Title: Boston's Four-Term 'Accidental Mayor'

" This is that WBUR news podcast for Monday October 19 a service of WBUR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob -- coming up. The story of a quest to find tiny pollutants. The searches done from a recreational vehicle that rolls along the streets of the city of Somerville we ride along and first today. Today we continue our series of stories about the candidates for mayor of Boston. A new poll in the race this weekend in the Boston Globe showed the longtime incumbent Boston mayor Thomas Menino well ahead of his challengers city councilor Michael clarity 52 to 32%. Many know has spent the last sixteen years running the city and this morning WBUR. As Bianca -- is stillness examines his leadership style."

" Reverend ray Hammond has -- the mayor since -- Nino was a city councilor in the eighties. They worked together for years to improve public schools and develop strategies to stop youth violence on Boston's streets. Hammond has an interest in theory about Menino and why a man who has such high approval ratings is still called thin --"

" I think it you know has to be seen in the context of what's been. -- That would Boston between the average guy and the elites and I think mayor riveting and so the champion of the average guy and is very sensitive to anything you put disrespect. It it can lead to what I think you're very testy relationship."

" And by elites -- means the media business people and academics. Anyone who might make fun of the -- Menino speaks or may have a different vision for the mayor of Boston. Menino however has identified with the average guy all of life. That's what impressed former senator joked in multi the -- Menino in charge of helping constituents in his senate office."

" He headed demeanor with. People of -- It demeanor with the that was. It was just who have been bred with Menino attributes this empathy to his Italian American mother. We -- in Hyde Park avenue into filming. The six -- outside source Lotta folks came over immediately. I was a kid he would help. My mother was a person help them you know -- understand life. Young woman I'd change -- feed them all that stuff. And I haven't to me that's what life's all about. It's about -- people care for people. And I get have a soft spot because I just wish there would be there -- guarantee that the success. The story of Menino -- own success was anything but guaranteed he skipped going to college. -- the full. My graduate high school. Things that I was important more appointment which isn't. A big mistake. He and I broke my father's shop restaurant always wanted to media. -- a college degree and I always said to my dad's good to Harry Truman. His present my pal back to his presidency to Democrat -- positive that's the old fish. Menino was on the City Council and forty years old when he went back to school choice signed up the universe UMass Boston. My gosh I have a uterus smashed camera -- We're freshmen the same time. And she did -- mention the -- that we're -- we can she do the -- much -- and -- And I went for his classes as a -- I didn't miss one class of four yes. I'm afraid to -- us what Menino doesn't have an intellect. He's made up for with sweat according to ten multi Italy and everything you wanted to see -- coming on myself of that. I'm standings. I am because -- both of us had to work had a the most. You know to get we will indigo and that it is nobody who can match determining -- work --"

" That helped Menino get elected in the first place. He got the chance to serve as acting mayor while the city held a special election to replace Ray Flynn who left to become the US ambassador to the VATICAN. It was a temporary opportunity for Menino."

" The strategy they're simply list. For him to beat mania on the plane. In doing so prove to people let this is just a natural."

" Tim multi says once given that opportunity. -- never stopped running for Mair. Maybe that's because -- still feels insecure about his position he still called the accidental mayor even sixteen years later. So if that drives me Nina to seek respect that might be one reason he works so hard. And involves himself in the most minute decisions. And why he's known to become -- rotated when his judgment is questioned."

" You know that's they've given drives them is is that we got elected captains in I yell. Domineering and best buy staff. Members can -- zero."

" He may be a Teddy bear that those who have tangled with him over development issues have felt as by eight. And that -- Greg's telco creates a culture of fear. -- used to work for the Boston redevelopment authority or BR day as an assistant planner. -- says it was his job to share planning information with people looking to build in Boston. The one time he was scolded for giving basic information to the wrong business. One farmers T want to locate and neighborhood where there was another pharmacy and that pharmacy was owned by a friend of the manner."

" It was told explicitly this pharmacy is next in the pharmacy. That's a close friend of the -- it's it's good buddies who's pharmacies from street and he doesn't want there."

" So -- tried to explain to the mayor's staff that he wasn't supporting the competition. The that he felt it wasn't his place to pick and choose. But he says the mayor staff didn't back down I had to go basically."

