May 13, 2025 • 35 mins
This week the Boston City Council will be presented with a resolution to discuss the job status of city councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Should the councilor be allowed to finish her term or should she be removed from her position? Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn joined Dan to discuss!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZY, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All Right, welcome back everyone, as we head into the
nine o'clock hour. There's a lot going on in Boston
City Hall these days, and we have not talked about
this in a little while, and we really haven't focused
on it. But one member. There are thirteen members of
the city Council. There are you know, nine district members
(00:28):
and four at large members, and there are nine members.
One of them, as I think most of you know,
was recently indicted, Tanya Fernandez Anderson. She was indicted for
taking about seven thousand dollars in cash in a city
hall bathroom. She's not the first city councilor to be
(00:49):
indicted in recent years, but she's the latest. And as
a consequence, she has pled guilty. Went into federal court
and pled guilty to the charges, avoiding a trial, and
the judge at that time indicated that she could be
(01:12):
given as much as a year and a day and
within the guidelines. I have not looked at the guidelines.
Theoretically the judge has some flexibility. But she has not
been sentenced. She's due to be sentenced sometime. I believe
it's next month, and then theoretically she might actually end
(01:32):
up doing some time in prison. But she right now
is an indicted and even worse than that, a convicted
Boston City councilor. Now, when someone is indicted, certainly they
enjoy the presumption of innocence, because the government has the
responsibility of proving beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements
(01:54):
of the crime. But when someone pleads guilty, whether they
plead guilty because they truly are repentant for what they've
been charged with, or what they now recognized they did
that they shouldn't have done, or whether they plead guilty
because they feel that they can, by pleading guilty and
show some level of cooperation, perhaps receive a lighter sentence
(02:16):
than they would if they go all the way to trial.
It doesn't matter. Once you plead guilty, you'll plead guilty.
And Tanya Anderson Fernandez Anderson, excuse me, still is serving
as a city councilor in Boston. There was a state
(02:40):
election law which said that in the case of a vacancy,
the seat would have to be vacated. I believe it
was by May eighth, in order for a special election
to fill the seat after May eighth, which, of course
we're now well past May eighth, or five days after
(03:02):
May eighth, if that's the date in question, now that
she chooses to when she chooses to resign, assuming that
she does, because I believe that once she is convicted
she has to resign, or once she is sentenced to
accuse me she has been she's she is convicted by
having played guilty, she then will will be forced to resign,
(03:27):
and that seat for her district will remain vacant until
there's an election in November. The idea is that why
do you spend the the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions
of dollars to run a special election if the time
that that election would fill would only be a few
(03:49):
weeks or a few months. But either way, because of
her decision to remain a city councilor pasted the date
of May eighth, and, by the way, pass the date
by which she had pled guilty, she now guarantees that
her constituents will have no representation on no district representation
(04:15):
on the city council. Now it may not mean anything
to you because you don't live in that district, but
I think it's unfair. So what are the benefits of
her not resigning. Well, one of the benefits that she
didn't resign was that she's able to continue to collect
her salary. City councils in Bosson make one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars a year. Now, that's not as much
(04:36):
as the governor, not as much as the United States senator,
but it's not a bad it's not a bad income,
not a bad salary for what they do. So not
only did Tanya Fernandez Anderson betray her oath of office
and betray her duty of loyalty to her constituents, but
(04:59):
she now is flaunting that and remaining on the payroll
of the City of Boston, not only after she was indicted,
but after she fled guilty. Now, technically, there was a
sub state Supreme Court ruling that said, as someone who
is indicted and convicted is not obligated to resign. The
(05:24):
only time that she would be obligated to resign is
once she is sentenced. Sort of an interesting ruling in
my opinion, But that's the law. So she's she is
truly she's following the law, which is her right, and
as a consequence of following the law, she's also being
(05:47):
able to benefit financially, which of course, ironically was what
she was indicted and pled guilty to, which was a
financial benefit. So we hope to have Boston City councilor
Ed Flynn join us. But whether he joins us or not,
I would like to ask all of you, whether your
(06:09):
residence of Boston or not, do you think, first of all,
the State Supreme Court can be wrong. I think that
they are wrong on this. I certainly don't think that
someone should have to resign when they are merely indicted,
because they do enjoy the presumption of innocence. But once
you plead guilty, I think that's it, and I believe
(06:33):
that there are many judges who would not accept the guilty. Please. Now,
she was in federal court, so the judge did not
require as an element of her pleading guilty that she
had to simultaneously or previously have resigned. I think that
once you plead guilty, it should be incumbent upon you
(06:56):
to resign. I'd love to know what you think. Six
four ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty.
Coming right back on nightside, you don't have to be
a Boston resident to address that issue, because I think
it just goes to show you that if you plead
guilty and you happen to work in the private sector,
(07:18):
I would bet you that the day that you plead guilty,
your business or your company is going to ask you
to resign. But if, but if you're a politician, and
in this case, a Boston City councilor even though you've
played guilty for a federal crime, you can continue to
(07:38):
receive your paycheck at least until you're sentenced. And who
knows what she will do after she's sentenced. She may say, well,
I don't have to go away for a couple of months.
I hope the judge takes that in consideration. We'll take
a break. Coming right back on Nightside, Boston residents especially,
but wherever you are. This apparently is a statute that
(08:00):
a case law, a Supreme Court decision which gives a
little benefit to politicians in Massachusetts that frankly, I don't
think they deserve. I'd love to know what you think.
Six one seven, four ten thirty six one seven, nine
three ten thirty Coming right back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
It's night Side with Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
So at its core, the question is if you ended
up being convicted in federal court or being convicted in
superior court in Massachusetts, or pleading guilty, you'd have to
get you'd have to leave your job in my opinion.
But if you're a politician, you don't have to do that.
(08:42):
You don't have to do that. Rob, Can you just
play a that's that was? That's Ed Flynn calling, so
hopefully he knows what number to call. Let me go
to Joe in Dorchester. Joe, you are next up on Nightside, Rob.
