MA Sen. Collins says move migrants to Newton campus, not Fort Point

A South Boston lawmaker cautioned the state against using a Fort Point office building for a migrant overflow shelter, saying that squeezing families together in a space without proper bathroom facilities could lead to a “public health crisis.” Speaking at an evening press conference two days after the news broke that the state was considering … Read more

Next stop Seaport? Fort Point neighbors told brace for migrants

The city has warned startled Fort Point neighbors to be ready for migrants to move into their Seaport district. The Healey administration is eyeing an office building on Farnsworth Street as the next spot to house homeless migrants, the Herald has learned. The location is amid the bustling Seaport not far from the Children’s Museum. … Read more

Boston City Council finally approves $13M anti-terror grant … but not without some drama

The Boston City Council finally approved a $13 million federal counter-terrorism grant for the region on Wednesday, but the vote was not without fireworks, with several councilors pointing to a lack of transparency around how it was handled. The anti-terror grant, blocked in December and again last week when it was sent to committee, was … Read more

State mattress disposal ban has been ‘disastrous’ for Boston, city councilors say

Four Boston councilors say the state’s mattress disposal ban has put a “tremendous strain” on city resources, and has left beds on densely-packed streets for weeks as employees struggle to keep up with the backlog of mandated recycling requests. City Councilors Gabriela Coletta, Ed Flynn, Sharon Durkan and Liz Breadon of Districts 1, 2, 8 … Read more

Boston pot shop owner played part in City Council vote for president

Ruthzee Louijeune cruised to a 13-0 sweep to become the next president of the Boston City Council, but the vote may have been manipulated by former Councilor Tito Jackson, who reportedly asked another candidate to step aside to make it unanimous. The Herald has learned that another at-large councilor, Julia Mejia, was asked not to … 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 ‘not serious about public safety’: outgoing president Flynn says

Outgoing City Council President Ed Flynn said the vote to block $13.3 million in federal counter-terrorism funding for the metro region showed the council was “not serious about public safety,” an attitude he hopes will shift with four new members. Flynn, who had been pushing last week for an emergency meeting to reconsider the funding … Read more

Massachusetts Senate to review bill stripping Boston City Council of grant approval authority

An “embarrassing” vote by the Boston City Council has led to movement on Beacon Hill, where a bill that would strip the body of its authority to approve public safety grants was referred to a legislative committee for review. State Sen. Nick Collins, a Democrat from South Boston, introduced the bill at an informal Senate … 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