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Campaign notes: Paper, blog endorsements
By adamg on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:29am
The Herald endorses Menino for one more term, saying his pluses outweigh his prickly minuses.
The Phoenix explains why it wants to see Arroyo, Pressley, Connolly and Murphy as at-large councilors. Murphy? Yes, Murphy. Guy's grown in the job, the Phoenix says.
Mike Ball counters with his list: Kenneally, Connolly, Arroyo and Murphy.
Neighborhoods:
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Comments
as Angela Cabral said,
as Angela Cabral said, cities around the country would KILL for our Mayor. Menino has done an amazing job in this city and with his vision, Boston will continue to improve over the next for years.
Flaherty and Yoon have, during their campaign, interrupted church services, endorsed their firefighter supporters to bully campaigners of Menino, disrespected communities of color with Flaherty's "I'm the white savior for the darker people" routine, and definitely pissed off a LOT of Puerto Ricans by claiming Barbara Ferrer, the Public Health Commissioner, was not 'really latina' (she was born and raised on la isla del encanto :) They continue to trounce around with their negative messages about what is wrong, despite the fact that BOTH of them as City Councilors either supported the Mayor's every move, or stood by apathetically and didn't get anything done.
Go Arroyo, Connolly, and Pressely for City Council! They represent people in Boston and want to see work get done!
Name those cities
Menino would be shot down as an amusing, but foreign agent of doom just about anywhere west of the Mississippi.
Makes me wonder what Yoon is doing here. He'd probably have had much richer prospects if he had run for the Mayor of Portland, OR.
And Flaherty would be
And Flaherty would be exposed as the racist he is...oh wait, we've already done that here in Boston.
Possibly true, but ...
You never answered the question. What cities are we talking about? Around the country? Really?
I can't see any of this bunch, save Yoon, being able to cope with the rapid population growth seen outside of the Northeast and the Industrial East (rust belt).
That's a new one..
Flaherty a racist?
Maybe that's why 44 leaders of the minority community endorsed him last week.
I know that the Menino people are upset that Galvin called them out on breaking the law today, but show even a little class.
Flaherty commented to two
Flaherty commented to two young African-American men entering a pick-up basketball game, whom he didn't know:
"Well you two will obviously be good at basketball"
Flaherty, when asked who the dept chiefs of color in the City are, back in March responded:
Carol Johnson
When a letter was sent to his campaign telling him that in fact Barbara Ferrer and Daphne Griffin were both Puerto Rican, he's response was that Daphne's name wasn't "spanish-enough" and Barbara Ferrer wasn't "really latina". Both of these women were born and raised in Puerto Rico and both have been at events with Councilor Flaherty over the years where they spoke with the Councilor and to the public as Latinas, in Spanish. Flaherty still has not even apologized to either of these women, and as recent as the last debate, apparently is still trying to say Barbara Ferrer is not Latina.
As I mention further down, councilors Arroyo Sr., Turner, and Yancey, the councilors of color serving during Flaherty's Council Presidency, all have made accusations of racial discrimination. Flaherty used Rule 19, which has hardly ever been used, to block the conversations these councilors wanted to have because their constituents cared about them.
As I also mention further below, I don't think Flaherty is trying to be racist, but I also don't think he understands what institutionalized racism is and how to combat it through city policies. I think Flaherty grew up and was educated in a very insulated manner where white privilege was not an issues and not understood and he has not proven to me that he understands the implications of institutionalized racism because of his actions.
And I would also cautiously although I don't think that these stances make someone racist, but they do cause me to question his genuine understanding of educating children of color:
1) He opposed affirmative action, and...
2) During this 2009 campaign he was asked during a tv interview, whether he thought Judge Garrity made the right or wrong decision to end "de facto" school segregation, that ending segregation was the wrong decision.
Good at basketball?
Maybe I am not as adept at googling as I thought, but....
I find no confirmation of this story about Flaherty online -- exxept in postings made by you at various times in various forums.
An issue most would probably
An issue most would probably keep out of the news. But I can see how this would be offensive -- it's dangerously close to: you're only good at basketball.
The black body has too often been represented, to the disappointment of people of color, in either a hyper-erotic or hyper-athletic manner.
It could have been out of context,I dont know the specifics
but is it possible he could have been referring to them being more athletic and younger than he is?
My question is....
...whether there is any substantiation for this story other than kbjp telling us that it happened?
A tad bit incorrect, kbjp
You wrote:
2) During this 2009 campaign he was asked during a tv interview, whether he thought Judge Garrity made the right or wrong decision to end "de facto" school segregation, that ending segregation was the wrong decision.
--His answer was that he didn't think the method used (forced busing) was the right way to accomplish it. In hindsight, maybe he was right. Arguments can and have been made for both sides of the coin, but his actual answer does not smack of racism (unless it convenietly reinforces one's preconceptions).
Ponder this:
Michael Flaherty enodorsed Barack Obama
Tom Menino endorsed Hilary Clinton
Using your Rudimentary Racism Inference Formula, answer this:
Shouldn't we be measuring hizzoner's massive cranium for a pointy white hood?
that post is way too good
that post is way too good for you to remain anonymous any longer...
Anonymous is fine, so long as it is....
...pseudonymously anonymous rather than anonymously anonymous.
However, some of us, inspired by Adam, foolishly use our real names.
The busing issue remains
The busing issue remains full of controversy -- but what about the other claims? I'd like to hear some info defending Flaherty on those because they do seem quite questionable.
Flaherty was probably referring to
the rather drastic measure that was adopted to remedy de facto segregation, namely, the busing of young children across the city in order to attempt to achieve racial balance in the schools.
Whom did busing ultimately help?
Racial balance was not achieved, many families left the BPS, and the quality of education provided to minority students did not improve appreciably.
Is Menino on record saying that he thought busing was a good idea?
Race
Race is a social construct. That being said, at least 90% of Bostonians, upon meeting the Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, would not identify her as a "Latina." She looks, acts, and talks just like any other white JP progessive.
Yoon is out of a job and
Yoon is out of a job and looking for a paycheck...that's why he's still here. Everytime the two of them have to meet together Flaherty gets that look in his eyes that says: Damnnn, why did I have to let this guy get up here with me, I really can't stand him!"
And the look in your eyes ...
when you look at Menino is probably similar to that "Ronnie!" look that Nancy always had.
it's cool that you can only
it's cool that you can only make personal and shallow attacks on people, but I, like the Mayor don't have time for blogs that don't actually address the issues facing our city. I support the Mayor because of the substance of his work, not because of his personal styles -- I hope you find a candidate you can intelligently speak on behalf of one day.
pot meet kettle
have you made anything other than personal and shallow attacks on Flaherty and Yoon?!?!!?
Would Toledo love to have our mayor? Doubtless. But would any city that I'd want to live in have him? Doubtful.
Look at the seaport "boom" area, look at the crumbling parks infrastructure, look at the developments going up hand-picked by hizzonah. Now take a look at some other cities. Look at New York's Parks. Look at Toronto's waterfront redevelopment. Look at the reclaimed area in San Fran south of the new baseball stadium.
Boston successes have largely been driven by the state or by universities (Harbor Cleanup, Massive Highway restructuring via Big Dig, biotech boom--thanks, MIT).
