This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RevTenderBranson (talk | contribs) at 06:35, 2 March 2007 (←Undid revision 111882914 by Senter381 (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 06:35, 2 March 2007 by RevTenderBranson (talk | contribs) (←Undid revision 111882914 by Senter381 (talk))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Thomas Menino | |
---|---|
Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts | |
In office 1993–Present | |
Preceded by | Raymond L. Flynn |
Personal details | |
Born | December 27, 1942 Hyde Park, Massachusetts |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Angela Faletra |
Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor.
Born in Readville, a part of Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood, Menino was educated at Chamberlayne Junior College (AA, Business Management, 1963) and the University of Massachusetts Boston (BA, Community Planning, 1988). He currently resides in Hyde Park with his wife, Angela Faletra. They have two children: Susan and Thomas Jr.
Menino had served nine years on Boston's city council when Ray Flynn left the mayor's seat to become US ambassador to the Vatican. The council president at the time, Menino became acting mayor for four months before being elected to his first term in November 1993, defeating State Representative Jim Brett with 64% of the vote. After running unopposed for a second term in 1997, Menino soundly defeated Boston City Councillor Peggy Davis-Mullen in 2001 for a third term with 76% of the vote and in 2005 rang up 67% of the vote in beating Maura Hennigan, another councillor .
On April 1, 1998, it was rumored that the mayor was killed in a car accident. It turned out to be an "April Fools" joke broadcast by Opie and Anthony, a radio duo who had announced it on air.
Should Menino complete his fourth term, and if the four months as acting mayor are included, he would become the longest-serving mayor in Boston history. Though hardly the most eloquent of politicians (because of his poor diction he has been nicknamed "Mumbles Menino" by Howie Carr, a writer for the Boston Herald, and a nationally syndicated radio talk show host), a large part of Menino's success seems to hinge on his refusal to use city hall as a stepping stone. While it may be true that he would have little success at seeking higher office, Menino maintains that being mayor of Boston is the only job he's ever wanted. He is considered a "nuts and bolts" mayor, focusing on making sure that potholes are filled, garbage and snow are removed and crime is down. He attends functions all around the city, and his administration has remained relatively scandal-free.
Menino has encountered some controversy (particularly among those of color) surrounding his oversight of the gentrification of many Boston neighborhoods. Menino has also encountered criticism from civil liberties groups regarding various issues of free speech, including the heavy and disruptive police presence during the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and his handling of the Stop Snitchin' controversy.
In 2006, Menino proposed two major construction projects which would have a major impact on the city. The first, Trans National Place is a proposed 1,000 foot tower to be built on the site of a city owned parking garage in Boston's Financial District. The second proposal, calls for the city to sell Boston's City Hall, a 1960's icon of Brutalism architecture. Menino would then have the city use the proceeds from the sale to fund construction of a new seat of government on the South Boston waterfront, on the site of the current Bank of America Pavillion (Drydock 4). This project would fit into Menino's ongoing efforts to spur development in this section of South Boston, and would complement the new convention center, as well as benefit from new Big Dig transportation connections to the area.
Health
Menino has been hospitalized several times since taking office. He has been admitted for abdominal pain and intestinal inflammation, and was treated for kidney stones in 1995 and 1997. In 2003, Menino underwent surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital to remove a rare sarcoma (DFSP) on his back. The tumor had not spread, and the mayor was able to return to work in a matter of days. In 2004, the mayor's doctors confirmed he has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, helping to explain his recurring intestinal problems. The condition requires life-long treatment with anti-inflammatory medication and careful monitoring of his diet .
Quotes
Mayor Menino is known for his distinctive voice and accidentally-notable quotes. The most legendary examples involve references to Boston's parking shortage as "an Alcatraz around my neck" (meaning, instead, an albatross around his neck), and to former mayor John Collins as "a man of great statue."
Aqua Teen Panic of 2007
This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this section may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this section or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
After a Boston area commuter reported a suspicious device to police, bomb squads were dispatched to investigate it, and other similar items attached to major infrastructure points around the city, causing fears of a widespread bomb plot. The devices were eventually found to be harmless parts of a guerilla marketing campaign, after being destroyed in controlled detonations in accordance with standard bomb squad methodology. It was later found out that they were intended as ads for Aqua Teen Hunger Force; due to the disruption of city services and the diversion of emergency responders caused by the ad campaign, Mayor Menino announced that he would petition the FCC to have the Cartoon Network's broadcast license revoked.
The Cartoon Network has reported a public apology and offered to pay restitution as requested by Mayor Menino.
The promotion has proved to gain Aqua Teen Hunger Force much publicity. Sales of T-Shirts featuring slogans such as, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force is the BOMB!!" have popped up as a direct result of the scare and have been making thousands of dollars for merchants.
External links
- Biography at City of Boston website
- CityMayors profile
- UMass Boston alumni magazine profile
- A Boston Globe profile of Angela Faletra, Menino's wife
- Howie Carr Website devoted to Tom Menino
Preceded byRaymond L. Flynn | Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts 1993 - |
Succeeded bycurrent |