Sad news over the WCVB twitter feed, Boston has lost one of her finest sons and benefactors. Mayor Tom Menino was one of the happiest politicians I ever met, and someone who clearly felt blessed to have the job he did and treasured every minute of it. There are a lot of facts behind a complicated public figure. Three stand out to me.
The first is personal, I met the man at the L Street bathouse during the 2004 Democratic Convention where I volunteered to help set up the NY Delegation Party. He came personally, with just one black town car and two plains clothes cops to shake all our hands, chat with us a bit, and chat with all the kitchen staff and janitorial staff setting up the event. He showed up before the delegates to make sure he had that face time with us and let us know we were important ambassadors for the city.
The second, is that he is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, major political figure in our state or the country to endorse gay marriage. Marc Solomon, chair of Freedom to Marry, has said on record that there would be no gay marriage in America if it weren’t for Tom Menino. He was an founder and co-chair of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Also a co-founder and first go-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, one of the largest and most effective gun control groups in the country.
The third is that he left office with 74% approval rating, and poll after poll showed almost 60% of the city had met their Mayor personally at one time or another. He never forgot the people he was elected to serve. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
hoyapaul says
Another favorite moment was during Boston’s hosting the MLB All-Star Game in 1999. The city set up a big screen in City Hall Plaza, complete with bleachers and all. Rather than cloistering himself up in a Fenway Park luxury box, Mayor Menino was out there at the simulcast, even throwing some beach balls into the bleachers and having the time of his life interacting with people (including my friends and I) and cheering on Pedro.
It’s remarkable that it seems like just about anyone who has lived in Boston in years past has some personalized Menino story to share. He will be missed.
bluewatch says
Menino ran the city straight. In other words there was no corruption in city government. His approval rating was high for that simple reason. He sincerely loved Boston, and he tried his best for the city.
massmarrier says
Larry Dicara made that his major distinction during a forum at Suffolk. When everyone responded to the question about what would be Menino’s legacy with generalizations about skyscrapers and such, Dicara said that no, it would be “Nobody went to jail.”
SomervilleTom says
“Nobody went to jail” is NOT the same as “no corruption”.
Corrupt people who aren’t prosecuted don’t go to jail.
SomervilleTom says
Out of respect for a man who gave a lifetime of service to the city, and the enormous number of people grieving for him, I suggest that observations like this be deferred to a more appropriate time.
I prefer to mark his passing, celebrate all he did, and leave the canonization to later.
jconway says
This one really speaks to his character, Yvonne Abraham at her best.
sabutai says
I have such respect for Thomas Menino. So many people are in a political office because it is on a path toward their true destination, and speak with constituents for that same reason. Not with the Mayah. He loved his job and loved his city, and they both loved him back.
We need more Meninos.
dasox1 says
I had the opportunity to work on a few things with him over the years. He personally told me something that I heard him say publicly too: “Politics and government is the business of helping people.” And, I guess, what’s most remarkable about him, is that despite all his success (70+% approval rating, all the elections won, the convention, the marathon response, 60+% of voters in the city who said that they met him, US presidents on speed dial, Mayors Against Gun Violence, general management of the City, LGBT issues and gay marriage, US Conference of Mayors), he never forgot that simple lesson. My condolences to Mrs. Menino and the Menino family.
HeartlandDem says
May his legacy and good works be remembered through acts of kindness and caring for human beings – the whole community – as he has shown us through the model of his life’s work.
fredrichlariccia says
He led us every year as Mayor in Boston’s Gay Pride Parade. I so looked forward to visiting with him-sharing stories and laughs. He stood with us 25 years ago when it wasn’t cool to be gay. When closeted gay politicians like Richard Tisei were voting in the House against the 1989 anti discrimination equal rights law that passed in the House by just 6 votes and was signed into law by Governor Dukakis.
” I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creatures, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” STEPHEN GRELLET
Rest in Peace, Mr. Mayor. You will stay in our hearts forever.
Your friend,
Fred Rich LaRiccia