Boston City Council starts new year with pay hike to $115,000

The Boston City Council is kicking off the new year with an $11,500 raise, a bump that will increase each council member’s salary from $103,500 to $115,000. The raises were approved by the City Council in November of last year, but only became effective on Jan. 1, per state ethics laws, which dictate that all … Read more

Ed Flynn reflects on leading Boston City Council during ‘challenging’ time

Outgoing Boston City Council President Ed Flynn said he was forced to make difficult decisions as part of his efforts to provide positive leadership during a tumultuous two-year period for a body tarred by its ethical and legal lapses. As he prepares to hand over the gavel to the body’s undetermined new leader, Flynn points … Read more

Ed Flynn defends his dad in wake of ‘Chuck’ Stuart HBO series

Outgoing Boston City Council President Ed Flynn defended his father’s “record on race relations” in the wake of criticism that’s been leveled at former Mayor Ray Flynn as part of a new documentary recounting the 1989 Stuart murder. Flynn said that while he hasn’t seen the documentary, a collaboration between HBO and the Boston Globe … Read more

Boston City Council slammed for ’embarrassing’ vote to block $13M counter-terrorism grant

A state senator is seeking a change in Massachusetts law that would strip the Boston City Council of its authority to approve public health and safety grants, after the body’s latest “embarrassing” vote to reject $13.3 million in federal counter-terrorism funding. Nick Collins, a South Boston Democrat, filed a bill Friday that would allow that … Read more

Lame duck Boston city councilor skips work in support of Palestinian-led ‘global strike’

Outgoing Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara skipped work on Monday, saying in a social media post that she chose to close her City Hall office “in solidarity with the global call for a ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war. In the Instagram post, which was quickly taken down, Lara appeared to be asking her 2,500-plus followers … Read more