You may want to reach out to him on the
cell phone. Please. Hey, you're welcome next on Nightside, first
up this hour and nightside. Thanks for checking in.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Boy, I really hit the jackpot, didn't I?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I guess you did. Yes, you did. We're missing Ed Flynn,
but we got you. So you go right Aheady you're
a Boston resident. What do you think about you know,
I mean Tiany. You know Fernandes Anderson. She she was
a very interesting political figure, polarizing political figure and for
(09:28):
her too, he's.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
A colorful, uh melting pot for politics.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Always ask been.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ordinary. So what you know? Who like you? I think
it's an upfront that if she's even finally admitted and
it's like, okay, I did a bad thing. Oh yeah,
So the Benjamins, the collar, perhaps the collar that you're
(09:57):
going to have after me, has some hints. The question,
my mind is not am I offended? The question is
what the hell.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Is the end game?
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You know, what's the benefit to not going away?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Now?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I just don't quite.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Get that, Well, she will she will go away. I mean,
in some form of fashion. I assume that after these stunts,
the judge is not going to turn around and say, well,
we'll give you a home cofiem I for two weeks
and then you're all set. I would assume she's going
to actually go away. But yeah, but I don't think
that she's made her circumstances any easier. She comes across
(10:33):
as someone who's really quite defiant of the system by
not saying, Okay, I messed up, I'm going to fess up.
I'm going to go away. I'm going to do whatever
I need to do. I'm gonna pay my debt and
maybe I'll come back and and I will, you know,
run for office again. Other politicians have done that, But
this seems to me to be just an in your face.
(10:54):
I'm going to stay here. I'm going to collect every last,
every last penny I can, every last paycheck can as
for as long as I can.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Well in the other thing that sticks in my mind,
and again, your caller who's going to be on shortly
can probably flash this out. But my understanding was that
the city council itself had some discussions about whether she
should go, when could they have the election and that
sort of thing, including some of the current councilors at
(11:28):
large who felt that they should weigh in, you know,
it's an important issue, and my understanding was that her
response towards them was, you don't know anything about my district.
My district is unique. You should stay in your lane
and keep your hands off my constituency. You don't really
represent them. And I just thought that took incredible hoodspot.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah. And of course, as a result of her decisions
and her agreed to milk every last paycheck, she now
is going to leave her constituents without representation for some
period of time once once she does resign, because they
won't be there won't be a special election to fill
her seat on an interim basis, And.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I guess no provision for appointing an interim person or.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Nope, nope. The the state law says that I guess
if the seat does not become vacant before a certain date,
and I believe the date is May eighth, uh, that
it is it's unwise or unnecessary to to to go
ahead and uh and and hold an election because it's
(12:38):
going to take a few weeks step of primary and
then have a final election, and at that point they
probably would be into the fall. So somebody, you know,
she she basically has has taken the only person that
she's taken the consideration as herself. Simple as that, Joe.
I appreciate your calling and getting going here.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's very interesting, Dan. I'll be waiting to see what
develop Stay with.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Us, Stay with us, okay, Thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
John, all right, I'll be here with the radio on.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Thank you, my friend. Appreciate it very much. We're going
to get to Kevin and Rachel in a moment. But
let me bring Council Flynn up. Council of Flynn, welcome.
How are you a little late? So you're going to
get a tardy slip, but I hope everything's okay. We
were concerned for.
Speaker 6 (13:20):
You, Dan, It's good to be with you. But first
I want to apologize for running late. I was at
a City Point Enabled Association meeting tonight. I've thought a
get out by nine o'clock and I apologize. The meetings
just cut out now. So I apologize to you and
to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Dean, no problem. We only have a couple of minutes
until the bottom of the hour, and I also have
callers I want to get to, but very quickly. What's
going to happen tomorrow in the City Council. I understand
that you and Counselor Murphy are going to file a
resolution which is probably going to be met with a
lot of resistance by most of the other counselors. I
(13:57):
don't understand why these other counselors with roll in with
Tanya Fernandez Anderson and not at least allow this resolution
to be debated and have a vote.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
Yes, that's that's correct. In myself and the City councilor
Aaron Murphy have a resolution which, as we all know,
it's non binding, but it's a statement of what we
believe in and we are asking city council colleagues to
address the ongoing ethical issues the conviction of the City
(14:32):
councilor Tanya Fernandez Anderson in to recommend as a body
that she resigned, and I think that's in the best
interest of the city in her constituents. What happens tomorrow,
it's unsure, but there is a plan for my city
council colleagues to block this, to block the resolution so
(14:55):
that they don't have to go on record in support
or against it. They don't want to take any position
at all. They just want the issue to go away.
And that's not leadership. You don't get to pick and
choose which issues you you want to vote on. You
vote on issues in front of you. And my colleagues
don't want to do that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
So we would call that as profiles in cowardice, not
profiles high courage.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
I would, I would agree with that, and I you know,
and it's it taught for me to criticize colleagues. I
don't like to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
But that's why that's why I would I use the words.
I mean, we talk about every year the Kennedy Library
presents profiles and courage, right right, This is a profile
in no courage, which means the opposite of courage is cowardice.
So let's do this, Accounselor, I got to take a
quick news break here at the bottom of the hour.
(15:53):
We're going to get to other callers, and I'd like
you to stay with us for the balance of the
hour and see if other folks want to talk to you,
and maybe uh encourage you and and Council of Murphy
to go ahead with the efforts that you are going to.
I'm sure a file tomorrow, despite the fact that the
majority of the city Council is going to not be
(16:16):
willing to even consider the matter. I mean, it is moot.
