Politics
Politics
Kerry nominated for Secretary of State, election scramble begins
Dec. 21, 2012
U.S. Sen. John Kerry will go before his colleagues in the United State Senate for confirmation as the country’s next secretary of state after President Barack Obama made his nomination official on Friday at a press conference in the White House. Read more
Murphy says he has enough votes for another go at top council slot
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City Council President Stephen Murphy announced on Thursday he’s picked up enough votes for another term as the ceremonial head of the 13-member body.
Murphy’s office released a list of names supporting his bid in an email to reporters: City Councillors At-Large Felix Arroyo and John Connolly, as well as District Councillors Frank Baker (Dorchester), Mark Ciommo (Allston-Brighton), Rob Consalvo (Hyde Park), Tito Jackson (Dorchester), Sal LaMattina (East Boston), Bill Linehan (South Boston), and Matt O’Malley (Jamaica Plain). Read more
Gov. Patrick predicts movement on gun laws in new year
Dec. 20, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick predicted movement in the state Legislature next session on stalled gun control legislation, drawing a distinction between weapons used for sport and hunting and those designed first and foremost for military use. Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: ‘Bolder’ opportunities in state post, says Cabral
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Sheriff Andrea CabralSuffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral will join Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration in mid-January, opening up a seat frequently coveted over the years by Boston politicians. Patrick last week introduced the new members of his cabinet, including Cabral as his public safety and homeland security secretary.
“I think this is an unbelievable opportunity to really move public safety forward in the next two years,” Cabral told reporters after a press conference at the State House. “I think there are going to be very solid, very bold initiatives by the governor and things that I personally support.”
Cabral, who has served as sheriff since 2002, said she believes she can do “bigger and bolder things” on a statewide level. Read more
Diversity is issue as city’s lawyer clashes with Yancey at council hearing
Dec. 19, 2012
City Hall’s top lawyer clashed with District 4 Councillor Charles Yancey on Tuesday afternoon, accusing him of “grandstanding” and calling the councillor’s hearing on the racial make-up of city departments a “farce.” The intense back-and-forth drew several members of the municipal police force that patrols City Hall to the doors of the Council’s Iannella Chamber. Read more
Gov. Patrick taps Sheriff Cabral as public safety chief
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Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday introduced the new members of his cabinet, including Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral as his public safety chief.
“I think this is an unbelievable opportunity to really move public safety forward in the next two years,” Cabral told reporters after a press conference at the State House. “I think there are going to be very solid, very bold initiatives by the governor and things that I personally support.” Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: Warren campaign aide Wu casts eyes on an at-large seat
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Michelle WuMore than a month after her former boss won a US Senate seat, a 27-year-old ex-aide to consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren is launching a campaign of her own. Michelle Wu, a South End attorney who organized outreach to communities of color for the Warren campaign, said Tuesday she is launching a run for one of the City Council’s four at-large seats.
Wu, who also had Warren as a professor in her first semester at law school, has registered a campaign committee with the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance. “I believe in the city and I’m serious about wanting to serve the city,” said Wu, who moved to Boston from Chicago to attend Harvard. She will be up against four well-funded incumbents should all of them choose to run for reelection. Read more
Chambers presents Columbia Point dealership plans, draws concern over master plan impact
Dec. 7, 2012
Herb Chambers: Auto magnate looks to enter hometown market. Savin Hill residents heard from one of the region’s leading auto dealers Thursday about his plan to bring a pre-owned BMW dealership to Columbia Point, an area expected to see high growth in residences and businesses. Herb Chambers Companies of Somerville plan to convert the former WLVI-TV station near the northern end of Morrissey Boulevard into a sales and service center for the high-end German automaker.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city’s planning agency, hosted the meeting at the Cristo Rey Boston High School on Savin Hill Avenue.
Chambers himself attended the meeting and answered residents concerns about the project. “I think this is great for Dorchester because there’s a lot of positive energy going into the area,” Chambers said to the crowd of about 35 people gathered in the Cristo Rey library. Read more
Patrick cuts spending by $225 million, will seek power to cut local aid
Dec. 4, 2012
As part of a plan to address an estimated $540 million mid-year budget gap, Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday slashed spending by $225 million and asked the Legislature to allow him to unilaterally reduce unrestricted local aid to cities and towns by 1 percent.
Unrestricted local aid pays for local services, such as public safety budgets, and is delivered separately from state aid to fund local education spending, which is not targeted for cuts under Patrick’s plan.
“I don’t think this is draconian. Obviously every city and town worries about an impact on their local aid, but as I say this is relatively modest. We are spreading the pain as broadly as possible and sensible and we have a solution for closing that gap in unrestricted local aid if the Lottery continues to help,” Patrick said.
The spending cuts ordered by the governor will hit nursing homes, special education funding, school transportation for the homeless and reimbursement rates for hospitals that treat low-income patients. Read more
Menino sends blunt letter on "fiscal cliff" to Obama and House speaker
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Mayor Thomas Menino's office has fired off a chatty letter to President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, chock full of shots at the capitol’s culture and glimpses of life inside Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. The blunt letter, signed by Menino, urges Obama and Boehner to speak plainly about "fiscal cliff" negotiations and asks them not to cut health research funding, pointing to the hundreds of millions of dollars the Bay State receives from the federal government. Read more
