Boston’s Democratic mayoral candidates took part in a forum Tuesday evening, answering questions from voters as the primary election looms just one week away.Immigration, housing, and the Madison Park School were three of the main topics voters wanted to discuss at the forum, held at the Bethel AME Church in Jamaica Plain.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu told voters she would always have their backs.”They are wrong about the law, they are wrong on safety, and they need to see that rather than being bullied, we are standing up,” Wu said. “This election is about who we are as a city, what we stand for, and the progress that we made, and that we know is still possible if we keep going together.”Wu’s challenger, Josh Kraft, used the forum to define his priorities.”I agree with the mayor to stand up to Donald Trump, but my main focus is the residents of Boston and their needs: better streets, better schools, safety, and I know we can handle safety on our own,” Kraft said. Community Advocate Domingos DeRosa struck a more critical tone toward Wu’s hard stance against the Trump administration.”If I were mayor today, I would go back to that table and have that conversation with the federal government and come up with a solution where we can do this humanely,” DeRosa said. All three candidates said they were committed to boosting resources for families facing deportation threats. All three were also committed to completing renovations at Boston’s Madison Park Technical Vocational High School.”We’re going to make Madison Park the school that people come into the city and pay for,” Kraft said. “We will find funding. I will redirect money from the school capital budget – perhaps money going to White Stadium immediately.””I commit more than just words – I spent the last 35 years since the day I walked into Madison to make a change for the school – I continue to do that,” DeRosa said.The candidates also vowed to close the racial homeownership gap. The 4th candidate for mayor, Robert Cappucci, had to pull out of Tuesday evening’s forum at the last minute due to a family emergency.The preliminary contest, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9, will narrow the field of candidates to two finalists. Early voting began Aug. 30 and will last through Sept. 5.
Boston’s Democratic mayoral candidates took part in a forum Tuesday evening, answering questions from voters as the primary election looms just one week away.
Immigration, housing, and the Madison Park School were three of the main topics voters wanted to discuss at the forum, held at the Bethel AME Church in Jamaica Plain.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu told voters she would always have their backs.
“They are wrong about the law, they are wrong on safety, and they need to see that rather than being bullied, we are standing up,” Wu said. “This election is about who we are as a city, what we stand for, and the progress that we made, and that we know is still possible if we keep going together.”
Wu’s challenger, Josh Kraft, used the forum to define his priorities.
“I agree with the mayor to stand up to Donald Trump, but my main focus is the residents of Boston and their needs: better streets, better schools, safety, and I know we can handle safety on our own,” Kraft said.
Community Advocate Domingos DeRosa struck a more critical tone toward Wu’s hard stance against the Trump administration.
“If I were mayor today, I would go back to that table and have that conversation with the federal government and come up with a solution where we can do this humanely,” DeRosa said.
All three candidates said they were committed to boosting resources for families facing deportation threats. All three were also committed to completing renovations at Boston’s Madison Park Technical Vocational High School.
“We’re going to make Madison Park the school that people come into the city and pay for,” Kraft said. “We will find funding. I will redirect money from the school capital budget – perhaps money going to White Stadium immediately.”
“I commit more than just words – I spent the last 35 years since the day I walked into Madison to make a change for the school – I continue to do that,” DeRosa said.
The candidates also vowed to close the racial homeownership gap.
The 4th candidate for mayor, Robert Cappucci, had to pull out of Tuesday evening’s forum at the last minute due to a family emergency.
The preliminary contest, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9, will narrow the field of candidates to two finalists.
Early voting began Aug. 30 and will last through Sept. 5.
About the Author
