Mayor Menino was called out today in the Globe’s Starts and Stops column for not doing much about the funding crisis and possible severe cuts that may affect the MBTA.
It is true that the Mayor doesn’t have a direct role in deciding the T’s fate – something left to State officials. And, as the article pointed out, Menino has at times made a pitch for the T in the past and advocated for the gas tax hike. But, I think it disheartening that he has not been more active in supporting the interests of his many fellow Bostonians who rely on the T as a lifeline. I think Menino can make a difference here as he has on other critical issues – such as public safety and education.
But while Menino might not be doing much on this issue, his major opponents (Counsellors Flaherty and Yoon), at least as quoted in the article, seemed entirely clueless as to the import and political salience of the MBTA funding crisis for the people they represent. City Counselor Yoon, who fashions himself an Obama-Patrick like consensus builder, seems to conflate actually saying something on critical issues with old school tear-down politics. Here below his rather peculiar avoidance of saying anything meaningful on the issue.
City Counselor Sam Yoon, who is trying to unseat Menino, said he is asked about the T frequently at voter meet-and-greets. But while Yoon criticizes the city for poor coordination on transportation issues, he does not sound like someone willing to lobby the Legislature on behalf of transit riders.
Unlike Menino, he has no position on whether the gas tax should be raised. “My position on that, it’s not relevant,” he said “It doesn’t solve the problem.”
Yoon says traditional politics – which involves candidates taking positions on issues like taxes – is easy compared with the hard work of convening parties together and developing solutions.
“If you take a position, you can count how [much] applause you’ll get and how many boos you’ll get,” he said.
What I don’t understand is how Yoon thinks not taking positions on issues vital to the City he seeks to govern will allow him to gain some momentum in this race. The crisis at the T is in fact a pretty good issue for him to grab and grab now: 1) You have a built in constituency of T riders as an audience – many of whom come from majority-minority neighborhoods, the very places Yoon has to win to have a shot in the preliminary (and remember Menino is very popular in those communities); 2) You know where to find this constituency – i.e. on the T, at the stations, etc….; 3) As the Globe article points out, the Mayor and others aren’t doing much on the issue so you can make it your own and hit them in the process for doing nothing. 4) The issue is live as a part of the wider debate on tax hikes (sales vs. gas, the Governor vs. the legislature), which is something the media is covering closely right now.
When you are a little known Counselor up against a mighty incumbent you have to take some risks and find some ways to get noticed. Yoon should have come out big for gas tax to help the T as a means of preventing fare hikes and maintaining services (and as a fairer means of supporting transit than the sales tax hike). And also brand it what it is – a green tax – and make it part of your campaign to green Boston, a way of capturing the attention of young people and affluent liberals. There is some risk in it – but it looks serious and would have gotten press. The business community is also in favor so the stance could have generated some cash potentially as well.
As an example of how to make the T into a winning issue is the campaign of new Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley. He took Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel’s seat in a recent special election. Quigley did it in part by making mass transit a big issue in his race and aligning it to debates coinciding with his campaign on the federal stimulus package. Check out the online petition website his campaign created. Quigley asked people to join him in telling Congress to provide more transit. Yoon could have done the same, getting people to join him in telling Beacon Hill to fund the T. He still could.
But, as this article shows, I am not sure he or fellow contender Councillor Flaherty are ready for the big time. They certainly don’t see an opportunity when it is staring them in the face. And maybe they also don’t understand what the Mayor’s job is all about. A big part of it is making sure services work for people and businesses. But an equally big slice of the Mayor’s role is advocating for the interests of the City and its residents, particularly on Beacon Hill. Boston is heavily dependent on state and federal assistance. A Mayor who can’t deliver on either Hill will not succeed.
When Yoon says his position on the gas tax doesn’t matter, he is in part right, but only in so much as he sees it as a yes or no answer, which it isn’t. What he obviously doesn’t get is how he could use his position to make a case and build support for things that matter for Boston – and no doubt the T does.
Whatever you can say about Menino, when he does advocate he generally does it well. He just hasn’t done it enough on the MBTA. Lucky for him though, it looks like his challengers won’t be making his seeming lack of urgency around the T a problem for him.
