City Council President Steve Murphy talked about Occupy Boston on Channel 25 today. While he said he agrees with some of the points protesters are making - banks got bailouts, Big Oil nearly bankrupted the US auto industry - he said police are now on target to spend $2 million a month on patrolling the area, and that money has to come from somewhere.

Whether it's snow plowing or street cleaning or educational needs or summer jobs for kids, frankly, it's all in the same bucket and we only have so much wheat in that barrel. ... Wall Street isn't picking up the tab on this it's Boston taxpayers. ... I just don't think it's good to try to bankrupt a city as you're trying to make your point. And I think that might be where we're headed.

Murphy also echoed comments by Police Commissioner Ed Davis after the Tuesday-morning arrests, that "professional agitators" have joined the occupation and want to cause trouble.

Mike Ball considers last night's results in District 2, which saw challenger Suzanne Lee of the South End top incumbent Bill Linehan of South Boston:

Like those inconsiderate schlubs who stroll slowly while jaywalking to inconvenience as many drivers as possible, some Boston neighborhoods love a sense of power. South Boston has been one, as in returning the dreadful bigoted Jim Kelly to this seat numerous times. He was obnoxious, inefficient and a true insult to the district outside of Southie. They did it because they could.

The Dorchester Reporter reports that Frank Baker topped the ballot in today's preliminary election to replace Maureen Feeney and that he'll face off against John O'Toole in November.

Voters in District 2 (South Boston, South End, Chinatown), District 3 (Dorchester) and District 7 (Roxbury, Fenway) will narrow down the field of candidates tomorrow for the November elections.

In District 2, incumbent Bill Linehan is facing challenges from Suzanne Lee and Robert Ferrara. Report from a candidate forum.

The Boston Bastard reminds reporters that it's not just Michael Flaherty and the Incumbents (Ed. note: Would make a good 60s cover band) - there are two other candidates running for one of the four open seats this year.

Andrew Ryan wrote a piece about Michael Flaherty's disappointing fundraising considering his mastery of it in previous races. Ryan also fell into the mold of not acknowledging Ryan and Dorcena, characterizing the race as one in which, "five well-known politicians are competing for four seats. One will lose."

Gin Dumcius tweets from Dorchester:

So either some Dorchester homes are split between O'Toole and Bennett, or Bennett is jamming signs into lawns w/o asking. Again.

Last time around it was stickers.

At a candidate forum sponsored by the Ward 5 Democratic Committee tonight, two of the four incumbents urged voters to keep all four in office because they work so well together.

Six of the seven candidates for the four open seats on Nov. 8 addressed topics from the city's biggest societal change over the past decade to greening up the city. Incumbent Ayanna Pressley did not attend; she is caring for her sick mother.

What follows are the questions and the gist of their answers. Also see Stevil's summary.

David Bernstein ponders this fall's low-key municipal elections: Will we break 2007's record low turnout of under 14%?

One place where the turnout might be higher is District 3 in Dorchester, where seven people want to replace Maureen Feeney. The Bay State Banner surveys the crowd.

South Boston youth-sports activist Bob Ferrara announced today he's running for the District 2 seat (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Bay Village and a smidge of Dorchester) held by incumbent Bill Linehan. Suzanne Lee, former principal of the Quincy School in Chinatown, had previously announced she was running as well.

Ferrara accused Linehan of being a Menino mouthpiece:

Michael Flaherty announced today that, yes, he is running for an at-large seat on the City Council in the fall elections. He gave up his seat in 2009 to run for mayor.