Michelle Wu has an opportunity to be a real “people’s mayor” in her second time period – truly participating the general public and press moderately than via canned statements and softball interviews.
Wu has mastered the artwork of placing out tightly managed messages in her first time period – retreating to secure areas like liberal public radio or pleasant podcasts.
Sufficient of that. This isn’t state media.
As voters get an opportunity to weigh in on the mayor’s race on Tuesday, they deserve a chief govt who is really clear and never afraid to participate in actual debates and difficult questioning.
Wu ought to simply be capable of deal with debates in opposition to her opponent, Josh Kraft earlier than the November ultimate election. But it surely’s seemingly she’ll attempt to discover pleasant venues and moderators to host the debates.
Whereas he was no expert debater, the late Tom Menino was referred to as the “people’s mayor” as a result of he was accessible to voters and the media practically day-after-day of his 5 phrases, making a deep connection to the neighborhoods.
When Menino wasn’t accessible, his loyal press secretary, Dot Joyce, responded to media questions – not a generic “administration spokesperson” afraid to even give their title.
Wu, who labored below Menino at Metropolis Corridor, has not taken the identical tack and has truly alienated herself from a phase of the group that has dared to problem her, like these opposing her White Stadium rebuilding plan.
All the things is a ready assertion or speaking factors or softball interviews.
Her press workplace will usually refer reporters to statements she’s made on different media reveals like her favourite, WGBH.
Wu takes assaults personally and is skinny skinned, dismissing the criticism moderately than attempting to study one thing from her errors. Wu has in reality not admitted a mistake in her 4 years as mayor, even when it’s apparent, like her over growth of motorcycle lanes and the failure to manage the open drug use and crime from Mass and Cass.
If voters have an issue with all these bike lanes and pace bumps and reconfigured roads, she ought to handle it and admit the failings.
And if it’s clear that the White Stadium challenge will price taxpayers nicely over $100 million, she ought to search for one other approach to do it.
The chance for Bostonians is that if Wu does win a second time period – and he or she has a 50-point lead – she will likely be even much less accessible and accountable. That’s actually scary.
