Kraft and Wu throw jabs in testy first day of campaigning

Josh Kraft launched his campaign for mayor Tuesday at Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Dorchester and wasted no time before attacking his new opponent.

"Right now, we face some serious, serious challenges," Kraft said, flanked by supporters holding blue and white campaign signs. "Challenges that Mayor Wu has not risen to."

The 57-year-old Democrat described Boston Mayor Michelle Wu as an out-of-touch leader who "acts as if she alone has all the answers."

Kraft, who has spent his career working with nonprofits, described Boston as a city where housing development was slowing, the cost of public education was rising unchecked, and new bus and bike lanes were clogging the streets.

"On issue after issue, the mayor has become less and less receptive and more and more disconnected from the communities," he said.

Wu defended her record later in the afternoon, following a visit to a community center just a block away from where Kraft launched his campaign.

She noted that Kraft, the son of billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, lived in Newton until a little over a year ago. He now lives in a waterfront condo in the North End, which a company linked to the Patriots reportedly bought for $2.4 million.

"Frankly I'm a little surprised that someone who hasn't even voted for mayor or city council in the city thinks that he's ready to lead the city," Wu said. "But I look forward to getting into the details."

Kraft sketched out the beginnings of a policy platform at his campaign event Tuesday. He pitched a form of rent control that would reward landlords with tax breaks if they cap rent increases. He called for a pause to new bus and bike lanes. And he said he supports changing the school committee to a mix of elected and appointed members.

" Whether it's housing, schools, neighborhood services or bike lanes, instead of listening to community voices, trying to understand what families and businesses need, too often, they're being tuned out," Kraft said.

Kraft did note one area of agreement with Wu: He said he backs the Trust Act, which limits Boston police to working with federal immigration officials only in criminal cases. Wu is being targeted by congressional Republicans over the law, and has said she'll respond to a request to testify about Boston's "sanctuary" status.

"I completely support Mayor Wu in whatever she decides to do," Kraft told reporters Tuesday. "But let's be honest, in the Republican-controlled Congress, it's just a way to score right-wing political points, and it would be a political circus."

That position puts Kraft at odds with his father, who has financially supported President Trump in the past.

"I've never voted for Donald Trump, nor have I given him a cent," Kraft said. "I think he's unfit to be president due to his character and lack of emotional control."

Kraft, who has backed Republicans in other states who support Israel, would be Boston's first Jewish mayor if he were to win.

It's historically been hard to defeat an incumbent mayor in Boston. But supporters at Kraft's campaign launch said they felt confident about the political newcomer's chances against Wu.

"Some people feel left out, some people feel as though they're not listened to," former Boston police commissioner William Gross said.

Gross led the Boston police department under Mayor Marty Walsh and once considered running for mayor himself. But he said he was there to support his friend.

"I know Josh Kraft is a listener," he said.

"If you're judging him based on his last name, you are, like, literally missing out," said Shiaka McIntosh, founder of the nonprofit Parties from Above. "He is amazing, an amazing person, the sweetest person."

McIntosh said she expects more and more people to come to "Team Josh."

"But he can't be too sweet," she said. "Because I know politics can get messy and it can get rough. So he's gotta take his gloves off for a second."