Title: Mayoral Debate: Flaherty and Menino square off

" JFK Library and Museum. Help Boston mayoral debates."

" CIR diesel from NEC. And I can only -- from WG Heath Greater Boston tonight. Feisty Mayor Tom Menino and Boston city councilor at large Michael -- square out of my hello -- her."

" Third election. Our debate this evening his co sponsored by any CN WGBH. TV WBUR. Radio and the Boston Globe viewer at home can follow it on the here. Or you can follow online as well any cnn.com. WGBH. Dot work. WBUR. Dot work and boston.com."

" And over the next hour the candidates will be answering questions from our panel of reporters and you'll also get an opportunity to ask questions to each other. Our panelists are. Scott how many political editor of the Boston Globe and now folks. Anchor at WBUR's. Morning edition."

" We've asked our audience to try to refrain from applause and demonstrations gives the candidates and voters a chance to hear them on again erupted. We'll open the debate tonight with one toss up question that I will ask a question for both candidates each will have 45 seconds to respond I'll follow what. Then each gets another thirty seconds to respond. Mayor councilor good evening to you and welcome to the caterpillar. The debate this evening is essentially a job record. If elected two years into the term. What is the standard voters should use to judge. Whether you have fail or succeed. Why -- specific program goal. One specific standard by which you should be judged as -- and -- will begin with you."

" righty thank -- consortium found this event this evening discussion this -- the faces of actually yes I mean there's two issues out there and you won't know one. I'll talk giving it with me is the financial future -- city. How we maintain the financial status of Boston at a face these cuts mistake that stable cut us additionally the next couple weeks morning. I'm into the basic services to be -- it's an education mastery. Those the issue that we must face. But doubled in the past -- mind your own future could remain prudent decisions. Thus W is on the issue of financial Boston. Grasso schools are very important question but don't in the printer resource which you can -- schools in works. The count I have found works but there's a -- financially make this should work."

" Comes before security. I would bring up performance review to Boston. Literally department by department let's eliminate wasteful government spending find out what's working -- management operation systems and equipment. And make the necessary decisions that will help drive a spending on behalf of the -- city buses Hamas and eliminate the BRA. And creative brand new standalone planning department so we can -- planning back in the hands of the residents of the city. We'll have a citywide plan for development also have a neighborhood specific plan for development embossed."

" Let me stick with finances for a moment we know that over the last six years FYO three FYO nine. That inflation ran about 70%. The cost of health care to the city went up 204%. According to the Boston municipal research bureau. Hobby you colored that monster 204%. In six years. --"

" Some very important decisions have to be made with respect to health care costs as well as pension liabilities given the fact that we're operating -- 160 million dollar deficit give us an example I would have to talk to have a frank discussion I would city employees to flee their retirees who have them frank discussion about going into Medicare. We're also gonna talk about going into the GMC. But -- from Boston -- negotiate the best prostate health planners have to go obviously going to be able to save tens of millions of dollars for taxpayers."

" Mayor why hasn't that happened what we've children. Compass -- insurance cost quite five million dollars passed here negotiate with insurance carrier of this remarkable. I filed legislation on the GIC to give me the same tools that the state dash to -- insurance plan together worked for the employees and worked the city. Prelude to what we talk about is we take the GI's is that presently. And whatever went to my kids that they get to the some the retired employees who doubt if many years. I think I want do -- get -- opportunity to do the right way the first time."

" All right we opened the discussion out of several rounds of questions from our reporter panel Scott Hellman and Bob folks -- alternate questions to each candidate. The initial responded gets 45 seconds the other candidate gets a 32 rebuttal. Then a follow up question the initial respondent gets a 32 response -- first question this evening. Scott -- of the Boston Globe to -- many times gotten him. They're both first sector for quite -- lucky you."

" Mr. mayor and pull off the residents that the globe reported on yesterday. -- correspondence that was very important. That City Hall by by the public state public records law that your administration has acknowledged not fully doing -- City Hall emails. What should these voters why should these voters believe you committed to accountability and office."

" We've always been not responsive to the FOIA request. I took this issue very seriously. I put more than Richard questions on line two of those -- and other folks receipt. What we have employers that we. There are questionable over the last several weeks so we have been that responsive to those issues as best we can and -- I Visalia -- that we. We have as a treadmill -- in my administration that report which became mayor. I told all my promise. To -- to tell about what their income was outside. Of city government. I'm 100 transpose it I'm administration that with the -- of one mind. And that was requested by via a different hadn't yet. OK but also I did was I insisted. That almighty. 50000 dollars -- just -- what they're expensive where and how much outside income they had. Counselors parents."

