Boston City Council backs new redistricting map by slender margin

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The Boston City Council narrowly approved a new redistricting plan Wednesday after Councilor Tito Jackson surprised his colleagues by forcing a vote on a proposal that had languished for months.

The 7 to 6 vote sent the measure to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who vetoed a similar proposal earlier this month. A spokeswoman for the mayor said the administration would review the new map but expressed skepticism the mayor would endorse the plan.

“It does not seem to address some of the concerns we heard from the community and that the mayor outlined in his letter vetoing the last map,” said the spokeswoman, Dot Joyce.

The City Council vote came at the end of Wednesday’s meeting, when Jackson mustered enough support to force a vote on the map.

“It was a surprise, but it was also a shrewd move by Councilor Jackson,” said Councilor Matt O’Malley of Jamaica Plain, who proposed the map with Jackson last spring. “We were able to pass what I think is the best map introduced all year.”

Jackson could not immediately be reached for comment. In addition to Jackson and O’Malley, the other votes for the map were Councilors Frank Baker of Dorchester, Ayanna Pressley of Dorchester, John R. Connolly of West Roxbury, Felix G. Arroyo of Jamaica Plain, and Michael P. Ross of Mission Hill.

Opposing votes came from City Council President Stephen Murphy of Hyde Park and Councilors Mark Ciommo of Brighton, Bill Linehan of South Boston, Robert Consalvo of Hyde Park, Salvatore LaMattina of East Boston, and Charles C. Yancey of Dorchester.