City councilors today overwhelmingly supported the idea of bringing back the Boston Police mounted unit, disbanded as a cost-saving measure in 2009.

Councilors, including at-large Councilor Steve Murphy, who made the proposal, said cops on horses are just better at patrolling certain types of large gatherings and that they are excellent at public relations and as ice breakers between police and citizens - who doesn't love horses?

The Boston City Council today called for a hearing on the medical-marijuana dispensaries the state recently approved for Boylston Street in the Back Bay and Southampton Street on the South End/Roxbury line.

Councilor Steve Murphy (at large), who submitted a letter of "non opposition" to the general idea of dispensaries was blunt: "I was lied to" by the operators of the proposed Boylston Street facility - who listed him as supporting their specific location.

The City Council has stepped into a contract dispute between the Weather Channel and DirectTV, urging the two companies to settle a contract dispute that is frustrating DirectTV subscribers who would rather watch Jim Cantore than Harvey Leonard or Pete Bouchard.

The council yesterday unanimously approved a resolution by at-large Councilor Steve Murphy calling for a prompt end to the dispute.

Murphy called the Weather Channel "an invaluable national and local service" that "enables private citizens to make important decisions regarding their work, travel and recreation plans."

The City Council on Wednesday considers an ordinance that would ban children under 16 from any cage-fighting matches that make their way to Boston - unless the kids are accompanied by a parent.

City Council President Steve Murphy had originally proposed an ordinance that would bar everybody under 18 from the matches, with no exceptions. Murphy cites not just spurting blood and violence but the neo-Nazi, homophobic and pro-rape messages he says the fighters often tattoo on their arms or use as banter.

The council's meeting begins at noon in its fifth-floor chambers in City Hall.

Finally, the return of the campaign song.

In less melodic news, Rob Consalvo throws his support behind rubber baby buggy bumpers, um, rubber sidewalks.

If Ayanna Pressley runs for Mayor as reports are now suggesting that she may, she will undoubtably be the next Mayor.

It's a no brainer. Number one, the race is wide open for a major female candidate to run and win. There are ten men who running. Many people do vote based on gender. For instance, in the race to replace Jack Hart in the State Senate, many pundits believe that some of Nick Collin's votes will be siphered away by fellow Southie native Maureen Dahill which will allow Linda Dorcena Fory to be able to walk into office. However, I believe with two women running against Collins, the only male in the Democratic primary, many women will split their vote, while many men will vote for Collins. I'm not saying it is right, but it is a reality that gender politics is a determining factor for how many people vote in elections.

The Globe reports Gov. Patrick plans to make Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral his new public safety secretary.

Updated following City Council vote.

The City Council will ask the legislature to relax its limits on liquor licenses in Boston so that the Irish Social Club in Boston can regularly serve alcohol to guests again.

(This post originally appeared at www.BostonBastard.com)

Just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Boston City Council readily presented their version of Boston race relations by making an example out of Charles Yancey, a black City Councilor who committed the egregious offense of actually trying to do his job and look out for his constituents.

The annual release of City Council Committee chairs is always a good way to get a sense of where the councilors stand in the eyes of the City Council power structure and this year was no different.

When Council President Stephen Murphy released his assignments last week, we learned that Matt O’Malley has proven himself as a willing stooge of the status quo, so of course he was handed the chair of the Government Operations Committee, which had been left available when Maureen Feeney finally decided to drop any pretense of giving a shit about her Dorchester constituents and went after a major pay raise.

Another major change was that Charles Yancey was removed from his chairmanship of the Post Audit and Oversight Committee.

Among councilors, Yancey is often criticized for not doing anything, but only because trying to improve the community in Mattapan doesn’t count among City Hall’s paler politicians.

The Dorchester Reporter posts a copy of Council President Steve Murphy's recommendation that the full council hire former Councilor Feeney for the post of city clerk - which includes a bonus denunciation of a Globe story daring to question the timing of her interview for the post. The council is scheduled to vote tomorrow to appoint Feeney.