At the same time the murder rate creeps back up to early 90s levels and our schools are flagging. And what is Menino focused on? Building a 1000' tower and moving his office to a new city palace on the ocean.
I think of it more as a pyramid....
...than as a palace.
I really fear that Menino will see re-election as a public endorsement of his plan to re-locate City Hall to some place that the rabble will find it difficult to reach.
We have the best best Public
We have the best best Public Health Commission in the country -- we have done more to combat racial and ethnic health disparities than any other city.
We have the only urban planning group, JCS which actually has an anti-poverty mission and has helped thousands of families move out of poverty over the past 16 years -- the same division which offers comprehensive support for 400 court- and gang-involved youth in the City.
I'm not sure which parks you're speaking of. Franklin Park is absolutely beautiful, it has a full and well-maintained golf-course, it has a brand new field at White Stadium, and the City is working with Northeastern to create a shared space with more athletics fields on that site. The Arboretum is another natural marvel in our city; I've never been there on a weekend where it's not packed. Pagel Field on Hyde Park Ave. has been recently renovated, the park next to English High has also been resurfaced and outfitted with new fencing, equipment and stands. Down the street from the King Middle School in Roxbury, we have another brand new soccer field that is ALWAYS in use. The Parks Dept, in collaboration with Berklee, put on more that 25 free outdoor concerts this summer in the neighborhoods of Boston.
Menino held off the foreclosures in Boston before anyone else in the nation addressed the problem. He started the "Don't Borrow Trouble" campaign to educate residents and homebuyers about subprime lending -- instead of the 10,000 homes that were foreclosed in places like Cleveland and Chicago, Boston saw 930 foreclosed homes and prevented 1,222 foreclosures. The Mayor created the FIC (Foreclosure Intervention Team) to help homeowners re-negotiate mortgages before it becomes too late.
On the subject of housing, since 2000 the Mayor has created 18,000 new units of housing and preserved 9,500 additional units. The Mayor also understands the need for workforce housing which the people who live in Boston can afford -- He has a plan to bring even more workforce housing to the Forest Hills area in the near future.
We were one of the first cities in the country to develop a green jobs training program so that residents who are without employment can actually be trained in the skills needed for jobs of the future which will demand green technology skills.
Under Mayor Menino crime has significantly dropped -- it's at a 3 decade low -- the number of violent crimes are also dropping. We have a national model for community policing which combines efforts of the Police Dept., religious leaders, community non-profits, and ordinary citizens to stop violence before it happens.
And contrary to Flaherty's accusations, we actually have SAT prep and PSAT prep in nearly every high school in the city -- and in the few schools that don't have it, the closest public library offers it free of charge.
Menino has created both a re-immersion program for students who have dropped out of school as well as the Newcomers Academy for students who may not speak English or may not have received formal education where they resided before coming to Boston.
You credit Toronto's waterfront, but you criticize Menino when he wants to improve the waterfront area in Boston -- quite hypocritical.
And as for shallow attacks on Flaherty and Yoon -- not so much, my attacks on that "ticket" come because of quite a few things:
Flaherty supported the death penalty.
Flaherty opposed affirmative action and during THIS campaign publicly announced that Judge Garrity made the WRONG decision to end "de facto" school segregation in Boston
Flaherty opposed health care benefits for gay partners and has routinely marched in the discriminatory and exclusive S. Boston St. Patty's Day Parade.
Flaherty and Yoon vow to abolish the BRA but neither went to that agency's budget hearing and neither have outlined a plan for how a stand-alone planning agency would be financed in the midst of a global financial crisis and looming state cuts to the city's budget.
Flaherty claims we have a youth violence problem in our city but as CHAIR of the City Council Committee on Youth Affairs, he has held only ONE public hearing for that committee in all of 2009 -- I guess his personal campaign took precedence over his duties as a City Councilor.
Flaherty publicly claimed Barbara Ferrer wasn't a 'real latina' -- she's not quite 'dark' enough to fit his idea of what a Puerto Rican woman should look like I guess. I don't think Flaherty as a white male who was educated in the elite white Boston community has no right to determine how light or dark people need to be to qualify for their ethnicity.
Flaherty claims we have a spending problem, yet, he's voted FOR the budget EVERY SINGLE YEAR as a City Councilor, until this year's budget -- the Tough Choices budget which managed to successfully account for the 19 million dollar budget cut from the state by NOT closing a single police station, fire station, or school.
Flaherty, as Council President invoked Rule 19, NINE occasions to block conversation from the City Councilors of color -- Arroyo, Turner, and Yancey. One key block was for a discussion of how to redistrict what was an unfair partitioning of a neighborhood.
Flaherty made a mockery of Council President, and disrespected those whom the residents of Boston, many of the residents of color of Boston, had elected to represent them -- and now Flaherty tells those same residents only HE has the ability to empower them.
By all means, there are way more examples out there -- let me know what other proof you're looking for here.
Menino Failed our children
100 of 143 schools under-performing. 24,000 kids have dropped out of the BPS. Kids killing kids on our streets. Menino has tried to fix our schools - but he can't. It's time to step aside and let people who can do it run our city.
Time up yet?
So. Why have you wasted your precious on repeated sychophantic love letters to Menino on a blog you claim not to have time for?
Unless that is your job. YTDAW I guess.
Franklin Park is exactly
Franklin Park is exactly what i was thinking of! The golf course and stadium have their own funding structures. Have you looked at the asphalt that connects them? Have you looked at the infrastructure within the park? The abandoned zoo cages, the crumbling paths--they just tore down the landmark columns because the Parks Dept could not afford to maintain them. Look at our front porch, the common! Look at the pavement along Tremont street, it has 8" potholes with the freedom trail painted right over it. Trees are falling down. The fountain, a central landmark to the whole city, has lingered, filled with the urine of homeless for nearly a decade until this election drew near.
As for the Toronto/Boston thing you misunderstood. I'm not criticizing development, but the caliber of it. Menino and his folk are utilizing a 1980s suburban development mentality, with a big 4 lane road (veritably a highway in places) down the center and banal box architecture to attract midwestern conventioneers. Toronto on the other hand has turned their waterfront into a case study for 21st century sustainable development and city building.
I don't know much about the public health systems in Boston, so I can't argue with you there, but in the areas that I know I see that Menino, and thereby Boston, is a follower, not a leader. Boston compares favorably to most cities in the US, but to the truly global, forward thinking cities it can not compare. Bike lanes? Why didn't Menino have those in the 90s? Cambridge did. Its now expedient for votes, thats the only reason.
I'm a progressive, I want to live in a progressive city, which i think Boston could and should be. A true leader among cities. A mayor like Bloomberg would do wonders for our city. And that's what I think Yoon could give us. Until that is a viable option, I think the next best thing would be to get somebody--anybody--new in the office.
White Stadium is maintained
White Stadium is maintained by the City -- you're now criticizing the city for working out contracts to have the building financed without spending city dollars? That sounds to be a prudent move, not a bad one.
