Title: Boston Mayoral Candidates Face Off For Final Time

" This is the WBUR news podcast. The podcast as a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org. I'm -- books coming up today. The two men running for mayor of Boston in -- Boston mayor Thomas Menino and city councilor Michael clarity. Met last night for their final face off before Tuesday's election. At Faneuil hall the two candidates answered questions in a forum sponsored by the voting advocacy group mass vote WBUR has Bianca -- told -- was there."

" And has this report right from the start the questions seem to come straight from counts -- Michael flared he's talking points. Questions about whether the mayor would abolish the Boston redevelopment authority. Put all public records online and require mandatory random drug testing for public safety officials they're all part of flared he's platform. Menino seem to catch on and occasionally raised his eyebrows disbelief. He stayed calm even though he was on the defensive far more than his opponent. The more than anything else he was asked to defend his record on schools."

" There are hundreds schools in the performing. Here half the schools Massachusetts. Island reforming. Schools and -- and Brookline master. -- They have an appointment schools also it doesn't mean that's up clarity for his best line of the night I'm not running for mayor of Brookline Weston in Brookline. I'm running for mayor of Boston."

" Okay. Okay."

" And -- barometer I uses 24000 kids have dropped out of Boston Public Schools let's ask ourselves are they working. To they have an education they're -- rated comedy in the dead in how many and have children their own that now it's in the Boston Public Schools that's -- fighting for."

" Last month and sponsored by mask. A nonprofit that advocates for civic participation. It wasn't we choreographed like many other candidates events. Flared -- Menino walk freely around the stage acting hall addressing sometimes mount the audience. And it was -- audience not clarity. That provoked the most tense moment for Menino. The mayor was asked why he only has to minorities in his cabinet."

" I guess they don't count Barber's career. Was Latino. As a minority. There's actually three and in my. Connecticut cabinet right now. And I choose not minorities."

" But half percent disapproving sounds from the audience Menino acknowledged falling short also folks."

" Palestinians say I'm perfect. We go to break -- always tried to -- chart that's how you improve the oil like. Those people over the neighborhoods are Boston every day -- not -- one knew what every neighbor of arson. I think my administration the last sixteen years as I could Sharapova might violate many of -- was Iran to represent well last 25 years."

" As Menino made amends where he made promises. This time for a diverse administration. It's -- always."

" Affecting each and every one -- you. -- communities in your great contributions to our city you'll all be part of the clarity administration."

" If there isn't -- administration for residents didn't learn much about it last night since most of the questions targeted Menino and his record. But with polls pointing to another Menino term this may have been the last chance to challenge the manner before he goes back to business as usual. For WBUR. I'm beyond a --"

" Audio from the candidates' forum last night came courtesy of WTKK. FM. Development has emerged as a major issue in the Boston mayoral race and nowhere in the city is the promised. And the disappointment of Urban Renewal more evident then in the seaport district. It's a thousand acres of prime waterfront which stretches from the fort point channel and the Children's Museum to the container port and the cruise terminal. But development there is moving at a glacial pace and city planners say it won't be completed for another thirty years. WBUR. As Monica Brady-Myerov this morning looks at Mayor Menino -- record on the waterfront."

" There are some shining examples of how the seaport district is turning into the next hot spot and I shaped -- Vivian Lee in the Boston Harbor association steps into one of them in the fort point area the Italian restaurant. The very upscale and just a beautiful place in this used to be warehouse. Other examples are the Institute of Contemporary -- it's attendance has shattered expectations. And the Boston convention center which will soon seek to expand. But these are pockets of success we all -- so optimistic. Ten years ago. That in 2000 and -- this year it would really be booming and the fact that it hasn't moved it's quickly. Surprises all of us the reason why things have moved so slowly depends on who you talk to. Menino -- challenger city councilor Michael clarity says it's -- spot because he's letting developers sit on unused land and then build what they want."

" We don't have. A citywide. Development plan we also don't have a neighborhood specific plan so oftentimes. What happens is it it really becomes about who you know. And which lawyer which consultants which developer you tie it to to develop. Into to advance that your proposal."

