Two Weeks Later, Menino Remains in Hospital

Now that the elections are over, there's more focus on the health of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, whose has been treated Brigham & Women’s Hospital for the last two weeks. Upon returning from a vacation in Italy with his wife, Menino required immediate attention for a blood clot and virus.

“He’s very much running the city and it is his competent, capable staff that are handling public safety, public works, storm-related issues,” said Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy.

Murphy hasn’t visited Menino in the hospital but has spoken to him by phone. He says the 69-year-old mayor continues to be in charge.

“When the mayor is in the city and he is conscious, he’s not in the middle of an operation over at Brigham & Women’s, he is in effect running the city. Under the city charter, if the mayor leaves and goes out of town, the city council president acts in a temporary capacity as the acting mayor," Murphy said.

The mayor was hospitalized in 2009 with a torn tendon in his knee. As he recovers from his current illness, Menino’s press office says he’s “doing fine” but will not give any timeline for his release.