And the comparison with Boston to Cambridge, really? Cambridge has is a total of 7.13 square miles while Boston spans 89.63 square miles. Cambridge's population is slightly over 101k, Boston's pop is over 600k, the comparison is meaningless because the amount of $ cambridge has to spend and the amount of area and people on which cambridge needs to spend is significantly less than Boston, a major U.S. city. Cambridge is 68% White and the median family income is 79.5K per year. Boston is made up of 58.9% people of color (minorities including latino) and the family median income is 44k per year.
Ideas have nothing to do
Ideas have nothing to do with city size.
But in defense, you compared boston to chicago, a much bigger leap (quantitatively and geographically) than cambridge. Besides, I think it's fairly apples to apples to use Cambridge when their bikelanes have historically ended precisely where Boston's never began. All I'm saying is boston has to do much more than bike lanes and bike rentals if it truly wants to be a leader in non-vehicular transportation infrastructure. Menino has brought us to where cities like Portland, San Francisco, virtually every european city of our size and yes, Cambridge, were in 1985.
As far as Franklin Park, that tax money has to go somewhere, right? White Stadium appears to be well funded, I imagine there is funding for it through the schools, i don't really know, but the Parks Dept. itself is woefully underfunded relative to other dense, successful, leading, global American cities. For 2007, Boston spent $102 per resident on its parks. SF spent 3x that. DC, $277. Seattle, 259. Portland and NYC spent 1.5x as much as us, and whats more, BP&R is woefully understaffed at 3.9 employees per 10,000 residents (Seattle has 16.9, SF 11.1, NYC 7.8 which is astonishing given its population). And its not like there is a lack of parks here, we are blessed with the 5th most acres per resident of any city in the US, but aren't so fortunate so as to have a city government that understands quite how to utilize and maintain them.
I think the fiscal
I think the fiscal comparison and the actual area comparison are relevant on both the issues -- Cambridge has much more money (speaking in relation to people and space) than Boston does -- so it's hard to judge policies and projects that would never have started off on equal ground, simply from a funding perspective. And in terms of area it's much easier to create a mapping of bike lanes when you only have 7.13 sq miles. I'm not saying Boston is the place to be if you're a biker - I never made that argument, but I also haven't seen anything from Flaherty that points to him dealing with that problem.
And, while Chicago is definitely a much larger city -- the median family income there is 46k much more comparable to Boston's 44k than boston's 44k is comparable to cambrdige's 79.5k -- so in terms of foreclosures, we are looking at families and households that make a pretty comparable income.
Fast and Loose with the numbers?
I'll just address a couple - 930 foreclosures v. 10,000 in places like Chicago? Umm - Chicago is almost 10 times as large as we are and Cleveland is basically a larger Buffalo - it's dying. On the contrary, Boston is one of the wealthiest cities in the country along with places like SF and DC (my two other favorite cities by the way and where I may go if our property taxes keep climbing at double digit rates!)
18,000 new units of housing? - according to the census bureau housing units have increased from 251,000 to about 255,000 as of last year and we didn't build 13,000 units in 2009.
There was a $65 million hole in the 2009 budget BEFORE the financial crisis - the mayor's response - let's hire 200 more people - which we are now laying off at great expense to the city. Oh yeah - and let's give all my loyal staff chiefs raises - retroactively!
And by the way - as an avid golfer the Franklin Park course is an average to below average muni that I won't even waste time playing on and I believe the Arboretum is owned by Harvard, not the city (any more authoritative sources on this?). Your data already looks pretty flawed - and by the way - I'd say there is still a 40% but shrinking chance I'll vote for the mayor as I'm not sold on Flaherty but I agree with most of my friends, it may be time for a little blood transfusion to stop the bleeding.
The Arboretum is owned by
The Arboretum is owned by the city but Harvard has a 1000 year lease (expiring in about 870 years). Harvard is responsible for all maintenance, which is why it is so nice.
I don't see how the fact
I don't see how the fact that the city has a relationship with Harvard to maintain a City Park is a bad thing for the city -- it still creates beautiful public greenspace in our city.
Who said it was bad? It's
Who said it was bad? It's actually wonderful, it gives us a public park that isn't deteriorating.... Though Menino can't really take credit for a clever stroke of contract that occured in the 19th century.
18,000 new units of housing
18,000 new units of housing since 2000 was the number and the context in which I made that statement --not in 2009 as you tried to spin it.
And where do you get your layoff and paycheck info because cabinet members all agreed to a wage freeze over the past year, not a raise. And many also took a 5% wage decrease to help save jobs in their respective department.
And not as a golfer, but as someone who actually uses the "asphalt" mentioned by someone else -- Franklin Park is beautiful, they just repaved the running path, and as a runner who is up there quite frequently I have to say I'm not sure where the eyesores are -- and although the golf course may be financed by another source -- Parks & Rec are the people that maintain all the area around it -- the pond, the paths, and they're constantly improving actual golf course land, where the money comes from is pretty irrelevant, it's a city park that the city has worked out to be usable for the people who live there.
Let's see
Housing numbers come from the census bureau's site - 252k in 2000 and an estimated 255k in 2007 - that's 3000 units or about one quarter of 1% growth per year (and people wonder why we have such expensive housing)
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/2507000...
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?...
As for raises (and this was 8 months into a recession that had started in late 2007 and after budgeting for a massive deficit)
http://www.blnz.com/news/2008/08/23/Menino_gives_r...
As for the deficit and hiring you can check out the headcount in the FY 2008 budget available at www.cityofboston.gov/budget
And as for parks - well - as someone else said - the good parks in town (Arboretum, Franklin, Clarendon St playground, Comm Ave Mall, Public Garden) - are all funded by outside sources.
Any more questions? If you are 23 like you say - start asking questions rather than gobbling info from politicians (and others) wholesale. There's a whole world of spin out there designed to tell you things that just aren't so.
In August of 2008, we had
In August of 2008, we had hardly started into this current economic crisis -- most employees in Boston, whether government or non-government, receive wage increases yearly. Thanks for links -- had to dig :) but according to the first article you put up:
"The largest dollar-value raises this week went to Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser, who each got a $6,700 bump, pushing their annual salaries to $174,200."
Then looking at the FY10 reports for the Fire Deparment, the Commissioner is slated to make 169,591
Title / Union code / Grade / Position / FY10 Salary
Commissioner (Bfd) / CDH / NG / 1.00 / 169,591
(that's how the line reads)
And the same for the Police Commissioner:
Commissioner (Bpd) / CDH / NG / 1.00 / 169,591
So it seems both of these people targeted in that article have actually taken pay cuts so that there is more money in operating budget of their department.
good thing I didn't just
good thing I didn't just gobble up what you had to say there.
Eat up
Where were you in August of 2007 when the banks were first reporting their problems, or March of 2008 when Bear Sterns went down or December of 2007 when the current recession is reported to have started? While few did or could have predicted the crisis - there was ample warning that the economy was faltering and that it was time to pull in the reigns on spending (as noted in earlier posts, I was giving seminars to neighborhood groups around the city telling them that taxes were going to skyrocket and the budget was a disaster waiting to happen). Menino caused this by reckless hiring and careless development that led to massive increases in the commercial tax base that is now shifting to the residential sector - that's not open for debate - that's a fact.
As for the numbers above - did you say you went to BPS? $174,200 less $6700 means they were making $167,500. Now they are making $169,500 - that's a raise in my book, smaller raise, but still a raise and apparently retroactive and per my comment above - anybody with a pulse that was reading the papers knew that the economy was at least struggling and we were in no position to give raises and hire more people.
