Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Did you hear Sam Yoon Yesterday?

We interviewed Mayoral candidate and Boston City Councilor At-Large Sam Yoon on LeftAhead yesterday. I mostly deferred to Mike on this show, letting him ask the bulk of the questions, since he actually lives in Boston.

I don't find it useful or all that relevant to make endorsements anymore, but I will say that Sam Yoon makes a compelling case for the need for change. The city's had 16 years of Mayah Menino and what is there to show for it? Indeed, the city's gone backwards in the 2000s. The rate at which kids are killing each other and failing out of school is just unacceptable. So, especially if you live in Boston, give the show a listen and see if Sam Yoon is the candidate for you.

12 comments:

Judy Meredith said...

The city's had 16 years of Mayah Menino and what is there to show for it?

Drive around my neighborhood in Dorchester Ryan and check out all the new infill single family housing, built on burned out lots where little kids are getting a good elementary education, get health care at a neighborhood health center and after school care at a local community center. We finally have some good ethnic restaurants , and even the old buckets of blood bars have modernized along Dot ave and are filled with a very diverse (sex, age, sexual preference, race)crowd. Our grand history of hard ball politics has easily morphed into "civic engagement" and our Ward Committees reflect the diversity of the neighborhoods (lots of neighborhoods in Dorchester.)
Dozens of local activists have been side by side (sometimes in concert, sometimes in conflict) with this Mayah improving the livability of our neighborhood and our city a little bit at a time for a long time now. And we ain't done yet making concrete measurable progress in our neighborhoods and highlighting the Progress part of the word progressives.
Full disclosure -- I've supported Sam for City Council in the past, and am supporting Tom for Mayor for the future.

Anonymous said...

Yes - we also have a city government being run in the last century - waste and patronage all over city government. A mayor who has no vision. Kids being killed by kids. Terrible schools and no new ideas. The mayor wont even engage the voters anymore when he has to defend his record. We need new vision in city hall. I've supported the mayor in past elections...not this time though. Sam Yoon would certainly move the city forward - that's what we need and what we deserve.

Ryan said...

Vision is the killer, Judy. I'm not from Boston, but I do pay attention - and I can't for the life of me describe what Menino's vision is. The 'big ideas' he's presented have been gimmicks -- moving city hall and building giant skyscrapers are neither here nor there when the number of murders in the city has multiplied by 10 in recent years.

I think Boston deserves a mayor who can not only fill in pot holes, but has some idea and vision of making Boston a better place. Enough side-walk republic, I-once-shook-the-mayah's hand type governing. Boston needs someone who can ensure that at least 50% of its kids graduate on time and where the city streets are safe no matter if you live in Roxbury or the swankiest spots in the Back Bay.

I don't know if Yoon's the person for the job, but the past 16 years of history have told me that Menino definitely isn't.

Judy Meredith said...

Oh Ryan, I'll take inch by inch, mile by mile improvement in our schools, our parks and recreation programs, in the availability of affordable housing, in our ability to warmly welcome new Americans and practical agressive outreach to our troubled youth over a page and a half vison statement anyday.

This Mayor and hundreds of neighborhood activists (many of whom have been noticed and thanked by this Mayor and yes have personally shaken his hand) have been on the streets, or in the community centers, or in their neighborhood organization meetings building on a shared vision of a livable city every single day of the week for 16 years now. And we'll be the first ones to say it's not finished yet and we want to keep marching alongside an experienced, tough person who knows how it all works.

Anonymous said...

You know what Judy - if he hasn't done it after 16 years on the job, he is not going to do it now. Boston is poorly run and a model of old-school patronage. It really is time for something new & someone new.

Frank Smith said...

Hey Judy Meredith - We remember when you were a real progressive in this town. What happened to you? Now you are an apologist for a mayor who doesn't even have voice mail at city hall - never mind 311 or performance-based budgeting. You have become a hack for a city government that is grounded in patronage. It is common knowledge that you call up the heads of non-profits in the city and pressurize them to support the mayor - during office hours. And that you menace your own employees when they refuse to profess loyalty to Menino. You are part of the problem and - just like your boss, the mayor - are a bully and an old-school hack. You are a walking example that power corrupts - and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Anonymous said...

Here is a direct quote from Mayor Menino in Tuesday's Boston Herald:

"Give me a break," Menino said. "You guys {The Herald} want me to defend my record. I'm not doing that."

Do you think that this guy may have been in office too long!!!!

Ryan said...

I don't think it's fair to call Judy a 'hack.' She may support the establishment candidate, but it's pretty clear that she truly does support him and thinks he's doing a good job. A hack would be someone who supported someone and *didn't* think they were doing a good job, out of selfish reasons.

Frank Smith said...

I disagree Ryan. Judy Meredith is a hack's hack. She has long since forgotten her once progressive values and has gladly exchanged them for a paycheck with the Menino machine. She can't see the forest for the trees anymore. She has, sadly become the definition of a Boston city hack.

Judy Meredith said...

Take a couple of deep breaths Frank. and get to work promoting Sam's candidacy and vision for a better city, and I'll keep pointing out Tom's accomplishments and vision and tend to my progressive credentials.

Frank Smith said...

That's funny Judy! Tom's "vision"! What vision? - to shake 500 hands a day and dodge defending his record? Nearly as funny as you pretending to be a progressive! Why not get on the phones at work today and put the squeeze on heads of the city's non-profits to be with the mayor. That is - after all - your style lately.

Anonymous said...

Ryans Take is the worst site ever.You are a south shore DONKEY.You stink you hack.

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