" But if he talked to -- city planning agency the Boston redevelopment authority -- some private developers. It's not the mayor but the economy that's to blame. The weak housing market has meant developers can afford to build offices and hotels. Not residences. But this threatens the mayor's pledged that a third of the space will be housing. The BRA's chief planner Cairo's show and defends his agency for permitting more office space."

" When there is no market for creating new housing and for people to buy and at the margins of the deal doesn't look it is the responsibility of agency and the city. To make act abuses occur in those buildings which fought the -- Right will be offices."

" Chan admits the city mr. critical window for building more residential when the market was booming. But he preaches patience and says the area will not be fully developed until 2040."

" We -- impatient the mayors and indentation but there is something that -- patience does not. Actually trump the sort of the market forces which would depend on."

" Developer Joe Fallon stands in a parking lot on fan appeared next to the federal courthouse. He looks out over the harbor at which future residents of a condominium we'll see. Giuliani in the middle of the fall and you can look -- you conceal a lot of syllables from scanners -- to blame the economy for holding up his -- building project."

" It's the economy wasn't in a are recessionary period we've been moving ahead with a residential building and another -- right away."

" Fallon has only built 118 story office building. The city approved to temporary buildings because Alan thinks it could take ten years to get the original plan built. This is not what city planners and community leaders agreed to ten years ago when they came together to create a master development planned for the seaport. It's a blueprint for a new neighborhood with grand waterfront boulevards parks that linked to the emerald necklace and -- harbor walk along the water. The mayor endorsed the master plan and has been the driving force behind development in the seaport especially the convention center. He's even proposed moving City Hall there. But that's -- critics blame Mayor Menino not the economy. They say he hasn't used his political might to get more done when he seems to relish his role in city planning I think involved the times because on the -- you expect me that. Make no my feelings known about development. But cities under similar economic conditions have made huge strides in development. Pre topped tall -- is a principal at Thompson design group a premier architecture firm that specializes in waterfront areas. -- r.'s office isn't four point but it's company isn't building anything on the seaport."

" We know great cities in this country that if invested. Large amounts of money. Very -- to play it in their border fronts in the last ten years or so and Chicago's millennium park as an example."

" Chicago's mayor Richard Daley used city money and donations to build the park and private developers followed by building hotels and condominiums nearby. The land and the seaport is owned by private developers or the port authority which doesn't give the mayor as much control. But the piecemeal building taking place makes the seaport look like a suburban office park. Vivian -- of the Boston Harbor association says the goal of a residential neighborhood seems to be lost by moving away from that call. It really been undermined to -- this person to -- tan. So will over the long term have a domino effect and the political goodwill between the mayor and community members in the seaport has evaporated. Several people who used to be involved in the process had become disillusioned because they say the plan is not being followed. Michelle yields still attends the occasional BRA meeting. As a resident of fort point and a business owner she's disappointed to see hotels trump grocery stores in what she hoped would be a neighborhood by now."

" When you think about a really beautiful. Neighborhood would have found it is a really strong mix of residential. Business retail. Pox. And I think it's also something that is acknowledged within the various planning documents. It's just obviously not fulfilled its full potential yet."

" Yet the BRA and developers say the seaport will realize this potential eventually. But community members are skeptical the waterfront can turn into a vibrant neighborhood regardless of who wins the Boston mayoral election. For WBUR I'm Monica Brady-Myerov."

" See the plans for Boston's waterfront a comparison between now and what could -- on our website wbur.org. The Governor Deval Patrick is expected to lay out his new plan tomorrow for dealing with Massachusetts 600 million dollar state budget shortfall. He's expected to focus on budget cuts as the administration has already said everything is on the table to close this short term budget gap. But yesterday the governor was talking long term economic recovery. At a summit of business and policy leaders the gold to generate new ideas to lift the state out of recession. -- And has this report. Governor --"

" Patrick says he brought the public and private sectors together to help build on his existing economic recovery plan."

" We talked about our economic strategy for growth based education on innovation. On infrastructure investment and on regional equity and regional."

