WGBH Radio; The Callie Crossley Show

I'm Calen Crossley This is the Cali Crossley Show. The city election cycle is upon us. Today we continue our candidates round tables focusing on besides the reason Derby for 18 years Maureen Feeney has been securely seated as Dorchester city councilor when she announced that she would not seek a man term. The political enthusiasm that's been bottled up over the years burst forth. With no end of candidates tossing their hats into the ring. Now a total of seven are on the ballot and the roster is as diverse as the district itself. From seasoned politicos to community activists to small business owners. Today we meet three of the seven vying to represent Dorchester fighting to take on the challenges of this community from preventing crime to creating jobs. Up next this is what democracy sounds like. The candidates running for District 3. First the news. From NPR News in Washington I'm Lakshmi saying. President Obama says there

is no short cut to Palestinian statehood. He's trying to revive negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and avoid a diplomatic showdown over the Palestinian membership drive at the United Nations. As NPR's Michele Kelemen reports President Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that while last year he did call for an independent Palestine negotiations have been at a stalemate and he's frustrated but he doesn't like the idea of the Palestinians seeking U.N. membership as a state on territory Israel seized in the 1967 war. This will not come through statements and resolutions of the United Nations. If it were that easy it would have been accomplished by now. He says the deadlock will only be broken when each side learns to stand in each other's shoes. The U.S. is in a minority on this issue though Brazil's president open the General Assembly debate saying The time has come to have Palestine fully represented in the world body and she won widespread applause in the hall. Michele Kelemen NPR News the United Nations.

Two American hikers held for more than two years in Iran are out of jail and we have the latest from NPR's Peter Kenyon in Istanbul. A lawyer for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer said the Iranian judiciary signed off on the bail agreement clearing the way for their release. The pair was handed over to Swiss and Omani diplomats who have been assisting in the case since the U.S. and Iran do not have diplomatic relations. The release comes after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeated in an interview with ABC News his assurances that the hikers would be freed as a humanitarian gesture. Bauer and Fatah were convicted of illegal entry and espionage after being detained in 2009 along the Iran Iraq border. The Americans have always denied wrongdoing. A third hiker Sarah short was released on a half million dollars bail last year but the two men were given eight year prison terms. Peter Kenyon NPR News. Vigils are planned in Georgia and outside U.S. embassies in Europe for death row inmate Troy Davis who is scheduled to be executed tonight. International campaigns to get the sentence overturned have so far failed even with backing from former President Carter. The pope and the end

of the housing markets posting a 7.7 percent jump in August sales after home buyers took advantage of cheaper foreclosed properties. The National Association of Realtors says sales came in at a seasonally adjusted rate of just over 5 million homes still way below what's considered indicative of a healthy housing market. Well Maloney at the National Association of Realtors says some buyers cannot qualify for loans under tougher new standards. We want to see. Lending standards to return to the norms that were in place 10 years ago faced with the prospect of problems in the future the Federal Reserve may keep pushing down already record low interest rates to get more people to borrow and spend. The Fed's expected to release the results of its two day policy meeting this afternoon. At last check on Wall Street the Dow was down more than 40 points at eleven thousand three hundred sixty six. This is NPR. There appears to be no slowing in the fever epidemic in Pakistan's largest province Punjab since the start of the week at least one thousand new

cases have been reported in the provincial capital Hort from Islamabad NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that the rapid spread of the virus has the government under fire and struggling to control the outbreak. That has killed dozens of people so far as the Punjab awaits equipment from overseas to combat the disease carrying mosquitoes the dinghy epidemic has overwhelmed the hospitals in Lahore alone more than 6000 people have been diagnosed with dengue. In one of the Tauriel called an excess of zeal the government which had been late in responding to the crisis sealed scores of diagnostic labs accused of overcharging for the dengue blood test. Denby has gripped the Punjab at a time when floods are devastating the southern province of Sindh. The government says there is an urgent need for food shelter and medicine to treat the more than 7 million people who have been affected. Pakistan and the UN have launched an international appeal for three hundred seventy six million dollars for the flood affected. Julie McCarthy NPR News Islamabad.

Central Japan is enduring a powerful typhoon even as it continues to recover from March's deadly earthquake and tsunami. More than 200000 households are reported to be without power. At least four people are dead or missing. The typhoon remains a threat to the Fukushima nuclear plant that was damaged back in March but so far no problems have been reported. Dow continues to fall it's down more than 50 points at eleven thousand three hundred fifty five Nasdaq up eight points though at two thousand five hundred ninety seven. I'm Lakshmi saying NPR News. Support for NPR comes from IBM working to help mid-sized businesses become the engines of a Smarter Planet. Learn more at IBM dot com slash engines. Good afternoon I'm Kelly Crossley. Well election season is here. We have preliminary and general elections around the corner and it's six days to go seven if you count today before the folks in District 3 cast their ballots for a new city

councilor. There's plenty of door knocking going on and I saw a fierce battle among yards signs when I drove through district three last weekend. So we continue our series of candidate round tables with a focus on the District 3 Derby. There are seven candidates vying to fill the void that's left by outgoing city councilor Maureen Feeney. She's been representing the district for 18 years. Last week four candidates joined us. But today we have the remaining three candidates. John O'Toole Meredith tuit and Frank Baker who is on his way so to. Both John O'Toole and Merritt is to it. This question because we know that district 3 is so broad and sprawling and I like to remind people remind people just how big it is. So we're talking about wide areas of Dorchester from Columbia Road and seven hill to the Neponset River touching Codman Square man upin and the Harbor Islands and taking in lower Mills Ashmont Fields Corner and beyond. That's District 3.

