Saturday, May 25, 2013
Boston mayor throws his support at Democratic U.S. Senate nominee; Markey responds to Gomez "pond scum" comment.
Calling him a friend to his city and state, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate special election nominee Congressman Edward Markey in Dorchester Friday morning. Speaking at a rally at the International Brotherhood of Eletrical Workers Local 103, Menino, a Democrat, said Markey has been with the city "at every corner." Menino said Markey helped the city receive more Homeland Security funding, has been "out front" on gun control and sustainability. "He's there for us all the time," Menino said. Markey welcomed the endorsement, calling Menino "America's greatest mayor" and a "transformative figure" for Boston and Massachusetts. "He has taken Boston and truly made it that shining beacon on a hill," Markey said. "His …
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
The rush from Beacon Hill to the westbound turnpike this week had as much to do with two of Worcester's political sons beating feet from the capitol as with the impending Memorial Day weekend. As Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray attempted as graceful an exit as possible from politics, fellow Worcester Democrat Rep. John Fresolo made his hasty escape under an ethics cloud feeling "marginalized" by his peers and pressured to resign, which he did. If not for those two storylines, the focus may have been on the Senate's breakneck budget debate concluding Thursday night as senators wiped their hands clean of 725 amendments and passed a $34 billion fiscal 2014 budget without the need for Senate President Therese Murray to threaten a Friday or Saturday …
Friday, May 24, 2013
Dignitaries speak at Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund flag display.
With over 33,000 small American flags planted in the ground on Boston Common, dozens gathered nearby Thursday to pay tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country. Each flag represented a U.S. serviceman or woman from Massachusetts who has died in uniform since the American Civil War and each flag was planted by volunteers with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund. "This display stops people directly in their tracks," said Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund President Steve Kerrigan. "And that, of course, is exactly the point." "We shall never forget the sacrifices made by those who gave us our freedom today," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. The names of 187 military members who died in service were read …
42.355191
-71.063275
Boston Common
147 Tremont St, Boston, MA
/articles/fallen-service-members-honored-on-boston-common-dc225d29
1488469
/locations/9412064
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The five-year plan includes funding for school expansions in the North End and other projects across the city.
The mayor last week announced a plan to invest $1.8 billion over the next five years in capital projects across the city, including $20.5 million for the construction of a new school at 585 Commercial St. and a $18.6 million expansion of the Eliot School in the North End. At a press conference held Friday, May 17 outside the recently opened Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Mayor Thomas Menino discussed some of the 341 projects included in the city’s five-year capital plan for fiscal years 2014-2018—projects that will improve and maintain the city’s roads, buildings, technology and play spaces. The five-year capital plan will "create 460 construction jobs in FY2014" and will "transform city neighborhoods, learning, recreation and streets…
Gov. Deval Patrick will honor those killed in action at a 10 a.m. ceremony Thursday.
You may have noticed a very patriotic sight in Boston Common starting Wednesday afternoon: thousands of small American flags planted not far from the intersection of Beacon and Charles Street. The flags were planted by volunteers with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. According to their website, the volunteers planned to plant 33,000 flags this year for each military service member from the Bay State who has given their lives in service to America since the Civil War. On Thursday, Gov. Deval Patrick will honor those lost in a ceremony at the site at 10 a.m. The ceremony will include the reading of names of those who have died during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle by …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Outgoing lieutenant governor said recent controversies had nothing to do with decision to resign.
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said none of the controversies that have dogged him during his tenure on Beacon Hill contributed to his decision to announce his resignation. In a press conference at the State House Wednesday, Murray said his final day on the job will be June 2. The next day he will take over as president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce where his salary will reportedly be around $200,000. In January, Murray said he had no intention of running for governor when Gov. Deval Patrick's term expires in January 2015. "This has been a very difficult but empowering decision," Murray said. "It has been an honor to serve as lieutenant governor." Patrick called Murray an "outstanding partner" during his time in …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/murray-to-resign-june-2-patrick-calls-him-outstanding-partner
1465768
/locations/9409818
CBS Boston reports Murray has a new job lined up already.
UPDATE, 12:15 p.m.: The Massachusetts Republican Party was quick to jump on the reports about Murray's resignation, saying Murray is trying "to outrun the scandal that dogs him" in a statement on their website. MassGOP attempted to liken Murray's exit to that of former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, who was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2007. “History doesn’t always repeat itself, but in this case it looks like Tim Murray is following the same path as a previous, disgraced Democratic official,” said Nate Little MassGOP Executive Director in the scathing statement. “Only time will tell if Murray follows the Finneran playbook to the end, complete with indictment and guilty plea.” UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Boston.com has updated their …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/lt-gov-tim-murray-to-resign
1465768
/locations/9408680
The city has launched a new online questionnaire designed to preserve open space and develop parks.
What makes a park great? Is it the amount of open space, the prevalence of natural features, shade trees, trails, benches, or gardens? The city of Boston has begun its effort to plan for the preservation of open space and the development of parks through 2021, and wants input from residents through a new online questionnaire. The planning process will consider all of Boston's public spaces including parks, playgrounds, squares, malls, community gardens, cemeteries, trails and harbor islands, and consider demographics and socio-economic trends and how they fit into park use, officials said. Officials also plan to target natural areas for preseracation, such as rivers, harbors, wildlife and vegetation. "Public participation is crucial to…
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Friday marks the 9th anniversary of the law that allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry in Massachusetts.
Dozens of local gay and lesbian couples gathered at the Boston Public Garden Thursday to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the law that gave them the right to marry in Massachusetts. The celebration, put on in partnership between Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), the Respect for Marriage Coalition and Mayor Thomas Menino, ended with a group photo at a location popular for wedding photography. "It's been an extraordinary five years," said Ellen Wade of Newton, who along with her wife, Maureen Brodoff, were one of the plaintiffs in the landmark case they won in 2003 that led to the adoption of marriage equality in the state. "It's been exciting and inspiring, and we're grateful to have played a small part in showing the country …
42.35654
-71.067828
Boston Public Garden
51 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/marriage-equality-anniversary-celebrated-at-public-garden-ef62b7e5
1519171
/locations/9395421
phil t
1:39 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Wake up Paul. He STOLE it. more ›