Although you don’t consider me a major candidate, I do have a position on the issue.
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p>In fact, I was out at Park Street Station with On the Move last Thursday helping to hand out flyers and raise awareness of the potential cuts coming to T riders.
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p>Part of building a more green environment and reducing vehicle use is making sure that we have an adequate public transit service, and the proposed cuts are the complete opposite of this.
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p>I hope you take the time to review my website http://www.kevinmccrea.com and perhaps you might consider me worthy of your vote and consideration.
I am sure that none of the other candidates are for cutting T service either. What would you do as mayor on this issue?
Apologies for not making mention of you and other candidates running for Mayor in my post. I was responding to those who were covered in the Globe story I referenced.
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p>I guess the question for you is how can you ensure that your views on these issues get the coverage they deserve.
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p>The MBTA cuts issue has legs (and although the legislature will likely bail them out for now its long-term future still looks harrowing), but to make it work for you in this campaign you will need to be creative about it and be persistent in driving that message home. It needs a street strategy and a policy strategy. The gas tax is part of the solution on transportation issues, but there has to be more because the MBTA needs a radical re-think about its future. To be effective on an issue like this you’ll need to know the ins-outs of its financial difficulties and consider what can be done about it and what can and should a Mayor without direct control on the issues do about it. Protesting cuts will not be enough.
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p>One suggestion would be develop or propose a Community Action Plan for Boston Transit. Consider what the City should do to facilitate transit ridership through incentives and greater accomodation. Enlist local businesses to give rewards/discounts to people who ride the T. Maybe propose a tax benefit for people who buy monthly T passes. Combine this with getting up to Beacon Hill and rallying the legislature to support the T and it starts to look like a package that will get some notice.
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p>I’m just throwing ideas out and they would need more thinking through. Of course you have a race to run so can’t focus on this issue ad nauseum. But you might want to have some of your people sit down with transit advocates and experts to talk about what can be done on T finances and what the City’s role could be. Do it quickly and produce a plan and then take it to the people and the press.
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p>I also did visit your website as you suggested. I liked a lot of what I read and certainly your passion comes through. Its good to see someone run for office telling us what they really think, especially about improving transparency and accountability. My one criticism is that too often your narrative casts City Government in a horribly negative light. Its a bit too cynical for my tastes and I’m not sure that it will inspire people to get involved or just confirm people’s worst impressions.
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p>Thanks for taking the time to respond here. I’m glad your in the race and hope your passion can make a difference.
A few years ago, when I was head of Intergovernmental Relations for the City, funding for upgrades of the “T’s” “Indigo” Line was at the top of the Mayor’s state legislative agenda, and with the leadership of many electeds, funding was awarded and construction has begun to support this important commuter line that travels through Hyde Park, Mattapan and Dorchester. We also filed legislation at one point to create incentives for development along that line, sort of a transit-oriented empowerment zone. Didn’t happen, but the CDCs and other non-profits along the line are working with the city and state to push new development and green space, several projects of which I know are moving forward around the Morton Street stop.
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p>Now that I’m not with city government anymore, I can opine this – the Mayor of Boston, no matter who they may be, has only so much sway with the Legislature. Clearly, this Mayor has called for new revenues for municipalities and fought for local aid and greater regionalism, but the marginal rate of return to any mayor of Boston goes down with each additional issue. There are, as we know, “two” Boston’s, the Boston that everyone is “from” and the “City” that despite its high profile is only 9% of the state’s population (and generates 20-25% of state revenue). Mayoral advocacy only goes so far, especially in tough times.
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p>Mayors have also pushed for years to redo the MBTA formula, for which trips on the “T” are assigned to the originating community, i.e. if you commute to Boston from outside the city, half of your trip is attributed to the originating community, half to the community you depart. If you drive to Forest Hills from Dedham, for example, and park, that’s two trips assessed to Boston, I believe.
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p>Yes, some people reverse commute, but clearly fewer than those who come into Boston. Does anyone think that formula will be changed soon? Doubt it.
