A Redux on Redistricting, Two Hero Squares and a 1989 Ford Truck

The 's Wednesday meeting was quick and to the point with District 2 City Councilor Bill Linehan once again producing a redistricting map that several of his colleagues did not like for their districts.

Linehan did say additional public meetings and hearings will be held prior to a Boston City Council vote on a new redistricting map to represent Boston for the next 10 years. 

Said Linehan, "This particular task has been going on for nine months now. This map here demonstrates in my mind all of that work. It presents a map in which discussion, presentation and public discourse was fully vetted. It truly is a map that a majority of our body could support. No map will achieve unamimous support."

Then District 4 City Councilor Charles Yancey stood and said he does not support Linehan's map, because it does not reunite Mattapan, and it also splits the neighborhood of Lower Mills.

District 8 City Councilor Mike Ross said "he would be concerned if (councilors) voted for (the Linehan map)", but that he would if Mission Hill were intact in one district. "Maybe this is something that we could fix. That would change my position."

District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley reiterated he would like Linehan, the chair of Census & Redistricting committee, to reexamine the map he and District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson submitted previously. O'Malley said he would not support Linehan's amended map presented today.

"The good news is it keeps West Roxbury whole, but there is some other room we can work towards... I don’t think this is a finished product," said O'Malley after the meeting. He said the biggest issues is keeping neighborhoods whole.

Linehan tried to exert pressure on his colleagues, saying, "(We've) developed many, many maps. No one was left out of this process. (We're) getting to a point where decisions need to be made because everyone can’t be satisfied." 

The matter was referred to the committee on Census & Redistricting.

Other council business

In Charlestown related Council action, District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina offered two resolutions designating Hero Squares for two Charlestown veterans, who lost their lives fighting for our country.

Private First Class John Foley died in battle in World War II, and LaMattina proposed the intersection of Bunker Hill and Pearl streets be named in honor of him.

A Hero Square was proposed for the intersection of Bunker Hill and Belmont streets in Charlestown, in memory of Lieutenant George Roger Meehan, who died in World War I. 

Both resolutions were referred to the committee on City, Neighborhood Services & Veterans Affairs.

Also on the agenda:

• The Council accepted the Boston Police Department's acception of a donated 1989 Ford bucket truck F800F from Murphy Electic and Industrial Control to be used for installing surveillance equipment throughout Boston.
• The Council voted to file the Spring 2012 University Accountability-Statistical Report received from the City Clerk.