She this this seat will not be filled. I want
to get into all of that. I want to make
sure that I have laid out the logistics properly in
your absence. You know this issue is better than anyone
and certainly better than me. And we get back, we'll
go over it, make sure we understand it. And we
got Kevin and Rachel coming up as callers, and if
(16:37):
anyone else wants to join the conversation. If you're a
Boston resident, I particularly want to hear from you. Six
one seven, two, five, four ten thirty or six one seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty back with Boston City councilor Ed Flynn.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Right after this, It's Night's Side with Dan Ray on
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
We're back on Nightside with Boston City Council Flynn. Ed,
Let's let's incorporate some callers into our conversation. You know
that tomorrow the majority of the City Council will probably
throw in their lot with Tanya Fernandez Anderson uh and
and will prevent not only a debate and a vote,
(17:22):
but really any serious discussion about this situation. I have
mentioned that she's not obligated to resign under a State
Supreme Court decision that I believe involved another city councilor
back about fifteen years ago, because he was not obligated
(17:44):
to resign until he was sentenced.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Correct, That's correct, Dan, Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
So as a consequence legally, legally, she gets this extra
period of time because of a decision by the State
Supreme Court. But all it means is that there will
come a point in time where she will have to resign,
she will get extra money that arguably she never should
(18:11):
have gotten once she played guilty, and her constituents will
be without representation for several months. Pretty much. That's the
bottom line.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
I think that's accurate, Dan, and as I. As I
mentioned before, you know, it's a non binding resolution, but
it's important it shows residents that we take these issues
seriously and we will address unethical behavior, illegal behavior, and
(18:46):
that we're just not going to remain silent when there's
a major arrest and conviction of a colleague.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
And by the way, it was just a few it
was just a few weeks ago. I believe that you
and Counselor Murphy also proposed some sort of the beginning
of a conversation to have some sort of ethics reform
at the City Council, and that was shot down, too, correct.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
That's correct. My colleagues voted that down. They felt like
they did not need ethics oversight or any type of
ethics committee on the City Council. They felt that they
could not judge another member of the body. And I said,
the residents are looking for accountability, transparency, and positive leadership,
(19:35):
and they expect us to make these hard decisions. And
when we feel to address difficult decisions, we instantly, in
my opinion, instantly lose credibility in the trust of Boston residents.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
All right, let's get right to the calls let me
go to Kevin joins us from Cambridge. But that's the
city with the city council as well. Kevin, you were
in next night side and we're joined by Boston City
councilor Ed Flynn. Go right ahead, Kevin.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
I was just thinking that, you know, this court decision
could easily have been fixed by statute, as our legislature
had any interest in these kinds of Yes, yes, I
think that they probably, as coders would say, they see
this as a feature of the system and not a bug,
(20:27):
right that they all expect. Maybe it'll bit of set
them someday.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yeah, Well, that's it's like whenever you talk about again,
with all due respects to a Council of Flynn, whenever
whenever you talk about they'll say, well, the people in
Washington should vote in term limits. People in Washington are
not going to voted term limits. I mean absolutely not,
absolutely not. Do you have a question or a comment?
(20:56):
You know Ed Flynn is taking this straight on, and
I'm not surprised. I know him pretty well, and I
am sure.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
I appreciate that he's doing that. I just am in,
you know, kind of pessimistic that he is in such
a minority in doing it well.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
That has to be addressed, I guess by the voters
here in Boston.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
And the voters have have proven in the past that
they don't particularly cared about it either. I mean, I
arrived in Massachusetts during the Vinnie Piro scandals, and uh,
as a historian, I'm also aware that you know, we
elected Curly governor while he was in jails.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Uh. You know, I don't know if he was elected.
I think he ran for the office while he was
in jail. I think he was elected after he escaped
from jail or or got out of jail. I should say,
serve this time, and you you're probably a better student
of that. I don't think Curley was elected in jail,
was he? Or Am I wrong on that it was?
Speaker 6 (22:00):
It was for mayor also, but I do think it
was after after he was after he was convicted, and
I believe after he finished his sentence. I think that's.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Paid his debt to society, and then he was.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
I just remember seeing a cartoon from the period of
him campaigning through the bars.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, those those are good places the campaign back in
the day. Kevin, love your call, Thank you man, appreciate
it more often, thank you can I Kevin, we go
next to Doug is in North Carolina. Doug, I don't
know if you have city councils in North Carolina, but
we have one up here. Say I had a councilor
(22:50):
Ed Flanney's he's one of the good guys with the council.
Go right ahead, Doug.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Well, he's definitely in the minority. Good evening, Dan, And
I can't believe what I'm here, and this is a disgrace.
Doesn't shock me.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
Years ago I covered a lot of politicians. They were
very good to me. I won a lot of awards
covering their corruption. Uh in uh in broadcast journalism. But
you know, your local politicians should be embarrassed and ashamed
of themselves up there. I mean, this is why the
public hates politics and politicians. This is a textbook case.
(23:28):
And look how long it took to get that clown,
George Santos out of out of developers, out of Congress
from my former Long Island Congressional district.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And that's an apt description of George Santos, by the way.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Yeah, does the term dirt bag describe it more accurately?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (23:52):
You know, you know at sentencing mister Flynn. The uh,
the judge asked him, were your remorse?
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Well is her remorse?
Speaker 7 (24:02):
And you know they blame everybody. And I'll just close
with this tonight. As a cup reporter, I was taught
years ago every politician is guilty until proven innocent, with
the exception of Ed Flynn.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Well, but no, I think thank you for the call.
I think residents have to start holding elected officials accountable.
And you know we have elections. That's where you hold
elected officials accountable. Again, this non binding resolution, if it's
(24:40):
important to the residents of Boston, you will find out
where you are elected official voted, how they voted, why
they voted a certain way. And I think those types
of questions are fear game in terms of who you
decide will will elect you. But I do think there's
a responsibility, and as an elected official, I don't want
(25:00):
I'm not blaming anybody, but I do think the residents
have to get more involved, more concerned, more engaged, more
and mobilized and ensure that the city Council addresses this
issue appropriately and we don't sweep it under the rug
that there should be some ethics reform. That's obvious, but
(25:23):
my colleagues are fighting me tooth and nail on ethics reform,
saying that we don't need it. But those those are
important questions that we should be asking our elected officials
in the city. Why why are you against elect ethics
reform in the City of Boston.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Right that question hanging in the air. Doug is always
great to you boys. Thank you so much.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Thanks Dan, Thank you, Doug. Great cal talk.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
So all coming back. We have one open line here,
but we would get Rachel's next week. Get Rachel and
Paul in Boston. Rachel's quincy one line six one seven,
two four ten thirty. One line at six one seven
well two lines at six one seven, nine three, one
ten thirty. Coming right back on Night's side with Boston
City Councilor Ed Flynn talking about the dilemma of the
(26:12):
city council now finds themselves in that they not only
have indicted, but a convicted federal felon, Tanya Fernandez Anderson,
who was refusing to resign her office, continuing to receive
her paycheck or her I believe the position pays one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year. That's that's a
(26:34):
tidy sum. A lot of people would like to make
that sort of money. She's going to continue to make
it until she's finally sentenced. I don't think she's going
to resign. Maybe she'll try to, well, she's going to
have to resign, But this is I think it's it's
it's really improper. There's just no other way to describe it.
