In Brief

By Phil Orlandella

Council Creates Special Committee

Boston City Council named members of the Special Committee on the Community Preservation Act. This Special Committee will recommend nominees for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to be appointed by the City Council, and will monitor the activities of the CPC to encourage transparency and community input. The Special Committee will be chaired by Councilor Michael F. Flaherty (At-Large), with Councilor Andrea J. Campbell (D-4) serving as Vice Chair.

“The Community Preservation Act gives Boston an important tool to fund much needed projects in our neighborhoods,” said Council President Michelle Wu. “With the issue area expertise that these Councilors bring the the Committee, I am confident in the process they will run to evaluate candidates for the CPC. I look forward to working with them and attending hearings to find the right candidates for the City Council to appoint.”

Mayor Appoints New Chief of Staff

David Sweeney has been appointed by Mayor Martin Walsh as Chief of Staff, replacing  Daniel Kon who left the City of Boston. Sweeney started in his new position on September 1.

He has served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Collector-Treasurer for the city since April 2014.

“David Sweeney has served as an integral part of my administration from day one,” the Mayor said.

As Chief of Staff, Sweeney will focus on accelerating the implementation of the Mayor’s priorities, ensuring the effectiveness of city services and supporting over 18,000 employees in doing their jobs at the City of Boston.

ACLU Won’t Represent Armed Hate Groups

Apparently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will no longer represent white supremacist groups who demonstrate while carrying loaded guns. If a protest group wants to carry loaded firearms they can find someone else, ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero apparently told the Wall Street Journal.

Mayor, Police Commissioner Praised

Many are praising Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans for being totally prepared for the recent protests on the Boston Common.

The feeling around Boston is it was a challenging task, but it was well thought out and planned to prevent a possible volatile situation.

Baker Signs Bucket Bill

The first week of August will now be “Ice Bucket Challenge Week”. Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill designating the “Ice Bucket Challenge Week” an event that has already raised hundreds of millions of dollars to fight ALS.

Currently, more than $250 million in donations has been raised and there is more to come.

Leaf Peeping Season Looking Good

Experts are saying they are optimistic that it will be a pretty good season for leaf peeping throughout New England this fall.

They believe the fall foliage forecast is looking fine because little has conspired against a truly great autumn.

City Issues RFP          For Workforce

A Request For Proposal (RFP) has been issued by the City of Boston, for a consultant to design and implement a Creative Industries workforce development program within the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD), to create a pipeline for Boston residents to gain employment in the Creative Industries.

The initiative is a joint venture between OWD, Emerson College, and Mass College of Arts and Design.

Proposals are due by September 21 at 5 PM.

MassDOT Receives Transportation Award

MassDOT’s transition to all-electric tolling (AEI), from manual toll collections on I-90 has been recognized by America’s Transportation Award’s Top 12 transportation project nationwide because of the success in reducing traffic congestion and improving highway safety for drivers.

The project will be considered by a special panel of transportation experts for the Grand Prize and subject to open public voting for the People’s Choice Award. People’s Choice balance can be cast at the following link: https://americatransportationawards.org/2017/08/21/americas-12-vote-for-your-favorite-today/.