Felix Arroyo

Felix Arroyo: Anti-immigrant tide helped do me in

adamg — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:09:23 -0500

New England Ethnic Newz interviews the former Boston City Councilor on Boston politics, ethnic politics, his past and future and the last election - which he says he lost in part because of immigrant haters, not because he was in love and disorganized and ran the world's lowest-key campaign in an election that the local dailies pretty much completely ignored:

The fact that you were not re-elected, could that be part of an overall anti-immigrant sentiment?

Arroyo: The anti-immigrant factor is definitely one reason, in particular because I assumed a leading role in the struggle for immigrant rights. ...

Disorganized former city councilor wants to organize people

adamg — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:31:24 -0500

Felix Arroyo, who lost a re-election campaign because he was out-organized by other candidates (in part because he was in love), now plans to start a group to organize Boston residents to get more involved in city affairs, the Jamaica Plain Gazette reports:

... Arroyo intends to start a non-profit organization to educate and empower residents. The theme, he said, will be "one Boston for all ... [with a] common agenda of justice and equity." ...

No, not at all like a campaign organization.

Lovestruck Arroyo blames defeat on Cupid

adamg — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:38:24 -0500

Gosh, the Globe has an entire two whole stories today on this week's Boston City Council election, or roughly the same number of stories as it ran in the weeks before the election (good work, McGrory). In any case, one of the stories looks at Felix Arroyo's defeat, and includes this:

Arroyo said yesterday that he had fewer campaign workers, less money, and was much less organized than in previous campaigns. He also admits he has been a little distracted.

"I'm in love," he said. "Love distracts you."

Arroyo's fiancee, Selene Acosta, a gregarious woman from Venezuela, volunteered during his 2003 campaign and accompanied him on many campaign appearances this year.

Love will keep them together - especially now that he won't be distracted by city business:

It's Murphy AND Connolly; Arroyo learns what happens on rainy days

adamg — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:20:13 -0500

Winner:

Loser:

Big winner:

Winner:

Guy whose picture I didn't happen to take at the Roslindale Day Parade:
John Connolly

Steve Murphy proved tonight he's the Model T of elected officials: He can get elected to anything as long as it's an at-large seat on the Boston city council. He came in second tonight, giving him one of the four at-large seats on the city council.

Felix Arroyo, meanwhile, proved that, on a rainy day, when not even 14% of registered voters show up, organization DOES matter, as in: If you don't have much of one, you're going to wonder what the hell happened.

And what the hell happened tonight was that John Connolly, who had an incredibly organized get-out-the-vote effort, especially in his home base of Roslindale and West Roxbury, simply got more votes than Arroyo (who came in second two years ago, which led to a brief Arroyo-for-mayor boomlet). If the flap over Connolly's anonymous anti-Murphy mailings had an impact, in the end, it didn't matter (except to possibly give Steve Murphy some sympathy votes).

Of course, above everybody else sits, again, Michael Flaherty. Not really a surprise there, and you know he already has people thinking what colors to use on the "Flaherty for Mayor" signs. The only question is whether he dares to take on Tom Menino in two years or waits until 2013 - when, who knows, maybe he'll be facing Sam Yoon, who also got re-elected tonight.

Of course, the big question is what this all means for actual policy making in Boston. Granted, we have a "weak" city council, which makes it hard for them to actually get anything done, but they do have the power to hold hearings and get to vote on the mayor's budget, so it'll be interesting to read in the GateHouse and college papers what happens (since we obviously can forget about the Globe and Herald writing much of anything about the council).

In other races:

Mark Ciommo beat Gregory Glennon to win the Allston/Brighton district council race by a roughly 60/40 margin (props to Michael Pahre for calling that margin). He takes over for Jerry McDermott, who moved out of town.

In Dorchester, Maureen Feeney easily maintained her position as the only woman on the council, swamping Michael Cote.

Charles Yancey did even better against J.R. Rucker in his Dorchester/Mattapan district.

It was Chuck Turner over Carlos Henriquez in Roxbury in another trouncing.

All other district races were uncontested.

Vote numbers from the city elections department.

A wooden spoon to his behind

adamg — Tue, 22 May 2007 08:57:40 -0400

The Optimistic Patriot doesn't get why City Councilor Felix Arroyo wants to ban spanking; he says a little paddling didn't hurt him:

... My mom used a wooden spoon on me. She wasn't a big fan of waiting till dad got home. Looking back on my spankings, I must say that I deserved every one of them. It wasn't a lot of fun getting spanked, but our little girl will get a few swats as she grows too. What my mom and I both know is that we're parents first, which means having a disciplined and respectful child is your number one priority. There's nothing wrong with giving a kid a few good whacks when they've earned them.

Maybe Felix Arroyo should be working on this first

adamg — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:30:47 -0400

Perhaps, before trying to add thousands of immigrants to the city voter rolls, he should first help ensure the elections department can handle them.

Also, Mr. Mayor? Saying you're "delighted" by a report that finds one of your departments is unable to fulfill its most basic requirements because of years of underfunding just seems kind of, oh, impolitic.

Discuss, vote on Arroyo's immigrant proposal.

Non-citizen immigrants should be allowed to vote in Boston municipal elections

adamg — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:15:28 -0400

* Yes\n* No\n* Don't know\n

Who polices the police?

adamg — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 22:13:12 -0400

Mass. Marrier considers a civilian review board to look at how the police operate, why the police don't want it, and why the public should insist on it.

Why can't Felix Arroyo drive?

adamg — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 22:36:57 -0500

Two years before he runs for re-election (and possibly four years before he runs for mayor), Felix Arroyo quietly let the world know on Friday that a) He's contesting some back auto-excise taxes, b) he owes $25 for a missed 1997 property-tax payment and c) he no longer drives a car:

I also have an unfavorable driving record (I assure you that this does not and will never include operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol). I am now using public transportation.

Alas, his statement doesn't say what he did do to rack up that record.

Update: Sources tell the Hub (ooh, we have sources!):

It isn't to do with alcohol or anything of the like. He's just a crappy driver, and he knows it, so he's stopped driving. Actually, a pretty good policy.

Felix Arroyo's campaign contributors

adamg — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:48:41 -0500

The Globe recently reported that City Councilor Michael Flaherty, who topped the at-large ballot last month and who might run for mayor in 2009, raised two-thirds of his money from outside Boston.

Interesting as far as it goes, but dagnabbit, why didn't they also tell us where Felix Arroyo's money came from? After all, he came in second on the ballot last month and he might run for mayor in 2009.

So naturally, I downloaded Arroyo's financial records from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance so I could see the rest of the story.