Councilor Bill Linehan (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, downtown) says whatever minimal shadows the proposed Millennium tower at Winthrop Square might so tangentially put on Boston Common is more than made up for by the $150 million the city would earn from the sale of the old garage there. Read more.
The City Council today approved a request to the state legislature to let Boston create "sub-precincts" in certain crowded districts in Bay Village, Chinatown, Roxbury, Downtown, South Boston and the South End. Read more.
The Globe reports that Bill Linehan won't seek a seventh term as city councilor in District 2, which covers South Boston, the South End, Chinatown and Downtown.
Frank Ulip, who lives downtown and Peter Lin-Marcus, who lives in Chinatown, have both signaled their interest in running for the seat this fall by forming political committees. However, Linehan's announcement could also lead to a flood of candidates from South Boston.
The City Council today gave backing to a proposal by Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) for a hearing to look at both specific increases in murders and shootings in Boston over the past year and more general issues about how Boston police, public-health and even housing departments can do something about it. Read more.
The City Council today overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by councilors Frank Baker (Dorchester) and Bill Linehan (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, downtown) to add a 2% tax on liquor sales to fund addiction treatment programs.
Council President Michelle Wu joined Baker and Linehan in voting for the tax; the other 10 councilors voted against. Read more.
The Globe reports city councilors Bill Linehan (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, downtown) and Frank Baker (Dorchester) will try again this week to get their colleagues to approve a request for a 2% tax on Boston liquor sales to raise funds for addiction services.
The two first proposed the idea last year but it never went anywhere.
If the council does approve the proposal at its Wednesday meeting, the measure would also need approval of Mayor Walsh, the state legislature and the governor.
The Boston City Council today approved looking into how to regulate rental services like Airbnb from laying waste to neighborhoods and harming local hotels and workers while also protecting poor homeowners who increasingly rely on the services to make ends meet and stay in the city. Read more.
Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina says he sometimes gets frustrated with the otherwise beautiful view from Piers Park in East Boston: He can see the Seaport in South Boston, but knows the only way to get there by public transportation is via three subway lines and a bus. Read more.
Mayor Walsh, city councilors Michael Flaherty and Michelle Wu and state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry this morning backed residents opposed to a Starbucks at L Street and East Broadway, saying there are already enough coffee options in the area, that a Starbucks would exacerbate morning traffic woes at the intersection and would help to eat away at the family-oriented, mom-and-pop nature of the commercial district east of Perkins Square. Read more.
The city council today approved a protest against a recent North Carolina law lifting rights for transgender and gay residents in its cities: A ban on travel to the state by Boston city workers.
The measure, which now goes to Mayor Walsh for his consideration, has exemptions for public-safety and public-health workers who would have to travel there for law-enforcement or public-health reasons. Read more.
City Councilors Andrea Campbell (Roxbury) and Michael Flaherty (at large), say that for an average of about $23 per resident a year, Boston would be able to build more housing for people being priced out of the city - and help upgrade city parks and historic sites. Councilor Bill Linehan, however, is not sure he buys it. Read more.
City Councilors Sal LaMattina and Bill Linehan want to require street performers to buy $40 annual licenses for the right to perform on Boston streets.
The city council tomorrow considers their request for a hearing on a proposed ordinance that would require street performers to wear their permits - and to show them to inquiring police officers and to stay at least 100 feet away from elementary schools and hospitals - and at least 50 feet away from other buskers. Read more.
The City Council today deferred any action on giving itself pay increases. In roughly 20 seconds, Council President Bill Linehan referred two raise-related orders to the Committee on Government Operations for hearings. Read more.
The City Council on Wednesday gets to decide between competing salary increases: Council President Bill Linehan wants to give himself and his fellow councilors a 20% raise, to $105,000 a year, while Mayor Walsh is pushing for a 13.7% raise, to $99,500. Read more.
Frank Baker: Councilors worth more than department heads.
A board assembled by the mayor to look at raises for city councilors today recommended an 11% raise, which would bring council pay to roughly $97,000 starting in January.
City Councilor Bill Linehan said he will file a measure on Wednesday for a higher increase, Mayor Walsh's past veto of a higher raise be damned.
"We're not going to back down," Linehan said. Read more.
City Council President Bill Linehan today blocked a vote to force Boston 2024 officials to show up with secret documents related to Olympic financing - until at least the council's next regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 12. Read more.
Jackson makes a point at morning press conference at City Hall
City Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) this morning filed his formal request to ask fellow councilors to order Boston 2024 to hand over two private chapters of its Olympic bid that relate to finances and political support of the proposed games.
Matthew Walsh tells councilors treatment programs for people like him need more resources.
Substance-abuse experts and recovering addicts say a proposal by City Councilors Bill Linehan and Frank Baker to fund new treatment programs through a 2% tax on Boston alcohol sales could provide new beds - and new hope - to addicts who now have to wait long periods for help.
Boston City Council meetings usually conclude with a recitation of recently deceased Bostonians whom councilors wish to remember with a moment of silence. Today's meeting, though, had an added ending: City Council Bill Linehan singing "Danny Boy."
Linehan started the meeting by giving councilors shamrock pins. As the normal council business wound down, an aide brought a guitar up to Linehan's podium at the front of the council chambers and he said he wanted to send his fellow councilors into "the high holidays" with an appropriate song.
After he was done, the council and staffers rose as one to applaud.
City Council President Bill Linehan said today he'll chair a special committee to look at how Boston can host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
To join him, Linehan chose councilors Mark Ciommo (Allston/Brighton), Frank Baker (Dorchester), Tito Jackson (Roxbury), Tim McCarthy (Hyde Park, Roslindale, Mattapan), Michelle Wu (at large), and Matt O’Malley (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain).
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