" Thank you -- this about the public trust in taking responsibility. When things don't go right. I've said from day one this is about finding out what happened. And why and making sure we give the public the insurance is. There will never happen again we've seen to date he knows that there at two in CC we haven't seen emails are from. Particularly -- given the fact that there's -- ongoing federal investigation. As well as secretary of state is -- certain information. To learn that some employees in the business above wholesale destruction of public documents is is troubling to say the least and we need to restore the public's trust."

" Mr. American music categorically that it nothing in in this emails. -- in any way to the federal investigation that I mean there's a federal investigation on my emails at all not mean notes and emails. I'm on federal corruption case involving I haven't really in my administration all I haven't heard at all. That's a child made up different last three or four weeks."

" And just wanna say we haven't been charged -- anything this smooth political move. Few weeks before elections as corruption my administration is -- dead when something happens but right up front on the issue. Constant flurry of good to allow precise."

" just Mike on -- based on reports and in the daily newspapers specifically. From the city's corporation counsel it states that of the information that we had so we it's provided -- federal investigators may not have been complete. Question is what's missing and let's get that information to the hands of folks are given that that the city was serving a federal subpoena."

" Bob -- to constant color. Thanks -- be councilor Larry. Staying on the email -- criticizing America. On this issue you views are pretty harsh language words and phrases such as. Culture of dishonesty illegal outrageous operating in the dark ages. Yet while you're. Work City Council president a state judge found that your counsel. Violated state open meeting laws eleven times given that. What possible credibility do you have when it comes to government transparency. And as you put it just a minute ago finding out what happened."

" Thank you brought this is about again taking responsibility and being held accountable. On behalf of my colleagues and I accept responsibility. For the open meeting law violation. And since then admitted determination and under fire administration. No meeting will violate the open meeting -- further as a member of the City Council actually taken proactive steps. That's this administration. To put all hearings licensing board hearings only broad appeal hearings in -- meetings on TV but Czech Republic who we're doing business trip. And who's doing business with the city of Boston so I think leadership is about accepting responsibility. I've accepted responsibility. I'd like to -- to accept responsibility for Iraq. For the -- issue. Measure thirty sept."

" Blew them council while we talked about -- ready to be raised is maybe even new news. On TV. We're transparent we can guess we'll get even better in the future. I'm always my thing is integrity in my administration. The public trust that I must put into people who work for me. -- had had any corruption issues well last seven years -- we come to my administration now let's check with the issues that face the people of Washington this evening. That's fact about our position crime issue. Those are the issues that are important to people lastly. That's I want talk about how we continue to move this city forward."

" Councilor and mayor actually gets you might follow the Boston Globe poll -- got -- a moment ago. Also showed that for the vast majority of those surveyed the email flap would have. No impact whatsoever on whether or not they wanted to reflect reelect Mayor Menino so is it. Your hammering away on this issue as you have been for the past few weeks just a time waste or when there are more important things to talk about."

" Clinton again in the public trust and also to demonstrate the culture of the exist at City Hall. You know if you don't hire the right person. If you are not connected. You don't get that permit you don't get that license and so for me just talk about the need to bring new leadership in a new gate. For Boston it's about embracing. You know projects in policy. On the merits. Not on who walks in the door with what lawyer reconcile so I think it's very important is very important issue whether -- speech to. Two and taking responsibility. And leadership."

" There I'll give you fifteen seconds to Christmas card that my administration has been as open. As -- administration ever been into the hall of supply like they sent the emails so while there. -- Don't forget we as administration. In my mind nobody -- from -- we put -- Republicans say. What those emails were all about. As a write some good dinner. But so wouldn't do I break out that's the question about what the -- we just. We hope we'll get this thing and -- spent a lot of time. First round -- what."

" Okay we are now going to get huge the other came from India and talk about what every -- would like to race this is the first of -- series. Question -- gonna have between these two candidates is gonna be three minutes for each total. Question. And we're gonna start and I ask -- to try to keep -- passes this is president's speech. So man you know you have an opportunity to ask. Cancer -- first question."

