Stop the presses. Stop the city. Stop the election.

With news that Tom Menino passed this morning, Charlie Baker now has a reason to cry, as do millions of Massachusetts residents who the longest-serving mayor in Boston history impacted through the years.

Unlike some other outlets, we’re not prepared with an obituary. Other than our repulsion at the generally crass idea of committing such sentiments to paper before somebody actually dies, we thought Hizzonner had a few more years in him. Not for any particular reason, but rather because the optimist in us hoped so, perhaps believed that he deserved more ’round-the-clock time with his family after taking care of Boston his entire adult life.

As an alternative voice in this town for most of Menino’s tenure, we plead guilty to bickering with the guy. It’s our job to criticize power just like it was his job to wield it. That exchange extended past his time in office and into his retirement role as a writer, as was the natural course of events. Still the admiration those at DigBoston have for the former mayor, past and present staffers alike, is endless. As progressives in a liberal municipality, we tend to be spoiled, but Menino was as worthy of a big city subject as any writer could hope for.

During his final weeks in office last year, we put together an extensive capsule of our past mayoral coverage, which we submit as part of the deservingly grand tribute to a selfless man that is sure to come in the following days, weeks, months, and onward.

For his friends, colleagues, family members, and the countless civil servants who came of age under the Urban Mechanic, our sympathies run deep. There will never be another like him. Indeed, there were none like him before either.

HIZZONNAROO: A TRIBUTE TO TOM MENINO

FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON (10.30.14): For constituents who wish to extend their condolences:

• City Hall will be open until 11:00 p.m. tonight.
• Flowers and mementos may be left in City Hall, inside the main City Hall entrance (City Hall Plaza side).
• By tomorrow, condolence books will be located in all neighborhood libraries (www.bpl.org/branches) and community centers (www.cityofboston.gov/BCYF/centers/).
• Letters and cards may be sent to: Mayor Menino’s Office, Boston University, 75 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.
• Visit tommenino.org for complete information.