So how would each of you characterize District 3. I'll start with you Meredith. I love to say that the character of District 3 to watch Esther is is so varied. I love it. Culturally it's so diverse you know. And to me to characterize it is to say that when you come into our district you're coming into all areas of the world because you know you have Vietnamese You have I WAS SHE we have African-Americans you have Caribbeans from all over you know. So to me it's. And then when you when you look at it when you start from the mills and you travel Codman Hill Jones Hill area Adams village down to Port Norfolk and so on. You see such a variety. And so to me it's a very. Rich culture in District. That's all right.

John tool. I concur with Meredith that it's a wonderful district and it's very reflective of the city of a whole. I would think it safe to say it's probably the most diverse area in the whole city from lower Mills 2:07 Hill the full length of Dorchester Avenue. And that's the very same route that we have the Dorchester Day Parade where we actually exhibit all of our different cultures and it is just a it's a wonderful mix of people like like Meredith said you know we have Irish Italian Vietnamese African American Cape Verde. It's just it's just a wonderful mix and just a wonderful cooperative community. Both of you have been quite active in communities in the district in district three and again there are many neighborhoods in neighborhoods in Dorchester. So I wonder if general tool you would tell us just a couple of highlights of what you've been doing thus far and why you're in this race. I have at least 20 years of civic participation in Dorchester

when I was young man and Adam's corner. It was in the 80s and it was really kind of a time of great turmoil in the city there was a lot of violence a lot of people leaving the city there was a lot of vacancies in our commercial properties and frankly I was quite alarmed at what I was seeing happening. And I actually got involved in the CDO Civic Association and I was probably one of the largest civic associations in the city about 450 members and got involved became the president in short order. It was baptism by fire and got to work right away you know just kind of raising the profile of Dorchester because you know I mean passion about this neighborhood and I have a deep love for it and you know one of the things that I thought you know do do is you know people have preconceived notions about Dorchester and for those of us that live there and we have great pride in always feel like we're defending it we always have to say we have to see you know to come here. That's one of the things I did with the Irish Heritage Festival in Adam's corner which is a one day event in Adams corner and the first year we had 8000 people the second year we had 15000

people in a one day event. And it's absolutely open to everybody. And during this campaign as you know going from Bode in Geneva to the Cape Verdean community down to the Vietnamese community I'm sharing with them you know the bee to me screen is very interested in doing something like that. But there's a lot of logistics involved with city agencies and it's not just something you shut down a street you can have it but you know my involvement goes you know that's where basically started with the Civic and I also organize the whole time political rally in delicious which is like a 30 year history of bringing state why politicians Senator Kennedy going way back and just kind of flexing the political muscle of Dorchester and just trying to show the rest of the district you know that the people here are engaged and they care about the community. Meredith. Now in the I want to say I started with the highlights for myself in the district when I was when I first came back from the service and got home and I was there and we used to. I used to say to my mom you know we don't do too much you know. You know in area at the time I wasn't as active as I am now and I used

to talk to my neighbors let's do a street yard sale let's do a street community day. And finally about maybe three years ago I got some of my neighbors together and we created the Codman Hill neighborhood association because we fell within like a little hole almost. There was a little lower Mills Civic Association and then there was Codman Square Neighborhood Council and Evans street had created something but be where we were on Fuller Street all the way down to like Richmond Street and so on. We had no neighborhood association that was able to speak for us so. So we worked on that finally and got a little group together and we meet whenever I can schedule it and so on because of my my work habits and work and work in politics is a hard thing. But other than that I've been involved with a variety of other things such as fair food which is a. Food Program in Dorchester and I've also worked with a lot of the different youth organizations as

small organizations that are there because I always wanted to be involved with the youth. So I've done a lot of that. I can say like like John that I planned you know I was first world and all that but I was active in the meetings with the Greenway Council when when they started talking about do and the pathway and still try to get involved with that when I can. I've been involved in a variety of the meetings when we talked about the upgrade in establishment of the different red line stations and and met a P.A. and those changes. So in all actuality if you look at it I've always been on the other side where John's been on the you know the plan and side I've been on the other side with the people you know voicing what we want to do in the neighborhood in this district for us. We again the different highlights with my with my my family and my connection I call a family connection within the Cape Verdean community I've been involved with them and when I when I got more involved with them it was because of a

tragedy that had occurred with one of my interns and been. About two years now so been very more active in that and that that spurred you to activity. Yes in that community and so saw a lot of things have driven me to be more more involved in certain parts of the district and things that have occurred in my life or in the life of someone that I've been attached to and and I tend to be as my mother said one of those that you know when something really gets me you know I'm driven to get to the other end of the mission. So I run into Boston City Council is a part of that mission that I've set for myself now where I need to be able to assist my my friends my family my associates my neighbors and the needs for the district. All right. We're talking to Meredith to it and John O'Toole two of the candidates out of seven who are vying for a seat that has been vacated by