(26:54):
At some point, she should have taken responsibility. Uh, and
not only if she's gonna plead guilty, accept the consequence
of the actions, one of which, in my opinion, should
have involved resignation. Back on Night Side with Boston City
Councilor ed Flynn, coming back right after this.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
We're talking with Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn about whether
or not Tanya Fernandez Anderson, indicted Boston City Council who
has now pled guilty, whether or not she should resign.
And I believe that Ed Flynn will be filing a
resolution tomorrow, non binding resolution, but the city Council won't
(27:41):
even be willing to take this onto consideration. Rachel is
in Quincy. Rachel, you are next on nightside with Ed Flynn,
Boston City councilor go ahead, Rachel.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
Hi, guys, so I'm just gonna hand me out.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
So to me, she's guilty.
Speaker 9 (27:57):
She lost the right to resign.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
She should be fired.
Speaker 9 (28:03):
There should be no decision on her part to stay
until whenever.
Speaker 8 (28:09):
She says she was not thinking about her constituents when
she was taking money from them.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Well, she wasn't taking money from them, per se. She was.
She was taking money from someone who she had hired,
one of her one of her employees, actually who she
was taking money from, which is arguably even worse. I
mean it was from yeah, well you know the money
come from she Well, the money came from her. The
(28:41):
money did come from her constituents. But I'm saying it
was it was. It was a pretty bold move on
her part to do that, and I suspect that that's
how that's how she found herself in trouble.
Speaker 8 (28:53):
And I asked one thing, is there anything positive she
did for anybody?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Well, I that there would be some people in her district,
and I'm sure she would be able to say that
she she represented her district fervently, But I don't know
that she would be the best judge of that, Rachel.
It's it's it's an abomination in terms of not only
(29:19):
are you indicted, but then you plead guilty and you
still say I'm going to stay here because I can
stay here.
Speaker 9 (29:27):
Right what we're we're what makes their a political like
law that says she can't stay? This is what I
understand you stole.
Speaker 8 (29:37):
So where's the line that says no, there was.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Well, there was there was a there was a state
Supreme Court decision back about fifteen years ago which concluded
that politicians who have been indicted and who have either
been found guilty or played guilty, that they are not
obligated to resign until they are sentenced.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
And if I characterize that correct, that's correct, Dan So
counselor Fernandez Anderson was convicted in federal court, and now
she is able to stay on as a city councilor
until the sentencing phase is completed, and that that may
be another thirty days of forty.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
Days or so.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
But I think I think it's see I'm sorry.
Speaker 9 (30:26):
Oh no, I'm sorry. So what I was just going
to ask too, is like, okay, so she's going to
beget a salary.
Speaker 8 (30:32):
Can you garnish it.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
No that no, No, that's great a thinking. Let Ed
finish his comment there, Rachel go no, I'm sorry, I'm
sorry you were completing your thought.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Yeah, thank you. It was a good call. So she's
she's able to stay in her position until the sentencing
phase is completed. But I do think there's a response
stability for the Boston City Council to weigh in on
this issue and let the residents know exactly what they believe.
(31:11):
And maybe that recommendation the City Council publicly announces. Maybe
that doesn't have any weight, but it certainly will show
the public if we if we take it seriously that
we want ethics reform, we want this city Council to
(31:33):
function more effectively, inefficiently in ethics must be a priority,
transparency and positive leadership. But ignoring it sends a message
that maybe it's not that big of a problem, Maybe
it's not that big of a criminal offense. Maybe it's
not maybe it's unimportant. That's what It's a mixed message
(31:58):
when you when you when you do not weigh in
on a particular issue and you ignore it. But ignoring
a problem doesn't make it go away.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Rachel I appreciate you call. I got two more. I
want to try to sneak in here. I feel your frustration.
Thanks Rachel, Hey, good night.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
Let me go to thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Paul in Boston. Paul Gord ahead. You're next on nice
side with Ed Flynn.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Yes, I'll be quick, mister Flynn. The resolution you're filing
tomorrow is non binding? Correct?
Speaker 6 (32:26):
And that's correct.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Do you have an option or did you file a
binding resolution? How come it's non binding versus binding?
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Legally we don't have the ability to do a binding
resolution like that.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Okay, very good.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
My second bless you get people in the record, Paul.
He wants to get you know, your city councilor and
the county councilors on the record.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Okay, what about the Globe's request recently on the ten
thousand dollars that they may have spent to go down
to Washington on ash Wednesday before that committee. She spent
ten thousand dollars on that one day, and I believe
the Globe wanted the breakdown of the expenses. Do you
know if that's been looked into yet?
Speaker 6 (33:12):
To the best of my knowledge, we haven't received any
information on the city council about that issue. We haven't
been informed about it.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
No, what about the six hundred and fifty for the
New York law firm of khal Rendell and Gordon that
she spent to prepare for the hearing, six hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. There was no approval from the council
for that money. She just took it upon herself to
pay that legal bill without any committee approval. That's correct.
Speaker 6 (33:44):
The maya can unilaterally make that decision without any input
from the City Council, But the city council allows itself
to be in that situation. In the city Council, in
my opinion, is not interested in asking difficult questions to
(34:04):
the administration. Because of that, the administration can can spend
money without any scrutiny. And the job of the City Council,
in my opinion, is to be a checks and balance
on the executive branch on the mayor, and we don't
do a good job of doing that.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Appreciate Paul, I gotta go, Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Mario Wilmington, merriw you've called late. I give you about
thirty seconds or you want to make a quick comment,
go right.
Speaker 10 (34:37):
Ahead, sure, I'm hoping that you know, with her arrogance,
that she won't step down. You show you're not really sorry.
I'm hoping that there is a judge that she could
end up being in front of who's not going to
agree what's going down. The fopal prosecutor is are asking
for one year. She could get that, and that'd be
really nice if she did. It'd be a great example.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
All right, that's an exclamation point. I wish you called
early to give you more time, Mario, call earlier. Thank
you much. Ed Flinn, thank you very much again, no harm,
no foul. Your constituents were the most important folks that
you were with tonight, and I certainly understand, and we'll
have you back. Thank you as always.