" You know sort of grovel to the mayor. And it was suggested that I go to the pharmacy the pharmacists and apologize. Not by the mayor but by -- people. So I went over there Saturday and I went to the back of pharmacy and apologized. Why I was apologizing now has done absolutely nothing wrong I certainly wasn't -- supporter of this project but I had to go you know. You know I was told me if you wanted to know had any future here you better make it with -- to."

" says seeing inside the BR rain -- him support Michael Flaherty medina's challenger. The thing is many don't knows office and -- readily admits he didn't want to competitor to build there and it didn't. Now there's a staples office supplies store and that spot which the mayor says the neighborhood needed. But Menino insists there is no culture of reciprocity at City Hall for the BRA."

" There's no -- restaurant Esther park across. From Hussein that people who want two things in Washington I'm good for the city. -- juncture for our wanna build the spilled -- the -- a review shadows of the green way he sent the mail listening well my job was made. Is ultimately develop a rich. My job I was managed to make problem work for the people live and those templates."

" Menino was talking about a project to build two towers on the green way. Menino says the towers would block the view of residents of an existing building meantime the developer says -- only block a portion of the apartments. Don't you fires has his project to put hundreds of construction workers back to work at a time of high unemployment. Still Menino hasn't met with the developer. Is that because the developer hasn't shown an email enough respect."

" As shown humility and respect to make about the view of -- the tolerance has to do his his constituents. In my disinterested. He wanted to dictate policy for the -- one person be outrageous."

" According to Greg's telco and the former BE RE employee. That one person who controls development is Mayor Menino. But even sell -- isn't completely critical."

" I think the mayor's -- reckless in terms he really -- seat to such Emily -- pockets or anything he he his sort of currency is power and respect and being the the the -- the big the big --"

" And maybe if the mayor wins this race against what some say is his toughest challenger in years. He will finally shed the moniker of the accidental Mair. For WBUR. I'm Bianca -- Tony's."

" Later this morning Boston mayoral candidates city councilor Michael clarity is rolling out endorsements from a group of African American pastors and ministers. From rocks brain -- pan and Dorchester. They're endorsements are meant to counter those that the incumbent Boston mayor Thomas Menino received from twenty black ministers last week. The split in endorsements has cost some tension within the black church in Boston. WBUR. David -- is in the studio this -- morning to talk about that good morning David to worry about first to specifically is expected to endorse Michael clarity later this more."

" The clarity campaign says as a list of 44. Ministers pastors bishops who are endorsing him. Many of them endorsing him as individuals of not pastors seemed to be at some pains to. Make sure that they doubled the number that endorsed Menino and they're gonna be joined by members of Latino Haitian and Vietnamese communities. As -- members of the Massachusetts association of minority law enforcement office should this be considered a significant endorsement. I think they want it either believe that this is significant endorsement and they have some some big names in -- yes."

" The latest poll out from the University of New Hampshire survey center shows -- clarity trailing Mayor Menino by 20% is there. An indication that what's gonna happen today with the black ministers will help bring in any of the undecideds and boost -- and these numbers up."

" Oh by the way that cold wasn't a poll of likely voters it was called random digit dialing you simply call residents and party people. Who obviously don't want people think that he's that far behind -- their own poll last week. Of people likely to vote that poll indicates that Menino has only about a 47 to forty lead in. Larry's been gaining ground so the flirted campaign access so they say it -- musicals to their advantage. They don't want people to work go to the sidelines two weeks before the election. But as for today's endorsements of clarity campaign hopes to cut into Menino strong showing in popularity in the inner city you know. When you win elections you do that not only by winning awards but also cutting the margin by which your opponent wins the wards that if he wins and the -- he strategists hope that if they can come out of those three neighborhoods Roxbury -- opinion and to which yesterday inner city with 4060. Split to Menino and they're doing very well."

" Recently reporter for radio Boston at some of the black faith leaders are upset that the black community is split what what are they upset about it."

" we're -- the battle for leadership amongst black ministers -- reverend Bruce wall -- long time activist and self styled outsider. He broke with many and we think the ministers could have all been king makers. -- question both candidates then issued a group endorsement. Afterwards instead he says hundreds of pastors were left out of the process when a group of twenty ministers the so called insiders made the decision themselves and he says. They sold out them here."