I suggest you stop digging - your hole is getting deeper by the post.
Not to throw a twist in
Not to throw a twist in there, but both of these commissioners are represented by a union, and nearly all unions have negotiated yearly wage increases due to inflation. That could possibly be accounting for the slight increase. Because it seems a raise of that small amount just as a raise and not a contractual obligation would be kind of foolish? Not sure, just a thought.
Actually no
I don't think the commissioners are part of a union - I believe all employees at that level are employees at will. The rest of the brass is unionized as is the rank and file but under separate unions.
Any further more knowledgeable people out there on whether the commissioners are unionized?
really? Is that why it is considered
"the financial crisis of 2007-2009"
Sure, it didn't hit its peak yet, but it was not hardly started. Go get yourself educated on things and question what your bosses are telling you to believe before you make yourself look like any more of a fool.
When did Bear Stearns collapse? Early 08? When did stocks begin to start dropping? Fall of 07?
kbjp -- there is no way on earth....
...that you are _not_ a paid (directly or indirectly) political operative of the Menino campaign.
You beat me to it
my thoughts exactly - looks like he/she has the Menino website memorized
I am quite unhappy about the choices available....
...in the upcoming Mayoral election.
I would be far less troubled if Boston's governing structure allocated more power to the City Council and less to a Mayor (who is granted near dictatorial powers).
(Historical query -- around what year did the Mayor of Boston get such a huge chunk of municipal power?)
Menino was a step forward in that respect
You used to have ten councilors and fifteen school committee members all with outsized ambitions and budgetary goodies to hand out. Now there is just one guy and he is at least not personally showy about the corruption in the city, not taking the money for an expensive office or what-have-you.
I have no reason to think that Menino has used his position....
...to benefit himself financially. Rather, I dislike the disproportionate amount of power placed in the hands of any one individual (whoever it might be).
Menino was right to restrict
I don't think Menino has been a great mayor, but here is what he has done and why he will win: he has not yet destroyed the economy of the city with taxes in the service of 147 different social causes that have to be funded now now now.
Are you saying that a City Council with real legislative power..
... _would_ have funded "147 different social causes"?
funding social causes
Funding social causes means hiring people in city government or sending some federal or state grant to hire other people for thir or that cause. There is no structural voting bloc opposing it, so we have this mayor who talks a lot and does somewhat less, and that's the best we have been offered for now.
the website's pretty easy to
the website's pretty easy to access, you don't need a campaign password to get in -- and I actually pulled most the info from other media sources. For example the public health issues, the basis for creating a functioning and productive community aren't up on the campaign website.
i'm actually not :) neither
i'm actually not :) neither paid by the campaign nor a city worker, so sorry to crush your dreams on that one :)
You can say this over and over....
...and no one is going to believe you.
Because you are spouting pure press release puffery.
Regardless of whether some things you say are true or not, they sound like they were scripted by a PR firm.
Who said it best?
Can't remember who said it but he was right - don't question someone else's motives.
Don't be so dismissive of someone because he/she has a point of view.
Couldn't it be the other way around? Couldn't this person be employed by the Mayor BECAUSE he/she likes what he says? Don't question the motive, argue the points. It makes it a much better discussion.
Otherwise, the conversation just tails off into mindless drivel.
Not motives....
kbjp could have the purest of motives (subjectively speaking) -- but the tone (and often substance-free nature) of her remarks is making me increasingly irritated).
The lack of substance, first
The lack of substance, first I get told to put more substance in and now once I have there's a lack of substance which is irritating you? Please don't take it so personal!
If you disagree with the substance, that's one thing, but it's there, you don't have to accept it if you don't want to.
With all due respect
Regurgitation of campaign talking points is not "substance" (or not any sort of "substance" I find useful). One can easily find this online already -- on candidates' websites.
Actually, the info on
Actually, the info on Michael Flaherty is not on either the Menino's campaign website, nor Flaherty's....and I apologize for irritating you, that definitely was not my intent. But I can't apologize for the fact that when questioned on this website I went and did research, some of which I already knew, some of which I pulled from the WBUR, Herald, Phoenix, and sparingly :) the Globe, to put together a comprehensive argument.
Speaking to point of, 'it sounds like PR', maybe I should quit my dayjob and look for a new career, I'm certainly not in PR currently, so for the tone, if offensive, apology on my part, I was just trying to get the info out tersely.
Insightful, I agree with you
Insightful, I agree with you here. I think when people are on these blogs they get very passionate and sometimes the information doesn't ever hit the eyes/ears/mind of the reader because they have already shut off to the idea that the other blogger is bringing something to the forum.
I'll take it as a
I'll take it as a compliment, thanks!
i'm actually not :) neither
i'm actually not :) neither paid by the campaign nor a city worker, so sorry to crush your dreams on that one :)
What I am is a 23 year resident of Jamaica Plain, a child who went through BPS and got a first rate education. Someone who was raised by progressive parents who spent their adulthood as dirt-poor community organizers fighting with communities for causes such as improving services and housing for homeless people and improving pre- and post- natal care for women of color, just to name a couple.
I was fortunate enough to be taught by my parents what it really is to be progressive -- it's not a term that should be used only in accommodating circumstances -- Flaherty isn't suddenly a progressive because he teamed with Yoon.
And at the bottom-line for me is the issue of institutionalized racism -- which no one here wanted to comment about. No one here actually defends Flaherty on that subject. Because he has time and time again proved that he subscribes to (most likely out of ignorance) to institutionalized racism.
Murders
It's wrong to suggest murder rates are creeping "back up to the early 90s levels".
Last year there were 49 at this time. This year there have been 41. In 2004 there had been 53 by October 12.
In 1990, there were a total of 152 murders during the year.
Menino is the one man show
That's Menino who doesn't believe in working with anyone. It's his way or the highway. Good for Flaherty reaching out to Yoon. We need an administration that is open and inclusive - not one that keeps a naughty list on people who disagree with something Menino says.
if he cant work with anyone
Why have a number of legislators endorsed him, unions, progressives, etc. Can't all be "intimidated" as the Council boys try to tell us.
You've kind of answered your own question
Why would leglislators, unions, progressives, etc. work with him if they're intimidated? Because they're intimidated!
Is there any record of anyone doing business....
... in (or with) the city of Boston, who has "disrespected" Menino's authority who not been "disciplined" in some significant way?
(I don't know the answer -- just fishing for information that the papers seem at best fitfully interested in discussing).
Is there any record of what
Is there any record of what you're insinuating? and I mean facts, not rumors and anecdotal evidence.
Who's Angela Cabral?
And why do Menino supporters always sound so phony?
Admittedly, Menino detractors often sound like disgruntled former employees or ill-favored real estate developers, but still...
Incidentally, the Hyde Park Bulletin seems to be celebrating its move to a pay-for-content format by actually breaking a story, about CF Donovan's BRA loan and sitting on a liquor license. I thought it was worth a mention.
Angela Cabral is the Suffolk
Angela Cabral is the Suffolk County Sheriff, elected, not appointed. She's been involved with reforming the criminal justice system here in MA for a while and it often credited as taking a progressive approach to the issues.
