Boston, MA

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn on crime:

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2023

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn on crime:

BOSTON — The area’s greatest metropolis and main financial engine is dealing with lots of necessary points lately of inexpensive housing (or the dearth of it), the standard of public schooling, and crime.

Subsequent week, WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller will likely be sitting down Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to get her tackle issues, however this week, Jon received the angle of President of the Boston Metropolis Council Ed Flynn.

He is in his third time period because the District Counselor representing down South Boston, south in Chinatown, Bay Village, Ford Level, and components of Again Bay and Beacon HIll.

(WATCH: Flynn converse on hire management and Wu’s proposal for hire stabilization)

Jon Keller: “Is that this metropolis too balkanized for issues to get completed?”

Ed Flynn: “I do not assume so. We now have fantastic metropolis employees. They do an amazing job. They do not get the appreciation, or the pay, or the popularity that they need to, however they do large work. And lots of our providers in our metropolis, it is by these devoted metropolis employees which are on the market daily, supporting the residents. So we’re actually happy with them.”

Keller: “However you understand, you do hear and we, town, kind of has a popularity as a spot the place there are lots of very lively and vocal neighborhood teams. There’s all types of various pursuits at play, and that it makes it arduous to get something completed. A brand new inexpensive housing developments, most notably. Is that true?”

Flynn: “No, I do not assume so. It is about working. If in case you have a proposal, and you’re employed nicely with the residents, the neighborhood organizations, the impacted group, I feel you may get a good shake at Metropolis Corridor. It is about listening to folks, working with folks. Not all people has the suitable reply. It is about compromise. That is what authorities is about. Compromising, giving, and giving again. However hopefully on the finish of the day, there is a proposal that individuals can assist. And it is primarily based on either side respecting one another as nicely.”

Keller: “Proper now, there is a controversial proposal from Mayor Wu for…she calls it “hire stabilization.” Others name it “hire management.” Her proposal would restrict hire improve or would hyperlink them to inflation with a ten % cap. There be some exemptions for brand spanking new development and triple deckers, for example, which are owner-occupied. You have come ahead with your individual proposal. What’s there within the mayor’s proposal that you simply assume you possibly can assist, if something?”

Flynn: “Nicely, I feel the mayor offered proposal. I feel she listened to residents. I feel she listened to the enterprise group as nicely. And it is a proposal primarily based on ensuring that residents of Boston have the chance to proceed to reside within the metropolis, as costs of housing escalate in Boston is a metropolis of neighborhoods, and it is about residents that will not have some huge cash, however there ought to at all times be a chance for them there.

I assist the proposal the Mayor offered. I additionally wished to focus on a problem that I’ve heard many, many occasions. And it is landlords which are offering an residence to a household or an aged individual, and so they’re charging lower than what they might get. Beneath market. And so what I used to be proposing, in case you try this, and we’re in a position to confirm it, perhaps there’s a chance so that you can get some tax reduction, evaluation in your taxes in your property taxes. I haven’t got precisely what the components is. I am speaking to residents. I am speaking to the enterprise group. However I want to have a critical dialogue about it. Perhaps it could actually assist.”

Keller: “The [Boston] Globe reported the opposite day that there was a gathering of native clergy final week over on the Charles St. AME Church to debate crime and violence. And the paper quoted the pastor of that church. Reverend Gregory Groover is saying, ‘We’re in a disaster. Now, I do know that elected officers and others would like to not use that language for no matter causes, however it’s a disaster.’ Do you agree with him?”

Flynn: “Nicely, what I what I do know is we desperately want extra police in our metropolis. And I am advocating for hiring at the very least two-to-three hundred cops yearly constantly for the subsequent 10 years. However I additionally know that in the course of the pandemic, psychological well being challenges elevated considerably. And we have to present residents with the important providers assist that they want. It is about working collectively, together with the clergy, bringing one another, bringing town collectively. However we do have main challenges with public security. However we now have a superb police commissioner as nicely, a superb police division – the women and men of the Boston Police – working with the residents. Group policing does work. It’s working. And it is about us persevering with to work collectively.”

Keller: “Can we rent 200 new cops a 12 months? I imply, can we get the individuals who will need these jobs?”

Flynn: “I feel we are able to. I feel we now have to do an excellent job of recruiting. It is not a sexy job as a police officer, prefer it was earlier than. And I feel we now have to deal with our cops and their households with extra respect as nicely. They’re a part of our group. They’re our neighbors. They’re our literal coaches. However we have to have a greater angle of constructing positive that they’re handled with respect.”

Keller: “Right me if I am flawed, however police are already exempt from the residency requirement. Proper?”

