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Yoon: I would have taken the Red Sox horse money
By adamg on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 3:03pm
The Herald reports the Sox offered up to $400,000 to save the Boston Police mounted unit, which often helped keep order around Fenway Park but that "the mayor looked a gift horse in the mouth and said 'neigh.' "
In a statement, Councilor and Would-Be Menino Replacement Yoon said:
Our mounted unit was an important community policing tool and public safety resource for our parks. News of its elimination prompted an outpouring from across the city of people pleading to save the unit. There were dozens of cost-saving reforms the mayor could have implemented to save the unit. But once again, Mayor Menino chose symbolism over substance.
Now we hear reports that the City turned down an offer from the Red Sox to continue funding the mounted unit. At a time when Boston is cutting back on schools, city services, and public safety, it would be shortsighted and foolish to reject an outstretched hand. The administration needs to clarify what happened and be transparent about any offers that were made regarding the mounted unit.
“These are the very public-private partnerships that can make our city great – and can transform education, athletics, and the arts for Boston's children. We need a mayor who can tap into all the generosity and talent that Boston has to offer.
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Comments
public safety
Clearly this is an issue of public safety. I can't believe the Mayor turned this money down. We need a mayor who doesn't turn down the opportunity to save a vital police unit.
GOTTA GO MENINO!
Menino, you gotta go. Refusing money in a funding crisis! WHY?! Of course, we'll never get a straight answer from King Menino, which is why it's time for him to go! I'm sick of this mayor playing politics, ignoring constituents, and treating the entire city as "my way or the highway." It's absurd, the mayor should be working with people and organziations, not against them.
I like what Yoon's got to say, his history of community organizing gives him a good perspective on working together with people, businesses, and non-profits. Keep on talkin Sam, cause I'm listening (and I like it!).
Red Sox horse money
First of all, that's a great headline. What's up with this story about Red Sox horse money? Why didn't the Mayor jump on this?
Seems like there are a lot of these things popping up. Lost opportunities to save the city money and keep it on track. Maybe Menino is getting lazy. Yoon is righfully jumping all over this. That what I expect from someone who wants the top job. His energy will be contagious when this race really heats up. just like Deval...
Does Not Play Well With Others
This is the same mayor who keeps throwing red tape in front of the Boston Foundation when it tries to direct funding toward street workers. And we think he's going to be able to establish a public-private partnership with major sports teams to help Boston's high school athletics?
Let's get someone in the mayor's office who knows the meaning of collaboration.
It's a tough call. Horses
It's a tough call. Horses are very useful for crowd control - city people are scared shitless of large horses - but you need to maaintain the horses throughout the year just for the few times you really need to control a crowd. On the other hand, cops are needed on the streets to prevent murders every day. Do you really want to keep the quaint horse patrol in place of preventing homicides? I doubt John Henry was going to pay for the permenant upkeep of the horses, and even if he did, the cops may be of more use elsewhere.
Horses are actually much
Horses are actually much more mobile and nimble in responding to events around the Fenway/Back Bay/Beacon Hill areas -- and not just for "crowd control."
They don't need to respect one-way streets, can navigate traffic jams, and they're ridden by ... cops (who, while I'm not sure they can "prevent" homicides per se, cops are a deterrent to potential criminals).
I think it's hard for suburbians to understand that the automobile isn't the answer to everything.
Yoooooooon
There's an interesting article about the mayoral race and Yoon in the New Republic.. Yoon apparently has some serious PR in his corner, including Joe Trippi. I wonder how much Jason Zengerle (or someone close enough to bend his ear) costs.
Discouraging tidbit:
Wasn't about the money
Trying to shed light on the FACT that it wasn't about the budget regarding the disbandment of the Boston Mounted Police Unit, because I have the FACTS, I attended the meetings at City Hall, I saw the donations pouring in, I have the numbers. I saw firsthand how corrupt Menino really is. I wanted to raise awareness with MY customers. Posted a "Flaherty for Mayor" sticker at MY station in an environment where the general public frequent, and my employer was contacted by a brown noser with a cushie job working for Menino "suggesting" that my "Flaherty for Mayor" sticker be taken down because it doesn't "look good" for our business, in a threatening manner. This is what we have. Keep giving $300,000 towards the Carribean Festival, give $200,000 to the African newspaper, turn down an offer of $400,000 toward keeping our city safe. Menino is corrupt. Keeping the Mounted Unit SHOULD be his priority. Power, ego, control, and as many votes as possible is where it's at for him. I'm imbarrased for our city and for those who are too afraid to speak up. We need change.