Quote of the day: Tom, tiring

[Boston Mayor Tom] Menino said his level of determination to take on the powerful [firefighters'] union and demand wholesale change has diminished over the years, preventing the "real overhaul" he has promised repeatedly since he took office.

"In all practicality, it's very difficult to achieve," Menino said in an interview last week. "You want to see this happen, but you [come] to understand there are other things that can be done much easier." [emph. added]