Rats as big as cats, the Federal Reserve and 9/11 and other campaign notes

Today's Boston election roundup:

Chris Kulikoski, running against District 1 (North End, East Boston, Charlestown) incumbent Sal LaMattina, says the city needs to find new ways to combat rats. He said "rats as big as cats" scurry around near his Charter Street home after dark and that the city might have to take steps such as banning leaving trash on the street overnight: "Presently, trash sits out all night for next-day collection. Since rats are nocturnal, it only makes sense not to leave trash out overnight for rates to feast on. These are not the feasts the North End should be known for."

Sean Ryan, a libertarian running for an at-large city council seat, calls, in this video, for a criminal investigation into 9/11 and says "Sept. 11 would not have happened without a Federal Reserve. That's just the bottom line. It doesn't matter how you explain it, it involves Big Government, one way or another." In this video, he says he that he could see himself participating in civil disobedience over taxes: "There is a possibility we won't be able to stop all this madness through the electoral process. ... We just have to start preparing ourselves to break some laws. ... You have to make sure, in breaking these laws, you don't hurt anyone else."

Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas, whose district does not include Boston, today endorsed at-large candidate Ayanna Pressley: "Ayanna has a history of service to Greater Boston and the state of Massachusetts and would add an effective and experienced voice to the city council. She understands and is dedicated to the issues that are important to women and families, the city, and those most in need and I am convinced she will have a valuable impact as a city councilor. We need the perspective and commitment of talented women like Ayanna in public service, and I am pleased to support her candidacy."

Mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty called for mandatory 18-month sentences for people discovered with unlicensed weapons in their homes or workplaces. Currently, the maximum penalty is $500 - compared to the mandatory 18-month sentence for illegal gun possession in public: "Our laws need to treat an illegal weapon as an illegal weapon, regardless of where it is found. Illegal guns should not be tolerated anywhere."