Khazei Announces Run for Brown's Senate Seat

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Alan Khazei
BOSTON — Alan Khazei will try again for a Senate seat by challenging U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in the 2012 election.

The Brookline resident sought the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in 2009 but lost in the Democratic primary to Attorney General Martha Coakley, who was later trounced by the Republican from Wrentham in a special election.

The founder of youth organization City Year announced his decision to run simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter and by email to supporters that he will be a candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 2012. His video can be viewed at www.alankhazei.com.

"I'm the proud son and grandson of immigrants who came to America because they believed in this country and all it stands for: when we work hard and work together, no dream is impossible," says Khazei in the video. "It's the American Dream. And Vanessa and I want the same thing for our children, and for yours."


Khazei will kick off his campaign this week with stops around the state; his closest approach to the Berkshires will be Springfield on Thursday when he will meet with students at Western New England College and meet with voters at Mykonos European Restaurant.

Khazei is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy; also believed to weighing runs are U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano of Somerville, who also lost to Coakley in the primary, and Newton Mayor Setti Warren.

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Show-Cause Hearing for Pittsfield Bar Continued Again

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Bei Tempi will have a show-cause hearing for its liquor license in May after police brought forward pictures that appear to show underage patrons drinking.  

On Monday, the Licensing Board continued a hearing for Zuke's Soups and Variety LLC, doing business as Bei Tempi, to May 18. This is the second month it was continued. In the last year, the bar has been accused of underage service by two different parents.  

Earlier this year, Police Capt. Matthew Hill received a call from an upset parent about her 19-year-old daughter patronizing Iztac Mexican Restaurant at night and being served. 

Those photos resulted in a two-week liquor license suspension for Iztac, and the same mother submitted an almost identical complaint about Bei Tempi with photos, one of them with the owner "clearly visible" in the background, Hill said. 

The owners, Richard and Elizabeth Zucco, did not show up in March, and the hearing was continued again this month. 

"This show-cause hearing was scheduled for March 23 of 2026 and the licensee did not appear at that hearing, although I understand that notice went out by way of email," Chair Thomas Campoli reported after the bar's second no-show, adding that the Zuccos' lawyer communicated they had a "planned prepaid trip" that conflicted with the meeting. 

Last year, a different mother approached the Licensing Board asking for accountability after her underage child was allegedly served at Bei Tempi. After drinking at a graduation party, she said her 18-year-old son became further intoxicated at the establishment before returning home late and becoming combative, resulting in an arrest by police. 

In March, the pictures of alleged underage drinking at Iztac were printed and presented to the Licensing Board with faces blurred; the reporting party wished to remain anonymous along with her daughter and friend, and she was unable to attend the hearing. 

Hill ran the patrons' names through police records to confirm they were not 21. This is the same underage daughter who is said to have drunk at Bei Tempi, and her mother has provided photos. 

The Health Department ordered Iztac to close on March 13 after finding "pests" in the establishment.  On Monday, a notice stating that it was closed to the public to protect public health and safety was no longer on the door but the Health Department confirmed that the closure was still in effect. 

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