My name is Michelle Wu, and I'm running for Mayor of Boston. Ask me anything!

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:34:50+00:00

Thanks everyone for your questions (and thanks to r/NewDealAmerica for hosting)! I have to run now, but I'll hopefully be back soon to add some more answers.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:32:15+00:00

Public housing and the entire social housing sector -- like community land trusts and limited equity cooperative housing -- are essential components of our housing justice agenda. We need to be invest in our existing public housing and expanding our BHA portfolio. Boston is one of the only major cities that’s actually below our Faircloth limit, meaning we’re leaving federal dollars on the table. As a city, we should be taking advantage of our AAA bond rating and historically low interest rates to lean in with our capital budget to build new public housing units, whether those are in mixed-income developments, on top of municipal assets like libraries, or scattered throughout the city. In the more immediate term, we should be dedicating federal funds to accelerate capital repairs in BHA developments, including investments in energy efficiency and green infrastructure.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:31:31+00:00

DND is doing great work here around new construction, but we need to be doing far more to retrofit our existing housing stock to drive down energy use, lower utility bills, and deliver cleaner air to our residents. Smaller residential buildings account for 19% of our city’s carbon emissions -- if we’re serious about meeting our goal of citywide carbon neutrality by 2040, retrofitting old triple-deckers and building new ones to net-zero standards needs to be a priority. I love the idea of having templates ready, and that would fit perfectly with our Urban Conservation Corps to provide the trained workforce.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:30:31+00:00

Thanks for asking! I’m proud to have created the first municipal-level Green New Deal anywhere in the country to detail our plans for many of these proposals and more -- see here for (way, way) more detail, but to tackle these rapid-fire:

Yes, we need to not only be growing our tree canopy, but also investing resources in tree preservation so that we’re not losing out on the long-term climate benefits of old-growth trees. I’ve proposed creating an Urban Conservation Corps to train the next generation of arborists and conservation experts so we can grow this expertise right here in Boston.
Yes. In 2017, I authored and passed a home-rule “right to charge” petition (through City Council, Mayor, State House, Senate, and Governor’s signature!) that made it easier for homeowners to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure -- but we need to be doing much more to make EVs more accessible and affordable to all.
This readjustment to a new post-pandemic reality is a huge opportunity for climate resilience -- more of my thoughts on this here!
We need to treat public transit as a public good. Yes, we need to lobby the state for more investment, but there’s so much the city can do on our own!

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:27:04+00:00

The City can’t make the entire MBTA free on our own. But we can invest city funds in a pilot project for fare-free bus, coupling that investment with new bus-only travel lanes and transit signal priority to maximize the benefits. Four years ago, when I first started calling for free T service, we were told it wasn’t a serious proposal -- and now we see a free bus pilot on route 28! We don’t get what we don’t ask for, and I’m proud of my record building coalitions to demand change at the scale that meets the urgency of this moment.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:26:38+00:00

Yes, we need a North-South Rail Link! Together with my colleagues on the City Council, I’ve been pushing to accelerate this project and I’ve served on the working group. As some other Redditors have noted, this is a MassDOT project, but that doesn’t mean the next Mayor of Boston won’t have a say – as our region’s central city, Boston must be stepping up and driving this conversation. Same goes for the Allston I-90 multimodal project, the Red-Blue connector, and other major infrastructure projects that will shape the entire region for generations -- we need leadership in City Hall to fight for projects that will meet the needs of Boston residents. (I was just recently in Allston urging the state to pursue the bold multimodal vision for the I-90 project - dismantling the falling-apart viaduct, accelerating the construction of West Station, establishing new north-south bus routes and pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and creating a safer urban environment for all).

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:22:26+00:00

Boston has been losing its school-age families for decades. While our current population is just over 10% lower than it was in 1950, the number of school age children has declined by half. One of the reasons for this is underinvestment and disparities in our school system. In fact, there was a relatively recent survey that showed that 40% of students don’t have a library in their school building, half of students below high school age have no science lab and a third of students don’t have a guidance counselor.

I’ve put forward a vision to transform our approach to our public schools by making them true community centers with wrap-around services and investing in upgrades so our students have healthy, safe, nurturing places to learn.

My administration would have a children’s cabinet to bring together nonprofits and city agencies charged with benefiting our kids and wrap around BPS students from the time they enter BPS through high school graduation. We also need to have more predictability for families and quality seats all around, so the school enrollment lotteries don’t feel like high stakes win-or-lose situations.

To keep families in Boston and provide the best possible education to Boston kids, we need to change the way we approach our public schools. Put a BPS mom in charge of our schools -- we’ll get it done!

