So two things were accomplished by the end of Wednesday’s City Council Meeting. The controversial “unity” restricting map was approved, and the city council received a pay raise.
When we predicted that the city council meeting on Wednesday would be a battle. We had no idea how heated and nuts it would get. The five-hour meeting had shouting, frustration, tension, many calls for a recess, and even insults. You can read the backstory of the redistricting drama here.
One of the tensest and outrageous moments was when City Councilor Frank Baker said the following to fellow councilor and redistricting chair Liz Breadon:
“This exercise is an all-out assault on Catholic life in Boston,” Baker said clergy was telling him. “And it’s not lost on them that the person leading the charge is a Protestant from Fermanagh.”
Needless to say, this did not go over well at all. City Council President Ed Flynn banged the gavel, and the body took another recess. Baker did apologize when they returned, and Flynn offered the floor to Breadon.
Breadon, visibly upset, called the insult “an absolute disgrace” and recalled growing up in Ireland during “The Troubles.”
“This is my home,” she said of moving to Boston. “It is an insult to me to have a colleague on this City council insinuate that I am discriminating against Catholics.”
The Boston Herald has a great recap with all the details here.
At the end of it all, the approved “unity” map moves a part of South Boston out of City Council President Ed Flynn’s District 2 and puts it in City Councilor Frank Baker’s District 3, and moves a portion of southern Dorchester from D3 into City Councilor Brian Worrell’s D4.
The final vote was 9-4. The four no-votes were Baker, Flaherty, Flynn and Murphy.
The unity map will need final approval from Mayor Michelle Wu.
Now, on to the Pay Raise
At the end of an exhausting meeting, the city council switched gears and overrode Mayor Wu’s veto of its pay raise. Back in October, the city council approved a pay raise which Mayor Wu vetoed because she thought it was too high. The city council then eased back from the $125,000 salary and approved a slightly more modest pay raise
The council ultimately approved pay hikes from $103,500 now to $115,000 in 2024, then $120,000 in 2025 and $125,000 in 2026, and a raise in the mayor’s pay from $207,000 now to $250,000 in 2026.
The final vote for the veto override was 9-4. The four no-votes were Baker, Flaherty, Flynn and Murphy.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
…heterosexual American male I must say that Councilor Frank Baker’s comments could not be more astute and accurate. The only thing remotely “regrettable “ about this is the apology after.
As far as the Herald coverage? Seriously? This kid should sue Syracuse for whatever tuition he paid. It was all I could do to even finish the article after he cited the “…innovation of long-standing issues in Ireland…”?? (I’m thinking “invocation”, but…the way this kid butchers his stories, it could be anything)..,
And how about THIS gem?:
“ The final “unity” map, from City Councilor Liz Breadon, who’s the redistricting chair, and City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo plus input for a coalition of advocacy groups does the things that they originally sought, which are what made some of their ….”
What? No, seriously…WHAT?!?
Maureen, respectfully…you got it wrong on this one. The comment was not “ outrageous “. We are WAY past the time for avoiding the “uncomfortable conversations” in this city. This “redistricting” is nothing short of blatant racist divisiveness, sectarianism and outright vote-stealing.
You hit the nail right on the head!!
Most of this counsel is a complete disgrace! Shame on them, all about the money and what can you do for me! They don’t care about the poor working people in the white neighborhoods. Screw them over, every chance you get!!
There ya go sold out to developers now sold out to the liberal agenda !!!!
…who proposes to build 200 units (but really only wants 100) but then gets pushback from the neighbors and “settles” for 150.
And then walks away laughing at you while counting his pieces of silver.
That’s what just happened to you, the taxpaying citizens of Boston. And the Teenager-In-Chief was in on it from the start.
That’s what this was. Yup.
There ya go sold out to developers ,which in turn minimized our voter strength , which plays right into the hands of the liberal agenda