BE GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, IT IS SUNDAY OCTOBER 4.
BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR, AND NOW CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, MICHELLE WU IS WITH US.
LET’S GO ON THE RECORD.
SHE’S A TRAILBLAZER AT CITY HALL, THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO SERVE AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
CAN SHE BUILD ON THAT LEGACY BY BECOMING BOSTON’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE?
SHE’S HERE TODAY TO MAKE HER CASE >> THE INSIDE WORD FROM WASHING TODAY’S NEW -- WASHINGTON TO BE CAN HELP.
TODAY’S NEWSMAKERS ARE GOING ON THE RECORD.
BEN: I’M BEN SIMMONEAU IN FOR ED HARDING THIS WEEK.
I’M JOINED BY NEWSCENTER 5 POLITICAL REPORTER JANET WU.
AS WE DO EVERY WEEK, WE’RE USING OUR LARGE STUDIO TO RESPECT ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS.
WE’RE PLEASED TO WELCOME MICHELLE WU TO WCVB.
LAST MONTH SHE ANNOUNCED HER RUN FOR MAYOR, TAKING DIRECT AIM AT THE LEADERSHIP OF INCUMBENT MARTY WALSH.
SHE’S A GRADUATE OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
A ROSLINDALE RESIDENT.
AND A MARRIED, MOTHER OF TWO.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
MS. WU: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
JANET: ANYONE WHO WATCHES US REGULARLY KNOWS THAT WE ARE NOT RELATED, I’M JUST PUTTING THAT ON THE TABLE ONCE AGAIN.
AS A SURVIVOR OF COVID YOURSELF, COUNCILLOR, BOSTON IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN THE HIGH RISK CATEGORY.
MAYOR WALSH WON’T OPEN UP THE CITY LIKE GOVERNOR BAKER SUGGESTS FOR LOWER RISK COMMUNITIES, SOME OF WHICH BORDER BOSTON.
DID THE MAYOR DO THE RIGHT THING?
MS. WU: THERE IS A LOT TO CELEBRATE ABOUT HOW OUR CITY HAS COME TOGETHER IN CRISIS.
PUTTING SCIENCE FIRST, WE NEED TO DIRECT OUR RESOURCES NOT ONLY TOWARDS THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND BAND-AIDS WITH SCHOOL REOPENING AND THINKING ABOUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS
THE LONG-TERM UNDERLYING CRISIS THAT HAS ONLY BEEN EXPOSED AND DEEPENED BY COVID-19.
JANET: AS FAR AS THE THINGS HE HAS DONE SO FAR, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONFLICT WITH THAT?
MS. WU: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE RATES ARE TAKING UP IN BOSTON -- TICKING UP IN BOSTON.
IT CAN’T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
MY SON IS IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY EVEN AS THE CITY IS GRAPPLING WITH THIS.
WE NEED LONGER-TERM PLANNING AND VISION THAT LAYS OUT THE STEPS FOR A TRUE RECOVERY.
BEN: YOU MENTIONED YOUR ROLE AS A MOM AND IN SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE HIGHEST DAILY CASE COUNTS SINCE MAY.
THE MAYOR HAS CAP SCHOOLS IN BOSTON MOSTLY DIGITAL.
WE DID SEE A COUPLE THOUSAND STUDENTS GO BACK.
NEW YORK CITY IS OPENING AT A MUCH FASTER PACE.
THEY HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS RETURN.
HAS THE MAYOR HANDLED THE SCHOOL OPENINGS PROPERLY?
SHOULD IT BE QUICKER?
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
MS. WU: WE ARE NOT LEFT WITH GREAT OPTIONS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ADMINISTRATION SHOULD HAVE STARTED MUCH EARLIER.
WAY BACK WHEN WE FIRST SHUTDOWN SCHOOLS IN MARCH AND CERTAINLY EARLIER IN THE SUMMER TO LAY OUT PLANS FOR HOW WE COULD SUPPORT THE SYSTEM.
OUR BUILDINGS DATE BACK -- MANY OF THEM TO BEFORE WORLD WAR II.
ONLY ABOUT 30 OF THE 120 PLUS BOSTON SCHOOL BUILDINGS HAVE MODERN HVAC SYSTEMS, HEAT, COOLING, VENTILATION.
THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS THINK CRACKING A WINDOW OPEN.
THERE’S A LOT LEFT TO GO IN TERMS OF SUKKOT -- FACILITIES, SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO REMOTE LOADING -- LEARNING.
POTENTIALLY A HYBRID SYSTEM WHERE THEY WILL HAVE TO TEACH IN PERSON AND REMOTE STUDENTS AT THE SAME TIME.
IT IS STRESSFUL ALL AROUND.
WE NEED TO THINK LARGER THAN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BE SHOULD THE GOAL BE EVERYBODY BACK IN PERSON FULL-TIME OR IS HYBRID THE BEST CASE SCENARIO?
MS. WU: WITH OUR CASES TAK ICKING UP, MANY OF IT MASKING THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE OUR SCHOOLKIDS ARE COMING FROM.
OFTEN WORKING-CLASS, IMMIGRANT, LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS OF COLOR HAVE MUCH HIGHER CASE COUNTS THEN THE CITYWIDE AVERAGE.
WE NEED TO PUT HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST.
WE SHOULD NOT BE RUSHING INTO THIS GIVEN A RECENT WALK-THROUGH OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT FIND WE HAVE NOT THAT MANY OF THE BASIC LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR COVID AS WE
THINK ABOUT WHEN STUDENTS COME BACK.
JANET: YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT CRITICIZING THE MAYOR FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES OF NOT REOPENING THE CITY AT THE PACE HE HAS.
YOU HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF DOING TOO LITTLE TO BRING RACIAL EQUALITY.
