District 6 Live Tweet until I rage:

Candidates just did their 2 min spiels

*disclaimer: bias on this account is to Kendra

Q1: Thoughts on privatization (re: housing, Ed, transit)

Kendra A1: stresses divestment for privatization in past years. Anything a basic need = human right, and while many roles exist, base line funding needs to be improved for funding.

Kelly Ransom A1: Govt needs to step up to plate, help w issues facing us the most. Covid 19 proved govt can help when needed, hope we can use that forward. Should work w private sector, but they should not have place to speak about government decisions

Mary Tamer A1: agrees with Kelly. Laments what might have been possible with lack of functional government. Believes in collaboration between nonprofit, private, govt to improve conditions.

#bospoli

Q2: what policies will you propose to improve access to affordable rentals and housing for purchase.

Mary Tamer A2: has attended lots of bpda meetings. Wants to use all the pretty and old buildings to house more people. Wants to improve lending access and replicate MAHA session

Kendra Hicks A2: acknowledges that she won a lottery and gained access to a subsidized apartment. Stresses need for housing plan addressing low income needs. 60%AMI and below. Devote more funds to people under 30% AMI, supportive senior housing, expand city rent sub., green house

Kelly Ransom A2: works at Madison Park Development Corp, explains programs working to build generational wealth in Roxbury, desires to expand. 100% affordable overlay.
#bospoli

#bospoli

Q3: How do you define low and extremely low income and how will address inclusivity in rent units availability?

Hicks A3: stresses 60% ami or below because actually reflective of city income. Need housing planning and decision making representation in zoning hearings.

Tamer A3: #bospoli

Anywhere below 60% is low income for Boston. Mentions Mildred hailey meeting process and her involvement and desire to expand similar programs citywide.

Mods now muting after 10 sec over.

Q4: how do you ensure BOS provides all schools w high quality education? #bospoli

Ransom A4; fams should be able to choose closest schools. Believes in 15 minute neighborhoods.

Kelly didn’t answer Q3 so *reverse reverse*

Kelly Ransom A3: #bospoli

Anything below 50% AMI is extremely low income. Believes if processes for neighborhood dev corps and circumvent article 80 provisions (?)

Because of the shenanigans we’re going BACK to Ransom’s A4:

Funding is key to making our schools meet baseline, but needs it from state. Demands student opp act be fully funded so resources can be acquired appropriately. #bospoli

Tamer A4:

Need to address all inequities. Highest rate of student disabilities, mentions districts under DOJ orders for not following law on how English language learners not admitted. (Note: curious if this was during her term or not?)
Gets cut off #bospoli

Hicks A4:

Fund schools based on equity, impacted by enrollment. Advocates for baseline budget for all schools to have basic needs. Desires full time librarians, nurses counselors. Is mother of BPS student with learning disabilities (cool little guy, I may add)
#bospoli

Q5: elected v appointed committee?

Tamer: hybrid model, mentions need for accountability but fears of political processes. (Note: was a member of appointed committee)

Hicks A5: expand current city charter petition, will sponsor it herself. Believes in elected school committee. Fear of special interests from “some candidates” is interesting because of funding going to some candidates in race.

Note: Mary Tamer has taken approx 50% sp interest $

Ransom A5:
Hybrid. Fears low income folx may not be able to run, also believes in place for experts. #bospoli

Q6: Boston is strong mayor system. For/against charter reform in way that would rebalance power btwn mayor and city council?

Tamer: city council should have more power, especially w budget. Believes in accountability of mayor by city council

#bospoli

Hicks A6: absolutely in favor of city charter reform. Wants deeper democracy, needs city council to have power to have changes. Agrees with current direction #bospoli

Ransom A6:

Participatory budgeting, city council should get line item veto. Also believes in ranked choice voting (question 2 sadness) #bospoli

Q7: How would you change city council to improve civic engagement and transparency and access?

Tamer: language access critically important. Not reaching folks despite DOJ order over destrict, still not. Need to improve outreach. Expand budget process, stresses exp w school but

Hicks A7: built policy platform collectively w neighbors and community members and organizations. Came up w 6 key policy areas to identify a collective vision. Will carry that into office #bospoli

Ransom A7: says organization heavily falls on ONS. Worked in ONS. Discusses inaccessibility or lack of info for community members. Mentions poor pay and conditions for ONS. Believes in BCC organizing through their offices with future developments etc. to directly engage #bospoli

Q8: public safety: how do we reimagine it?

Tamer A8: need conversations around who responds in what calls. What is needed for all functions to not be under umbrella.

(This was a nothingburger answer I’m sorry)

Hicks A8: budget is a values statement. Govt agencies receiving funding should have robust oversight. It’s not a moral statement on policing, it’s about fiscal responsibility. Implement violence reduction alternatives and alternative responses. #bospoli

Ransom A8: thinks of 3 O’s (m: overworked, overtired, overtime). Reallocate street details to inspection also services. Believes in stopping traffic stops for minor infractions, doesn’t mention how. #bospoli

Q9: what are top 3 priorities for climate resiliency?

Hicks: thanks @MattOMalley for environmental work. Accelerate decarb., green jobs initiative for youth and resident jobs, experiment w car free streets and safer streets. Expand BERTO ordinance to get us to goals sooner

Ransom A6: net zero development in housing, will create healthier housing and reduce bills. Increase tree canopy, points out roxburys lack of trees to address heat sink. Again, 15 minute neighborhoods to reduce car use, idling, etc. #bospoli

Tamer A8: reduce production of solid waste by mandated recycling, sidewalk composting, think more broadly about what can be recycled. Stricter energy standards. Need to perform energy audits and retrofit all public builds. Update BERTO. Expand access to pub transit. FF buses.