Flynn: “Nicely, there is a time period if you first get on the job, that you need to keep within the metropolis for a sure variety of years.”

Keller: “So there’s been lots of discuss removing that the residency requirement for a metropolis of Boston workers all collectively? The place do you come down on that?”

Flynn: “I assist a few of it. I feel particularly for low-income, low-salary employees. Perhaps you are making $40,000 a 12 months, and also you’re pressured to reside within the metropolis, extraordinarily troublesome for you and your loved ones. So I feel there needs to be exemptions primarily based on wage. However, we have to present the very best schooling in addition to we are able to to our younger folks within the Boston Public Faculty system. And I feel that is additionally a part of the technique.”

Keller: “I did wish to carry up one thing that simply type of popped up final week. Mayor Wu fulfilled the marketing campaign promise by hiring a brand new administrator to supervise the enhancement of town’s nightlife as an financial growth initiative. They need higher late night time T service and lots of extra liquor licenses as a part of the combination. Do you assume these are workable concepts?”

Flynn: “Nicely, I feel we undoubtedly want a MBTA system that works and is opened later…we’re going to maintain the eating places and bars open…however we want guarantee that residents are additionally on board with conserving liquor institutions open later at night time. So these could be unfold out throughout town, so there needs to be a group engagement. However I am assured that if that is the plan town is seeking to do, I am assured that they may interact the residents throughout town searching for their enter as nicely.”

Keller: “What’s your bedtime counselor? I am going to go first. Mine’s about 10 o’clock at night time, on the newest.”

Flynn: “I am going to mattress in all probability 11 o’clock. My spouse and I like to observe tv. We watch these house enchancment packages.”

Keller: “Oh yeah?”

Flynn: “Yeah, I prefer to take my thoughts off of politics and study find out how to repair up a home. Though I am not helpful myself.”

CBSBoston.com Employees

The CBS Boston group is a gaggle of skilled journalists who carry you the content material on CBSBoston.com.

Source link

Boston, MA

Boston Celtics Going Up For Sale After Winning Record 18th Championship

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Boston Celtics Going Up For Sale After Winning Record 18th Championship

Buy low, sell high.

That seems to be the strategy at work in recent sales of NBA teams, the most recent being the storied Boston Celtics. The club’s ownership group, Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C., announced today its “intention to sell all the shares of the team.”

The sale is likely to set a record for an NBA franchise.

The announcement comes just weeks after the Celtics won a record 18th NBA Championship. It also comes just hours after the team locked in the core players who won that championship, including Jayson Taytum, who got the largest contract in league history today (a five-year, $315 million deal) and Derek White (a four-year, $125.9 million extension).

In fact, many observers say the league has never been this stacked, talent-wise, with foreign players expanding the talent pool and a potential must-see prodigy now attached to one of the league’s flagship franchises after 20-year-old (and 7’6″) Frenchman Victor Wembanyama signed with the San Antonio Spurs.

Also fortuitous: The NBA is on the cusp of what should be it’s biggest media rights deal ever, thought to be worth about $76 billion. That deal is expected by many to be the peak of such agreements for the league, with subsequent deal totals declining. It is further expected to be coupled with exorbitant expansion fees in coming years as the league looks to expand its number of teams. Those fees are shared among owners of existing franchises. The last NBA media rights deal had a nine-year term. The upcoming agreement is expected to be along those lines, time wise.

Case in point is the team the Celtics beat last month to win the championship. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban — no slouch himself at the art of “buy low, sell high” — received approval in December to sell the team for about $3.5 billion. That’s a cool $3-plus billion over his purchase price and Cuban will reportedly retain 27% of the team and may well retain control of basketball operations.

According to Yahoo Sports, Cuban has expressed concern that the broadcast deal after this one (likely after 2030) could fall victim to the sports broadcast rights bubble bursting.

The record valuation for an NBA team is the $4 billion Matt Ishbia agreed to in 2022 for the Phoenix Suns. While Phoenix is a hot market with and has a good roster, it doesn’t come close to the reigning champs, who have better players from top to bottom, a rabid fan base and arguably the greatest lore of any team in the league.

Sources cited by Sports Business Journal “suspect the team could sell for well above $5B, after Forbes valued the franchise at $4.7B in 2023.”

Boston Basketball Partners LLC said the sale is being made “for estate and family planning considerations. The managing board expects to sell a majority interest in 2024 or early 2025, with the balance closing in 2028.”

Source link

Boston, MA

Bruins reportedly sign Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov at start of free agency

Published

13 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Bruins

Lindholm’s two-way skills and Zadorov’s heft should shore up critical needs on Boston’s depth chart.

Elias Lindholm reportedly signed a seven-year deal with Boston. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Don Sweeney was candid on Thursday when asked about Boston’s top needs entering free agency.

“We’d like to deepen the middle of the ice,” Boston’s general manager acknowledged. “So that’s where we’ve been focused to have those talks with our group, to say, ‘OK, who would be the guy?’ And hopefully make the pitch at the right time that we could add a player like that, of that nature. And we’ll continue to look to strengthen our back end and complement the group we have there.”

Given Sweeney’s offseason to-do list, it came as little surprise that Boston reportedly shored up both the center position and blue line shortly after NHL free agency commenced on Monday afternoon.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Bruins have signed center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov — add defensive fortitude up front and some heft on the blue line.

According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, Lindholm’s deal with Boston is for seven years and $7.5 million per season, while Zadorov’s deal is for six years with an annual cap hit of $5 million.

This will mark the third team that both Lindholm and Zadorov have played on together — with the duo also sharing a dressing room with both the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

Lindholm has been linked to the Bruins for some time, with the 29-year-old pivot holding plenty of appeal as a 200-foot center capable of impacting the game in a variety of ways.

The Swedish pivot has held court as one of the better two-way pivots in the game for the last few seasons — posting four seasons of 50+ points in his career while also finishing second in voting for the 2021-22 Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward.

The 2023-24 season was a down year for Lindholm in terms of his baseline production, especially after getting slotted to the wing with Vancouver. He finished with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) over 75 games, but did elevate his play in the postseason (10 points in 13 games) while dominating in faceoffs all year (56.4 percent).

Given his hefty price tag, there are questions about whether or not Lindholm is really a bonafide top-line center — or more of an effective second-line, 200-foot stalwart.

But on Boston’s roster, he will quickly take over as the team’s top center — allowing the Bruins to either push Pavel Zacha to the wing or slot Charlie Coyle further down the depth chart.

He might be more of a 60-point player, but a full season stapled next to David Pastrnak could help Lindholm recoup the elite scoring touch he displayed in 2021-22 with Calgary (42 goals, 82 points).

While Lindholm will provide more refined, two-way player up front for Boston, Zadorov will land plenty of welts on the back end.

The 29-year-old Zadorov is an already imposing figure at 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds — and sure plays like it.

The Russian-born blueliner is one of the most physical players in the league, posting six seasons with at least 175 hits on his resume. Zadorov played arguably his best hockey for Calgary and Vancouver in 2023-24 — scoring six goals and 20 points over 75 games while landing 177 hits and 68 blocks.

He further elevated his stock during the postseason for the Canucks — scoring four goals and eight points over 13 games while clearing opposing skaters out of Grade-A ice.

Zadorov rounds out the left side of Boston’s defense alongside Hampus Lindholm and Mason Lohrei, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Bruins envision him as more of a third-pairing regular or a possible top-pairing partner next to Charlie McAvoy.

With Lindholm and Zadorov accounting for a combined $12.75 million cap hit, the Bruins might have to dive in the bargain bin for more scoring help this offseason — with a majority of their remaining camp space likely allocated toward Jeremy Swayman’s pending pay raise.

Source link

Boston, MA

Justin Timberlake appears to joke at Boston concert about drink-driving arrest

Published

20 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Justin Timberlake appears to joke at Boston concert about drink-driving arrest

Justin Timberlake has appeared to joke about his recent drink-driving arrest at a concert in Boston.

The Grammy Award-winning pop star was arrested in Sag Harbor, a wealthy village in the Hamptons in New York State last month.

In a video shared on social media over the weekend, Timberlake tells a crowd at Boston’s TD Garden arena: “Is there anyone here that is driving, no I’m just kidding.”

Fans appear to laugh and cheer as he continues to address the crowd.

Sag Harbor Village Police Department said Timberlake was pulled over at 12.37am local time (5.27am UK time) on Tuesday 18 June after officers saw him “failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign and failing to maintain his lane of travel” while driving a BMW.

An officer described his eyes as “bloodshot and glassy” and said a “strong odour of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath”, according to court documents.

“He was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot and he performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests,” the court papers added.

A source told Page Six, the New York Post’s celebrity and entertainment site, that Timberlake said “under his breath” during the arrest: “This is going to ruin the tour.”

Timberlake has strongly denied the allegations, with his lawyer saying he looks forward to “vigorously defending” the singer.

The 43-year-old, who first found fame as a member of the pop band NSYNC, was held overnight after his arrest until he was arraigned at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and released.

A court date is scheduled for 26 July.

Read more entertainment news:
The best bits of Glastonbury 2024
Banksy claims migrant boat artwork in Glastonbury crowd
Alec Baldwin faces trial over fatal Rust shooting