Speaker 7 (35:20):
Okay, Dan, thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (35:23):
It's great to be with you and your listeners.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Right back at you. All right, we are done for
this hour. Here comes the ten o'clock News. When we
get back on and talk about an airplane, an airplane
that might be gifted to the United States of America
by the government of Qatar, we'll explain coming back after
the ten
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZY, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All Right, welcome back everyone, as we head into the
nine o'clock hour. There's a lot going on in Boston
City Hall these days, and we have not talked about
this in a little while, and we really haven't focused
on it. But one member. There are thirteen members of
the city Council. There are you know, nine district members
(00:28):
and four at large members, and there are nine members.
One of them, as I think most of you know,
was recently indicted, Tanya Fernandez Anderson. She was indicted for
taking about seven thousand dollars in cash in a city
hall bathroom. She's not the first city councilor to be
(00:49):
indicted in recent years, but she's the latest. And as
a consequence, she has pled guilty. Went into federal court
and pled guilty to the charges, avoiding a trial, and
the judge at that time indicated that she could be
(01:12):
given as much as a year and a day and
within the guidelines. I have not looked at the guidelines.
Theoretically the judge has some flexibility. But she has not
been sentenced. She's due to be sentenced sometime. I believe
it's next month, and then theoretically she might actually end
(01:32):
up doing some time in prison. But she right now
is an indicted and even worse than that, a convicted
Boston City councilor. Now, when someone is indicted, certainly they
enjoy the presumption of innocence, because the government has the
responsibility of proving beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements
(01:54):
of the crime. But when someone pleads guilty, whether they
plead guilty because they truly are repentant for what they've
been charged with, or what they now recognized they did
that they shouldn't have done, or whether they plead guilty
because they feel that they can, by pleading guilty and
show some level of cooperation, perhaps receive a lighter sentence
(02:16):
than they would if they go all the way to trial.
It doesn't matter. Once you plead guilty, you'll plead guilty.
And Tanya Anderson Fernandez Anderson, excuse me, still is serving
as a city councilor in Boston. There was a state
(02:40):
election law which said that in the case of a vacancy,
the seat would have to be vacated. I believe it
was by May eighth, in order for a special election
to fill the seat after May eighth, which, of course
we're now well past May eighth, or five days after
(03:02):
May eighth, if that's the date in question, now that
she chooses to when she chooses to resign, assuming that
she does, because I believe that once she is convicted
she has to resign, or once she is sentenced to
accuse me she has been she's she is convicted by
having played guilty, she then will will be forced to resign,
(03:27):
and that seat for her district will remain vacant until
there's an election in November. The idea is that why
do you spend the the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions
of dollars to run a special election if the time
that that election would fill would only be a few
(03:49):
weeks or a few months. But either way, because of
her decision to remain a city councilor pasted the date
of May eighth, and, by the way, pass the date
by which she had pled guilty, she now guarantees that
her constituents will have no representation on no district representation
(04:15):
on the city council. Now it may not mean anything
to you because you don't live in that district, but
I think it's unfair. So what are the benefits of
her not resigning. Well, one of the benefits that she
didn't resign was that she's able to continue to collect
her salary. City councils in Bosson make one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars a year. Now, that's not as much
(04:36):
as the governor, not as much as the United States senator,
but it's not a bad it's not a bad income,
not a bad salary for what they do. So not
only did Tanya Fernandez Anderson betray her oath of office
and betray her duty of loyalty to her constituents, but
(04:59):
she now is flaunting that and remaining on the payroll
of the City of Boston, not only after she was indicted,
but after she fled guilty. Now, technically, there was a
sub state Supreme Court ruling that said, as someone who
is indicted and convicted is not obligated to resign. The
(05:24):
only time that she would be obligated to resign is
once she is sentenced. Sort of an interesting ruling in
my opinion, But that's the law. So she's she is
truly she's following the law, which is her right, and
as a consequence of following the law, she's also being
(05:47):
able to benefit financially, which of course, ironically was what
she was indicted and pled guilty to, which was a
financial benefit. So we hope to have Boston City councilor
Ed Flynn join us. But whether he joins us or not,
I would like to ask all of you, whether your
(06:09):
residence of Boston or not, do you think, first of all,
the State Supreme Court can be wrong. I think that
they are wrong on this. I certainly don't think that
someone should have to resign when they are merely indicted,
because they do enjoy the presumption of innocence. But once
you plead guilty, I think that's it, and I believe
(06:33):
that there are many judges who would not accept the guilty. Please. Now,
she was in federal court, so the judge did not
require as an element of her pleading guilty that she
had to simultaneously or previously have resigned. I think that
once you plead guilty, it should be incumbent upon you
(06:56):
to resign. I'd love to know what you think. Six
four ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty.
Coming right back on nightside, you don't have to be
a Boston resident to address that issue, because I think
it just goes to show you that if you plead
guilty and you happen to work in the private sector,
(07:18):
I would bet you that the day that you plead guilty,
your business or your company is going to ask you
to resign. But if, but if you're a politician, and
in this case, a Boston City councilor even though you've
played guilty for a federal crime, you can continue to
(07:38):
receive your paycheck at least until you're sentenced. And who
knows what she will do after she's sentenced. She may say, well,
I don't have to go away for a couple of months.
I hope the judge takes that in consideration. We'll take
a break. Coming right back on Nightside, Boston residents especially,
but wherever you are. This apparently is a statute that
(08:00):
a case law, a Supreme Court decision which gives a
little benefit to politicians in Massachusetts that frankly, I don't
think they deserve. I'd love to know what you think.
Six one seven, four ten thirty six one seven, nine
three ten thirty Coming right back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
It's night Side with Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
So at its core, the question is if you ended
up being convicted in federal court or being convicted in
superior court in Massachusetts, or pleading guilty, you'd have to
get you'd have to leave your job in my opinion.
But if you're a politician, you don't have to do that.
(08:42):
You don't have to do that. Rob, Can you just
play a that's that was? That's Ed Flynn calling, so
hopefully he knows what number to call. Let me go
to Joe in Dorchester. Joe, you are next up on Nightside, Rob.
