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Campaign notes: Floon flunks BRA on Harvard; Menino gets Latino endorsement
By adamg on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 7:47am
Floon finally realizes there are better backdrops for press conferences than City Hall, travels to the Brighton Mills Shopping Center this morning to denounce the way the BRA "steamrolls" neighborhoods.
Reacting to some insulting BRA e-mails about Allston/Brighton activists, Flaherty and Yoon will hook up with Allston/Brighton council candidate Alex Selvig and community activist Harry Mattison at the Harvard-owned mall, specifically in front of the abandoned K-Mart at 9:30 a.m.
"Residents of Allston and Brighton have a positive vision for a diverse and thriving new community where Harvard-owned parking lots and empty buildings now sit," Mattison said in a statement released by Floon. "We need a City Hall that supports this vision, demands Harvard's cooperation, and never mocks the dedicated citizens of Boston."
Flaherty and Yoon would break the BRA up into two separate agencies, one for planing and one for economic development.
Meanwhile, the Menino camp reports the endorsement of the Latino group ¿Oíste? and the Coalition of New American Voters.
"We endorse Mayor Menino for his significant commitment to neighborhood revitalization and the development of affordable housing, ¿Oíste? said in a statement. "We also acknowledge his effective response to the federal lawsuit demanding changes in the electoral procedures in Boston."
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Comments
For it before he was against
For it before he was against it.
And that's why I won't be voting for Floon. I'm no fan of Mumbles, but how cynical does the Floon campaign think I am?
Just because he widely swings his platform and talking points to the opposite of the mayor when it was convenient for him, doesn't mean I'll blindly vote for him. Where was this "leadership" months ago? Years ago?
I'm surprised Yoon went with his team up ploy.
Imperfect candidates for sure
Yeah, both of the choices suck this year. But I have more of a problem with what appears to be widespread corruption than an occasional change in position. BTW, It's okay for a person to change his/her position on something as they learn new facts.
widespread corruption?
let us count the indictments, oh right, there aren't any
Like the guy said above me,
Like the guy said above me, we have to wait and see about any wrong doing, fault, and if it was malicious or not.
That said, I really, truly feel that we won't be getting anything different with Floon. He's whispering in the ears of those who want change, but just doesn't have the record or history to stand on.
I don't think there will be a difference between old mumbles and new mumbles besides a honeymoon period and trying to rediscover the wheel. Once he finds his ride, he's off and it'll be BAU.
Hoping for a real candidate next time here.
I agree that they're both similar
But with Flaherty one could hope that there will be less patronage jobs, that they may dismantle the BRA, and that the Mayor's office will lose some of it's power. Menino's machine needs to be shut down. Otherwise I feel like we'll be in the same situation 4 years from now, with Menino (or his appointed successor) running yet again on the status quo.
Could hope, but we already
Could hope, but we already know he's transparently jockying to get students to come out to vote for him based on later bars, later buses, and later restaurants. I guarantee you that get's dropped the second he's sworn in. Then what?
I just think a better candidate will have a better chance next time; and that less damage will be done by letting Menino stay another term; rather then entrench someone who I feel wants to be the next Menino.
Endorsement - Anons for Menino
Anons for Menino - why is it that just about every pro Menino comment on this board posts anonymously and many/most of the regular identifiable posters - while perhaps not pro-Flaherty - are in the 16 years is enough camp.
Too lazy to register? Either
Too lazy to register?
Either way, a pseudonym or anon is all the same to me. Unless you're posting as your name, with contact info, it's all moot to me.
Actually
There is a way to register and email another user on UH. If you email me with a reasonable question I'll be happy to share my name and have done so before (trust me - A LOT of people know who I am including many at City Hall where I don't work) - I'm not hiding but don't want to post my name for every jerk on the internet. So if you have a rational point to make - feel free to contact me!
