I guess that result is a bit surprising actually. Linehan did not win by as much as I think the conventional wisdom thought he would. Perhaps this endorsement helped get her so close… (couldn’t resist)
If I’m Passoni I just keep on running for the fall election. Why not? With higher turnout and more attention focused on the race, who knows what might happen.
As for the result, I am disappointed. We REALLY need some professional help in Boston. Things in City government seem T-I-R-E-D. Passoni would have been a nice influx of new blood. (As a sidenote, see Adrian Walker’s column today about how much things change and how much they stay the same.)
Anyway, congrats to Mr. Linehan, and I hope his tenure is successful, but brief.
Please share widely!
Marty Martinez lost in Somerville. Not a good day for progressive municipal candidates in special elections.
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Any word on the Dedham election?
So says MyDedham.
Very sad.
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Does anyone know the law on how far away from the door the candidate supporters need to be? Linehan had two men pushing their candidate about 8-10 feet from the door in the south end polling place.
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I wish Susan the best of luck, and hope she continues her fight for the fall.
But that measurement is very fungible. In my town they have very clear signposts, and folks are respectful of that semi-imaginary line.
I am disappointed that we didn’t win, but I’m also astounded at how close it was (relative to expectations, anyway).
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Kudos to Reuben Kantor for managing a great campaign, and to all the others who worked tirelessly for Passoni.
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And, yes, I do hope she decides to just keep on campaigning. I’ll help whenever I’m in town.
but getting rid of Menino is the only cure.
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I wanted Passoni to win, but you know how weak the City Council is, you know nothing gets done in this town without the Mayor’s direct approval, so I doubt her election would have accomplished much.
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Listen people, Boston is quickly reverting to its old stale self, the stale Boston that had seemed to be fading away is coming back. Look at the tired architecture the BRA is approving – have you seen the seaport district lately? Its really a shame.
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Look at the myopic Police Department, a department that mobilizes over lite brite but has seen a dramtic rise in unsolved murder cases.
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Look at the artists and young people fleeing the City as the Mayor and his minions continue the war on 18-21 year olds while providing no outlet for creative expression, and no vision for any development that doesn’t meet the Mayor’s taste for 11pm bedtimes and a CVS on every corner.
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Menino is tired and old, and the City he purports to lead is taking on his persona.
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Get rid of him, for the City Council can do little until a new Mayor with fresh ideas and a more youthful outlook can take over.
A friend of mine from DC was visiting and marveled at the new convention center and the inside (granted, not the outside) of the new Westin.
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I’ve been to Legal Test Kitchen before and after the ICA opening, and it was packed the latter time with visitors to the new facility.
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I’ve been to the new Flour on Farnsworth Street for coffee and remarked to the person I was meeting how crowded it was at 10:30 am and a worker behind the counter said, you should see it at noon!
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I’ve been in the spectacular new Children’s Museum as well.
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Boy things are tough all over ….
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I think it was the mayor that pushed for new liquor licenses for that area and Main Streets districts throughout the city. I doubt too many of them close at 11.
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“War on 18-21 year olds”? Missed that, is it a declared or undeclared war? Specifics?
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If Boston is out of new ideas, why did the Kellogg Foundation pick Boston as one of eight cities for its new “Food and Fitness Initiative”? Why did the Broad Foundation choose Boston as the most improved school system? Why are other cities following what Boston proposes to do in municipal wifi (though I disagree with some of their directions)?
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For years, as our state has been stuck in neutral or reverse, it’s been the city that has led — on equal rights issues, affordable housing development; health care, and neighborhood revitalization. Now, the city finally has a willing partner in Governor Patrick, who supports a Municipal Partnership Act that basically was developed in Boston City Hall, though its benefits run statewide, supports youth programming rather than his predecessors, who tried to eliminate it, and supports more police on the street, rather than the ostriches in DC, who cut out the Clinton-era COPS program.
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Anyway, anyone hoping to run for mayor in two years, whether the incumbent does or not, is going to have to bring positive ideas to the table, not just complaints. Because that kind of complaining is the ultimate “old Boston”. Example of positive results – the “new” Maverick Development in East Boston, for which the ribbon was cut on Monday — a shining gem by the harbor for a range of incomes and backgrounds. A great model for turning around public housing across our city and state (as were Mission Main and Orchard Gardens).
