This is the third in a series of articles from an interview with District 1 City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina following his recent inauguration. Councilor LaMattina is beginning his second full term representing the North End/Waterfront neighborhood as well as East Boston, Charlestown and parts of Beacon Hill & Downtown. Click here to read Part I Read More…
This is the second in a series of articles from an interview with District 1 City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina following his recent inauguration. Councilor LaMattina is beginning his second full term representing the North End/Waterfront neighborhood as well as East Boston, Charlestown and parts of Beacon Hill & Downtown. (Click here to read Part 1 Read More…
From the office of State Representative Aaron Michlewitz:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Blake Webber 617-722-2488
January 8, 2010
House Passes Landmark Education Legislation
Targets achievement gap; strengthens Commonwealth’s application for Race to the Top Funds
(BOSTON) – Third Suffolk State Representative Aaron Michlewitz joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing crucial legislation focused on eliminating the achievement gap in schools across the Commonwealth. The bill – entitled An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap – strengthens the state’s application for $250 million in federal “Race to the Top” funding, allows stronger intervention authority for the state in underperforming districts, lifts the cap on charter schools in the lowest performing school districts and helps to facilitate innovation and excellence in schools throughout Massachusetts.
“We are one step closer to providing every child with a real opportunity for a well-rounded and positive educational experience in the City of Boston.” said State Representative Michlewitz. “This bill should place the Commonwealth and the City at the front of the line with the $250 million in the Race To The Top funding by the Obama Administration.”
This is the first in a series of articles from an interview with District 1 City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina following this week’s inauguration. Councilor LaMattina is beginning his second term representing the North End/Waterfront neighborhood as well as East Boston, Charlestown and parts of Beacon Hill & Downtown. As he begins his second full term, Read More…
Meredith P. sends in this important reminder: Voter registration ends at 8:00 p.m. tonight, December 30, 2009 to vote in the upcoming Special State Election for US Senate Seat on January 19, 2010. But there is still time! Stop by the Elections Department at City Hall and complete the form. The Boston Elections Department is located Read More…
The Globe summarizes a new court filing by prosecutors in the case against former House speaker and North End resident, Sal DiMasi. Prosecutors say DiMasi “used his official position as speaker of the House to arrange for the passage of legislation in order to obtain financial benefits for himself and his co-conspirators.’’ The article notes Read More…
For Immediate Release For More Information Contact: Press Office, 617-635-4461
City to host fun, free events for residents during Inauguration 2010 Weekend
Free public skating at Frog Pond in addition to family open houses, book giveaways, & live performances at libraries
Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced today that the City of Boston will sponsor a series of free public events in honor of the City’s 2010 Inaugural events. In the weekend leading up to the Inauguration of Mayor Menino and City Councilors, residents will have the chance to take advantage of free public skating at both the Frog Pond and Fenway Park in addition to a number of events, including open houses, book giveaways, and live performances, at branches of the Boston Public Library. Mayor Menino and City Councilors will be sworn into office during a ceremony on Monday, January 4 at Faneuil Hall.
The City of Boston has announced a property tax rate increase for fiscal 2010 with the residential rate going up by 11.8% and the commercial rate up by 8.4%. The tax rate is one of the two factors that will result in total property tax bills. The second factor is the property’s assessed value, which is surveyed every three years. Residents should have received a recent notice of the change in their assessment. Overall, the City’s assessed values went down by 3.5% although certain areas have increased. Anecdotal reports show a mix of increases and decreases in the North End/Waterfront area, although several properties on the waterfront saw their assessments go up substantially.
The rate will increase from $10.63 per $1,000 in assessed value to $11.88. The commercial rate for businesses will also increase from $27.11 per $1,000 of assessed value to $29.38.
The City blamed the increase mostly on a decrease in State aid and said the rate is the first increase in three years. The increase will increase the total tax by $65 million to $1.465 billion. Bills will be sent out in a few weeks with a due date of February 1, 2010.
Below is the press release from the City.
Despite all the TV ads, I am surprised at how many people do not know that the Primary Election for U.S. Senate is this Tuesday, December 8th. To verify that you are registered: http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/voter To find out where to vote: http://www.wheredoivotema.com In the North End/Waterfront area, the two major voting locations are 145 Commercial Read More…
The State legislature ended its 2009 session last week without consideration of the Green Ticket Bill, which is now likely to be brought up in January. Passage is still looking good, but the delay to 2010 was due to other policy and budget issues taking more time than expected before the State legislature recessed for Read More…
The following resolution was unanimously passed today by the Boston City Council, offered by Councilor Salvatore LaMattina and Councilor Steven Murphy. RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE USS CONTITUTION’S HERITAGE AND TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS OF DAILY GUN SALUTES AND PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN BOSTON’S CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD WHEREAS, The USS Constitution is one of Read More…