Episode Transcript
[00:00:17] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, November 7th. Quincy City Councilor at large elect Ann Mahoney is asking the current City Council to postpone a vote on changing the mayoral salary until the new City Council is in office next year. Mahoney says the decision should rest with the new council, which will dramatically change after the first of the year. Voters this week elected new city councilors in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, as well as two new councilors at large, including Mahoney. As she says, waiting for the vote on the mayoral salary would show respect for the voters and strengthen public confidence in city government. The mayor was planning to ask the council this Monday night to amend the mayoral salary from 285 to $225,000 per year when it takes effect in 2028, Mahoney says. Either way, the salary will impact the city budget and how government is structured by Mahoney plans to attend Monday night's meeting and submit her comments for the record. The salary item is not on Monday night's agenda.
[00:01:35] The Quincy City Council wants to know how and why a worker was seriously injured in an electrical explosion at a work site last month. Councillor at Large Nina Liang will introduce a resolution at Monday night's council meeting calling on National Grid and Riley Brothers Construction of Stoughton to appear before them and explain what happened on the night of October 22nd when a worker suffered serious burns after cutting into an underground electrical cable on Southern Artery near the Quincy police station. The victim is expected to survive, however, he was seriously injured. The incident also knocked out power for several hours in that area, forcing road closures and Liang says OSHA is investigating and that Riley Brothers has been cited by OSHA in the past for trench safety violations. The resolution calls on National Grid and Riley Brothers to appear before the council to explain the incident, and it calls on National Grid and Riley Brothers to submit an updated safety plan to prevent future incidents and requires enhanced inspection protocols. The the measure also calls on the state to investigate the incident.
[00:02:51] The governor yesterday and the Massachusetts Technology Collaboratives Innovation Institute announced more than $16.3 million in grants and designated 14 regions across the state as official tech hubs through the Massachusetts Tech Hubs program Here in Quincy, Cubic Labs was designated as a Tech Hub, the incubator company founded by Quincy City Councilor Ian Kane. The Tech Hub designation will formalize Quincy's role as an emerging hub for digital infrastructure innovation, particularly in the interconnected fields of blockchain, AI, cyber security and connectivity. The designation provides a platform for Cubic to continue attracting entrepreneurs, investors and academic and government partners to the region.
[00:03:50] What was thought to be a brazen armed robbery in Brockton last month may have been an inside job. Four people were charged yesterday in the incident at the AT and T store on Pleasant street back on Monday, October 13th. Officers were called at that store that night for a report of an armed robbery just before 8pm Police were told a man with a sawed off shotgun tied up to workers and stole thousands of dollars in cash and electronics. Surveillance video from across the street showed someone closing the blinds in the store shortly before the gunman arrived. A few minutes later. The video showed a person dragging a large bag out of the store before walking away and no one was hurt. Officers and Brockton police canine searched the woods behind the strip mall for evidence. They found the shotgun and a duffel bag full of cash and stolen property. The dog also tracked a man's trail. Yesterday, police announced they did arrest 45 year old Carlos DeBaros from Brockton. They said he was the man who went into the store with the shotgun. The tied up, the employees took off with the cash and the electronics. He now faces several felony charges. Authorities didn't name the other three who were charged.
[00:05:10] A man State police describe as a violent fugitive was arrested in Boston yesterday after ramming multiple police vehicles as he tried to flee.
[00:05:20] Happened behind a department building on Itasca street in Mattapan as police and state police troopers were serving arrest warrants. Suspects vehicle a black Tesla with Florida plates Ram 5 cruisers ended up wedged between unmarked police vehicles. Suspects car had visible damage to its front and sides. It was towed from the seam. 37 year old Jovan Jared Thomas was sought on two separate warrants, one out of Middlesex Superior Court on charges of trafficking a person for sexual servitude conspiracy, trafficking of cocaine and drug violations. The second warrant was a vandalism charge out of Dorchester District Court. State Police say one illegal firearm was found on the suspect.
[00:06:08] One officer suffered a minor knee injury. No other injuries were reported Friday. Flight cancellations at Logan Airport starting rolling in yesterday afternoon after the FAA announced Boston would be impacted by government shutdown related cuts. Logan's among 40 airports nationwide that will see a reduction in flights as the record long shutdown drags on. It comes after the FAA administrator Brian Bedford said the agency planned to scale back flights by 10% in high volume markets starting today to keep the airspace safe during the shutdown. Those traveling in and out of Boston in the coming days should brace for disruptions and as early as today. United yesterday had already proactively cut 200 flights nationwide. In a statement, Delta vowed to give its customers advanced notice of cancellations. According to Flight aware, there were 438 delays at Logan and 36 cancellations yesterday. Massport said it will continue to work with its federal and airline partners to minimize disruptions and keep passengers inform.
[00:07:22] Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, among dozens of others, were also targeted by the flight cuts. Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began October 1st. Mounting staffing pressures are now forcing the agency to act.
[00:07:41] The City of Quincy Public Services roadshow wraps up today. Representatives from the city, Quincy Asian Resources, Quincy Community Action Programs, MANIT Community Health Center, South Shore ymca, Masshire South Shore Career center and Quincy College will all be in the Quincy College Student Lounge in Quincy center from noon to 3 today to talk about their programs and services. That event is free and open to all.
[00:08:13] The United States Naval and Shipbuilding Museum on board the USS Salem at the Quincy Shipyard will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Saturday and Sunday. The museum will be open 10am to 4pm and there will be free admission for active duty U.S. marine Corps members and veterans.
[00:08:35] Quinn Cycles annual Cranksgiving event will be held on Saturday at 10:30 beginning at the Hancock, Adams Common and Quincy Center. Participants will be riding nine miles to support Quincy Community Action programs and the Quincy Animal Shelter. You can visit quincycles.com for more information.
[00:08:58] The annual North Quincy High School Holiday Shopping Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm over 125 vendors, food trucks, holiday cookie decorating, raffles, photo opportunities and a cocoa bar will be part of the event. Admission is $5. Children 12 and under are free.
[00:09:22] The Quincy North Quincy Boys High School Hockey Program presents For the Love of Hockey fundraiser Helicopter Golf ball drop on Sunday from 11am to 1pm at Granite Links in Quincy. The helicopter drop takes place between noon and 12:30. The cost is $20 per ball and the ball closest to the pin wins. The first ball wins $1,000. The second ball wins 500.
[00:09:54] Check of business news stocks are down. The Dow dropped 398, the Nasdaq fell 445 and the S&P lost 75.
[00:10:03] Shares also retreated in Asia after losses for influential technology stocks pulled Wall street benchmarks lower. The dollar rose, the Euro fell oil at $60 a barrel.
[00:10:17] Sports Bruins beat the Senators 3 to 2 in overtime and they'll be in Toronto Saturday night at 7. Tonight the Celtics are in Orlando at 7 and Patriots are at Tampa Bay. Sunday at 1.
[00:10:34] Today's forecast from the National Weather Service Partly cloudy, high 54 for tonight, cloudy and a low 46 tomorrow. Sun and clouds high of 63 Sunday. Some scattered showers with a high of 57. Looks like rain on Monday and a high 59.
[00:10:52] The boater waves about 2ft. Southwesterly winds 5 to 10 knots, become southerly 15 to 20, gusting to 25. High tide at 12:03pm There is a coastal flood advisory in effect for today's high tide due to the astronomical high tides. The sunrise at 6:24 sets at 4:29 at a traffic note. Four River Bridge scheduled to open Friday at 9am and Saturday at 7am I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, November 7th.
