The Fort Pointer

MFA Boston Layoffs Thrust the Museum into a Credibility Crisis As names and positions of eliminated staff at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston begin to roll in, here’s what we know so far.

Concerning take, a must-read: MFA Boston layoffs thrust the museum into a credibility crisis with staff and public… www.bostonartreview.com/read/mfa-bos...

They get mad over on twitter about following federal law, in this case 8 U.S.C. § 1158

Gentle reminder that Mayor Wu addressed the hostile Congressional committee in March 2025.

The taking of Rümeysa Öztürk by masked agents occurred in March 2025.

The build-up to the now-expected militarization of Boston by ICE has been threatened by Tom Homan et al. for over a year.

#1 MOST READ piece on Comm. Beacon is “What Mass. can and can’t do about ICE.”

Last week, I asked Senator Collins why he had no record of statements or legislation regarding ICE.

He lit into me, citing his support for Sen. Edwards’ bill in January 2026.

commonwealthbeacon.org/explainers/w...

Councilor Flynn has responded to me on X.

He disabled replies, but I have responded through a quote tweet.

Also in this interview?

Councilor Flynn is calling for an "investigation" into BPD's involvement and performance in the Karen Read trial. He is surprisingly critical of Commissioner Cox, seemingly supporting allegations made by the #FreeKarenRead movement.

YouTube video by The Young Jurks Boston Police Commissioner Cox under fire, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn on Grace Curley show

Last week, Councilor Flynn quietly withdrew his hostile resolution alleging his Council colleagues violated the Open Meeting Law, w/ no specific incidents cited.

Accountability? None.

Clr. Flynn's latest press tour places blame for "drama" on colleagues.
youtu.be/wWJ7JkccT8o?...

Alex Pretti Unity Ride - Boston #NoICE #PrettiGood #MinnesotaStrong

Opinion | This Is Not a Drill

David French peers into what Trump will do to the 2026 election. We need to be ready. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...

It’s just your insistence that everyone should do nothing to avoid any provocation.

Did you see Zone of Interest?

Does mansplaining get old?

She should go back to the kitchen and never say a word about the fact that the City she was elected to serve is being turned into an increasingly militarized fear zone; gutted of research $$$; grants; SNAP; Medicare; and more.

She should be lk the spineless who have never stood up, and never will.

Never once called out.

How much ink has been spilled trashing those colleagues he calls out? The “fiscally irresponsible.” The Wu “toadies.” The “backroom dealmakers.”

His colleagues, when slammed, don’t counterpunch. I think they should. He and Sen Collins have been thin-skinned bullies.

Add “It was just an Accident” to the list of MUST-SEE films.

Caught it at MFA last night. Sold-out crowd was silent as credits rolled. Available streaming now, it screens at MFA in late February.

I’m not a huge fan of BIDs, although I do think the downtown BID has opened my mind because of their great work.

We have to be careful abt tying revenue collection in a location to public investment in the same location, when some areas of Boston need those $$$ based on a history of disinvestment.

*blocking entire lanes from car/bike/parking use

From my observation this morning, it’s a bit disconcerting that there’s little to no activity where massive piles remain blocking in one street after the next. Again, I do want to be sensitive to the sheer volume of snow, and need by the City to control costs.

Understood, your comments were spot on.

I appreciate this line from @mbolotnikova.bsky.social: “Our built environment is the physical container for our lives, shaping our entire daily existence and our interactions with our families and communities.” The beauty, quality, and materiality of the day-to-day built environment matters.

Haha… I remember a hit from the 80’s

Yes I'm snowblind, snowblind, snowblind

The untold story? Coletta’s.

How Councilor Coletta-Zapata was trashed publicly by Flynn/Murphy for announcing she had the votes (e.g. “the audacity!”). How Flynn/Murphy/Mejia et al. smeared colleagues (suspicious “backroom deals,” “open meeting law!”). How Flynn/Murphy et al. played the race card.

My major issues w/ the press re. the Council presidency:

1) The City charter calls for an internal process. Private jockeying was 100% appropriate, but jockeying was condemned. That was unfair.

2) “Checks and balances” vs. “Loyalists” was simplistic BS.

3) An election is not a coronation.

The routine is simple:

Run to the press to denigrate colleagues based on claims (i.e. lack of fiscal discipline, misbehavior, violations). Then hit the Council with a speech about decorum and working together.

It’s a lethal combo. You’re NEVER called out for instigating drama or unfounded claims.

Cue video manually to 03:53:00 if YouTube’s auto-cuing feature is unavailable on your device.

Insightful thread. 👇🏼

Took a drive thru the City this morning and made some observations.

An unusually high volume has to be considered in terms of our expectations. That said, it was as if contractors had a cap on volume and just left the rest in lanes, parking areas, etc. @wutrain.bsky.social

Good idea. I take no issue with these being purchased if needed. My issue is the failure to discuss cost in every spending proposal.

YouTube video by Boston City Council Boston City Council Meeting on January 28, 2026

In this video (cued) from this week's Council meeting, Councilor Flynn withdraws his resolution alleging colleagues violated the Open Meeting Law.

The Herald published a full cover and full page with Councilor Flynn's allegations — claims that lacked any specific citations. youtu.be/ksL34vZRO_o?...

If I'm being frank w Clr Flynn, he the leading instigator of drama, while routinely denigrating colleagues as the source.

This week, Clr Flynn quietly withdrew his resolution claiming colleagues violated the Open Meeting Law. The resolution was 100% conjecture. Herald ate it up; two full pages.

Below, my FB comment re. Councilor Flynn's request that the City purchase snow melters with no discussion of cost.

I'm frank w/ my Councilor, for one, because he routinely uses the Herald to denigrate colleagues for their lack of fiscal discipline while failing to discuss costs of his own projects.

No objection to consideration of the purchase of high-capacity snow melters, Councilor @edflynnforboston.bsky.social, but spending proposals during a period of fiscal restraint should disclose cost.

NYC paid $200K per snow melter 20 years ago. They list for $600K each.

No indication of cost: