Opinion :: Editorial
South End News municipal endorsementsWednesday Oct 28, 2009 South End News would first like to thank the many candidates who made this year’s municipal elections so noteworthy, including those who did not receive our endorsement-in such a crowded field many good candidates will not earn office. We hope that does not deter them from continuing their efforts in the future. City elections often fall by the wayside in the eyes of voters, but this year’s candidates organized, lost sleep, and pushed the dialogue for the betterment of Boston. We hope voters will take cue and use the ballot on Nov. 3.
South End News endorses Thomas Menino for mayor.
Menino accomplishments are many and his love of the South End is true. Menino has earned your vote for another term. Mr. Mayor, however, should be on notice that his opponents have raised several important and valid issues that he needs to address.
* The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) should be carefully examined. Much is made of this authority and its use of power. City Councilors and mayoral candidates Michael Flaherty, Sam Yoon and Kevin McCrea are certainly going to continue their call for the end of the BRA. Menino has suggested widening its powers; we hope he responds to the public’s outcry for more meaningful transparency in the BRA, not just public meetings, accessible documents and open decisions.
* The culture of City Hall. Do the ends justify the means? Polls reflect that many Bostonians have personally met the mayor and had a positive interaction with him. Some City Hall insiders report of a culture ruled by a benevolent dictator. Whatever the truth may be, the mayor should take steps toward more transparency, empowering more department heads, and backing up his e-mail.
Challenger Michael Flaherty (along with running mate Sam Yoon) raised many important issues in this campaign and is a valuable public servant. All too often, however, Flaherty defined his candidacy by comparing himself to what he described as Menino’s flaws. Flaherty needed to prove he was better than good, and his vision for Boston went beyond his being "not Menino."
The field of at-large candidates is rich with talent, but we, like you, can only pick four. Our picks eschew simply resorting to vote-getting ideas to focus on policies that invest in Boston’s future. Investment in at-risk youth, educating all Bostonians, job training, youth hiring projects and CORI reform are just of few of the ideas these candidates have advanced.
Each also brings a good sense of the city economy and budget process. All have said they recognize the need for reform of PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) and the BRA, although they don’t all agree on how to get there and know that this reform won’t come without work. But, given their prior experience in government and their diverse viewpoints, they have a strong leg up in reshaping the voice of the Council.
South End News endorses John Connolly, Felix Arroyo, Tito Jackson and Ayanna Pressley for at-large city council.
Connolly: Not only does he have a passion for education and the environment, two important aspects of "investing" in ourselves, he now has experience after serving his first term. He knows the bureaucracy, and will help new councilors navigate the arcane government processes that sometimes trip up reform. His understanding of progressive issues aligns well with the general view of South Enders. He deserves another term.
Arroyo: He speaks firsthand of the repercussions of youth violence and the importance of role models. Arroyo had positive role models in his parents and Robert Lewis Jr. while growing up as a South End Baseball player, and has acted as one with his efforts in coaching young men in Jamaica Plain. He has served as an aide on the Council before, shown the ability to organize for those whose voices aren’t heard with his work at SEIU Local 615, and stresses the importance of auditing where and to whom the dollars the city spends go. Given the challenges the city currently faces, he will be an asset in that regard.
Jackson: Jackson likes to speak of being the only candidate who has brought jobs to Massachusetts. We’d like to see him bring jobs to Boston, and particularly to the South End. His economic strengths will complement his social understanding. Like many of the strong candidates in this field, he understands that diversity in jobs and economic opportunity is needed if a city is to thrive. Affordable housing indices should be based on the realities of Boston, not the realities of Greater Boston. His ideas on how to fight homelessness and hunger are impressive, and he would be a fresh voice on the Council.
Pressley: She often talks about advocacy when on the stump, and she will be an advocate for all Bostonians in city government. Pressley will speak for residents of Pine Street Inn and Rosie’s Place, as well as their neighbors on Upton, West Springfield, and Tremont streets. She has experience working in government as a Congressional aide, and is committed to Boston as a homeowner in Dorchester, despite being born elsewhere. She has overcome numerous challenges in her life, many of which would have derailed a lesser person, and will bring a strong voice to the Council.
South End News endorses Carlos Henriquez for District 7 city councilor.
Henriquez: Henriquez faces a tough challenge in contesting incumbent District 7 Councilor Chuck Turner. Despite being engulfed in a federal corruption probe, Turner has maintained much of his support in the district, as evidenced by his preliminary finish. However, we believe the time has come to give the district a new voice. Henriquez volunteers in mentoring young South Enders, understands the issues that face residents of his district because he sees them daily, has experience as a former council aide, and brings a level-headed passion. He has ties to both mayoral camps, and will be able to work with Boston’s new mayor to bring positive change to District 7.
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