Things to Know in the South End Today, May 23: ‘Informal’ City Councilor Debate
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a mostly cloudy day, with a high near 75 degrees, and a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The afternoon will be windy with gusts up to 20 mph. 2. ‘Impromtu’ Candidates Night: At-large candidate Shaun Ivers will be hosting an “impromptu candidates forum and open debate” at Slades Bar and Grill (958 Tremont St.) tonight. The idea is to have an informal “debate” where people can come and talk about issues that currently face Boston. See here for more information. 3. South End Elections: Two candidates are officially in the race for the District 2 City Council seat, which includes the South End neighborhood. Find out more about Suzanne Lee and Bill Linehan, who will be seeking election and re-election this year. 4. Lt. Governor to Resign: In case you missed yesterday’s breaking news, Lt. Governor Tim Murray officially announced that he would be resigning from office as of June 2nd. The next day he will take over as president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Read more here. 5. Marathon Bombing Update: In other breaking news yesterday, the FBI disclosed that an agent shot and killed a man who reportedly had ties to marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnev, after the man attacked the agent with a knife during questioning. See here for more details. Things you can do every day on South End Patch: Share your news with the rest of the community. Click here to add an announcement. Add your events to our events calendar. Click here to sign up for breaking news updates. Want up-to-the-minute news? Click here to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts on your community in a blog. Click here to get started. South End Patch
Boston City Councilor Waits for ‘Monster’ to be Caught During Lockdown
Gripped to media reports like the majority of Boston area residents is how Boston District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley is riding out the stay in shelter lockdown. “I’m sitting in my living room since 6:20 a.m. this morning watching television, waiting, hoping and praying there’s no more innocent victims,” said O’Malley, who texted his staff early to let them know to stay home. He said he also received a robocall from NotifyBoston letting him know about the stay in shelter order while law officials search for one of the two bombing suspects. He said he hasn’t received a briefing on the lockdown situation, and said he knows as much as anyone watching media reports. O’Malley also took to Twitter for a little tweet beef with a state rep from Arkansas on gun control. State Rep. Nate Bell, R-20, who tweeted last night: “I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they had an AR-15 with a hi-capacity magazine? #2A“ To which O’Malley (tweeted) and retorted today: “@NateBell4AR You are a moron.” But the district councilor representing West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and a part of Roslindale, said his focus has been on the safety of people. “Allston-Brighton was the first ‘shelter in place’ (area), then at the press conferene later in the morning it was the entire city of Boston,” said O’Malley. “So I checked in with friends and family making sure that everyone is safe.” O’Malley said he believes federal, state, city and town police will catch the suspect. “It’s obviously very tense. Like everyone we’re watching television, watching media reports and hope this monster can be caught and and brought to justice.” “Obviously, we’re all very concerned. We’re obviously worried and many of us know victims who are recovering. We know victims who were loss,” said O’Malley. “The three people who were killed, and the cop lost last night. Our city mourns, but we’re strong, we’re tough, we’re resolute – that’s why we’re the greatest city in the world.” South End Patch
City Councilor Mike Ross Running for Mayor
District 8 City Councilor Mike Ross announced his candidacy for Boston mayor on Thursday. “This week, our Red Sox returned for their home opener, providing Bostonians with a surge of hope, optimism and renewal. Every year on Opening Day, I think back to 13 years ago, during my earliest days as a city councilor, when a small group of us stood together against powerful forces to save Fenway Park. All of Boston won that fight and look at the neighborhood today,” Ross wrote via a new website for his mayoral candidacy. “Today, in that same spirit of community activism and determination to continue building a better Boston, I am announcing that I will be getting into the race for mayor,” added Ross. First elected in 1999, he has represented Back Bay, Beacon Hill, West End, Fenway, Kenmore Square, Audubon Circle, and Mission Hill. Ross, whose father is a Holocaust survivor, and mother is a 71-year-old openly gay woman, tipped his hat to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, “And it was Tom Menino who taught me long ago that the business of public service is, at its heart, about helping people. For many Bostonians, he is the only mayor they’ve ever known. My service as city council president was a partnership with Mayor Menino that I will always be proud of.” Ross joins fellow city councilors John Connolly, Felix Arroyo and Rob Consalvo, as announced candidates for mayor. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Boston City Councilor Connolly Running for Mayor
Boston City Councilor John Connolly is announcing he is running for mayor today. “I’m running for Mayor because Boston should be the first city in America to transform urban public schools and offer every child a world-class education. We all need our Boston Public Schools to work because great schools lead to safe and healthy neighborhoods,” wrote Connolly on his campaign website. Connolly, from West Roxbury, is in his third term, and is announcing his mayoral candidacy at the corner of Warren and Cambridge streets, in Brighton at 11 a.m. today. A former teacher and father of two young children, Connolly said he will focus on bringing “change to Boston Public Schools and to bring new ideas and new energy to the challenges facing the City of Boston.” “If I’m elected mayor, I’ll work every day for Boston to be a city where anyone can make their home and say it was the best decision they ever made,” wrote Connolly on his website. South End Patch