City Council candidates make their case

It’s always good to see civic engagement in action, especially since interest in today’s political scheme of things seems to be on the wane.

Last week’s citywide City Council forum at English High School in Jamaica Plain, hosted collaboratively by Roxbury and Jamaica Plain wards 8, 10, 11, 12 and 18-19, and moderated by NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan, and broadcast live by Boston Neighborhood News, and hosted by the superb Joe Heisler, was exceptional.

A couple of worthy refrains always resonate with me regarding local campaigns: Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s “All politics is local” and U.S. Rep. and former at-large City Councilor Ayanna Pressley’s mantra that municipal government is the government “closest to the people.”

With the exception of Councilor Althea Garrison, who did not attend, I would say that all of the seven citywide, at-large candidates, at the forum exemplified those creeds.

All felt it is an exciting time to serve, and not just because Pressley went on to Congress from the council, but because there remains much work to be done, and other areas that can use some retooling and fine-tuning. The once so-called “weak” council is now showing plenty of muscle, both in raising the issues and in actually getting things done — thanks in part to a collaborative mayor, Marty Walsh, who wants the best for Boston no matter where the good ideas come from.

Previous mayors were not so open to sharing the spotlight when not exclusively on them. Other mayors shamelessly stole credit for the work of some city councilors.

The eight candidates left standing after September’s primary, in order of their vote totals, are Michelle Wu, Annissa Essaibi-George, Michael Flaherty, newcomers Alexandra St. Guillen, Julia Mejia, Althea Garrison who filled Pressley’s seat by virtue of coming in fifth in the last election, and accomplished and thoughtful newcomers Erin Murphy and David Halbert.

There is no Hispanic representation, citywide or district, on the council. No African American man been elected citywide since my husband, Bruce, was elected in 1983. In the last election, women of color comprised a historic bloc on the council. Women seem poised to make even greater inroads in this election.

Sullivan’s first question set the tone for the forum: Name one thing you would do new and different and describe it.

The candidates attending showed great grassroots organizing experience and community-building chops — which is always a value added to any political race.

Halbert’s last job was as an aide to Gov. Deval Patrick. He gave a standout answer to the consternation over payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT payments) that colleges and universities enjoy but don’t always pay. Halbert suggested the PILOT payments should be earmarked in a way that works to the community’s advantage whether supporting transportation or affordable housing.

Mejia’s new and different contribution would be a return to an elected school committee. Boston is the only city or town in the commonwealth that doesn’t have one. Most of the candidates agreed in some form to an elected committee, though others hedged a bit, suggesting a hybrid — though none said how a hybrid plan would work. Flaherty and Murphy were “straight, no chaser” advocates for an elected school committee.

Democracy can be messy but it still works. With all due respect to the anti-elected arguments about stability notwithstanding, the overarching aim for our schools needs to be excellence –and we haven’t seen much of that over the 25 years under the appointed model.

Another long-discarded issue also got a new look in light of Boston’s astronomically high cost of housing. With the exception of Essaibi-George, all of the candidates agreed that rent control should be added to the arsenal of things to consider as a way to reign in out-of-reach rents and to support affordable housing. Flaherty brought up the need to look at the issue again at a recent hearing he chaired with Councilor Kim Janey of Roxbury on the lack of affordability and the real crisis of displacement.

I don’t think anyone sees rent control as an end-all. But looking at old possibilities with fresh eyes is never a bad thing.

Lived experiences also played big roles in informing the candidates on how they approach issues. All came from humble beginnings — where they were either helped by the community or helped to contribute to a making a better community. Flaherty grew up in South Boston public housing, a young Wu stepped in to raise her siblings when tragedy struck her family. Her activism on quality and affordable transportation has been and continues to be a game-changer. The well-rounded St. Guillen, Mejia and Essaibi-George came from immigrant experiences.

Erin Murphy’s family built organizations throughout Dorchester that support community. She has struggled supporting a son who is a victim of the opiate crisis. Halbert is inspired by the accomplishments of his single mom, who juggled family and self-improvement.

When the smoke clears on Nov. 5, only half of the eight candidates will make it, with one waiting in the wings. We can’t lose with these candidates. All who bothered to show up to make their case to the people are already winners.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2C9mpEt