Jan 15, 2008 9:05 pm US/Eastern
Menino Vows No Deal Without Drug Tests
Blasts Firefighters Union In State Of City Speech
BOSTON (AP) ―
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Boston Mayor Tom Menino delivers his 2008 State of the City address
WBZ
Union firefighters didn't picket Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's State of the City address but the tension between the sides continues.
The mayor said in his speech Tuesday night he opposed any contract that doesn't include random drug and alcohol testing and accused the union, which has been working without a contract for 18 months, of opposing reforms.
Earlier in the day, the head of the firefighters union accused the city of trying to alter an independent report on the deaths of two firefighters last August to show they were impaired. The city has denied the allegation.
Another special commission investigating the deaths recommended random testing after media reports that autopsies showed that one of the men had a blood-alcohol level three times above the legal limit and the other had traces of cocaine in his system.
Menino also announced plans for a $1 million program to care for the city's children and reduce violent crime, boost test scores and decrease dropout rates.
He said the program will involve the creation of a network of caring adults who will engage children at a series of sites throughout the community.
He said the city will coordinate services provided by schools, neighborhood branch libraries and local community centers, starting with expanded hours and new arts programs at the community centers.
Menino said the $1 million investment will be the "Next Boston Miracle."
He also said the increased number of police patrolling the streets has helped reduce violent crime by nine percent, homicides by 11 percent and shootings by 14 percent last year.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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