Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge, who oversaw town’s contentious bus and bike lane enlargement, is departing the Wu administration on the finish of the yr within the newest staffing shakeup main as much as the mayor’s second time period.
Franklin-Hodge was appointed chief of streets by Mayor Michelle Wu in December 2021, and after serving in that position for everything of the mayor’s first time period in workplace, is not going to be returning for the second time period of the Wu administration.
Wu confirmed Franklin-Hodge’s departure Friday, saying in an announcement that she was “grateful to Jascha for his years of service to the City of Boston in making our streets safer and more connected for our residents.”
“Under Franklin-Hodge’s leadership, our departments tackled longstanding challenges that helped improve and deliver basic city services and infrastructure more quickly than ever before,” Wu mentioned. “Over the past 4 years, we constructed extra miles of protected infrastructure than ever earlier than, repaved 102 miles of roadway, accelerated processes to construct and repair sidewalks, improved trash pickup and snow elimination, and modernized parking meters and streets administration.
“Jascha’s leadership has set a foundation for continued improvement and service delivery, and we are so grateful for his lasting impact,” the mayor added.
The mayor’s workplace mentioned Franklin-Hodge resigned and can be leaving on the finish of the yr. No announcement has been made about who will change him.
Franklin-Hodge was paid $191,653 final yr, per metropolis payroll information.
“Serving the City of Boston as chief of streets has been the honor of a lifetime,” Franklin-Hodge mentioned in an announcement. “I’m grateful to Mayor Wu for giving me the chance. Authorities is a relay-race, however I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve been capable of ship and the group we’ve constructed.
“I joined this administration because I believe in Mayor Wu and I’ve been happy to have the opportunity to serve this incredible leader who has given us the space to not only improve the infrastructure of our streets, but to make them safer and help people get around more effectively.”
The town’s widespread implementation of bus and bike lanes below Franklin-Hodge’s management has drawn backlash from residents, grew to become a marketing campaign challenge within the mayoral race, and led to a 30-day assessment final spring that concluded the engagement from the Streets Cupboard was “heavy-handed.”
“During the 30-day review meetings, we heard consistent feedback that project communications and community engagement were inadequate, that decisions seemed pre-determined, and that processes too often did not achieve consensus, contributing to a loss of community trust,” said a metropolis memo issued on the conclusion of the assessment final April.
“We heard feedback that the tone of some engagements was very heavy-handed and relevant information was not shared, questioning the veracity of the process.”
Mayor Wu beforehand introduced that she could have a brand new chief of employees in her second time period. Tiffany Chu is departing her position as Wu’s high deputy, and will likely be changed by Clare Kelly, town’s director of intergovernmental relations, who will start her new place on Nov. 17.
Wu was reelected to a second time period on this week’s election.
