Title: Boston City Council Race To Narrow To Four

" This is -- WBUR. News podcast for Monday November 2 service of WBUR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob it looks coming up the State's giant new mega transportation agency gets to work. What's it mean for drivers and first today. Today is the final day in the campaign for the eight candidates. Running for the four at large seats on the Boston City Council. The campaign started with a diverse field of fifteen before the preliminary election narrative to eight and now voters pick for tomorrow. In -- system ships has been covering the contest for the Statehouse news service and the newspaper that Dorchester reporter and joins us to talk about who's got the edge."

" Pitting the top four from the preliminary analysts don't expect the field changed that much it's going to be John -- who is a -- And -- incumbent Steve Murphy. Another comment and then Felix -- the son of the former city councilor and I out of -- a former aide to Senator John Kerry why is it hard for the bottom four to move up. I just in terms of the number of votes cast -- name recognition. The four who won the top four slots already had a lot name are finishing going into it. And they're also a top some of top fundraisers."

" You've been out in the neighborhoods reporting on campaign events what what are you hearing from voters about this race what do voters care about in terms of issues."

" That is the most since thinks you're hearing it's and other races jobs and education. People are concerned about the economy are concerned about city services and whether their kids are gonna get a good education the next couple years. Is there a lot of voter interest in the -- to counter. To a degree yes I've -- the forms and has been pretty decent turnout particularly in the single issue forums. But I think I think a lot of people right now are focused on the mayoral race and figure is senate race and the governor Richards. In will those races help bring people to the polls and maybe increase the turnout for the City Council race in the process certainly -- the mayor's race has been a lot of interest in that and I think in terms of the two candidates Mayor Menino and and city councilor at large Flaherty is -- as much support as they cannot neighborhoods and into the polls. To have an effect on was -- counselors all right so let me ask about turn out specifically what what do you expect. Probably around a 120000. Mayor Menino made that prediction that's about 35%. About 80000 turnout for the preliminary and city councilor Archie said he expects about maybe a 100000 so between a 102 120000. In the preliminary election in September there was a higher than average turnout of minority voters do you expect that again tomorrow. Absolutely the minority voters going to be key in both -- race and the city councilor raised. We have four minority candidates to African Americans and Filipinos."

" In the mayor's raced as one of the two candidates Mayor Menino or city council of clarity benefit from our higher than average minority turnout the better care."

" That would be Mayor Menino he benefits the most he's got solid support within minority community. And he's going to be doing everything he can't get them to rebels."

" On various blogs some people have been posting as we've seen comments about so called bullet votes in the council election and candidate I -- it has reportedly asked people not to cast. A bullet vote what is it and how might that affect the out."

" Global vote is when you have in this case it before options. And you only vote for one candidate. No campaign will publicly admit recommending that -- the effect on the ballot is makes it's it's it's not too clear it expect especially in high turnout elections."

" I want to ask you about one district council race before we go in district number seven in Boston city councilor chuck turner is running against Carlos Enrique has who was that. Top vote getter in the preliminary election among Turner's challengers turner is of course under indictment but is expected to win what what's driving his vote."

" I think a lot of people don't believe the charges against them are there are there very distrustful of the charges he's he's been there ten years. And I think it it's possible to say he could run from jail on and so when Nancy. He's incredibly not claiming he he got over 50% of the vote he's very confident in his -- that he sees from the preliminary."

" had a -- just thank you very much for coming -- thank you very much appreciate it. In tennis dilution is is covering Boston's elections for the Statehouse news service and the newspaper the Dorchester reporter. More now -- Turner's reelection bid. He faces a federal corruption charge for allegedly taking a 1000 dollar bride and lying about it to the FBI. And as we just -- he's expected to hold onto his seat. WBUR. Bianca baskets to -- asked Boston residents while they're willing to overlook the charges against counselor turner."

" To understand the cult of chuck turner and it's a bit of a cult you have to understand the neighborhood that is elected him for the past ten years. Roxbury is an area that's considered the economic political and geographic hub of black Boston. In the eighties the neighborhood with Turner's help. Trying to secede from Boston that's right secede. And become its own city called Mandela. Where black people and Latinos would have had control of their schools and police department. Obviously that didn't work but there's still an activist spirit of black unity here. -- go to the heart of rocks -- Dudley -- and ask about chuck turner you get an outpouring of support. To leave while -- is a member of the nation of Islam in Roxbury and says he respects Turner's independence. I did -- do -- actually seriously. Around the corner -- Hector is waiting in line to use an ATM. She's lived in Roxbury all her life to me he's been there for a community who want about the charges against turner what you know something he's listened to he's proven guilty. And that's just the way I really feel. For some indictment is even enhanced Turner's -- status. And confirmed that he is the subversive activists that Roxbury elected. That's true for John Lee a painting contractor. Who was heading into Turner's office for legal help."

" Anytime you find it represented. Person is willing to fight for black folks and black people's right since that -- become more time. All right for the opposites. And they don't try everything they can't bring him down. Not democracy. And so forth."

" Hundreds of supporters rallied around turner after he was arrested at City Hall last November. After minor challenge to his office the council let him stay. -- surprise people how aggressively and publicly he has fought to clear his name."

" The reason why I felt so comfortable about talking about things publicly when people saying though you shouldn't talk so much you should be more quiet. Is that. I didn't do anything wrong and I think if people read the affidavit you can see that I've been doing -- on this just to trumped up case. I'm anxious to get to trial I I. I can't wait."

