Growing interest in District 6 seat
Ten years ago, the two front-runners in the five-way preliminary race for the District 6 City Council seat were Matt O’Malley and Sean Ryan, continuing what is now a 37-year tradition of Irish-Americans representing the West Roxbury/Jamaica Plain seat.

Baker blocking police reform bill
Groups of elected officials and organization leaders are publicly criticizing the governor’s amendments to the police accountability bill. Instead of signing the bill as expected, he has fought back on its facial recognition ban and new Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

Cassellius, teachers at odds over opening
The Boston Teachers Union Sunday took a vote of no confidence in Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius after they say she refused to sign an agreement extending safety precautions to 28 schools that reopened for high-needs students Monday.

Restrictions reimposed amid COVID surge
Step 2 of phase 2 does not shut down indoor dining, but it does limit indoor dining by removing bar seating. Most indoor recreational spaces, such as athletic facilities, arcades and event spaces will close. Gyms will be limited to appointments only, while cultural centers like museums and historical sites will fully close.

A compendium of ideas for the new administration
Upon winning the presidential election, it is customary for the president-elect to recruit the members of the cabinet as well as the heads of key federal programs and to publicize an agenda for the first hundred days after being sworn in. This agenda indicates the issues that are most important for the new administration.

Staying safe during the holiday season
I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season, and hope that the remainder of this year brings you the opportunity to reflect on this year and take time to prioritize your health and wellness. We know that this is a very different holiday season.

IN THE NEWS
Stonehill College has announced the appointment of DeBrenna LaFa Agbényiga, Ph.D., MBA, MSW, as its new provost and vice president for academic affairs effective December 1, 2020. In this position, she will oversee all college operations directly pertaining to academic programming, faculty, and academic administration.

Electoral College no longer an enemy?
After trying and failing at everything under the sun to get President-elect Joe Biden’s win scrubbed, Trump had some last desperate moves. One ploy was to try to get the legislatures in the swing states that gave their electoral votes to Biden to nullify the Biden votes.

First vaccines in Massachusetts rolling out
Last week at the State House, Baker said the first 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer and Cambridge-based Moderna would go to health care workers, those in long-term care facilities, first responders and those living in congregate settings, such as shelters and prisons.

Council, mayor advance fair housing amendment
This permanent amendment to the zoning code was crafted in a team effort by Mayor Martin Walsh, District 1 City Councilor Lydia Edwards, the Boston Planning and Development Agency, the Office of Fair Housing and Equity, the Boston Housing Authority, the Department of Neighborhood Development and the Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

Experts call for election integrity measures
“To witness the alarmingly desperate attempts to cast doubt on this election and to elevate the non-issue of voter fraud is creating such dangerous conditions in our democracy,” said Janai Nelson, associate director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

City councilors push for power in budgeting
The City Council has moved a step forward in an effort to establish a more equitable budget process that allows citizens to participate. District 1 City Councilor Lydia Edwards introduced an amendment in July to give the council power to reject the mayor’s amendments to the yearly budget and introduce their own, before a hard deadline.

Virtual play explores the legacy of Prince Hall
On Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., Stephen Sampson and Alex Jacobs reprise their performance of “The Petition” in a new Zoom format. Written by Cliff Odle and originally performed at the Old State House in 2019, the production explores the life and work of abolitionist and free Black man Prince Hall.

‘Black Nativity’ turns 50
This year, The National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA)’s annual production of “Black Nativity,” one of the longest running in the country, celebrates 50 years on stage. Written by Langston Hughes, the performance tells the Nativity story through gospel music, dance and narration.

‘Shen Wei: Painting in Motion’ at Gardner
Seen by more than a billion TV viewers, a dance-theater performance directed by Chinese-American artist Shen Wei was a high point in the sensational opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, showing a cadre of dancers conjuring a traditional scroll painting with their bodies.