Josh Kraft, the billionaire son of Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, launched an ambitions marketing campaign for Mayor in Boston immediately, calling for hire management, a lift to inexpensive housing improvement and a pause on town’s controversial White Stadium venture.
“Because I love this city and its people, I am excited to declare my candidacy to be the next Mayor of Boston,” Kraft, 57, mentioned throughout his marketing campaign launch on the historic Prince Corridor in Dorchester.
In his name for hire management, Kraft mentioned he’ll succeed the place Mayor Michelle Wu has failed.
“Mayor Wu promised us rent control three years ago, but I will deliver it,” he mentioned of his opponent.
Kraft additionally promised to convey an finish to the “human tragedy that is Mass and Cass.”
The previous President and CEO of the Boy’s and Ladies Golf equipment of Boston mentioned he’ll work with individuals in the neighborhood and state to resolve the issues there, the place open-air drug use and crime has festered since tents had been ordered down two years in the past by way of a metropolis ordinance championed by Wu.
“Listen, addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence,” he mentioned, “among Boston’s prize possessions is a robust and resilient recovery community who prove that one day at a time.”
Kraft’s present job is as president of the New England Patriots Basis, the household’s philanthropic arm.
Kraft additionally took goal on the controversial construct out of motorcycle lanes throughout town. He mentioned he would pause all new bike lane building and on the similar launch an effort to scale back congestion. A “common sense” visitors plan, he referred to as it.
On White Stadium, Kraft mentioned it’s time to place the brakes on the venture, a partnership between Boston Unity Soccer Companions, and and the Wu administration to rehab the 75-year-old facility in Franklin Park.
Initially proposed as a $100 million venture with town kicking in $50 million, the venture has greater than doubled and the town’s portion ballooned to $100 million and counting.
This comes because the push to profit a start-up ladies’s skilled soccer workforce has confronted intense native opposition from neighborhood members and stakeholders within the public area of Franklin Park. The venture is the topic of a lawsuit filed in superior court docket.
Among the many members of Boston Soccer Unity Companions is Linda Pizzuti, spouse of John Henry, proprietor of the Boston Globe and Purple Sox. Pizzuti herself is called CEO of the Globe.
“I think that White Stadium needs a pause for two reasons: one, when you invest a $100 million into a public project… that primarily benefits an private entity, you need to take a pause and really look at it,” Kraft mentioned.
Secondly, he cited “consistent, unequivocal community concerns,” which he mentioned must be heard, particularly in gentle of the $200 million price ticket.
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