That's Andrea
That's Andrea Cabral, not Angela. Angela is Menino.
You mean Andrea Cabral.
I think her name is Andrea.
Ernie Boch III made the same mistake....
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/11633/
There really is at least one Angela Cabral in Boston, if Facebook can be believed.
You mean Ernie Boch, Jr.
Just kidding!
I just realized something
Why was Ernie Boch (the whatever) talking about the Sheriff of Suffolk County (whether Andrea or Angela) rather than the Sheriff of Middlesex County (James Di Paola)? Has Gallucio only gotten busted on OUR side of the Charles?
you are absolutely correct,
you are absolutely correct, I apologize!
Barbara Ferrer
kbjp,
I will agree with you on one thing, Barbara Ferrer is a amazing person. I was fortunate to have worked with her in the Public Health field in the past. However, you are acting as if the Mayor conducting a nationwide search to discover her and appoint her Commissioner. The truth is Barbara Ferrer was recruited to work on the BPHC by the previous commissioner, John Auerbach. After he went back to state service, the mayor appointed Barbara(kudos for that)- whom, one might argue, he may not have known about if it wasn't for the white male that recruited her. Furthurmore, one might ask why did the Mayor hired the white Mr. Auerbach at the time when there was an equally exceptional latina(in Ms Ferrer)available?
It seems a bit disingenuine to fawn over the Mayor for this one, when her appointment only occured after the Mayor's first choice as Commissioner(a white male who actually recruited Ms. Ferrer to the BPHC) left the administration.
I definitely agree with
I definitely agree with Barbara Ferrer's merits, and I'm glad to hear people who may/may not support the Mayor at least can see past Flaherty and Yoon's claim that everyone at City Hall got their job as a friend of the Mayor and not because of credentials. Because as you point out, she has both the education, experience and credentials for that position and I agree that we in the city are extremely fortunate to have her.
However, if the Mayor goes, Barbara Ferrer and the great team she has assembled goes too. And I am by no means saying vote for a mayor to save one department, but I think if we can give the Mayor at least a little credit in appointing her, a woman quite-qualified for the job, than maybe we should look into the other people the Mayor has working for the city and give thought to the idea that you don't just elect a Mayor, you effectively have to deal with who that Mayor puts in positions of power. It scares me, at least on the Public Health issue, because Flaherty has not been in great standing with public health professionals during his time on City Council.
Barbara Ferrer actually worked for the State Department of Public Health before coming to the City and she specialized in maternal and children and women's health -- when John A. tapped her to come to the Commission (when Mitt Romney took over) her duties where more along those lines of public health -- under John, she definitely took on more responsibilities and was given the chance to develop skills which would allow her to do such a wonderful job as Commissioner in her own right. I also would say John A. was a credible commissioner who brought different kinds of diversity to the position, not just in the racial/ethnic sphere.
But I think more impressive than any info surrounding her appointment is the work she has been able to do, with the support of the Mayor, during her time as Public Health Commissioner. And as you, in the public health community know, it is rare that a Commissioner is given so much support for combating racial and ethnic disparities, and it's even rarer for a white Mayor in this country to come out and publicly say, racism is the cause of public health disparities and we need to do something about it.
Where is your support for the claim...
> " if the Mayor goes, Barbara Ferrer and the great team she
> has assembled goes too."
Has she said she would quit rather than work for any mayor other than Menino? Has Flaherty claimed he would fire her and all her staff?
sssshh!
She's just fear-mongering. Thats what political schills do...
I have no problem with testimonials in favor or Menino...
... (or Flaherty) if the person providing it is speaking based on real experience (individually, as resident of a neighborhood, in connection with some organization).
too bad that is not what we are getting here.
It is customary when new
It is customary when new mayors are elected for the entire cabinet to resign. Although these positions have contracts, in most competitive elections, because they are mayoral appointees, they do resign. Looking at it objectively, I think it would be unlikely for Flaherty to keep Menino's cabinet members, and I think it would be unlikely for them to stay, because he and Sam Yoon have spent a lot of time criticizing current city workers as people who got their jobs by association not by credentials.
From the other side of the looking glass, as someone who knows and has observed Barbara Ferrer over the years, I can very safely say that she is not confident she would be able to do the work she currently does and address issues of social justice adequately under Flaherty and I do believe she would resign (which would unfortunately be a loss)
Sorry
This sounds like complete BS.
Clearly kbjp has recruited a rooting squad. Maybe you folks think this is convincing, but I for one find it alienating.
kbjp(+ sara)- Reply to your assumption of what Flaherty MIGHT do
As someone recently said:
"Is there any record of what you're insinuating? and I mean facts, not rumors and anecdotal evidence."
--kbjp, October,22nd 2009
kbjp =
kbjp = Ken Barnes, JCS employee and Barbara Ferrer's husband, right?
No, as I said before I don't
No, as I said before I don't work for the city in any regard and I'm a 23 yearold Latina-that means female
While I know and respect
While I know and respect both those individuals, as I've mentioned here and elsewhere I'm a 23 year old Latina...my last name is Gallego so luckily Flaherty would be able to know I'm a "real Latina"
close...
but no cigarro.
Mike Ball
Mike Ball thinks Arroyo has the chops but Gonzalez- not yet! Huh? Gonzalez has ten more years of professional experience working in city government and the community. He's the only candidate with kids in BPS. He was chief of staff of the Elderly Commission. Arroyo was an aide for Chuck Turner. Laughable!
What I said
And Mike Ball already responded on one of his blogs several hours ago to the same comment with:
So writes non-anonymous Mike Ball/massmarrier.
Half Time Score
kbjp 11, UHub 25
Forum on Park Issues tonight in Franklin Park
I am so, so glad I was away from my desk most of the day. I skimmed some of the above and am actually a little grateful that I don't have time for a careful read. At least not right now. Lots of stuff bouncing around, lots of clarifications to ask for and make, two cents to throw in, etc. Kbjp, you're already 0-2 with me on accuracy, so here's your chance to go fact-check and edit if you would like.
In the meantime, I saw a bit about Franklin Park and maintenance issues, etc. As it turns out, there is a candidate forum tonight on park issues at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse. Not sure exactly the time, but I'm sure you can get more information on the Franklin Park Coalition website.
don't think i don't know it!
don't think i don't know it! Unfortunately (for this) i teach on thursday nights and will miss it.
City Charter
Someone asked about the City Charter -- it was last revised in 1909. You can get it in hard copy at City Hall for $7.00, so says the city's website. I've just noticed that it is now apparently available online, and I've been trying to download it for the last 10 or 15 minutes or so, but the website keeps freezing up.
I'll second what others have already said about making assertions not being the same as making an argument. Kbjp, you're falling into the exact same kind of riff that I find so infuriating -- and at times insulting -- about the Mayor himself, and that is giving us a litany of program after program and agency after agency (which may or may not have anything to do with City Hall at all), with a few numbers thrown in, rather than articulating any kind of coherent policy or vision for the City.
A list of programs and departments and agencies tells me absolutely nothing without also telling me something about their effectiveness. And the very fact that programs and departments -- and parks, for that matter -- exist tells us absolutely nothing about the Mayor's role, his record, or what his vision may or may not be. That's a little like listing the menu items to determine whether a restaurant is good or not. But that's exactly what the Mayor does again and again -- no substance when asked questions -- just a list of facts, which may or may not have anything to do nothing to do with him.