Maureen Feeney who represented Dorchester as District 3 for 18 years. We're expecting Frank Baker at any moment. Well we'll continue our conversation. Eighteen years more infamy represented this district. I'm curious if both of you have a sense of the weight of the legacy and how you would go forward as she by all accounts was quite an effective city councilor for District 3. So how do you see yourself going forward should you get the job done. Johnno to. Recognizing her legacy and recognizing Martin Finis legacy it's her 18 years of political service is almost runs in tandem with my my 20 years of civic participation and as president of civic association I saw firsthand the work ethic that Maureen Feeney put into this job. How do you characterize her legacy tirelessly in fact you know what I've seen. You know I'm proud to have her endorsement as well and what I've been able to do as I go around with her is to see firsthand you know the power of a counselor is the one and what they can

actually do but I think what makes a good counselor is those contacts and those relationships that the future Council may have and Maureen seem to be like the front line for a lot of folks particularly the seniors who you know have a problem with Medicaid and Medicare and really not the responsibility of the city councilor but Marini has really taken it upon herself and she is who she is the one that dispenses to these people you know where to go what to do. She's. It's really a facilitator is probably the best example of what Maureen has done and if she's tireless I mean really literally running from place to place to place. It's an enormous district to cover and there's a lot of needs that we have a lot of socio economic issues in Dorchester that just require particular care and she's just able to address all of them and 18 years is just it's amazing that she's you know she's done such a good job and she's never lost that drive of passion for the drug. All right. Meredith and I can answer that when I talk about my boss. State Representative Foxx who's been in office. She hates me

when I say it more than 25 years and working as her chief of staff and been involved with her since 1999. I know that it's about her passion for the people and running with her schedule I do her schedule I run with her on her schedule. I cover events when she's away at conferences and it's nonstop. Sometimes I used to say to my friends you know I'm glad I have a picture. What's it hanging in my in my house so my children know what I look like because if the schedule is so hectic so I'm well aware of what councilor Fini is gone through because I do it and working as chief of staff with Representative Fox and and when I'm covering for her I'm going with her. I see that her passion for the people when when there's a need we don't say no. You don't have to live in Roxbury. You call us. We're going to we're going to help you with whatever the issue of the problem is and and sometimes they call and say let's come and we need you to come and speak or whatever and shield. We went all the way Lawrence one time. So I I didn't know and I love it because I love running with her

so that's another thing I know that we have to give respect to women such as consul Fini who have taken that passion and carried it for so long because that's the legacy that I as a woman would love to be able to follow and carry on you know. So it's an awesome thing to have the passion for the people. Thanks Frank Baker. Hi how are you has made it into the studio. We're talking about Maureen Finis 18 years as a city council as an effective one for District 3 and I asked the question of your fellow candidates how do you see yourself caring dealing with the weight of her legacy and then moving forward. Well I mean you have to you have to give Maureen or her her you know. You have to pay attention what she did and that's what the people of District 3 are going to expect. The bar's been set so we can expect to not attend the meetings and not you know

do what she did. She's there and I think the most important thing is is the advocacy of it you have to be available to the people and it's a full time position and you can't treat it any other way than a full time position that's what Maureen has done and people expect that. You know that's what I plan on doing it's going to be full time for me and and you know Maureen's done a wonderful job wonderful job there's no way you can discount anything that she's done and she's she's there you go out every night of the week she's someplace you can go to any meeting whether it's in Ward 15 on Bolton street or up and up and saying fine and she's around someplace. All right thank you very much Frank Baker we're going to have much more of this conversation when we come back after the break. I'm Kelly Crossley we're hearing from the candidates running for city council representing District three. That's the Dorchester Boston's largest neighborhood. Come January one of them will be representing Dorchester. We're opening up the lines we really want to hear from residents in District 3. That's

primarily Dorchester parts of Manhattan and Ashmont. Tell us what you want from your city councilor. Call if you have a question call if there is an issue you want them to tackle. 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 8 7 7 3 0 1 89. You can send us a tweet or write to our Facebook page. We'll be back after this break. Stay with us on WGBH. WGBH programs exist because of you. And Ellis insurance offering personal and business insurance plus financial planning and their online insurance tuneup identifying timely and relevant Risk Management Solutions. Exceptional service intelligent insurance Ellice insurance dot com. And Boston Private Bank and Trust Company Boston

