Comments on: Defining Michael Flaherty

By: Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:43:58 +0000

Maybe if Yoon gets elected deputy mayor (whatever that is) he can stop spamming me.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:37:33 +0000

While constructive change for Boston is needed, I think we need to think about what KIND of change Michael Flaherty is offering before throwing caution to the wind. Take for one that he wants to remove the state cap on charter schools and allow national chains into Boston, neglecting to acknowledge that the statistical success of charter schools is a result of ostracizing ELL and SPED students. He wants to overhaul the ELL and SPED programs, but how effective will this be if charter schools are sucking funds away from the public schools that run these programs. His “historical” views of supporting the death penalty and opposing affirmative action may reveal the true underpinnings of a man who is not in touch with the complex consequences of black-and-white policies, no pun intended.

By: TrueBlue

TrueBlue — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:00:33 +0000

Councilor Yancey’s take is very interesting given that he was at odds with Flaherty early on. I take what he says at his word and definitely over some Menino machine blogger. And let’s be clear- it was Ray Flynn Flynn and Mel King who helped heal Boston’s racial tensions with their efforts to bring about social and economic justice. Guess who they endorsed for Mayor? The facts are that despite representing a minority-majority city only 17% of Menino’s cabinet officials are non-white; Menino, for his entire career, has allowed contractors to hire workers from out of state while capable people have remained unemployed in our inner city. When Boston experienced its biggest economic boom cycle in decades, the gap between rich and poor widened, the schools got worse, and violent crimes went up. I want to raise a family in this city. If Menino is mayor, it’s splittsville for me. Flaherty-Yoon got my vote on Nov. 3rd

By: ksb1986

ksb1986 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:42:07 +0000

This is outrageous! Flaherty mistreated to almost the point of abuse of the Black and Latino city councilors — interesting that all the Black and Latino councilors who had to sit under Flaherty as well as many current councilors (and hopefuls) of color have endorsed MENINO! Felix Arroyo Sr., Felix Jr., Chuck Turner, Jeffrey Sanchez…

These are people who have represented and championed the needs of people of color in the city, and they all are saying Flaherty is a hoax and a fake — he has been on the city council for 10 years and only ONCE came to Villa Victoria…last Sunday was the first time Flaherty had visited a Black church in Dorchester and he DEMANDED time on the mic DURING THE SUNDAY SERVICE! Disgraceful behavior from some white man who claims to “know” the communities of color in Boston.

Mayor Menino is the ONLY candidate who has worked tirelessly to end racism in our city, first and most importantly by acknowledging that is exists — it took Michael Flaherty 10 years to come to the communities of color.

By: Frank Smith

Frank Smith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:21:58 +0000

Michael Flaherty has shown his leadership skills by reaching out to Sam Yoon to join his ticket. All leaders mature and Michael most certainly has. It’s time for this new generation of leaders to move Boston into the 21st Century. That’s why I am voting the Flaherty-Yoon ticket.