An example: at one forum there was a question about the city's efforts around homelessness and after flailing about for a few moments about how it's a terrible problem and we're working very hard, and there are lots of great people working hard every day, he said, "We have Pine Street Inn," as an illustration of those efforts. PSI was founded in 1969 and is a private, non-profit, not a city agency, and even if it were run by the city, the fact that shelters exist in Boston isn't isn't a policy or a plan or even evidence that our current efforts are working. Yet here he is, taking credit for the existence of PSI as if he had anything to do with it.
I understand that it's an election season, and dueling factiods and spin is par for the course, but this sort of dismissal of all criticism and acceptance of all credit is the long-standing MO of Menino and it's part of what makes City Hall's hidebound culture continue to exist, and continue to hold us back.
Final thing: kbjp, you said that your bottom line was about racism, and you're supporting Menino because you believe that Flaherty doesn't understand institutionalized racism. We're left to infer from that that you believe that Menino does. I hope you have more dots to connect there, because one statement does not automatically lead one to conclude the next. And I'm really, really curious -- eager, in fact -- to hear more about what leads you to believe that Menino is committed to anti-racism, or even to diversity, for that matter. (I'm presuming you know the difference, given the importance this issue has for you.)
I will grant you that Flaherty continues to receive criticism for his use in the past of Rule 19, and concerns and bad feelings linger. They're serious concerns, and they need to be taken seriously, but I don't speak for Flaherty, so I can't give you a defense. But really, school us on how the Menino administration is transforming the institutionalized operation of power structures and privilege within itself and in the broader society.
So Boston has been set up to have a quasi-dictatorial Mayor....
...with an essentially powerless City Council ever since 1909?
Maybe it is time for total structural change.
Reply on way
Francesca, (from kbjp)
i most definitely would like to respond and certainly plan to! At the moment i am only on a phone and would probably go crazy trying to write a comprehensive response addressing the concerns youve raised- but i will certainly be back once at a computer. Thanks For your response
this post is long and I apologize, but feel it's necessary
Francesca,
(Before even starting, I apologize that this post is long, but I wanted to address these issues comprehensively.)
I do sincerely believe the Mayor is not only committed to combating racism on a personal level, but that he has also made anti-racism a key component in his vision for Boston’s programs and policies. I have come to this belief based on many reasons and experiences. I was introduced to this characteristic of the Mayor’s administration through conversations with people the Mayor has appointed and charged with the task of improving Boston by fundamentally tackling racism and its socio-economic implications. I have been fortunate enough to speak with people such as Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Connie Doty, Daphne Griffin, Eliza Greenberg, Jim Greene, John Dunlap, and even the Mayor himself– far before this election came around. The message that I have gotten from everyone (and others) is this: the directive, coming from the Mayor’s mouth, is that policies and programs of city agencies must improve the lives of all Boston residents and that means they must address racial and ethnic disparities.
To speak to anti-racism and diversity, yes, I do, thankfully, know the difference. I would argue that both are necessary to combat impacts of racism. Diversity in staff without connections to actual communities of color and without commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of those communities won’t solve our problems. On the other hand, if there is no diversity among those in positions of power, questions should arise as to whether the needs and issues of communities of color are adequately understood. The other concern is what message an all-white or nearly all-white staff and committee make-up would send as to the restrictions on level of professional attainment for people of color. On the diversity side, I think the Mayor has done a good job recruiting professionals of color to his administration, I think he can do better and I think he is committed to doing better. The boards under the Mayor’s direction are made up of 50% members of color, people like Dr. Paula Johnson, and Rev. Gregory Groover who are tied to communities of color in their everyday work and renowned as advocates for their communities.
Before addressing anti-racism I would also frame this dialogue by sharing information from the 2009 Health of Boston Report, which brings into consideration the correlation between race and socio-economic status:
“Racial/ethnic disparities are associated with lower socioeconomic status and both combine to create health disparities.”
“Educational achievement and employment, two primary routes out of poverty, are unequally distributed among racial/ethnic groups. In 2007, 56% of White adults had an educational level of Bachelors degree or higher compared with 14% of Black and
Latino adults.”
Looking at the issue from this purview, it becomes apparent that in order to effectively push forward projects of anti-racism, the city must also act on a policy of anti-poverty.
I would begin by looking at the issue from a public health view, because if you agree that the foundation for a successful city is a healthy city, addressing the issues from this perspective is a good starting point.
In 2004, the Mayor appointed a Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (made up of private sector, public sector, academic leaders, community members, providers, and insurance representatives). Consequently, Boston is now the only city in the nation with a “Blueprint Report” for how to combat racial/ethnic health disparities. (http://www.bphc.org/chesj/resources/Pages/Reports.... you can also access info on this from BPHC.org)
Using the information and research provided in the Blueprint Report, the BPHC has teamed with the Elderly Commission, Dept. of Neighborhood Development, BPS, Emergency Shelter Commission, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and others inside and outside city government, to address these issues and create programs like Entre Familia, Thrive in Five, and the REACH Coalition, all which tackle the issues of the social determinants of racial/ethnic health disparities (which are shown in the report to not be limited to ‘strictly’ public health, but rather the broader scope of a healthy city in all regards). None of this would have happened had the Mayor not pushed the envelope and reached out across the city to find the people most qualified to examine this issue.
The Mayor has also taken steps to decrease stigmatization towards the immigrant community in Boston, largely a community of color. He created the Office of New Bostonians, which provides support for newcomers to Boston. Personally, as a Latina, everyday I see the racialization of Latinos who can’t speak English to a certain level. Being Latino/a is not a racial classification, it is an ethnic identification, however, in the trajectory of social perceptions of race in America, driven by the “one-drop” rule, Latinos, regardless of phenotype, become racialized as non-white. The Office of New Bostonians, in collaboration with JCS (Jobs and Community Services out of EDIC) offers all residents ESL classes and job training programs to lift both the language barrier, the job skills barrier, and in effect the incorrect, but prevailing, stigma surrounding immigrants that they are uneducated and a drain on society.
This brings me to JCS and it’s mission statement:
“It is our purpose as an innovative public agency to promote economic self-sufficiency to ensure the full participation of all Boston residents in the city's economic vitality and future. It is also our purpose to be an advocate, clearinghouse, and laboratory for "best practices" in literacy, beginning at birth; lifelong learning; job training/placement; and support services so Bostonians may fulfill their educational and employment aspirations.”
If you speak to either Connie Doty, or Deputy Director for Program and Policy Development, Ken Barnes (a former community rights activist) you will hear that JCS considers itself to pursue a mission of anti-poverty at the direction of the Mayor. One prime example of this is in the recent RFP for Community Development Block Grant funding. Several criteria are listed below:
“That long-term goal is: To make it possible for low income residents of Boston to begin to move out of poverty, so as to allow them to continue living in the city.”
“All [Youth category] programs funded must demonstrate coordination with the school system, or, in the case of anti-violence programs, with established prevention and/or re-entry initiatives and proven curricula.”
