Michelle Wu’s struggle against Robert Kraft on a proposed Everett Soccer Stadium is the perfect arrangement of the election year for WU – a powerful business billionaire who tries to impose his will versus the spicy mayor trying to protect her city.
That is the story she wants to sell.
Wu has Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, against the ropes because he needs the approval of the city of Boston to build a stadium for his revolution in New England on an expired, polluted site about the Mystic River. Kraft Soccer now claims that she plays politically and goes to the media to offer her.
When it comes to politics, they walk straight into the Boston Mayor’s stairs.
Kraft Soccer President Brian Bilello wrote to Wu’s Chief of Planning, Kairos Shen, and said they answered “every question that the city asked quickly and thoroughly” and “Blind” was then Wu said they had not been cooperative and told the media about this.
“That act of ending your letter to the media with your delivery to us seemed politically motivated and outside the line,” wrote Bilello. “Your actions make our efforts unnecessarily and expressed concern about the dedication of the city, to complete a reasonable and honest agreement.”
Does politics play a role in this Saga? Naturally. Wu is ready for re -election against Kraft’s son Josh and the stadium is struggling to strengthen her image as a fierce advocate for residents of Boston. And it doesn’t hurt that Robert Kraft is a Donald Trump supporter.
But would Wu do the same, even if she didn’t ride a kraft? Probably.
Wu simply asks difficult questions about traffic, parking, noise and other effects of the Everett Stadium on Boston -Neighten – the same as she would have for another important development proposal. Wu shows that she is a heavy negotiator who puts the interests of Boston first.
And the mitigation that the Kraft group offers is an apparent overview of the amount that the city should get for a stadium of 25,000 seats.
What exactly does Boston get out of this? Nothing but a huge disruption of the neighborhood and headache. Who wants thousands of people who travel through their neighborhoods? Residents of Charlestown are rightly concerned about the increased congestion that the stadium would bring.
Kraft, a legend of New England who saved the patriots to leave Foxboro, is indignant that Wu does not roll for him like Everett Mayor Carlo Demaria.
The krafts must have an open, transparent process that tackles the difficult problems and avoids the mayor.
But if Kraft Soccer is not willing to put the process in the open air and to fairly compensate for the people of Boston and tackle the problems of traffic, they must continue.
If Kraft runs away from this because of the stubbornness of Wu, how does that Boston hurt? Wu tries to build another football stadium in Franklin Park for the professional team of ladies.
And although Josh Kraft says that he would restore himself from stadium negotiations if he has chosen as mayor, the question must be asked: does WU do the right thing by demanding more money and more responsibility from Kraft Soccer?
And a question for mediator Tom Gynn: is taking these negotiations behind closed doors really in the public interest?
That is not how it works in the public sector.
Wu should not agree with any confidentiality. They have to open it.
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