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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Blue-spotted salamanders and bar pizza: Mass lawmakers consider new state symbols
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The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Seaport officially has a new name: the "Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center," in honor of Boston's longest-serving mayor, Thomas Menino.
Speaking of recognizing local icons...
Symbolizing Massachusetts: You might already be familiar with some of Massachusetts' state symbols, like the black-capped chickadee and the Atlantic cod. But do you know Massachusetts' official sedimentary structure? That's because we don't have one — yet. State lawmakers are considering a slew of additions to Massachusetts' list of official "things," from a salamander to a type of pizza. WBUR's Todd Wallack spoke with a few locals about why they're petitioning to get these icons official status.
- Armored mud balls: Richard Little, professor emeritus at Greenfield Community College, has wanted this as the state's official sedimentary structure for years because they date back to the Jurassic period and are rarely found intact. "In the whole world, the only place you could actually easily see them is right here in Turners Falls, Gill, Greenfield and Deerfield," said Little.
- The blue-spotted salamander: A group of students from Andover High School are looking for support to make this species, which is currently threatened due to the deterioration of vernal pools, the state's official amphibian, frog or salamander. "We just wanna raise awareness for this specific amphibian and for other amphibians in vernal pool habitats," said 15-year-old Srinikhil Velagapudi. This will be the students' third attempt at official status.
- South Shore bar pizza: It's thin, with a crispy crust and edge-to-edge-cheese, and can be easily found at restaurants and local grocery store freezer aisles. But its popularity isn't the only reason why state Sen. Michael Brady, of Brockton, wants to make it the state's official pizza. He also believes the official title would draw business for local pizza shops. "I think it's good to give a little recognition to them," Brady said.
- What else is on the list of proposed "official" items? An ice cream flavor, a brand of seasoning, a tugboat, a jazz song and a rock song could all become symbols of Massachusetts. Here's a list of all the current state symbols.
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Trash is piling up in more than two dozen Massachusetts communities after last week's negotiations between Republic Services and the union Teamsters Local 25 ended without resolution. The collectors continue to push for better wages and benefits, as today marks day 14 of the strike.
- Republic doesn't manage all the trash services in Newton, but some of the city's condo complexes, elder care facilities and restaurants rely on them for large-scale trash collection. Restaurants, in particular, get their trash picked up multiple times a week, said Wanita Trabert, Newton's director of sustainable materials management. "It's becoming a concerning situation where their dumpster is now full and there's bags that are going to end up on the ground," added Trabert.
- A temporary workaround: A new garbage transfer station at the city's Recovery Resources Center on 115 Rumford Ave., which is usually reserved for recycling. Businesses can dispose of their trash for a fee of $100 as the strike continues.
- What's next: A federal mediator will be in Boston tomorrow to host talks between Republic Services and the union. Massachusetts Sec. of State Bill Galvin is urging Republic to move forward with the negotiations.
School funds at risk: Last month, the Trump administration put a hold on $3.5 million meant for Worcester Public Schools, while the federal government reviews whether the city "aligns" with the president's priorities. "That $3.5 million funds 20 positions within the district," said Worcester school superintendent Brian Allen. The money, which is tied up in a Title IV grant, also goes toward after school programs, professional development opportunities and school safety funding, Allen added. "All of that would be in jeopardy," he said.
- What the city's doing: Allen says the city is considering joining a lawsuit to challenge the administration's freezing of the funds.
Deadline day: Today is the last day for most cities and towns to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, if they haven't already. WBUR's Paul Connearney reports 14 communities have yet to comply with the housing law, which requires those nearby MBTA stations to provide zoning for denser housing. (Small towns adjacent to communities with T stations have until the end of the year to be compliant.)
P.S.— This past weekend's City Splash swim in the Charles River was cancelled for, yes, dirty water. Blame last week's storms, which brought flooding and high bacteria levels to not just the Charles, but also nearly 40 local beaches that were also forced to close over the weekend.