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so on WGBH is about new Englis weeks biopharma conference in Boston. Governor Patrick says he wants them to consider setting up shop in Massachusetts where I think third in the world now in science and then WGBH is about you. Every minute you hear on the 1.7 depends on listener support. Do your part online at WGBH dot org. The latest local news headlines are as close as your smartphone with the new WGBH app with a single tap you can dig deeper into the news of the day from business to arts and culture. Just a free download away at the App Store or at WGBH dot org. Welcome back to the Calla Crossley Show. If you're just joining us you've today into our city council election series. Today we're talking about the District 3 Derby. There are seven candidates running for Maureen Feeney seat. She's the outgoing city councilor who's represented the district for 18 years here today are three of the seven candidates. Frank banker John O'Toole and Meredith to it. Last week we

talked with the other four candidates. We're opening up the lines we want to hear from the citizens of District 3. Tell us if you're voting call us if you have a question for the candidates and call if you want to voice an issue you're concerned about 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Now before the break I was talking about the legacy of Maureen Feeney and how you all saw yourselves going forward. So here's the question. Why you right now at this time are the best candidate for the job. Franco let you start off. Well I think it's it's again I'm back to back to full time I'm back to paying attention to the district. You know not taking anything away from anybody else but people have other things in their lives I've taken a leave from my job to campaign for this full time because that's the way plan on plan on running my office it's going to be I can't say it enough it's full time. It's full time.

You know I want to I want to have my office look like the district. I want someone from every part every corner of the district to make sure the people are represented Dortch as has been splendid for years. And I think it's time for someone to reach out to all those all those groups that don't feel like they have a seat at the table and that's why I think when I get the seat at the table I think I'm going to be the best person for it. All right. Meredith why you right now at this time. Other than the fact that I already do most of what an elected official does and my position as chief of staff such as legislation which the councils don't do too much of but in budgeting knowledge in making sure that funding is going to the correct programs. The knowledge of being culturally competent with with all of the different sections of this district 3. And also because I think I have the correct voice I know how to reach out and and work on constituent issues because I've been doing that

since 1919 and assisting people in all forms of if it's not healthcare housing utilities foreclosure rent and so on. So I have I have the knowledge. I know where to go to get things done and what liaison you should speak to and and how to set up an office with the correct staff and how the staff should be open and accessible so doing that now at the State House. I think bringing it down to the city level which I've done before also with council Yancey and constituent services. I think I'm the one for that job because I already know how to do it. You know do I think with Murray's departure will be a big big vacuum of leadership there and I think the person that fills that seat needs to have experience and a resume to kind of fit the bill to hit the ground running. And I'm pretty confident that my you know 20 plus years of activity within the neighborhood you know being a civic president for 14 years is almost like counseling training because you know you receive those

calls of about you know trees in the snow and streets and sidewalks and educational issues and just all that. So I think once again the experience is really the thing that I would say would make me the skin. Well speaking of getting those calls from constituents What's the one thing that you would change or fix if you were given the opportunity to represent District 3. John O'Toole. Well I think basically you know being part of the council is just that you're one of many and ability to build relationships and consensus and I think the biggest onus on this new council will be you know providing city services basic basic city services. This is kind of like a nuts and bolts type of position you know fixing things. And I think it's really just advocating on behalf of the constituents and getting things done and knowing who to go to. You know that's what they expect from their council Meredyth. Well during this campaign I've learned one thing and I think that's one of the first that that's the main

thing that I think needs to be fixed once this is done in we're and I'm in office is that there are many parts of the district that were unaware that councilor Feeney was their counselor. They didn't know who they were elected city council was. So we need to be able to open that up that people know who represents them and who with which office there they're able to go through to get assistance. Cause I went to a community meeting that my cousin took me into and and they were like well this nice meeting was really great that you came but we're not in District 3. And I was like yes you are. You know and they were unaware that they were in District 3 you know. So that's that's the main thing that I think needs to be fixed is a lot of people don't know who their elected representatives are and that's that's the main thing on the on. There's a disconnect yes. Frank thank you. Well I think the thing that needs to be changed though affixes is the schools we spend the most money out of our city budget per year. Eight hundred eighty million

dollars in the lottery system seems broken I just I just went through it there's no way that we should be gambling with our children's future. I would like to be part of fixing that. I think I think a counselor especially a new console where your power is isn't isn't far reaching. But at least you can ask questions and you can and you can get on that team. And I think it's important to know it's a team mentality going in in the council to get on that team that helps to fix the schools I think. I think people are ready for they're ready to change the lottery system and also just change the way the schools do business. One of the things that I mentioned at the beginning of this conversation is that there's six seven days if you include today to go before people go to the polls to vote. So to merit his point that some people are unaware of their of their representatives. I mean this is a hard gig getting out there in such a big district to be known across.