" Focus. Much of that focus was on encouraging small businesses in Massachusetts. That led to one of the few concrete proposals to emerge from the summit. The creation of a new capital fund for small and medium sized firms. Those companies are expected to be a major source of job growth over the next year and a half. But Patrick says he doesn't yet have details on the size of the fund and who will provide the capital. Still business leaders who were there are enthusiastic. Although they do point out that health insurance costs are also is significant impediment to expansion in the state. Massachusetts law currently prevents small businesses from pooling together to buy health insurance at rates usually available only to larger companies. Now the administration is considering eliminating that regulation. Housing and economic development secretary Gregg dialect he says he anticipates some push back from insurance providers."

" There's going to be some people who feel differently about it but we think we can make the case. That is a matter of fairness what we're really talking about is providing small businesses with the opportunity to get the same kind of deals. That large companies are getting today it's."

" Eight Republicans are criticizing the relatively few details made public after the closed door summit. Senate minority leader Richard to say said in a statement that it was nothing more than another stop on governor Patrick's reelection campaign. In fact half of the summit's organizing committee has donated to Patrick's campaign in the past. Also conspicuously absent a key member of the financial arm of state government. When asked why state treasurer Timothy -- hill wasn't at the event. Patrick had no comment K -- is running for governor as an independent candidate. Organizers also acknowledged that the summit does little to ease the State's short term economic distress. But Patrick says that over the next ninety days working groups will further flesh out their proposals. And that's what could position the state for long term recovery says very -- down economics professor at Northeastern University."

" This is a way for us to get together and say okay. We know this isn't gonna go on forever let's expedite as fast as possible recovery."

" And what role in the states like and that's what I think was most powerful here there was a sense of optimism in his room and I am not seen for two years. But blue stone says with big budget cuts expected tomorrow. He understands that people outside the summit group are more pessimistic. For WB you are a -- track record."

" World Series baseball opens tonight five years after the Red Sox celebrated their -- ending championship win. But as we know the Red Sox aren't in this year's series this one is what's being called the turnpike series the New Jersey Turnpike. As the team it'll drive between the Bronx and Philadelphia yankees versus the Phillies. But the fall classic still -- for -- at least some Boston baseball fans among them. Is WBUR. Commentator Bill Littlefield predicting is -- mugs game."

" A large portion of the whole point of baseball games football games and games -- pretty much all sorts except the ones thriving in casinos and on carnival midway is is that we don't know how they'll come out. Tonight CC sabathia the large hard throwing in congenial fellow who arrived in New York from Cleveland via Milwaukee could be as effective as he was in the league championship series. He could also walked two guys in the first inning and hit somebody else. Tomorrow Pedro Martinez who found his way to Philadelphia via the graveyard reserved for pitchers so lacking in promise that they've been cut loose by the Mets could throw seven more post season shutout innings. Baffling the Yankees justice he baffled the Dodgers proving once more that with from ten to fourteen days between starts. He's as good as he ever witness or he could be hammered. Nobody knows which is part of why we watch which we certainly will and fairly large numbers nevermind that once again the games will start too late. And run too long. And that in at least some instances they are likely to be played in weather less suitable for baseball than it is for winter games and ducks. The other part of why will watches that it's the World Series. We watch the Super Bowl because the snacks are plentiful it's too cold to be outside everybody else is doing -- than the otherwise -- citizenship will be revoked. It can be argued especially if the person doing the arguing is under sixty that for entertainment value. The World Series cannot compete with the NCAA basketball tournament. But what sports event carries into its annual incarnation the weight of history borne by the World Series. What occasion related to a game can lay claim to the attention of presidents as far back as William Howard Taft. About whom it is reliably said that he would have been at Fenway Park to see the giants play the Red Sox in the fall of 1912. Except that his wife had mischievous lease schedules something foreign to do in New Hampshire. No event and no occasion related to a game. Overshadowed by its glittering more youthful entertainment's ridiculously assigned to Halloween and beyond it is still at least in name the World Series. We paid attention as children as -- our grandfathers. Should auld acquaintance be forgot no label. Bill Littlefield comments on sports for morning edition and hosts only game meet Saturday at 7 AM and again at 6 PM. It."

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