You mean against it before he was for it
If you're talking about Menino and charter schools- you know the answer to his failing school system- you must mean 'against it before he was for it'. Oh yeah, and his "in-district" BS was quite novel and innovative, just like his eye for architectural design. By the way, did he get life experience diplomas from elementary school, high school, and college? No way he could pass the MCAS right now.
Flip, flop much?
Arroyo promoted this same effort in 2004 and Flaherty did not support it:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/art...
Flaherty has flip flopped now on the BU Bio Lab, affirmative action, the death penalty, and now the BRA's powers. This guy needs to be called out on this.
So. What.
You're an up-and-coming politician. You want to be head of the legislation in Boston, which is pretty much just the go-to guys for the Mayor to get his way. Do you a) fight the Mayor tooth-and-nail on everything or b) represent the Mayor's best interests in the council until you become the chairman?
Obviously, if you want to succeed you do B and you tell your electorate that voting for you will help the largely successful Mayor succeed even more himself.
Now, it's been quite a few years and the Mayor is looking weak on a number of issues, possible strong-arming within his administration has made him vulnerable to public criticism, and you want to succeed him as Mayor. Do you a) run against him by saying that he's doing a great job and you will continue your previous positions of everything the Mayor wants, the Mayor gets or b) identify crucial issues that you believe echo the demands of the public and take up those positions, even if they oppose your previous Mayor-friendly stances that got you to the chair position in the first place?
Obviously, if you want to succeed you choose B. AND if you want *any* chance of continuing to carry the popularity into a second election, you FOLLOW THROUGH on your new positions, regardless of what you said before as a councilman looking to help the previous Mayor.
So. What's your point? He took up the causes YEARS ago that he felt would help the then Mayor in order to build a united City Hall/City Council that would get the Mayor's objectives done. The Mayor has done fine, but is starting to go off the rails a bit. If you want to succeed him in his position, you can't maintain these positions and have to speak the words of those who find objection with the Mayor's problems.
I'd have MORE of an issue with him if he *didn't* change his position to better fit the electorate who doesn't want Menino in charge any more. There are two types of politicians: those that are set in their way and you vote for them because your views are the same (or close enough) to them, and those that will best represent the people who will vote for them by taking up whatever position is necessary to fit the most voters.
Personally, I like the latter type. They don't necessarily give up *ALL* of their convictions, but at least they demonstrate the capability of listening to the people's opinions on the issues. It's next to impossible to find a stuck-in-their-way person who will represent ALL of your druthers, but when a politician tries to represent MOST of your opinions, then at least you know he's attempting to fit the majority instead of force the majority to fit to him.
Look, I think the flip
Look, I think the flip flopping argument is the biggest farce in the world. Opinion change, and new ideas are born with experience.
That said, Floons' reversals have come at a very politically expedient time. That flat out tells me that I don't really know as much as I though about him, nor do I know which way he'll manage his house.
They positions grew out of a campaign, and not from good work on the council, and that worry's me. It's the reason McCain lost all respect, flailing about, trying to sell himself with the right message, the right talking points, the right brand; instead of really telling us what he was all about.
I'm sorry but
Oiste endorsed Menino because of his "adequate response to the federal lawsuit re: the electoral process". So let me get this straight - Menino's election department violates the voting rights of thousands of immigrant voters in Boston, then drags his feet to make bilingual ballots permanent and you applaud him?! There goes my annual donation.
Menino's BRA literally institutionalizes the power dynamics in this town in the form of development and everyone on this thread is whining because Flaherty didn't get there fast enough on this position. You can have the 'devil you know' and that's exactly what you will get. 4 more years of Menino's divisive development process that keeps the toxic housing environment in this town going - ie, everyone wasting their energy fighting with each other while the BRA let's the clock run out on another affordable housing opportunity.
Flaherty ain't perfect but he is there now. Menino is never going to get there. And he sure isn't going to change the community process for development if you vote for him AGAIN.
Globe covered the press conference
Here.
And again, it forgets to link to the BRA correspondence on Harry Mattison's blog, even though the whole reason for the press conference was disparaging comments in those e-mails.