Kevin McCrea for Mayor videos
Feb 09, 2009 10:16
On YouTube, you can see four videos by mayoral candidate Kevin
McCrea, including a bio. Be sure to watch the
one on Hayward Place, a one-acre City property
worth at least $23 million, that Mayor Menino
gave away to the BRA for free to lease to the
developer of the Ritz towers across the street
(a personal friend of his). No property taxes
are being paid on this land, and the parking
revenues -- about $3 million a year for ten
years -- are going into the pocket of the
developer while he ties up the parcel promised
to the community for a public school or
affordable housing (uses that, alas, would not
enhance those Ritz towers).
All the city councilors know about Hayward Place; it was thoroughly covered in the newspapers when the deals were made. But not one has spoken up, not one has taken action to get back our land and our money. They don't even ask for information, don't file for a hearing, nothing. Millions and millions of dollars from City land that belong to the taxpayers, and the councilors have their heads in the sand. The disposition of City property is one of the few jobs this council has left, and they do nothing.
This boondoggle is just one of many that, if reversed, could solve our "fiscal crisis." What would the school children say, those who have come to the public meetings begging for their education, if they knew the Mayor has given away their money to this and other wealthy developers? Will School Superintendent Carol Johnson, or the School Committee members, all selected by the mayor, stand up for the students and demand that he take back our land and our money and invest it in the future of these youngsters? I doubt it. This mayor doesn't allow dissent.
That's why Kevin McCrea made this video. I hope he will produce others during his campaign, because there are dozens of stories like this that need to be told. Other citizens and I have testified and written about them for years; no one in City Hall cares.
Our city is not poor. It is being impoverished deliberately by our politicians. And now Menino is mercilessly using the school children as a pawn to get his new meals tax passed. (Once he gets it, I expect he will mysteriously "find" a chunk of money and save the day for the kids, a hero at the last moment.) You know what the politicians say: "Never waste a crisis." Or the opportunity to manufacture one....
All the city councilors know about Hayward Place; it was thoroughly covered in the newspapers when the deals were made. But not one has spoken up, not one has taken action to get back our land and our money. They don't even ask for information, don't file for a hearing, nothing. Millions and millions of dollars from City land that belong to the taxpayers, and the councilors have their heads in the sand. The disposition of City property is one of the few jobs this council has left, and they do nothing.
This boondoggle is just one of many that, if reversed, could solve our "fiscal crisis." What would the school children say, those who have come to the public meetings begging for their education, if they knew the Mayor has given away their money to this and other wealthy developers? Will School Superintendent Carol Johnson, or the School Committee members, all selected by the mayor, stand up for the students and demand that he take back our land and our money and invest it in the future of these youngsters? I doubt it. This mayor doesn't allow dissent.
That's why Kevin McCrea made this video. I hope he will produce others during his campaign, because there are dozens of stories like this that need to be told. Other citizens and I have testified and written about them for years; no one in City Hall cares.
Our city is not poor. It is being impoverished deliberately by our politicians. And now Menino is mercilessly using the school children as a pawn to get his new meals tax passed. (Once he gets it, I expect he will mysteriously "find" a chunk of money and save the day for the kids, a hero at the last moment.) You know what the politicians say: "Never waste a crisis." Or the opportunity to manufacture one....
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