced retirement - Galvin in charge
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I FOR ONE WELCOME OUR NEW GINGER OVERLORD: Does this scrawny Middlesex County assistant DA really think he can just carpetbag into Barney Frank's district and beat the electoral might of a Sam Sutter? The legislative experience of a Cindy Creem? The hair and on-TV-all-the-time-ness of a Mike Ross? The... Pachecocity of a Marc Pacheco? What's this kid's name, anyway? Oh. Never mind then, carry on. (Globe, Herald)
MITT MONITOR: WBUR continues it's look at Mitt Romney's glory days of corporate swashbuckling and Scrooge McDuck-like money swimming.
Photo of the day: Mitt buys lots of pizza.
HE SHOULD START A BLOG: Barney Frank is saying the new district map would pretty much just have been a pain in the neck to win. (Globe)
PAINT IT BLACK: That special electricity in the air you feel around Beacon Hill today can mean only one thing: Secretary of State Bill Galvin is going to be Acting Governor today. Gov. Patrick's off to Chile and the L.G.'s headed to Florida for a Lt. Governor's conference, leaving the true Lord of the Hill in charge. Everyone look busy.
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| Exclusive: 'I'm Innocent,' DiMasi Says On Eve Of Prison | City Moving To Remove 'Occupy Boston' Protesters | Former MBTA union officials indicted on larceny charges |
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Draft map revamps City Council districts, leaves Jackson in District 7
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District 7 City Councillor Tito Jackson would not have to move or give up his seat on the City Council, according to a draft map featuring redrawn political boundaries for the city's 9 district council seats. Jackson's colleague, Michael Ross, isn't as lucky. Ross, who lives in Mission Hill, would no longer live in District 8, under the draft map circulated to reporters and staff inside City Hall on Wednesday.
A City Council committee, headed by District 2 City Councillor Bill Linehan, was tasked with redrawing the political boundaries of the districts, following U.S. Census counts that showed shifts in population requiring some districts to shed residents and other districts to gain residents.
Linehan's district was one of those that needed to lose population, so District 2 was redrawn without some parts of Chinatown and the South End – two areas where Linehan's recent opponent, Suzanne Lee, did well in the November election. Read more
Feeney could be putting ex-colleagues in awkward position
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Maureen Feeney is putting her former colleagues in quite the public relations pickle.
Almost 48 hours after the polls closed, Feeney signed a resignation letter and set in motion widespread speculation that she is headed for the higher-paying job of city clerk. The City Council has the power to vote her in.
The last several city clerks have been former city councillors. But those appointments were made in a different time. Now there are stories in the newspapers, seemingly every month, about this patronage appointment or that misuse of public funds. Read more
Election Day: Where to get info
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