So many small communities inside the big district. So I I wonder what are you hearing out there as you get out of your own way of your own comfort zone maybe that you did not know before you started running. Frank Baker Well what I'm hearing is is a lot of people feel like they're not part of the process they feel like they feel like they don't necessarily know. City Hall they don't know the people that are representing them. And that's a shame. You know I think the work that people do it can't be discounted you know because I know Person A lot of people that are in elected office and I see the way they work and it's not for it's not for lack of trying or or caring. I just think some people need to take responsibility for themselves and reach out a little more and pay attention a little more. But. I think I think if the office is a little more diverse if you have the corner was that it for lack of a better term the corners of the district represented

someone that is Vietnamese someone that's from Ward 17 someone that's from Ward 15. If you have those corners represented I think you stand a better chance of reaching everybody. Where did I think I said this at the forum last night is terrible coming behind Franco's he always steals my answers. You know so Frank did give half of my what I was going to say that there are a lot of people again with the disconnect not knowing who represents them. But I also heard that a lot of them feel that even when the representative was there if it was a staffer and so on that their voices their opinions and what their thoughts about what was happening on the street or and in this section of the neighborhood was not carry back was not listened to. You know they heard it they wrote it down but didn't listen to what the the issues were there were some parts of the district that. Had opposition to certain things and even after the opposition the it still went on either the development still happened or the new facilities still opened

up and so on. So that again comes back to if you don't have the correct representation in the office and understanding what's happening in each sections of the district that you have that disconnect in the office not listening to the constituency. John O'Toole I think one of the things that I've discovered during the campaign is you know throughout the district you know like I said before you know very different people very different circumstances but all wanting the same thing. They want good schools safe streets good city services and everybody does have a pride for the neighborhood and they want to get they want to feel connected. And I do believe that you know. You know who you have in your office office or other as in the people feel they can connect to to speak to it is critical. You know it's been a long time since the seat has been empty and the district has changed. And I think that we need to you know adapt for that. And just so that everybody feels part of this new process. Well it's interesting that all of you mention and note that the district has changed but more the district has changed sometimes people say the more it stays the same when it comes to

Dorchester. And I mention that because David Bernstein of The Boston Phoenix wrote an interesting piece saying that it's almost a can this election in district three to a school election a coup you know it becomes very critical in a place like Dorchester where it might not be in other parts of the city. Which brings me around to the OFB originally for a director from Dorchester which both you John O'Toole and you Frank banker both have. So you're both originally from Dorchester if it is a school election. The two of you feeling like you're coming out on top or in 2011. Does that matter. Frank Baker Well I think to some degree it does matter it's about it's about the amount of people that you touch personally and having deep Dorchester roots. I think that that matters because again it's back to constituent service and if people say I want to 13 so we have fixed routes through the city and people from my neighborhood I'm down towards Columbia Road

people from my neighborhood have moved because my neighborhood changed quite a bit back during the 80s and 70s and a lot of people that were living with us among us they moved to Cedar Grove into St. Brendan's into St. ends and so they spread out of the district. And it does become about oh I know I know one of the bakers or I know I know Frank's dad or mom or and and that isn't necessarily a bad thing because when it boils down to constituent service you have to be able to to to get things done and if they know someone in my family or if they know me they know what type of people we are so that that helps I think. And also constituent service they are going to be able they know that they're going to be able to grab one of my brothers on the street say hey give make sure Frank gives me a call in my toughest critics are going to be my family and probably my best constituent unpaid constituent service people are going to be my brothers and sisters and also my nieces and nephews. So I think I don't know if we take that as a compliment or a slight that it's a school

election. I guess it doesn't really matter what what what what it is as long as the person that gets in knows the responsibility you know they have to work and work on it too. My family like Frank's this deep roots into I just and my kids the fourth generation Dorchester resident and I like Frank and head held accountable by by my family in particular my sister is my biggest critics. But I think you know and it's great to have that history here and it's great to have that institutional knowledge of the district but I think if you ignore any of the new families that have come to this district you know it's at your own peril. You know when 20 years ago when you know there was was just a lot of flight in the city as a whole. And we saw Dorchester Rabb was largely being abandoned stores were being boarded up homes it was just urban decay some violence but it was the Vietnamese community that really started to settle the Fields Corner area particularly between St. Marks and Fields Corner and they really took ownership of the whole district. And if you drive there

today you see a very vibrant neighborhood and the same goes for up in St. Peter's You know the Cape Verdean community has really taken ownership of that and I knocked every single door and Boden Hancock in Geneva and you know these people are deeply vested in these communities and they want the best for their families. And like I said in that spend a long time since the seats been open in the district has changed. People have changed but the issues remain the same. You know it's going to require a lot of work by the next council. Meredith you are not OFDM originally from Dorchester. Can you speak to whether or not you think in 2011 it makes a difference. You know what I don't think it does because it's my home. It's not just my neighborhood it's my home it's my. So my family is at us with a lot of my friends are at and just as they treat Frank and John that if there's something wrong a light out or a street needs to be fixed they knock on my door and they send messages through me through a neighbor or through my mom or my daughter or my son

and so on. You know so so it's interesting but I I don't think it's going to be the main thing. A lot of people are saying it is and I did read the Phoenix article and. It was very interesting because I love a challenge. And I when I was in Boston public school system I was a school mouse and I was in JROTC and so on. And all it did was made me who I am today a strong and progressive Impala full woman of color in the community especially in Dorchester. So I really like the fact that they've put me on a charge to now show them that I can beat out the football star and the rest of the hockey player. You know I'm not a cheerleader. I'm going to get the you know in the end and we're going to we're going to see this on Tuesday. You know they said that the communities of color are not going to come out. But we're out we're out all the time. So so you know I wish you guys well you know and I'll see you after Tuesday.

