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Councilor seeks ballot questions on the Olympics
By adamg on Mon, 02/02/2015 - 10:42pm
City Councilor Josh Zakim (Mission Hill, Fenway, Back Bay, Beacon Hill) thinks Boston voters should get a voice on the proposed 2024 Boston Olympics, especially since they could require the city to make "significant financial and operational commitments" to the games.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, Zakim will propose four specific - and non-binding - ballot questions for this November's ballot:
1. Should Boston host the 2024 Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games (the "Games")? YES/NO
2. If Boston were to host the 2024 Olympics, should the City commit any public money to support the games? YES/NO
3. If Boston were to host the 2024 Olympics, should the City make any financial guarantees to cover cost overruns for the Games? YES/NO
4. If Boston were to host the 2024 Olympics, should the City use its power of eminent domain to take private land on behalf of the Games? YES/NO
Councilors will decide whether to hold a formal hearing on Zakim's proposal.
The council's meeting begins at noon in its fifth-floor chambers in City Hall.
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Comments
What's The Point Of A "Non-Binding" Referendum?
The illusion of choice...
n/t
Maybe non-binding, but it's on the record.
It formally and publicly tells the mayor that he's lying/exaggerating.
I think I remember reading somewhere
That only state-wide referendums can be binding. I don't feel like fact checking it so I'll stick with "I think" I remember reading that. Someone else can prove or disprove if they'd like.
Or we can try to read between the lines to make it fun:
Could it be that Mr. Zakim would like to challenge Mayor Walsh? This would be for the 2015 elections, so the mayor's seat isn't up, but it gives him some time to use unfavorable results against him when it is.
the point is
Citizens will finally be able to have their voices heard.
And because it's
"non-binding", those voices will be easily ignored.
Possibly, but I'll still vote
Possibly, but I'll still vote. I appreciate that Zakim is at least doing something to give people a forum to express their opinions on hosting the Olympics... unlike other elected officials.
The IOC won't award to a city without local public support
or they'll revoke it if the public votes no. See Denver, 1976,
That Was A Long Time Ago, I'm Sure They're More Corrupted Now
The Point
At least we will find out if the majority of Bostonians support the Olympics, as some on the Boston 2024 committee have alleged.
Also, it will force pols to start working on the developers/sponsors on behalf of the neighborhoods.