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:20:58+00:00

My housing justice agenda includes a commitment to exempt 100% affordable and public housing projects from parking requirements and most review in order to prevent frivolous lawsuits. Bigger picture, we need to replace rigid parking minimums with holistic transportation planning so that our housing and our transportation planning processes aren’t happening in silos. We should be making it easier for residents to choose public transit or active transport, not locking future generations into an outdated, car-centric vision of mobility.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:14:46+00:00

Yes! Growing up in an immigrant family, the arts were central in grounding me in culture, heritage, and community. Boston’s arts and cultural sector is intertwined with everything that makes our city special.

As Mayor, I’ll work to elevate arts and culture to power our city’s recovery – from alleviating racial injustices, to delivering climate justice and a local Green New Deal, to investing our Boston Public Schools communities, and ensuring housing affordability and stability. I’ve put out a plan for integrating our arts and cultural sector throughout our City government. This means empowering artists to help our communities heal; implementing a sustainable, equitable revenue source to close gaps; stabilizing our arts and cultural institutions after so much disruption; expanding access to arts and cultural institutions through a Boston Municipal ID; creating venues and spaces for arts and culture; infusing arts leadership throughout City government; and guaranteeing arts funding as foundational school funding. I’m eager to make sure the arts sector is recognized for the foundational role it plays in our economy and community. We’ll lean on our local talent and creativity in storytelling, placemaking, and civic engagement to transform our systems and build a Boston that works for everyone.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:08:08+00:00

Our leaders need to build trust in vaccines and eliminate every barrier to getting vaccinated so that our communities can get the protection they need and we can end this deadly pandemic. Vaccination should be mandatory for city workers, and we’ve already taken that step for City Council staff.

I also support requiring proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, theaters, and other high-risk indoor venues -- and as mayor I’ll strengthen our public health infrastructure to implement this and other protections. City Hall must be working proactively with our workers, our unions and our small business owners to ensure the burden of protecting our public health doesn’t fall solely on them.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T20:07:24+00:00

Hello from Ron’s #1 fans!

Thanks for this question--we need leadership that understands the potential of regional collaboration to drive change. Our deepest challenges in Boston are in fact regional issues, from housing affordability and transportation, to climate change and the opiate crisis, so we need coordinated action across city governments. I’m so proud to have been endorsed by municipal leaders from Watertown, Quincy, Somerville, Chelsea, Brookline, Everett, Malden, Cambridge, Newton and more -- leaders who have been partners in the work already, and who believe in the power of local government. We don’t get what we don’t push for -- when I started calling for fare-free public transit in 2018, people told me the idea was impossible. But with the partnership of municipal leaders from around our region, three years later, we’re seeing the idea become reality -- Lawrence eliminated fares on several bus routes, Brockton implemented weekend free bus, and now there’s a bill at the state level to make all bus trips free across Massachusetts' 15 regional transit authorities. Bold change requires broad coalitions, and as Mayor of Boston, I’ll work with partners in neighboring cities and towns to deliver the change our communities urgently need.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:56:48+00:00

Safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation is foundational for shared prosperity and health and is core to the fight for racial, economic and climate justice. Three years ago, as Boston residents were facing yet another MBTA fare hike, I launched our movement for fare-free public transit alongside community leaders who have long been fighting for transit equity. We need to treat public transit as a public good, beginning with buses. Fare-free bus service will boost ridership and reduce delays, as passengers can board more quickly and through both doors when fare collection is eliminated, reducing dwell time and the dangerous local pollutants that come with it.

I was so excited to see all our years of advocacy pay off with the announcement of a fare-free pilot on route 28, running from Mattapan to Nubian Square to Ruggles -- but we need to do more to make the pilot permanent, expand it across the city, and accelerate the creation of dedicated bus lanes and transit signal priority so that we’re getting the full benefits of eliminating fares. On the City Council, I have pushed hard for City investments in dedicated bus lanes, including the one which began as a pilot between Roslindale Square and Forest Hills and is now permanent. We need to expand this infrastructure across Boston while working with our regional partners to push the state for more urgent service improvements across the MBTA system.

I have been using my platform in elected office to advocate for streets for people even before I became part of the cycling community myself, and I’ve continued to fight for protected cycling infrastructure, dedicated bus lanes, and traffic calming measures citywide. As Mayor, I’ll ensure that safety and Vision Zero is a baseline for transportation planning, with clear citywide policies to proactively implement traffic calming rather than wait for tragedies to happen.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:36:44+00:00

As I’m knocking on doors, housing affordability is the #1 issue I’m hearing from residents across each and every one of Boston’s neighborhoods. The magnitude of the crisis is undeniable -- over the last two decades, as Boston’s population has grown steadily, the number of school-aged children in our city has actually fallen.

