Sam (Officially) Announces

Sam Yoon busts out today, with an announcement video, a new web site, and a kick-off event at Chau Chow Restaurant in Dorcehster. The video is a little amateurish in appearance, but I think he does a pretty good job talking to the camera. He hits the themes I think he needs -- particularly the implication that Tom Menino was a good 20th-century mayor, but we need something new for the modern world.

He also advocates a return to an elected school committee. Whether or not it's good policy, I think it's a smart campaign issue -- it's a way of talking about Menino's total control over (and thus responsibility for) the city's governance.

One thing lacking -- from both the video and the web site -- is Sam's plan for getting us through the current fiscal crisis.  It's understandable that the challengers want to position themselves against whatever Menino does, rather than box themselves into their own suggestions. Understandable, but hardly mayoral.

Incidentally, Yoon reports raising $35,000 in February, and $134,000 on hand at the end of the month. We'll see how much he raises tonight -- and whether the online contributions start flowing in.