Last week, Boston’s mayor showed why he remains relevant after all these years to the vast majority of residents living and working in this city.
First, he issued a major statement indicating that he will be going to the State House to argue for health insurance reform for public employees that could save the city millions of dollars.
He pointed out that in the city of Boston next year if the city could choose its health insurers for its employees about $12 million would be saved. Over the next five years, it is estimated $60 million – $70 million would be saved as this is a line item in the city budget rising dramatically from year to year.
City unions have been refusing to allow such reforms to be put into effect.
The unions’ mantra is that great health insurance without paying much for it is something won by employees. They consider it an entitlement. They don’t wish for anything to change.
The mayor is saying that the situation is unsustainable, that the city cannot afford to pay the premiums it has been paying and to pay huge year to year increases in those premiums.
Like everything else that has changed in our lives, the mayor has said, what public employees pay for their health insurance has to change or the city will be bankrupted by the present pro forma.
Cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth need to be allowed to choose different plans that offer solid health insurance at a lower cost to public employees.
The mayor is going up to the State House to remind city employees that city paid for health insurance is not an entitlement – like everything else these days, what came before cannot go on much longer.
Mayor Menino last week asked the Boston City Council to remove Councillor Chuck Turner, who was convicted of accepting bribes – and who has refused to step down from his seat.
Again, the mayor showed leadership in asking for Turner to either resign or to be removed.
The mayor was insistent that Turner compromises the good name of the city council by remaining a member of it.
The mayor feels a convicted felon allowed to serve and to vote on the Boston City Council is a travesty.
And he is right, of course.
The mayor praised Turner for the great work he has done but in the end, the mayor is a harsh realist about the efficacy of a convicted felon remaining on the Boston City Council.
In both cases – city paid for health insurance and the reputation of the city council – Menino has taken the tough stand.
He goes where others won’t tread.
This is what makes the mayor an effective leader.
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Definitly, Mayor Menino knows how to stand up for issues that matters, and he is not afraid to step up to the plate. Unfurtunaly, on the Federal Level, we are lack of this quality of leadership on any party.
For crissakes, Stupid Stephen Murphy must be prevented from becoming Council President
Call your city councilor and remind them they'll lose your vote if they vote for Stupid Stephen Murphy.
John Connolly - At Large
617.635.3115
John.R.Connolly@cityofboston.gov
Felix Arroyo - At Large
617.635.4205
Felix.Arroyo@cityofboston.gov
Ayanna Pressley - At Large
617.635.4217
Ayanna.Pressley@cityofboston.gov
Sal LaMatina District 1 (East Boston)
617.635.3200
Salvatore.LaMattina@cityofboston.gov
Bill Linehan - Dist. 2 (South Boston)
617.635.3203
Bill.Linehan@cityofboston.gov
Maureen Feeney - Dist. 3 (Dorchester)
617.635.3203
Maureen.Feeney@cityofboston.gov
Charles Yancey - Dist. 4
617.635.3131
Charles.Yancey@cityofboston.gov
Rob Consalvo - Dist 5 (Hyde Park)
617.635.4210
Rob.Consalvo@cityofboston.gov
Chuck Turner - Dist. 6
617.635.3510
Chuck.Turner@cityofboston.gov
Matt O'Malley Dist. 7 (W. Roxbury/JP)
contact@votemattomalley.com
Michael Ross - Dist. 8 (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, West End, Fenway, and Mission Hill)
617.635.4225
Michael.Ross@cityofboston.gov
Mark Ciommo - Dist. 9 (Allston/Bri)
617.635.3113
Mark.Ciommo@cityofboston.gov