Thursday, June 29, 2006

...and the best side-effect would be if Sam keeps doing this, the Council has to act, and that stops all the handwringing and moans of "Woe to us. We have no power!"

Sam Yoon did the right thing. Councilors need to do even more to open up the Council proceedings by inviting the public. For too long the transactions of Boston City Council are kept remote. Bearing witness to the Council is fulfilling a civic duty.

First of all, Matt Viser at the Globe should probably sit down with the census data for Boston before they let him cover stories like this. As has been widely reported and commented on, as of 2000, whites are now the minorities in Boston. People of color make up more than half of the population. So for Viser to write that Yoon and "the other minority councilors" voted to oppose the budget is ridiculous, and for his editor not to catch it is even worse. The white majority on the council (9 of 13 members, or 70 percent of the body) turned its collective back on the youth of color who were demanding more resources for their communities.

Regarding Adam's post, there were plenty of people who were unusure of how committed Sam Yoon was going to be to advocating for Boston's disenfranchised communities - the poor, communities of color, the homeless, etc. He erased a lot of doubts with his principled stand on the mayor's budget. The talking heads are already tearing into Sam for leading the charge on this one and aligning himself with Arroyo, Turner, and Yancey, but I suspect Councilor Yoon has a very good grasp of his election numbers, and knows his base will be happy with his position on this issue.

And Steve Murphy can endorse Deval Patrick all he wants (now that he's leading the pack), but if he's on the wrong side of votes like this, he's going to continue to draw zero support from the city's voters of color.

Sam Yoon is the new Maura Hennigan. And he'll likely end up in the same place. Unelectable to significant higher office and personally broke.

> Sam Yoon is the new Maura Hennigan.

Huh? Because of his 24 years on the council? His family ties to Boston politics? His mayoral campaign? His multi-syllabic name?

The new Maura Hennigan because he took her seat, he's turning into a gadfly (like Maura) who does little, talks alot (like Maura), and gets a free pass form the press who think he's just swell (like Maura) -- and (like Maura) he'll somehow probably remain popular with voters who don't know better. It took Maura 24 years to get there, Sam is doing it in 6 months.

By Kurt's logic (I use the term loosely), I guess Patty White or John Connolly could have become the "new Maura Hennigan" simply by winning her seat and opening her or his mouth a little too often.

If you think Sam talks a lot, have a listen to Robbie Consalvo. That guy says less with more words than anyone on the council, hands down.

The Globe is hostile to the politics that Team Unity (of which Sam is a member) represents. On the day that the vote was taken, the Globe editorialized in favor of a vote in support of the Mayor's budget.

The article about 'Yoon's recruits' was not exactly a puff piece, either, if you bothered to read it.

I have to agree wth Globe Watch, though I was pleased to note that the Globe editorialized in Yoon's favor the other day. To say that Yoon gets a free pass from the press is inaccurate; prior to this episode, he's actually had remarkably little press attention since his election, despite being the only new member of the Council and one who won an at-large seat on his first attempt. And what's with saying that he does little and talks a lot, particularly compared to the rest of the Council? This is a strong mayor system, where the Council hasn't the power to do much but talk (and hold hearings where others can talk).

I've been critical of Sam for various things, including his support for the pay raise. But I support him on this. And we'll see if others do at the next election, whether or not you feel that those voters "don't know better."

Sam Yoon has missed more formal Counci meetings than any other member (save Jim Kelly who is undergoing cancer treatments). He also missed a large number of budget hearings. He's an empty suit. Glad I touched nerves. The truth has a way of doing that.

I've read several press reports saying that Yoon has attended 5 of the 26 budget hearings. I've seen none about his attendance record. What's your source, Kurt? I'm not saying I don't believe you, but it's a new assertion, and I'd like to know what's behind it.

go on-line and check city council minutes for yourself.

Then if he keeps this up then come election time we need to find someone else who will show up and not pull these kind of stunts. By looking through your blogs, Hogan and Connolly are two formidable challengers. Connolly sounds a bit like Yoon but from the looks of his campaign, it appears he has strong backing. Hogan however, seems more passionate and down to earth than these knuckleheads. You should consider this guy.