" Islam. -- this question. We're very issue -- about foreclosures. This that in 1999. We brought that don't are troubling to us the -- in the country would tell what that. Henry street where we went there and we purchased probably -- apology to went back on the market. Also recommends protecting tenants. In -- when it comes to they're being forced -- because of foreclosures. Also rescued -- we can do message to help the foreclosure issue."

" a great question that I think them. Predatory lending exists because there's a market for. And I think that we ought to be proactive fund upbringing what financial literacy. To all Bostonians. San Francisco has a program called bank of San Francisco I think we're at a bank in Boston right here and let's that would exclude children. Let's give them the tools they need the educational tools that they need. To make sure that. They actually credit Rudy that they're starting to learn from Africa. Happening now they're asking how Babcock terms. He asked me okay what else could be done about foreclosures when answering the question that. One of the reasons that people's homes are being -- that the into loans. That they can't complete and they can't and so by having financial literacy skills and eliminating predatory lending in most -- it has a very much to do with the question. And the questionable financial literacy. Is giving people the skills necessary so that they don't have to go and in and be a victim of predatory lending so that is one additional tool of the mayor's done. Some good things around a foreclosure homelessness and I think we could add that to that I -- all right. -- lambasted and making sure that as residents particularly the immigrant community bank in the traditional lending institutions so that they have the resources to. Buy property and be able to fulfill the obligations on the wrong."

" The power up. Yes -- would -- to borrow trouble you lose your program to tell him close and holly my property where the good folks to borrow money from. Also when they hit its peak. We brought those folks in foreclosure in Germany with the service these are these marketers and we we -- 124. Members of his face and foreclosure. In that city. We've -- financial Lucia thank. But the real problem here is those show original look for those banks Democrat super pass -- any -- them and -- have you you talked about -- all around the issue. BMW do. To help the issue of foreclosure SA pageant has had a tremendous -- right."

" Jeff tried to keep people when that happens first and foremost. But 1 PM I'm. Factors as white people lose their homes is because it lost their job so fast and actually the mayor the the fight to put people back to record. Will go to the different needs CEOs at the -- take them and a great cities of the when they leave here they'll say actually this Amanda once my business and once these drop to. And the sooner we put people back to record -- we keep them in their problems but we also reduce crime and violence at the same time."

" Right are they aren't so there you see how one full groundwork here we go back to our reporter questions back Scott -- two -- mr. flip. In the masterpiece and Boston schools were embarrassed. Desperate yet you send your children contrast to thousands of other parents around the city surely there are some things that Boston Public Schools to right. And I like unique give me an example give us an example of a programmer and innovation that you're familiar with -- that you think could be replicated to broader."

" Sure am much rule out to the Russian public schools as mentioned we're fortunate my right my and we actually had date could probably school to send that child. Yet one out of 143 of the best in public schools are failing their underperforming. So rep which read my children fortunate. Thousands of children across street at city -- not what you want. -- have -- that actually helped bring to -- process which the administration effort to focus which is SAT prep. Not -- kids not graduating from school but because actually graduated cannot compete at the college level so that we perhaps of having the best colleges and universities in the -- kids can attend those institutions. SAT treatment SAT prep would make the difference between getting to school. Competing for a college scholarship and hopefully going on -- very successful. --"

" We haven't worked as a probably talked about is most schools that might be underperforming. The improvement. We've been about 50% of schools. And restrooms need improvement. Purchase process. -- Maybe -- school and they got they have special -- program didn't work a couple of years he's brought this group was an improvement issue. My impression vision the last several years but -- about -- in western mostly they offer in the same category that we phantom. That's an issue that it is -- all of school systems in Massachusetts. And I just wanna say that we just content I'll just say it is. Yet we thank goodness we want to SATs -- but I library in this news Washington."

" Advocates in the worst performing schools -- for schools and hadn't passed sixteen briefly if you would how you would call."

" Assessment Trabant that I looked -- try to cap embracing the try to captain did try to success doesn't happen in a city. A Boston collegiate excel the Pacific rim. Just to name a few. Because it -- just one size fits all and -- every administration what's gonna cut was the child in the classroom. And not politics -- public presses China versus private versus program. I've been many different options to limit the quality options the fact that drove it 8500 people on a waiting list right here in Boston. Not nationally. Sebastien says the families want options they want clarity and I'm serious enough. Messy until 2000 education we can do better in Boston in what. -- administration."