“[All Adult category programs must have] an emphasis on services which can be shown to help individuals and families, including those who are homeless, to stabilize their lives, increase their earning potential and begin to move out of poverty.”
The CDBG requirement on this funding is that those who are to benefit primarily from it must fall below the 80% of the median income level of Boston. JCS takes that seriously and requires that programs show proof that 90% of their participants fall below these income limits. Again, this is evidence of the Mayor’s mandate that JCS must actively work for the most vulnerable communities in Boston, including those who are homeless and live below the poverty level. Both of these communities, as paralleled by other urban populations around the country are disproportionately made up of people of color.
It was also the Mayor, who scraped together funding after a 5-year grant ended, to permanently install the Youth Options program, which currently offers 400 youth, gang-involved and court-involved -- those who often face the strongest racial prejudices -- comprehensive case management, re-entry education options, and transitional job opportunities.
All in all, these are a few examples, it’s not everything that’s being done, and by no means am I arguing that we’ve reached a place where we can be satisfied. However, I think what I’ve written does demonstrate the Mayor’s commitment to not only seeking diversity in his staff and board members, but to making everyone in his administration aware that the City needs to serve all residents. In line with that, his direction is one which specifically deals with fighting racial and ethnic disparities and giving residents the tools they need to move out of poverty and away from society’s racial pathologies.
And I must question supporters of Flaherty, like yourself, who seem committed to these same ideals of equity, as to why you are not demanding an explanation from Flaherty regarding both proven and alleged transgressions on the issue of Rule 19 and other incidences.
Yup, that was way too long.
Yup, that was way too long.
no one said you have to read
no one said you have to read it if you don't want to.
Oh, for pity's sake, you can't persuade me with the BRA
This is just getting silly -- a typical politician response of answering a question by describing the problem, make some assertions and then list some programs. I'm trying to give you a chance here, but this is just disingenuous. You're saying that your belief that Menino is an anti-racist is based, in part, on your personal experiences, and then you go on to quote the Mayor's employees and city agency websites. C'mon - give us a little more credit than that.
It's a very good thing that the city has does workforce development, but please don't overplay it. Using the BRA (the JCS is part of the BRA) as an example of the Mayor's commitment to anti-poverty and structural transformation of power relationships (which is what I believe anti-racism demands) is truly laughable. Truly. The BRA could not be more closed or insular -- its operations are entirely out of the reach of everyone but the Mayor. There's a lot to be said to back that up -- I'd refer you to the Boston Globe, Shirley Kressel, Kevin McCrea or Lydia Lowe, among others, if you need that spelled out. Maybe stevil will weigh in as well.
Two things that might shed some light for you: The area median income for Boston for a family of four is $72,000. Any program that targets resources to households at 80% AMI are not even close to aiming at poverty. And the federal government sets the requirements for eligibility for CDBG funds, not the city and not the Mayor. He is very appropriately trying to secure these funds -- as any mayor should -- but the eligibility requirements themselves do not show anything at all about his commitment to anything. I thought we covered this kind of thing yesterday.
And please don't assume my support of Flaherty, and don't assume you know what I may or may not have asked him to explain. I was a supporter of Yoon, and have made many critiques of the Mayor, but have not made any public moves to support Flaherty -- at least not yet. You never know what might happen -- maybe spending way too much time deflating fluff from the Menino camp will push me firmly into the Flaherty camp.
I'm done.
wonder how long you're done for.
Francesca,
How incredibly condescending. I'm tempted to drop it at that, but several or your assertions need to be corrected.
The work of JCS doesn't count because it's connected to the evil BRA? Thousands of LOW-INCOME people get education, training and jobs each year through JCS -- should we abolish that too?
The point about CDBG, which you might have gotten had you read carefully instead of coming to a conclusion the minute you saw the JCS acronym, is that the Mayor has gone BEYOND the federal requirement, and uses the money ONLY for programs with an anti-poverty focus. Funding for other programs, including job training, has much lower income requirements.
Kevin McCrea? Really? He made one inaccurate charge after another during the course of the campaign -- none of what he charged was ever actually substantiated. And Shirley Kressel? Has she EVER approved of ANY development project? No -- she "on principal" goes to BRA meetings simply to say she disagrees with development. These are your "objective" sources? And the Globe, last story Donovan Slack wrote, she said to a key informant -- I happened to be in the room to hear it -- "I'm not going to verify the facts, I don't have time, I'm on a deadline'.
The Public Health Commission's work on racism and health disparities -- undertaken with the Mayor's full support -- is well known, throughout Boston and nationally. Dr. Ferrer and Dr. Nancy Norman have been asked to present on the success of the very programs you flippantly dismissed around the country. I'm not "making it up."
As a progressive, I'm glad to hear you haven't (yet) fallen for the "Floon" charade. And hopefully you, along with other undecided voters, will make a decision for who to support for reasons other than a blogging site.
Most of McCrea's charges were substantiated.
McCrea said the BRA sold a parcel of city-owned land to a city employee at a huge discount (loss for the city). It turned out that yes- the city had sold a parcel of land to the BRA-connected guy at a huge discount, as part of a "program" that nobody had ever heard of and by which only three or four other transactions had been conducted.
McCrea also said that the city had agreed to extend a tax exemption for One Beacon St after the building was sold by the original 121a Nonprofit Development corporation. It turned out that, yes- the building had been sold twice since the inking of the original agreement, and the city signed off on the continuance of the 121a arrangement. The city claimed they had no choice, but the law itself seems to suggest otherwise.
Of course, McCrea's general charge, that the BRA is capricious and opaque, seems to be a sentiment shared by most Boston residents.
That's all?
First you really haven't responsed to any of the substance.
I don't think I actually made comments supporting the development side of the BRA. I again pose my original question -- because you personally dislike the BRA, does that mean it's fair to discredit and write-off the affectiveness of JCS?
Also that "program" you refered to is documented as having existed before the case you point to and is still in existence now. Again the condescending tone there not quite necessary.
And if you and Kevin McCrea have the law on your side so strongly on the One Beacon St. case, why has no one legally challenged the city and won? And please don't try and concoct a story about how the Mayor has appointed or intimidated every judge in the city, because that would be laughable.
And that general sentiment of the public you speak of --have you randomly sampled and polled a cross-section of residents? Or is that just you making your personal opinion sound grandeur?
I wish you had been done, because while I showed a comprehensive approach to serving residents of color by meeting their needs...you chose to nitpick at the fact you don't like the BRA.
They are trying
But who has the time and money to challenge the city and the BRA on this? The city's position is that the 121A transfers automatically with each new owner. The law seems to indicate differently and as a matter of fact the mayor has to sign off each time one of these is transferred (10 St. James is another example). The fact that the mayor has to sign off would indicate that the "automatic" transfer is no such thing - but hey - if you sign off on these you may not directly collect any money - but how much you want to bet the new owners become avid supporters of the mayor and frequent contributors to hiw campaign? And then people wonder why an incumbent mayor hasn't been unseated since the BRA came into being. Corruption - perhaps not in the strict sense - but legalized corruption it is.
Looking over the activity on
Looking over the activity on this blog today, I have to give kbjp some credit, because at least she posted things her candidate of choice has done, and showed support of whom she is giving her vote.