Are we have much more. We will get to your Facebook comments and your calls after this break. I'm Kelly Crossley we're hearing from the candidates running for city council representing District three come January one of them will be representing Dorchester the city's largest neighborhood. We're opening up the lines 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 9 7 8 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. We'll be back after this break. Keep your dial on 9.7 WGBH. This program is on WGBH thanks to you. And times presenting the

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Next time on the world. Coming up at 3 o'clock here at eighty nine point seven. The 13th Annual classical cartoon Festival is coming to Boston Symphony Hall on October 29. Kids of all ages can enjoy the music from some of Boston's best ensembles and your favorite Warner Brothers cartoons on the big screen. Bugs Bunny hands down. Got to go with Daffy Duck to Seville. We've been waiting for it all that I was very chilled and homeless and out into York said you know there's the free educational stuff. Get your tickets online at WGBH dot org slash cartoon fast. The latest local news headlines are as close as your smartphone with the new WGBH app. Single tap keeps you up to date with headlines from business to arts and culture. Just a free download away at the App Store or learn more. At double GBH dot org. Good afternoon I'm Kalee Crossley If you're just joining us we're kicking off our city council

series today. Well we're continuing our city council series actually meeting the candidates running for various seeds. Today we're talking about the district three race for city council. There are seven candidates vying for Maureen Feeney see. She is the outgoing city councilor who's represented the district for 18 years. Today with us are three of the seven candidates Frank Baker. John O'Toole and Meredith to it. Last week we were joined by the other four candidates on the ballot. You can join us at 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 and we are really wanting to hear from people in District 3 today 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 8 9 seventy 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Let's take a call him RI from Dorchester. Go ahead please you're on the callee Crossley Show on WGBH. My question is about bullying in public school. But we as you know it's not known for its power and wealth but we know it does not prevent children who are

different from being singled out and grabbed. They're even fully up in person online or what you have it what have it what would you propose or legalize or otherwise that could make it easier for LGBTQ children. The FIFA Kalie in the Boston Public School System. All right you heard it from our caller who would like to go first right. Well we hear a lot about a lot about bullying it's unfortunate. There has been some legislation passed through through the state. I think we need to. I mean so much of what our job is going to be is advocacy in making sure that the people know what what what's available to them you know make sure that the schools are toeing the line in making sure that the children in you know the LGBT LGBT did. Do you know sorry. It's OK you know and even all kids all kids you know it. Maybe they shouldn't be separated because it's nobody should have to should have to go through that but

I think it gets down to education the schools the administrators the principals teachers they all have to be on the same page I believe to make sure because I think if there's a watchful eye there in the classroom then they can identify and then that will spread from there. But I think it's probably going to get down to maybe some more training for for teachers and administrators to to be able to identify the problems before they before they happen. All right Meredith Beatty Q By the way for anybody listening trying to figure out the letters as lesbian gay bisexual transgender and clear. OK. Yes well it will be and again we have worked on a lot of things at the state house at the state level when it comes to LGBTQ and the issues around bullying and just youth in general with the bullying issues that we had. It was considered a controversial issue and we had a lot of things but as a city councilor I think what we need to look at we need to look

at the school system and the school regulations theres many things that we have in the school system thats considered zero tolerance. Bullying is not one. Why is that. You know so we should look at the fact that we need to look at that and and make sure that it's known that bullying will not be expect expect accepted in the school systems. If it's for straight you the LGBTQ youth we have had a variety of different health centers that have partnered up with some of our public school systems who have programs for LGBTQ youth to be able to have someone they can talk to or go to if they are having bullion issues which right now seems to be the highest you know and in. Look at some of the suicide rates and look at some of the teen issues that we have with our LGBTQ youth. You could see that we need that again as Frank said he still another piece of my answer that we have to make sure that all teachers and administrators have been culturally trained culturally competent and training

with. If she was around youth and bullying going on in the school systems and I think we need to start there need to look at that. All right so Frank says everybody needs to be on the same page Meredith says let's make bullying part of the zero tolerance program. What say you John O'Toole. I think unfortunately bullying is going to be pervasive in our school culture just because kids are kids but I think that you know the one things that we can do is just try to you know get in front of these kids before you know the bullying takes place and just inform I know I have three sons and one of the things that I try to instill in each of them is never to bully in also if you to see somebody that you know getting a hard time from classmates or friends or whatever just to step in and try to intercede on their behalf. And I actually got a really nice letter one day from a fellow student parent who my son actually intercede on the behalf of a young girl that was. At odds with their peers and so I'm happy to see that but you know we see I

