Boston mayoral hopefuls criticize Kim Janey’s decision to delay Boston’s reopening

Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s decision to delay Boston’s reopening by three weeks behind the state’s plans is drawing fire from some of her mayoral rivals.

“I believe the reopening timeline put forth by the state is safe for Boston to adhere to,” said City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George, a mayoral candidate who also tweeted a similar sentiment. “Our infection rates, hospitalization rates, and vaccination rates are in a good spot. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road and allow our struggling workforce and small businesses to suffer.”

Janey earlier this week cited the fact that Boston — by far the state’s largest city — is denser and home to more vulnerable populations. She announced the city’s reopening schedule would move forward, but in most cases three weeks behind the state’s, meaning most changes would come in June, rather than May. Asked about the opponents’ criticism, Janey’s office on Thursday reiterated that point.

“I’d turn the question around and ask why Councilor Essaibi-George and others don’t feel a delay is justified,” Janey spokesman Nick Martin said, saying the city is following the same metrics former Mayor Martin Walsh used in previous reopening decisions.

“An economic recovery cannot happen without a public health recovery, and Mayor Janey’s approach aims to balance both,” he continued, adding, “We believe a slightly more cautious approach is warranted with Boston’s reopening, and we will not play politics with people’s health.”

Essaibi-George in a statement noted the situation this puts city businesses in.

“Somerville and Quincy are reopening and I personally don’t want to see my neighbors driving over bridges to enjoy a meal in their restaurants,” she said. “I want them enjoying a meal right here in our city.”

City Councilor Andrea Campbell, another candidate this year for the big office, said, “It’s important we’re doing what is necessary to keep our communities safe — especially those that have been most impacted and highest risk for COVID-19 — but this further delay in reopening means we need to step up for our small businesses with direct relief and predictability, which has sadly been lacking.”

She continued, “Boston kids lost an additional two weeks of learning because the district didn’t have their act together on in-person learning, and now small business owners are facing the same uncertainty from the administration.”

State Rep. Jon Santiago, another mayoral candidate, stopped short of calling for the city to do away with the delay, but expressed concerns about it.

“We should have transparent benchmarks to provide the predictability that small businesses need right now,” Santiago said in a statement. “It’s the least we owe these businesses who have been through so much.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3t5X5XW