Boston, MA

Voters head to the polls in Boston City Council elections – The Boston Globe

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2023

Voters head to the polls in Boston City Council elections – The Boston Globe

Tuesday is voters’ chance to declare what kind of council they want. Come January, the 13-member council will welcome at least four new faces, a notable level of turnover in a city where incumbents rarely lose. Those openings come after a dramatic September preliminary election, when voters ousted Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara, who were each battling personal scandals. Two long-term incumbents, Councilor At Large Michael Flaherty and District 3 Councilor Frank Baker, are also leaving the council after this year.

Voters in Dorchester, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, and other neighborhoods are choosing new representatives in open races. Meanwhile, Councilors Tania Fernandes Anderson, Sharon Durkan, and Liz Breadon are defending their seats against challengers, in Roxbury, Beacon Hill, and Allston-Brighton, respectively. Three incumbent councilors — Gabriela Coletta of East Boston, Ed Flynn of South Boston, and Brian Worrell of Dorchester — are running unopposed. And in the race for four at-large seats representing the entirety of Boston, three incumbents are seeking reelection, while five newcomers vie for a spot.

Several of this year’s council races follow familiar battle lines in Boston politics: progressive newcomers, many of them with ties to Mayor Michelle Wu, taking on more moderate candidates with links to the city’s old guard, in several cases former mayor Martin J. Walsh. Tuesday will be a test of Wu’s influence in city politics, as several candidates with her backing appear on the ballot.

“There are some really big choices ahead of us,” Wu told a group of volunteers and candidates on Saturday morning in Hyde Park, as she campaigned for ally Enrique Pepén in District 5. “Are we moving forward as a city? Are we continuing the progress to bring everyone into the conversation? Or are we getting dragged back a little bit into the, ‘Us vs. them’ and, ‘We need to protect our pie,’ when in fact we should be growing opportunity for everyone.”

Pepén faces Jose Ruiz, a longtime Boston police officer, in the race to represent District 5, which includes Hyde Park, Roslindale — where Wu lives — and parts of Mattapan.

In neighboring District 6, which includes Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury, labor attorney Benjamin Weber is running against IT director William King.

In Dorchester-based District 3, longtime BPDA official John FitzGerald faces teacher and pastor Joel Richards.

In the at-large race, incumbents Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, and Erin Murphy are seeking reelection. From the field of five challengers, two have emerged as the most serious contenders, political analysts say: Henry Santana, a former City Hall official with Wu’s endorsement, and Bridget Nee-Walsh, a union ironworker who ran unsuccessfully two years ago.

Catch up with the Globe’s full coverage of each district council race here.

As of midday Monday, 28,631 Boston voters had already cast ballots, most of those by mail.

Secretary of State William F. Galvin said Monday he expects turnout in Boston to fall below what it was in 2021, when 144,380 voters — or 32 percent of registered voters — weighed in during the historic race that saw Wu become the first woman and person of color elected mayor in the city’s history.

Speaking about the elections in 80 Massachusetts cities and towns this week, Galvin said Monday that turnout is expected to vary dramatically across the state with neither the White House, statewide offices, nor most state legislative seats on the ballot. It’s “reasonably acceptable,” he said, to expect 30 to 50 percent of registered voters to cast ballots in the various municipal races.

“It’s not acceptable to me. But that’s the range historically,” Galvin said, noting the elections can decide not only who serves in a town or city but also how much residents are taxed or critical development decisions. “These really are the elections that affect people where they live.”

Matt Stout of the Globe staff contributed reporting.

Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her @emmaplatoff.

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Boston, MA

Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe

Published

52 mins ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe

Only three teams have gotten in the Celtics’ way so far, and there aren’t many challenges on the horizon. Saturday night will likely be no exception.

Boston, ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings, will host the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics hope to revive a win streak that hasn’t exceeded two games since early November.

At 2-11, the Raptors have the worst record in the NBA. Center Jakob Poeltl ranks seventh in the league with a team-leading 11.1 rebounds per game. Shooting guard RJ Barrett has the ninth-most turnovers in the league (3.6).