Mayor Menino has to pick his battles and as a Boston resident I generally think he has done a solid job of it.
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p>But supporting a strong transit network is a battle worth fighting and one which our Mayor should be at the center of. Transportation issues are critical to the future shape and economic vitality of our City and must be a top priority for its Mayor. I’m not saying the Mayor doesn’t care – I just don’t think transportation has ranked high enough on his priority list and that Boston has suffered because of it.
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p>Over the last quarter decade, much of which coincided with Mayor Menino’s four terms in office, transportation policy has largely been done to Boston and not for Boston and its people. The transportation bureaucracy is of course out of his control, as it is in most major metropolitan areas, but Mayors can find a way to influence the debate if they put their significant bureaucratic and political resources to work. The Mayor just hasn’t done that on transportation.
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p>I think part of this lies with his own sound political instincts to steer clear of trouble. The Big Dig was not a political winner for many so leaving that to state pols of course could be seen as a wise decision.
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p>But we are finally moving past the Big Dig era and Boston needs a vision for a greener and more efficient transit network. The Mayor has the resources to do some thinking and provide that vision and shape the debate like no other municipal leader can. He can walk into any office on Beacon Hill and get a hearing. I’d like to see him try. The City needs it.
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I did forget to mention his advocacy on the Urban Ring as well as support for high-speed rail via the Conference of Mayors’ efforts. He was also a supporter of later “T” hours and expressed his opposition when those hours were cut back.
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p>I would also like him to push the Sox to restore the recently terminated Ruggles to Fenway shuttle. It was a great alternative to the Green Line for getting to the ball park!
A stood with a bunch of fans for about twenty minutes a couple of weeks ago before we figured out that it wasn’t coming. 🙁
This is from Bob Terrell, who has forgotten more about rapid transit in this City than I know. Since they stopped the elevated tracks on the Orange Line down Washington Street I have advocated for a light rail system, and understand that a bus is not a train, and that separate but equal is not equal.
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p>I am for a plan that includes light rail, including areas like Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.
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p>Here’s Bob:
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p>Hey folks,
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p> Just an update on today’s press conference in Dudley Sq. Attached please see the press releases from ON THE MOVE and the Washington Street Corridor Coalition.
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p> I think we made an impression. We spoke directly to Gov.Patrick, streessed the need for a light rail alternative and asked for a meeting with him. We spoke to Sec.of Transportation Aliosi and reminded him that this was being announced with no public process.
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p> With the help of Rep. Byron Rushing we hope to have a meeting with Gov.Patrick soon. Additional comments by Reps. Rushing and Gloria Fox reminded everyone that this is a part of a long effort by groups like the WSCC and others to get major transit improvements from downtown to Mattapan sq. Also that the delay was not with neighborhood residents but the transit authority itself!! Rep.Fox reminded everyone that light rail is still our major objective. Rep. Rushing insisted that the Silver Phase III tunnel be killed!!
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p> Additional calls to the Governor’s office insisiting that he meet with the Washington Street Corridor Coalition and other groups to discuss this Light Rail/Silver Line issue would be very helpful.
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p> The WSCC will be meeting this Thursday at 6pm at the Episcopal church of St.Augustine-St. martin,31 lenox street in Roxbury( between Washington Street and Shawmut ave.) If you want to help develop our presentation for Gov.Patrick and other strategies dealing with the replacement service/silver line issue, feel free to attend our board meeting.
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p>STAY TUNED for more informatiom.Thanks, Bob Terrell
Most people who live in the area don’t want it, although there is a decent sized minority who do. Most local businesses don’t want it. It would take away hundreds of parking spots, and drive residents of abutting streets to petition for resident only parking. I lived on such a street, and we were on the verge of asking for resident parking even without the Green line. Bad, bad idea.
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p>Rail exists for people who don’t live in the area, in order that they easily get to the area, doesn’t it? It also exists for people who do live in the area to get elsewhere, no? It seems like, if a need has been identified, those two criteria are being met, at least somewhat…
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p>I think you’re advocating for a more auto-centric policy here. I think that’s OK, but it doesn’t make alternate policy, by default, a ‘bad, bad idea’.
