Council approves letter grades for restaurants, food trucks, but not unanimously

The Boston City Council today approved a proposal by Mayor Walsh to force restaurants and food trucks to post letter grades for their health inspections, 10-1.

City Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) voted against the proposal, saying the city was rushing into the idea too fast.

"Certain neighborhoods and communities could be adversely affected by this if not implemented correctly," Jackson said.

Under the mayor's proposal, the letter grades would be voluntary for a year to let food sellers get used to it. Posting grades within five feet of a restaurant entrance would then become mandatory.

Currently, the city posts the results of health inspections online, without grades. Several other cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have long required food vendors let the public know how they did on prominently posted notices.

City councilors Frank Baker (Dorchester) and Tim McCarthy (Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale) were not present.