With small forward Jayson Tatum at the helm, the reigning champions have thrived this season. Tatum averages 30.2 points and 4.2 3-pointers, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively.

But, his career performance against Toronto is significantly lower. In 23 games, he’s averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Let’s get into it.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: TD Garden, Boston

TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Boston -16.5. O/U: 228.5.

RAPTORS

Season record: 2-10. vs. spread: 8-4. Over/under: 7-5

Last 10 games: 1-9. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5

CELTICS

Season record: 10-3. vs. spread: 7-6. Over/under: 6-6, 1 push

Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-5, 1 push

TEAM STATISTICS

Points per game: Toronto 112.8, Boston 121.3

Points allowed per game: Toronto 120.8, Boston 110.5

Field goal percentage: Toronto .458, Boston .461

Opponent field goal percentage: Toronto .478, Boston .466

3-point percentage: Toronto .332, Boston .373

Opponent 3-point percentage: Toronto .346, Boston .344

Stat of the day: The Celtics averaged 109 points across 15 wins and five losses since Sept. 2020 against the Raptors.

Notes: The Raptors will attempt to collect their first road victory Saturday night when they visit the Celtics for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. … The Raptors are 0-7 in road games. The Celtics are only 3-2 at home but 10-3 overall. … It will be the second game in as many nights for Toronto, which is coming off Friday night’s 99-95 loss against Detroit in the second NBA Cup game for each team. The loss extended Toronto’s overall losing streak to six games. … Boston hasn’t played since it beat Brooklyn 139-114 Wednesday night. … The 139 points were the most the Celtics have scored in a game this season. Boston scored 74 points in the second half. … Tatum, at an average of 30.2 points a game, and Brown (25.4) are Boston’s leading scorers this season. Tatum also leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.5). Brown is second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and is tied with Pritchard for second in steals (1.2).

Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.

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Boston, MA

Boston officials propose vacancy fee to address empty storefronts, boost economy

Published

9 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Boston officials propose vacancy fee to address empty storefronts, boost economy

Boston officials are considering whether a fee on vacant storefronts in the city’s neighborhoods could boost the local economy by pushing commercial landlords to bring in tenants.

According to Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu, long-term vacant storefronts can lead to decreased property values, crime and disinvestment in the area, as well as a “negative vibe” of blight. These issues particularly affect communities of color in neighborhoods such as Roxbury and Mattapan, he said.

“The hustle and bustle of our main streets is important not just for supporting small businesses, but attracting others to the neighborhood, making folks want to live in that area because of what’s right down the street from them,” Idowu said during a Friday morning hearing of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure. “When there are too many vacancies in our main streets, other businesses are negatively impacted.”

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Boston, MA

How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – November 16, 2024

Published

16 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Data Skrive

One of the best runners in college football will be on display when Brashard Smith and the SMU Mustangs (8-1) take on the Boston College Eagles (5-4) on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

You should check out ESPN in order to watch this game.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Catch Up with Highlights

College Football – Houston at Arizona

Learn more about the SMU Mustangs and the Boston College Eagles.

How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas
Live Box Score: FOX Sports

SMU’s 2024 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/24/2024	at Nevada	W 29-24
8/31/2024	vs. Houston Christian	W 59-7
9/6/2024	vs. BYU	L 18-15
9/21/2024	vs. TCU	W 66-42
9/28/2024	vs. Florida State	W 42-16
10/5/2024	at Louisville	W 34-27
10/19/2024	at Stanford	W 40-10
10/26/2024	at Duke	W 28-27
11/2/2024	vs. Pittsburgh	W 48-25
11/16/2024	vs. Boston College	–
11/23/2024	at Virginia	–
11/30/2024	vs. California	–