THESE ARE SUBJECTS THAT ARE INTERTWINED.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOSTON POLICE BUDGET SHOULD BE DEFUNDED?
IF SO HOW MUCH?
,MS. WU: WE ARE IN A NATIONAL MOMENT OF RECKONING AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM.
WE SEE THE SAME DISPARITIES IN TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC MOBILITY PLAY OUT RIGHT IN BOSTON.
THIS HAS BEEN THE REALITY IN OUR CITY.
DEEP DISPARITIES WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RELATIVE TO MORE AFFLUENT WHITE PARTS OF OUR CITY FOR MANY YEARS.
I BELIEVE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IT CANNOT BE JUST PUBLIC SAFETY ON ONE SIDE, PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE OTHERS.
IT IS ONE SYSTEM AND THAT MEANS ALLOCATING RESOURCES IN A WAY TO BETTER SERVE RESIDENTS HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I HAVE A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE IN STRUCTURAL STEPS.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, SOME OTHER ISSUES IT WILL BE HANDLED BY AN UNARMED FORCE BUT BETTER SERVES COMMUNITY NEED.
JANET: I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NUMBERS.
THE MAYOR IS DIVERTING $12 MILLION FROM THE OVERTIME BUDGET.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU THINKING NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THAT BUDGET AND WHERE WOULD YOU GET THOSE DOLLARS?
MS. WU IT IS LESS THAN $12 MILLION, IT IS $10 MILLION GOING TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY BUDGET.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM AND OVERTIME LINE ITEM, NO MATTER WHAT THAT PARTICULAR BUDGET SAYS, EVERY HOUR GRANTED TO THE CITY CONTRACT WILL BE PAID.
THERE IS A LACK OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SERVING.
AND HOW WE TRULY CREATE THAT STRUCTURE THAT WILL LEAD TO SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR EVERY RESIDENT.
JANET: YOU HAVE NO DOLLAR AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?
MS. WU: THIS ISN’T ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE CUTTING $12 MILLION OR $15 MILLION.
THERE IS NO MAGIC NUMBER THAT WILL GET TO EQUITY AND ADDRESSING THE EXPERIENCES IN THE CITY.
TRANSFORMING HOW WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN OUR CITY.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO THAT IS RIDDLED WITH INJUSTICES.
WE HAVE TO PUT OUR RESOURCES TO RETHINKING THE SYSTEMS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO WE KEEP COMMUNITIES AT THE TABLE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
BE LET’S TALK ABOUT HOW WE MONITOR POLICE MISCONDUCT.
THE MAYOR WANTS A REVIEW BOARD THAT WOULD REPORT TO HIM.
YOU WANT A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD CONTROLLED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
WOULDN’T THAT MAKE ACCOUNTABILITY MORE DIFFICULT IF IT IS SPREAD OUT?
MS. WU: THE PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR IS GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A BOARD THAT IS CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED AND DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE REAL BOARD MADE UP OF CIVILIANS THAT
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SUBPOENA INFORMATION AND PUSH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.WE CANNOT STOP TH HOW DO WE PREVENT THINGS FROM GOING WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE?
BY ENSURING WE ARE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.
BRINGING IN AN REIMAGINING A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE TO BEGIN WITH.
BEN: HOW WILL YOU BRING RACIAL EQUALITY TO THE CITY?
-- HOW ELSE DO YOU BRING RACIAL EQUALITY TO THE CITY?
MS. WU LONG-STANDING ACTIONS FROM CITY GOVERNMENT THAT OVER DECADES AND GENERATION HAVE SYSTEMICALLY DEPRIVED BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND PASS THAT DOWN TO THEIR KIDS AND THEIR KIDS AFTER THAT.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE EVERY POLICY FROM TRANSPORTATION TO OUR HOUSING CRISIS, COVID-19 SITTING SQUARELY ON BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO CENTER EQUITY AND JUSTICE WITH EVERY POLICY THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
WHETHER IT IS CLIMATE JUSTICE, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, CLOSING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.
THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.
THERE ARE SOME VERY MANAGEABLE STEPS THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT EVERY DAY.
THE CITY HAS SPENT $17 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
OF THAT $17 MILLION, COMPLETELY FREE OF YOUR TYPICAL PROCESSES BECAUSE IT IS AN EMERGENCY, ONLY ONE CONTRACT WENT TO A BOSTON-BASED BUSINESS.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CLOSING THESE GAPS, EVERY STEP MUST LINE UP WITH THE INTENTION OF THE SHORT-TERM RELIEF AS WELL AS THE LONG-TERM POSITION.
JANET: ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ISSUES IS THE MBTA.
YOU THINK OF FREE T OFFERING THE SAME ROUNDS AS YOU HAVE PROPOSED IS STILL IMMEDIATELY FEASIBLE?
MS. WU: WE HAVE SEEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC JUST HOW FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS.
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS KEPT GOING TO WORK ON OUR SUBWAYS, BUSES, AND TRAINS.
WE SAW HAVE DECREASED, IT IS THE VERY ROUTES THAT GO THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN’T REALLY SEE THOSE DIPS IN RIDERSHIP.
THEY NEED SERVICE, THEY NEEDED TO BE AFFORDABLE NOW MORE THAN EVER.
WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS.
NOT ONLY IS IT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE COSTS OF WHERE THEY NEED TO GO SAFELY BUT OUR SYSTEM CANNOT FUND ITSELF.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO RELY JUST ON THE BACKS OF WRITERS TO PAY FOR THE SYSTEM.
JANET: YOU’RE PUSHING FORWARD WITH FREE T?
MS. WU ABSOLUTELY.
I’M HAPPY TO WORK WITH AYANNA PRESSLEY AND ED MARKEY THAT WO