Beacon Hill Times
City Councilor at-Large Yoon brings his mayoral aspirations to the West End
July 14, 2009
By: Dan Murphy
Mayoral hopeful and City Councilor at-Large Sam Yoon appeared at the monthly meeting of the West End Civic Association (WECA) Thursday to promote his campaign agenda, which includes the elimination of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the reform of city government, the need for more public schools and the urgency of introducing more green initiatives.
“The BRA is a dinosaur,” said Yoon, who was elected to the Boston City Council in November 2005. “It was created at a time when the city was very different, and since that time, it has completely changed.”
Yoon added the BRA has “locked billions of dollars of land value in its domain” and is largely accountable to private developers and institutions.
“We should have a planning agency, like every other modern city has, that is accountable to taxpayers and residents,” he said.
As for the reform city government, Yoon spoke about the need to shift power away from the mayor’s office.
“The City Council needs to have a lot more authority over the city budget and a process to examine whether we should make changes in city government,” he said.
Yoon also suggested the creation of citizens-run charter commissions that would hold conversations throughout the city to gauge what form of government would work best to move Boston in the 21st century.
On the topic of education, Yoon, who previously worked as a teacher in urban schools in Trenton and Elizabeth, N.J., and whose 4- and 7-year-old children are currently enrolled in Boston public schools, advocated for constructing more schools in the city.
“The trend is unstoppable – families are going to flock to the city,” Yoon said. “Every neighborhood should have a school that parents are pleased to send their children to. It’s clear, it’s achievable, and it’s absolutely necessary.”
In addition, Yoon emphasized the importance of creating a greener Boston through such initiatives as weatherizing and retrofitting older homes to curtail the city’s dependency on oil.
“We as a city have to convert to green and be a leader in creating green jobs,” Yoon said. “We have to do this now and can’t afford to wait another four years.”
When asked whether he had enough experience to take on the role of mayor, Yoon pointed to his other experience, which includes building affordable housing in the city for 10 years.
“That experience and my experience in City Hall is the right combination for a mayor of the 21st century,” Yoon said, “The single most important way to affect change is through the mayor’s office. I’m running because I want to make a difference. I can’t make a difference in City Hall, so the rest is up to you.”