SMU 2024 Stats & Insights

SMU has the 46th-ranked defense this season (341 yards allowed per game), and has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 21st-best with a tally of 446.1 yards per game.
With 251 passing yards allowed per game on defense, which ranks 22nd-worst in the FBS, SMU has had to rely on their 43rd-ranked passing offense (249.6 passing yards per contest) to keep them in games.
Offensively, the Mustangs have been a top-25 unit, ranking sixth-best in the FBS by totaling 40.1 points per game. They rank 38th on defense (21.8 points allowed per game).
The Mustangs rank 29th in rushing yards this season (196.6 rushing yards per game), but they’ve been playing really well on the other side of the ball, ranking fourth-best in the FBS with 90 rushing yards allowed per game.
SMU has been making things happen on both sides of the ball on third down this year, owning the 19th-best mark in third-down conversion rate (46.6%) and 23rd-best in third-down defense (33.1% third-down percentage allowed).
The Mustangs have forced 19 total turnovers (11th in the FBS) this season and have turned it over 16 times (102nd in the FBS) for a turnover margin of +3, 46th-ranked in college football.

SMU 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Brashard Smith	RB	903 YDS / 11 TD / 100.3 YPG / 6.5 YPC 22 REC / 190 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 21.1 REC YPG
Kevin Jennings	QB	1,900 YDS (64.8%) / 12 TD / 5 INT 317 RUSH YDS / 3 RUSH TD / 35.2 RUSH YPG
Roderick Daniels Jr.	WR	15 REC / 323 YDS / 1 TD / 35.9 YPG
RJ Maryland	TE	24 REC / 359 YDS / 4 TD / 39.9 YPG
Kobe Wilson	LB	45 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Isaiah Nwokobia	DB	43 TKL / 1 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 2 INT
Ahmad Walker	LB	36 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Jahfari Harvey	DL	14 TKL / 5 TFL / 4 SACK

Boston College’s 2024 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
9/2/2024	at Florida State	W 28-13
9/7/2024	vs. Duquesne	W 56-0
9/14/2024	at Missouri	L 27-21
9/21/2024	vs. Michigan State	W 23-19
9/28/2024	vs. Western Kentucky	W 21-20
10/5/2024	at Virginia	L 24-14
10/17/2024	at Virginia Tech	L 42-21
10/25/2024	vs. Louisville	L 31-27
11/9/2024	vs. Syracuse	W 37-31
11/16/2024	at SMU	–
11/23/2024	vs. North Carolina	–
11/30/2024	vs. Pittsburgh	–

Boston College 2024 Stats & Insights

Boston College ranks 97th with 354.2 total yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 73rd with 372.7 total yards allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
Boston College ranks 20th-worst in passing yards per game (178.7), but it has been more productive on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 103rd in the FBS with 243.3 passing yards ceded per contest.
The Eagles rank 72nd in the FBS with 27.6 points per game on offense, and they rank 55th with 23 points given up per game on the defensive side of the ball.
The Eagles are compiling 175.6 rushing yards per contest on offense this season (49th-ranked). Meanwhile, they are allowing 129.3 rushing yards per contest (44th-ranked) on defense.
Boston College is generating a 43.9% third-down conversion rate on offense this season (35th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is giving up a 36.8% third-down rate (52nd-ranked) on defense.
At +4, the Eagles own the 33rd-ranked turnover margin in the FBS, with 17 forced turnovers (21st in the FBS) and 13 turnovers committed (62nd in the FBS).

Boston College 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Thomas Castellanos	QB	1,366 YDS (61.5%) / 18 TD / 5 INT 194 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 21.6 RUSH YPG
Treshaun Ward	RB	369 YDS / 2 TD / 46.1 YPG / 5.3 YPC 13 REC / 251 REC YDS / 4 REC TD / 35.9 REC YPG
Kye Robichaux	RB	471 YDS / 6 TD / 52.3 YPG / 4.7 YPC 3 REC / 10 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 1.4 REC YPG
Lewis Bond	WR	44 REC / 438 YDS / 3 TD / 48.7 YPG
Donovan Ezeiruaku	DL	52 TKL / 11 TFL / 10 SACK
KP Price	DB	44 TKL / 1 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Quintavious Hutchins	DL	19 TKL / 3 TFL / 3 SACK / 1 INT
Carter Davis	DB	32 TKL / 0 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD