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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Ed Flynn says it's 'very unlikely' he'll follow in his father's footsteps as Boston mayor
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Today is the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. Several events are planned around Boston to remember the 206 people with ties to Massachusetts who were killed in those attacks. There’ll be a moment of silence at the State House at 8:46 a.m., a wreath-laying at the Public Garden at 1:30 p.m. and a vigil at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in the Seaport at 6 p.m.
There are also plenty of ways to give back today, including a daylong blood drive at Fenway Park. Donors even get a cup of chowder, among other perks. (Just maybe bring an umbrella; there’s more rain in the forecast this afternoon… and tomorrow… and Wednesday.)
Now, to the news:
The preliminary election for Boston City Council is tomorrow, but some candidates are already facing questions about 2025 and beyond. City Council President Ed Flynn said on WCVB on Sunday that “it’s very unlikely” he will run for mayor in the future. “I’m happy being a city councilor,” he said. (Flynn, whose father Ray Flynn was Boston’s mayor for over nine years, became subject to some 2025 speculation this summer after benefitting from an eyebrow-raising Cape Cod fundraiser and floating around some of his own Mass. and Cass ideas while acting mayor.)
- What he’s saying: Flynn isn’t ruling out a future in state or federal government related to veterans issues or military family issues “down the road.” But he added: “I think there’s one Mayor Flynn in the family, and that was my dad.”
- Flynn is running unopposed this fall for his District 2 seat, and is one of nine city councilors not involved in tomorrow’s preliminary. You can read more about two of the contested Boston City Council preliminary races on the ballot below.
On your marks: In more literal race news, the five-day registration window for next year’s Boston Marathon opens today. From 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Friday, all athletes with valid qualifying times can submit their applications using the Boston Athletic Association online platform.
- Do you qualify? The BAA has the full list of this year’s qualifying standards for each age group and gender category here.
- How many runners will get in? According to WBUR contributor Alex Ashlock, the BAA typically accepts around 23,000 qualifiers. Professional athletes and runners raising money for charities make up the rest of the 30,000-person field.
The next two months are going to be a little tricky for Haverhill Line riders. This weekend kicked off the start of a 58-day shutdown of a big chunk of the MBTA commuter rail line for safety upgrades. From now through Nov. 5, there’ll be train service between Andover’s Ballardvale Station and North Station.
- The Wildcat option: Riders who take the train into Boston from north of Ballardvale (i.e. Andover, Lawrence and Haverhill) will have their trains diverted onto the Lowell commuter rail line via the “Wildcat branch.” Those trains will run express to North Station (and back), with one stop in Woburn.
- For stations in Melrose, Wakefield and Reading, there’ll be shuttle buses connecting to both to the Orange Line (which you can then take into Boston) and to the Lowell line’s Woburn station. Check out the chart below (or click here) for more details.
American soccer pillar Bruce Arena quit as coach of the New England Revolution on Saturday night, citing the “difficult” six-week-long investigation by the MLS into allegations he made “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.” Arena had been on leave since Aug 1.
- No details have emerged about the nature of the remarks. The MLS said in a statement that “certain” allegations were confirmed true by their investigation. (According to The Athletic, longtime Arena assistant and now-interim Revs coach Richie Williams was a source of the complaints.)
- In other soccer news: Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales finally ceded Sunday to months of calls for his resignation over his actions at the Women’s World Cup final.
P.S.— Something is stewing at CitySpace tonight. Come down to 890 Comm. Ave. at 6:30 p.m. for a conversation — and gumbo! — with local restaurateur Nia Grace about fusing music and food. Tickets are $15 — not bad for dinner and a show!