" When the mail whistled and the black passes went downtown in -- To the left. And got dead did biscuit. It bothers me that imagery on listening and that's only twenty passes we have hundreds of black churches in this town."

" Tough -- for men of the cloth but Bruce wall says mayor the mayor steering favors to those who are with him from clergy parking only spots outside those churches. Two contracts in summer jobs to hand out -- meanwhile. Reverend Eugene Rivers one of that 39. To be precise who endorse Menino says the endorsement. With just eight pragmatic judgment."

" As far as I can tell you based on the facts. The mayor has done as well as any mayor is going to do in his role as they had a state of business that would. Where there is disagreement are no -- Bob."

" Is the belief among all the black ministers of the black church is the most influential institution in the black community. It has a tradition of political involvement and they should be involved making political endorsement. Endorsements and there are hundreds of those black churches in the city."

" If it's true that the nexus of black political power rests in the hands of the ministers in Boston what's the split say. About their ability to influence the mayoral race."

" For -- low split says that there is is split that there is part establishment pastors tied the mayor. Who the mayor recognizes as black leaders and another generation group of ministers and pastors who want to be the leaders they want change. And certainly all of this looks like prove that there is no monolithic black vote inside the church around."

" WBUR David Laurie thanks a lot for joining us this morning FaceBook. To hear lively discussion between some of the ministers last week on radio Boston go to our website wbur.org. And click on programs and a reminder tonight at seven on WBUR. Mayor Thomas Menino and his challenger city councilor Michael clarity debate from the JFK library and Dorchester. World. Air pollution is a big problem in some places near Boston. In Somerville for example. Poor air quality is linked by some researchers to higher than average rates of lung cancer and heart attack deaths. Those concerns have led to an air pollution research project that's taking place in a giant rolling lab and RV that crawls the streets of Somerville. WBUR. His health and science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer road along and has this report. --"

" Just control is behind the Rio of the massive campers with green curtains and these carpeting and a 140000. Dollars worth of scientific equipment inside. It's a laboratory on the heels. Each week he and another Tufts University grad student who recalls his co pilot. Drive this summer heat up and down the streets of Somerville collecting pollution data."

" Imus fired is that we do morning sampling you have to get the RU 4:30 AM. So we get up pretty early on --"

" And then they drive the same route over and over again very very slowly why. Because they're measuring air quality at all hours of the day so they can track how pollution levels change with different traffic volumes in --"

" I know all street -- it turns. But it -- by the end of the day like --"

" is also studying healthcare quality changes as you move toward and away from the highway. It's doing this research with several community groups that want a new report air quality is causing health problems for people who live near highways. They're most interested in something called ultra fine particles -- of the smallest pollutants that come out of tail pipes. The ultra fine particles are invisible undetectable senses. Bart -- is also involved in -- project he's a tufts medical center professor and he works with the Boston nonprofit called health care for all. He says ultra fine particles should be federally regulated like many other vehicle emissions."

" When you inhale them there's a small. That they go right through the lungs and bloodstream. Is even evidence that it enters cells. Law says ultra fine particles could be to blame for some of the health problems in communities near freeways like cancer asthma and all that happens but really the most important health effectiveness. And elevated risk heart attack associated. Exposure to."

" You know if you're playing ten feet from the -- is housing. Literally has about a four foot sidewalk between it and a 107000. Vehicles that. Behind leave the community organizer weeks anymore -- talking about is interstate 93. It's right near an afterschool activities center he's standing by it -- public housing. Seymour who's been with the air pollution project from start. Expects to research to show that putting even a little more distance between highways and people can dramatically cut down health problems. If you -- 300 feet away. That can make immeasurable difference."

" And back in the ERV Jeff troll tries to make it tight corner in -- and winter hill neighborhood. Yeah yeah."

" We're blocking the street a little bit."

" Once tops collects a year's worth of pollution and medical data and so it would do the same work in Chinatown in South Boston. Those neighborhoods are also closed I 93 into the Mass Turnpike and they also have health problems like Chinatown tight asthma rates pollution levels."

" It was very mobile. The times higher -- tearing your reading this then every morning afternoon and night."

" After a full hour troll finally finishes his first nine miles. That means just five more times around the route to go at nine miles an hour. For WBUR. I'm Sacha Pfeiffer."

" This podcast is a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org."