" But it's clear the indictment has hurt turner he only one half the vote in the preliminary instead of winning an all out landslide. As he has in previous elections. But would seem surprising to many is that his opponent isn't capitalizing on the indictment. The 32 year old Carlos Enrique is portrays himself as a new more pragmatic and collaborative black politician. But in -- is is not talking about Turner's legal --"

" Rolls his indictment is it is a personal issue it's something that. For me as as an individual voter and it weighs on me if it causes concern -- the City Council based on the issues and I'm running against. Council trying to become I feel like he has not been. Act active on these issues in the way I like to see him in recused focuses on clean streets and the quality of neighborhood schools my city councilor. Cannot get trash cans and and -- commerce hub of Roxbury. On the simplest trash cans is as simple default off you have the right relationship so the fact he cannot do that as an effective and that. If you can't -- what can we get from the district council what does him being an outsider or what whatever they deem as what does that delivered to the district."

" Some even reaches his neighbors feel the same way about turner. 24 year old -- barrows complained that welcomes corner is dirty and there's no economic development. Old guys aren't getting it done out of me that disrespectful I just that I would live in the different generation now. The good news for chuck turner is that many residents haven't heard of -- us at weekends in many voters still prefer Turner's style according to download Miller. He covers city politics for the -- banner the weekly paper that focuses on Roxbury. He says -- voters have historically voted for activists over insiders."

" Oftentimes it seems like the electorate in Roxbury would rather see somebody go into the all. And -- protest votes then somebody who's going to -- cut deals to get things done."

" The Miller says tomorrow's election has the potential to bring out voters who don't typically come out and you might want something different from their city councilor. For WBUR. I'm Bianca --"

" Yeah."

" Today's the first working day for the new state mega transportation agency that nasty OT the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It's responsible for almost all roads bridges tunnels and trains in the commonwealth. The DOT -- the Massachusetts turnpike authority the MBTA and other agencies. That makes this the biggest government reorganization undertaken in Massachusetts and some fifty years. It's a huge change but how does it affect us as commuters and taxpayers. Answer that WBUR meant to chart a Marty joins us on this Monday morning -- good morning Bob so one part of the change is that Jeffrey Mullen has taken over as the State's new transportation chief. Replacing the controversial James -- we -- but I out there on the roads and the bridges and trains in the busses is anything to."

" For today well if you're on your commute right now all you have to do is look up the car window or had glanced around the train and the answer is obviously now. The formation of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for now. Is all behind the scenes reorganization that's really going to have very little immediate effect on traffic the condition of roads. Tolls or MBTA fares. But if you do go to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation website you'll see new design there and some factually integrated. Data but beyond that it is going to take awhile before the average commuter and transit riders sees any major changes due to -- mass DOT."

" The -- DOT was the centerpiece of major transportation reform that the legislature passed earlier this year magnet in that debate we heard promises. From Beacon Hill leadership that reform before revenue would eventually make things better what's the likelihood of that."

" Well the likelihood is actually as not is not as high as we had originally been told in fact when the bill that created the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was first introduced. Both senate president Teresa Marie and transportation committee co chair senator -- the -- Said that fusing the turnpike authority the MBTA and mass highway all into that one big super agency would produce major new efficiencies. And save the commonwealth more than six billion dollars of the next twenty years. But Jeffrey -- the new transportation chief as you mentioned is now telling us that the savings won't be nearly as high."

" I like to be aspiration I think denim is a little high. The notice that we've got really are largely in aligning health and welfare benefits. From my perspective any savings is necessary we need to clear case because we spent a lot of."

" And did you spend a lot of them because the big savings were supposed to come from those health and welfare benefits -- speaks of specifically moving and BT employees to the state health insurance system. But MBTA unions have sued to actually stop that from happening. The nasty -- he also wants to balance union wages across the board and that's also still under negotiation. So transportation finance watchers say the best we can hope for in savings is more like a billion dollars over the next one years not six billion. But now even that can be wishful thinking."

" So does that mean that this big reform could end up saving the commonwealth. Nothing or relatively little and that is the -- even though the -- DOT is barely a day old now and actually came into being yesterday on November 1 officially there's already controversy over its new governing board right that's right Governor Deval Patrick has appointed the five person board that oversees nasty teeth."

" And keep in mind that they used to be separate boards for the T and the turnpike authority to this new larger board is very very powerful. And turns out that three of the five people the governor has appointed to serve. Where once on the turnpike and MBTA board you're speaking of."

" It and -- or amber. Or. Are that. Are."

" Governor Deval Patrick on the other hand Bob says that he is confident they will get the job done our rights have come to the bottom line for -- all this morning -- now what does all of this mean going forward."

" toll payers and transit -- well first of all Mullen says there will be no toll or fare hikes in the immediate future."

" However a major financial report on the MBTA was also due on November 1. And that could change that thinking at the T. And also Bob let's be clear nasty UT is that reform parts of the reform before revenues strategy on Beacon Hill. The State's transportation system is still in dire financial straits and every year revenues falls short. By a billion dollars of what's needed just to maintain the roads and rails that we already have. So transportation experts do you say that the state will have to find more revenue and eventually. But in this economy no one wants to say how."

" Magna charter Marty thanks lot for keeping us up to date -- welcome WBUR snagged a chart regarding reporting on the State's new transportation super agency the mass DOT. Is the State's biggest government reorganization in fifty years. And it gets to work today."

" Yeah. Yeah. Yeah."

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