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Wu, other councilors call on Fernandes Anderson to resign

MassLive.com reports Mayor Wu wasted little time this morning calling on District 7 (Roxbury) City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to resign.

Wu said the councilor, arrested early this morning at her home, has a presumption of innocence, but that her constituents also have a right to representation by somebody who doesn't have federal kickback charges hanging over their heads.

City Councilor Sharon Durkan in neighboring District 8 (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Mission Hill, Fenway) also said Fernandes Anderson should quit now.

Public service is a privilege. The people of Boston deserve leaders who act transparently, ethically, and in the best interests of the community. The allegations against Councilor Fernandes Anderson undermine the confidence of residents and tarnish the reputation of our City Council. While Councilor Fernandes Anderson is entitled to a fair legal process, the severity of these charges makes it clear she cannot effectively serve the people of Boston.

Durkan added that any of Fernandes Anderson's constituents in East Fenway should feel comfortable contacting Durkan's office for their "constituent needs.

District 2 (South Boston, South End, Downtown, Chinatown) Councilor Ed Flynn also said Fernandes Anderson should resign, and added:

Today, I will file an order for a hearing to establish an Ethics Committee at the Boston City Council. The allegations against Councilor Fernandes Anderson are very troubling and I believe that she should resign. This unfortunately follows a series of legal and ethical lapses by members at the Boston City Council over the last several years, which have both reflected poorly on the City and distracted us from doing the people’s business. It is critical that elected officials, who have been placed in positions of public trust, work to provide positive and ethical leadership.

The last time a District 7 councilor was arrested on federal charges was in 2008, when Chuck Turner was charged with accepting a $1,000 bribe.

Turner refused to resign even after he was convicted and the council, including then Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who first professed her admiration for him, voted to expel him. Only Councilor Charles Yancey (Dorchester) voted with Turner against expulsion.

The Supreme Judicial Court later ruled that the council should not have held the vote until after Turner was sentenced.

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Comments

In Fernandes Anderson's defense ... there are NO SIGNS posted in the city hall bathrooms that say not to hand over wads of kickback money cash there.

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Why is it every story in the news these days involves bathrooms?

/s

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18

Because she will get re elected in that district after her trial.
Or maybe I'm too cynical?

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52

If what happened to Kendra Lara is any indication, Fernandes Anderson's chances of reelection (if she doesn't resign) are slim.

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17

If what happened to Kendra Lara is any indication

I forgot about her

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Not cynical exactly but racist definitely

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16

Not cynical. Information is not uniformly distributed across the electorate that’s for dang sure.

What’s worse, I imagine, are her rationalizations that she uses as cover for her behavior and crimes if I understand her weltanachauung. Hoping not to see her manipulate her constituency, debase law enforcement, the rule of law, the city and Commonwealth and basic morality by posturing as a martyr.

And, what’s worse still is the shame of any silence from the good people of the Council &c. over the years not calling out this behavior and setting a contrasting example and standard for her constituents. Graft is nothing new, but dang.

She's rested and ready.

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nm

...wouldn't the runner-up in the last election get her vacant seat?

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That only works for at-large councilors. For district councilors, the city would have to hold a special election. Don't know why there's a distinction in the city charter like that.

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One of her first memories was receiving an award from Ray Flynn at age 12, not only will this arrest be a great book-end to her memories but is anyone else concerned that she has no memories before the age of 12? Cuz that just ain't right.

Should there also be an audit of the funds she received for her 17 foster children?

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46

Do as she says. It’s the only way forward.

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Fired the relative involved?

Do you think City Hall has a premade District 7 resignation form ready to go and all that needs to be done is to insert the name of the current accused councilor?

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25

Yes, it's actually available from Procurement as Form #3.

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How can anybody pretend to take public corruption seriously anymore? What are the feds smoking? Did anybody tell them who just got reelected president?

"Thousands of taxpayer dollars"- good heavens!!!

It's all too fucking absurd.

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It's pretty clear you're not going to stop if you compensate for an ethics fine for nepotism with a kickback for more nepotism.

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