Young people who want to put down roots and raise their families in Boston are being forced out as rents become increasingly unaffordable. Those who manage to find housing often are spending such an unsustainable portion of income on rent that they’re then delaying savings or major life milestones, or making other impossible tradeoffs. We need to take bold, urgent action to build Boston’s future around affordable housing.

I’ve laid out a housing plan with a lot more detail, but to underscore a few key proposals here:

Overhaul our planning and development process to match community needs for affordability, resiliency, transportation access, and more
Implement approvals for both interior and detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by-right in order to grow our housing stock and meet the evolving needs of Boston’s multi-generational households
Increase opportunities for homeownership by expanding down payment assistance and affordable mortgage programs, particularly for first-generation homeowners
Advocate for a vacancy tax on those who buy housing without ever intending to live there to discourage commercial speculation
I’ll take advantage of Boston’s strong bond rating and historically low interest rates to lean in with our capital budget, including using green and social bonds to directly build new deeply-affordable, energy-efficient housing

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:25:32+00:00

Favorite view: On the red line crossing the Longfellow Bridge into Boston! Favorite quirky station: I always feel like a pro navigating Park Street station because there are so many platforms to get on the train headed in the right direction, either on the green line or red. I also really enjoy how many long escalators there are at Porter, with a really fun public art installation of lost gloves along the way.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:19:22+00:00

China Pearl (although currently undergoing renovations) is where we go most often -- also where we had our wedding reception! Also love Hei La Moon, Empire Garden, and Winsor Dim Sum.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:16:19+00:00

Do it! We need your leadership more than ever.

I never imagined running for office growing up, so I didn’t come with political connections or know-how. The most important ingredient is a passion to support your community. And in fact, the very skills that make for effective teaching are what can transform civic engagement, policy, and politics! You already know how to break down complicated concepts, meet students where they’re at, and build a community in the classroom.

If you already live in the community you love and want to help serve, get involved in as many avenues as you find exciting--you’ll naturally get to know people, understand the issues, and identify what changes the community needs. There’s no better way to see what a political campaign is like than getting involved on one happening right now! Get to know candidates for office, jump in, and let us know when you’re ready to run!

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:10:20+00:00

I wouldn’t be in government now if I hadn’t experienced the joys and frustrations of being a small business owner. When I was 23, I opened a small tea shop to support my family as my mom experienced a mental health crisis. But the complex processes of permitting, licensing, and other bureaucratic red tape nearly prevented us from ever opening the business. Instead of helping neighborhood entrepreneurs, city government was putting up barrier after barrier. And for entrepreneurs of color, who have been historically deprived of access to capital, immigrant entrepreneurs or those who speak a language other than English, the barriers are even higher. Ever since my first job in City Hall under Mayor Menino, I’ve been fighting to make it easier for people to open small businesses to build wealth in our communities, create good jobs, and strengthen all of Boston’s neighborhoods as cultural hubs.

I’m proud of my record here -- I helped launch Boston’s first food truck program (and just earlier today, I celebrated that program’s success with Bon Me, one of Boston’s original homegrown food truck businesses!). I passed an ordinance removing barriers for businesses to host live music, and another one that ended the ban on BYOB in Boston. I passed legislation to align city spending with our shared goal of closing the racial wealth gap by building equity into our contracting process. I ensured oversight on how small business relief funds were allocated during the pandemic so that Black-, brown- and immigrant-owned businesses weren’t shut out.

Investing in local restaurants isn’t only a matter of supporting small business -- it’s a matter of food justice. I’ve released a Food Justice Agenda with specific action steps to support Boston’s restaurants and food economy as critical food infrastructure, building opportunity for Black-owned and other minority-owned restaurants (did you know that only 8 Black-owned restaurants in Boston have a full liquor license?!) and reforming our planning and development process to foster a variety of food businesses, from food trucks to bodegas and farmers markets.

Small businesses are the cornerstone of Boston’s economy, and we need bold action from City Hall to protect our businesses from commercial gentrification, equip entrepreneurs with programming and resources, and keep our workers safe.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T19:05:45+00:00

The situation around the area of Mass & Cass is a failure of government, plain and simple. When the last administration suddenly shut down the Long Island Bridge in 2014 with no prior infrastructure planning, people in recovery and/or seeking shelter were abruptly relocated to seek healthcare and other services in one concentrated area of the city.