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Disclosure — the writer is a former member of the Menino Administration, an early supporter of Governor Patrick, and hopes that Tim Schofield gets elected to the Council from Allston-Brighton. He was also a Ward Coordinator for Allan Cohen’s 1971 run for Boston School Committee, which has shaped his views and values ever since … đŸ™‚
Anyone with any imagination and anyone is is forward thinking would look at the pile of pre cast covered boxes being laid down in teh Seaport as an abomination. This is/was the last great balnk slate for the City to project forward with an instaed the BRS ia approving a bunch of beige boxes, with streetscapes that are unfrinedly towards pedestrians and windswept views that could be City Anywhere. It has no distinction whatsoever.
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You missed the war on 18-21 year olds? Obvioulsy you couldn’t care less then, since every paper in this city as well as this blog have had discussions and articles on the now 5 month old bad that forbids any dance club in the city from holding events for anyone who is under 21. This has brought about an end to a long running gay/lesbian evetn that was held every Monday at Axis for many many years. Those kids have been told they are trouble and are not allowed to go out and dance and socialize with other gay kids. They are now holding unsupervised hosue parties where alcohol flows freely, and they are driving to Providence, which is welcoming them with open arms. This move by the Mayor has brought about protests from many quarters, including Don Gorton, chairperson for the Anti-Violence Project.
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It doesn’t surprise me that unkind words about Menino would bring a response from one of his syncophants, for he has an army of them, an army of gray stale stiff career beaureucrats who wouldn’t know vitality if it jumped up and bit them on the ass.
That should certainly be reconsidered, but that’s a skirmish, not a war.
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Your arguments would be more cogent with well reasoned (and spelled) points, not insults.
True. I wish I had the time to document the flaws of Menino, and why despite his good intentions and the fact that he is a decent man, this city would be best served by his departure.
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No one should be Mayor by default. But people are afriad to confront him and speak out because he has the last say on everything. Only people with nothing to lose will publicly speak out against him, and sadly, people with nothing to lose are also usually people with no clout.
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I just may find the time to do a comprehensive post about his administration, and when if I do, there will be more than enough material to convince people that the time has come for new leadership.
First Congratulations to Bill Linehan. There is something to be said for experience working within city government and then having the willingness to put yourself on the front line as a candidate.
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I sat on the Boston Central Labor Council Political Committee that interviewed the candidates for the District 2. Bill Linehan was one of the few with a legit campaign structure and that campaign operation made its point yesterday.
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But more importantly, Bill Linehan answered questions directly and honesty. He spoke more from the heart then from the campaign plan when talking about working families, jobs, responsible development and – gasp – appreciating city workers for the jobs they do everyday.
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Bill already faces a challenger, even while Ms. Passoni goes through her decision process. Ed Flynn, who ran a very close third in April, is running hard again. That means that Bill Linehan must be running for office again starting today while trying to address the creation of his own office and priorities as the new Councilor.
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Congrats again and hit the campaign trail
And best wishes for Sean’s recovery.
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Nice job by Susan Passoni, Reuben Kantor and all involved. Closest final election there since Mike Taylor ran against Jim Kelly in 1983 and Michael lived in Southie, so best run by a South Ender to date.
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Now, with the rumors about Rep. Wallace going elsewhere, what does that do for Ed Flynn? Run for Rep? Run for Council again having won Southie? Are we in for not one more special election (possible Eastie), but two?
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Stay tuned, happy “off” year!
If Wallace goes, and he’d be crazy not to, Flynn should run. Flaherty won’t run because he gets paid more as a City Councilor and is waiting for Menino to leave. Kineavy maybe? Would some of the other losers in the Council preliminary run? Here’s a crazy idea: what if Linehan ran for Rep? He’s arguably the most well-known politician in Southie today. But perhaps not tomorrow…
So it wouldn’t make sense for the newly-elected councillor to make that move.
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I saw Ed tonight at a wake, and he did mention that he is a frequent reader of BMG, but we didn’t talk much politics.
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Historical note — Ray Flynn was elected state rep., then city councillor, then, of course, mayor. I think the first two jobs even overlapped by a year.
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Commentary — Boston has actually has had some very interesting races in the past year — LaMattina/Ryan; Chang-Diaz/Wilkerson; District 2 Council as three examples. What’s ahead — maybe an open Eastie race if Anthony Petruccelli wins the Senate seat (he got the Cambridge Chronicle endorsement today, BTW); a multi-candidate race in Brighton; another in district 7 (Chuck Turner’s district); John Connally running to displace one of the four at-large Council incumbents; a possible Southie rep race, a possible District 2 race, another possible Second Suffolk tilt in 2008.
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May we live in interesting times!
still need a easier way to do edits ….