It seems like a lot of people criticized her, both personally and because they disagreed with her content, however, none of the comments in response to hers gave time and material to what their [assumed] candidate of choice, Flaherty, has done or has a plan to do if elected.
Personally, I have to be voting FOR something/someone, not just against something/one else.
So kudos to kbjp for the hard fight on here today!
Even if...
Most of his/her facts were made up, innuendo or completely debunked as statistical manipulation?
kudos to the tag team, but
here is why I think it is time for a different administration.
Any charge that Sam Yoon joined Flaherty for a paycheck is absurd. Like him or not, he is smart and credentialed, and will have job offers no matter the outcome of this election. Yoon and Flaherty joined forces because they believe the Mayor has been in office too long, and that they, as councilors, were stymied and frustrated by their inability to influence the practice of government and delivery of services in this city. While I was impressed with Flaherty when he first ran for at-large years ago, my interest was renewed at one of his infamous kitchen table meetings, and I was reminded that he too is smart and credentialed. Hmmm, interesting pairing. Oh, and, they first teamed up to support Obama (but they are more racist than Menino?)
I have been around long enough to experience my own shift on issues that reflect a dissonance with the Menino administration. As a BPS parent I was against charter schools until recently. As I near the end of my involvement with the schools, I realize that still too few opportunities exist for families and too little has been accomplished in providing equitable access to the tremendous resources our schools can offer. Menino's 'in-district charters' are no different than pilot schools. The lack of best practice integration, promised 15 years ago through pilots, is a woeful example of the failure of this administration to truly revitalize our schools. (and I must ask, if racism concerns you, how do you feel about elementary seats being added in West Roxbury to satisfy middle-class white parents, while in Roxbury and Dorchester there are not enough seats for existing students, but there is no plan to expand access?).
And TMMs continued talk about neighborhood zoning is empty. Yes, there is new zoning in place in some neighborhoods, and historic overlay districts, and language that supports community involvement in the process. But the guy went from a preservation mentality to one where his folks promote zoning by variance, for friends and anyone else close enough to benefit from increased development. Legal decisions against the ZBA/BRA/ISD get no respect from this administration; in fact your tax dollars are expended in efforts to avoid compliance with court orders--just because they can, and will, in order to obscure illegal practices (again, on the race issue you raise--where is zoning likely to be enforced: west roxbury, hyde park; and be ignored: dorchester, roxbury).
Flaherty and Yoon are not be perfect (and yes, I see them as a team, and believe they will work as such if elected), but the most provocative element of their candidacy is this: they buy into an idea that creating a more responsive government means taking the personalities, and name tags out. This is the direct opposite of the TMM ethos, which devolved over 16 years to governance by the select few people he still trusts, and will further merchandise his name (did you catch the emails about the charlie card passes for BPS?).
His name is painted on the street light control box
Near my house. Nuff said. Since when did he start OWNING this city. His name is on everything. He has an ego problem, which is honestly disgusting.
You brought up this
You brought up this concern:
"(and I must ask, if racism concerns you, how do you feel about elementary seats being added in West Roxbury to satisfy middle-class white parents, while in Roxbury and Dorchester there are not enough seats for existing students, but there is no plan to expand access?)."
Dr. Johnson, drafted a 5-zone proposal to re-zone the school districts -- quite appropriately she brought this proposal to 5 (or more, can't quite remember) community meetings. Several very legitimate concerns were raised and her team has gone back to the drawing table on this one. This plan is actually designed to expand access for residents in the communities you site as needing it. And the overall percentage of students of color in the BPS is 85%, so it's hard to argue the addition of seats would only benefit white students. Mattapan and Roxbury both had two new k-8 programs open this year -- increasing access doesn't only come in increasing a school's seats, but also in the creating of new schools.
And in fact, Dr. Johnson to date is said to be "exploring options" to add seats to schools in demand. If you've got a school that is working, and have the capacity to add seats there because it is a highly chosen school across the city, and you have 85% of students in the entire school system of color, and you have schools in Dot and Roxbury that aren't working so well -- I don't see how these seats are only for white students. The majority of students who attend BPS in West Roxbury is still students of color.
Also, you make it seem like BPS is turning away students in Roxbury and Dorchester, they may not be getting their first choice school, but plenty of people don't get first choice schools, it's a lottery process.
Just to clarify your facts
the k-8 schools you mention are not 'new'. The Young Achievers moved to Mattapan and acquired/merged with the King middle school, although YA was always a k-8 school--I was a 'founding' parent at the school. I am not sure what the net increase in elementary seats (if any) amounts to, but they did get most of the middle school students from the King(an incredible challenge for an essentially small school with a very specific culture). You also mention the merger of the Lewis middle school and the Higginson elementary. Again, I am not sure if this expanded elementary access, but it did create another k-8. Bottom line is these new k-8 schools probably added few seats to the pool.
The demand for k-8 seats is tremendous because so many parents see few opportunities in the middle schools, and struggle with the 'gap' year they anticipate before their kids might get into an exam school. But this is an issue that has existed for 15 plus years, well within the Mayor's stated commitment to fix the schools. He has always played the issue politically (creating k-8s at the Murphy and Kilmer) but made no fundamental inroads in resolving the primary issue (lack of faith in middle schools or an explicit structural change in moving toward more seamless transition years). Pilot schools were a BTU response to ed reform at the state level which created charters--not an innovation of Menino. Indeed, it is again political that his grandchildren left the O'Hearn for a charter school and he now supports some quasi pilot-charter-public option. This is chaotic at best, but compounded by the fact that BPS has never fully understood the logistical, organizational and funding demands of 'new schools'. Charters seem to both invest in and deliver on-the-ground capability.
As for the the assignment plan criteria for school placement (not really a lottery, as you suggest), I would feel more comfortable about the equity of the thing if I did not know that politicians have access to the system as a form of constituent services. The 5 zone plan failed out of the gate because there were not enough seats for children residing within in multiple areas created by the plan. Again political-- as Carol Johnson (highly regarded by many) was forced to resolve transportation costs (ie, busing) in the budget, and attempted to do so (if haphazardly), only to be left hanging. By the Mayor, who can't wrap his head around the truth that too many children do not have access to quality schools and therefore he has failed on the merits. Had he succeeded (with ample time I might add), he would have created a credible opportunity to comply with his constituents who demand neighborhood schools.
Some more clarifications
BPS did not attempt the five-zone plan to address any educational inequities. It was trying to cut down on bus routes to save money (as opposed to the eight-zone plan that some committee came up with under Payzant).
If anything, the five-zone plan increased inequities, and it was ultimately tabled because it left Dorchester and Roxbury with an inordinate number of failing schools.
By shrinking the zones, you're basically reducing the sort of internal-Metco system that lets parents try to shop for a better school. I know people in Hyde Park who were thrilled at the idea of being shifted over to the Roslindale/West Roxbury zone, because it would have given them a shot at the Kilmer and Lyndon.
For what it's worth, two of West Roxbury's four elementary schools (our friends the Kilmer and the Lyndon) are, in fact, majority white and, trust me, there is a fair amount of resentment in the neighborhood about "outsiders" taking up "their" seats (which as parents of a kid at one West Roxbury school, we've never been hit with directly since, we don't look like "outsiders," being white and all).