Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Suddenly tomorrow’s Q and A on blogtalkradio and leftahead got a little more interesting…

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I was walking through Center Plaza earlier and was approached by volunteers for Flaherty who were handing out these little cards. They turned out to be part of his new ad campaign and had a link to his website. Being and undecided voter in this Mayor’s race…I visited the site when I got back to my office and I think I get the idea, but I still wanted to know how Flaherty will be better, so I looked at some of the Issue Pages on his site and it seems like there might be some depth. I wonder how he is going to respond tomorrow.

My questions for him are…

1. I heard you on WBUR and you called for a 311 system. Doesn’t the city already have something like it and if so why should we spend more money just to save us the hassle of dialing an extra 4 digits?

2. After recent news reports I’ve been feeling more and more unsafe in my own neighborhood. Violent crime needs to stop. How will your plan be better than Menino’s?

3. I’ve read about Citistat’s success in Baltimore. How will Citistat help you do a more affective job of monitoring Boston than the current system and why should we spend money on something that is similar to what we have now?

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Comments

  1. 1) Why 311?  

    While the Mayor has expressed concern that a 311 call center would confuse residents who have been previously instructed to call a regular 10-digit number, I know better. I know that residents would benefit more by an actual adoption of the 311 system currently and successfully employed in cities like New York City, San Francisco and Somerville, all of whom have implemented a
    website in concert with the call center that provides residents with meaningful assistance to ensure that they send their complaint or request to the appropriate department. In addition, the website proactively informs residents of city services and programs that could improve their quality of lives. More over, the use of the simple, easy-to-remember number has led to significant increases in residents use of the service, a goal we should be aspiring to as it will lead to a more efficient and responsive government.

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    p>2) Violent Crime?
    http://michaelflaherty.com/bac…

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    p>3) Why CitiStat?

    CitiStat is a tool for city management that has three goals: to improve the efficiency of city
    government, to evaluate the effectiveness of city services and to formulate data-driven decisions about services and programs. The CitiStat program will provide those officials leading the performance review with real-time data for each city department, service and program and will help managers pinpoint areas for improvement, identify areas of abuse and detect wasteful government spending. The fact that CitiStat’s compiled data is shared online will help the public and employees understand the recommendations made by the performance review, which will inevitably increase accountability, transparency and trust in local government officials, as well as the actual performance review process.

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    p>I encourage you to ask him something interesting instead.  What does he see as Menino’s biggest failure as Mayor?  What makes him the best choice for those interested in a change in leadership at City Hall?  Without ending school choice/busing (which he concedes the City ready for), does he have any short term options for improving access to one’s local school (a higher walk-to %)?

    • How is it that an agency which is run out of City Hall, and is so intertwined with the future of our city, seemingly works outside of Menino’s sphere of influence? The BRA needs to be held accountable to the citizens of this city. How will you hold the BRA accountable and force them to make the changes necessary to operate within the confines of the law?

      • You are wrong about the BRA working outside Menino’s sphere of influence.  

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        p>While technically an independent authority, the BRA is little more than another City agency controlled by the Mayor (albeit an agency with tremendous power and influence).  This is a common misunderstanding among the public but those “in the know” understand that the BRA is no more “independent” than the Public Works Department.  Check out the BRA’s press release page, for examnple, where nearly every release mentions and gives credit to Hizzoner:
        http://www.bostonredevelopment…

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        p>The real question is “How will you work to replace the tyranical BRA – which everyone knows is hardly the independent authority it claims to be – with a more democratic City planning and zoning process?”  “Will you pledge to make real changes in your first term even if those are oppossed by the developers pouring money in to the Mayor’s race?”

        • and officials at the BRA are notorious for donating to Mayor Menino’s campaigns. Past and present. It seems obvious that Menino does favors for members of the agency because it is in his best interest as an incumbent to do so. For example, the Parcel 3 project.

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          p>Instead of acting in the best interests of the city and its people, he is acting in the best interests of those close to him, potentially sacrificing the well-being of the people he was elected (4 times) to represent.

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          p>How about not allowing city employees, or employees of agencies that are chosen for government contracts, to donate to political campaigns?

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          p>The real question here should be why do we allow developers to donate to campaigns and politicians in the first place? It can only lead to situations like this. What other reasons would they have for donating to politicians? Especially ones (like the Mayor) who have a hand in making these decisions. (as a result of cronyism)

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