think an instance where that young girl Phoebe took her life last year was just a tragic thing and I think the online bullying now is really really bad particularly with some of the young woman that you see what they say about one another online and it's just so hurtful and so devastating and I think like in the case of this young girl Phoebe unfortunately that not enough people knew the pain that she was going through when she only shared it with one friend. And I'll tell you that's comparable to what the LGB did look like you know I was actually talking to a friend of my grade who was in the game and domestic violence project and I think they're pushing an initiative for that very same purpose for the OR for the LGBTQ community. And I was kind of perusing that seem to be like a very effective way because those kids are really high risk for being bullied and I think the suicide rate for them is strikingly high. So I think they're really important to reach as well. Immediately you're listening to eighty nine point seven WGBH an on line at WGBH dot org.

I'm Kelly Crossley we're talking about the city council race for District 3 today we're joined by three of the seven candidates running to fill Maureen Feeney seat she's represented Dorchester for 18 years here in the studio are Frank Baker John O'Toole and Mary does to it. And last week we met with the other candidates on the ballot. Our Facebook questionnaire Phil Lindsey wants to know what would you do to make Dorchester more bike friendly. Meredith Well I know we are already on on a mission here in the Commonwealth to have bikes across the commonwealth. So being a part of that initiative and continuing with things such as the Greenway Greenway path that's traveling along the Ponce river way back behind Ashmont and matter pantie connecting up to High Park and all the way back over to UMass. The connection they want to connect it all to the Emerald Necklace also. So and then you know we've we've started on working with our bike lanes along the major through

fairs throughout the the district and so on in if we continue in that path. At the same time too I think with the with the bike bicycles on the road thing we need to also focus on it. Education with the bicyclers. I'm not a bicycle rider I apologize to my bicycle friends all the time because when they invite me I tell them no I'm not going on that you know. But if we are aware of the fact that we are on bicycles we on the major roads and cars also on the major roads so we as motor motorist as I am a car driver I'm aware of my bicycle friends and my motorcycle friends and my motorcycle friends tell me that they always try to be aware of the the cars and so on. We need the bicyclists to understand that also as the rules of the road. But you're OK with being on friendly. Yeah OK all right John I'm too proud to say that nearly 20 years ago as part of a group that actually reclaimed the old Kong rail line that goes from long most Cedar Grove all the way up into Port Norfolk and hoping to eventually can connect with

UMass and to complete that bike path. Also you know I'm a big advocate for the bike sharing program that was on City Hall Plaza last year you know I know Phil Well Phil Lindsay is the biggest habit he's always blogging on Facebook about the dilemmas of bike riding and I believe that Phil rides in the mid of January if weather permits. What power he has but you know it in him is there's actually doctor which is to buy a group that's been made great strides in adding bike lanes on top of AB and you know it just makes sense I mean this is you know less pollution less gas less less congestion I mean in all the Kinesis agree has become just log jam lately because it's become a big alternative to get in town. And I've watched as I sit in traffic as as people like Phil zoom by me on their bikes and I know he's making better time than me. You know and also you stay in shape. So it's a win win win all the way around this we can increase bike use in the city. Frank Baker again we're back to advocacy where I think we're doing some good things in the city in the state

with it with the Neponset bike path the connection hopefully I'd like to see the connection behind the gas tanks completed and also the continuation of the path to Madam Square. Those are all good things in there. There's a lot of programs that are already there. They were already talked about and already in the process of and I think our job is going to be to support those programs to make sure the funding is there when and you know help out where we can. You know I think we're on our way you know because gas isn't getting any any less expensive in the way of the future. Back to the political side of this. Meredith you're one of two women out of seven candidates in this race. If you were to replace Maureen Feeney you would be one of assuming Yana Presley wins again the two women on the city council. Does that matter when you talk to people as you go about campaigning that you are a woman and that you would be replacing a woman and there are not that many on the city council. It is you know I realized during the campaign trail that comes up quite

frequently within conversations with other women. The men tend to. Look at it that way. But as a woman on the ballot running for that seat I am concerned that we will have a lack of women representation on the Boston City Council and I'm hoping that a lot of us are out there looking at that also because we've come a long way with the rights for women and if we don't have a voice on the city council and we already have small numbers on the state level then then we are going backwards. And that so that has been conversation during that time. Curious Frank Baker you've got a lot of endorsements from unions. Just curious in 2011 in the change Dorchester This is powerful for you what are people saying. Well my background is I was a shop steward at the City Boston print department so I negotiated contracts and you know I know

what I know what it is to be middle class and working in negotiating negotiating contracts I think people understand that. I've I've worked. I have a lot of. I have a lot of roots in the labor labor movement. Actually my great grandfather is one of the founding members of one of the three the IBEW Union and I'm just I'm just I think they're seeing me as a regular working guy that's going to that's going to just plain speak. You know I'm not going to dance around issues. And I'm honored to have to have label people with me because I think I think the country is moving in a direction that if we if we're not paying attention to the middle class we're going to lose them and that that won't be beneficial to anybody. There was one other point that I wanted to make but it slipped me. I'll put you on pause while I go read on John O'Toole and give you a chance to come back to John O'Toole So you have the giant endorsement from Maureen Feeney.

