Mayor Thomas Menino said on Tuesday that he will push for more of a focus on transportation in Boston Harbor, promising to set aside $1 million annually to support water-based infrastructure such as ferries and water taxis.

“Whether it’s from Charlestown to South Boston or East Boston out to Dorchester, the harbor should provide convenient and reliable transportation,” Menino said in a speech to the Boston Chamber of Commerce.

The money would come from an additional cruise- passenger fee, which would need approval from Massachusetts Port Authority, a quasi-public agency, or the Legislature. Passengers are currently charged $14 each.

A number of locations in Dorchester could stand to benefit from an increased focus on water-based transportation, including the Fallon State Pier at the John F. Kennedy Library. Other stops could include the yacht clubs in Savin Hill and Port Norfolk, the waterfront restaurant Venezia, and ports along the Neponset River.

The Fallon Pier, built with the hope of it becoming a transportation hub, has a dredged access channel and a 3.5-ton crane. “That hasn’t realized its potential yet,” said Chris Sweeney, director of marine operations at UMass Boston, a neighbor of the library. His operation runs lighthouse tours and sailing and kayaking pavilions.

“The peninsula’s growing,” Sweeney said, noting the new luxury apartments that recently went up and the construction of the center focused on the U.S. Senate and named that will be named after the late Ted Kennedy. “It’s becoming populated quite a bit, and with that, you begin to think water transportation is a viable alternative, getting a few cars off the street. We’ve got to get the ball started over here.”

In June, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, expecting a build-out over the next twenty years, approved a master plan and laid out guidelines for an increase in residential housing, commercial space, parks, and new streets.

The city has 163 miles of total shoreline, which is equal, Menino said, to running the Boston Marathon more than six times. Mention of that factoid led the five-term mayor to quip that he could envision running for other things six times, but not the marathon.

Menino’s speech largely focused on East Boston, where the mayor wants to finance a new marine terminal to connect it to other neighborhoods. The neighborhood has nine projects pending, amounting to $582 million in development. Menino said he is directing the Boston Redevelopment Authority to create a waterfront development district.

The mayor also continued to push Suffolk Downs in East Boston as the best location for a casino. Las Vegas gambling mogul Steve Wynn and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke publicly over the weekend about consideration of a casino complex in Foxborough, which proposal, if made, would directly conflict with hopes for Suffolk Downs because they are in the same region where legislation allows for a single casino to be built.

“It’s natural to me. Suffolk Downs has been there for many years,” Menino said after his speech. “There will have to be some improvements made in the infrastructure … but I still believe it’s the perfect location for a casino.”

The call on a location in the greater Boston region– the newly signed law allows for three casinos across the state – will be up to a five-member gaming commission that is being put together.

“The commission will make those choices,” Menino said. “There’s a lot of hoo-hah. You have to put the meat to the bones. I haven’t seen any meat to the bones yet.”

Baker weighs in on redistricting, asks for Polish Triangle precincts
As the City Council weighs redrawing the boundaries of the city’s nine districts, incoming Councillor Frank Baker said he wants District 3, which he will represent, to pick up the Polish Triangle. The area is currently in Councillor Bill Linehan’s District 2, which abuts District 3. Linehan is the chair of the council’s redistricting committee.

Population growth within Boston’s downtown and northern neighborhoods means new lines must be drawn in order for districts to have equal populations. Dorchester’s District 3 needs to pick up residents, while District 2 has to shed some.

In his draft map, Linehan is proposing to give up some of the Polish Triangle – Ward 7, Precinct 9 – to District 3. Linehan won the precinct in the November election by a 40-vote margin.

The neighborhood, named the Polish Triangle because of the waves of Polish immigrants who settled there over a century ago, is inside the boundaries of Dorchester Avenue, Boston Street, and Columbia Road. Baker added that he would settle for one Polish Triangle precinct. He is no stranger to the area, having grown up in St. Margaret’s Parish, which has been renamed for Blessed Mother Teresa. His family also has local business interests in the area.

Baker, who will be sworn in on Jan. 2, attended a Monday morning meeting of the redistricting committee, but did not provide testimony. The meeting was also attended by a number of voting rights activists who have decried Linehan’s draft proposal to split up Chinatown. The draft proposes flipping one precinct, which Linehan lost heavily in his match-up with former school principal Suzanne Lee, to District 8.

District 8 Councillor Michael Ross, who would lose his seat under Linehan’s plan, offered up his own plan last week, as did District 6 Councillor Matt O’Malley. Ross proposed revisions to his map this week, such as keeping the West End (Ward 3, Precinct 5) and flipping the Prudential Center area (Ward 4, Precinct 2) into Linehan’s district.

Councillors are also awaiting a map from District 4 Councillor Charles Yancey, who is seeking the creation of five majority-minority districts, up from the current four.
Another redistricting committee hearing is set for Mon., Dec. 12.

Boston delegation promotions in House leadership ranks
With Rep. Charley Murphy out as majority whip, members of the Boston delegation are moving up. Murphy, who has clashed with House Speaker Robert DeLeo and had already lost his Ways and Means chairmanship, resigned from the whip post on Tuesday.

Rep. Byron Rushing of Roxbury replaces him, while Rep. Michael Moran of Brighton will be one of four “division chairs” on the floor of the House. Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of the North End takes over the Election Laws Committee, which Moran had chaired.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Material from State House News Service was used in this report. Check out updates to Boston’s political scene at The Lit Drop, located at dotnews.com/litdrop. Follow us on Twitter: @LitDrop and @gintautasd.