Pols & Politics: Wu to chop Boston’s Christmas tree in Canada, Baker’s Council bid not entirely dead

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is visiting Nova Scotia this week to highlight a continuing partnership with the Canadian province that began after an explosion that took place there in in Halifax Harbor killing roughly people Nova Scotia provides the city with its Boston Common Christmas tree each year as a thank-you for sending health aid and relief supplies following the explosion Wu will become the first Boston mayor to attend and participate in the Boston tree-cutting ceremony in the Canadian province the mayor s office reported Wu fresh off her reelection last week will visit Nova Scotia from Sunday to Wednesday with her family The mayor will return to Boston on Wednesday Her trip will include a visit to the Port Innovation Engagement and Research with leadership from the Halifax Port Authority a tour of the Vitality Innovation Hub and a meeting and exchanging of gifts with Halifax Mayor Andy Filmore For well over a century Boston and Nova Scotia have shared a special bond of neighborly care and friendship Wu mentioned in a message I m honored this year to visit our neighbors to the north for the first time and deliver a personal thank you on behalf of the people of Boston for continuing this partnership and connection that transcends boundaries and generations The city s official Christmas tree a -foot-tall white spruce from Lunenburg County Nova Scotia will arrive at Boston Common by flatbed truck at a m Tuesday Frank Baker s City Council bid on ice but may not be dead U S Rep Ayanna Pressley s feasible challenge for Ed Markey s Senate seat could provide a pathway for former Councilor Frank Baker to return to the Boston City Council a possibility that was created by his fifth-place finish in the ballot City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune topped the ticket for a second straight polling last week leading to further political chatter about whether she plans to make a run for Congress should Pressley s House seat open up with a Senate bid Louijeune like Pressley is a popular progressive Democrat and gave a lengthy speech on voting night at a party she co-hosted with Mayor Michelle Wu in the Seaport that more closely resembled a campaign pitch than celebratory remarks The mid-term referendum is next November Louijeune an at-large councilor did not respond to a Herald inquiry on the matter As for Baker the city charter dictates that whenever there s a councilor-at-large vacancy the fifth-place finisher would be elevated to the Council if that defeated candidate is eligible and willing to serve Related Articles Pols Politics Jockeying heats up for Boston City Council president Pols Politics Panic over Senate seat Biden coming to Hub race on for rep Pols and Politics Bracing for the National Guard and indicted sheriff loses his free ride Pols Politics John Nucci s gift of life and an ass-kicking comment Pols Politics High costs of living doing business eroding Massachusetts competitive edge account finds Wu worked for months to get Councilor-at-Large Henry Santana her ally and former employee reelected to the City Council and therefore block a comeback bid from Baker a conservative Wu critic supported by former Mayor Marty Walsh The mayor was unsuccessful however in keeping Baker from finishing lower in the race which would have prevented that immediate pathway to the Council for him should any of the four at-large councilors choose to leave mid-term Along with Louijeune and Santana Wu supported Alexandra Valdez a City Hall employee who finished sixth in last week s referendum Matt Stone Boston HeraldThe Boston Common Christmas Tree for Matt Stone Boston Herald