You may want to reach out to him on the
cell phone. Please. Hey, you're welcome next on Nightside, first
up this hour and nightside. Thanks for checking in.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Boy, I really hit the jackpot, didn't I?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I guess you did. Yes, you did. We're missing Ed Flynn,
but we got you. So you go right Aheady you're
a Boston resident. What do you think about you know,
I mean Tiany. You know Fernandes Anderson. She she was
a very interesting political figure, polarizing political figure and for
(09:28):
her too, he's.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
A colorful, uh melting pot for politics.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Always ask been.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ordinary. So what you know? Who like you? I think
it's an upfront that if she's even finally admitted and
it's like, okay, I did a bad thing. Oh yeah,
So the Benjamins, the collar, perhaps the collar that you're
(09:57):
going to have after me, has some hints. The question,
my mind is not am I offended? The question is
what the hell.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Is the end game?
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You know, what's the benefit to not going away?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Now?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I just don't quite.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Get that, Well, she will she will go away. I mean,
in some form of fashion. I assume that after these stunts,
the judge is not going to turn around and say, well,
we'll give you a home cofiem I for two weeks
and then you're all set. I would assume she's going
to actually go away. But yeah, but I don't think
that she's made her circumstances any easier. She comes across
(10:33):
as someone who's really quite defiant of the system by
not saying, Okay, I messed up, I'm going to fess up.
I'm going to go away. I'm going to do whatever
I need to do. I'm gonna pay my debt and
maybe I'll come back and and I will, you know,
run for office again. Other politicians have done that, But
this seems to me to be just an in your face.
(10:54):
I'm going to stay here. I'm going to collect every last,
every last penny I can, every last paycheck can as
for as long as I can.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Well in the other thing that sticks in my mind,
and again, your caller who's going to be on shortly
can probably flash this out. But my understanding was that
the city council itself had some discussions about whether she
should go, when could they have the election and that
sort of thing, including some of the current councilors at
(11:28):
large who felt that they should weigh in, you know,
it's an important issue, and my understanding was that her
response towards them was, you don't know anything about my district.
My district is unique. You should stay in your lane
and keep your hands off my constituency. You don't really
represent them. And I just thought that took incredible hoodspot.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah. And of course, as a result of her decisions
and her agreed to milk every last paycheck, she now
is going to leave her constituents without representation for some
period of time once once she does resign, because they
won't be there won't be a special election to fill
her seat on an interim basis, And.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I guess no provision for appointing an interim person or.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Nope, nope. The the state law says that I guess
if the seat does not become vacant before a certain date,
and I believe the date is May eighth, uh, that
it is it's unwise or unnecessary to to to go
ahead and uh and and hold an election because it's
(12:38):
going to take a few weeks step of primary and
then have a final election, and at that point they
probably would be into the fall. So somebody, you know,
she she basically has has taken the only person that
she's taken the consideration as herself. Simple as that, Joe.
I appreciate your calling and getting going here.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's very interesting, Dan. I'll be waiting to see what
develop Stay with.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Us, Stay with us, okay, Thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
John, all right, I'll be here with the radio on.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Thank you, my friend. Appreciate it very much. We're going
to get to Kevin and Rachel in a moment. But
let me bring Council Flynn up. Council of Flynn, welcome.
How are you a little late? So you're going to
get a tardy slip, but I hope everything's okay. We
were concerned for.
Speaker 6 (13:20):
You, Dan, It's good to be with you. But first
I want to apologize for running late. I was at
a City Point Enabled Association meeting tonight. I've thought a
get out by nine o'clock and I apologize. The meetings
just cut out now. So I apologize to you and
to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Dean, no problem. We only have a couple of minutes
until the bottom of the hour, and I also have
callers I want to get to, but very quickly. What's
going to happen tomorrow in the City Council. I understand
that you and Counselor Murphy are going to file a
resolution which is probably going to be met with a
lot of resistance by most of the other counselors. I
(13:57):
don't understand why these other counselors with roll in with
Tanya Fernandez Anderson and not at least allow this resolution
to be debated and have a vote.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
Yes, that's that's correct. In myself and the City councilor
Aaron Murphy have a resolution which, as we all know,
it's non binding, but it's a statement of what we
believe in and we are asking city council colleagues to
address the ongoing ethical issues the conviction of the City
(14:32):
councilor Tanya Fernandez Anderson in to recommend as a body
that she resigned, and I think that's in the best
interest of the city in her constituents. What happens tomorrow,
it's unsure, but there is a plan for my city
council colleagues to block this, to block the resolution so
(14:55):
that they don't have to go on record in support
or against it. They don't want to take any position
at all. They just want the issue to go away.
And that's not leadership. You don't get to pick and
choose which issues you you want to vote on. You
vote on issues in front of you. And my colleagues
don't want to do that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
So we would call that as profiles in cowardice, not
profiles high courage.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
I would, I would agree with that, and I you know,
and it's it taught for me to criticize colleagues. I
don't like to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
But that's why that's why I would I use the words.
I mean, we talk about every year the Kennedy Library
presents profiles and courage, right right, This is a profile
in no courage, which means the opposite of courage is cowardice.
So let's do this, Accounselor, I got to take a
quick news break here at the bottom of the hour.
(15:53):
We're going to get to other callers, and I'd like
you to stay with us for the balance of the
hour and see if other folks want to talk to you,
and maybe uh encourage you and and Council of Murphy
to go ahead with the efforts that you are going to.
I'm sure a file tomorrow, despite the fact that the
majority of the city Council is going to not be
(16:16):
willing to even consider the matter. I mean, it is moot.
