Marriage Equality Anniversary Celebrated at Public Garden

Friday marks the 9th anniversary of the law that allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry in Massachusetts.

  Dozens of local gay and lesbian couples gathered at the Boston Public Garden Thursday to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the law that gave them the right to marry in Massachusetts. The celebration, put on in partnership between Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), the Respect for Marriage Coalition and Mayor Thomas Menino, ended with a group photo at a location popular for wedding photography. "It's been an extraordinary five years," said Ellen Wade of Newton, who along with her wife, Maureen Brodoff, were one of the plaintiffs in the landmark case they won in 2003 that led to the adoption of marriage equality in the state. "It's been exciting and inspiring, and we're grateful to have played a small part in showing the country …

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Mayor Menino 'Resting Comfortably' After Leg Surgery

The Boston mayor fractured his distal fibula after twisting his ankle on Friday.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is recovering after undergoing surgery on Saturday to repair a leg fracture. The injury occurred Friday while Menino was visiting a school in Dorchester. The mayor twisted his ankle and fractured his distal fibula—the smaller of two bones in his lower right leg, 7 News Boston reported. Menino underwent surgery Saturday morning at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The surgery involved the placement of a plate and screws to fix the broken bone, 7 News reported. The mayor sent out an update on his Twitter account on Monday at around noon, writing: “Thanks to all for well wishes. Surgery to repair fracture of distal fibula went well & without complication. Mayor is resting comfortably.” Menino will be wearing a walking …

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Video: Menino Delivers Final Budget Proposal with Laughs

Menino says proposed $2.6 billion Fiscal Year '14 budget is "prudent."

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino presented his last fiscal year budget - of $2.6 billion - with laughs, joking about the mayoral race with candidates and potential candidates in the room. Before getting to the details, a mock movie was played to a full room that included the Boston City Council, department heads, Superintendent Carol Johnson, as well as Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Laughs filled the Eagle Room at City Hall as the film played: "From the producer of the Fiscal Year 1994 Budget, and the Fiscal Year 1995 Budget..." all the way up to Fiscal Year 2014 - "...coming July 1." Menino, who sat in a chair the whole time, referred to the proposed FY 2014 budget as "prudent" and said it increased 5.6 percent from fiscal year 2013.  The …

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Menino Wants Cab Industry Investigated

Following a Boston Globe review of backhanded dealings in the local taxicab industry, the mayor ordered the industry be looked at.

With the local taxicab industry thrust into the spotlight by a major media outlet, Boston’s mayor ordered an oversight review. Mayor Thomas Menino wants to hire an expert on the industry to review Boston’s taxicab industry, according to the Boston Globe Tuesday. The Globe ran an investigative story on the industry, unearthing the fact that owners who routinely violate police regulations coerce cab drivers into paying bribes to get access to their cabs. "We have real problems, and I’m very concerned about it,’’ Menino told the Globe during an interview in his office. “We’re not going to tolerate this nonsense."  Menino said the review will include a look at the Boston Police Department’s oversight of the taxi industry, according to the …

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What Was Menino's Impact in the Beacon Hill Neighborhood?

After twenty years of leading the city, what will be Menino's greatest legacy in the Beacon Hill neighborhood?

Mayor Menino announced on Thursday that he would not seek re-election this year, ending his 20-year career as the longest-serving mayor of Boston.  He said in his farewell speech that the individual neighborhoods of Boston served as his focus over the last two decades, measuring his progress by growth in the neighborhoods and by meeting residents. "Being in the neighborhoods gives me energy," he said on Thursday in his speech. "Being with our residnets builds our trust. It may not be the only way to lead Boston, but it's the only way for me." What do you think were Menino's greatest contributions to the Beacon Hill neighborhood? How should he be remembered here? Tell us in the comments. 

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TAKE TWO: Who Would Get Your Vote For Mayor?

This week City Councilor John Connolly announced his candidacy for mayor of Boston. Would you vote for him or Menino (or neither)?

Menino Hosts Massachusetts Delegation of Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since the Newtown school tragedy, 14 Massachusetts mayors have joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino hosted the Massachusetts delegation of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition today as they continued their push on Congress to enact national legislation that will decrease gun violence. “Earlier this week, I asked the City of Boston to stand with us on guns and say enough is enough,” said Menino at the Parkman House on Beacon Street. “As Mayors, we have a responsibility to our residents to do all we can to make our neighborhoods safer. Today, we’re calling on every community in Massachusetts to stand with us. We must keep the pressure on Congress to take swift action.” Menino praised the Massachusetts federal delegation for signing onto the Fix Guns Check Act, which would require background checks for every …

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Mayor Menino Delivering 'State of the City' Tonight

The speech is expected to cover an 'aggressive agenda,' including a plan to sell tons of city property for middle-income housing.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will deliver his 20th "State of the City" address tonight, speaking to an anticipated crowd of around 800 people during the 7:30 p.m. event at Faneuil Hall. As part of the speech, Menino is expected to announce plans to sell more than 1 million sq. ft. of city-owned property for development of middle-income homes, the Boston Herald reported. Officials hope the housing plan, called the “Middle Income Housing Initiative,” will raise $550,000 annually in new property taxes, with the construction of between 200 and 300 single- and two-family homes. City-owned properties, including undeveloped land and areas containing abandoned homes, will be sold at lower prices as part of the plan, which is expected to roll out …

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Senator Warren and Mayor Menino Discuss Gun Violence Prevention

Warren is sponsoring three bills that would support gun control reform, a gun buyer background check, and making gun trafficking a federal crime.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Senator Elizabeth Warren discussed gun violence prevention on Friday, championing reforms including a criminal background check on anyone buying a gun in the country. "Now is the time to turn words into actions, to line up supporters and to mobilize all Americans behind common sense gun reform," Menino said after walking to the podium with a cane at the Parkman House. Menino joked with Warren, calling her the "senior" senator of Massachusetts, then turned serious about three major points key to gun violence prevention: Warren said she's sponsored three bills being unveiled next week that support those three points. Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, is filing the Fix Gun Checks Act to close the gap in current …

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