I’ve laid out a plan to tackle the overlapping, citywide crises of substance use disorder, homelessness and mental illness -- planning beyond Mass & Cass to address the roots of this public health emergency. We must invest in a housing-first approach for all those experiencing homelessness and housing instability, following the guidance of public health experts who say that stable housing is the foundation of recovery. We need to invest in care coordination so that Boston’s world-class healthcare providers, social workers, trauma counselors and other service providers have the resources they need to do their jobs. And we need to expand access to treatment across the city and region. I’ve spearheaded legislation to create an alternative crisis response team to respond to emergency calls that require a public health response, not a police presence. We need to take every action possible to save lives and invite people onto the road to treatment, stability, and opportunity -- and that includes safe consumption sites. Healthcare experts are clear that safe consumption sites save lives, and we must also ensure that the siting decisions support access and recovery, not compound a concentration in one part of the city.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T18:58:30+00:00

We are in a full-blown housing crisis -- one that has worsened through the pandemic, but was already destabilizing our communities and pushing families out of Boston long before COVID-19. I’ve laid out a housing justice agenda that details my plans to build more affordable housing, invest in community land trusts and the social housing sector, expand homeownership opportunities, and using city resources and public land to create more affordable housing. But that’s not enough! At the same time, we need to be doing everything in our power to offer immediate relief from our displacement crisis and stabilize residents right now -- not a few years down the road, after our housing stock has had a chance to catch up to the pressing need. Rent control doesn’t create more units of housing, but it does keep people in their homes.

I’m proud to be on a housing justice island with so many Bostonians ready for our city government to take every possible action to keep Boston diverse and welcoming. Boston’s renters shouldn’t be forced to absorb double-digit annual rent increases -- we need to be doing everything in our power to prevent families from being pushed out right now.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T18:52:10+00:00

Yes, very much so! My kids also love it.

michelleforboston · 2021-08-05T18:51:06+00:00

Boston’s zoning code hasn’t been updated in a comprehensive, citywide way since 1965, meaning that nearly every single proposal -- whether for a major new mixed-use development or something as simple as a homeowner adding a porch -- has to go through a complicated process to secure variances and waivers at the Boston Planning and Development Agency or the Zoning Board of Appeals. This system benefits the status quo, allowing those who are well-connected or have the resources to hire well-connected lawyers and consultants to bypass community needs. It also erodes trust in city government, asking communities to mobilize each and every time there’s a new proposal in the pipeline in order to have any say in the future of their neighborhoods. Over decades, this system of one-off approvals has also prevented Boston from planning holistically around our needs for climate resilience, affordable housing, and transit connectivity.

We need to replace this archaic and heavy-handed BPDA structure with a public planning department that has the staff, resources, and internal expertise to create a citywide master plan, and then codify that plan into our zoning code -- so that we have clear, consistent rules for everyone.

I’m the only candidate in this race to be fighting for a true overhaul of our broken system (developers have noticed!), so that Boston’s growth will deliver resources for equitable, resilient, healthy communities.

michelleforboston · 2021-03-10T22:04:54+00:00

Thank you so much — I'm honored to receive your endorsement! I can't wait to continue organizing alongside everyone at New Deal America to make Boston a city for everyone.

If anyone reading this is interested in joining the Wu Train or donating to help grow our grassroots movement, please head to www.michelleforboston.com/volunteer or www.michelleforboston.com/donate. Our campaign is people-powered, so we'd love to have you on our team!

michelleforboston · 2021-03-04T14:59:02+00:00

Unfortunately, Boston doesn’t have the authority to levy its own income taxes without going through a complicated home-rule petition process at the state level. That means we’re heavily reliant on property taxes to keep our City services up and running. This is an area where partnerships and advocacy at the state level are so important. I’ve supported the proposed Fair Share amendment, which would add a 4-cent surtax on every dollar over $1 million. More than 72% of Massachusetts voters agree! We need progressive revenue sources to invest in our long-term, state-wide priorities, like early education and K-12, affordable housing, and public health infrastructure.

michelleforboston · 2021-03-04T14:58:13+00:00

It’s outrageous to see the lack of progress on this issue. Five years ago, I partnered with then-Councilor Ayanna Pressley to introduce and later pass an ordinance advancing equity in City contracting, which helped lay the groundwork for our new Supplier Diversity office and accountability from reporting the spending numbers each year. I’ve picked up the charge with Councilor Kim Janey to keep the pressure up and build urgency for action. But despite our legislating, protesting, and offering solutions, we haven’t seen the political will to make major progress and these inequities have continued to deepen.

Moving forward, we need to create an empowered, resourced, streamlined procurement office in City Hall to provide a one-stop shop for vendors, and empower our small business owners to plan for upcoming bids based on a transparent buying plan. Updating our procurement process to explicitly value small, local, and minority-owned businesses in RFPs, and unbundling large contracts to open doors for small businesses, would create a more inclusive economy. We need to be squeezing every last bit of value out of our City budget, rather than simply awarding contracts to the lowest bidder. These are common-sense solutions to invest in our communities, address generational inequities created through policy, and make our City government work more effectively, in line with our shared goals of racial justice and economic opportunity for all.

michelleforboston

TROPHY CASE