Q9: orange line reflects wealth disparities from FH to Roxbury Crossing. How will you address that?

Ransom: city needs to make effort to improve city contracts more equitably. This will help improve all conditions

Tamer A9: need to prioritize minority/women owned and black owned business availability. Needs overhaul in education, mentions trade education for future green jobs. #bospoli

Hicks A9: economic model that is anchored in privatization of resources and exploitation of workers will not create an equitable city. Stresses people should live w dignity. Policies directly want to close racial wealth gap. Expand procurement, youth jobs, equity 4 worker own biz

Question 11; sorry if I fucked the numbers.
What proposals will you advocate for to help w hurting small biz?

Hicks: super excited to have endorsement of local smal biz owners. Recognizes need of probable bailout, owners left to themselves bc inaccessibility.

Hicks A 11 cont.;

Expand city worker coops, extend living wage ordinance so sub and independent contractor are included to prevent wage theft. #bospoli

Tamer A11:
Folks didn’t feel supported how they feel they could have been. Mentions her family are small biz people. Use relief funding for small biz. Use main st programs.

Note: tamer is married to a property management firm owner so..”small business” #bospoli

Ransom A11: we need special program providing 1:1 availability to up and coming entrepreneurs. Dept in city govt devoted to success of small biz

A12. District needs unity due to diversity how will you bring it?

Hicks, the only black Dominican woman in the race: utilize community organizing roots to identify points of unity and not stress division, bring all voices to city hall

Ransom: all voices of all people should be in the role, will work to represent them

Tamer: believes in listening to all surrounding voices. Visited all schools in district to get sense of pulse on ground. Loving campaigning and listing to people. Will continue that into city hall.

Lightning round:

Tamer does not support reallocation if BOD funds or OT funds. Other two candidates do.

Tamer wants to reform gang database. Other two want to abolish.

Kelly and Hicks expand youth vote. Tamer does not.

Tamer does not support rent control. Kelly some. Hicks0

Do you accept money from for profit developers?

Kendra: NO

Kelly and tamer: duh yeah

#bospoli

Break up BPDA, separate planning office:

Tamer yes but
Kelly yes but
Hicks yes entirely

Permanent change to exam school entry in any way?

Hicks yes
Tamer depends on change
Ransom yes

Safe consumption sites?:

Tamer: harm reduction
Hicks: yes
Kelly: yes.

Note to you @TamerforBoston that SCS IS HARM REDUCTION! Your viewpoint is to desire people to continue to die without safe consumption sites. You want death. Good position.

2 min rounds to discuss or expand on lightning answers, and draw differences.

Kelly: stresses importance of SCS, calls them comfort sites. Major proponent. Exam schools: not a BLS success and was left behind and did not succeed. Wants to have a hearing for outcomes of Ed recent

ransom cont: not all BPS schools are prepping students for exam school exams. Notes somewhat selectivity in students that want to go to exam schools from educational perspective.

Hicks answer:

Former BOS student (Curley Reppin’). Notes unfairness, esp as an ESL student, of access and prep for exams. Supports setting aside test this year. Examine intersectionality in our city, and move in the direction of seeing our cities issues that way.

Tamer answer:

Police OT needs addressing, mentions the kid toucher of @BostonPatrolmen , but is asking if we should really reduce budget. Thinks social workers and alternative response should all be under BPD. Hesitancy to actually take a position, really.

Tamer cont.) Mentions her experience of like 30yrs for Boston Public Schools. Believes in using the new test for admissions. Note: she has taken $10,000+ from education privatizers, and received money from headmaster of BLS and board members of BLSA. #bospoli

Audience question: blessed sacrament church sale, what will you do with it?

Hicks: still opportunity to engage community in how the site is sold. Big push for youth engagement and community site!

Kelly ransom answer:

Community process has already begun (Friends of Blessed Sacrament Chyrch, advocating for preservation of church), should continue to allow the local groups to lead this process

Tamer bless sacrament:

Wants to turn it into community space and have robust community involvement for the center #bospoli

My question: should D6 expand its availability of harm reduction and treatment services?

Ransom: yes, stresses humanity of people and their need for assistance. Mentions Shattuck.

Mary tamer: SUD impacts everyone, mentions how HIV rates are skyrocketing. Needs to expand HIV counseling and testing services.

Kendra Hicks: YES. Conversation about Shattuck is whether it’s getting returned to Franklin Park. Mentions her close friend died at 22 from drug use. It would be a moral failure NOT to expand the services available. Unequivocally, yes.

Closing rounds:

Tamer: facing tremendous time. Expresses disappointment of no questions about seniors...nothing else really.

Kendra Hicks: build policy and practices that are equitable. Bring personal and professional exp to lead our district. Stresses need to have diverse people who have face-first experiences with the challenges district face. (Note: as a black Dominican woman, that would be her)

Kelly ransom:
Mentions how happy she is about women. DOESN’T mention intersectionality.
Tired of surviving and wants city to collaborate and step toward equitable change. Gets super expressive and wants you to get involved, the usual.

The end.

My takeaway: Mary Tamer is not a progressive no matter what she wants to pretend.
Kelly Ransom is well meaning but I’m not convinced.
This is still a @hicks4district6 Stan account so go give her your money