The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates for the first time this year today, under pressure from the White House. NPR has more on what that quarter of a percentage point change could mean for you. Now, to local news: Celebration on ice: An annual festival in Everett honoring Hispanic Heritage month won't happen as planned this weekend. The city called off its Fiesta Del Rio celebration after performers and vendors expressed concerns that attendance would be low due to recent ICE raids in the area. "We believe it would not be right to hold a celebration at a time when members of our community may not feel safe attending," reads a cancellation note above the event on the City of Everett's website. - A hard choice: Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria told WBUR's Stevee Chapman it was a difficult decision to cancel the celebration. Everett is home to a large Latino population, and DeMaria says the work immigrants do is key to the city's economy. Before the festival, locals reported seeing ICE at Rivergreen Park, where the festival was set to be held, according to DeMaria. "It just made everyone feel uneasy," said DeMaria. "We wanted this to be a joyous and celebratory occasion."
- What now? The city is planning new activities to highlight Everett's rich Latino and Hispanic culture, like a photo exhibit at City Hall and a live-streamed concert series with local musicians. "To my families in Everett that I love and care about, continue to bring your kids to school, continue to work and continue to hope that our government will just allow people to go through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen," DeMaria said.
Upset city: Somerville will have a new mayor next year. In a shocking result in yesterday's preliminary election, two-term incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne finished a distant third behind her two challengers, meaning she won't advance to the general election on Nov. 4. According to the city's unofficial election results, at-large City Councilor Jake Wilson got 42% of the 12,000 votes cast, while fellow at-large City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. received 34%. Ballantyne got 23%. - Meanwhile: Another potential upset could be brewing in Gloucester. The Gloucester Times reports former City Council President Paul Lundberg topped the preliminary with 2,384 votes (46%), while incumbent Mayor Greg Verga came in second with 1,605 votes (31%). They'll face off in November.
- And in Brockton's eight-way open mayoral race, two at-large city councilors are heading to the general election. According to The Enterprise, Moises Rodrigues (who served as acting mayor in 2019) and Jean Bradley Derenoncourt captured the top two spots.
Demoulas drama: Market Basket has a new CEO — for now. After firing CEO Arthur T. Demoulas last week for allegedly planning a work stoppage, Market Basket's board of directors announced yesterday it had named Donald T. Mulligan, the company's longtime chief financial officer, as interim CEO. Mulligan has worked for Market Basket for the past 42 years, and spent 26 of those as CFO, per the board's statement. (Would he really be a Market Basket employee if we didn't know his tenure?) - Mulligan is a Lowell native and began his career working on Market Basket's account at Sullivan Bille PC, an accounting firm in Tewksbury. He was hired to work for Market Basket in 1983 by Telemachus "Mike" Demoulas (aka Artie T.'s dad). “We are thrilled to have a homegrown leader of Mr. Mulligan’s caliber step into the role of Interim CEO to guide Market Basket and ensure seamless leadership for our associates, customers and communities,” said Jay K. Hachigian, the board's chair.
P.S.— Boston's first-ever 24/7 "public health vending machine" opens today in East Boston. WBUR's Dan Guzman reports the outdoor machine (located at 10 Gove Street near Maverick Square) will dispense products like Narcan, needles, menstrual products, condoms, sunblock and socks — all for free. All "customers" have to do is enter their zip code. WBUR's Martha Bebinger has more here on the rationale behind these vending machines and how they're used in various forms across 35 states. |