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In the case of JP, most people are commuting from JP to downtown, not the other way around. Furthermore, commuters living south of Centre are already better served by the existing orange line, and there is already frequent (albeit inconsistent) bus service along the route. Rail service would not go anywhere that you cannot already get to almost as quickly by bus. It is not like we are talking about putting rail in an area where there is no existing public transportation.
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p>I would love it if rail were viable on Centre St, but it simply isn’t. The road is too narrow, with too much traffic and too many dead-end and one-way streets attached to it. Wishful thinking will not make that go away.
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p>So unless we are willing to spend an even more massive amount of money to put in a real subway, or until people stop driving cars, I think it would be much more productive to look into improving the bus service.
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I can see why people in the area want better transit service, but Washington St is already overly narrow and congested for much of its length, and is even one-way in one section. I can’t believe that light rail would end up being any faster than bus service. Another subway line would be great, but that would probably be prohibitively expensive. As with Centre St in JP, I think we could get much more bang for the buck by improving bus service, including extension of the Silver line.
He has an intergovernmental relations department to do that. It would be interesting to see how much he (or one of his opponents) could accomplish by investing face time into working the solons up there, one on one, for the things Boston needs (i.e., the gas tax, the local options taxes, a little self-determination generally). The Boston legislative delegation is not big enough to bring home the wins alone, and neither is the intergovernmental folks.
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p>I can understand a mayor thinking it’s below him. A lot of those legislators, are, well, not great. But they are highly amenable to flattery. And little would flatter them more than a sitting Boston mayor asking to speak with them one on one. I’m not saying with all 160, but certainly, with a bunch of the Chairs and leadership folks. Thinking this sort of thing is below the mayor is not good for the city.
This mayor has spent a lot of time with legislators, not just on Beacon Hill, but in their districts and at committee hearings. Was invited out to Lowell by Senator Panagiatakos, for example, and threw out the first pitch at a Spinners game. (good fellow to know these days) Every two years, the newly elected reps and senators are invited to lunch with he and his staff and begin a relationship. He has also hosted regional meetings for Mayors in the Greater Boston area and legislators to expand the circle of those with common interests beyond the City’s boundaries. There are regular meetings with the Boston delegation, as a group and individually, as there have been numerous “drop bys” when he’s in the area, which is frequently.
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p>As a former legislative aide, Tom Menino knows the State House and its processes well. He’s secured relief from the Tregor bill of the Kevin White era, which freed up over $10 million in reserves and relief for homeowners with changes in the state classification law. Going back further, he’s successfully negotiated the convention center financing and the merger of City Hospital and BU Medical Center. He got the meals tax as far as Governor Swift’s desk one year. He submits a 70-80 bill legislative agenda every two years and testifies on a fair number of those as well as bills that others file and ask for his testimony.
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p>Given all this, it’s no wonder a number of Boston state legislators from JP, Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston, Brighton, etc. are already active in his reelection campaign and the current chair of the delegation, Mike Rush, was present at his announcement rally in Roslindale.
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p>Full disclosure as always – the writer served as Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Mayor Menino.
He has an intergovernmental relations department to do that. It would be interesting to see how much he (or one of his opponents) could accomplish by investing face time into working the solons up there, one on one, for the things Boston needs (i.e., the gas tax, the local options taxes, a little self-determination generally). The Boston legislative delegation is not big enough to bring home the wins alone, and neither is the intergovernmental folks.
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p>I can understand a mayor thinking it’s below him. A lot of those legislators, are, well, not great. But they are highly amenable to flattery. And little would flatter them more than a sitting Boston mayor asking to speak with them one on one. I’m not saying with all 160, but certainly, with a bunch of the Chairs and leadership folks. Thinking this sort of thing is below the mayor is not good for the city.
Of course the Mayor can advocate for the MBTA or a gas tax, if he feels that’s beneficial to the city and its residents. But aren’t the MBTA’s problems beyond the scope of Menino’s influence.
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p>One would think, besides some cheer leading for extended MBTA service hours, the Mayor’s time is best spent on pothole and fiscal issues.