I wonder how that plays with people are they taken with that and think that is in 2011 that makes a difference for them that you would have the endorsement of the person who's held the seat for 18 years. I was honored to receive the endorsement by Mary FEENEY And I think what it indicates you know indicates her trust in me as a candidate in my potential to fill the job. You know as I've spoken to people you know I've done quite a bit in the neighborhood and so I think there's some familiarity with my name throughout the district you know with the bike path and just a lot of things that benefit Dorchester as a whole. So I think that you know endorsement just augments that and also you know Also I'm a 25 year member of the plumbers union Local 12 and and I have the endorsement of probably the bigger trade unions in the city you know the hotel workers unite carpenters union plumbers union sprinkler food and a sprinkler pipe produce in the HP AC unit. Did you think your point. Not really but well.

While what I think resonates took to go in and get the endorsements you go in you sit in front of the boards of hope committees and the men and women that are sitting at those tables and when I tell my story they they it resonates with them so that's that's why I think I'm coming across as their candidate. Back to David Bernstein's article in the Phoenix when he described district three's campaign for being kind of like a school election. His larger point was that who gets the vote out really is the winner. How are you working to get the vote out. I mean there's a lot of. Believe me I drove through there and I saw the signs. There is a lot of battling going on at least out in public. What are you doing to get the vote out Frank. Well I've been involved in a lot of campaigns and and it's it's not brain surgery. It's identifying your vote. It's meeting people at their doors and knock on doors. And we call them once you identify you once you get you know one bank together and then on Election Day you have you know people literally go to their homes or call

them and pull them out come vote for Frank come vote for Frank he's our guy. All right Meredith. Basically same strategy again new ones in Susan and making sure that you have transportation for the ones that can't get there. Making sure that all of my seniors had their absentee ballots done in and all of my friends and family that are out of state that you know still registered here in reaching out to all of my my military family members that are still registered here to make sure that absentee and a phone bank in mail still out on the streets meeting people that drop in and so on standouts visibility you have to be visible to be able to remind people that you are there because if they don't see they want to forget about it too. Very much the same you know identifying ones into standouts door knocking it's shoe leather. You know politics is serious business in Dorchester you know. Voters value their vote they want to be asked for their vote they want to know why you deserve their vote so you know what you find yourself you may get hung up at somebody's door for 10 minutes just trying to win over their vote you may

walk away without it but it's it's very near and dear to folks in Dorchester when I was a young boy. My parents would even tell me who they were voting for it was that's the secret of it. That's changed quite a bit but it is it's it's door to door person to person. You know phone calls. I know a lot of folks are annoyed by our phone calls at this point and they probably had enough of the phone calls but you can't take anything for granted you really can't. This is almost like a special lecture because there's no way a large array so weak you know like Frank says we could identify. And get him out you know and if the weather is poor it's going to be a factor as well. Quickly from each of you what are you going to do about that because that's Bernstein's larger point to just you know not making sure the people understand there really is an election next Tuesday in seven days. If you flew today. Well the people the people that are voting in this election like myself I think I'm 30 for 30 in the last elections. The people are coming out they're coming out and I don't think we're going to need to. All right we're going to need to tell them there's an election today most people know it's going to be a small group of people but they know they know right.

Few seconds Meredith what are you saying. Well you know I'm getting out there and I'm letting everyone know we're doing reminders because we have to make sure we remind people cause sometimes you forget things. And this is the thing no matter if you're. Super voter sometimes you get caught up and you neglect the fact that you had a doctor's appointment so this is what we're doing remind them this is like a doctor's appointment. Don't forget the command involved. So now it's down to a final word. I think visibility standout surprise be the last course of action and you know the some recent publications that are coming out that I think will be and just will be on the phone to an election to make sure folks get out like Frank says we have a we have a well informed electorate and I think they're pretty much aware the folks that are going to come out know about it and I think a lot of them probably already made up their minds. Well whatever happens it's going to be a big change because 18 years one of this is going to be different. So it's new blood as one of your fellow candidates is right. Thank you all for coming in today. Thank you so much. We've been talking with the candidates running for city council representing District 3 the preliminary election is September

27. That is seven days from now. I've been joined by Frank Baker John O'Toole and merits to it. You can keep on top of the Calla Crossley Show at WGBH dot org slash Cali Crossley follow us on Twitter or become a fan of the Calla Crossley Show on Facebook today show was engineered by Antonio only art and produced by Chelsea Mertz will Rose lip and Abbey Ruzicka we're a production of WGBH radio Boston Public Radio.