She this this seat will not be filled. I want
to get into all of that. I want to make
sure that I have laid out the logistics properly in
your absence. You know this issue is better than anyone
and certainly better than me. And we get back, we'll
go over it, make sure we understand it. And we
got Kevin and Rachel coming up as callers, and if
(16:37):
anyone else wants to join the conversation. If you're a
Boston resident, I particularly want to hear from you. Six
one seven, two, five, four ten thirty or six one seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty back with Boston City councilor Ed Flynn.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Right after this, It's Night's Side with Dan Ray on
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
We're back on Nightside with Boston City Council Flynn. Ed,
Let's let's incorporate some callers into our conversation. You know
that tomorrow the majority of the City Council will probably
throw in their lot with Tanya Fernandez Anderson uh and
and will prevent not only a debate and a vote,
(17:22):
but really any serious discussion about this situation. I have
mentioned that she's not obligated to resign under a State
Supreme Court decision that I believe involved another city councilor
back about fifteen years ago, because he was not obligated
(17:44):
to resign until he was sentenced.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Correct, That's correct, Dan, Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
So as a consequence legally, legally, she gets this extra
period of time because of a decision by the State
Supreme Court. But all it means is that there will
come a point in time where she will have to resign,
she will get extra money that arguably she never should
(18:11):
have gotten once she played guilty, and her constituents will
be without representation for several months. Pretty much. That's the
bottom line.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
I think that's accurate, Dan, and as I. As I
mentioned before, you know, it's a non binding resolution, but
it's important it shows residents that we take these issues
seriously and we will address unethical behavior, illegal behavior, and
(18:46):
that we're just not going to remain silent when there's
a major arrest and conviction of a colleague.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
And by the way, it was just a few it
was just a few weeks ago. I believe that you
and Counselor Murphy also proposed some sort of the beginning
of a conversation to have some sort of ethics reform
at the City Council, and that was shot down, too, correct.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
That's correct. My colleagues voted that down. They felt like
they did not need ethics oversight or any type of
ethics committee on the City Council. They felt that they
could not judge another member of the body. And I said,
the residents are looking for accountability, transparency, and positive leadership,
(19:35):
and they expect us to make these hard decisions. And
when we feel to address difficult decisions, we instantly, in
my opinion, instantly lose credibility in the trust of Boston residents.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
All right, let's get right to the calls let me
go to Kevin joins us from Cambridge. But that's the
city with the city council as well. Kevin, you were
in next night side and we're joined by Boston City
councilor Ed Flynn. Go right ahead, Kevin.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
I was just thinking that, you know, this court decision
could easily have been fixed by statute, as our legislature
had any interest in these kinds of Yes, yes, I
think that they probably, as coders would say, they see
this as a feature of the system and not a bug,
(20:27):
right that they all expect. Maybe it'll bit of set
them someday.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yeah, Well, that's it's like whenever you talk about again,
with all due respects to a Council of Flynn, whenever
whenever you talk about they'll say, well, the people in
Washington should vote in term limits. People in Washington are
not going to voted term limits. I mean absolutely not,
absolutely not. Do you have a question or a comment?
(20:56):
You know Ed Flynn is taking this straight on, and
I'm not surprised. I know him pretty well, and I
am sure.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
I appreciate that he's doing that. I just am in,
you know, kind of pessimistic that he is in such
a minority in doing it well.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
That has to be addressed, I guess by the voters
here in Boston.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
And the voters have have proven in the past that
they don't particularly cared about it either. I mean, I
arrived in Massachusetts during the Vinnie Piro scandals, and uh,
as a historian, I'm also aware that you know, we
elected Curly governor while he was in jails.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Uh. You know, I don't know if he was elected.
I think he ran for the office while he was
in jail. I think he was elected after he escaped
from jail or or got out of jail. I should say,
serve this time, and you you're probably a better student
of that. I don't think Curley was elected in jail,
was he? Or Am I wrong on that it was?
Speaker 6 (22:00):
It was for mayor also, but I do think it
was after after he was after he was convicted, and
I believe after he finished his sentence. I think that's.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Paid his debt to society, and then he was.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
I just remember seeing a cartoon from the period of
him campaigning through the bars.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, those those are good places the campaign back in
the day. Kevin, love your call, Thank you man, appreciate
it more often, thank you can I Kevin, we go
next to Doug is in North Carolina. Doug, I don't
know if you have city councils in North Carolina, but
we have one up here. Say I had a councilor
(22:50):
Ed Flanney's he's one of the good guys with the council.
Go right ahead, Doug.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Well, he's definitely in the minority. Good evening, Dan, And
I can't believe what I'm here, and this is a disgrace.
Doesn't shock me.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
Years ago I covered a lot of politicians. They were
very good to me. I won a lot of awards
covering their corruption. Uh in uh in broadcast journalism. But
you know, your local politicians should be embarrassed and ashamed
of themselves up there. I mean, this is why the
public hates politics and politicians. This is a textbook case.
(23:28):
And look how long it took to get that clown,
George Santos out of out of developers, out of Congress
from my former Long Island Congressional district.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And that's an apt description of George Santos, by the way.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Yeah, does the term dirt bag describe it more accurately?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (23:52):
You know, you know at sentencing mister Flynn. The uh,
the judge asked him, were your remorse?
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Well is her remorse?
Speaker 7 (24:02):
And you know they blame everybody. And I'll just close
with this tonight. As a cup reporter, I was taught
years ago every politician is guilty until proven innocent, with
the exception of Ed Flynn.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Well, but no, I think thank you for the call.
I think residents have to start holding elected officials accountable.
And you know we have elections. That's where you hold
elected officials accountable. Again, this non binding resolution, if it's
(24:40):
important to the residents of Boston, you will find out
where you are elected official voted, how they voted, why
they voted a certain way. And I think those types
of questions are fear game in terms of who you
decide will will elect you. But I do think there's
a responsibility, and as an elected official, I don't want
(25:00):
I'm not blaming anybody, but I do think the residents
have to get more involved, more concerned, more engaged, more
and mobilized and ensure that the city Council addresses this
issue appropriately and we don't sweep it under the rug
that there should be some ethics reform. That's obvious, but
(25:23):
my colleagues are fighting me tooth and nail on ethics reform,
saying that we don't need it. But those those are
important questions that we should be asking our elected officials
in the city. Why why are you against elect ethics
reform in the City of Boston.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Right that question hanging in the air. Doug is always
great to you boys. Thank you so much.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Thanks Dan, Thank you, Doug. Great cal talk.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
So all coming back. We have one open line here,
but we would get Rachel's next week. Get Rachel and
Paul in Boston. Rachel's quincy one line six one seven,
two four ten thirty. One line at six one seven
well two lines at six one seven, nine three, one
ten thirty. Coming right back on Night's side with Boston
City Councilor Ed Flynn talking about the dilemma of the
(26:12):
city council now finds themselves in that they not only
have indicted, but a convicted federal felon, Tanya Fernandez Anderson,
who was refusing to resign her office, continuing to receive
her paycheck or her I believe the position pays one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year. That's that's a
(26:34):
tidy sum. A lot of people would like to make
that sort of money. She's going to continue to make
it until she's finally sentenced. I don't think she's going
to resign. Maybe she'll try to, well, she's going to
have to resign, But this is I think it's it's
it's really improper. There's just no other way to describe it.
(26:54):
At some point, she should have taken responsibility. Uh, and
not only if she's gonna plead guilty, accept the consequence
of the actions, one of which, in my opinion, should
have involved resignation. Back on Night Side with Boston City
Councilor ed Flynn, coming back right after this.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
We're talking with Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn about whether
or not Tanya Fernandez Anderson, indicted Boston City Council who
has now pled guilty, whether or not she should resign.
And I believe that Ed Flynn will be filing a
resolution tomorrow, non binding resolution, but the city Council won't
(27:41):
even be willing to take this onto consideration. Rachel is
in Quincy. Rachel, you are next on nightside with Ed Flynn,
Boston City councilor go ahead, Rachel.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
Hi, guys, so I'm just gonna hand me out.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
So to me, she's guilty.
Speaker 9 (27:57):
She lost the right to resign.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
She should be fired.
Speaker 9 (28:03):
There should be no decision on her part to stay
until whenever.
Speaker 8 (28:09):
She says she was not thinking about her constituents when
she was taking money from them.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Well, she wasn't taking money from them, per se. She was.
She was taking money from someone who she had hired,
one of her one of her employees, actually who she
was taking money from, which is arguably even worse. I
mean it was from yeah, well you know the money
come from she Well, the money came from her. The
(28:41):
money did come from her constituents. But I'm saying it
was it was. It was a pretty bold move on
her part to do that, and I suspect that that's
how that's how she found herself in trouble.
Speaker 8 (28:53):
And I asked one thing, is there anything positive she
did for anybody?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Well, I that there would be some people in her district,
and I'm sure she would be able to say that
she she represented her district fervently, But I don't know
that she would be the best judge of that, Rachel.
It's it's it's an abomination in terms of not only
(29:19):
are you indicted, but then you plead guilty and you
still say I'm going to stay here because I can
stay here.
Speaker 9 (29:27):
Right what we're we're what makes their a political like
law that says she can't stay? This is what I
understand you stole.
Speaker 8 (29:37):
So where's the line that says no, there was.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Well, there was there was a there was a state
Supreme Court decision back about fifteen years ago which concluded
that politicians who have been indicted and who have either
been found guilty or played guilty, that they are not
obligated to resign until they are sentenced.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
And if I characterize that correct, that's correct, Dan So
counselor Fernandez Anderson was convicted in federal court, and now
she is able to stay on as a city councilor
until the sentencing phase is completed, and that that may
be another thirty days of forty.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
Days or so.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
But I think I think it's see I'm sorry.
Speaker 9 (30:26):
Oh no, I'm sorry. So what I was just going
to ask too, is like, okay, so she's going to
beget a salary.
Speaker 8 (30:32):
Can you garnish it.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
No that no, No, that's great a thinking. Let Ed
finish his comment there, Rachel go no, I'm sorry, I'm
sorry you were completing your thought.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Yeah, thank you. It was a good call. So she's
she's able to stay in her position until the sentencing
phase is completed. But I do think there's a response
stability for the Boston City Council to weigh in on
this issue and let the residents know exactly what they believe.
(31:11):
And maybe that recommendation the City Council publicly announces. Maybe
that doesn't have any weight, but it certainly will show
the public if we if we take it seriously that
we want ethics reform, we want this city Council to
(31:33):
function more effectively, inefficiently in ethics must be a priority,
transparency and positive leadership. But ignoring it sends a message
that maybe it's not that big of a problem, Maybe
it's not that big of a criminal offense. Maybe it's
not maybe it's unimportant. That's what It's a mixed message
(31:58):
when you when you when you do not weigh in
on a particular issue and you ignore it. But ignoring
a problem doesn't make it go away.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Rachel I appreciate you call. I got two more. I
want to try to sneak in here. I feel your frustration.
Thanks Rachel, Hey, good night.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
Let me go to thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Paul in Boston. Paul Gord ahead. You're next on nice
side with Ed Flynn.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Yes, I'll be quick, mister Flynn. The resolution you're filing
tomorrow is non binding? Correct?
Speaker 6 (32:26):
And that's correct.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Do you have an option or did you file a
binding resolution? How come it's non binding versus binding?
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Legally we don't have the ability to do a binding
resolution like that.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Okay, very good.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
My second bless you get people in the record, Paul.
He wants to get you know, your city councilor and
the county councilors on the record.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Okay, what about the Globe's request recently on the ten
thousand dollars that they may have spent to go down
to Washington on ash Wednesday before that committee. She spent
ten thousand dollars on that one day, and I believe
the Globe wanted the breakdown of the expenses. Do you
know if that's been looked into yet?
Speaker 6 (33:12):
To the best of my knowledge, we haven't received any
information on the city council about that issue. We haven't
been informed about it.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
No, what about the six hundred and fifty for the
New York law firm of khal Rendell and Gordon that
she spent to prepare for the hearing, six hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. There was no approval from the council
for that money. She just took it upon herself to
pay that legal bill without any committee approval. That's correct.
Speaker 6 (33:44):
The maya can unilaterally make that decision without any input
from the City Council, But the city council allows itself
to be in that situation. In the city Council, in
my opinion, is not interested in asking difficult questions to
(34:04):
the administration. Because of that, the administration can can spend
money without any scrutiny. And the job of the City Council,
in my opinion, is to be a checks and balance
on the executive branch on the mayor, and we don't
do a good job of doing that.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Appreciate Paul, I gotta go, Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Mario Wilmington, merriw you've called late. I give you about
thirty seconds or you want to make a quick comment,
go right.
Speaker 10 (34:37):
Ahead, sure, I'm hoping that you know, with her arrogance,
that she won't step down. You show you're not really sorry.
I'm hoping that there is a judge that she could
end up being in front of who's not going to
agree what's going down. The fopal prosecutor is are asking
for one year. She could get that, and that'd be
really nice if she did. It'd be a great example.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
All right, that's an exclamation point. I wish you called
early to give you more time, Mario, call earlier. Thank
you much. Ed Flinn, thank you very much again, no harm,
no foul. Your constituents were the most important folks that
you were with tonight, and I certainly understand, and we'll
have you back. Thank you as always.
Speaker 7 (35:20):
Okay, Dan, thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (35:23):
It's great to be with you and your listeners.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Right back at you. All right, we are done for
this hour. Here comes the ten o'clock News. When we
get back on and talk about an airplane, an airplane
that might be gifted to the United States of America
by the government of Qatar, we'll explain coming back after
the ten
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